And... Lieber's trip to the bullpen lasts a day.

What's that, Rollins?

MLB.com: Garcia leaves with right bicep tightness

Garcia, who was scheduled to throw 85 pitches, was traveling back to Clearwater to be examined by trainer Scott Sheridan.

Garcia allowed five hits and three runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer by Troy Glaus, and didn't come out for the second inning.
...
Garcia has had velocity concerns since Spring Training began, topping out at 88 mph. He left the field with Triple-A Ottawa trainer Shawn Fcasni following the first inning.

Somewhere, a shiver runs down Mike Sirotka's spine.

SHOCKED! I am SHOCKED!

How the hell did he hit 88?

Strong tailwind, I suppose.

Kenny wins again!

I dunno...when you have Gavin Floyd have you really "won"?

Well maybe only when you have Gio Goanzalez too.

Well maybe only when you have Gio Gonzalez too!

Too bad the Mets didn't trade Milledge for him.

Way back at the beginning of the off-season, I asked around as to whether you'd rather have Garcia or Nate Robertson. Is the chorus still going with Garcia?

Somewhere, a shiver runs down Mike Sirotka's spine.

Trading Garcia to the Brewers would've made that even better.

Way back at the beginning of the off-season, I asked around as to whether you'd rather have Garcia or Nate Robertson. Is the chorus still going with Garcia?

I'd rather have Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez.

Well maybe only when you have Gio Gonzalez too?

You guys make it sound like Garcia's arm fell off and is part of several Big Macs. There is the teensiest chance that he will come back. :)

JRE ==> Garcia:Floyd/Gonzalez::hand:bush
The Phils should be optimizing the primes of Utley and Howard and to a lesser degree, Burrell (and Rollins, if you listen to the local hype). Trading a failed prospect with a last bit of shine sticking to him and an interesting, if not outstanding, prospect, both of whom are pitchers, for Garcia is exactly the kind of deal Gillick should be looking for. Now if Garcia is damaged goods, then obviously it is not a good trade. And if Kenny knew, then he should have all his players taken away from him.

Now if Garcia is damaged goods, then obviously it is not a good trade. And if Kenny knew, then he should have all his players taken away from him.

Garcia's obviously been damaged goods for about a year now. He mysteriously lost about 5-6 miles off his fastball, and it never came back. It's not like anyone's hiding anything.

Garcia's obviously been damaged goods for about a year now. He mysteriously lost about 5-6 miles off his fastball, and it never came back. It's not like anyone's hiding anything.

You ain't kidding. I laughed when I read this:

Garcia threw 32 of his 85 scheduled pitches in one inning against the Blue Jays at Knology Park. He surrendered three runs on five hits, including a long home run to Troy Glaus.

With two outs in the first, five straight Jays smoked balls off Garcia, who appeared to be throwing below the 88-90 mph velocity he had shown in his early outings.

That's pretty much his start on May 26, 2006 all over again.

I don't think that the Phillies* had any delusions that he was going to hit 93 or whatever but that he'd be a solid starter. The former Garcia would have gotten the Sox a lot more than Gavin and Gio.
I guess we'll see if the drop in MPH is unrepairable damage or simply (early) aging. I think I know on what side you are putting your money.

*Not to say that some of the local talking heads aren't referring to Garcia as an "Ace".

I don't think that the Phillies* had any delusions that he was going to hit 93 or whatever but that he'd be a solid starter. The former Garcia would have gotten the Sox a lot more than Gavin and Gio.
I guess we'll see if the drop in MPH is unrepairable damage or simply (early) aging. I think I know on what side you are putting your money.

*Not to say that some of the local talking heads aren't referring to Garcia as an "Ace".

*Not to say that some of the local talking heads aren't referring to Garcia as an "Ace".

God, isn't that frustrating! The same dopes who "reviled" Abreu*.

* See Abreu thread.

Phils encouraged by Garcia’s exam

Hey! Maybe it's not so bad after all!

Garcia's obviously been damaged goods for about a year now.

Except that he was brilliant at the end of '06 pitching four quality starts in his last five games; including back-to-back 1-hitters, one of which threatened to be a perfect game. His ERA was 1.73 over those 36+ IP. At that point, he wasn't so obviously damaged goods, but looked like a pitcher who finally worked his way through some problems and come out fine.

At that point, he wasn't so obviously damaged goods, but looked like a pitcher who finally worked his way through some problems and come out fine.

Actually, he looked like a pitcher who made some adjustments w/r/t pitch selection and it took some time for the scouting reports to catch up. The old velocity still wasn't there - he was getting guys out with smoke and mirrors.

He'll probably have at least some initial success in the NL as opposing teams get their first look at his assemblage of garbage pitches, but I'm still glad the White Sox got as much for him as they did.

He added (or re-added) a splitter to his repertoire. His fastball was still 86 m.p.h. in that last month.