Phillies looking for longer outings from their starters, already adding up for bullpen
By PAUL HAGEN
Look, complete games for starting pitchers can now be safely placed in the category of notable curiosities in baseball, almost as rare as triple plays and hitting for the cycle. Its just how the game has evolved.
Still, teams look to get some length from the guys who work once every fifth day at the most. And nine games into the season, that hasnt been happening for the Phillies.
Only three times has the starter lasted the required five innings to qualify for a win. Only once has he posted six innings, the minimum for a quality start.
That has both long and short term consequences. Over time, having to go the bullpen early and often can burn out the relievers. And on Sunday afternoon, it contributed to an ugly 6-4 loss to the Reds before 39,129 at Citizens Bank Park that dropped the defending National League champions to 3-6 for the season.
Righthander Taijuan Walker, signed to a 4-year, $72 million free agent contract during the offseason, had to be lifted after just 4 2/3 innings. Even though he departed with a 4-2 lead, manager Rob Thompson needed to use five relievers to try to preserve the victory. Almost made it, too, until the dam burst when Seranthony Dominguez gave up three in the top of the ninth on a bases-clearing double by designated hitter Jake Fraley.
Dominguez walked Stuart Fairchild and Jonathan India with one out before TJ Friedl reached on an infielder grounder that eluded the drawn-up infield.
In all, Phillies pitchers walked nine batters and had two runners thrown out at the plate, Nick Castellanos in the first and Brandon Marsh in the fourth. In addition, Kyle Schwarber was retired trying to stretch a single in the eighth.
Basically the story was we made some mistakes on the basepaths and too many walks. Nine walks and 198 pitches (overall), Thomson said. As far as baserunning is concerned, theyve got to run with their heads up. At third base, I always tell base runners you get into that 10-15 foot area before the base, you pick up the coach. Then you touch the base and pick up the coach again, in case he has to change his mind.
Weve just got to clean it up.
He conceded that the starters also need to start sticking round a little longer. Weve been leaning on the bullpen quite a bit, but its just where were at now, he said.
Where theyre at right now is that Andrew Bellati has already made six appearances, Connor Brogdon, Gregory Soto and Dominguez have made five apiece while Jose Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel have each pitched four times.
Walker said his goal is to pitch at least six innings each time out. So we dont have to use too many bullpen guys, he said. We had to use a lot of bullpen guys today. Thats on me. If I can get six innings we just use three guys and we can probably strategize a little bit better. The goal is always to try to save the bullpen as much as possible and get deep into games.
I feel good. Im just throwing a lot of pitches. That one big inning (the fourth, when the Reds scored twice and sent seven batters to the plate) just got my pitch count kind of high. As we get going things will get better and Ill start to lock in a little bit more.
It needs to happen soon. Both the losses And the wear and tear on the bullpen arms are already starting to add up.
