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
Wow...really HATE to see good pitching go down the drain. A one to nothing loss is one of the things that can get my blood pressure up a ways! I know that we WILL get out of this slump sooner rather than later I keep saying. But it seems like this has been going on forever now, and it's only three weeks! And now I see Atlanta is pounding our pitchers today, and we aren't fighting very hard to get more than a couple of runs. Time to vent some! Hope we're all laughing about this come September.— TBear- I think me and eight other regular Joe's could score as many or more runs per game than the Phils are right now.
Get rid of Rollins and sign Werth.— ZOSO
Way To go Ryan Howard...ERROR....- I think the Phillies are guilty of reading the internet and listening to WPEN and WIP.. both stations are so positive , one thought the Phillies would win 100 games...Shame on them, and shame on the PHillies for believing ..
- Chan Ho Park....we hardly knew yee.... I knew it was coming back to bite the club, but this early ???— Hugh Jass
- I can't believe the Phils have the 4th highest payroll in baseball with this collection of stiffs.— Rod72
- I can't believe the Phils have the 4th highest payroll in baseball with this collection of stiffs.— Rod72
- it's all YOUR fault, you posters. ask any old philly jewboy who's lived through hard times and he will tell you you never, NEVER, show sign of extreme confidence, never swagger, never brag, never broadcast that all will be well. but you did all that, and worse, before the season, and right up to 9 days ago. 98 wins!you cried. ws victory!! you bellowed. no one can touch us!!! vey iz mir. so...time to change tactics, people. we WILL come back (despite the hillbilly manager, despite the ever-so-curious general manager). but it will be a fight in the trenches. so stop kvetching already, take a few deep breaths, focus, and send good energies to the struggling boyos in red caps. we have met the enemy and they is us. but we - WE - can change course. just shut up and believe. do it.— kiwi
- This is pitiful. I turn the game on and don't even watch anymore. The pitching isn't all that bad, but boy the hitting and the defense. When is the 25 million man going to sit. He is probably the biggest part of their failing. How did their bench improve when they still have Dobbs? Might not even turn them on the way it is going since Charlie has the same idea. Get thrown out and relax in the clubhouse. What a way to manage. He still doesn't have a clue and even when this virus passes, we still have to look forward to at least a couple more during the season. Wonder what these guys are eating judging from the lack of power? I wonder if that is what causes the lack of hustle too?— cedara
- I like playing guys from the bench. Often a spot start enables guys to step up and the extra at bats help with pitch hitting. I just don't know in the Phillies case if our bench guys area any good.— hawk18
- Any word on Rollins?— socalphillyguy
kiwi, ask a Quaker. Or a Catholic.— road515- Gload and Dobbs atop the order? Why don't we just capitulate now? Actually, I'm 49 and in pretty good shape. I jog a lot. Can I pinch run? I mean, I'm no Gload and Dobbs and all, but...— eman
- 25mm out the window. Howard has decided to take the money and live off Obama's freebies give away. He doesn't need to work and obviously he is not.— changkarate
