After the face plant to open the season, Nola finally looks like the pitcher the Phils intended to sign. The excuse for the start has been cold weather, but the problem is older than this season: that every 3 innings or so he puts one on a tee and it goes into the bleachers. The last two games, he's shown it isn't just part of Nola that the Phils have to accept. No clue what changed, but it's more than the weather, IMHO. Only Nola knows what that is. Here's hoping Nola can get consistent. The team is instantly a level better if he's not tossing gopher balls now and then.
The Phils' talent evaluation team has had some complete misses, especially shopping in the bargain basement. Lately, though, some of these decisions are looking really good. Luzardo wasn't the All Star level pitcher many had hoped for, but he's pitching like it. Kepler, after opening the season reminding us of Pache, Cave, Merrifield and Hayes, is hitting and with some power.
Ranger back on the mound and the Phils LOOK LIKE they're going somewhere again. The addition of Walker to the pen gives the pen a pitcher that can go several innings. The addition of Suarez to the pen would give the pen a pitcher that can go 5. The best part of that move is that it reduces the wear and tear on Suarez, who has a tendency to work to injury, but we'll have to wait for that. In the meantime, some of the new arrivals in the pen are looking less incompetent.
Baseball is better if the teams don't like each other and AZ surely does it for the Phils after that NLDS. Right up there with the LA billionaires, Braves, and Mets.
