In a season starved for good news, the Phillies bullpen is providing a glimmer of hope for 2018 and beyond.
The pen is stocked with inexperience, much like the entire staff. As such, the kid pitchers are about as consistent as a David Lynch movie.
The 2017 Phillies have used 18 relievers, not counting Andres Blanco's one blowout inning. Amid the carnage of failed firemen, a couple positives emerged:
- Hector Neris: Criticism greeted manager Mackanin's decision to elevate Neris to the closer spot two weeks into the season. For sure, it was handled clumsily.
Dearly departed Jeanmar Gomez started (and quickly failed) in the role before seemingly being replaced by Joaquin Benoit. The next time out, Neris suddenly had the job.
He has quietly performed admirably. In 50 appearances since May 1, Neris is 16-18 in save chances with a 2.52 ERA and 54 Ks. Twenty is still too many walks, but we would appear to have a closer here long-term. Neris isn't a free agent until 2022.
- Adam Morgan: For much of the season, the Phillies have gone without a reliable left-handed reliever. Morgan failed spectacularly as a starter, and was dispatched to Triple A last year.
For many players, that would be the end. When Morgan was converted to the pen, it felt like a quixotic bid to extract some value from the now 27-year-old pitcher.
Back with the big club this year, Morgan served as the long man on a 100-loss team. That's sorta like the best friend role in a Ryan Gosling movie. Again Morgan got knocked around, only this time few noticed.
Quick story here: I liked Adam Morgan the first time I saw him pitch. He faced the Toronto Blue Jays that July day in 2015. It was potentially the worst lineup for a mediocre LH pitcher with an 89 MPH fastball. Rightys Bautista, Encarnacion and Donaldson all hit between 39 and 41 homers that year.
But it was leadoff hitter Deon Travis who took Morgan deep on his second pitch. Donaldson walked. Then Morgan showed something. Bautista hit into a double play and Encarnacion struck out.
Morgan reminds me of Kyle Kendrick. KK never had much talent, and repeatedly got hit hard, sent back to Triple A, or banished to the pen. Each time, he came back with a new pitch or a new game plan.
Since Aug. 1, Morgan has pitched 17.1 innings and given up one run (0.52 ERA) with 23 Ks.
“I feel like I’m still trying to find my niche in the game,” Morgan told Philly.com. “I don’t feel like I’m entitled to anything. One inning, two inning, anything. I think it’s important to show versatility.”
Free Agency
As Mike Ditka once offered, "Yesterday's yesterday, today's today and tomorrow's tomorrow."
It is what it is. So how can it be improved? Obviously, the Phillies need a starting pitcher -- probably two -- via free agency.
It would be nice to add a left-hand starter to this group, but that might not be possible. Otherwise, I am eliminating anyone too old, too absurdly injury prone or too overpriced.
My wish list has three names on it:
- Lance Lynn: Yes, he'll be 31 next year, but he has relatively low mileage at 957 innings. Yes, he had Tommy John surgery, but setting aside 2016, Lynn is completing his fifth injury free season.
He's not an ace, but Lynn would be a nice No. 2 in front of No. 3 Nola. In 92 starts since the start of 2014, he has a 2.91 ERA, with 482 hits allowed in 544.2 innings.
Cons: He probably isn't hyped to join the worst team in baseball. St. Louis just cleared a ton of salary, ostensibly to resign Lynn.
It would take a LOT of cash to get Lynn. He is the same age as Max Scherzer was when he inked a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nats. Scherzer was coming off a three-year stretch of 97 starts, a 3.24 ERA and 522 hits in 627 innings.
Scherzer is a better pitcher and doesn't have the TJ. Still, the Phillies should expect to go to $160 or $170 to land Lynn. Is that too rich for you?
- Alex Cobb: My backup man is Cobb. This is a huge dropoff. While Cobb is six months younger than Lynn, he has struggled some with injuries.
Cobb has never pitched a full season, although he was at least health 85-90 percent of the time from 2012-14. He had Tommy John surgery (doesn't everyone?) and made just five starts in 2015-16.
This year, he's made 25 starts in the rugged AL East and has a 3.72 ERA. Prior to his surgery, he pitched to sub-3 ERAs.
- Chris Tillman: This is my second signing. A one-year, $4-5 million offer to give Tillman a chance to re-establish his career. Tillman has been awful this year (7.85 ERA), but he pitched to a 3.81 ERA in the AL East from 2012-16.
That's my assessment. What would you do?
