Phillies Drop to Second Place

As seen on Phillies Nation.

With the Phillies 9-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies dropped to second place in the National League East. While the Phillies offensive struggles have been frustrating, it's not time to press the panic button -- yet.

Part of this loss can be blamed on defensive mistakes by Ross Gload and Ryan Howard. Gload, who played in place of Jayson Werth, dropped a fly ball. However, the most costly error was by Howard, who completely missed a ground ball that potentially could have been two outs. The miscues led to two unearned runs, and if not made, the outcome could have been much different.

The Phillies were held scoreless until the seventh inning. Tommy Hanson cruised along, allowing just three hits. He was lifted in the seventh inning after allowing a two-out double to Raul Ibanez. Pete Moylan came in relief and gave up three straight doubles as the Phillies were able to cut the lead in half. Unfortunately, Troy Glaus broke the game wide open at the bottom half of the inning. Glaus' three-run home run off Chad Durbin put the game in the books.

There were some positives though. Brad Lidge returned from the disabled list (Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment) and tossed a 1-2-3 inning. His slider was impressive, as he struck out one batter. The other positive? They weren't shut out.

Today, the offensive struggles carried over defensively. There is no question that the Phillies need to snap out of this slump, but it is still very early in the season. In previous seasons, the Phillies have gone through similar woes. This series with Atlanta is key, however, and they must win if they want to get back into first place.

Blog of Note: We Should Be GM's has a few song parodies about the Phillies' offensive struggles.

Lidge Lands on DL; Burrell DFA'd

The Phillies placed reliever Brad Lidge on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 10) due to inflammation in his right elbow. An MRI did not show loose bodies or damaged ligaments, however the pain has yet to go away despite being well-rested.

Lidge only appeared in four games this year, saving one. Lidge will decide if he wants to get a cortisone shot. He previously received a cortisone injection in March.

Antonio Bastardo was recalled to take Lidge’s spot on the roster. Bastardo appeared in seven big league games earlier this year.

The Phillies beat the Brewers today, 10-6, beind Joe Blanton.

In other news, former Phillie Pat Burrell was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays. Don't count on the Phillies bringing him back. Yes, they have a tendency to bring back ex-Phillies, but the right handed bat off the bench seems to belong to Ben Francisco and Ross Gload.

Phillies Finish Home Stand on High Note

As seen on Phillies Nation.

There was some magic in those pink bats that Jayson Werth, Placido Polanco, and Shane Victorino used. They each smashed solo home runs to help the Phillies wrap up a 7-3 home stand. But it was the bullpen that was the story in the Phillies 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Cole Hamels lasted just five innings, but was backed by solid defense. In the first inning, Omar Infante rounded third as Werth threw a laser to Carlos Ruiz, who applied the tag. Infante was gunned down, and the inning came to an end. Hamels allowed three earned runs on eight hits. He struck out five, but was a tad wild as he walked four. Luckily for Hamels, he received run support unlike his last start.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning. Werth was hit by a pitch by Kenshin Kawakami to force in a run. Ibanez followed with a shallow fly ball to right field. It was nowhere deep enough to score a run, however when Chase Utley is on third base, nothing is shallow enough. Melky Cabrera took his time, and Utley took advantage and tagged from third to score. By the third inning, the Phillies led 4-0 thanks to home runs by Polanco and Werth.

The Braves inched back off Hamels, but the bullpen stepped in and dominated. Chad Durbin pitched two perfect innings and struck out four. Jose Contreras has made us all forget about his poor spring training. He threw a scoreless inning to set it up for Brad Lidge.

Eric Hinske and Infante hit two loud fly balls. On any day, those balls probably would have left the yard, but thankfully the wind knocked them down. After all the fans took a deep breath, Lidge retired Martin Prado to record his first save of the season.

The Phillies' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings. Nor Durbin, Contreras or Lidge allowed a single base runner. The bullpen needs to continue this sort of dominance, and the Phillies will continue to succeed.

Phillies Notes: Halladay, Injuries, Minor Deals

As seen on Phillies Nation.

March is quickly coming to an end. The Phillies play one more game in Clearwater before returning north for an exhibition series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. April 5th will be here before we know it. There was plenty of Phillies news to end the third month of the year:

The Phillies lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2.

Roy Halladay surrendered four runs in the first inning. He would settle down by striking out the side in the second, and retiring the side in order in the third. In the three innings he worked, he struck out five.

