Archive: September, 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Scenes from the clincher

Well, I can’t leave the press box before giving you a little color and some information on a bog night for the Phillies, though I won’t be long. The 24-ounce beer shower I just endured courtesy of a Mr. Jayson Werth has my teeth chattering; after spending 10 soaked, frigid minutes on the field, I’ll likely be dead by the playoffs. Thanks, Jayson. 

Anyways, first the scenic stuff. It was a lot of spraying and jumping and whooping, but the emotions were real—men enjoying a true accomplishment. More in tomorrow’s game story, but here’s a sample of what they said:
 
Brad Lidge, while friend Chad Durbin snuck up behind to pour a cold bottle of champagne on the closer’s head: “It’s really weird right now. For some reason, it feels like the whole year has been going well, even though it hasn’t.”
 
Jimmy Rollins: “It has been rougher this year. Just the fact that everyone was gunning for us. We stood up to the test in the regular season, and we’ll stand up to the test in the postseason.”
 
The aforementioned Jayson “Thanks for smudging my entire notebook” Werth, cigar hanging from his mouth and goggles covering his eyes, walked toward the home dugout. Fans responded with a roar, and one tossed Werth an oversized boxing glove with a Phillies insignia on it; Werth slipped his hand in the glove and raised it in the air.
 
“I want to say you get used to this, but every one is different and special,” when I told him he owed me a damn good quote after giving me pneumonia. “We are going to enjoy this moment, but know where we still have to go.”
 
 
Lidge, for one, believes that he will yet experience success this season. “We’re about to get on a roll,” he said. “I’m about to do what I do best.”
 
His fellow relievers, who form a close and supportive group, gathered in the bullpen for a toast. 
 
Charlie Manuel, the man who sent Lidge to the mound for his reassuring moment, was absent during the celebration. Standing in front of the desk in his office while younger men jumped and yelled and hugged in the other room, Manuel said quietly:
 
“This celebration is for them. They are the ones who got it done….I’ll celebrate when we win the big one.”
 
 
***
Many Phillies poured champagne on the sign in left field honored Harry Kalas, the broadcaster who died of a heart attack in the broadcast booth at Washington, DC’s Nationals Park on April 15.
 
And some information related to the playoffs came out amid the bubbly. Ruben Amaro Jr. was impressed by Kyle Kendrick tonight and did not rule him out as a member of the postseason roster. The GM also said for the first time that Pedro Martinez-obviously less impressive this week than J.A. Happ, might not start in the playoffs---though nothing had been decided.
 
And that’s it for now. 
Posted by Andy Martino @ 11:38 PM  Permalink | 18 comments
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Myers available to pitch tonight

There is a playoff feel at the Bank tonight, with crisp weather, a thick crowd of reporters and rolled-up plastic lining the walls in the Phillies clubhouse. A Phils win or Braves loss would clinch the NL East tonight, of course, and the team trying to sew it up got a piece of good news: Brett Myers is available to pitch tonight, according to pitching coach Rich Dubee. 

Myers, who strained an upper back muscle and has not pitched since Sept. 12, threw a successful bullpen session Monday. Yesterday, manager Charlie Manuel and Dubee either did not know or would not saw if the righthander would need another bullpen before rejoining the team.  The team had been saying all along that they did not expect Myers to pitch until later in the week.
 
A few minutes ago, Dubee confirmed that Myers would, in fact, be in the pen tonight and ready to see game action.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 4:16 PM  Permalink | 9 comments
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Anatomy of Madson's save
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“I don’t have a good change-up today,” Ryan Madson told his catcher, Paul Bako, when he entered the game with one on and two out in the eighth inning today, and the Phillies leading Milwaukee 6-5.

"All right,” said Bako. “Let’s go.”

           
It was perhaps a hidden blessing that Madson was without his best breaking pitch yesterday. Relying on his fastball, Madson powered his way to a four-out save, with help from a caught stealing to end the eighth.
           
The pitch the Madson calls a sinker consistently reached 97-m.ph. in the ninth inning, saving the Phillies from another potential late-game disaster.
           
“I don’t think that’s allowed to be called a sinker,” said Chad Durbin, who shut out the Brewers through 1 1/3 of the most important innings he has thrown all year. “It’s an exploding something-or-other.”
           
In a previous audition to replace Brad Lidge as closer, Madson lost a game to the New York Mets Sept. 12 when David Wright homered on a first-pitch change-up.
           
“I just re-learned a lesson that day,” about when to use the change-up, Madson said.
           
Manager Charlie Manuel spoke with Madson soon after that game, reminding him not to use his second-best pitch in a key situation. “I’m a best-pitch guy,” Manuel said yesterday. “If you get beat on your best pitch, then I’m alright with that.”
           
