Player Recap: Ryan Madson

This article was featured on Phillies Nation under 2009 Player Reviews.

After successfully being the "bridge to Lidge," Ryan Madson was given a three-year, $12 million contract in January, 2009. Madson looked to continue his success as the team’s set-up man, but he was also handed the closing job.

Madson was extremely comfortable in the eighth inning. The right hander had 26 holds, which ranked fifth in the National League. However, when filling in for an injured closer, Madson blew six saves.

Madson has a hard fastball, which tops the high-90’s on adrenaline. His changeup is filthy, and helped him strike out 9.1 batters per nine, a career high. Madson struck out 78 batters, but he also kept the ball in the yard. He only allowed 7 home runs in 77.1 innings.

Madson was streaky, however. He’d have his stretches where he would be lights out, but he would also have stretches where he would get lit up. For example, he had a 5.11 ERA in July, but a 2.63 ERA in August.

Charlie Manuel could throw Madson out against a left-handed batter or a right-handed batter and he would get the job done. He had more success against righties, but having somebody who can get batters out from both sides of the plate is extremely valuable for a bullpen.

Overall, Madson went 5-5 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Opponents batted .251 against him.

Madson is one of the best set-up men in the league. He was streaky at times, but overall he had a great year. He couldn’t get the job done as closer, but having a reliable set-up man is about as important as having a reliable closer.

Staying Alive: Series Headed to NY

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The World Series is headed back to the Bronx! Facing elimination, Chase Utley and Cliff Lee led the Phillies to an important 8-6 victory.

Red-hot Alex Rodriguez quickly put the Yankees on the board. A-Rod's World Series slump is history, but Chase Utley made history of his own. Utley's first inning three-run bomb started a long night for A.J Burnett. Utley was far from done.

The Phillies tacked on runs in the third inning via Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, and Carlos Ruiz RBI's. Burnett was the complete opposite from game two. He lasted two innings and gave up six runs. In the meantime, Cliff Lee was cruising.

Lee wasn't lights out, but he pitched better than his line indicated. He pitched seven innings, but tired as he approached the 100+ pitch mark. Three of the five earned runs he allowed came in the eighth inning, including one inherited run.

Once again, it was A-Rod with the big hit. Shane Victorino was hit by a pitch in the first inning, so Charlie Manuel opted to rest him with a commanding lead. It was controversial since Raul Ibanez was unable to make a tough catch and Ben Francisco, Victorino's replacement, could not make a strong throw on a sacrifice fly. The Phillies six-run lead was cut in half.

Chase Utley's second home run and Ibanez's solo shot were a big reason why the Phillies put together a large lead. Utley has five home runs in the World Series, tying Reggie Jackson's record in 1977. The home runs proved to be key since the Yankees continued to fight back.

Chan Ho Park pitched a solid inning, and Ryan Madson was asked to close. Jorge Posada's double and Hideki Matsui's single were the beginning of another potential ninth-inning nightmare. Instead, a run was traded for a double play and Madson struck out Mark Teixeira to end the game.

Breathe a little easier, but there are still two more games that the Phillies need to win. They'll have to do that on the Yankees' turf, but they play their best with their backs against the wall.

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.

Madson Saves the Nailbiter

As seen on Phillies Nation.

It’s never easy. The 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers lowered the Phillies’ magic number to three. In addition, they eliminated the Florida Marlins from National League East contention.

Like he did in the 2008 NLDS, Jimmy Rollins set the tone with a lead-off home run. Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino each doubled in runs. For the second straight night, the Phillies jumped to a 4-0 lead. Unlike Saturday, the Phillies were able to provide an extra run — a Pedro Feliz RBI single — that was the difference.

The Phillies led 6-1, but the Brewers continued to fight back. Mat Gamel’s three-run home run off Joe Blanton made it a ball game again. Blanton, who expressed his anger in Dana DeMuth’s inconsistent strike zone, gave up five earned runs in 5.2 innings. He allowed seven hits, walked four, and struck out four.

After Ryan Braun’s RBI single in the sixth, Sergio Escalona was asked to escape a jam. With a runner on, Escalona was able to get Prince Fielder to ground into a fielder’s choice. Chad Durbin pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, before Ryan Madson entered the eighth inning with a runner on. Madson picked-off Corey Hart, and Howard applied the tag. After throwing one pitch in the eighth, Madson would attempt the four-out save. However, he’d have to get through the meat of the order.