Placido Polanco and Ben Francisco provided the Phillies with their only two runs. They each hit solo shots.

Brad Lidge received a Cortisone shot.

Lidge is having elbow troubles once again. Lidge has inflammation on the outer part of his elbow. His off-season surgery was on the inner part. No MRI will be required for this injury, as there is no structural damage.

Michael Ciccotti, the team physician, said that the injury is due to “[Lidge's] reconditioning routine.” Lidge’s goal is to return by mid-April, although it could be later.

Joe Blanton injured his left oblique muscle.


The Phillies will not know more about the injury until tomorrow, when Blanton is examined by the team doctor. Blanton, who was scheduled to pitch on Saturday, felt the injury when throwing a bullpen session today.

Blanton has never been placed on the disabled list in his career. If Blanton were to miss time during the season, Kyle Kendrick would likely be the one to fill his shoes.

If the Blanton and Lidge injuries weren’t bad enough, Carlos Ruiz was kept out of today’s lineup after being hit by a pitch on the arm yesterday. The move was just cautionary though.

The Phillies signed right handed pitchers Josh Fogg and Ty Taubenheim to minor league contracts.

Both pitchers will report to minor league camp. These moves could kick Brandon Duckworth out of Triple-A.

Fogg was recently released by the New York Mets. He has a career 62-69 record, and 5.03 ERA. Taubenheim has only pitched in 46 major league innings, and also has an ERA over five.

Phillies/Twins Preview & Other Notes

As seen on Phillies Nation.

With the rain pushing back J.A Happ’s start, the Phillies altered their rotation for the week. On Monday, Roy Halladay will start and Jamie Moyer will pitch in a B game. Cole Hamels will pitch on Tuesday, Joe Blanton Wednesday, Kyle Kendrick Friday, and Halladay on Saturday. The Phillies have off on Thursday, when Happ will throw again.

Happ will start in today’s game against the Minnesota Twins. It can be seen on MYPHL 17 and MLB Network at 1:00 p.m. Carl Pavano will take the hill for the Twins.

The Twins lineup will consist of almost all regulars, except Joe Mauer: Denard Span, Orlando Hudson, Justin Morneau, Jim Thome, Michael Cuddyer, Wilson Ramos, Delmon Young, J.J Hardy and Nick Punto.

For the Phillies, all the regulars are in the lineup for the first time this spring: Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Ben Francisco, and Carlos Ruiz.

Other Notes:

Phillippe Aumont, Yohan Flande, Scott Mathieson, Drew Naylor, J.C Ramirez, Jesus Sanchez, Joe Savery, Bill White, Tuffy Gosewisch, Kevin Nelson, John Suomi, Freddy Galvis, Quentin Berry and Tyson Gillies have all been re-assigned to minor league camp.

Scott Matheison is the most surprising name on the list. Ruben Amaro said that Matheison could appear in the big leagues in 2010, but also said that he needed to “refine” his secondary pitches.

It is still uncertain if J.C Romero and Brad Lidge will be ready by April 5. Romero says not to count him out for Opening Day, although it appears to be a long shot at this point.

Romero threw 30 pitches yesterday, and mixed in a few changeups. Romero will start throwing sliders tomorrow.

Today, Lidge threw to a few hitters. On Monday, Lidge will likely throw in a minor league game. Both Lidge and Romero see progress.

Quotes & Notes: Spring Training Day One

The first official day of spring training is over. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp and took part in their first team workout. Position players were also in attendance. Here's the stories from day one, including quotes:

• "Being the perfectionist that [Cole Hamels] is, he took [his 2009's struggles] to heart, and he did the work that he had to do. So he's in a much better position right now. He could have gone home and sulked again and said, oh, what do they know. He didn't do that. He went home and did what he had to do." -- Rich Dubee, Phillies pitching coach.

Hamels put a lot of work in this off season, and says that he did not stop throwing over the winter. Over the break, Hamels experimented with a cutter, and even talked to Steve Carlton and Cliff Lee about the pitch. During spring training, Hamels will work on improving his curveball.

• "[Jamie Moyer]'s probably ahead of schedule in what we thought he might be able to do." -- Dubee

This is good news, especially if Jamie wants to keep the fifth starter's job. J.C Romero also felt that he was ahead of schedule. A healthy team is always key. However, rushing back from an injury can make it worse.

