Why Vince Velasquez Should Not Be the Phillies Number Five Starter
If the Phillies are serious about contending, they cannot afford to go into 2021 with Vince Velasquez in the starting rotation.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, Phillies beat writer Meghan Montemurro was asked if Spencer Howard and Vince Velasquez would round out the 2021 starting rotation.
She responded, “Barring an acquisition or injury, yes, it appears Howard and Velasquez will start the season as the Phillies’ Nos. 4 and 5 starters.”
Her answer is purposefully vague (how likely is an acquisition?), but the important takeaway is this: it’s possible the Phillies will go into 2021 with Vince Velasquez as the number five starter.
I was shocked to read this. Are the Phillies really going to give Velasquez another shot? After Velasquez lost his spot to Spencer Howard last season, I was sure that was the end. I thought the only question was which free-agent starter the Phillies would acquire, not if they would acquire one at all.
Simply put, if the Phillies front office is serious about winning and cares about the fanbase, the team cannot go into next season with Vince Velasquez in the starting five.
Here’s why.
The Rotation Has Too Many Question Marks Already
The back end of the Phillies rotation is already replete with uncertainty. Spencer Howard is still a very talented player with incredible potential, but it’s anyone’s guess how well he’ll perform next season. In 2020, Howard averaged 4 IP per start and he had an astronomical 5.92 ERA. His 5.86 FIP was equally abysmal.
The Phillies need to give him the chance to develop at the major league level, but there’s a good chance he’ll still be mediocre in 2021. If the Phillies want to compete in the competitive NL East division, they cannot afford to have two unreliable starters in the rotation.
It’s Just Not Fun to Watch Velasquez Pitch Anymore
Photo: JCS/Icon Sportswire
Vince Velasquez’s incredible 16-strikeout complete game is well in the past now. After years of poor pitching and countless blown games, Velasquez has irreparably tarnished his relationship with the Phillies fanbase. Even when he pitches well, it isn’t fun to watch; he could still blow it at any moment.
And when he pitches poorly? It’s downright infuriating. If he’s going to start for the Phillies, it should only be as a last resort.
Velasquez Might Have to Start a Playoff Game
It’s hard to picture the Phillies making the postseason with Vince Velasquez in the starting five, but if they do, he might actually have to start a playoff game. Ideally, Spencer Howard will pitch well enough next season to be the fourth starter should the Phillies make the playoffs. However, that’s not a sure thing.
If Howard pitches poorly next year and the Phillies still make the playoffs, Vince Velasquez will be making a postseason start. Imagine how furious the fans would be if the Phillies lost a playoff series because of a bad Velasquez start. Dave Dombrowski might just be run out of town.
The Team Needs Depth Beyond the Starting Five
If Vince Velasquez is the fifth starter, who is the sixth starter? Who is waiting in the wings to pitch when one of the starting five inevitably gets hurt? I honestly don’t know (Cole Irvin?), but it would be someone even worse than Velasquez.
Pitchers get injured all the time, so it’s all but inevitable that the sixth starter will get ample opportunities to start. If the Phillies want to contend, they cannot have a worse pitcher than Velasquez starting a significant number of games.
If Dave Dombrowski cares about winning, if he cares about the fans, and if he cares about his own reputation in Philadelphia, he will sign a new starting pitcher. It shouldn’t even be a question.
Featured Image: JCS/Icon Sportswire
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