Madson allowed a double to Fielder, but Mike Cameron was rung up to end the game. Madson pumped his fist, securing his ninth save of the year, and the big win.

The Phillies and Brewers split the series, two games apiece. They end the road trip an even 5-5. The Phillies return home for a big series against the Houston Astros, who swept them earlier this month. They’ll look to clinch as early as Tuesday.

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.

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?

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.

Rain Delay Specialist Earns the Victory

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Call him the "Rain Delay Specialist." It was deja vu for Jamie Moyer, who relieved after Pedro Marinez's start was shortened due to rain. Thanks to Moyer, two Ryan Howard home runs, and a 1-2-3 Brad Lidge save, the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves, 4-2.

After Martinez completed two scoreless frames, Howard hit an opposite field home run through the rain drops. With the rain falling at a steady pace, the tarp rolled out. After a brief delay, the tarp was removed even though it was raining heavier. The remainder of the inning was finished, but the tarp was put back on. A total of one hour and 48 minutes were delayed because of inclement weather.

Rain continued to fall throughout the evening, but not enough to pause play. Out of the bullpen, Moyer did his job. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one run on Matt Diaz's RBI double. He gave up four hits and struck out five. Since being demoted to the bullpen, Moyer has given up one run in 10.1 innings. He has struck out ten and hasn't walked a batter.

Howard (3-for-3) homered again, his 37th of the year. This time it was a two-run shot to center field. Pedro Feliz added a RBI bloop single in the seventh inning. With a 4-1 lead, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge would have to close it out.

Ryan Madson got into a jam. He surrendered one run after allowing three hits and a walk. Adam LaRoche flied out for the final out of the inning, and the birthday boy escaped the bases loaded threat. There was only hope that Lidge would not blow his Major League leading tenth blown save.

With two quick outs, Lidge fell behind 2-0 to Diaz. He came back firing. Diaz chased the 2-2 slider, ending the game. Lidge secured his 26th save of the year. The win over the Braves extended the Phillies lead in the division to eight games.

Howard Provides the Difference

As seen on Phillies Nation.

For some reason, Ryan Howard can't hit at PNC Park. Entering tonight's game, the slugger batted .167 there. His average may not have raised much, but he provided the biggest, and most important hit of the night.

Chase Utley's solo home run in the first inning immediately put the Phillies on the board. The Phillies have homered in the first inning in four consecutive games. It was awhile before another run would cross the plate.

Cole Hamels finally put together a solid outing. He pitched eight shutout innings, but did allow many base runners. He allowed seven hits, walked two, and hit a batter. He managed to escaped the jams without problems. Paul Maholm pitched just as well. In seven innings, he gave up one run on five hits. He walked two, struck out four, and was able to get the Phillies to ground out eleven times.

With a 1-0 lead in the top of the ninth, the Phillies would have liked to add on. With runners on second and third and nobody out, the Pirates wiggled out of a potential big inning. Joel Hanrahan struck out Ben Francisco and Pedro Feliz. He intentionally walked pinch hitter Raul Ibanez to get to a slumping Matt Stairs. Stairs was ahead 3-0, but Hanrahan fought back, getting Stairs to ground out.

Brad Lidge received the day off since he pitched in four straight games. Ryan Madson took over, and struck out Steve Pearce to start the inning, topping at 99 mph. A sign of relief? Not so much. The next batter, Brandon Moss, homered to center field, tying the game at one. For the second day in a row, the Phillies blew a save to the Pirates.

Unlike Lidge, Madson was able to keep the game tied and give the bats, which were silent all night, a chance in the tenth.

Jimmy Rollins walked and Shane Victorino singled. With Rollins at third, Utley hit a fly ball to center, deep enough for Rollins to score. Holding up at third, Rollins didn't take a chance. On the very first pitch to Ryan Howard, Rollins trotted home. Howard hit a towering drive to right field; a three-run go-ahead home run.

Madson came back out for the bottom of the tenth. He allowed a lead-off single, but Chase Utley ended the game by turning a fantastic double play on a ball that deflected off the mound.

The game moved along quickly as Maholm and Hamels took part in a pitchers' duel. But it was Ryan Howard who provided the difference in the Phillies 4-1 win over the Pirates.

Closing Options

Brad Lidge's time as a closer must be numbered. After last year, Lidge has been given a free pass, but it's time to rip it up. With nine blown saves, a 7.33 earned run average, and 1.80 walks and hits per innings pitched, he can't continue to be the Phillies closer. The Phillies have other options.