“The David Wright home run on that first-pitch change-up really put things into perspective” for Madson, said Jimmy Rollins, who added he has seen a more determined Madson ever since.
           
When Mike Cameron struck out looking at a fastball to end yesterday’s game, Madson reacted with uncharacteristic emotion; he screamed, pumped his fist three times and slapped hands forcefully with Bako.
           
“It was just a buildup of a couple of frustrating days,” Madson said. “It felt really good."
Posted by Andy Martino @ 7:03 PM  Permalink | 23 comments
Friday, September 25, 2009
Is Happ to pen a good idea?

Charlie Manuel did not raise the possibility of re-assigning J.A. Happ to the bullpen. To be fair, the manager was asked.           

But after offering high praise for Happ after the rookie returned from injury with another strong outing, Manuel did not deny that Happ could improve the greatest threat to the Phillies playoff hopes, their bullpen.
 
“I like Happ as a starter, always have,” Manuel said, in comments offered too late for most of yesterday’s print editions. “But at the same time, also seeing the way out pitching looks, there would be a chance that he could wind up in the back end of our bullpen if things…if we don’t get some things straightened out, and if (J.C.) Romero don’t come back. I’m not saying we’re going to do that, but we’re going to talk about it if we don’t have no lefty.”
 
Asked if he could see Happ as a closer, Manuel said: “Yeah, probably. You know one of the big things about Happ is? He's not afraid to throw his secondary pitches. He's really improved a whole lot. He's still got a little ways to go yet, but he has really improved as the season goes along."
 
Now that Manuel has admitted to considering this move, the questions are: Is moving Happ to the bullpen a wise idea?
 
If J.C. Romero and his injured forearm return before the end of the year, the point could be moot, though he and Scott Eyre (elbow) will be diminished until they have time to heal. Happ certainly has the ability to succeed as a late-inning lefthander.
 
That seems a more likely scenario than closing for the 26-year-old, because Eyre and Romero’s injuries have created a void. For the season, Happ has held lefthanders to a .207 batting average.
 
If Manuel uses Happ as a closer, he could use Jamie Moyer against lefthanders. Moyer. Lefties are batting .245 against Moyer this year, though the 46-year-old lacks the ideal velocity and sharp breaking pitch (like Eyre’s slider) of an ideal situational lefty.
 
So in terms of performance and mentality, Happ should be able to succeed as a reliever. The only real question is whether he wants that. The easygoing Happ has a wholehearted desire to start, and showed his only flashes of anger this year when his spot in the rotation was threatened.
 
As an employee of the Phillies, he will surely do what he is told without complaining. But that does not mean he has the fierce longing to close—an important intangible for that job—that, say, Brett Myers has.
 
That aside, though, it is clear that Brad Lidge is too risky, and the bullpen has too few lefties. The ingredients are there for Happ to fit perfectly as a postseason reliever, before returning to his promising career as a starter next spring.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 4:30 PM  Permalink | 22 comments
Friday, September 25, 2009
Manuel says Happ could go to bullpen

The most interesting event tonight came in Charlie Manuel's office after the game, when he went further than ever about the idea of shifting J.A. Happ to a key bullpen role.

“I like Happ as a starter, always have,” Manuel said. “But at the same time, also seeing the way out pitching looks, there would be a chance that he could wind up in the back end of our bullpen if things…if we don’t get some things straightened out, and if Romero don’t come back. I’m not saying we’re going to do that, but we’re going to talk about it if we don’t have no lefty.”

Asked if he could see Happ as a closer, Manuel said: “Yeah, probably,” though he implied he would be more likely to use Happ in a role like Romero’s last year, assigned to retire both lefties and righties in the late innings.

What does Happ think? His strong preference is to be a starter, and tonight he did not want to think about the issue after an encouraging win. “It’s too early for me to think about (going to the bullpen)," he said. "I’m really just trying to get back into the routine of doing my job.”

If temporarily reassigned, this would be much different than other threats to Happ's job security this year.  Manuel, desperate to avoid a season spoiled by the bullpen, spoke glowingly of Happ and would trust him in big spots in the playoffs.

What do you think? Is he too effective as a starter, or would he be most helpful this year in the bullpen?

Poll: How should the Phillies use J.A. Happ in the playoffs? (2798 votes)
Posted by Andy Martino @ 12:20 AM  Permalink | 31 comments
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Bullpen changes coming?

Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and injuries have turned late-inning relief into the Phillies primary concern. Before tonight's game, manager Charlie Manuel offered cryptic answers when asked how he would handle potential save situations.

