Who's Next?

So my Doc prediction came to fruition a few weeks late.  You generally don't decline that steeply even at Docs age without some type of physical issue.  Just my opinion and I could be wrong.  Having said that I am not happy about his fate.  I've enjoyed watching one of the best right handed pitchers to play the game finish his career as a Phillie.

I'm sure we will always remember that no hitter he threw against the Reds in the playoffs and just the shear competiveness with which he took the hill.

Moving on because baseball as in life waits for no one, who should fill his spot in the rotation?  Well you do have Lannan coming back at some point which means Pettibone likely stays provided he continues to hold his own.

Biddle is truly the best pitching prospect we have had in the system since Cole Hamels.  Consider Cole pitched his first big league game as a Phillie having only pitch 201 Minor League innings and only one minor league season having pitched more than 100.  Cole was 22 when he got the call and he went 132 IP that season with a 1.24 WHIP and a K/9 of near 10.

Cole's change-up was clearly an advanced pitch and Biddle doesn't possess such a pitch.  His Curve Ball is above average and his FB command and Velocity are decent.  Say more like Lee than Hamels.  It is not this regime's MO to bring up a young talent but if you ask me he is the most ready of the bunch.

Adam Morgan on the other hand is the more likely candidate.  Not quite the upside as Biddle he is older and already doing well at AAA.  The one thing that potentially could mean Ethan Martinis the guy is that when Lannan does come back someone must go back down.

Ethan Martin is that type of pitcher.  Martin has electric stuff and if it wasn't for his BB rate he might be in the majors right now.  Big League managers don't tolerate walks no matter how good your stuff is.  Again the premise is if you know Lannan will force someone back down they may opt for the guy that absolutely needs more work in the minors but has the stuff to compete.

In my mind Morgan and Biddle are ready now.  There is only so much you learn in the minors.  Randy Wolf is another good example of a pitcher that made his debut at 22 and then went on to have a pretty successful career.