When Lidge was on the disabled list earlier this year, Ryan Madson took over as closer. However, he was also victimized. Madson has of record of 4-4 and is 4/8 in save opportunities. He has a 2.95 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He strikes out 9.1 batters per nine. Overall, they are decent numbers, but most of his struggles have come as closer. While trying to adjust to his new role, perhaps he tried too hard. Giving him another chance is worth a shot.

Brett Myers went down with a hip injury, but is recovering faster than expected. There is a chance Myers will be back as a reliever. He has closing experience, in 2007, when he went 5-5 with a 2.87 ERA. He saved 21 games in 24 opportunities and opponents batted just .229 against him. As a closer, he was a whole different animal, striking out 64 in 53.1 innings.

With this being his contract year, Myers would like to make an impact any way he can. He has experience, and was successful at it. He loved it, and was upset with the Phillies converted him back to a starter the following year. Myers should not immediately jump into the closers role, but depending on his outings, he could find himself in the ninth inning.

Chan Ho Park, Chad Durbin, and others could close, but they aren't the best options. They have been successful in the roles they are currently in, especially Park. When J.C Romero returns, he would give the Phillies another option, but with the number of base runners he allows via walks, he probably won't fare well.

Charlie Manuel wants to "stick to his guy," but how many more blown saves will it take? After being the National Leagues' best closer in 2008, Lidge has been the worst closer in baseball this season, sporting the most blown saves and highest ERA of any reliever. As long as Lidge is pitching the way he currently is, he can not close. The best option is Madson or Myers, once he returns.

This post was edited by Pat Gallen. To see his point of view on Lidge, visit Phillies Nation.

Phils Swept by Braves

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Just like that, the Phillies found themselves in a virtual tie with the Florida Marlins for first place in the National League East. Not only did the Atlanta Braves sweep the Phillies in three games, but they found themselves two games back in the divisional race.

Happ was excellent, striking out five. In seven innings, he gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks. The only runs he allowed came on a Casey Kotchman home run. Happ was able to escape a big jam in the seventh inning by getting Chipper Jones to pop up for the final out of the inning, stranding two men on base in a tie game.

Jimmy Rollins had a decent night a the plate, going 2-for-4, breaking up an 0-for-28 hitless streak. But even Rollins couldn't spark the Phillies offense that left seven runners on base.

The Phillies had a chance to take the lead in the eighth. Jayson Werth advanced to third on a stolen base and overthrow. Mike Gonzalez's pitch sailed over the glove of Brian McCann, with Werth headed for home. McCann recovered quickly, firing to a covering Gonzalez, nailing Jayson Werth sliding into home plate.

After that, everything fell apart for Ryan Madson, who continues to struggle. Matt Diaz hit a RBI double, but Garrett Anderson gave the Braves insurance on a 2 run bomb.

The Braves 5-2 win finished off a three game sweep of the falling Phillies. It is the first time since 2005 that the Phillies were swept at Turner Field, where they were 9-0 last season.

Call of the Day: In the 1993 World Series, Lenny Dykstra hit a big home run in game 6.

"Swing and a well hit ball to deep right. This ball's outta here! Home run The
Dude! The Phillies are right back in this ballgame, its 5 to 4 in the seventh."

Middle Game Phils/Braves Preview

For full gameday visit Phillies Nation.

The Philadelphia Phillies (39-35) will play the Atlanta Braves (36-40)

Cole Hamels (4-4, 4.44 ERA) wil start vs. Jair Jurrjens (5-6, 2.93 ERA) at Turner Field.

Cole Hamels looks to rebound from a rough outing against the Blue Jays. He hasn’t been consistent and right now would be the perfect time for him to get on a roll. In 12 career starts against the Atlanta Braves, Hamels is 7-3 with a 3.42 ERA.

The 23 year old, Jair Jurrjens has avoided the sophomore slump. His win-loss record is deceiving as he hasn’t always received run support from his teammates. In April, Jurrjens earned the win in 5.2 innings against the Phillies.

After an 0-for-5 night, Charlie Manuel says not to worry about Rollins. He said his timing was off and that “he’ll be OK.” Rollins needs to turn around his struggles, along with Ryan Madson. In his last six appearances he is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA (six earned runs in 5.2 innings). He has also blown three games in that span.

The lineup will look a little different with Greg Dobbs starting his second straight game in left field and Paul Bako getting the start.

Rehab Assignments and Stinkage

Raul Ibanez is scheduled to make his first rehab appearance tonight at Double-A Reading. He will play five innings. Ibanez could come off the disabled list this weekend, however Charlie Manuel said he would like to see Ibanez get eight to ten at-bats before returning.