He began by repeating the message delivered after Lidge suffered his 11th blown save Wednesday night in Miami, that Lidge and Madson remain the most capable pitchers to succeed in their roles.

 
“Both of those guys, they are our talented guys, as far as stuff-wise and experience-wise. That’s kind of making it tough.”
 
He then appeared to hint that he was considering changes. “But at the same time, we’ve got to do something to try and win games,” Manuel said.
 
An interesting moment came when the manager was asked if he would consider Tyler Walker. Walker has 34 career saves, 25 of which came in 2005, when he was the closer for the San Francisco Giants. 
 
Walker has pitched well as a Phillie as a middle reliever this season.  He lacks a dominant pitch such as Lidge’s slider when effective, or Ryan Madson’s change-up, but he would have a chance to be serviceable. Walker is no one’s idea of an ideal playoff closer, but he may be less risky than the 2009 version of Lidge.
 
Would Manuel consider the righthhander?
 
“He’s done a good job for us in the role that he’s at,” Manuel said, before slowing considerably and appearing to choose his words judiciously. “But I’ll…we’ll do…We’ll do whatever it takes to win a game. That might give you guys something to write about.”
 
That last comment came with a mischievous smile. Am I saying that Walker will get a shot? Not at all. I’m just saying that Manuel’s answer was interesting.
 
He continued: “I’m going to do what I have to do. We’ll see. Whatever I want to do, we’ll do that. And we’ve got to win some games.”
 
Earlier this month, when Lidge failed in a save opportunity in Houston, Manuel appeared to have many interesting options to replace his troubled closer if necessary. Now, injuries have eliminated or severely delayed most of the possibilities. Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park and J.C Romero are all rehabbing.
 
Starters J.A. Happ and Pedro Martinez could also theoretically be considered, though those suggestions were more realistic when both pitchers were healthy. Happ missed two starts with a muscle strain in his side and left a third after three innings, and Martinez is questionable for Saturday’s start with a strained neck.
           
This much I know: If a save situation arises tonight, it will be interesting to see what Manuel does. 

***

Carlos Ruiz has a cortisone injection in his left wrist today, and is headed to Milwaukee.  He will be unavailable for several days.

***

Talked to Chad Durbin about healing from a lat strain, which Myers is trying to do.  Durbin said that the issue affected the movement on his pitches.  "Sink and cut and break--everything was dull," he said.

The good news was that Durbin completely healed in 21 days.  If Myers returns, say, Friday (a reasonable projection given his scheduled bullpen session Tuesday), he will have been out 17 days.  So maybe he can still contribute.

If he and J.C. Romero and Chan Ho Park return, the Phils will have interesting decisions regarding hobbled pitchers and the playoff roster.

"I don't think anyone in our bullpen necessarily deserves to be a slam dunk," to make the roster, Ruben Amaro said.

***

 

Posted by Andy Martino @ 7:00 PM  Permalink | 26 comments
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Myers headed to Miami; Phils adjust rotation UPDATED

UPDATED 8:20PM:

Brett Myers boarded an airplane to South Florida last night, ready to re-join the Phillies today and hoping to pitch by early next week. But a timetable set by the team was more conservative.
 
 An MRI in Philadelphia today showed that Myers suffered a grade one strain of his right latissimus dorsi (back) muscle, a team spokesman announced last night. Myers is scheduled to throw a bullpen session next Tuesday, and the Phillies hope—but did not guarantee—that he would return by the end of the regular season.
           
Reached by telephone this afternoon, Myers told the Inquirer that he was optimistic about appearing in a game early next week.
           
“I think I could be ready by the homestand,” which begins Monday, Myers said. “My strength is good.”\
 
Myers’ injury could have been a side effect of making five relief appearances in seven days after returning from the disabled list. The righthander did not pitch in a major-league game from May 27-Sept 5 because of right hip surgery.
           
Phils reliever Chad Durbin suffered the same injury earlier this season, and said that it affected his mechanics and lowered his arm angle.
 
If Myers is able to return, he will then need to demonstrate—as will all the injured Phils relievers who hope to come back this season—that he can be healthy and effective enough to contribute in the postseason.

***

Also some changes in the rotation: The Phillies flipped Pedro Martinez and Cliff Lee. Lee will start Friday at Milwaukee, and Martinez is tentatively scheduled for Saturday’s game. 
           
J.A. Happ will start on Thursday, good news for a team concerned about the lefthander’s nagging side muscle strain.
           
Martinez left Saturday’s loss to Atlanta after three innings with neck stiffness. He saw a chiropractor after arriving in Miami, and the Phillies hope that the extra day of rest will be sufficient.
           
