Phillies, you have a problem
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Phillies, you have a problem
Andy Martino
“Angry,” Brad Lidge said when asked to describe his reaction last night. “It makes you angry.”
That’s probably how many of you feel after the closer blew his ninth save. Charlie Manuel is remaining supportive. “He’s our closer,” Manuel said tonight. “I’ve said it all over the place. That’s the guy who we’ve got.”
A lot of fans are frustrated with Manuel for his steadfast refusal to make a change, but he has to say those things. Manuel’s job is to coax an improved performance out of Lidge, and he is not going to achieve that by publicly questioning a guy whose confidence is known to sometimes waver.
The larger question that many of you are asking is, why keep putting him into save situations? It’s a reasonable question, getting more so with every blown save. But the team really, really doesn’t want it to come to that. Think about how disruptive it could be to make such a major change so soon before the playoffs. The closer anchors everyone else in his role, and any change would be a major risk, perhaps a greater risk than hoping Lidge improves or at least survives in the playoffs.
And who are your candidates to replace him? Ryan Madson, who struggled in that role earlier in the season, and Brett Myers, whose third rehab outing tonight takes on increased significance. Some emailers have suggested Chan Ho Park, but the Phils cannot afford to lose him in his current role. A swingman capable of pitching several innings and setting up is more valuable than a closer.
I think that Manuel has been crossing his fingers all year that Lidge would turn it around, and that he wouldn’t have to make a tough call. Manuel has often referenced the way Lidge was treated in Houston, where he was demoted from the closer job, and said he doesn’t want to operate like that.
So what’s wrong with the guy this year, after a perfect 2008? I would not be at all surprised if we learned during the offseason that his knee was more seriously injured than we knew, but that is mere speculation right now. Tonight, he blamed fatigue caused by appearing in four consecutive games. His confidence cannot be very high.
Whatever the causes, the fact is: This is a problem for the Phils. I’m sorry not to have any sharper insight than that, but truly complex problems never have easy solutions.
Comments (78)
As a pitcher, it is not just what you have on the ball, physical and mental. A lot of pitching is attitude. And I don't want an angry releiver. I always thought a releiver was to go out and forget about the last game (the reliever in Boston WEEI). Win or lose— travellin- It looked like he was overthrowing last night and everything either bounced or was flat. Wurm has a very good point with respect to Park. give Lidge until September and then act for the good of the team and not Lidge.— drbob456
- Dubee Lidge should be out on the DL. Gomer Manual has to make the call now.— Dr. Michael
- chan ho park for closer - charlie manuel wake the f...up!!— truthrising
- Andy, two things I would ask Charlie ... One, how is it possible that Lou Piniella can make a change in the back end of his bullpen when Kevin Gregg blows six saves - AND THE CUBS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS - but that does not apply to the Phillies ...Two, if Lidge is blaming fatigue on his performance, does anyone ask the manager, 'Charlie, why did you pitch Lidge on Monday when the Phillies were ahead by four runs?' ... And I don't want to hear, 'Well, he was up anyway.' ... That is not an answer ... You mean to tell me just because someone is warming up, you HAVE to bring him in? ... How many times does Madson warm up to come into a tie game in the 9th, only to have the Phillies take the lead? ... Do they still bring in Madson? ... NO!!! ... They bring in the "closer."— PhightinPhil
- It's almost comical at this point ... When the Blue Jays rallied in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Phillies in Game 6 of the '93 World Series, Jim Fregosi was asked why he elected to bring in Mitch Williams despite the fact the velocity on his fastball was peaking in the mid 80's ... Fregosi's answer: He's our closer ... Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.— PhightinPhil
- I'm just happy the Phils came back in the top of the ninth. Except for Rollins's solo home runs the offense could not produce runs. I would particularly like to see the hitting coach work with Ryan Howard on swinging at better pitches (or walking) when he goes deep into the count. Forget about the "too close to take" nonsense, at least for the time being.— JayW
- Myers, Park, or even Madson. By the numbers, any reliever in baseball would be better than Lidge— andwhysee
- Go with the HO, put Lidge in the Fridge— mick314
- Cholly is saying what a manager has to say but he knows the deal. I'm thinking that he is trying to get Lidge back on track while we have a pretty sizable lead in the division. If the division race gets close and Lidge can't get it done, Myers will be the closer, a job that he has already said he prefers. Chill out people, Cholly knows what he's doing. Despite all their problems with Lidge, the pitching staff has been awesome since the All-Star break and we DO lead the division by 8 in the loss column. Go Lidge and Go Phillies!!!!!— flyerdup
Comment removed.- Lidge=Eaton. Sad to say, but his ERA now is worse than Eaton's was either time they replaced him in the rotation. And his ERA has been consistently bad, (like Eaton). And his WHIP is higher than Eaton's was during either of his seasons here. He's having the worst season of any pitcher on the staff, and he's the guy they're asking to close games. I wouldn't want Eyre or Durbin in that role either, but anyone else is an improvement. Too bad he makes a ton of money and will not be replaced until the guy replacing him does also, (Myers, anyone?).— B in DC
- Comment removed.
- Closer by committee. When Myers is ready, rotate based on matchups.
- Move Moyer to Park's slot and move Park to the closer's role.— PHILLY76
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