…are no match for an umpire eager to dine before room service is cut off.
In all seriousness, the replay was inconclusive and I’m not gonna complain about Jose Reyes finally coming to life, nor Angel Pagan doing everything in his power to, uh, well, get Omar Minaya off the hook for waiving Ruben Gotay.
Newsday’s Ken Davidoff has some sobering numbers regarding the Phillies’ ownership of Aaron Heilman. Allowing a moonshot to Ryan Howard is not in and of itself a cause for alarm, but Heilman’s had a brutal first week. I remain convinced he’d be a better option as a 5th starter than Claudio Vargas, if only because the Notre Dame product would have a larger margin for error than he’s granted as Country Time’s precursor. If Heilman’s gonna groove one within a batter or two of his arrival, perhaps he requires another 100 pitches to settle in.
I agree with this (and I also agree if you were implying that Reyes was out — I’m sure those even out over the course of a season, but I think the Phils are owed one). For whatever reason — maybe the fact that it will never happen as long as Willie Randolph is running the team — Heilman is all the way out of the discussion as a starter. But even if/when he settles down in the pen, he’s possessed of infinitely more upside than Claudio Vargas. As nervous-making as his weak start is, I think he’ll get better, and also probably be moved into a lower-stress role when/if Duaner Sanchez ever comes back.
I will admit to finding it kind of funny that New York sports media is all on fire for Claudio Vargas. This Claudio Vargas. Not some secret other Claudio Vargas who’s actually good.
Eric Bruntlett. Ed Wades revenge?