Lidge Blows It Again: What to Do About a Closer Who Can’t Close Games

Similar scenario happened tonight.

Phillies are up 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, enter Brad Lidge, and boom! It’s tied.

 

Another blown save for Lidge.

 

The Phillies still held on to win 4-3 in 12 innings courtesy of Ben Francisco’s home run, and in the process took the first game of the series with the Chicago Cubs, but it was shaky.

 

What would have been automatic for Lidge has now become anything but.

 

Last year’s postseason hero converted 41 of 41 save opportunities during the regular season and seven of seven during the playoffs, including the final out of the first World Series Championship for the Phillies in 28 seasons.

 

This season?

 

Lidge has seven blown saves after tonight. His 7.35 ERA is close to four times what it was last year. He’s pitched in 46 games and given up a run in 21 of those appearances. That’s almost half the time.

 

Compare that to last year when Lidge blew no saves, posted a 1.95 ERA, and gave up runs in 12 of his 72 appearances, just one-sixth of his games.

 

Last season was magical. I know that.

 

It’s unfair to expect a repeat performance of a perfect season, in which Lidge finished eighth in the National League MVP voting, earned the MLB Comeback Player of the Year award, and DHL Delivery Man of the Year award.

 

And that World Series trophy, along with the image of a victorious Lidge moments after he struck out Eric Hinske to end Game 5 of the World Series, is priceless.

 

Lidge set the bar pretty high in his first season, and I had a feeling he would slump a little this year.

 

I thought that ERA might double to a mark around 3.50 or close to 4.00, and I expected a handful, maybe three or four, blown saves.

 

But a 7.24 ERA and seven blown saves? That’s absurd.

 

The walks aren’t so much the problem. Lidge has struggled with his control this season, but even last season he walked his fair share of hitters.

 

2008: 4.5 walks per nine innings

2009: 5.3 walks per nine innings

 

That’s definitely a decline in Lidge’s performance, but the more telling numbers are the rise in home runs allowed, hits allowed, and the decrease in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

 

2008: 0.3 home runs / 6.5 hits / 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings

2009: 2.2 home runs / 10.5 hits / 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings

 

There reaches a point in which Lidge needs to have his closer role taken away from him.

 

It’s that time.

 

Someone else needs to take over the role of the team’s closer.

 

I think Ryan Madson is the best choice. He is arguably our best relief pitcher and has been on the team for quite some time. He even has experience as a closer from earlier this season when Lidge was on the DL.

 

Brett Myers has some experience as a closer, remember 2007 when Myers struck out Wily Mo Pena to win the division, but he is still injured.

 

I think Madson should take over the duties for now. If he does well, he should stay in that role. If he struggles, I would put Myers as the closer when he returns.

 

Lidge has lost his closing job before. He’s had an up-and-down career, to say the least. I have faith in him that he can battle back and regain his closer role.

 

The bottom line is the Phillies appear to be going to the playoffs, and you cannot win in the postseason with a closer who can’t close games.

 

It cannot be done.

A Surplus of Philly Starters But Only Five Spots: Who’s In, Who’s Out?

There is no such thing as too much pitching.

 

Right?

 

Welcome to the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies.

 

The Phillies feature an astonishing number of pitchers with the ability to start ballgames, but can only implement five in their rotation.

 

Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Joe Blanton are mainstays in the rotation. Brett Myers has already volunteered to join the ‘pen upon his return.

 

That leaves it to J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, and Pedro Martinez to fight for the final roster spots. Not to mention that Chan Ho Park and Rodrigo Lopez are very capable starters being used as middle relievers.

 

Happ, Moyer, and Martinez. A rookie, a future Hall of Famer, and the oldest active player in the major leagues.

 

I thought I would visit this case to see what to do. I reviewed the three starters, then broke down an analysis of the three candidates.

 

 

The three starters:

 

Cole Hamels

 

The lefty ace is on track to become the best homegrown Phillies pitcher of all-time. He is a two-time All-Star and last year’s postseason hero, taking home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards while helping the city of Philadelphia to its first world title in 25 seasons.

