Figueroa DFAed; slumping Werth breaks silence
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Figueroa DFAed; slumping Werth breaks silence
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA -- Nelson Figueroa pitched four times in May and went 18 days in between appearances at one point. But he said Charlie Manuel was always upfront with him and Figueroa felt comfortable with his ever-shrinking role.
On Monday, Figueroa walked into the visitors' clubhouse at Turner Field only to learn he had been designated for assignment. The Phillies activated righthander Brad Lidge from the disabled list to take Figueroa's spot.
Figueroa said the demotion caught him off guard but there are no hard feelings.
He was placed on waivers by the Phillies and will know in three days whether anyone has picked him up. In nine games with the Phils, Figueroa was 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA.
"I definitely want to get some work and start pitching again," Figueroa, 36, said.
If he clears waivers, Figueroa said he would have to think hard about accepting an assignment to triple A.
"I do know the situation here, which is good to know from the inside," Figueroa said. "You never know what it's like somewhere else. The grass isn't always greener. I've been a part of that before. I really like this clubhouse and the staff."
But, he added: "I would imagine a guy with my experience and ability that I've done all I had to do ten times over at the triple-A level."
Demoting Figueroa is a sign the Phillies have confidence in young lefthander Antonio Bastardo, who has options left and could have been sent to triple-A Lehigh Valley without being exposed on waivers. In 12 games, Bastardo has a 2.08 ERA. Lefties are 2 for 16 against Bastardo, making him a solid second lefthanded option behind J.C. Romero.
"That's the way we decided to go," pitching coach Rich Dubee said.
WERTH TALKS, SITS
Jayson Werth didn't want to talk to reporters in Florida after his 0 for 4, four-strikeout performance Sunday. On Monday, Manuel gave Werth a day off -- his second in four games.
Before Monday's game against the Braves, Werth said he is not discouraged by his current slump. He does not have a hit in his last 19 at-bats.
"I've been here before," Werth said.
True. Last season, Werth had hitless streaks of 21 at-bats, 15 at-bats and 12 at-bats. He's been streaky before.
"It comes and goes," Werth said. "It was pretty good there for a while."
With Werth out of the lineup, Manuel shuffled things around quite a bit for Monday's matinee.
1. Ross Gload RF
2. Greg Dobbs 3B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Shane Victorino CF
6. Raul Ibanez LF
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. Wilson Valdez SS
9. Joe Blanton P
Look at the bright side...they didn't get shut out today. Call it a moral victory.— SteveS11- Dobbs is the player that should be waived. He can't field, he doesn't work the count at the plate, and he swings for the fences on every pitch. When Dobbs was an effective part-time player/pitch-hitter he just tried to hit singles, now he rarely comes close to getting a hit. Bruntlet's time came and went, and so has Dobb's time with the Phillies. Any of the Triple-A players are better than him. This slump started when the Phillies front office decided to extend Howard for $25 million a year. You have a guy in Werth who's playing for a contract, and they extend Howard. Not great timing Reuben. Since then I don't believe Utley-Howard-Werth had two hits between the three of them in consecutive at-bats. You live and die with the performance of your stars. We're dying now!! Just how long will it last?— RunningTheBases
- Victorino should have been leading off. You can't have two horrible players at the top of the lineup. During the broadcasts, the announcers tell us Charlie always says the best way out of a slump is to keep swinging yet he rests Werth twice in a week. Finally, where is the "Charlie knows his team" crowd? I guess they only show up when something good happens.— Phillies2008WSChamps
It's not a "hitting slump!" My thinking is that there is a serious lack of fundamental baseball going on here. Everytime one or two guys do the smart thing to get on base and set something up, the next batter shoes up and tries to hit an 11-run homer. Atlanta's starter, today was all over the place and couldn't find the plate. Too many times these blockheads foul off and swing at ball-two or ball-three. The only people who shouldn't be trying to steal bases are Chooch and RyHo. Everyone else ought to just "run like they stole somethin'." Sounds like Cholly and whoever that is masquerading as a hitting coach ought to start cracking the whip. Boy I miss Larry Bowa!!!— baworks- I was at Turner Field today and was thoroughly embarrassed by the lineup that was put out there and then the performance of the team. No fire, no effort. Yes we have injuries but this team has some real issues. The core of that lineup looks horrible.— knoxrick21
- Saw all this coming - need J-Roll back and Lideg getting back helps - no leads to protect- maybe when J.A. Happ returns. Need Madsen to break his other toe soon.— RitchieAllen64
- Tickets for the Dobbs farewell party are available on byebyebub at no cost. thus reflecting the current value of the subject.— mick314
- They need to sit Utley and especially Howard for a few games. Gload is an excellent third baseman, not that great as an outfielder. He's also probably their best hitter off the bench. Hard to believe an entire team goes cold for this long. It will change though, hopefully sooner than later.— mas215
- Double DDs (Durbin and Dobbs)should have been assigned. Those two players are stealing their paychecks. Durbin is hopeless yet they keep running him out there. He throws a home run and his demeanor says "Oh Well", I still get paid.— Carlos2
Comment removed.- It's hard to field a championship lineup when key players are hurt— rmpchf
- No more figgie pudding on post game menu— mick314
- Werth has always been a streaky hitter. It will be interesting to see how that propensity is taken into consideration when he becomes a free agent. It will also be interesting to see if the Phils take advantage of one of his slumps and make him an offer he can't refuse.
- I'm not much for making panic moves,but I believe bringing up John Mayberry Jr. for a while might help. He has power, speed and is a very good outfielder. He might provide some kind of spark the Phillies lineup is missing right now.— money1
- Comment removed.
