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)
bobby, he is giving the team the best opportunity to win. Think about it...whoever he moves into the closer role, he loses their talent in their original role. We can't afford to lose a long middle inning reliever like Park, he's the best we got at it right now. And Madson is our best setup man. Even if they we're great at closer, what if we start losing games in middle relief now? Problem now solved eh? Worse is the fact that if either of our relief pitchers go to a closer role and are horrible, they might not never adjust back to middle relief in time, and their confidence might be messed up. We are like a month away from the post-season, you can't just go toying with your bullpen.— MFPhils- You say in your article, "A swingman capable of pitching several innings and setting up is more valuable than a closer." Huh? How many times did the Phillies need a "swingman" during the playoffs? Once? maybe. And this is what the Phils are building for - repeating. So, I would take Lidge out of the closer role in the short term and put him in some low stress situations to build his stuff and confidence. I think now, you're getting to the point where it's getting counter productive for his confidence to leave him in the current role. I would give the ball to Chan Ho since he's the hottest hand, leave Madson where he is, and use Lidge in low stress situations (6th inning or when losing) in the hopes of building success and confidence. Plan B could eventually be Myers if Chan Ho doesn't work out and Lidge continues to falter. I think what the Phils are doing w/ Lidge is more wishful thinking than anything. Now's the time to tinker - they have a lead with a month to establish new roles.— terryharmon
- The Marlins changed closers on September 20th to our favorite machete wielding farmer, Ugueth Urbina, and won the 2003 World Series. A change late in the season need not be devestating if it is a more effective alternative. Give Madson the ball again and see if he can do it right this time. itwas at this point in the season last year he solidifed the bullpen. Thanks for 08 Brad,and we will try again in 2010, but sit down please— colinthomson3
- colin, for that Marlins win, did it involve taking their best setup man out of his role? I honestly don't think anyone on that teams wants to close. I know you might think "to bad" right? But, that role is unique in the pen, and not everyone wants to be responsible for losing everything in 5 min flat...Especially after seeing what Lidge is going through. Is there any chance we can bring anybody up or on?— MFPhils
- Blown saves has only been an official statistic since 1998, but going back before that the record for most BS in a season is 14. Uncle Charlie is doing the right thing here, that's not the issue. The issue is that the Phillies don't have an answer. Best hope is Romero comes back healthy and assumes the role, and that feels risky. It's a shame to have a team this great with such a massive problem in a key spot.— AJSer
- People stop. Moyer and Pedro have ERA's in the high 5's. You can not bring them in a pressure situation and hope no one gets on base. That is what we are doing right now with Lidge. Just stop. We have to hope Myers can pull it together.— kozykoz26
Comment removed.- Have to believe that they're biding their time for Myers. Also bears mentioning that Tyler Walker, he of the 2.18 ERA, saved 23 games [plus 6 wins] for the Giants in 2005. Ironic that the Mets shipped out Billy W on the day Lidge officially pitched himself out of the closer role.— jmk1512
- Stubborness will get the team killed if they make the PO's and have to fight hard each game in case their hitters, as they have done this season, cannot drive in more runs than they do. If Lidge continues to implode, so will the team. Last night was ready for a good comeback. But manager and pitcher blew the effort. That is reality.— KGKoons
- There is a misconception about closers needing to throw seeds to succeed. Behind in the 9th inning, every hitter that comes up wants to smack the cover off the ball. They are more susceptible to junk balls at this time than any other. Rethink a junkballer, like Moyer or Kendrick as a fill-in closer. And FIRE WHEELER!!!!!!!!— Lpaul
Lidge must have more rest between apearances to be affective; fill with MR Park...johnnyu- I hate to jump on the Lidge must go bandwagon. I'm forever grateful for what he did last year (which everyone here seems to have forgotten), but realistically, there comes a point in which you have to make a responsible decision. I love Charlie's loyalty, but not at this expense.— joeibt
- He has got to make the switch. This will ruin their playoffs. We Philly fans are still not over the Mitch Williams fiasco.— brandon215
MFPhils: I agree- to a point. I am not for screwing up their middle relief (I never said Park should be thrown into the closer role), but last night was a perfect opportunity to use Madsen and see what he has in the 9th. The point is, that even if you stick with the "Lidge is our closer" mentality, he can't pitch every game, and he had no business pitching last night.— bobby- Is he tipping his pitches again?— SteveOntiveros
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