• "I don't necessarily expect myself to have '08, but I expect myself to be a hell of a lot closer to '08 than '09, that's for sure." -- Brad Lidge, Phillies closer

That's a confident Brad Lidge. And that's what he needs: confidence. Over and over I have heard that Lidge's problems were mental. Perhaps he has his mind straight. After all, "baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical" (Yogi Berra).

• "[ Placido] Polanco has quick feet at third base. Third base is a reaction kind of place. Polly definitely can do that. Polly does throw good. He is accurate. All around with the bat and everything, he's a better player than [Pedro] Feliz. I don't see where we're going to get hurt there." -- Charlie Manuel, Phillies manager

I can't argue that Polanco is an overall upgrade from Feliz. He's not going to be as solid defensively, but as Manuel said, he's no slouch when it comes to defense. His transition to third should not be a huge problem.

A Renewed Rivalry?

• "We're expecting to go out there and win the National League East, go deep in the playoffs and win a World Series." -- David Wright, New York Mets.

Ever since Jimmy Rollins proclaimed the Phillies to be the "team to beat" in 2007, there has been bantering back-and-forth between the Phillies and Mets. An injury-plagued Mets ball club only won 70 games last year, and their rivalry with the Phillies fell apart towards the end of the season. While this isn't a direct shot at the Phillies, it still adds to the rivalry.

• "Santana." -- Johan Santana

In the quote above, Santana, answered a question. However, the question wasn't "what's your name?" He was asked who the best pitcher in the National League East is. He simply replied with his own name.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to a renewed rivalry between these two teams.

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

The Three Biggest Concerns

As seen on Phillies Nation.

That time of the year is quickly approaching, folks. Pitchers and catchers report in just two days. On paper, the 2010 Phillies look better than they did at this point in 2009. The lineup is set, the bench is improved, but there are still a few question marks headed into spring training.

It’s unsure how Placido Polanco will transition to third base. It’s also unknown who will be the left-handed specialist if J.C Romero is not ready by the beginning of the season. But here are the three biggest concerns headed into spring training:

Brad Lidge

By now, we know his 2009 numbers — an earned run average over seven and eleven blown saves. He had one of the worst seasons as a closer, ever. Lidge had two surgeries this off-season, and his status for Opening Day is unknown.

Lidge may not be ready by the start of the season, but he should not miss a significant amount of time. In the occasions that Lidge had an off year, he followed it up with a decent year. If the pattern continues, Lidge is due for a good season.

Cole Hamels

Last year, Hamels pitched average for a major league pitcher. For Cole Hamels, it was a subpar season. As the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP, Hamels had plenty of off-season distractions last off-season. It’ll be interesting to hear how Hamels prepared for the 2010 season. Hopefully, he had more time to focus, but the biggest concern is improving his curveball.

Hamels’ curveball problems were easily noticed in last year’s division series. If Hamels is unable to improve his curveball, he should immedietly switch to a slider or cut-fastball. As a two-pitch pitcher, it is important for Hamels to develop a third pitch. Adding another pitch will make him that much scarier of a pitcher.

Jamie Moyer

Ruben Amaro Jr. already proclaimed that the fifth spot in the rotation is Moyer’s to lose. However, Moyer had multiple surgeries and health problems this off-season. The 47-year old remains optimistic that he’ll be ready to pitch this spring, and was also open to the idea of pitching in 2011!

If Moyer does not win the fifth starter’s job, it’ll be interesting to see who wins it: Kyle Kendrick? Andrew Carpenter? Or somebody else?

Player Recaps: Brad Lidge

per⋅fect (adj.) / [pur-fikt]:

1. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement 2. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings 3. 48-for-48 in save opportunities

Synonyms: unblemished, faultless, lights out, Brad Lidge in 2008

im⋅per⋅fect (adj.) / [im-pur-fikt]:

1. of, pertaining to, or characterized by defects or weaknesses 2. defective, faulty 3. 11 blown saves

Synonyms: causing fans to use profanity, Brad Lidge in 2009

Those 1-2-3 ninth innings in 2008 were nice, right? 2009 was a different story. We were treated to a nerve-wracking ninth that usually ended in disappoint and frustration. If your heart wasn't pounding, then you were probably on Mars.

Coming off a "perfect" season, Brad Lidge's expectations were high, but the only direction he could go was down. And he hit rock bottom.

Lidge extended his consecutive save streak in his first three opportunities. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. On April 18, Lidge blew his first save since 2007. Charlie Manuel walked to the mound to take the ball from Lidge. Proud, and well aware of his remarkable streak, the fans gave Lidge a standing ovation. It would not be the only time Manuel took the baseball from Lidge, but it would be the only ovation.

