Figueroa DFAed; slumping Werth breaks silence
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.
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
dobbs batting 2nd wtf— hardball
when inter league play is over, we could be looking up and find ourselves more than 5 games back. Its time a trade is made to shake things up. Dobbs has to be shown the door. Francisco also needs to be shown the door. And last but not least Milt Thompson needs to be let go as hitting coach.— bradco- Edae I like your confidence and agree wholeheartedly. Streaks both bad and good are inevitable although now looking like 9 games with 6 shutouts is a real stretch which I have never seen in my 62 years on this earth— hrlevine
- Wow, how quickly you guys turn on this team! Historically, the Phils have played better when they are chasing someone. Let Atlanta take over first. When they tied the Phils earlier this year, the Phils went on a tear and got 10 games over .500.— mike l
- PHILLIES....WELCOME TO 2ND PLACE! This team SUCKS! They've been horrible for 2 weeks now since beating Pittsburgh 12-2. I feel sorry for Halladay to be stuck with these losers. Blanton is a homer run serving machine...you can guarantee he gives up at least one bomb each start. Howard sucks too...he used to hit homers, but now he's a singles machine. Either a single or a strike out. The last 2 weeks have been unbearable to watch. Horrible!!!— eaglebeef
- Is Erick Bruntlett available?— bobcitydoc
- Edae - You do realize the Phillies offense was great in the beginning because they played the Nationals and Astros for 10 games. Both of those teams have horrible pitching. Once this team started facing good pitching, they couldn't hit or score runs. Sure, injuries haven't helped but either has Ibanez, Howard, Dobbs, Ruiz, Francisco, and others forgetting to hit. How many more games are we going to watch Dobbs and Franisco continue to be horrible at the plate. Time to call up Mayberry or make a trade. It sure won't hurt at this point.— eaglegrn21
- Edae - You do realize the Phillies offense was great in the beginning because they played the Nationals and Astros for 10 games. Both of those teams have horrible pitching. Once this team started facing good pitching, they couldn't hit or score runs. Sure, injuries haven't helped but either has Ibanez, Howard, Dobbs, Ruiz, Francisco, and others forgetting to hit. How many more games are we going to watch Dobbs and Franisco continue to be horrible at the plate. Time to call up Mayberry or make a trade. It sure won't hurt at this point.— eaglegrn21
- Edae - You do realize the Phillies offense was great in the beginning because they played the Nationals and Astros for 10 games. Both of those teams have horrible pitching. Once this team started facing good pitching, they couldn't hit or score runs. Sure, injuries haven't helped but either has Ibanez, Howard, Dobbs, Ruiz, Francisco, and others forgetting to hit. How many more games are we going to watch Dobbs and Franisco continue to be horrible at the plate. Time to call up Mayberry or make a trade. It sure won't hurt at this point.— eaglegrn21
- Even Doc's game didn't wake up this team. We really don't have a bench. Oh boy....Lidge is back. That's a scary move!!— Lynnwood
Comment removed.- Wow, look at all these fair weather fans. What happened? Half of you were the same people calling this a baseball town after that ridiculous poll came out. Now it's "they just don't care" or "This team SUCKS!" Such wonderful support from the fan base of the team who is supposed to own this town! Anyone still wonder how Philly fans get a bad reputation?— troke
- I have no problem with who is playing today because you do need to shake things up and Werth needs to sit down. But Gload and Dobbs at top of the lineup?! Dobbs has been terrible for a year and a half. And you still have speed you can put at the top of the lineup, with Shane and Valdez. Charlie, God love him, is still a terrible game-day coach.— VicM
- Comment removed.
Three runs in only seven innings! The Giants have won the pennant! The Giants have won the pennant!— pedge
