Yeah, you read that right: the Phillies’ bullpen shined
in a victory over the Reds! Starter Kyle Kendrick looked pedestrian,
but was able to get out of some jams and limit the Reds to four runs.
Afterward, the Phillies’ bullpen pitched four scoreless innings,
allowing only one hit, no walks, and striking out three.
The
game was originally slated for a 7:10 start, but was delayed more than
an hour and a half due to rain (those of us in the Philly area were
treated to some videos reliving the 1980 season). Nevertheless, the
Phillies’ offense was on, as Chase Utley hit two home runs and drove in
three runs, and Pat Burrell hit a first-inning two-run homer as well.
Kendrick allowed eight hits — three of which were doubles — and
walked two in five innings. He did start the sixth inning, but walked
lead-off hitter Edwin Encarnacion.
The second-most surprising element of the game, after the Phillies’
great bullpen performance, was that Pedro Feliz drew a walk! Even
better is that he started the at-bat taking two strikes.
Ryan Howard isn’t looking particularly good so far this season, but
there are 158 more games to play. He’s yet to get an extra base hit.
Aside from that, it was a relatively easy victory for the Phils, and
it went almost according to plan. Manager Charlie Manuel would have
preferred if Kendrick could have notched six innings instead of five,
but Ryan Madson made up for it with two scoreless innings of relief.
Both Tom Gordon and Chad Durbin were unavailable. Gordon has pitched in
two out of the Phillies’ three prior games; Durbin had pitched in all
three.
Tomorrow afternoon, Adam Eaton faces Aaron Harang for a 1:10 meeting.
Screech! The sound Michael Bourn made as he tried to halt his un-Baryshnikov-like faceplant in foul territory down the first base line at Wrigley field.
Rustle. Phillies upper management looking for familiar names on coffee-stained Minor League scouting reports from Ottawa and Reading.
Ring. GM Pat Gillick calls other teams, looking to trade garbage for gold.
Click. Other GM's hang up the phone. Simultaneously, Phillies fans turn off their television sets and broadband feeds in frustration.
Swish! What Jimmy Rollins thought the Phillies' shot at the NL East would be.
Drip, drip, drip. The lifeblood of the Phillies' playoff push slowly leaking onto the floor.
Screech! Jayson Werth and Chris Roberson hail cabs to the nearest airport.
Zip. Doctors zip up their black bags, tattered from overuse, after examining close to $40 million in injured Phillies this season.
Tick-tock. The clock hands move ever so swiftly as the trading deadline nears -- just 17 hours following Victorino and Bourn's injuries.
Sweep. A sound the Phillies hope not to hear during the final two months of the regular season.
Gulp. Minor Leaguers face the task of being asked to fill the shoes of proven Major Leaguers.
Poof! Another playoff appearance for the Phils disappearing.
Boing! Phillies upper management presses the eject button on manager Charlie Manuel's seat.
zzz... there's always the Eagles!
The List -- Phillies Injuries in 2007
Michael Bourn (July 31 - September)
1 year/$380,000
Freddy Garcia (June 8 - September)
$10M/1 year remaining on 3 years/$27M contract
Tom Gordon (May 2 - July 16)
3 years/$18M ($4.5M club option in '09), earning $7M in 2007
Ryan Howard (May 10-24)
1 year/$900,000
Jon Lieber (June 20 - all of 2007)
$7.5M/1 year remaining on 3 years/$21M contract
Ryan Madson (July 30 - September)
1 year/$1.1M
Scott Mathieson (Sept. 3, 2006 - Sept. 2007)
1 year/$380,000
Brett Myers (May 24 - July 27)
In first year of 3 years/$25.75M contract, earning $5M in 2007
Francisco Rosario (June 16 - )
1 year/$100,000
Chase Utley (July 26 - ?)
In first year of 7 years/$85M contract, earning $4.5M in 2007
Shane Victorino (July 31 - mid-August)
1 year/$410,000
Jayson Werth (June 29 - early-August)
1 year/$850,000
The Total: 13 players, $38,120,000 total (42.6% of their $89,428,213 payroll)
Conspiracy Theory?