7-Eleven: a seven-plus earned run average and eleven blown saves. Lidge's longest save streak in '09 was five. It was rare that we'd see back-to-back saves from the righty. Overall, he went 0-8 in 58.2 IP, posting a 7.21 ERA, and 1.81 WHIP. He saved 31 games, struck out 61. Opponents batted .296 against him.

Lidge made every appearance interesting, even if he earned the save. He allowed 11 hits and 5.2 walks per nine. Lidge also allowed eleven home runs, a huge jump from his two the previous year.

Lidge would throw his slider early in the count, but the hitter would lay off. He'd immediately fall behind, and allow the batter to reach base. When Lidge allowed a lead-off runner, the game was over. His fastball velocity was there, but sometimes his command was off. Perhaps hitters figured him out, but in 2010 he'll have to do a better job of mixing and locating his pitches. Lidge is a two-pitch pitcher, but his stuff can be deadly.

Due to his poor performance, Lidge's health was always in question. He was placed on the disabled list in June (knee), but picked up right where he left off when he returned. Lidge did not have a single month where he had a sub-five ERA.

Charlie Manuel insisted that Lidge was the man for the closing role. But, down the strecth Manuel started to lose faith and called for a "closer by comittee." Sometimes Madson would close; sometimes Scott Eyre was brought in to get the first two outs of the ninth.

Lidge saved three games and didn't allow a run in the National League Division and Championship Series'. Unfortunately, he gave up the biggest runs in the World Series.

But hey, let's look at the positive: who got the win in Game 4 of the NLCS?

Lidge did a terrific job of raising our blood pressures. He made history by having the worst ERA of any closer (with at least 20 saves) in MLB history. He just didn't have it.

This article was also featured on Phillies Nation.

Lidge, Contreras, Fans, NL East News

As seen on Phillies Nation.

There's eighty days until Roy Halladay (I'm already penciling him in as the Opening Day starter) throws the first pitch of 2010. There's 35 days until pitchers and catchers report. The season is quickly approaching, and soon we'll be hearing more Phillies news on a daily basis. There was still plenty of baseball news today:

• The Phillies announced that Brad Lidge had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and his status for Opening Day is questionable.

"The surgery went well, and Brad is expected to begin his throwing program in 10 days," head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said. "We're not sure if he'll be ready by Opening Day, but we don't expect that he'll be too far behind. This surgery was not directly related to any previous surgeries."

Loose bodies and a portion of his meniscus were removed. This is Lidge's second surgery this off season (elbow). This is his third surgery on his right knee since 2007. Lidge missed opening week in 2008 due to knee surgery, and also missed part of 2009 due to knee pain.

• The Phillies, along with four other teams, are interested in Jose Contreras.

Contreras, 38, had a 4.92 ERA in 131.6 innings with the White Sox and Rockies last year. Contreras would likely relieve, despite spending some time as a starter last year. If you were hoping for a reliever like D.J Carrasco, cross his name off the list. He reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Phillies need bullpen help, but personally I don't think Contreras is the answer.

• Smile! The Hardball Times named Phillies fans "the happiest in MLB."

Honestly, I was kind of surprised to see the Phillies listed as number one. I was expecting the 3-5 range, thinking Philadelphia would recieve the usual Philly fan stereotypes. A championship, two pennants, and three division titles in three years; yeah, that makes me happy.

• Brandon Duckworth and Jason Standridge sign minor league deals with the Phillies.

The Duck Pond is back!! I can’t believe I missed this news. Honestly, Duckworth was one of my favorite players in the early 2000’s, despite his struggles.

Since leaving the Phillies, Duckworth, 34, has spent time in the Astros’ and Royals’ system. Standridge, 31, was a first-round draft pick in 1997.

National League East news:

• The Atlanta Braves are pursuing Johnny Damon.


• Carlos Beltran had surgery on his knee without asking the Mets for permission.

The Mets' injury woes continue into 2010. Beltran is expected to miss at least twelve weeks.

In other Mets news, the Mets are close to signing catcher Bengie Molina. Molina batted .265 with 20 home runs with the San Francisco Giants last year.

• The Washington Nationals are interested in Orlando Hudson.

The Nationals could offer Hudson a two-year deal -- at the right price. Hudson could want as much as $9 million, which may be too much for the Nationals.

• What about that other team in the National League East?