 

Hamels has struggled at times this season and his current 4.68 ERA won’t turn any heads, but he is still one of the game’s elite pitchers when he is on his game.

 

For his career, Hamels is a much better pitcher in the second half of the season, with a second-half earned run average close to a full run than his first-half earned run average.

 

Phillies fans should expect to see their beloved World Series star pick up his game down the stretch as the Phillies get closer and closer to an attempt at becoming the first NL team to win back-to-back World Series in over 30 years.

 

 

Cliff Lee

 

Recently acquired in a trade with the Indians right before the trade deadline, Lee may not be Roy Halladay, but he and Hamels give the Phillies one of the best 1-2 punches in the National League.

 

Lee threw a complete game in his first start as a member of the Phillies and a dominating seven inning, one run outing in his second start. He has allowed just six runs in his first five starts, and despite just a 9-9 record for the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA for the year.

 

Lee is an experienced veteran who has been around for eight seasons and knows how to pitch effectively. He will be a huge part of the Phillies’ playoff run.

 

 

Joe Blanton

 

His stock in the rotation is even more important given the overload of lefties in the rotation.

 

Blanton this season has become more than just an innings eater but quite possibly the most valuable Phillies starter since late May. Blanton has a 5-2 mark and 2.33 ERA in his last 12 starts, and he’s provided the Phillies with solid starts nearly every single time he takes the mound.

 

He has gone at least seven innings in nine of them, including five straight. With Hamels and Lee as the 1-2 punch, Blanton has a huge role as the No. 3 starter.

 

The Candidates

 

J.A. Happ

 

The Phillies’ rookie left hander is one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season. Happ wasn’t even expected to be a starter at the beginning of the year, but has since proven he is well deserving of a spot in the rotation.

 

Although he is just the No. 4 starter for the defending World Champions, Happ could easily be a No. 1 or 2 on many other teams, and he is a huge reason why the Phillies have maintained a solid lead in the NL East.

 

Happ has had to pitch around trade rumors and the possibility of a demotion to the bullpen, but he’s just continued to pitch well. Very well.

 

Happ’s 2.74 ERA is over a run and a third better than the next best Phillies starter. He leads the team in winning percentage (.800). His 1.12 WHIP is one-sixth of a batter better than the team’s second best pitcher. And he has 10 quality starts in just 14 starts, good for a team-best 71.4 percent.

 

In fact, Happ has been so dominant this season that he is a prime contender for the National League Rookie of the Year award.

 

Look how Happ fared Wednesday night with talk of a possible switch to the bullpen swirling. He tossed a complete game four-hit shutout, striking out ten batters. In doing so, Happ moved into a tie for first place in the National League with two shutouts.

 

Simply put, he is the Phillies’ best starter each and every time he takes the mound. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated, “Happ’s not going anywhere. He deserves to stay in the rotation. He’s pitched very well. He’s probably been our most effective starter.”

 

That should be enough to guarantee him a spot in the rotation.

 

But is it?

 

 

Jamie Moyer

 

The fan favorite, the ageless one, the player-coach, the proven 23-year veteran born and raised just outside of Philly.

 

Moyer is a crafty lefty who gets by on experience and guile. He won’t fool anyone with his 82-mile per hour fastball, but his changeup can be devastating. Moyer has proven to be an excellent mentor for young Cole Hamels, a similar left handed pitcher with a nasty changeup.

 

Last season, Moyer’s 16 wins led the team and his quality start in Game 3 of the World Series helped bring a title back to Philly.

 

This year, Moyer has struggled. To say the least. His 10 wins still lead the team, but the more revealing numbers are the astronomic 5.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He has pitched a quality start in just nine of his 21 starts this season, for a meager 42.7 percent.

 

Moyer has been very inconsistent, especially as of late. In his last nine starts, Moyer has either been very good or very bad. No in-betweens.

 

In the four even starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed just three runs, earning the win in all four games.

 

In the five odd starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed 26 earned runs.

 

I hate to say it, but it would have been nice if Moyer had retired after last season, just to go out on top.

