Phillies Insider: The Kris Benson Factor

The Phillies fan has been deprived long enough.

Where is Anna Benson????

Baseball's second hottest wife (next to the adorable Jen Utley) is nowhere to be found thanks in large part to husband Kris and his multitude of setbacks recovering from shoulder surgery.

On June 2, the former first-round draft pick was scratched from his single-A start with the Clearwater Threshers.

It's unlikely that Benson will be in a Phillies uniform at any point before the All-Star break.

I don't think the Phillies are holding their breath, waiting for this guy to come around. He's signed for a mere $100,000, thus the team can cut him at any time.

Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro told The Philadelphia Inquirer recently, "...he's going to have to pitch for us so we can evaluate if he can help us at the big-league level."

If Benson can pitch this season, what would it mean for the starting rotation? The Phillies have gotten quality starts and consistency from just about every starter during their stretch of 15 wins in 19 games.

But this is the Phillies' rotation we're talking about. Let's, for poops and giggles, see how Benson would fit in if he's deemed healthy at some point before the next Ice Age...

Which starting pitchers are safe and who should be looking over their shoulder...

Cole Hamels is SAFE

Hamels is arguably one of the best young pitchers in baseball and is far and away the ace of the staff. He has two complete-game shutouts over the last month and he's on pace (potentially) for another All-Star appearance. The only concern about Hamels is his health. He's never pitched 200 or more innings at any level (including high school). The bumps and bruises accumulated over the course of the April, May and June months could hurt him down the road. He's been as advertised, but must stay healthy

Brett Myers is SAFE... kind of

Myers has been terribly inconsistent this year, as has been the case throughout his seven-year career. He's only 3-7 with a 5.13 ERA, but to his credit, has shown some life over his last two outings. If Myers completely falls a part, he could move to the bullpen, where he's enjoyed success. A worst-case scenario is a trade, which I won't necessarily rule out entirely

Jamie Moyer is SAFE

He's eligible for social security sooner than any other major leaguer... and is still effective. Moyer is 6-3 this season and has kept the Phillies in just about every start. He's the type of pitcher who needs an umpire with an expanded strike zone. Without it, he's extremely beatable. With it, he'll fool the sh*t out of you and leave opposing teams wondering, "Why can't we hit this guy???" Other than Hamels, Moyer is the only starter on the staff that I want in a must-win game. Last season, Moyer was brilliant down the stretch and gave one of his best performances in the division-clinching game against the Washington Nationals on the final day of the regular season.

Kyle Kendrick is NOT SAFE

He was called up in July last season after Freddy Garcia (what a disaster!) picked up one win and pocketed $10 million before heading to the disabled list for the rest of the season. Kendrick was a blessing, recording 10 wins and posting an ERA under 4.00. He's a groundball pitcher with average stuff, but so far, he's done a good job of keeping the team in games. Kendrick needs to put forth better outings to stay in the rotation the entire way. He often hits a wall once the sixth inning comes along and only twice has he pitched into the seventh inning.

Adam Eaton is NOT SAFE

Never mind the fact this guy leads the team in quality starts (eight), I don't trust him. He was the worst pitcher in all of baseball last season (based on ERA) and still shows flashes of such ineptitude. If Benson is going to replace anyone, it'll be Eaton.

I'm sure if the Phillies are satisfied with their starting rotation come July 31 (which they should never be), Benson may never play in a Phillies uniform. He could be an interesting bargaining chip for teams looking to bolster their rotation... or, more likely, the team would just sever ties with the oft-injured right-hander.

Nevertheless, I better get at least one picture of a scantily-clad Anna donned in Phillies regalia before the Bensons leave town.