Chief Justice John Roberts fell victim to a seizure on July 30 (Link). He previously had a seizure in 1993.
What last happened in 1993? The Phillies made the playoffs.
Ballgirl Autograph: Ryan Madson is thrown a bit of a "curve" by a young fan asking for his autograph.
Utley Autograph: Jamie Moyer surpises Chase Utley with a request for his autograph.
Is That Me?: Brett Myers, Shane Victorino prove there's a "little fan in all of us" as they ham it up on PhanaVision.
Four of the five Phillies in those three commercials have since gone on the disabled list since they were aired. Jamie Moyer stands alone. Take out an insurance policy, Jamie.
Going into the 2007 season, the Phillies should -- but won't -- be the favorites to win the NL East. No one packs as hard a punch as the Phillies do with both their offense and their starting pitching. It is no secret, however, that the bullpen is weakest link in this otherwise formidable team. The end of spring training will reveal 13 position players and 12 pitchers, of which most appear to be set. Most of the open slots are in the bullpen and the back of the bench.
The bench appears to be Abraham Nunez (utility infielder), Jayson Werth (OF), and Carlos Ruiz (C), with Chris Coste, Greg Dobbs, and Karim Garcia playing it out for the last two spots. Coste's ability to catch, as well as play both corner infield positions, should give him the inside track and that's not even mentioning the great offensive spring and regular season he had last year. However, it appears that Coste may start the season at AAA Ottawa following a minor groin problem and recent struggles during spring training. Greg Dobbs has had an impressive spring since the Phillies claimed him off waivers from the Seattle Mariners, but then again, so has Garcia, who interrupted his MLB career to play in Japan in 2005 and '06.
In the bullpen, Tom Gordon definitely has the job as the closer. Geoff Geary, Ryan Madson, Matt Smith, and Antonio Alfonseca definitely have jobs in the bullpen. Alfonseca, unless he starts bleeding runs for the remainder of the spring, or if the Phillies deal for a reliever like Scott Linebrink, will have the job of setting up in the eighth inning for Gordon. Madson could slide into that role if Alfonseca struggles; otherwise, he will pitch the 7th inning most times. Geoff Geary will pitch mop-up, and fill in the 7th inning when Madson isn't available. Matt Smith will be the lefty-specialist. With six starters, one of whom may be dealt (Jon Lieber) or otherwise used in the bullpen (Eaton), the Phillies have 10 or 11 of 12 pitching spots filled. The one or two remaining spots could be taken by Fabio Castro, Justin Germano, Joe Bisenius, or Brian Sanches.
Germano doesn't have an option left on his contract, so he could be claimed off of waivers if he does not make the 25-man roster out of spring training, so he creates an interesting decision. Do the Phillies package him with Jon Lieber and get a reliever and another player? Do the Phillies put him in the back of the bullpen to pitch mop-up when the starter can't get out of the third inning, or to fill in if injuries plague the rotation?
Castro, who was aquired from the Texas Rangers for pitcher Daniel Haigwood, is a young left-handed pitcher who has a lot of potential, but the Phillies seem intent on grooming him a bit more in AAA. He could be called up if the Phillies are short on starters due to injuries or transactions (e.g. Lieber traded; Germano released or traded; Eaton or Hamels injured) and have to slide Ryan Madson into the rotation. However, that is highly unlikely to occur. Joe Bisenius has had as impressive a spring as Dobbs, and could have actually sealed the deal for himself with one of the open slots in the bullpen, though he won't be used in any type of a pressure situation. Sanches hasn't done much this spring (6.75 ERA), and nor did he do much while with the Phillies last season (5.91 ERA).
