Worley Sharp in 4-1 Phillies Victory

It is really difficult to judge a baseball player based on how they perform in spring training.  Last start, Vance Worley was tuned up attempting to work on a new pitch; a split fingered change reminiscent of Roy Hallday’s.  This start, the sophomore right hander was dominant.  There are times when spring numbers look a little better on paper than they do in actuality.  This was not one of those times.  Worley made the projected starting line-up of the Pirates looks silly.  He struck out eight in four innings of perfect baseball.  Again, it is really difficult to derive any certainty from this kind of performance, but it sure as hell can’t hurt to dominate another team.

The offense was supplied by solo home runs from Jimmy Rollins and Hector Luna, an RBI triple from Domonic Brown and an RBI single from Kevin Fransden.  The more I see Domonic Brown swing a bat, the more I want the guy to be in the opening day line-up.  I realize his defensive limitations, but I also realize that the Phillies could really use a left handed power bat.  It really is easy to point at one of his supposed five tools is lacking, but the rest of said tools are there.  If he continues to smash the crap out of the ball, it will be really hard to see him in AAA.

Laynce Nix exited today’s game with a ribcage bruise.  I think this is a penance from running into a catcher in spring training.

Tomorrow, the Phillies take on the Houston Astros.  Cole Hamels and Livan Hernandez toe the rubber for the respective teams.