Throughout the 2015 season, we’ll turn to our resident Phillies analysts to debate the hottest topics of a year that will be more about development and building for the future than on-field results.
On Sunday, we picked our unexpected standouts for the Phillies. In this edition, we take a look at our biggest disappointments.
Nearly two months into the season, who has been the Phillies' biggest disappointment?
Casey Feeney, CSN producer
Jake Diekman was expected to be the left-handed Macho Man to Ken Giles’ right-handed Hulk Hogan, a Mega Powers bridge to the Nature Boy Jonathan Papelbon. But if we’re keeping the late-80s wrestling theme going, Diekman’s 2015 season has been more Brooklyn Brawler.
It’s almost inconceivable that a pitcher with Diekman’s raw ability could own a WHIP over 2.00 on the season. But that’s where he’s at right now (2.23 WHIP).
As Ricky Bottalico is fond of mentioning, it appears Diekman’s mechanics are all over the place this season. He’s clearly not the same guy he was a year ago.
The Phillies could use the old Diekman soon.
MLB
Brian Brennan, CSN producer
There’s an old baseball adage that the hitters will tell you how good a pitcher’s stuff is. And after five April starts, they weren’t very impressed with David Buchanan.
Opponents batted .323 against Buchanan, who came into the season as the Phillies' No. 3 starter. By the time April was done, Buchanan was in Triple A thanks to an 8.76 ERA and a shocking lack of command. He allowed 15 walks and 32 hits in 24 2/3 innings. Simply put, he wasn’t fooling anybody.
Things didn’t get any better for Buchanan once he was sent down to Lehigh Valley. He suffered a severely sprained ankle injury while attempting to field a groundball and is out six to eight weeks.
Jordan Hall, CSNPhilly.com producer/writer
Domonic Brown was dealt some tough luck, but that doesn't omit him from being a disappointment thus far.
Brown started the season on the disabled list after missing valuable spring training time with Achilles tendinitis. In his 20-day minor-league rehab assignment, the 27-year-old hit .139 with one extra-base hit. That, on top of a poor 2014 in which he posted a slash line of 235/.285/.349 with 10 home runs, forced the Phillies' hand: Brown was staying in the minors.
So his season was delayed and it had a ripple effect. I was one that actually believed he deserved to be with the big club to work out his kinks.
But regardless, I thought Brown had a chance to open fast as the Phillies' starting rightfielder and erase doubts — stemming from last season — about his future.
Instead, he hasn't played a game.