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| Morgan on-deck yesterday. By Rich Wilkins |
I got the texts yesterday-
"So Morgan or Biddle replaces Halladay now?"
Uh, no.
Let's review. Neither is on the 40 man roster, the first issue. Secondly, I doubt the Phillies are trying to fill that 40th spot right now, it takes away flexibility in other areas. Finally, there's the fact that neither is really ready, despite their immense talent.
Say what?
Let's start with Biddle, because it's even more ridiculous that he's in the discussion of anyone at all. Biddle's the best talent in the pitching corps down there. He struck out 16 guys in AA just two weeks ago. He's a talent, no doubt. He also went 0.2 of an inning in his last start, facing seven hitters and retiring only two. Reading lost that game 15-5. He was not good. It doesn't mean give up on him, obviously. It means he has work to do. No shame in that, but that is not a sign he belongs on the big club now.
Then there's Morgan. I got an up-close-and-personal view on him yesterday. It wasn't pretty. He battled through four innings, surrendering four runs. Yes, he struck out a lot of guys (6), and you can see the talent in him. Between him and Francisco Liriano (doing a rehab stint), the first four innings felt like they took four days. Morgan's command can evade him, and this is the second time I've seen that. He had trouble controlling the ball in the exhibition game with Reading that I was at too. I still like him to make this team, or some team, next season, but not now. He needs to develop his command on multiple pitches, including all of his off-speed stuff. He's not quite there yet. He will be, but he's not yet. Let's not forget, he's basically pitched two months above A ball so far. Maybe in a month or two my view will change here. In fact, probably. He's been very good in AAA overall, and I'm kind of dumping cold water on this based on a couple of times seeing him. In his favor is that he's on schedule to start for Halladay.
Just forget Ethan Martin too, while we're at it. He's struggled with command. So if all the young guys with plus stuff are out, who's in?
I'd be literally shocked if they don't call up Tyler Cloyd. He's pitching well right now after a bad start. He wasn't great last September, but he was totally passable as a fifth starter. He's the furthest along in his development. I'd be shocked if it's not him. If it's not, I'll start believing Ruben's desperate.
