Can we officially say it now that J.A. Happ is a starter of the future? And, unlike Kyle Kendrick (who was smoke and mirrors until the All-Star break) he can actually strike guys out, and he has better control.
The star of last night's 6-2 win over the Braves was Happ, who had 93 total pitches (55 strikes), pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing just two earned, and striking out five, while walking just one.
In each of his four starts he has not allowed more than two earned runs and his control has steadily improved. He still gets behind some batters 3-1 in the count, but he'll figure out a way to put them away. Kendrick on the other hand, gets swept up in a vortex of poor control and looks lost out there anymore.
Maybe the Phillies' future isn't so bad after all. Happ looks like he could develop into a very good third starter and if you put him behind Hamels and Myers, this pitching staff could be one of the best in the NL for years to come.
Another, member of the Phillies' youth movement in Greg Golson pitched in by scoring the go-ahead run in the 8th making it 3-2. Despite blocking the plate, Atlanta catcher Clint Sammons was a tad late on his tag, thus enabling Golson to score his first career run in the bigs.
The youth movement on the Phils could perhaps the key to extending their window of opportunity. We know that David Montgomery will never allow his people to go out and get big-time free agents or make splashes at the trade deadline, but if these youngsters like Happ, Golson, Marson, and Donald can provide an influx of talent, maybe Burrell and Moyers' departures at the end of the season will be moot points.
We shall see about that.
The Phils have just 5 games remaining and are 2 1/2 up on the Mets in the East and three games up on the Brewers in the loss column, thereby making their magic number-three.
Tonight, Cole Hamels will take the hill against Mike Hampton at 7:05.
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