Call to the pen
Fansided

Competition in Set Phillies’ Rotation

By Tal Venada

Mar 15, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (21) throws a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (21) throws a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /
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Entering 2017, Eickhoff Is the Favorite To Head the 2018 Staff. Photo by Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports.
Entering 2017, Eickhoff Is the Favorite To Head the 2018 Staff. Photo by Butch Dill – USA TODAY Sports. /

The other day, Quinn was on third base but wasn’t ready for a wild pitch or a passed ball, and Larry Bowa just shook his head in his chair behind the portable protective netting in foul territory. And as the outfielder was entering the dugout, Bowa threw his hands in the air and gave the rookie unsolicited advice with some “magic” words for flavoring. That’s right, while locals zero in on Quinn’s eye-popping speed and MLB opportunity, they miss when no mistake goes unnoticed or “unrewarded.” Yeah, Bowa cussed him out! But the point is McClure is just not this obvious.

Eickhoff matched Hellickson’s numbers in ’16 and already handled the two slot in the rotation for the entire campaign. In fact, they were the only two starters manager Pete Mackanin didn’t have a quick hook for. And even though it took him 18 months, Eickhoff has now added a solid pickoff move, which means he has the tenacity and dedication to lead the staff.

"IN OTHER WORDS:     “One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” – Nolan “The Ryan Express” Ryan"

Pitching:

  • Hellickson: 23 Gms., 189 Inn., 12-10, a 3.71 ERA, a 3.2 fWAR and a 1.15 WHIP.
  • Eickhoff: 33 Gms., 197 1/3 Inn., 11-14, a 3.65 ERA, a 2.9 fWAR and a 1.16 WHIP.

Eickhoff’s stats:

  • 5-8 with a 3.65 ERA for 103 2/3 innings versus San Diego, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado and Chicago (AL).
  • 6-6 with a 3.65 ERA for 93 2/3 frames against New York (NL), Cleveland, St. Louis, Miami, Chicago (NL), Toronto, Los Angeles (NL), Washington and Pittsburgh.

Whether the game is in Allentown or Philly, each pitch and every play is important. And so is every outing for Thompson, Eflin, Velasquez, Nola and Eickhoff because their tomorrow is riding on it. And each solid performance is another step toward ’18. But if you don’t want to wait for next year and beyond, you don’t have to because each one of their starts will give you something to add every week to their tally. And what would that be? Glimpses.

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