The Marlins? You may have noticed that they haven't been spending a lot of money. Well, they reached an agreement with the players' union to increase spending due to complaints about the team's payroll violating baseball's revenue sharing provisions.

Blog of Note: We Should be GM's has a nice motion picture of the man, Chase Utley.

Lidge, Ibanez, Eyre To Have Surgery

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Brad Lidge, Scott Eyre and Raul Ibanez will each have surgery next week.
It turns out that Lidge was injured this year, but it’s not his knee. On Wednesday, Lidge will have surgery to repair loose bodies in his elbow. In addition, he will need to have his flexor/pronator tendon examined. If Lidge’s tendon is okay, then he should be ready to pitch when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. However, if his tendon needs to be repaired, then he is doubtful to be ready by the beginning of spring training.

Scott Eyre will have the same surgery as Lidge. Eyre and Raul Ibanez will each go under the knife on Monday. Ibanez will have a sports hernia surgically repaired. Eyre and Ibanez are expected to be ready by spring training. It is still uncertain if Eyre will pitch in 2010.

Phils Pick Up Lee's Option; Other Notes

The season just ended, but the Phillies kicked off the offseason with their first move.

The Phillies picked up Cliff Lee’s $9 million option for the 2010 season. No surprise here. There is still a possibility that Lee will be signed to a long term deal. The Phillies have not made a decision about Pedro Feliz’s $5 million option for next season.

Ruben Amaro has notified Brett Myers that he will not play for the Phillies in 2010. The right hander is officially a free agent.

There will be no coaching changes. Rich Dubee, Milt Thompson, Davy Lopes, Sam Perlozzo and Pete Mackanin will all stay on Charlie Manuel’s coaching staff. Again, no surprise here. This staff has done a phenomenal job.

Eyre is undecided if he will play next year, but will definitely need surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow. Lidge will be getting checked to see if he has the same injury. Ibanez will have an MRI on his groin, but he may also need surgery for a tear in his abdomen.

The Phillies contacted Chan Ho Park's agent about returning next season. Park was terrific out of the bullpen. But does he still have his eyes on starting?

Lidge Disease Quickly Spreading Throughout MLB

With the rapid spread of Swine Flu, Americans are taking every precaution to avoid risks of obtaining the virus. In Major League Baseball, it is not Swine that is spreading, but Lidge Disease.

After going a perfect 48-for-48 in saves opportunities in 2008 (postseason included), Brad Lidge struggled completing saves this season. He led the major leagues with 11 blown saves.

Ryan Madson, Lidge's teammate, occasionally caught the disease, blowing six saves. By sharing the same clubhouse, Madson's struggles further proved how the disease spreads.

Major League Baseball is investigating whether some of the Phillies opponents' blown saves were a form of cheating. Witnesses claim that the spread of blown saves was intentional on Lidge's part. MLB's suspicious began when the Pirates' Matt Capps allowed a three-run home run to Ryan Howard. Jonathan Broxton, who blew a save against the Phillies in May, claimed that he spoke to Lidge and shook his hand during batting practice. Broxton's case was overshadowed due to the fact that the Dodgers came back to win.

While Lidge has not had any contact with the following players, they all suffered from major symptoms of Lidge Disease.

Joe Nathan first developed signs of Lidge by getting into a jam during the one game playoff. Luckily, he escaped without further damage, giving reasons to believe it was a glitch. Then, the disease kicked in at its highest levels. Nathan blew a save against the New York Yankees. Alex Rodriguez's home run tied the game and the Yankees eventually won. The home run was not quite Albert Pujols level, but it was close to it.

Ryan Franklin isn't fully to blame for his blown save against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Holliday, a left fielder, suffered from a closely related disease to Lidge. Experts call it choking, but tests have not confirmed the illness. Regardless, Holliday missed a catch that would have ended the game. It resulted in a loss for the Cardinals, and eventually being swept by the Dodgers.

The latest diagnoses of Lidge Disease was detected in Boston. Jonathan Papelbon had a two-run lead with two outs. The Los Angeles Angels rallied for three runs, and swept the Red Sox. Papelbon had not allowed a run in his postseason career until Sunday. The only clear explanation is the contagious spread of Lidge.

Brad Lidge hopes that he does not suffer a breakout from the disease during this postseason. However, other closers, such as Huston Street (Street had Lidge Disease against Matt Stairs in April) will have to be aware.

*This story is not completely true, although based on some struggles around the league*

Part IV: NLDS Preview: Bullpen

This is Part IV of the NLDS Preview. Click here for Part III, or see the full article on Phillies Nation.