Scott Eyre is also scheduled to pitch an inning at Reading for a rehab assignment. Eyre was supposed to pitch last night with the Gulf Coast Phillies, but the game was rained out.

Ryan Madson has struggled lately. In his last six appearances he is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA (six earned runs in 5.2 innings). He has also blown three games in that span.

Charlie Manuel said not to worry about Jimmy Rollins. He said his timing was off and that "he'll be OK."

Another Heartbreaker

As seen on Phillies Nation.

One strike. That's all the Phillies needed to win the game. But one swing was all Brian Roberts needed to give the Baltimore Orioles the lead.

J.A Happ pitched six solid innings. He allowed two earned runs on eleven hits and four walks, however he avoided further damage by escaping jams unharmed.

The Phillies offense struggled, having only one hit into the sixth inning. The Phillies rallied in the seventh, getting everybody off their seats.

In 2006, Ryan Howard was ill and forced to pinch hit against the Cincinnati Reds. In that game, he hit the tying home run and the eventual go-ahead run in extra innings. Three years later, Howard suffered a 104-degree fever. Pinch hitting in the seventh, he smoked a three run home run to give the Phillies a 5-3 lead and a good feeling for a win.

In the top of the ninth, Greg Zaun homered to put the Orioles within one. Ryan Madson got two outs and was ahead in the count 1-2 to second baseman Brian Roberts. Roberts smoked the 1-2 pitch into the right-centerfield seats. 6-5 Orioles, and that was how it stood. Yet another tough one to sink in.

Phillies Sign Madson; Other Updates

The Philadelphia Phillies signed Ryan Madson to the same contract he turned down just days before. The only difference is this contract includes incentives.

The contract is worth $12 million over 3 years. This buys out Madson's last year of arbitration and 2 years of free agency.

Madson was 4-2 with a 3.05 ERA in 2008. He had his ups and downs throughout the year, but for the most part, Madson got the job done, especially in the playoffs, where he went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA. Madson earned just $1.4 million in 2008.

Nick Markakis agreed to an extension with the Baltimore Orioles. The deal, the third largest in Orioles history, is 6 years worth $66 million.

In 3 Major Leagues years, the 25 year old is a career .299 hitter with a .851 OPS.

The Mariners avoided arbitration with Felix Hernandez, agreeing to a one year $3.8 million deal. Hernandez, 22, was 9-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 2008.

Other notable players avoiding arbitration: Huston Street, Jorge De La Rosa (Rockies), Bobby Jenks, (1 year, $5.6 million, White Sox), Kevin Gregg (Cubs), Mike Gonzalez (Braves), Duaner Sanchez, Jeremy Reed (Mets), Jorge Cantu, Jeremy Hermida (Marlins), Mike Napoli (Angels).

Note: Former Phillie Tadahito Iguchi will return to Japan for the rest of his career.

MLB Notes

Spring Training is less than a month away, and the free agent market is shrinking. It's all quiet on the Manny front, and other free agents like Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn are still available.

It is being reported that Ryan Madson turned down a 3 year, $12 million offer. Madson is eligible for arbitration, along with Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and others. Madson has spent time as a starter and reliever in his career. Most of his success has been as a reliever, and in 2008 was known as "the bridge to Lidge" in his time as a setup man.

Madson was 4-2 in 2008 with a 3.05 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 67 SO in 82.2 IP.

In my opinion, the offer by the Phillies was reasonable. Any more than $4 million for a reliever who has had his struggles is ridiculous. However, with Scott Boras his agent, $4 million a year is an insult. Madson a Phillie beyond 2009 could be a question mark.

The Phillies also avoided arbitration with Greg Dobbs, signing him to a 2 year, $2.5 million deal. Last year, Dobbs set a Phillies record for most pinch hits (22) in a season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers officially cut ties with Andruw Jones, releasing him. A disappointing Jones was the franchises' highest paid player in their history. Jones batted just .158 in 75 games before having knee surgery in 2008.

The Cubs have signed former Phillie So Taguchi to a minor league deal. The Cubs also signed Ronny Cedeno to a one year, $822,000 contract.

The San Diego Padres signed David Eckstein to a one year, $850,000 contract. The hard nosed Eckstein batted .265 with 2 HR with the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.

Also, MLB changed their ruling so that all postseason games will be played in its entirety. Also, one game playoffs will not be based on coin flips, but head to head matchups.