Broad Street Heroes

J.A. Happ has been in the major leagues for over a year now.  He made his major league debut on July 4, 2008 against Johan Santana and the Mets.  In that game Happ pitch 4 1/3 innings and earned a no-decision.  While filling in for Brett Myers in 2008, J.A. got a taste of what the big leagues was like, and he wanted more.

As a 26 year old rookie, J.A. Happ has made the most of his opportunity to be a starting pitcher for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.  Through 12 starts this season, Happ is 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.15 WHIP.  In each of his last five starts he has pitched at least 7 innings.  No other starter on the Phillies has done that so far this season.  Actually, no other starter has a goose egg in the loss column while winning 7 games.  The only pitcher close to that winning percentage is Jonathan Broxton of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is 6-0 as a reliever.  Not only is J.A. making a run at Rookie of the Year, but if he keeps up what he has been doing lately he will get consideration for the NL Cy Young.  Not since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 has a pitcher won the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Awards.

Tonight, Roy Halladay made a statement that he is still the ace that every team wants, pitching a complete game for his 11th win of the season, but Happ countered that with 7 innings of shutout ball.  Many analysts have brought up his name in a possible trade for Halladay.  At this point, there are two options to consider:  Is Happ having a Kyle Kendrick-esque season, or is he the real deal?  If he is indeed having a fluke year his trade value will never be higher.

After tonight’s win against the Marlins, Happ was asked about his time in Philadelphia so far, “I like pitching here…I want to be known as a guy they can count on, and that’s what I’m trying to work toward.”  I don’t know about you, but that is the attitude I want in a starting pitcher.  Someone who has something to prove and wants to be a leader.  Personally, I would not want to trade Happ.  He just has something about him that I like.  His composure on the mound is second to none.  He simply doesn’t get rattled.  In the 6th inning tonight, J.A. faced a bases loaded jam because of a Pedro Feliz error.  Happ wasn’t fazed and got out of the inning without a run crossing the plate.  Charlie Manuel had this to say about the performance, “When he gets in a jam like that, it’s good for him. When he gets out, it shows he keeps his composure.”

The Phillies are playing great baseball right now.  July seems to really agree with them.  By winning 12 of their last 13 games, the Phightin’ Phils have surged out to a 6 1/2 game lead in the NL East, and the way they are playing it doesn’t look good for the rest of the division.  Jimmy Rollins is batting .353 in the last 13 games, raising his batting average to .236.  So far this season there has only been one pitcher who has been the rock of the rotation throughout the good times and the bad, and that has been J.A. Happ.  When others have struggled, Happ has picked up the slack.  I don’t know what will happen come August, and I hope Happ is on the team when it really counts, but what he has given to this team so far is better than anyone could have asked for.