Manuel's faith in Lidge, Hamels extends to 2010
Good evening from the World Series, game 5 edition. Charlie Manuel said that he will not hold a team meeting today, but will speak to every player individually. The Phillies obviously face a steep climb against an excellent team, but their best pitcher is ready to go. And, as you know, this is not a team that rolls over.
Manuel's faith in Lidge, Hamels extends to 2010
Andy Martino
Good evening from the World Series, game 5 edition. Charlie Manuel said that he will not hold a team meeting today, but will speak to every player individually. The Phillies obviously face a steep climb against an excellent team, but their best pitcher is ready to go. And, as you know, this is not a team that rolls over.
Some interesting stuff from Manuel in his pregame meeting with the beat writers on Brad Lidge, Cole Hamels and that memorable Johnny Damon play.
The Phillies signed Lidge to a three-year, $37.5 million extension last season, a contract that Manuel said the pitcher deserved.
“There’s a reason why you’re a long man,” Manuel said. “There’s a reason why you’re a sixth inning guy, a seventh inning guy and a closer. There’s a reason for that…Lidge was perfect last year. Stuff-wise, when he’s on, he’s got two out pitches. He’s our top pitcher down there. He is out best pitcher, and that’s why he makes $13 million a year, and that’s what we signed him for.
“How about those games we lose in the sixth and seventh inning, too? Nobody sees those games. They don’t’ remember this. Lidge is the closer. He got signed to be the closer here for three years.”
Manuel did say that Lidge will need to work during spring training to improve his ability to hold runners on first base. Many times this season before Damon’s steal, runners stole second against Lidge and later scored key runs.
“There are things he is going to improve on, and holding runners is one of them,” Manuel said.
Manuel made similar comments about starter Cole Hamels, who also endured a letdown season.
“There’s no reason why he can’t be the same player we project,” the manager said.
***
When Johnny Damon stole second and began running toward third base in an important play Sunday, Manuel looked first at catcher Carlos Ruiz.
Despite the fact that pitcher Lidge was closer to the base than Ruiz, Manuel said today that he expected Ruiz to cover third.
“I’ll be very honest with you,” he said. “If we’re going to go over that and discuss it every day, in that situation, for me, [Carlos] Ruiz is going to cover third because he’s faster than Lidge and a better fielder and all that. He would be the guy that I would say to cover third base.”
“Let me tell you something: Every year we go to spring training, and when we go over our fundamentals and bunt plays, we might spend 10 minutes on that play,” Manuel said. “We might talk about it two times. That’s the first time I’ve seen that play happen against us. That play comes up sometime. I said there was a miscommunication. If you’re going to play the game in the right way, you talk about baseball from a fundamental standpoint. But what I’m saying is that play don’t come up that often. It’s kind of an instinct play. You’ve got to be heads-up in the game. You’ve got to know how you’ve got your defense set, and who’s going to cover third base.”
Comment removed.
keep the faith morons this team brought us our first champ. in 25 years.— yougottabelieve26- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- WTF ....nobody talking about J.RO, Howard or Ibanez .... 0 for forever!!! ....lets think before we speak!! ..we pay these guys a lot of money to do what!! ....hit the ball!!!! .....don't wait forever before its too late, for fsakes Rollins ,,,,,take a few pitches!!!!— PhlyersPhilliesEagles6ers
- As Celtic-13 said, it's unfathomable that Dubee or Manuel didn't run out there for a conference with Lidge and the infielders once Damon reached base, knowing that Lidge doesn't hold runners on, knowing that the shift is on, knowing that Damon is a smart and aggressive runner. Why, at the very least, didn't Ruiz go out there? Maybe the brain trust is saving that talk for another night; you know, the way they saved Cliff Lee for Game Five or the way they've been saving Ben Francisco and Jay Happ....— dasher
- show faith in Tball, this is the majors..Fire the incompetant manager now like you should have 3 years ago— 32pitch
- all this talk won't mean sh*t when lee pitches lights out tonight and pedro wins in the bronx. you will all say oh we knew all along they could do it.— yougottabelieve26
- I say put it on Rollins...EVERYONE knows he SUCKS!!!!!!! No bat,no leg,no glove...JUST BIG MOUTH!!!! Less than 1 Hr.until the last game of the Series...27 outs away from Championship #27. Good-Bye Fillets! Hey Rollins-Who's coverin' 3rd?!— Stillcrazi
- There is no one on earth who wants the Phillies to succeed more than someone born in 1950. So, the Yanks won three in a row, why can't we??? We've witnessed some of the greatest times in Phillies history over the past several years. The guys are playing hard and doing their best to win. It's just a game, but it's the best game in the world in my opinion. I would like to see Lee pitch All the remaining games if physically able. That's what would have happened years ago. And, if not, make it a team effort and pitch every pitcher between now and the championship as long as he can go and as hard as he can throw. Think outside the box, there is no tomorrow. Good luck, Phillies. You can do it!— whizkid
- That is like asking a grandmother if her ugly grandchild is cute or not. Of course Charlie said what he said.— JonKap
- Hamels and Lidge, the two guys that won it for us last year are the two guys that lost it this year. Go figure, only in Philadelphia.........— craig123
- Well said LeftField.— Gman31
- @ Whizkid... I was born in 1950 and I know the Right team won then Just like they will this series ! Seriously Though...Thanks to the Fillets organization for coming out every 60 years or so and letting us beat them for yet another Series Crown.How 'bout we make it a Tradition?...You guys come on back next time you win a Pennant ,which should be about 60 years ,and we'll beat you AGAIN!!!! 27 OUTS TO # 27!!! YANKEES IN 5 ! HEY ROLLINS;Who's coverin' 3rd?— Stillcrazi
