What do you want out of final 44 games?
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What do you want out of final 44 games?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MILWAUKEE — Two days after the Phillies traded away two-thirds of their outfield and officially raised the white flag on 2012, Ryan Howard pinch-hit for Domonic Brown in the ninth inning of an eventual loss.
The tying run was at the plate, Brown's season was three games old, and fans grumbled. Why, some asked, is Charlie Manuel forcing Brown — a player the Phillies must learn about — watch this crucial situation from the bench?
Howard took strike three. The game ended, marking the Phillies' 58th defeat of the season.
So here we are, after loss No. 64, and a very similar situation presented itself. Yet the immediate reaction was the complete opposite. It has me confused.
Cliff Lee threw 111 pitches Thursday and most of them were quite good. A few, three of them to be exact, left the ballpark. Still, he pitched well enough to win, and was poised to do just that in the eighth inning until pitch No. 111 manifested a bouncer that Kevin Frandsen threw away.
Up came Ryan Braun, who had already dinged Lee for two long balls. Manuel emerged from the dugout.
"He had gone that far and pitched well," Manuel said. "I wanted him to leave on a good note. I wanted him to win the game. It didn't turn out that way."
Even Lee, who always wants to remain, agreed. "Considering Braun was 2 for 3 with two home runs [off me]," he said, "it actually made some sense."
Manuel signaled for a righty, Josh Lindblom. The Phillies traded Shane Victorino to Los Angeles and the centerpiece of the return was Lindblom, a 25-year-old middle reliever with decent numbers. This season of bullpen roulette had the Phillies desperate to add depth. Lindblom, they hope, is that guy.
But they do not yet know if he is that guy.
"When we first got him, we wanted him to be able to pitch in the seventh in the eighth innings," Manuel said. "We like his arm. We have to give him a chance to pitch. I look at it that way."
Hence, the tryout. This was the perfect scenario. The starting pitcher had done well, but his pitch count was rising and he faced an unfavorable matchup. The Phillies will need a dependable righty in 2013 to record key outs in the eighth inning. What better than to simulate it now, in a meaningless game during a lost season?
Lindblom, of course, failed Thursday. He has allowed 11 home runs this season, more than any National League reliever, and it is a disturbing statistic. In seven games with the Phillies, Lindblom has permitted six earned runs in five innings. He admitted to "nibbling" Thursday, something he said is characteristic of many of his outings with his new team.
The immediate reaction from many fans on Twitter and via email: "Where was Jonathan Papelbon?"
Isn't that like pinch-hitting Howard for Brown?
Papelbon is a known commodity. He is under contract for another three years and owed some $39 million in that span. He will close many more games for the Phillies.
He also has an injury history. The Phillies have shied away from using him in multiple-inning save chances. For who, for what?
"When I watch Papelbon sometimes, once I sit him and send him back out there, he has a little trouble," Manuel said. "I'm not saying I wouldn't have gone with him. I might have."
But the manager made decisions Thursday with 2013 in mind. The outcome was another meaningless blow in 2012. Which is more important to you?
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
if Chollie isn't playing to win, why should fans expect Rollins to run hard, Lee to bear down, Brown to time his jumps, etc... when a manager literally gives away a dozen games and makes nonsensical bone-headed moves and non-moves, and wastes everyone's efforts, why should players bother to play and why are they showing the game in Philadelphia?— warbiscuit- Chollie knows nothing about relievers or match-ups and thinks there is just supposed to be some "8th inning guy" like he had when he was spoiled with Ryan Madson ...and so he misuses Qualls, Bastardo, Schwimer, Stutes, Lindblom, etc because none of these guys can be used like a Ryan Madson and consistently sent in to a tight situation without regard to the hitter,,,an intelligent manager is supposed to know a pitcher's strengths and weaknesses and not just keep sending out the wrong guys to fail...Lindblom is mediocre trash who had no business being out there in a situation in which he was certain to fail, so why was Chollie throwing a win away which Lee had worked so hard to get?— warbiscuit
- I would like to see them do better but since out of playoff last not burning issue for me. Last got Nats Strassburg and Harper. Might get Phills Appell or other strong prospect. Lee has 3rd worse run support in MLB. 99% of baseball people know how good he is. You cant believe Shane did not hustle.— don whitman
- @Damageboy: Ever hear of the Hot Stove League? These boards are the modern day equivilant to the HSL. In your case, you are the one who would throw a bucket of ice water on all the fun. Thanks for your insight and participation!
