Contreras was closer; Lidge was unavailable
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Contreras was closer; Lidge was unavailable
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Updated: 12:15 MST. . .
We didn't really get a straight answer tonight about why Jose Contreras was the team's closer, except that the Phillies "wanted to stay away from" Brad Lidge.
But the closer later told reporters from two web sites that he was suffering from stiffness in his right elbow, which was surgically-repaired this offseason and was part of the reason he spent the first month of the year on the disabled list.
"Today it didn't feel great," Lidge said, according to the team's web site. "I'm not worried. It's some of the things hopefully we won't have to deal with for very long. Out of surgery, here and there, there might be something like that. I guess it's pretty normal. That's what they told me. Hopefully I'll be ready to go tomorrow."
Contreras pitched a scoreless ninth inning, preserving a 9-5 win over the Rockies, the Phillies eighth in 10 games and their 20th in 32 this season (that's a backwards way of saying they have a 20-12 record). It was a non-save situation, but manager Charlie Manuel said afterward that Contreras would have gotten the call even if it was a save situation (Carlos Ruiz singled home the go-ahead run with one out in the ninth, then was followed by a three-run home run by pinch-hitter Ross Gload).
"We were actually trying to stay away from (Lidge)," Manuel said. "When we got the lead and everything, we were still going to use Contreras. I was still going Contreras. But Lidge can pitch and more than likely he'll be ready tomorrow. He's OK."
The natural follow-up question then came: Why were you staying away from Lidge?
"He was OK, but we were staying away from him tonight because he pitched yesterday," Manuel said. "I talked to (pitching coach Rich) Dubee before the game, he felt like we were trying to make sure we go pretty easy with him at first. He was wanting to pitch and everything. We just thought we'd kind of stay away from him. We wanted to stay away from him and Durbin."
Lidge recorded his first save of the season on Sunday, allowing a couple of hard-hit balls but pitching a 1-2-3 ninth in a 5-3 win over the Braves. He only threw eight pitches on Sunday, and was coming off a five-day layoff. Lidge has already pitched once on back-to-back days this year, throwing back-to-back scoreless innings against the Cardinals on May 3-4 and throwing 30 pitches in the process.
Contreras, meanwhile, was pitching on three straight days for the first time this season. He allowed a double, but retired the other three hitters he faced.
Durbin was obviously unavailable, having thrown 35 pitches in 2.1 innings on Saturday and Sunday.
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Juan Castro made his first appearance in five games, playing the bottom of the ninth at short stop after Gload pinch-hit for Wilson Valdez, who earlier in the night hit into his fifth double play in 32 at-bats.
Castro has missed five games with what originally was labelled a hamstring strain, but is actually a strain in the back of the knee.
Manuel said he did not know if Castro would start Tuesday.
^
Carlos Ruiz went 4-for-5 with a home run and the go-ahead hit.
Everyone needs to settle down. The guy's not 22 years old and it's gonna take time before he completely heals. And don't forget that what his arm does on a daily basis ain't normal, so you can't expect a typical recovery from that kind of surgery. Thank God for Ruben and his foresight to sign Contreras and Baez.— beegal99- great, a closer that can't pitch in back to back games— eagles84
It's starting to look like Charlie will have to juggle Lidge and Contreras (and maybe Baez) all season in the closer's spot. That's OK with me. Contreras has great stuff and a wicked mentality, and Baez has closed before and can again.- They should have tried to stay away from romero. This guy is close to being done; he was obviously falling off last year and is horrid so far this season. Charlie/Rich admitted last week that he is pretty much there just for lefties now but he is still having trouble with them. RAJ needs to find us a LHP out of the pen— jbourne53
sooner he blows it out the better, turn this page.- I'll at least give Lidge credit for coming out and saying he DIDN'T feel great for once.... Also, if the post-PED JC Romero is going to be topping out at 88 mph, they may want to consider making room for Bastardo
Comment removed.- When we're sweating a 3rd string SS like Valdez, then you know we're doing well. He'll be gone as soon as Rollins is back. Valdez is what he is...3rd string.— davekrieg
- The Phils think tank has taken a lot of heat for trading Cliff Lee and not resigning Chan Ho Park, but they have to be given credit for acquiring Contreras, and possibly some combination of Figueroa, Baez and/or Herndon. The events of the last 2 days have made it apparent that Lidge may not close as many games this year as originally hoped. His 2 near-homer performance on Sunday, followed by last night's sore elbow unavailability indicates that the Phils may have to hand the ball to a different closer more often than not. Contreras currently looks like the strongest candidate for the closer role, and the Phils may need to establish him as their official closer sooner than later. Be it a physical problem or confidence issue, Lidge has not returned to his closer role with much fanfare. He is still an exceptional pitcher, but his roller coaster ride as the Phils closer has had more valleys than peaks for quite some time. Lidge may still be able to help the Phils out of the bullpen this season, but not as a closer. Fortunately, the Phils have other options.
- He is their third string ss everyone. DooDoo you are a disgusting person. We do not like you or your juvenile answers. You should be banned due to bad taste alone, which may explain the quality of your women!— mmmike22
- Contreras has the potential to be a good closer. I cannot trust Lidge after last year and him already starting to break down in May.— CSFurious
- DDF: I am going to guess, you are about...13yo?— Jim C.
- I agree with Mark1npt. I think we've seen the last of Lidge as an everyday closer. I bet he ends up as a spot closer here and there and ends up mainly as a 1 or 2 batter reliever for the rest of his contract here. Its 1 nagging injury after the other and quite frankly Im good with that. He looked awesome 2 appearances ago against the Cards but looked very average and lucky against the braves his last time out. I think when we look back at this era 10 years from now we will realize that like many world series winners, the 2008 phillies were fortunate to have several players have career years.I think thats obviously the case with Lidge. Not only because he was perfect that year, but even just being considered an "elite" closer is probably out the window at this point. Throw Romero and Moyer in there as well. Dobbs too and hopefully not Hamels, but we shall see.— Sewellmatt
- Look for Billy "The Rat" Wagner at the trade deadline. The Braves should be toast by then and have a kid ready to step in as closer.— rmpchf
- Contreras is throwing the ball great. He should be our closer. I would use Lidge in non save situations and see if he can regain his form before he goes back to that role.— bradco
