Gone in a Flash

With Flash Gordon headed to the DL, it’s funny to think how things have played out on the Phillies pitching staff over the past two months. Lieber was going to be used as trade bait to get relievers to bolster the pen in spring training. That he was kept was insurance in case of an injury to one of the other Phillies pitchers, though I think everyone presumed at the time that the concern was an injury to a starting pitcher.

 

Now Lieber is filling in the starting rotation hole created by a pitching injury…only the injury was to a reliever, and the hole was created because the staff ace was moved to the bullpen.

 

Has there ever been another instance of an opening day starter finishing the same season as a team’s closer? Surely there has never been an instance of an opening day starter moved to the pen to serve as middle relief/set up man…4 weeks into the season!

 

Only the Phillies. Only in Philadelphia.