Who would have pitched after Sanches?
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Who would have pitched after Sanches?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Memories. (Steven M. Falk/Staff Photographer)
ATLANTA — Had Brian Sanches not allowed a game-winning home run to Chipper Jones and held the Braves scoreless in the 11th inning, he probably would have thrown more than 50 pitches to do it.
Sanches said he was fatigued when the inning began. "He had to go," Charlie Manuel said. "He was there."
But there was probably a limit, Rich Dubee said. After Sanches, the Phillies could have used Jonathan Papelbon, but Manuel is hell-bent on not using him unless a save situation arises.
Dubee said Kyle Kendrick would have been an option. Kendrick is scheduled to start Friday, but Dubee said he had him put his cleats on and get ready to possibly warm up.
But if the Phillies decided they didn't want to sacrifice their starter, it could have been utilityman Pete Orr on the mound eventually.
"It might have been him," Dubee said. "Who else do you want to pitch?"
Somewhere, Wilson Valdez smiles.
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Comments (18)
Did anybody notice Chad Durbin got the win? We should have kept him. He is a lot better then Schwimmer or Herndon.— CathieLeahy- Mark, as usual, I agree, especially re: Schwimmer (instead of Diekman? come on!), Charlies' bp mgmt., and one of my favs: umpires. The stike zone is never the same, even pitch to pitch. But my main issue is that umpires today are so confrontational! In the past, they would let a guy walk away - not anymore! Now, they follow the guy and goad an already po'ed hitter into a face-to-face that did not exist beforehand. The advent of agents and tv face time has made them think "me too, dammit!"— dwp66
- Dubee could have been activated for a while until claim of WillieV off waivers was finalized. The Schwim must go, Diekamn must be called up, Contreras released and Herndon must remain nin lonewolf's basement. Any questions EZ ?— NewMick314
- Contreras is done and Schwimmer has the deer in the headlights syndrome. Please find replacements for them and Herndon. The bullpen is the weakest link. Sanches should have been used before Contreras or Schwimmer. I hate when personnel decisions are based on contracts. If the guy is done and can't get anyone out, eat the contract. Contreras is beyond that point already.— RunningTheBases
- Unlike most on here I haven't been very critical of Charlie over the years except for one thing.....his management of the bp. I just don't remember any manager who used so many pitchers so many games in a row, so that they were so often "unavailable" for a game in which they were sorely needed. Contreras obviously still has elbow issues given his control and velocity drop. Schwimmer, has no business being on a MLB roster, let alone put into that situation in the 8th. It had failure written all over it. I know it was probably a test, but he failed it miserably. Let's hope that one game swing from last night isn't the difference between making the playoffs come Oct and not.— Mark1npt
After Doc gave up 2 runs and looked like he was pitching BP to the Braves it was time to take him out. But then Cholly aka Bozo the Clown isn't exactly Tony LaRussa when it comes to managing a game.- Charlie has been that way with the closer for his entire stay in Philly so far, so last night would not have been any different. Qualls was unavailable, so that was one less option to use. If Doc didn't implode (seriously, who saw that coming?!?) then this is a non-issue.— ESFjellin
- What's funny about all of this is a team using up its entire bullpen in a 9 inning game and not having anyone left for extra innings. But that's what the game has come to with all of the situational match ups that managers like to employ nowadays. Say what you want about Halladay or the bullpen last night. It was Jimmy Rollins who lost the game, turning a double play ball into an error, which opened the floodgates. To make matters worse, it was Chad Durbin, of all people who was the winning pitcher for the Braves.— SteveS11
- The game was on the line in the 8th. That's when it could've been saved. If Papelbon closes out the 8th with a 12-10 lead, whoever pitched the 9th would've had it much easier. The 8th was a much more important inning than the 9th, which makes it idiotic not to use your best option in that situation.— Noonan
- "Manuel is hell-bent on not using him unless a save situation arises."
That's pretty bad managing right there.— smfiv - The real question should be why is Michael Schwimmer here? What has he done to warrant a roster spot? Oh, maybe it was the eight earned runs in 14 innings that he allowed in 2011.
Jake Diekman was light's out in Spring Training, and has been equally effective at Lehigh Valley. Yet, the Phillies brass, I assume, feel that he needs more seasoning.
Why is it that Jonny Venters can make the Braves in 2010 at the age of 25, the same age as Diekman, after posting numbers in the minor leagues which were on a par, if not worse, than Diekman has put up?
Heck, give me Raul Valdes over Schwimmer! At least he has had SOME success at the big-league level.— PhightinPhil - Chooch doesn't walk to the mound to talk to pitchers. The mound comes to Chooch.
How about Joe "Cy Young" Blanton? 3 hit shutout.— s 
Comment removed.- Why are managers so reliant on the save rule? Phils win last night if Manuel has our best/most expensive reliever pitch the 8th.
- Oh, wait a minute...Hoye was back there last night. I heard he left his guide dog double-parked last night......what a farce he was. Bonehead Bud Selig really needs to review the tape of that game. I've seen Little League umpires call a better game behind the plate. Remember that name...H-O-Y-E. Let's pray we never see him again, especially in an important game.— Mark1npt
- Chooch is so well respected, the ump would have given him strikes without having to actually pitch to anybody.....stay thirsty my friends.— Mark1npt
- I'll bet Chooch could have pitched. To himself. That's how good he is.
— s - Donde esta Wilson "Exxon" Valdez? Charlie's use of the bullpen last night left them short again in extra innings. I hate when he burns (uses) 2 or 3 pitchers in an inning of a close game. Then when it goes extra innings....he runs out of pitchers.— SEEK313
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
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