Philadelphia Phillies: Why Demote Closer of the Future Bastardo?
July 20, 2011 by Tom Mechin
Filed under Fan News
Ryan Madson has finally returned from the disabled list, and will resume his role as the Phillies closer in the near future. That could be today, or perhaps later in the week. Either way Antonio Bastardo is going back to his role as the eighth inning man. Or maybe even the seventh inning and situational lefty role when Brad Lidge returns, which is seeming closer and closer every day.
It’s a nice problem to have for a contending team heading into August, trying to figure out which role to pitch your most effective reliever will pitch in. It says something about the quality of the other guys in the bullpen. However, does it make sense to move Bastardo around? Should the Phillies leave him in the closer’s role?
Charlie Manuel is set in his ways as a manager. Ryan Madson is his closer and will remain so, just as Brad Lidge did in 2009. With four division championships and a World Series trophy under his belt it’s difficult to question his judgment, but in this case he might be wrong.