Philadelphia Phillies pitching, despite flashes, seems iffy

An Unsteady Bullpen?

As for the bullpen, the sample size is just too small to draw decent conclusions, but the 44 runs scored by opponents in the dramatic early losses, it goes without saying, weren’t all given up by starters.

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However, the figures for Pat Neshek, Adam Morgan, Hector Neris, David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez, Victor Arano, and Jose Alvarez were all improved by the April 14th extra-innings win because they held the woeful Miami Marlins, as they should have, scoreless. Arano pitched especially well, giving up no hits or walks and striking out six in two innings.

Nonetheless, after play on the 14th, high-priced acquisition Robertson’s ERA remained at 5.40; Dominquez’ was 6.00, and Alvarez’ was 10.13. Among Phillies relievers, only Neris, Neshek, and Arano had pitched really well from the start of the season, but Neris’ new nickname, Hector Nervous, might stick; Neshek apparently can’t pitch two days in a row since he’s “old” (or something), and Arano had only pitched in two games.

But let’s return to Velasquez, who had started the game. He pitched into the sixth inning with a no-hitter before surrendering a home run. His long-standing problem with throwing too many pitches was not evident that Sunday. He hit the catcher’s mitt, throwing well-located 94-97 mph fastballs for the most part.

Maybe it was that new, high-priced Phillies catcher, J.T. Realmuto, a guy Velasquez had praised to the press…? No, backup Andrew Knapp caught Velasquez that day.

What’s it all mean? No one can tell yet, but it’s interesting that, for all their firepower, the Phillies needed seven relievers to defeat a very weak team because they decided to let a singles hitter, Jean Segura, win the game very, very late with a home run.

Will those seven relievers continue to perform? Will Vinny Velo, as Velasquez is known, continue to hit his catcher’s glove? Did Realmuto contribute to the plan to have Velasquez throw a vast majority of fastballs April 14?

Stay tuned.