"During the London Blitz of 1940 when German bombers terrorized the city, the British authorities put up calming posters that read "Keep calm and carry on." The Philadelphia Phillies should paste such placards all over Citizens Bank Park for fans worried about the team's pitching staff. It's true that those posters were meant to appeal to the inner stoic in every Englishman, and Phillies fans may be the least stoic bunch of people anywhere, outside of recent purchasers of Greek government bonds. Still, the message is the same: relax. Despite injuries to J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton, Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, and J.C. Romero so far this season, despite Kyle Kendrick's slow start and despite Jamie Moyer's usual high ERA, the Phillies entered Wednesday's game with a 4.11 team ERA (which is lower now after a 4-0 whitewash of the St. Louis Cardinals). That's smack in the middle of the National League. And that's just fine. Of course it'd be wonderful to have a team ERA of 2.56 like the Cardinals do, or the 14 straight quality-start streak the Cards have going now. But couple average pitching to the Phillies' dominant offense and dazzling defense (third in the NL) and that's a winning formula. The Phils have taken two of three from St. Louis, after all. Now that Blanton's back and appears strong, and now that Cole Hamels appears ready to dominate hitters with a nasty cut fastball, a rotation of Roy Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Moyer and Kendrick more than passes the smell test. That's especially so if Kendrick comes up with more efforts such as Wednesday's win over St. Louis. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Cards' rugged lineup and held sluggers Ryan Ludwick, Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday to a combined 1-for-8, a harmless single by Pujols. Kendrick boasted good movement on his pitches, hit his spots, wasn't wild (two walks) and brought some pop on his heater. Kendrick and Moyer don't need to be Johan Santana, or even Carlos Santana -- they don't have to be the main man, the ace, the rock star. They just have to avoid the two-inning, seven-run blowups that turn the bullpen into an empty desert littered with tired arms. They just need to keep the Phils in the game -- and they generally do that." http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bra...ff_inspiring_confidence_despite_injuries.html
