PITCH COUNTS: The rotation is set for the four-game series against the Kansas City Royals beginning tonight, but after that, the remaining 11 games could feature spot starts for Jon Rauch, Rocky Biddle and possibly Mike Porzio.
But any thoughts of giving reliever Keith Foulke a start will have to wait until next season.
"It would be tough to get him extended at this time,'' manager Jerry Manuel said. "It's something we might experiment with [next season]. But we still want to get a read on some of the guys like Biddle and Rauch and maybe a guy like Porzio. Would we like another month to get those things squared away? Sure, but we don't.''
The only pressing decision in the final days will be monitoring left-hander Mark Buehrle's innings as he strives for 20 victories.
"I'm still seeing pretty good stuff, but maybe for not as long,'' Manuel said of Buehrle, who at 212 innings is within nine innings of his career high set last season.
Right-handers Jon Garland, at 1672/3 innings, and Dan Wright at 1681/3 innings, have exceeded their previous season highs and also will be watched.
"We'll do some research to see how people have extended themselves, the arm angle, the guy huddled up [in his delivery] all the time, breaking pitches not as sharp,'' Manuel said. "Those are things we'll watch to see if people are going the wrong way.''
But any thoughts of giving reliever Keith Foulke a start will have to wait until next season.
"It would be tough to get him extended at this time,'' manager Jerry Manuel said. "It's something we might experiment with [next season]. But we still want to get a read on some of the guys like Biddle and Rauch and maybe a guy like Porzio. Would we like another month to get those things squared away? Sure, but we don't.''
The only pressing decision in the final days will be monitoring left-hander Mark Buehrle's innings as he strives for 20 victories.
"I'm still seeing pretty good stuff, but maybe for not as long,'' Manuel said of Buehrle, who at 212 innings is within nine innings of his career high set last season.
Right-handers Jon Garland, at 1672/3 innings, and Dan Wright at 1681/3 innings, have exceeded their previous season highs and also will be watched.
"We'll do some research to see how people have extended themselves, the arm angle, the guy huddled up [in his delivery] all the time, breaking pitches not as sharp,'' Manuel said. "Those are things we'll watch to see if people are going the wrong way.''
