Oh Crap…
Word on the street is that JA Happ is getting skipped over for his next scheduled start. Will Carroll has this to say on the subject in his regular Under The Knife column:
Whether or not you believe in/there’s evidence for the Verducci Effect, there is definitely something to the “playoff hangover.” (Then again, without a study on this in place, I guess the nitpickers will be in comments telling me I’m wrong.) Happ is an interesting case, in that he was shifted to the pen for the playoffs and therefore, would be under slightly less stress than someone like Cole Hamels, who has done it two offseasons in a row. Or is it? We know there’s a multiplier somewhere, a sliding scale that would tell us how much stress a pitcher is under in various relief situations. Happ’s early-season struggles might be explained by this, but until there’s more evidence, it’s best to keep looking while noting this “hangover.” Happ will throw on the side Monday and a determination on the DL will be made after that. Sources tell me that the Phillies really don’t know, but with Joe Blanton still a bit off, this injury stack has the chance to throw the staff off. What might save them is the presence of Roy Halladay and the schedule. BP’s Tommy Bennett took a look at the schedule and thinks the Phils will only need a 5-slot guy once in the next two weeks. Blanton should be back by then, if not Happ.
This is bad news bears fellas (and ladies). With Blanton coming back around May 3rd, a DL stint from Happ is something the Phillies can to swallow, but it definitely puts the pressure on them to scrounge up more starting pitching. I think the case to get Figueroa some starts has now become too obvious and pressing to be ignored. We’ll see what Charlie and friends do in the coming days, I’ve heard no formal announcement on tomorrow’s starter although the Phils site lists Kendrick. I’m still hopeful they’ll see the light.
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In another injury related note, Will Carroll is hearing that Jimmy Rollins’ calf may be healing faster than expected. At least that’s what Jimmy is telling the trainers. We’ll see if that moves his estimated return date up from the mid-range 6 weeks to the optimistic 4 week estimate most news sources have been reporting.

