"Blue Sky Game" yesterday, when nearly everything worked to perfection. Don't get used to it.
But we got to see the debut of a new role in MLB: long closer. There are no long closers in MLB because if you're good enough to shut a team down for a few innings, you're a starter. It's a happy problem that Walker got pushed out of the rotation because of better arms. So he goes to the pen and closed from the 7th yesterday, three innings WITH 7 K's! IMHO, an ideal role for Suarez later, too. The Phils' pen, with two arms that can close a game after 5, would suddenly be dominant. Yes, Suarez is a solid starter. The Phils may just keep him as a starter and watch him work himself to injury, as he did last season. But both Suarez and Walker in the pen as long closers is exciting.
Not enough has been said about Walker's resurrection. He was on his way out of MLB, and at worst, he was sitting pretty with $36M to collect. But he was proud enough to rebuild himself. Some heavy lifting. Here's hoping he has a great season.
IMHO, Casty has WON the #5 spot in the order and he's playing like he wants to stay there. Fans have to work to find fault with his play and effort.
Some sports scribe wrote something asking everybody how they like the new, improved Phils' lineup. I love it. So does Schwarber. Congrats to Stott for proving he can leadoff. The first 5 are set and the rest are so inconsistent it doesn't matter. Against lefties, though, they lose Stott move the rest of the order up. What about if they leave everybody where they are and let Rojas leadoff? Dump some responsibility on him now that he's finally getting a ML game?