The bullpen is a weakness for both teams. Charlie Manuel is unsure who will close for the Phillies, but it will likely be between Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge. Lidge’s struggles are well documented, blowing the most saves in the majors. Madson struggled when he closed, but his high velocity and nasty changeup are closing material. Huston Street, the Rockies closer, isn’t automatically light’s out either. His numbers are impressive: 3.06 ERA, 35 saves, 0.91 WHIP and a .194 opponents average. However, he can be very inconsistent. When he gets hit, he gets rocked.

The Phillies bullpen has been plagued with injuries. J.C Romero and Jamie Moyer both had season ending surgery. Brett Myers has a 6.43 since returning from hip surgery. The Phillies made an interesting move by leaving Clay Condrey off the roster and adding Antonio Bastardo and Kyle Kendrick. Condrey may still be suffering from his back injury, but adding Bastardo is questionable. The Phillies added a rookie with limited and unsuccessful major league experience, but they are in desperate need of a left-handed reliever. With Scott Eyre the lefty specialist, Bastardo will get limited action, much like Happ last season. Pedro Martinez’s role has yet to be defined, but chances are he will pitch out of the bullpen.

The Colorado bullpen includes Joe Beimel, Rafeal Betancourt, Franklin Morales, Matt Daley, and Matt Belisle. Biemel, their primary left-handed specialist, went 1-6 with a 3.58 ERA this season. Since joining the Rockies, Betancourt has a 1.78 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. Franklin Morales has yet to live up to his expectation, but he can be a solid pitcher. Belisle has struggled this season, and Daley is a rookie who has had some success.

In two hitter-friendly parks, pitching can prove to be a key factor. As the saying goes, pitching wins championships.

Commercial Cancled

Notice how this commercial isn't played anymore? Instead we get the guy that's CA-RAAAAZZZZY!!!

If this commercial was translated to today, it would be:

"Hi, I'm Brad Lidge. My job on the field is to give up as many runs as possible."

VIDEO COURTESY: The Fightins

Is There An Answer?

Originally featured on Phillies Nation.

On Wednesday night, Brad Lidge blew his league leading, eleventh save of the year. Should Brad Lidge continue to close? Most of us can agree that the answer is no. The question remains: who should fill his role? There is no answer; at least I don't have one.

Lidge can not continue to close games, but he will. Charlie insists on "sticking to his guy." Many believe that Lidge will be left off the postseason roster, but I do not see it happening. He deserves to be, but if Manuel is letting him close this late in the season, I doubt Lidge will be excluded during the playoffs.

Ryan Madson has struggled in the closer's role, blowing six saves. He was not much better when he filled in for Lidge. He is like LaTroy Hawkins. He can't close, but is a decent set-up man.

Brett Myers is hurt, as well as J.C Romero and Chan Ho Park. The Phillies don't envision Tyler Walker, Chad Durbin or Sergio Escalona as closers.

Phillies Nation mentioned that J.A Happ could close. It would be worth a shot and it is a strong possibility. At this point, anybody is better than Lidge, but no thank you. I think it could work out for the short term, but not for the long term. He doesn't have a go-to strikeout pitch like Lidge's slider (when it's good). I was never a fan of Happ relieving from the beginning. I'd rather get 6+ scoreless innings from Happ than one.

The closing situation is a big issue. It will be impossible for the Phillies to go deep into the postseason with this reoccurring nightmare. The bullpen is a problem, but answers are scarce.

A Healthy Offensive Mix

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Brad Lidge’s struggles are well documented. Before the game, Charlie Manuel discussed Lidge’s fate. Unsure if Lidge would pitch in the next save opportunity, Manuel said he would go with his gut feeling. It was not the prettiest game, but the Phillies edged the Nationals 6-5. The Phillies played small ball and long ball to beat the Nationals.

Cliff Lee looked like Cy Young during his first five starts with the Phillies. Since, he has cooled off. He was not as bad as he was in his last two starts, but he was not the Cliff Lee that we’re accustomed to seeing. He pitched seven innings and did not walk a batter. On the other hand, he gave up five runs (four earned) on ten hits. Five hits went for extra bases.

Adam Dunn’s RBI single gave the Nats an early lead, but Jayson Werth quickly tied it with a single of his own. The Phillies have been struggling getting the little-big hit, but leave it to Lee to help his own cause. Lee singled, collecting his first career RBI. It gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the second inning.