Martinez played catch yesterday, and also created some confusion by appearing to mention a new injury. “I feel a little bit better,” he said. “I think I had a rib out of place.”
           
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. seemed unaware of the apparent rib issue, and was hopeful that Martinez would be ready Saturday.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:08 PM  Permalink | 23 comments
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Brett Myers has possible shoulder strain

Wondering why Brett Myers had not pitched since Sept. 12? He has a possible shoulder strain. Here’s Ruben Amaro Jr.: a few minutes ago:

“He’s got some soreness in the back of his shoulder. We’ve been kind of protecting him. I guess he sustained it about eight or 10 days ago….He’s scheduled to see (team physician) Mike Ciccotti on Tuesday to see if there is anything realy serious about it. (The training staff) is saying it’s a possible strain.”

Amaro said that he did not believe Myers returned too soon from hip surgery, but may have pitched too often once back.

Posted by Andy Martino @ 7:08 PM  Permalink | 21 comments
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Achy Pedro: "Not too good"

Pedro Martinez rode a stationary bicycle for about 40 minutes this morning, walked to his locker and rubbed his neck.

 
“Not too good.,’ he said. “I feel it in the back (of the neck), it shoots to the right side."
           
Martinez injured his neck swinging and missing in the second inning of Saturday’s loss, which he left after throwing one warm-up pitch before the fourth. “I didn’t sleep very well last night,” he said, grimacing while rubbing the afflicted area.
 
Martinez said he expected to see a chiropractor in Miami, where the team travels tonight. Asked if he might miss his next start, he said, “Thank God for that day off (tomorrow),” which seemed to imply that four days of rest might be iffy but the extra day provided by the schedule might be sufficient.
 
That start would come Friday in Milwaukee, and Martinez remained cagey when asked about his status for it. “I think it’s going to be great,” he said of Friday. “Day before Saturday!”
Posted by Andy Martino @ 1:50 PM  Permalink | 16 comments
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Eyre, Romero, Happ, Ruiz updates
Lotsa news today on those aching lefties, and the catcher you like to call Chooch.

J.C Romero threw a bullpen session, and afterward was told to report to Clearwater, Fla. tomorrow, to face batters in the instructional league.

“I liked what I saw from him (yesterday),” said pitching coach Rich Dubee. “He could pitch again this year.”
Romero had hoped to throw a simulated game early this week in Florida, and join the Phils in Milwaukee this weekend. Now, he expects to be in Clearwater for about a week. “It is what it is,” he said, sighing.

Scott Eyre, who has a “loose body” in his left elbow, was encouraged after throwing 25-pitch bullpen session, his first since suffering the injury Sept. 7. He said he will require arthroscopic surgery after the season.

“If this had happened two weeks earlier, I could have had the surgery and come back in time for the playoffs,” he said. “I felt like I had some zip on the ball today, felt like it was free and easy.”

Eyre, 37, has previously said that he would likely retire after this season. But he has pitched effectively as a lefthanded specialist all year, causing him to revise that plan.  Eyre said that he would return to the Phillies in 2010, if they wanted him. If not, he would retire.

In the short term, Eyre hopes that the loose body does not hamper his pitching. He felt no difference in velocity yesterday, though pitching coach Rich Dubee said that the injury could impact Eyre in other ways.
“It could affect how much torque he has on his slider, and how much break it has,” Dubee said.

Eyre hoped to be available for Tuesday’s doubleheader at Florida. Dubee said, “I don’t know about that, but it could be soon.”

J.A. Happ, who left Friday’s game in the third inning for what the team called “precautionary reasons” continued to insist yesterday that he had suffered no setbacks, and would make his next start. Dubee backed those assertions.
Charlie Manuel has strongly hinted that if Eyre and Romero are not able to return and pitch effectively, Happ would be sent to the bullpen for the playoffs.
 
***

Ruiz said he felt sore, but hoped to be available for Tuesday's doubleheader.  He actually injured his wrist during the Washington series when a foul ball knicked him. He played through it, then aggravated it Friday on a play at the plate. At the moment, the situation does not appear serious.
 
***

Shane Victorino no longer feels sick in the tummy, but Ben Francisco gets the start again in center.  Manuel said Francisco earned it with a 3 for 5 night and home run, apparently choosing to forget that ill-advised and failed swiple of third in the sixth inning.
 
***

Jack Taschner has a mid-back strain, and is rehabbing in Clearwater.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 6:22 PM  Permalink | 6 comments
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About Andy Martino
Andy Martino is in his first season on the Phillies beat. A former New York City public school teacher and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he previously wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered baseball and worked with the award-winning investigative sports "I-team."
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