Durbin's new approach

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Two years into his new role as a full-time reliever, Chad Durbin learned how fickle the role can be.

In 2008, Durbin was one of Charlie Manuel's most reliable pitchers. He had a 2.87 ERA and 40 of his 71 appearances for the Phillies came in the seventh or eighth inning.

But those 71 games also marked a career high. So Durbin took a few extra weeks off during the off-season to rest his arm. But as he began 2009, he said he realized he didn't have his legs and had failed to do all of the core exercise work he needed.

That resulted in a strained lower back that bothered him for months and an inconsistent 2009 season.

"This off-season I spent a lot of time running, doing core work and making sure my base was there, more so than the last year when I really took time off," Durbin said. "I asked guys, 'What do you do? I've never done it. What do you do?' So it was a lot of lessons learned."

Durbin, a 32-year-old righty, thinks he has it figured out now. And with plenty of undefined roles in the Phillies bullpen, a decent start will be crucial for Durbin if he expects to pitch in the high-leverage situations he worked in 2008.

Last season, Durbin was 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA. His walk total was nearly double that of his 2008 season, when he embraced his new role as a middle reliever with a 5-4, 2.87 ERA season.

After his stint on the disabled list in 2009 that began in late July, Durbin's numbers were better. His ERA was nearly a run lower from Aug. 11 (when he returned) until the end of the season.

And in the postseason, Durbin recorded one of the most important outs for the Phillies - inducing a weak grounder back to the mound off the bat of Manny Ramirez, who represented the tying run in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the National League championship series.

In the off-season, the Phillies offered Durbin arbitration over fellow reliever Clay Condrey. Ultimately, the two sides agreed to a one-year, $2.125 million deal. Condrey signed with the Twins.

"I think he has showed how good he can be," Manuel said of Durbin recently.

Heading into 2010, Durbin said he has a better idea of the formula needed to recapture his success of 2008. After focusing on certain core exercises for his back while he was on the disabled list, the results were better. He duplicated that plan this off-season.

In one Grapefruit League appearance, Durbin allowed one hit in 11/3 innings.

"I feel like I'm throwing the ball better right now in spring training than last year," Durbin said. "I'm not quite as good as I was in '08 when I came in trying to win a spot. There's some contrast between the years of how you prepare and lessons to be learned."

How quickly Durbin can reestablish his success could be crucial. Beyond closer Brad Lidge and setup man Ryan Madson, who pitches when in the bullpen isn't decided.

Durbin will contend with Danys Baez, Jose Contreras and possibly other righthanders for the seventh inning.

"I know there are some undefined roles," Durbin said. "Charlie's going to go with matchups. You know who is probably going to throw in the eighth. Prior to that, you just anticipate that every time the phone rings, you're the one getting up. That's the way [Tom] Gordon told me to take it in '08."

And if that's all Durbin has to worry about in 2010, he says that could be the formula for success.

"That mental preparation helps, whereas last year, I was just really worried about the body stuff," Durbin said. "The mental preparation was concentrated on my health and not on execution."

Rainy day. Yesterday's split-squad games vs. Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte, Fla., and vs. Detroit in Lakeland, Fla., were rained out. J.A. Happ, scheduled to pitch in Port Charlotte, will start today at Bright House Field against Minnesota. Kyle Kendrick will start tomorrow, and Roy Halladay Monday.

Follow spring-training games - and join in the conversation about the action of the Grapefruit League - at www.philly.com/sportsEndText