Too Much Pitching?

As the old adage goes, "You can never have too much pitching". No one is going to accuse the Phillies of having the best pitching staff in baseball, the National League, or event the N.L. East. In fact, they probably have the 3rd best staff in the N.L. East. But is it possible they have assembled more major-league ready arms than any other team on the planet outside of Korea?

Consider this, we already know the starting rotation is set with:
Jon Lieber
Brett Meyers
Cory Lidle
Ryan Madson
Ryan Franklin

Baring anything unforseen, those 5 will break camp as the rotation. This means that last year's stand outs Robinson Tejeda and Eude Brito are destined for a bus ticket to Scranton. Add to that the stellar spring that Gavin Floyd is having, and the likelihood that Ricardo Rodriguez will also have the same bus tickets, and the Red Barrons should be in great shape this season.


Gavin's Comeback

Speaking of Floyd, it's encouraging to see that he is trusting his stuff again and is making a concerted effort to stop overthinking every situation. This has paid off with a 3-0 spring training record and a 2.30 ERA. It looks like the "Future Ace" might have turned the corner and be back on track to reaching the big club.

Gavin is probably headed for triple-A to show that he can keep the success going for an extended period of time, but at the first sign of ineffectiveness from Franklin or Madson, or the first injury for any starter, Floyd could be the one called up. If he does get the call, let's hope he makes the most of his opportunity and supplants himself as a key member of the rotation.


Getting back on Topic

Continuing on the theme of great pitching prospects, the Phillies also have Cole Hamels, Giovani Gonzalez, Scott Mathieson and Daniel Haigwood. Most of these guys should be pitching for double-AA Reading this year.

Hamels has long been projected as a "Future Ace" and if it weren't for his many injuries, he would probably be a part of the Phillies rotation this year. His stuff is filthy and he has been complimented from the likes of Alex Rodriguez as one guy he wouldn't want to face again. With such high praise and obvious talent, if Hamels can just stay healthy a full year, he should quickly advance to the big club.

Gonzalez, one of the "Other Guys" in the Thome trade projects as a top-of-the-rotation type of starter, while Haigwood (the other "Other Guy") projects as a solid back-of-the-rotation type of pitcher. If both of these guys make the big leagues in the next couple of years, the Thome trade could look like a steal of a deal for the Phillies.

And, let's not forget that Randy Wolf is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could play a part for the Phillies in the second-half of the year. While the current rotation is a solid group, the future looks very bright for the Phillies on the mound.


Crystal Ball

Taking a look into the future, just what might the Phillies staff look like? First, let's assume that Gillick isn't able to land that big name starter by next season, then assuming Lidle and Franklin aren't re-signed and Lieber decides to retire (ok, the crystal ball is a bit fuzzy, but let's assume all of this anyway). This leaves a potential rotation of:
Brett Meyers
Ryan Madson
Randy Wolf
Cole Hamels
Gavin Floyd

This of course if how the Phillies drew it up a couple of years ago, but it could happen sooner rather than later, and this would be the type of staff that can help a team win for a long time.


Random Thoughts

David Bell's back is continuing to hurt him, and I think most Phillies fans aren't all that concerned. If he isn't ready to go the first few weeks of the season, it could be interesting watching what Gonzalez and Nunez can do...Peter Bergeron was sent down today, so he won't be making the team. The slap-hitting, ex-Expo would have been one of the feel good stories of the year if he had made it, but the Phillies are looking for more of a power hitter off the bench. Maybe we will see him sometime during the year...Chris Coste (pronounced Coast) is making a strong case for making the team, and that would be an even better feel-good story of a 33 year old rookie. What's even more intriguing about Coste is the fact that he can fill in as a catcher if needed, which would free up Fasano as the power-hitting pinch hitter the Phillies are looking for.