Cardinals rock Velasquez, Phillies
Vince Velasquez started a baseball game above single A for just the 35th time in his career on Sunday afternoon when he took the mound at Citizens Bank Park for an eventual 9-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. His experience - or lack thereof - is showing.
Vince Velasquez started a baseball game above single A for just the 35th time in his career on Sunday afternoon when he took the mound at Citizens Bank Park for an eventual 9-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. His experience - or lack thereof - is showing.
The righthander throws too many pitches, relies too much on his blazing fastball, does not pitch deep into games, and is still learning how to acquire outs by pitching to contact.
But it is a team like the Phillies and their current rebuilding process that has the opportunity to allow Velasquez time to grow. He showed promise on Sunday, even as he served up a pair of homers and allowed five runs for the third straight start.
"I have to enjoy this adversity here," Velasquez said. "I have to deal with it and manage to go with the flow and build on it."
Velasquez's afternoon lasted just six innings as he exited his sixth straight start before the seventh inning. He has reached the seventh inning just twice since that marvelous 16-strikeout shutout he tossed on April 14.
"I told him to enjoy climbing the ladder. Enjoy the fight and the struggle to get to where you want to be," manager Pete Mackanin said. "Because he's going to be really good. He needs to keep battling and working at it."
His day looked ready to crumble in the first inning when Velasquez loaded the bases without an out. But that is when he shined, pitching himself out of trouble.
Brandon Moss flied out to the warning track, Yadier Molina popped up to first base, and Jhonny Peralta struck out. He retired nine straight batters after loading the bases. He allowed a homer in the fifth, but returned to strike out the side in the sixth. Velasquez showed that he is more than just a thrower. He can pitch, too.
"I even told [pitching coach Bob McClure]),'Why can't I just do what I did in that last inning?' I'd love to do that. And I'd love to get 16 strikeouts again," Velasquez said. "Just things don't work out that way. You just have to put the pieces together and you have to figure it out. I've got to figure them out."
The Phillies offense did Velasquez no favors. Phils hitters did not register an extra base hit and were shutout for the first time since July 26. They left two runners on base in the first and second innings before the offense fell silent. The Phillies had just one more runner reach scoring position. Frank Herrmann sealed the loss by allowing four runs - including a two-run homer - in the eighth.
The Phillies inserted Velasquez into their starting rotation at the end of spring training. He had just 12 career starts between double A and the majors and never spent a day in triple A. That afternoon in April may have brought unfair expectations. Velasquez said he thinks his 17-strikeout came happened "too early." Days like Sunday are to be expected and the pitcher believes he knows his remedy.
"I'm going to take these two days off, probably go play a round of golf, take my mind off baseball and think about what I need to do to bounce back," Velasquez said. "I think a round of golf is probably going to solve it."
@matt_breen www.philly.com/philliesblog