Of course the walk to Blanton set it all up...
Printable View
Of course the walk to Blanton set it all up...
4-0 Phillies
2 rbi single by Utley
rbi double by Ibanez
Owings now at 55 pitches and still trying to get the 3rd out in the 2nd inning.
With Ramirez set to go on Sat (most likely), who's the long man if needed today?
Watch Dusty throw Ramirez in long relief.Quote:
Owings already closing in on 50 pitches
With Ramirez apparently in the rotation, the bullpen is now short an arm until Volquez comes back or is disabled. Looks like they'll get their fair share of innings today.
MLB audio won't stay on for me today. It seems like that may be a good thing. Marty rightly said there's a big difference in pitching against the Padres and D'Backs as opposed to the Phillies. Make one mistake and you will pay for it. Walking the pitcher is about a big a mistake you can make.
Let's keep in mind that pitching at noon today means Owings did not get the usual 4 days' rest. He pitched late Saturday night in San Diego, coming off the mound at about 1AM, Cincinnati time, Sunday morning. Turning him around for noon on Thursday is technically a 3 and half days' rest. So, he's going on short rest for two straight starts. It's mismanagement of the staff, pure and simple.Quote:
guess Owings did need the extra day.
It's much more that Owings isn't very good vs. mismanagment.
Blanton's showing Owings how it's done. Strikes out two and gets 'em 1-2-3 in the 2nd.
Blanton, the pitcher with a 6.86 ERA, sets the Reds down in order. 4-0 Phils after two.
Two pitchers, two stories: one throwing strikes putting up zeros; one who can't find the zone, down by 4. This game is simple.
I'll admit it hasn't worked out, but I wouldn't take this argument too far. Owings only threw 81 pitches Saturday and only 90 the start before that. He had all day Sunday off after 1AM, all day Monday off, all day Tuesday off, all day Wednesday off. This game was 12:30 pm on Thursday. That sounds like a full four days off to me.
Last year with Harang the problem was bringing him back on three days' rest, that didn't happen today. And Ramirez is not Cy Young either, no assurance what he would have done.
The problem may be that the Phils are loaded with left handed hitting, Owings has a full 2.00 WHIP against lefties this year, not a very good number. It's just not a great match up for him.
So yes, in retrospect Dusty shouldn't have pitched him, but it's not the crime of the century.