POLLS: Stay with the Young Guns

RECAP: So you guys think the Phillies should try to leg out the next month with Bastardo and Happ in the rotation. Still feeling that way after the weekend series versus the Red Sox? Well regardless of whether or not we want to stay with these young arms or find a proven veteran, we kind of have to stay the course. Most of the veteran targets are now off limits due to injuries (Jake Peavy, Erik Bedard) or their teams recent performance (Roy Hallady, Jason Marquis, Roy Oswalt). Who else out there would really be a huge improvement? One of these guys - probably Happ - will make it through the season. However, Bastardo may be in for another 4-6 starts because of the dearth of arms available. It's clear Kyle Kendrick isn't an option.

NEW: Despite their mediocre 5-5 record of late, how do you feel about the Phillies chance of repeating as World Champions of Baseball in 2009?

Voting ends June 22nd.

POLLS: Bastardo the Right Choice

RECAP: Twelve people voted and everyone of them agreed with the Phillies move to insert Antonio Bastardo - who started the season as a reliever at AA Reading - as the temporary replacement for the injured Brett Myers. The poll started last Monday, a day before Bastardo made his first appearance in which he went six innings giving up only four hits and one run. The poll ended this morning, about 12 hours after Bastardo made his second appearance, earning his second win by going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits. Not too shabby. The fans were right to believe in Bastardo and management for making this call.

NEW: Let's stay with Bastardo. Should the Phillies search for a long-term, big-name replacement, such as Jake Peavy, Brandon Webb or Roy Halladay? Or should they stick with young guns J.A. Happ and Antonio Bastardo for the time being? Let us know in the right panel.

Voting ends June 15th.

POLLS: Mayberry Should Be An IronPig

RECAP: The fan base has spoken. Young and developing right-handed OF John Mayberry, Jr. - who launched a 3-run home run in his first at bat in the Majors - should head back to Lehigh Valley for more seasoning. The other option was to sit on the bench and maybe get an AB every game as pinch hitter. In reality, Mayberry has stayed on the active roster. He could stay there until the end of June, when interleague play ends. The Phillies play 15 straight versus the Junior Circuit from June 12 to June 28.

NEW: Was Antonio Bastardo the right pick to fill Brett Myers' spot in the rotation? The 23-year old lefthander will get his first MLB start on Tuesday in San Diego. Was he the guy the organization should have turned to? Or would you have liked to see Kyle Kendrick, Drew Carpenter or Carlos Carrasco? Let your opinion be known on the poll on the right side.

Voting ends June 8th.

NOTE: Congratulations to Phillies SP Jamie Moyer who, after six tries, finally got his 250th career victory thanks to a strong outing against the Nationals yesterday. Moyer was the focus of our poll two weeks ago.