Remember Nick Pivetta and Cole Irvin? Of course, you do! They would routinely post ERA’s in the 5s and be generally frustrating. Most of us thought at some point that they could contribute to the Phillies rotation.
After being traded for controversial figure Jonathan Papelbon from Washington, Pivetta had especially high hopes. If anything, we could then rub it in the faces of Nationals fans.
Well, Nationals fans aren’t the ones feeling upset.
What if I told you Nick Pivetta and Cole Irvin are having great seasons? How would that make you feel? Upset? Nauseated? Angry? All of the above? There are no wrong answers!
Their 2021 Seasons… Not on the Phillies
Nick Pivetta is 4-0 with a 3.23 ERA for the first-place Boston Red Sox. On April 28th, he even won a game where he faced off against Jacob deGrom. Somehow he’s done that while giving up the second-most walks (19) in the American League. Some things never change.
Cole Irvin, meanwhile, has done even better for the Oakland A’s. While he started slowly with a 7.45 ERA in his first 2 games, he’s posted a 1.42 ERA in his last 4 starts. His last start has been his best, going 8 innings, allowing 1 run, and striking out 9. Hopefully, the Phillies at least got some sweet cash considerations when they traded him in January.
Looking at the Phillies’ four and five starters, they’d kill to have someone like Irvin or Pivetta. “Isn’t it ironic,” as Alanis Morissette once said.
Their time with the Phillies
In 92 games with the Phillies, Pivetta posted a 5.50 ERA. He showed his true potential about 2 times. In 2017, he outdueled Chris Sale of the Red Sox (irony again) en route to the win. That was in his 7th career game. In 2019, he went the distance against the Reds and we thought he endeared himself to us with this postgame interview.
Cole Irvin had a worse time in Philadelphia. In parts of 2 seasons, Irvin had a 6.75 ERA for the Phillies. In his first 2 starts as a Phillie, he had quality starts against the Royals and Rockies. Things went considerably downhill from there.
It seems he has found a new air of confidence in Oakland.
The Phillies must carry on as they always have but they might have missed out on some solid starting pitching that was under their noses all along. More so Irvin, as Nick Pivetta received about 57 1/2 chances to succeed in Philadelphia.
Don’t forget to grab a mask from FOCO! The official provider of on-field face coverings for the MLB!
Photo Credit: Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire
