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PHILADELPHIA — They both could hit, they both could pitch, they both played for the Angels in 2022.
One would be allowed to do both.
It wouldn’t be Michael Lorenzen.
“They were concerned with maybe having two guys do it at once,” Lorenzen remembered Friday, before the Phillies entertained the Kansas City Royals. “They didn’t want to have two starting pitchers doing it at once and maybe having both go down. Now you lose two starting pitchers.”
So Shohei Ohtani it would be, and he would help the Angels both from the mound and the batters’ box while Lorenzen was limited to pitching, thus trimming his risk of injury. But Lorenzen had outfield experience in the big leagues, and even if he was not the hitting force that is Ohtani, he did hit .290 in 54 games for the Reds as recently as 2018.
So would he be worth throwing into the cage once a week to keep sharp, just in case the Phillies ever needed a pinch-hitter late in some odd postseason game, where the extra innings don’t begin with a runner on second?
“No chance,” Rob Thomson replied abruptly, if with half a smile. “It’s been a long time since he’s done that, and you’re just putting him at too much risk. And we need him to pitch – especially the way he pitched Thursday.”
Lorenzen was acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline, and in his debut in Miami he struck out five and allowed two runs in eight innings of a series-winning victory. In that, he was precisely what Dave Dombrowski had envisioned: Another reliable, accomplished starter to bolster what he’d termed his “big five.”
“It’s been good,” said Lorenzen before his first home game in red pinstripes. “I’m glad they got me in right away. Throw me in the fire and let me get acclimated that way. I feel comfortable already, having been in a game. I’ve known a lot of these guys for a long time. I counted nine that I played with in the big leagues or in college or earlier in high school or in between. So it’s been an easy transition.”
Dombrowski had an interest in Lorenzen, who has extensive bullpen experience, in the offsesaon, but was hesitant to guarantee a spot in the rotation. Lorenzen chose to take a one-year offer to start for Detroit and wound up in the All-Star Game. But Dombrowski felt he could be a valuable rent-a-starter down the stretch, and the Tigers were happy to take back infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee in return.
Perhaps overhearing that Dombrowski wanted a right-handed hitter, too, at the deadline, Lorenzen made sure to head to Philadelphia prepared. “I did bring a few bats,” he said.
After all, he had seen how it all could be done, having been dazzled for a year by the spectacle that is Ohtani, the American League leader with 40 home runs.
“Oh, for sure,” Lorenzen said. “He’s incredible. What he is doing this year is insane. He’s got that extra gear. He is very impressive.”
Lorenzen will take his spot in the six-man rotation, at least through the regular season. But if he is caught in the inevitable postseason downsizing, he will gladly embrace any relief role.
“I want,” he said, “to win a world championship.”
So he will try to do that every way he can – as a starter, a reliever … or a hitter. He was not even discouraged when told that Thomson wanted no part of that injury risk.
“I don’t know,” Lorenzen said, smiling. “Maybe I can bring him some gifts or something.”
• • •
The vigil continues for the return of Jose Alvarado, who has been out since July 7 with inflammation of his pitching elbow. The left-handed reliever was heard to mention that his arm felt good after a bullpen session Friday.
The plan is for Alvarado to throw another bullpen session Monday, either in Philadelphia or Florida.
• • •
The Tigers claimed reliever Andrew Vasquez, who was designated for assignment during the trade-deadline roster adjustments.
“I’m not surprised,” Thomson said. “He was good for us. It was just a numbers crunch. I am happy for him because he is a good guy and did a real nice job for us.”
In 30 games, the 29-year-old veteran left-hander was 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA.
• • •
Cole Hamels, who had been trying to work his way into work in San Diego, was placed on the voluntary retirement list by the Padres Friday.
He was the last remaining active member of the 2008 Phillies in a major league organization.
Hamels, 39, could not shake off shoulder soreness to win playing time in San Diego. He was 114-90 in 10 years with the Phillies and was the MVP of both the NLCS and World Series in 2008.
• • •
Cristopher Sanchez (0-3. 2.66) and Royals right-hander Alec Marsh (0-5, 6.75) will pitch Saturday evening at 6:05. Sunday at 1:35, it will be Taijuan Walker (12-4, 3.99) and right-hander Zack Greinke (1-11, 5.32).
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