Happ Dominant

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The performance tonight of prospect JA Happ is worthy of special recognition.  Happ started and went seven dominant innings giving up only one run (in the 7th) on 4 hits.  He walked two and struck out thirteen.  He threw 110 pitches, 75 of them for strikes and lowered his ERA to an outstanding 2.72.  He was pinch hit for in the bottom of the 7th and left with a 3-1 lead.  This is the fourth consecutive excellent performance by Happ, and I would hope discussions have begun about the possibility of replacing Adam Eaton, who has drifted back into the same doldrums that have followed him the last several years as a Phillie.

13 thoughts on “Happ Dominant”

  1. I’ve been telling everyone for over a year that JA Happ has a chance to become a top of the rotation major league starter. The stuff, the size and the smarts are all there. It was just a matter of command and confidence. The good news is that he’s probably going to get a little more time to keep it going in the minors because, unless they demote Eaton or Kendrick or pull off a trade (very possible, especially if Benson also starts to look a little more healthy), there’s no spot in the rotation. Of course, all it takes is one little injury and JA Happ will jump into the rotation.

    He’s got a chance to be good folks. Quite good.

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  2. The great thing about his work this season is that he’s been getting his command which has been the main stumbling block for him in ’07…perhaps a result of his arm problem which itself may have been caused by the Phils altering his delivery which DID increase the velocity on his FB to 92-93 in late ’06.

    Just speculating.

    Gregg: do you know whether he has retained that 92 FB consistency, or did he have to give that up to regain command?

    Yr acknowledgement of his performance tonight is well justified as something very special.

    With Savery in search of consistency which is bound to arrive soon IMO, and Outman maybe on his way to the big club sometime soon (?), the addition of a guy like Happ also, will provide plenty of lefty pitching joining Hamels….to supplement the likely arrival of righty Carrasco in ’09.

    Kinda makes you anticipate a long term competitiveness for the team!

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  4. Dear Anonymous:

    There’s a reason that JA Happ is 0-4. Have you checked the International League standings? The Iron Pigs are, seriously, among the worst AAA teams of all time. To win games, your offense must actually score runs. JA Happ has no control over that. His being 0-4 has NOTHING to do with how well JA Happ has pitched. Over his last 4 or 5 starts, he has been among the best pitchers in the minor leagues and he is just about ready to contribute to the big league team in a very meaningful way.

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  5. They have to call up Happ. Right now he looks better than four of their starters. And they can go a long way with a little more pitching. So my guess is Happ very soon, and Outman for the bullpen at nearly the same time. Then maybe Benson and we will make a run.

    As to the hitters in the system, there isn’t much room in the Phillies lineup for prospects. I am watching Spencer and Slayten and Mike Durant (Lakewood). These guys seem to have developing power and the Phillies might find a spot for a young power hitter sometime in 2009-10 if one can break through.

    Joey

    And then there is Cardenas and that perennial propsect Greg Golson. Greg needs to hit well this year at Reading (his second)

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  6. Why do people think Benson is gonna be the savior of the pitching staff? He hasn’t pitched since 2006 and he’s coming back from a major shoulder injury. Not exactly a sure thing.

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  7. re: eric bruntlett. if bb had a plus/ minus system i have afeeling brunlett would be a minus. i dont have the stats in front of me but his fielding is at best average no range with this and his errors and i would think poor average, he has allowed more runs than he has produced. a few homers and donald is no longer in the picture? if god heavens jimmy is out again my gut and probably the stats would bring donald up. whats brunletts average .240, his fielding average wount count since the balls he doesnt get to dont count as errors. yeah ill take donald and if you think the scouts overrule gillick talk to them off the record.

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  8. Back to Happ…

    There’s no doubt he’s next in line when we need a starter — the only questions are when, and for who? Either Kendrick goes to the minors (not likely since he’s pitched well his last three starts), Myers goes to the bullpen (it’s too early for something like this), or Moyer/Eaton goes to the bullpen/DL.

    The most likely scenario is Eaton to the DL with a phantom injury or or the long role in the bullpen (bumping Condrey to waivers). If Eaton delivers a stinker tomorrow Giants, does anyone think it’s too soon to do either of those and call up Happ? I certainly don’t.

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  9. Look, I want Happ in the big leagues as much as anyone, but 4 excellent starts is not quite enough. Also, it is not exactly clear who he should replace at the big league level. Although Eaton’s big contract really shouldn’t play a role here, I think it’s pretty clear that it does. Also, Kendrick keeps battling, I’m not in favor of pulling the plug on him yet. It’s a truly tough call, but these things have a way of working themselves out. Be patient, something interesting will happen, most likely in May, perhaps even a trade. In the meantime, I’d like to see Happ continue to build momentum. But, obviously, if he has a few more starts like last night’s gem, pretty soon, they’ll have to bring him up. But we’re not there quite yet. It’s coming.

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  10. To John NE on Bruntlett, his last 2 weeks he was probably one of the top 2 hitters on the team and he had an awesome series against Arizona. He pretty much did what a bench player is supposed to do. His defense was replacement level (around 10th in the NL among qualifed SS in both RF and ZR) so he did his job as a backup.

    Hopefully Donald gets a shot to prove he’s not a utitility player at some point and hopefully its on the Phillies…maybe even at 3B.

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  11. Happ has been under pressure to pitch with no margin of error. Up until last night the Pigs have scored an average of 1.4 runs in his starts. Last night they scored 3 runs for him but the closer was unable to come through with a two inning save. Clearly he is the only starting option right now in the system. The last starts of Eaton, Myers, and Moyer today have been troublesome. Wonder if Chad Durbin and Happ are not better options in the rotion than what is up there now.

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  13. eaton is horrible. it is so painful watching him pitch. i would love to see someone fresh up there. if happ is throwing strikes consistently, he has to be better than eaton.

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