Raul Ibanez continued his Nat swatting. His RBI double gave the Philliesa 4-1 lead. Ibanez is now 5-for-9 with three runs batted in during this series.

They are already eliminated from playoff contention, but the Nationals don’t quit. Phillies/Nationals games are always close. As expected, the Nationals fought back. Dunn’s RBI single made it a one-run game. Jorge Padilla’s bunt single barely stayed fair, and all of a sudden the Nationals had runners at the corners with one out. Christian Guzman looked like he had grounded into the inning-ending twin killing, however Chase Utley was unable to handle the late flip from Jimmy Rollins. Tie game.

Jayson Werth has displayed his power throughout the year, reaching the second deck at Citizens Bank Park and Rogers Centre. Once again, he reached new heights. Werth hit a towering drive to straight away center field to give the Phillies the lead. Pedro Feliz immediately followed with a solo home run of his own, to make it back-to-back jacks.

Trying to make his job easier, Manuel tried to stretch Lee through eight innings. However, the first two batters reached base, forcing Manuel to go to Chan Ho Park. Park allowed a walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Pete Orr’s sacrifice fly put the Nationals within one. That was all Park would give up, avoiding further damage.

Ryan Madson was called on to close. Although he converted Tuesday’s save, Madson previously struggled as a closer. Justin Maxwell greeted him with a single and stole a base. Madson was firing 98 mph fastballs, and struck out Guzman. Maxwell was dancing off second when Dunn lined a shot to Utley. Utley caught it, and flipped to Rollins covering second base. Maxwell was doubled off, ending the game.

With the victory, the Phillies have not only won their second game in a row, but clinched the series. Manuel’s gut feeling worked. They’ll look to sweep the Nationals tomorrow.

A Baseball Date

Philadelphia Phillies (78-58) at Washington Nationals (47-91)
Cliff Lee (12-11, 3.06 ERA) vs. Garrett Mock (3-7, 5.63 ERA)

It's a perfect date for baseball: 9/9/09. Nine innings. Nine men on the field. Who knows, maybe Miguel Cairo (#9) will come up clutch off the bench.

Cliff Lee would like to get all 27 outs, something he has done twice in a Phillies uniform. Lee's first five starts raised his expectations through the roof. However, Lee has been roughed up in his last two starts, allowing 12 runs in eight innings. Lee has a chance to rebound against the NL East bottom-feeders.

Lee will be opposed by Garrett Mock. In five innings in relief, Mock has allowed five earned runs against the Phillies this season.

Last night, Brad Lidge almost blew another save. Charlie Manuel said that he was going to stick to his closer, but if the Phillies are in another save situation, we may or may not see Lidge. Manuel said he is uncertain that Lidge will close in team's next save situation. "I'll just go with how I feel," Manuel said, regarding who will close.

Tonight's Lineup: Rollins (SS)/ Victorino (CF)/ Utley (2B)/ Howard (1B)/ Ibanez (LF)/ Werth (RF)/ Feliz (3B)/ Bako (C)/ Lee (P).

Call of the Day: 12 years ago today, Richie Ashburn passed away.

Solo Shots Lift Phils

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Brad Lidge was on the verge of blowing his eleventh save. Almost. When the lead-off runner reaches base, trouble is ahead. This time Charlie Manuel lost his patience and pulled Lidge. But would Ryan Madson escape the bases-loaded, one out jam with Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn due up?

Before the ninth inning drama, Pedro Martinez pitched another gem. A strike away from finishing the seventh inning, Martinez allowed a solo home run to Willie Harris. Manuel called to the 'pen, but Martinez made the best of his 119 pitches. In 6.2 innings, he allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Once again, the offense started slowly. The bats would wake up. Raul Ibanez loves to beat up the Nats. He homered to put the Phillies on the board in the fifth inning. In the seventh, Jayson Werth hit his 32nd home run of the year. Ibanez homered again, going back-to-back with Werth. Not only did Ibanez's two homers give the Phillies the lead, but they upped his home run total to 30. After Pedro Feliz grounded out, Carlos Ruiz homered. The Phillies hit three home runs in the seventh inning. For the first time in 70 innings, the Phillies had a lead larger than one run.

The lead didn't last long thanks to Harris' homer, but Chase Utley returned the favor with a solo shot down the right field line. Like Ibanez, the homer was Utley's 30th of the year. The Phillies now have four players with at least 30 homers (Ryan Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Utley).

