Angels Sign Rodney

The Los Angeles Angels signed Fernando Rodney to a two year, $11 million deal.

The Phillies were another team interested in him. Rodney had a 4.40 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP last season. No thanks. The Phils have enough bullpen issues -- they don't need more walks. Plus, the Phillies front office is saying that they're "in red" as far as money goes. If they were to get him, they'd have a lot of explaining to do; some of that money could have went to Cliff Lee, who everybody would rather have.

Phillies apparently did sign a mystery reliever though, perhaps Danyz Baez. The Phillies were also linked to Mike MacDougal. Either way, it sounds like the Phillies are getting somebody on the cheap side.

In other reliever news, the Nationals are close to signing Matt Capps to a one year deal. Capps was non-tendered by the Pirates after having a rough 2009 when he had a 5.80 ERA. Capps was solid in previous seasons; in 2007 he had a 2.28 ERA. Capps has 67 career saves.

Pirates Take Series With Late Comeback

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have nothing to play for. Being in last place (19 games under .500, 19 games back), the Pirates can only play spoiler. The Phillies swept the Pirates in July, but the Pirates wanted redemption. They welcomed in the reigning World Champs, and embarrassed them.

The Phillies had an excellent opportunity to knock around Charlie Morton right from the chute. The Phillies only had one run to show in a bases loaded, nobody out situation. Ryan Howard’s RBI ground out put the Phillies on the board, but Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez each popped out to end the threat. The Phillies added another run in the second inning on Paul Bako’s (2-2, 2 BB) homer.

Andrew McCutchen greeted J.A Happ with a lead-off home run. After that, Happ didn’t allow anything– until the eighth inning.

The Phillies learned about Garrett Jones at Citizens Bank Park, when he homered in each game of a three game series. With two outs in the eighth, he struck again. His two-run homer to center field gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Other than the two homers, Happ pitched well. He pitched eight innings giving up three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out four.

With a struggling closer in Matt Capps, the Phillies had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the ninth. Matt Stairs represented the go-ahead run, but he’d have to snap an 0-for-24 streak . The last time he had gotten a hit was on July 11, when he homered against Capps. It wasn’t meant to be, because although he swung for the fences, he struck out.

Jimmy Rollins grounded out to end the game. The offense struggled all series long. When the Phillies bats are hot, they’re on fire. When they’re cold, they’re frozen. The offense has been very streaky and they’ve become too reliant on the home run.

Expecting to sweep, the Phillies learned they can not take the Pirates lightly. With the 3-2 loss, the Phillies now have a record of 9-13 at PNC Park since 2002. The Phillies have a history of falling to bad teams, but they still have a comfortable lead in the division.

Lidge Blows the Comeback

Also seen on Phillies Nation.

Baseball's an interesting game. As we saw with Eric Bruntlett's unassisted triple play, a player can make a mistake, but turn into the hero. A pitcher could be the best closer in baseball one year, but the opposite the next. A team could gain momentum, but it can be reversed quickly.

The Phillies managed to come back in the ninth inning, but just like Matt Capps, Brad Lidge ultimately failed to convert the save in the Phillies 6-4 loss.

On the very first pitch of the game, Jimmy Rollins' line shot cleared the right-center field seats to put the Phillies on the board. On the first pitch in his second at-bat, Rollins homered again. Two pitches, two home runs.

Joe Blanton pitched a quality start; he lasted six innings allowing three earned runs. However, all three runs came on home runs: Ryan Doumit's solo shot and Steve Pearce's two-run blast. Blanton gave up six hits, walked two, and struck out seven.

Ross Olendorf was just as effective. He pitched 6.1 innings and gave up two runs on five hits. The Phillies were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight men on base. The Phillies trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the ninth.

Capps had trouble in his last appearance against the Phillies. In that game, he blew a 7-3 lead thanks to home runs by Matt Stairs and Ryan Howard. Tonight, neither were due up in the inning, but the bottom of the order provided the damage. Carlos Ruiz started the rally with a double. Ben Francisco drove Ruiz home to tie the game at three.

With two outs, Shane Victorino tripled, scoring Francisco from second. In Little League, coaches stress that the first step is always back. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen did not follow those rules and took the first step in. It was costly. The ball sailed over his head and the go-ahead run scored. McCutchen would get that run back... and more.

With Lidge closing, nothing is a sure thing. Capps already blew his save, but the truth is Lidge has been worse this year. Luis Cruz singled to start the inning against Lidge. That was the beginning of the end.

Brandon Moss singled to right fielder, Jayson Werth. Werth went to scoop up the ball, but bobbled it. Pinch runner, Brian Bixler, rounded the bases and scored from first. Werth fired to the plate. The throw beat the runner, but was off-line so Ruiz could not apply the tag quick enough. Tie game. Blown save, Brad Lidge.

The next batter was McCutchen, who had a chance to redeem himself. He did that, and more. He hit a long drive to straight-away center field. Victorino kept going back, but so did the baseball. It cleared the fence for a walk-off home run.

Lidge blowing saves is becoming a re-occurring nightmare for the Phillies. He is now 0-6 with nine blown saves and an ERA standing at 7.33. There has to be thought as to whether Lidge's days as a closer are numbered. Either way, the Phillies dropped a game to the lowly, last-place Pirates, a team they must take advantage of.

PHOTO COURTESY: The Fightins'