Contreras appears ready
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Contreras appears ready
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Only in the minor leagues would a Tuesday doubleheader begin at 10:35 a.m., but that's what is happening up in Hog Country today. Jose Contreras was scheduled to make his final rehab appearance for triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday night, but the game was rained out.
So he started Game 1 of this morning-day doubleheader, and was very sharp. The Morning Call's Jeff Schuler reports Contreras threw 14 of his 20 pitches for strikes in two innings and allowed only two singles -- one of which was erased by a double-play ball.
The Phillies will likely activate Contreras from the 15-day disabled list before Wednesday's game. The guess here is righthander David Herndon goes back to Allentown.
Contreras has not pitched since April 21 with elbow soreness. In his first eight outings as Phillies closer, he did not allow a run.
Of course, Contreras will not be closing when he returns. That job is Ryan Madson's now. But having Contreras in the fold all of a sudden makes the back of the Phillies' bullpen look quite deep. In addition to Contreras and Madson, there's the young duo of Mike Stutes, Antonio Bastardo.
Those four pitchers have combined to allow five earned runs in 51 innings this season -- an 0.89 ERA. Is that sustainable? No, but there are four electric arms reserved for the later innings. That means Charlie Manuel will not be regularly forced to use J.C. Romero, Danys Baez and Kyle Kendrick in tight situations.
And in the end, the Contreras injury may not be the worst thing in the world. It taught Manuel and Rich Dubee that the Cuban's 39-year-old right arm is not elastic. It allowed Stutes the chance to crack the majors and prove his value. And it also let Madson show he can more than handle the ninth inning.
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I hate to be negative about the situation, as overall, it is great. However, with all of these young arms, why did Amaro find it necessary to resign Kendrick for $2.45MM? Or, additionally, Blanton to a 3 year deal last year that made everyone scratch their head (at $8.5MM per)? Not to mention Baez ($2.75MM), also dead weight. That is almost $13MM in dead weight that could be an additional bat before the deadline. They should take a lesson from our competitors in the division (and around the league), ie. ATL and FLA, who mix in young arms, especially in the bullpen, every year, and their bullpens are typically quite good. It's good to see Stutes, Brown, and Bastardo are being trusted more, but I'd like to see them to less conservative in this department continually and stop wasting money on more pricey veterens in attempt to be safe, as it only compromises the club in other areas.— SLP2009- Sorry to say -- I think Lidge is toast. Hope I'm wrong— VicM
- SLP2009: Seriously? Kendrick is a flexible bullpen arm and a proven starting pitcher in the majors who gives the team depth. With Blanton out at least a month, the Phillies still have a guy who can pitch 5-6 innings in a moment's notice. Let's not forget Oswalt still has a balky back. Depth is what wins championships, and at $2.45m Kendrick gives them that, and is a bargain. This is the greatest top-to-bottom pitching staff in Phillies history, and Kendrick helps makes it so. Let us also not forget that Danys Baez, troublesome though he is, has had more good outings than bad this season. Sheesh, no one is ever happy.— andrewfrombrooklyn
- Gotta love how last year everybody and their mother wanted Milt Thompson fired when the lineup was in a funk; this year the lineup is in a historic funk and 12% want GG gone. Can you say scapegoat??— stikolaboloni
- Ain't no such thing as "enough" good pitching. If Lidge is 100%..IF...he will be useful. NOT the closer, but useful. He is not a "situational" get-one-guy-out type. He can, however, be a one-inning guy for the 7th or 8th, depending on the need at the time. Bastardo and Stutes have proven themselves at this level, and the only reason they might be sent to the minors is because they have options left. Remember, the goal is to have the best pitchers we have ready to pitch, able to pitch, and healthy, rested and agressive as the bell sounds for the playoffs! GO FIGHTINS!!!— TBear
- Get Romero back on the juice. He stinks.— TheDude
- Lidge has shown to be a guy who needs an entire inning to be effective. With that said, I'd use him as the set-up and Madson as the closer. Contreras is capable of being a strikeout pitcher, so he's best used in the 6th and 7th as the rally killer. Bastardo, Stutes and Romero can fill in accordingly. Blanton and Baez need to be moved for whatever they can get. Kendrick fills a need as a long/mop up man.— beegal99
- Seems to me that I remember many people here lamenting about Amaro's decision not to sign Chad Durbin. RAJ is smarter than some of you give him credit for.— Sam Crow
- To SLP2009...you're not the first person to say they wish the phillies would take a lesson from two teams with a combined 1 playoff appearance since the phillies have made 4 in a row. Please stop with that. Inferior teams need to take lessons from superior teams. Believe it or not, the phillies are the superior team. If they were a small market team with a low budget, sure, follow weaker, mediocre teams, but the phillies have the money and are free to spend it. But if you'd rather them follow the lead of perennial 2nd and 3rd place teams then enjoy watching a 2nd or 3rd place team year in and year out.— birdsfaninnc
- "That means Charlie Manuel will not be regularly forced to use J.C. Romero, Danys Baez and Kyle Kendrick in tight situations." He'll probably do it anyway, though.— en37
- Get RID of the DOBBER!!! oops...I forgot. Sorry?!— michael2_19030
Comment removed.- lidge? who's he?— nyphilliephan
- Anyone who wants to see Lidge in the 7th or 8th needs to go back and look at his (awful) numbers in non-save situations.— djsaitta
- I wouldn't use Kendrick, Romero or Baez in ANY situation— scootch
