Photos: 2008 Phillies
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It's where grime and grass stains go to die.
Yesterday, the Phillies' laundry room was the site of Kyle Kendrick's continuing education.
After batting practice, with a forceful bark, pitching coach Rich Dubee called Kendrick into the room, which sits between the coaches' locker room and the players' locker room. Quickly, the room emptied, and remained their private venue for 10 minutes.
There, often loudly, Dubee explained to the struggling Kendrick why the Phillies planned to leave him off their playoff roster and are sending him to pitch in the Florida Instructional League on Monday while the rest of the team prepares for the National League Division Series.
"We made the decision he's not going to be in the rotation," Dubee said. "He's not going to break into the bullpen, the way the guys are throwing down there. We have to have some type of protection if we have an injury.
"Having him down there serves two purposes," Dubee continued. "One: He keeps his arm going in case we do need him. Two: He can start doing some of the things he needs to do to be a better pitcher."
Kendrick, 24, had learned he would not be on the roster earlier in the day. After a rough stretch of six starts in August and September, he had been removed from the rotation.
Nevertheless, Kendrick was disconsolate. Kendrick said last week he planned to work on his changeup and cutter by arriving early for spring training next season. He desperately wanted to remain with the club during the playoff run. After all, he helped them get there, with 10 wins as a rookie last season and 11 more while the league figured him out this season.
Kendrick initially received the news tight-lipped. He left the clubhouse. He called his parents. He called his agent.
"I wasn't happy," he admitted.
Then, he got called into the doghouse - that is, where Pat Burrell's English bulldog Elvis resides when Burrell brings him to visit Citizens Bank Park.
"I saw him dragging his lip," Dubee said (of Kendrick, not Elvis). "First of all, I wanted him ready to pitch tonight. We're not in. He needs to be ready to pitch in case we do need him. Second, he needs to understand that it's more important for us, and for him, if we do get in this thing, that he goes to Florida and pitches.
"Yeah, it's nice to be a spectator at a playoff game. If all of a sudden we need him, he's not going to be prepared."
Dubee illustrated how a young player stashed in the FIL can help a club. In 1997, when Dubee served as the Marlins' minor-league pitching coordinator, he helped keep a rookie named Antonio Alfonseca ready in case the Marlins needed bullpen help.
Sure enough, the Marlins needed him. Alfonseca pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the Marlins' World Series win over the Indians. That included four outs in Game 7, facing hitters No. 2 through No. 6 in the Indians' lethal lineup: Tony Fernandez, Manny Ramirez, David Justice, Matt Williams and Sandy Alomar.
Like Alfonseca, Dubee said: "Kyle can be a part of this - if he gets himself right down there."
To some degree, that process began yesterday.
It appears this weekend's slate of games will survive a previously grim forecast. Although the majority of last night's game was played in a light mist, Charlie Manuel said he didn't think a forecasted Nor'easter would end up forcing the Phillies to postpone one of their remaining games.
"They've told me it might be a little wet but we should definitely get the game in," Manuel said. "And [today and tomorrow] is fine; that we are going to get it in for sure."
The latest forecast for today calls for scattered showers with a 30 percent chance of rain. For tomorrow, there could be scattered thunderstorms with a 40 percent chance of rain.
First baseman Ryan Howard's RBI double in the second inning last night gave him 32 RBI for September, a new Phillies record. Howard, who also hit a three-run homer in the first inning, eclipsed the previous record of 31, set by current broadcaster Gary Matthews in 1981. Howard's homer was his 48th, eclipsing last year's total of 47.
The Philadelphia chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America will present its annual awards today. Closer Brad Lidge will be honored with the Mike Schmidt Award as the team's MVP, Cole Hamels will be honored with the Steve Carlton Award as the club's top pitcher, Jamie Moyer will receive the Dallas Green Special Achievement Award for winning the most games (15) of any nonknuckleballer 45 years or older, and Greg Dobbs will be honored with the Good Guy Award.
Righthander Adam Eaton, who lost his spot in the rotation when the Phillies acquired Joe Blanton, confirmed yesterday that he has been told he will not be on the playoff roster for a second straight year . . . The Phillies had their first experience with instant replay in the sixth inning, when officials reviewed whether Kory Casto's two-out home run would have cleared the fence. The home-run ruling was upheld . . . Last night's game was the 48th sellout of the season. Today's and tomorrow's games are also sold out, meaning the Phillies will end the season having sold out 50 of their 81 home dates. *
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