Kendick or Moyer in the fifth starters slot

Written by Mike Mariano | 23 March 2010

There isn't a lot going on in Spring Training for Phillies fans to be interested in other than how slimming Roy Halladay's red pinstripes are.  The only real storyline is that of the fifth starter's role.  The battle rages now between Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer.

You've got to assume that Moyer had the inside track leading into the Spring and still most likely does now.  However, Kendrick's strong spring has to be complicating matters.  He's threw nine scoreless innings to start the spring and has only allowed two runs in his fourteen total innings.  He's allowed seven hits and K'd six guys.  Moyer conversely has thrown five innings, allowing one run and striking out six.

The funny part about the last starting role is that for most teams it ends up being a carousel of sorts regardless of who begins the season.  If I remember the stat correctly, only two teams had fifth starters make 25 starts last season, the Cubs and Brewers.  The Phillies certainly weren't one of them with Moyer, Kendrick, and Pedro all seeing time in the spot.  Honestly, I don't think it matters which of them gets the job.  Both have their upside and downside and will most likely get double digits starts for the club in one way or another -- possibly through fatigue or injury if not the starting role.

The thing to take from this is that Kyle Kendrick might be making a pitcher out of himself and that is great news for a team that's always looking for a few good men on the mound.