 

That hurts me to say it, but Moyer doesn’t have his best stuff this year, the first of a two-year, $13 million deal he signed last December with the Phillies.

 

So should he go to the bullpen?

 

Well… it’s either him or Pedro.

 

 

Pedro Martinez

 

A three-time Cy Young award winner and future Hall of Famer way past his prime, just barely hanging on in the major leagues.

 

Martinez has yet to pitch in the majors for the Phillies, but he has looked good in his rehab starts, particularly his last one in Double-A Reading, in which he struck out 11 while walking none in a six-inning, quality start.

 

Martinez is a righty, which would help mix up the core of lefties in the rotation. From what I understand, Martinez has a clause in his contract, which says he is not allowed to pitch in the bullpen.

 

At best, Martinez appears to be a fifth starter for the Phillies, but who knows? Maybe he’ll be much better than we expect. Maybe he’ll be the pitcher to push the Phillies over the top.

 

After all, Martinez has plenty of big league experience. He most likely won’t start in the playoffs—given that he is likely to be the fifth starter at most and teams only implement four-man pitching rotations in the playoffs – but he could be vital down the stretch for a club looking to wrap up its third consecutive NL East title.

 

Martinez has only pitched 269.2 innings since 2006, and none yet at the major league level thus far this year. During that stretch, he has a 17-15 record with a 4.74 ERA, numbers that are marginal at best.

 

The Verdict: Well, it’s not an easy decision, but I think I would go with Pedro as my fifth starter and Moyer to the bullpen. It is a very awkward move to send an experienced veteran and one of last year’s postseason heroes to the ‘pen, especially at his age, but I think it has to be done.

 

Moyer has pitched in the bullpen before. In 1996, he was briefly sent to the bullpen for the Seattle Mariners, where he posted a 2-0 record and 3.71 ERA in 13 games, before returning to the rotation.

 

Relief pitchers are normally expected to throw hard, and Moyer sometimes has trouble hitting 80 with his fastball, but I see no other logical decision.

 

Putting Pedro to the bullpen wouldn’t make sense to me, because he has been doing well in rehab, he has been a capable starter before in his career, and Moyer is hurting the team vastly every other time he takes the mound.

 

I don’t know if Amaro will necessarily demote Moyer to the ‘pen—I would be surprised if he does—but I think if the Phillies want to win as many games as possible, that move makes the most sense.

Cliff Lee Dazzles In First Start: GM Ruben Amaro Looking Like a Genius

 

The Phillies didn’t get Roy Halladay.

 

What the defending World Champions did get however was last year’s American League Cy Young award winner in Cliff Lee, a tremendous lefty who could be the player to push the Phillies over the top.

 

Even better, GM Ruben Amaro managed to pull off a move that kept the Phillies’ top three prospects—starting pitcher Kyle Drabek and outfielders Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown—all in the farm system.

 

The Phillies instead parted ways with struggling Triple-A pitcher Carlos Carrasco, along with three other prospects—starting pitcher Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson, and shortstop Jason Donald.

 

Considering the Phillies were able to bring in one of the greatest pitchers in the game today, it was a small price to pay.

 

It was especially impressive, given that Lee is virtually every bit the pitcher as the coveted Halladay, without the cost.

 

Lee led the AL in wins (22) and earned run average (2.54) in 2008, a year after struggling to the point where he was demoted to Triple-A.

 

Prior to joining the Phillies, Lee posted just a 7-9 record with the Indians, but an impressive 3.14 ERA, good for sixth-best in the American League. He ranked first in the league in innings pitched and batters faced.

 

In his first start in Philly, Lee was magnificent, everything the Phillies could have wanted.

 

He pitched a complete game, throwing 109 pitches while dominating the wild card-leading San Francisco Giants. Lee took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, a shutout into the eighth, and finished with four hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts.

 

His control was spot on as Lee walked just two batters and tossed 78 of 109 strikes. It was Lee’s third complete game in his last four starts.

 

Lee also added a single and a double at the plate, while becoming the first Phillies pitcher to throw a complete game in his first start with the team in over a decade.

 

With the addition of the Lee, the Phillies have one of the top pitching rotations in baseball.

