Replacing Park, who began the season as the No. 5 starter, wasn't much of an upheaval. The team elevated J.A. Happ to the slot and figured it was just as well off as it had been before.
Replacing Myers, who was expected to be a reliable No. 2 behind Cole Hamels, is another matter. The Phils got by twice after promoting Bastardo, but that luck ran out last night against Boston. Perhaps that outing isn't a fair gauge, but Bastardo doesn't appear to be a long-term solution for this season. He's 23 and may develop into an effective pitcher, but he's also just 13 months removed from single A and unraveled badly against the Sox.
It's one thing to put chewing gum in the hole left by Park, but another to try the same method with the chasm left by the loss of Myers. The Phils need to get another starter, and it has to be an established guy worthy of more than just wishful thinking.
So which guy? Jake Peavy of the Padres doesn't want to leave the West Coast. Plus, he's out for a month because of an ankle injury.
Brad Penny of the Red Sox was an apparent possibility, with infield prospect Jason Donald the supposed bait. But that went nowhere, and now Donald is having surgery to clean out a messy knee.
Either would have been a reasonable fit for what the Phillies need, and there are other pitchers out there. In a way, it doesn't matter. You acquire somebody and take your chances, no matter what, but the odds are better if you get somebody who has already put decent numbers on the back of his card.
The dance the Phillies may be attempting, however, is to wait as long as possible before making their move. It is an understandable strategy. For one thing, all their rotation problems this season - which include very slow, troubling Aprils for Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton - haven't kept them out of first place.