With so many possibilities, and uncertainty in the future of some players, the Phillies would be wise to utilize 14 bench players and 11 pitchers instead of 13 and 12, respectively. At first glance, it seems to be suicide to go into the season whittling an already questionable bullpen; however, starters Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer, and Brett Myers are proven workhorses. Garcia has pitched 200 or more innings in 7 out of his 8 seasons; Jamie Moyer has done so in 6 straight seasons and 8 out of his last 9; Myers has averaged 206 innings over the last two seasons while emerging as one of the better pitchers in the National League. It's almost guaranteed that the Phillies' starters will get into the 7th inning in 3 out of every 5 starts. Cole Hamels and Adam Eaton, when healthy, are dominant and can also pitch deep into ballgames. Given this, it is almost unnecessary to have to rely so heavily on the bullpen -- someone who will likely be used infrequently.
Utilizing 14 bench players also gives the Phillies increased flexibility. Coste, Dobbs, and Garcia will all be on the 25-man roster, giving them three options at catcher (Rod Barajas, Ruiz, and Coste), three options in the outfield (Werth, Dobbs, Garcia), and a utility infielder (Nunez). Also, the Phillies have both a right-handed pinch-hitting option (Coste), and a left-handed option (Dobbs with Garcia also capable).
Championship teams are balanced on every front, including in the bullpen and on the bench. With the Phillies' checklist hal####one, they could find equilibrium by making the bench heavier and the bullpen lighter. Addition by subtraction.
Arthur Rhodes replaces Madson as the set-up man in the bullpen.
On Friday, January 27, 2006, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cleveland Indians completed a long-awaited deal that sent reserve outfielder Jason Michaels to the Tribe in return for experienced left-hander Arthur Rhodes.
Rhodes, whose career began in 1991, turned 36 last October, and will join an already aged Philadelphia bullpen. Recently acquired closer Tom Gordon is 38 years of age, and lefty specialist Rheal Cormier will turn 39 in April. Rhodes will assume the set-up duties for the Phillies, handling the eighth inning before handing the ball to Gordon in the ninth.
Sitting out most of the final two months with knee problems, Rhodes was 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 47 games with the Indians last season.
This new acquisition means that Ryan Madson, the set-up man for the Phillies until they acquired Ugueth Urbina last May, will move into the back of the starting rotation. As he progressed through the Minor Leagues, he was always a starter and feels most comfortable in that role.
Ryan Madson will take over the #5 spot in the Philadelphia starting rotation.
With AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2003, Madson was 12-8 with a 3.50 ERA in his final year as a starter.
"I've always liked Madson in the rotation," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I've always wanted to start him, if possible. I like him pitching every fifth day, and feel he'll be able to get the most out of his pitches. I want to be able to tell him before Spring Training, maybe January, so he can be prepared in his thinking and know what his role is going to be."
Madson, when asked if he would be more comfortable as a set-up man or as a starting pitcher, answered, “Starting, for sure, because that's what I came up through the Minors doing. But wherever help is needed, I will be more than happy to do it.”
Although the rumors have swirled, the Phillies have had a relatively quiet offseason. The Michaels-Rhodes swap marks the first deal the Phillies have made since signing free agent right-hander Ryan Franklin, formerly of the Seattle Mariners. Franklin was suspended for ten games last season for testing positive for banned substances, and finished the season with a disappointing 8-15 record and a 5.10 ERA.
As a result of trading Michaels, the Phillies now lack a right-handed bat off the bench aside from backup catcher Sal Fasano. Rumors indicate the Phillies have expressed interest in free agent and Cooperstown-bound catcher Mike Piazza. Piazza would likely platoon with 2005 Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard at first-base, and pinch-hit late in ballgames, rather than catch. Should Piazza join the team, the Phillies would have to carry three catchers on their roster, which is typically frowned upon.
Mike Lieberthal, entering his thirteenth year in Philadelphia – the longest tenured athlete in the City of Brotherly Love – remains the starting catcher although this is likely his last year as a Phillie.
Written by Bill Baer on January 28, 2006. All written content on this page is Copyright 2006. Images are copyright to their respective owners. Back to The Binder
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The
game was originally slated for a 7:10 start, but was delayed more than
an hour and a half due to rain (those of us in the Philly area were
treated to some videos reliving the 1980 season). Nevertheless, the
Phillies’ offense was on, as Chase Utley hit two home runs and drove in
three runs, and Pat Burrell hit a first-inning two-run homer as well.