 

In fact, there are too many starting pitchers on this team. If that is possible.

 

Hamels and Lee provide the dominating 1-2 punch, with right hander Joe Blanton—arguably the team’s top starting pitcher this season—as the third starter.

 

The veteran Jamie Moyer, who leads the team with 10 wins on the season, and the rookie sensation J.A. Happ, who is 7-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 13 starts for the year.

 

Don’t forget three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez, who just joined the team and is working his way through rehab.

 

With Martinez to join the big league team soon, the Phillies have six dependable starters for only five spots in the rotation.

 

The odd man out will most likely be Happ, who will move to the bullpen, a decision that will only bolster one of the league’s already top ‘pens.

 

Returning from his injury soon will be right handed starter Brett Myers, who has already stated he will move to the bullpen.

 

Simply put, this Phillies team has depth at pitching like it hasn’t had in quite some time.

 

Coupled with that already dynamic offense that features five All-Stars and a combined two MVP awards, the Phillies are looking good. Really good.

Phillies Win Tenth Straight: Is This Team Destined to Repeat As Champs?

 

What a game.

 

Jayson Werth’s dramatic three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning propelled the Phillies to their tenth straight win on Tuesday.

 

Werth reached base in five of his six plate appearances, collecting two hits and three walks, but the heroes of the game were the five Phillies pitchers who combined to throw 13 stellar innings.

 

Blanton started the game, pitching seven strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits and no walks while striking out five. He lowered his ERA on the season from 4.44 to 4.24.

 

The bullpen was absolutely phenomenal, pitching six scoreless innings. Without allowing a hit.

 

Madson pitched a perfect eighth inning, taking over for Blanton. Lidge got a lucky double play to get out of the ninth. Chan Ho Park—the exiled former starter—pitched three hitless innings in relief, striking out five batters. And Clay Condrey topped it off with a perfect 13th inning.

 

It’s a good thing the pitching staff was so effective, especially because the heart of the lineup—Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez—combined to go 0-for-14 with six strikeouts, topped off by Howard’s 0-for-4 night with four strikeouts.

 

It’s a testament to the Phillies as a team, though, that this bunch can win despite subpar performances from its top hitters.

 

And both Howard and Ibanez came through in the 13th inning with clutch walks to set up Jayson Werth’s dramatic game-ending home run.

 

Werth’s home run broke a streak of 36 consecutive batters for both teams combined without a hit. In fact, no one had gotten a hit since Victorino singled with one out in the eighth inning.

 

The home run gave the Phillies their tenth consecutive win—the franchise’s longest winning streak in nearly 20 years. It also made the Phillies the first team defending a world title to win ten straight games since the 1971 Baltimore Orioles.

 

Coupled with the Mets’ 4-0 loss to the Nationals—seriously—the Phillies now have a ten game lead over the team many people thought would be the toughest competition in the already-tough NL East division.

 

The 53-38 Phillies are 6.5 games above the Florida Marlins in the division, seven up on the Atlanta Braves, and ten up on the Mets. Oh, and 27 above the Triple-A Nationals.

 

With a .582 winning percentage, the Phillies are now tied with the L.A. Angels for the majors’ fourth-best record, behind just the L.A. Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, and the N.Y. Yankees.

 

The Phillies trail only the Dodgers in the NL and appear to be prime contenders to repeat as World Champions.

 

This team is good right now. Really good.

 

The Phillies can hit better than just about any team in baseball. Tonight’s one-run output in 12 and 2/3 innings was the exception, not the rule.

 

This team leads the National League in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. Five of the eight hitters in the lineup are All-Stars and another is a former MVP who is hitting .388 over his last 16 games.

 

The pitching staff is looking better and better every day.

 

Joe Blanton is arguably the team’s top starting pitcher right now. Over his last ten starts, Blanton has a 4-1 record with just a 2.32 ERA. He has pitched at least seven innings in seven of the starts, and has recorded a quality start in all but one of his last ten.

 

J.A. Happ is making a solid case for himself as National League Rookie of the Year. He is undefeated on the season, at 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA.

