Knowing that former Phillie and current Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling
wanted to come back here and win a championship with the Phillies and that
Phillies GM Ed Wade did not make the deal was incredibly hard to take. Watching Curt go to the Playoffs with
the Red Sox made it feel like one big slap in the face. But when the season
began we were told not to worry. Kevin Millwood was our ace in the hole and
Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla were going to be fantastic; Brett Myers was
expected to repeat last year’s superb performance. Well…it didn’t quite work out
that way. There was a not only consistent problem with health in the rotation we
now know there was a dissension between recently resigned pitching Coach Joe
Kerrigan and some of the pitchers on the team. Things seemed to go from bad to
worse as each pitcher struggled with one issue or another. Eric Milton was the
only one that stayed strong and very effective in his role.
The Collegeville, PA born lefthander is known for his hard slider and
that sweet curveball and when he’s on top of his game he has pure flawless
command of his pitches. What he does struggle with is his consistency at times,
having trouble with control has led to him having a major league high 43
homeruns this year. He ended up finishing sixth this season in the National
League with 201 innings pitched.
He had a good first few starts this year. In his first six games his ERA
was never above 3.86 but by mid May it would steadily begin to increase and he
would finish the season with a 4.82. Through out this year however he was more
often than not, solid and dependable. If not for poor run support at times I
think it’s safe to say he would have had an even better record but as you know
all too well some of our best hitters struggled too. Milton also had a few no
decisions which cut into his record this season. There are a lot of questions
surrounding the future of Eric Milton with the Phillies and obviously there are
a number of pros and cons. The central question being is he worth bringing back
next year. My answer is yes.
In light of his high ERA and the 43 homeruns there are two factors that I
think should come into play when Eddie Wade makes a decision on Eric Milton’s
future in the red pin stripes and they have everything to do with the particular
problems this season saw the Phillies struggling with. First of all his
personality is strong and steady and he seems to be very solid mentally. There
is a real lack of a strong voice in that clubhouse and Milton appears to me to
be the kind of guy who can really lead a team and keep them focused. I looked
for those guys this year with that particular focus that creates leadership and
Milton was one of the few that fit the bill.
The other reason I think he should be kept around has to do with the mass
amount of injuries that the rotation and bullpen suffered. I truly believe that
if not for the other starters in front of him who went down he would have
performed even better. The pressure of not having the top guys in front of him
in my opinion was a recipe for stress and struggle. If the rotation is healthy
and strong next year I believe Milton will benefit and so will this frustrating
Phillies team.
There is something to be said for the kind of pitcher
that he is, a fly ball pitcher and when at home, he’s pitching in a hitter’s
dream park. With that in mind it is hard to say if the Phillies would want to
spend the amount it is going to cost them to keep a fly ball guy. While the
Phillies do damage control and cut that payroll (Millwood will not be on it as
far as i’m concerned) they also have to figure out if Milton is in their price
range when we also know they are looking to get a high quality every day Center
Fielder. High quality, high price. So whether Eric Milton can even fit into the
Phillies budget is going to really determine his future with this team. They
need a true ace however, and as I have said bring back Ricky Ledee who is a free
agent now after finishing the season with the San Francisco Giants. But all of
the guys from top to bottom must be able to pitch deeper into games. I feel
strongly that Eric Milton will be absolutely incredible if those factors come
together. They need a horse at the
top (snivel, snivel, Schill) though who can lead the rotation and have the kind
of strength the other starters required this year; they desperately need a
leader on the mound to make them feel more confident and Millwood just didn’t
cut it.
He also proved he is a hometown boy earlier this year and I gotta say I
love that. When asked if beating the Florida Marlins had been important Eric
Milton replied that for him personally it definitely held meaning. “I’m not real
fond of the Marlins”, he said. No one on the team has been that candid about
that particular rivalry and he spoke for many who feel the Marlins have little
respect for the Phillies and how little we appreciate their attitude, especially
this season.
Oh and another thing. One of the top worst moments for me this year was
watching Eric Milton come within two outs of having the first no hitter in CBP
history and having it totally destroyed. I would like him to get another shot.
And when Ricky Ledee (Okay I know Beltran, Beltran! But let’s be realistic here
guys) runs in to make the play he will catch the ball.
Closer Billy Wagner was adamant about wanting to see Eric
Milton signed with the Phillies again and that “they” would be crazy not to do
so. But General Manager Ed Wade should know a good thing when he sees it….right?