Pitching is the most sought after commodity in baseball and every team has learned that you can never have enough of it. Good pitching is hard to come by, especially in this day of small parks, tightly wound baseballs, more frequent arm injuries and hitters swinging for the fences. The recent first year player draft was certainly proof of that with young, strong arms being drafted often and in the first rounds. As arm injuries seem to be more and more frequent, pitch counts have grown to be considered paramount in trying to prevent arm, injury and shoulder mishaps. There is also the obvious learning curve for young pitchers moving up through the minor leagues and the progressively tougher competition.

“You have to have a game plan going in but you also have to be flexible and change depending on how the game is going. You also have to have the confidence to throw your game and not be overly concerned with the strengths of a particular hitter even though you would certainly be foolish to ignore the scouting reports,” explained starting pitcher J.A. Happ. “You can’t get away with pitching guys up here the same way all the time.”

“Hitters at higher levels have a better plan and will hit mistakes more often and hit them harder,” offered Lynx catcher Jason Jaramillo. “You have to have a plan and execute it.”

The parent Philadelphia Phillies certainly have had their share of troubles this season with a staff which looked shaky even before the 2007 season began. With injuries to closer Tom Gordon, converted closer former number one starter Bret Myers, and now projected ace or number two starter Freddie Garcia, obtained in a big trade over the winter, the big league team is looking for help. But if reports out of Philadelphia are to be believed, Ottawa’s string of pitching injuries and the recent ineffectiveness of most Lynx starters, the Phillies might believe their options to be very limited. With the Ottawa Lynx at or near the bottom of every important pitching category, Philadelphia may have felt that they had no choice but to summon Kyle Kendrick from Double A Reading to replace Garcia.

It seems that in the opinion of the big league club, there are few Lynx pitchers who could, even down the road, be helpful at the big league level. Injuries this 2007 have not only hurt the Lynx won-lost record, but have not allowed some of the pitchers to be where they should be developmentally and physically at this point in the season.

J.A. Happ is certainly one of those pitchers who, as a left handed power starter, (and still the clubs strikeout leader), would have been given serious consideration for a start or starts with Philadelphia certainly at this point and possibly before. But his recent two week stint on the DL will force him to once again build up his arm strength and the team will likely go easy with him until he feels comfortable. Arm injuries are difficult from both a physical and mental standpoint and he may be reluctant to rear back and let it loose immediately. Young power lefties are a much sought after item and at twenty four years old, he could someday be a very nice compliment to Cole Hamels. He has a good fastball and a motion which makes it difficult for hitters to pick up and his off speed stuff is improving. His first start back with club lasted only three innings and while the fastball was there, he tired quickly in the third and had to leave with only two out but nonetheless seemed to give the team a much needed lift, despite the loss. His second start lasted four innings and he gave up one run, striking out six.

Scouts are generally impressed though for reasons other than pure stuff. “His fastball is very tough for the hitters to pick up and his location is good. He’s got a nice easy delivery.”

Ken, (Bubba), Nelson is another of the Lynx starters who has looked impressive at times. He has worked more as a reliever in his minor league career to date but has the flexibility to start as well and could become a middle relief or fifth starter for Philadelphia sometime in the future. He noticed the difference in Double and Triple A ball after only his fourth start for Ottawa.

“These guys, (hitters), are big and strong and experienced and if you get too much of the plate they will make you pay. At this level, you get away with fewer mistakes than the lower minors.”

J.D. Durbin, twenty-five years old, is a pitcher who might be under consideration by Philadelphia, having made nine starts this year with a record of 2-4 and an ERA of 4.55. Although his numbers are not eye popping by any stretch but with Happ just off the DL and Nelson getting his feet wet as a starter, Durbin might be of more immediate help.

Eude Brito has been up and down, disabled and healthy and while the Phillies would like to see him as a potential closer some day, his makeup will probably see him in the majors someday as a lefty specialist. Not everyone can close as it takes a special fearlessness to handle that type of pressure and the scouts don’t seem to agree on wether he has that type of makeup.

But there doesn’t seem to be any consistency with this staff and with the Philadelphia Phillies desperate for pitching this season with all the injuries they have suffered, Manager Russell’s phone should have been ringing by now. Most of the staff who have been summoned by the big league club haven’t been able to stick very long. It seems we’ll just have to wait and see if things get any better in the future.