The solution for Vince Velasquez? Become Jeremy Hellickson 2.0

After just his first two starts this season, Vince Velasquez started a healthy little debate among hardcore Phillies fans like us (and journalists with the same employer). On the one side were folks like Marcus Hayes who admitted it was time to move Velasquez into the bullpen for a new life as a closer. On the other side were those like David Murphy who felt Velasquez needed and deserved a full season as a starter before entertaining such ideas.

The evidence after two outings weighed heavily on the side of the bullpen-ers:

Velasquez pitched past the sixth inning just three times in his 26 starts since the beginning of the 2016. His inability to economize pitches, along with a blazing fastball…