 

Cole Hamels has struggled at times this season, but he is still the reigning World Series hero and arguably the game’s best big-game pitcher when it counts.

 

The bullpen is deep. Lights Out Lidge has struggled for sure this season, but the rest of the guys around him have stepped it up.

 

Ryan Madson has been brilliant as the team’s set-up man, compiling a 3.26 ERA, 16 holds, and nearly a strikeout per inning for the season. Chad Durbin (4.07), Clay Condrey (3.60), and Scott Eyre (1.96) have been terrific, especially as of late.

 

Even Park, who lost his starting job earlier in the season, was the unsung hero of today, with three hitless innings and five strikeouts.

 

The team can hit, pitch, and field.

 

The bottom line is that this team knows how to win. And they have proven it over and over again.

 

And they finally proved to the world last October they are capable of winning a World Championship.

 

This year is the ultimate test, as the Phillies look to defend their world title and become the first team since the ’99-’00 Yankees to repeat as champions.

Pedro, Halladay, Victorino, and Other Philadelphia Phillies News

For the past several days, Ruben Amaro and the Phillies have been in close contact with free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez. The team is reportedly close to a deal that would put Pedro in a Phillies uniform as the club’s fifth starter.

 

The fireballing right hander isn’t what he used to be—a future Hall of Famer with three Cy Young awards, eight All-Star selections, and four ERA titles. He is on his last life as a starting pitcher.

 

Maybe even past his last life.

 

In limited action last season for the Mets, Pedro posted a 5.61 ERA and new career worsts in home runs per nine innings (1.6), strikeouts per nine innings (7.2), base runners per inning (1.5), and adjusted ERA (75).

 

His velocity of his fastball—a pitch that hit in the upper 90s a decade ago—is down to 91 or so, according to reports from the Phillies’ front office who watched him throw a few simulated innings on Tuesday.

 

Martinez has started just 25 games over the last two seasons, and it’s doubtful as to whether the 37-year old can even stay healthy at this point in his career.

 

There have been conflicting reports coming from Philly, with some sources saying Martinez has already been signed and others saying nothing is official yet.

 

I don’t know if Martinez can provide anything to this club that Anthony Bastardo or even a prospect like Andrew Carpenter or Kyle Drabek couldn’t.

 

I wouldn’t waste my time with a pitcher who is a shell of his former shelf.

 

Now Roy Halladay?

 

That’s pretty tempting.

 

Halladay is 32—a little older than I realized, and he is a workhorse, having compiled over 220 innings pitched in three straight years—but he is a pretty good option.

 

His trade value right now is at an all-time high, but rightfully so.

 

Last year, Halladay won 20 games, posted a 2.78 ERA, and led the American League in innings pitched (246), complete games (9), shutouts (2), WHIP (1.053), and strikeout to walk ratio (5.28).

 

This year, his 10 wins put him just one behind Tim Wakefield’s 11 for the league lead in wins. Halladay also sports an impressive 2.79 ERA and an AL-best 1.3 walks per nine innings.

 

He is arguably the game’s top pitcher.

 

From what I hear, the Phillies would have to give up a lot to get Halladay. I have heard rumors of two or three top pitching prospects, plus the team’s top offensive prospect (Lou Marson), and J.A. Happ as well.

 

That’s a lot of prospects to give up, but Halladay is a fabulous pitcher who would provide an instant upgrade to the Phillies’ staff.

 

With Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, the Phillies would feature arguably the top 1-2 pitching punch in all of major league baseball.

 

And I think it would make the Phillies the best team in baseball, putting the defending World Champions in prime position to repeat.

 

In other Philly news, Shane Victorino secured the final spot on the National League All-Star team, beating out Giants’ third basemen Pablo Sandoval.

 

Victorino is hitting .308 for the season, including .464 over the last week. He ranks second in the NL in runs scored (61), sixth in stolen bases (15), and second in triples (6).

 

Add in his lights out defense for the first-place Phillies and Victorino is more than a worthy All-Star candidate.

 

Phillie fan favorite Chase Utley made the team as a starter for the third straight year. Utley is having his usual under the radar, MVP quality season, with a .306 average, 19 home runs, and 60 runs batted in.