All of the Phillies five runs came on solo home runs. The last time the Phillies had five solo home runs in a game was in 1999.

Then it became interesting. Charlie Manuel has made it clear that Brad Lidge is his closer. He may have finally changed his mind. Lidge loaded the bases with one out. The eventual outcome was pretty obvious. Manuel had enough, and made the call to Ryan Madson. Madson fired 96 mph fastballs before striking out Zimmerman on a changeup. Adam Dunn hit a grounder into the shift to end the game. Phillies win, 5-3. Pedro collected the win, and Madson recorded the save.

For the first time in September, the Phillies scored more than four runs. The Phillies halted their four game losing streak, but the question remains: has Charlie lost his faith in his closer?

The Old Goat Beats The Freak

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Pedro Martinez is a three-time Cy Young Award winner. In his young career, Tim Lincecum already has one and is a legitimate contender for the award this season. Both pitchers proved why they have trophies on their mantles, but the Old Goat out-dueled The Freak.

On the very first pitch of the game, Eugenio Velez sent a fly ball into the right-center field seats. The Giants don't need much run support when Tim Lincecum is on the mound, who previously shutout the Phillies.

In the second inning, Jayson Werth hit his 30th home run of the year, an upper deck moonshot to left. The pitching took care of the rest.

Pedro struck out seven betters through the first three innings. He finished with nine strikeouts in seven innings. He allowed only one run on five hits. He did not walk a batter.

Lincecum was just as impressive, striking out eleven in seven innings. He gave up four hits and walked one, but Ryan Howard came up with the biggest hit of the night.

Chase Utley was plunked, which was followed by Howard's double into the right-center field gap. Utley hustled around the bases, scoring the go-ahead run.

It hasn't been easy when the game is left to the back end of the bullpen. Ryan Madson pitched a quick eighth inning, and it was up to Brad Lidge.

Lidge was able to get two quick outs and jump ahead 0-2 against Randy Winn, but Winn squeaked a single past the glove of a diving Chase Utley. Juan Uribe walked, and all of a sudden the go-ahead run was on base. Fred Lewis chopped a ball to second, but Utley played it perfectly and tagged out Uribe. Lidge secured his 28th save of the year, and third in a row.

The game flew, lasting only two hours and eight minutes. If you prefer pitchers' duels over slug-fests, then this was the series for you. Thanks to a stellar performance from a future Hall of Famer, the Phillies took the rubber-match of the series, 2-1. The Phillies only scored three runs during the entire series, but it was enough to take two out of three games.

Chooch Comes Up Clutch

Also posted on Phillies Nation.

Hits with runners in scoring position and 1-2-3 saves have not been the Phillies specialty as of late. The Phillies got both in their 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Martin Prado killed the Phillies in a previous series in Atlanta. He continued the beating with a first inning solo home run against Joe Blanton. That was all Blanton allowed in seven innings. He gave up three hits, walked four, and struck out seven.

In the fourth, Chase Utley tied the game with his 29th homer of the season. Over 46% of the Phillies runs have come via long ball.

The Phillies had a golden opportunity in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and nobody out. Blanton didn't follow the "don't swing" policy and lined into a double play. Jimmy Rollins grounded out to end the threat. Luckily, an error and a timely hit put the Phillies ahead.

Raul Ibanez walked and Pedro Feliz successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt. However, Chipper Jones made a throwing error and everybody was safe. Carlos Ruiz's two-run double gave the Phillies the lead.

Ryan Madson has been struggling, giving up three earned runs, seven hits, and a walk in his last four innings. Matt Diaz was drilled and Prado singled to start the eighth inning. Chipper Jones' RBI single drove in a run, making it 3-2 with two on and nobody out. Jayson Werth made a strong throw to the plate, but it was a tad wide for Ruiz to make the tag. Charlie Manuel made the call to the bullpen to escape the jam.

Scott Eyre, who hadn't pitched since August 16, was called upon. Eyre got Brian McCann to ground into the unconventional 4-6-5 double play. Chase Utley made a fantastic pick, and flipped to Rollins. Heads up, Rollins fired to third. Feliz and Prado got into a pickle, which Feliz won. A triple play was almost turned after McCann was a little too far away from the first base bag.

Garrett Anderson grounded out, and Eyre left the mound with a nice first pump. Brad Lidge would do the same. After two quick fly outs, Greg Norton went around on Lidge's nasty slider to end the game.

The Phillies took the rubber match game of the series and extend their divisional lead to eight games. Their magic number decreases to 26.