Sit Howard for the rest of the year. Bring up Rup. Bring up Cloyd. Come the end of the season shop our Big Three of Howard, Utley and Rollins. If there is a deal to make the club better, do it. If not stay the course there. Get Sandberg up here to replace Mackanin. Let Charlie keep his other coaches out of respect to him. Revisit the Lee to Texas deal for Olt. Rebuild middle relief. Give a call to Boras regarding Ryan Madson who is coming off his 1 year deal with Cincy. Lose Schneider and make Kratz the #2 catcher. Look for a centerfielder (Mayberry is not the answer). Could Victorino be willing to come back at a reduced, more realistic salary????— DelawareRiverRat - Spell check: Ruf! :)— DelawareRiverRat
- Josh Windblown.— andrewfrombrooklyn
- Maybe putting Lindblom in there was the right move, but you think maybe after watching him walk the first two batters he faced without barely throwing a strike, maybe he should have pulled him?
These Philly.com writers are getting as bad about drinking the Phillies kool aid as they are with the Eagles.— Only in Philly... - I want to see Aumont in September. The guy has been an over-hyped dud in his three years in the Phillies system. Let him set up for Papelbon. If he can't do it then move on. I have enough seen enough of Aumont clogging up the minor league system with his supposed great stuff but always wildly inconsistent in his appearances. We already know Lindblom has to have been picked up for other reasons than being an eight innings guy. You do not have a home run prone pitcher as your set up guy in close and late games and expect any other result than what we saw last night!— Dull
- Play some kids, sit Rollins down, fire Cholly ... he didn't win the WS, the players did in spite of him. Bring up Sandberg to manage (and if he could still play second base that would be a double bonus).— petergou
- Okay, as a tryout for next year I have no problem with leaving the guy in to prove he stinks. I mean technically the Phils arent eliminated so winning a close game should still be a priority. I think there is enough evidence on the books to show Lindblom is not the guy, but I get giving him another shot.
If Papelbon's has an injury history to be concerned about why did Bobo make him the highest paid closer in the game? He's a moron.
44 More games of Brown should show clearly he is not a 3 tool player much less a 5 tool one. No power, poor defense, and not showing much speed. He does work the count well before he feebly makes an out, but unless he's hiding his speed who needs a corner outfielder with no power or speed?
Lets not see anymore bubblehead, Martinez or Kendrick...I would prefer to bring up guys like Kratz and reward some of our career minor leaguers with a chance to play or better yet some young guys we dont think will make it.— lazyboy - I want Charlie to take a seat far away from the field, preferably in a sound-proof room with Wheels, that pedantic, self-loving, puffy-eyed, otter-headed munchkin.
— Lpaul - 2 Home runs to right off the top of the wall. A good fielder would have caught one. A great fielder would have caught both. Bad throw from third to a 1st baseman who swipes at air instead of watching it into his glove. 2 homers off the an ace pitcher the same game and they're afraid of a third??????? Jroll plays with vigor when he wants????? Can't believe the lack of fundamentals displayed by this team. Tell me with 175 million dollars why can't they field a team of good players? Maybe even great players.— amishjoe
- @amishjoe...yes! Excellent points!
Gelb's point does make sense. Cliff was at 111 pitches. Blame the players for not fulfilling the roles they're supposedly qualified for.
My question about the last 44 games is what good will it do for anyone other than Ryne Sandberg to be presiding over the evaluating?— dasher - Bring up the two kids for the Pen. Bring up Tyler. Put KK in the long role. Play Kratz and bring up a kid catcher. Send out Brian and tell Carlos to wait till next year to make sure he is well healed.— Koons
- What you'll see over the last 44 is that the few ballplayers left on the Phils--Chase, Kratz, Chooch,, Doc, Lee, Cole--are increasingly embarassed to share the field with the team that has sprung up around them. The faces of this team now are Fransden (cast off never was infielder) and John Mayberry (underachieving homegrown) who will be here next year because they have no one to replace him.— eaglescali
