Romero, Contreras aren't providing Manuel much relief
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Romero, Contreras aren't providing Manuel much relief
Marc Narducci
Charlie Manuel had a little fun with the media, although one could see how annoyed the Phillies manager was at his bullpen, or at least the part that almost gave back Friday’s 7-5 win to the Chicago Cubs.
Manuel took Roy Halladay out with a 7-0 lead after seven innings and saw Jose Contreras and J.C. Romero face a total of eight batters and get one out.
It got to 7-5 before Michael Stutes and then Antonio Bastardo closed the door. It was determined before the game that Ryan Madson, who had made four appearances in the previous five days, would have the night off.
And Manuel seemed a little agitated when being asked about pulling Halladay.
“We got a seven run lead going into the eighth, we expect to win the game,” he said.
Then he took a good-natured jab at the media.
“That goes to show you guys getting on me about resting Roy or not taking him out,” Manuel said. “I wish your memory was as good as mine.”
There was laughter in the room, but Manuel wasn’t in a joking mood. He was ticked off that the Contreras and Romero almost handed the game back to the Cubs. Then he did his best to try to publically protect his two relievers.
When asked if he were concerned with Contreras, Manuel said, “I am concerned about him; he needs to get a little sharper.”
A little sharper?
In his last three appearances that totaled just 1 1/3 innings, Contreras has allowed six earned runs.
“He is having command problems,” Manuel said in a less than surprising revelation.
When asked about Romero, Manuel didn’t mention the lefthander specifically but one can tell his patience is wearing thin. Romero faced three batters, surrendering a walk and two hits.
Romero now has issued 12 walks in 15 1/3 innings a ratio that won’t allow him to keep getting the ball.
Halladay said all the right things afterwards, how Manuel was right in making the move, but we wonder how he would have felt had the Phillies blown the game.
It’s amazing that despite all the mini crises (i.e. bullpen, lack of offense) the Phillies are 38-26 and tied with St. Louis for the most wins in baseball.
Still, the Phillies won’t get complacent. That’s why Manuel moved Placido Polanco to the No. 5 hole and he responded with a grand slam.
Nobody was questioning that move.
And quite frankly, pulling Halladay was the right move. He has pitched at least six innings in each of his 14 starts and seven or more innings in 12 starts. In all 14 starts, Halladay has thrown 100 or more pitches.
Even somebody as finely conditioned as Halladay could use a breather once in a while. This was the night to do it even though the ending was far from smooth and the bullpen situation far from settled.
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bring back scott eyre, trade romero for some zombie dvd's...— xone9- Romero must be released!!!!!!— shawnmac
- There has to be someone in the minors that is better then Romero. He stinks it up every time he comes in. Taking Doc at when they did was absolutely the right move. The wrong move was not bringing in Stutes and Bastardo b4 those other 2 clowns.— eaglesman1
- Romero has never been the same since testing positive to performance inhancing drugs. He wasn't all that good before that. Now he is pathetic, can't believe he's even on a major league team
- Romero is bad, Real Bad! Time to cut him loose. Charlie did the right thing giving Halladay a rest with a 7 run lead.— cleusner
- Release JC....sign Morty Seinfeld— NewMick314
Romero ..Banish him... Contreras DL he is hurting it is obvious Romero misses his drugs and Phillies Offense misses its Binoculars— Kevinmac- Can Romero please START taking some banned substance?— fmMD
- Romero should be gone and Contreras should be DL'ed again until he is really ready to pitch.— The Marco Islander
- Mathieson, Schwimmer, De Fratus--the Phillies have a number of excellent major-league-ready relievers in the minors. Unfortunately they are not lefties. I'm sure the Phillies are looking at trade options. Obviously if Blanton gets healthy he will probably be on the block, although the team will have to take on part of his salary. Garcia, Rizzotti, and Overbeck are also obvious trade chips.— JayW
- The fact that Romero can't get anybody out trumps the fact that he's left-handed.— dasher
- Absolutely the perfect time to pull Halladay ... Charlie made up for the quick hooks for his relievers the night before.— misterhman
People: Romero just does not have it anymore. Cut him and trade for somebody or bring somebody up. He has been given plenty of opportunity.- Caesar Romero was a better pitcher than J C is this year. The guy sucks and yet the Phils Brass will keep him with the team. What kind of pictures does J C have of Amaro?— younged
- I think it's unfair to include Contreras in this article. (Baez should be there instead) C. is still just coming back from the DL. Before that he was great.— MJSI
