The Philadelphia Phillies Need to Shut Down Vance Worley Now
Vance Worley was an instrumental part of the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies, going 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA as a rookie and helping the team tie a franchise record with 102 wins. He didn’t post as good of numbers in 2012, as he entered tonight’s start just 6-6 with a 3.63 ERA, but he should remain a valuable part of the Phillies pitching staff for the next several years.
And that’s why it’s imperative that the team shut him down now before they risk further damage. Worley has reportedly been pitching with bone spurs in his elbow, and there’s absolutely no point in the team continuing to pitch him when they’re nearly a dozen games under .500.
Worley continuing to pitch could result in a more serious injury, and if he needs Tommy John surgery and has to miss all of 2013, all of a sudden the Phillies have to sign a one-year stopgap as a starter until Worley returns in ’14. Worley’s fastball has declined slightly, from 91.5 MPH on the average in 2010 to 90.2 in 2011 to 89.7 in 2012, and while that’s not a huge concern, it is a concern nonetheless. Worley is relying on his fastball just as much which means he clearly feels comfortable throwing it, and he’s added a cutter to his pitch repertoire, but still, taking the rest of the year off to rest his tired arm and the bone chips he has would be wise.
And it’s not as if the Phillies don’t have a great prospect in Triple-A in Tyler Cloyd, a 25-year old pitcher who is absolutely dominating the minor leagues in 2012: Cloyd is 14-1 with a 1.91 ERA in 22 starts this season, and he has displayed impeccable control on the mound – just 1.9 walks per nine innings. Cloyd has had a very fine minor league career, as he’s 47-22 with a 3.23 ERA and just 2.0 walks per nine innings in 131 appearances and 88 starts since the team selected him in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB amateur draft.
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