Worley Elevates Phils

An unexpected feather in the cap of the Phils' starting rotation this season has been dynamic rookie hurler Vance Worley. The 23 year-old from Sacramento, CA went to college where Chase Utley went to high school in Long Beach, CA, an hour North of Cole Hamels' hometown, San Diego.

Wednesday, the day after Hamels threw one of his career best, a 1-run complete game complemented by 2-hits by the pitcher, Worley completed 6 1-run innings of his own and added a single and a run scored in the 5th, helping the Phils to their Major League-leading 20th win of the season.

It was a gem by the young right-hander, who recorded a 0.67 WHIP on the night. Worley has now allowed a total of just 1 earned run in his last 3 starts combined. He may be no Roy Halladay, but then, the Phils don't need him to be. With his marked contribution in Blanton's absence, Worley's hot hand has the Phils pitching staff at an unrivaled height.

Worley gave up 0 runs on April 29th, then Halladay yielded 1 in 9 innings the following night. Next, Cliff Lee surrendered 1 in 7 innings, followed by Hamels' 1 in 9 and finally Worley's 0, again. Phils starters, sans Blanton, are firing on all cylinders, 1-5 in the rotation, top to bottom, perhaps in unprecedented fashion.

Worley debuted in the Majors on July 24, 2010, against the Colorado Rockies, retiring the side in order and striking out 2. Wednesday, 2 of Worley's strike outs were against former Phil Jayson Werth, public enemy #1 in Philly, these days.

Worley was rewarded for his impressive Major League debut in '10 with a return trip to the minors after the game to make room for J.A. Happ, who was a Rookie of the Year candidate at the time, an honor for which Worley can now dream of competing for with the Phils.

He raised doubts in his previous start, last week, when he walked 4 in just 6 innings, while striking out 5. This time, in a remarkably quick adjustment and turnaround, Worley struck out 7, while walking none in his 6 innings of work.

“He’s got good stuff, keeps his composure and stays focused on what he’s doing,” Manager Charlie Manuel said. “Worley shows that he can pitch.”

The Phillies pitching staff has lived up to its bill so far and with Worley it may be exceeding it. The team now leads MLB in WHIP (1.14), Quality Starts (21) and is 2nd in team ERA (3.00) and 3rd in Batting Average Against (.229).

Meanwhile, Raul Ibanez, who finally broke through a startling 0-for-35 slump yesterday, had 3 hits, including a home run over the head of RF Jayson Werth:

“The only way I have to function is to pretend that it never happened and just move forward,” said Ibanez, who raised his average to .192. “I feel better at the plate and I’m starting to feel comfortable and I’m seeing the ball better.”

“He stayed on the ball better, his bat looked quick, and he moved a little closer to the plate,” Manuel said. “A lot of it is definitely mental, but at the same time, he’s starting to get some hits and that’s how you get your confidence, that’s how you starting seeing the ball good again. Every day is different.”

Jimmy Rollins, who was also slumbering at the plate lately, had his 2nd straight 2-hit night from his newly re-acquired leadoff spot. All of the sudden, the Phils seem more complete as a team, even with Utley, Lidge, Contreras and Blanton in the wings and Jayson Werth on-field at Citizens Bank Park in an opposing red uniform. If the Phils can score runs with more consistency, especially with Rollins at the top of the order, they will instill confidence and sustain this impressive, dynamic start.

“With Jimmy first and Victorino second, we can use our speed more,” said Manuel. “Plus, they’re both switch-hitters. We’re trying to get some balance.”

Of course, it has been 2 of the league's worst teams they've won 5 of 6 from the last several days. Last season, the Phils feasted on Washington, taking 12 of 18 games against the Nationals.

Still, a win is a win and hot streaks for Rollins and Ibanez are terrific signs of more good to come. Next up for Washington, as if 1 run scored against 15 innings of Hamels and Worley wasn't enough for them to want to get out of town quickly, defending Cy Young Roy Halladay will try his luck for win #5 of the early season to close the series on Thursday.

Then, it's a weekend series with the Braves, followed by a mid-week series May 9th-11th in Florida, against a red hot Marlins team that is 19-10, the 3rd best record in baseball. The Phils won more games vs. Florida than any other team in 2010, finishing the year 13-5 against the Fish. This year, the supreme Phils and a much improved, impressive Marlins team split a series April 15th and 17th, sandwiching a rain-out, with each team scoring 6 runs, total, in the 2 games.

Worley, Halladay and Lee are slated to pitch in Florida.