Philadelphia Phillies Should Move Tyler Cloyd Into Starting Rotation
With the 2012 baseball season more than halfway complete, the Philadelphia Phillies are floundering in last place in the National league East. They’re 13 games below .500 and would need a near-miracle to reach the postseason for the sixth consecutive season, even with the addition of the second wild-card berth in each league.
The major problem on the team has been the pitching, both the starting rotation and the bullpen. Sure, injuries have played a part. Ace Roy Halladay has been out since the middle of May, and Cliff Lee had a short stint on the disabled list early in the season. Oh, and don’t forget that Michael Stutes, Jose Contreras, and David Herndon have missed almost all of the season with injuries.
But the pitchers who have been healthy haven’t helped either. With the exception of All-Stars Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon, every single pitcher on the team has been a disappointment this season.
In fact, starting pitchers Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton have both pitched so poorly that it wouldn’t be out of line for manager Charlie Manuel to insert Tyler Cloyd, the team’s All-Star starting pitcher from Lehigh Valley Triple-A, into the rotation.
But would that be a good move? Is it a smart move?
Here’s what I think.
For starters, you have Halladay returning to the rotation on Tuesday, barring a major setback. So let’s say he does come back. Now you have your three aces, Vance Worley, and Joe Blanton/Kyle Kendrick in the rotation.
Mark my words that it’ll be Blanton remaining in the rotation and Kendrick heading to the bullpen. That’s what the Phillies did last year and with Blanton and Kendrick both pitching equally awful, it makes sense to do the same thing again.
However, what would happen if Manuel put Cloyd into the rotation and moved Blanton into the bullpen as well?
Cloyd, 24, is 8-1 with a 2.09 earned run average this season in Triple-A. He was an All-Star and is probably the team’s top pitching prospect.
With Blanton likely leaving after the season as a free agent (I really doubt the Phillies will make any attempt to re-sign him), the team will need a fifth starter next season. And if Cole Hamels is traded or leaves via free agency, or if Halladay or Lee happens to be traded, they’re going to need more than one starter.
Cloyd could be that guy.
In fact, the Phillies should bring him up right now. I’m serious.
The season is virtually over. I think we all know that. The Phillies are now 14 games under .500 after their loss to the Colorado Rockies and if they’re going to make a run for the postseason, it’s going to be because the big guns (Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, and Halladay, Lee, and Hamels) start playing well.
A move to the bullpen for Blanton will help the Phillies see if Cloyd is ready to pitch in the major leagues. He’ll get to do it without a lot of pressure, since, as previously stated, this team very likely isn’t going to the playoffs. The Phillies probably won’t even finish with a winning record.
Give the young pitcher a dozen starts over the second half of the season. Let’s see what he has. Use Blanton in the bullpen. Sure, he’s a home run machine, but the rest of the bullpen is total garbage. Blanton won’t be any worse.
The fans are screaming for the team to get younger. Manuel might as well start now.
Bring up Cloyd.
This article was written by Bryn Swartz, the top writer for Eagles Central and a featured NFL columnist on Rant Sports. Bryn has written more than 1000 articles in less than two years as a member of Rant Sports. His blog, Eagles Central, was named the 2010 Ballhyped Sports Blog of the Year. To read a portfolio of Bryn’s best work, click here.