 

Raul Ibanez made the team as a starter, the first time in his career the 37-year old has qualified for the Midsummer Classic. Despite time on the DL, Ibanez has 22 home runs and 59 RBI to go along with a .312 batting average.

 

Ryan Howard made the team as a reserve.

 

Howard is batting just .252 for the year. His walks are down, his slugging percentage is down, and he only has two intentional walks, but the fact of the matter is Howard’s 21 home runs and 63 RBI make him one of the most dangerous hitters in the league for his ability to crank one at any given time.

A Philly Phan Reflects: His Team’s Quest to Defend a World Championship

It’s very tough to defend a World Championship.

 

Or so I’ve been told.

 

How would I know?

 

I’ve never seen a Philly team win anything significant in my life. The closest the Phillies had ever come during my life was a divisional title and an early playoff exit in 2007. And the closest the Eagles have ever come was within three points of a Super Bowl title.

 

So last year was a surprise. And a delight.

 

A World Championship brings high expectations for the team in its next season. The fans know just what the team can do, the players know what they themselves are capable of, and the rest of the league knows who is the team to beat.

 

The 2009 season for the Phillies—at least, so far—has been rocky at times.

 

Like recently.

 

The team’s inconsistent starting pitching and inability to win both at home and in interleague play led to 11 losses out of the previous 13 games, dropping the Phillies into just a tie for the lead in the National League East.

 

Before a 10-0 win today behind a stunning pitching performance by J.A. Happ and an offensive outburst from outfielder Jayson Werth, the Phillies had looked nothing like the team that easily knocked off the American League Champions Tampa Bay Rays in last year’s Fall Classic.

 

Perhaps the biggest difference between this year’s team and last year’s team has been the starting pitching.

 

Notably the decline in starting pitching.

 

Cole Hamels hasn’t been the Cole Hamels of the 2008 playoffs, who captured both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards last season with four consecutive stellar pitching performances against the top teams in the major leagues.

 

He started off poorly, yielding seven runs in his first start of the season. He has had trouble with his pitch location and currently sports just a 4.44 ERA, well over a full run higher than the 3.09 mark he put up in the 2008 regular season.

 

There have been glimpses of the dominating Hamels in 2008—notably the five-hit, no-walk shutout he tossed against the NL-best Dodgers on June 4—and hopefully once he starts to find his groove, he will return to his form of last year.

 

The team has gotten inconsistent play from its other starters as well. Myers and Blanton both currently rank in the top five in the NL in home runs allowed (17 each) this season, and Moyer ranks seventh (16) in the league.

 

Chan Ho Park lost his role as the fifth starter after compiling a horrific 7.29 ERA and .311 opponents’ batting average in his seven starts this season, handing the duties over to Triple-A call-up Antonio Bastardo.

 

Bastardo pitched admirably in his first two starts, winning both decisions, while compiling a 2.45 ERA in 13 innings pitched. From there, he was hit hard, losing his next three starts, while seeing his ERA rise to a whopping 6.75.

 

Perhaps the one bright spot for the rotation has been the emergence of J.A. Happ, a young left hander who is 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA for the Phillies this season. Happ was a relief pitcher for the team early in the year, but has pitched a quality start in four of his seven starts this season.

 

Another notable difference between this year’s team and last year’s team has been Brad Lidge.

 

It’s difficult to match perfection.

 

And last year, Lidge was perfect.

 

In his first season in a Philly uniform, he was 41-for-41 in saves throughout the regular season, plus 7-for-7 in saves in the postseason. In all, he completed a historic season for not just Lidge, but the Phillies, who captured their first World Championship in 28 seasons.

 

No one expected Lidge to duplicate his stats from last year, but we hoped for numbers better than a 7.86 ERA, a major league-high six blown saves, and nearly two base-runners per inning.

 

It was probably for the best that he took some time off during his 15 days on the Disabled List, and expectations were high that he would return to top form.

 

However, he gave up two runs in one-third of an inning in the team’s 6-1 loss, allowing four of the five hitters he faced to successfully reach base.

 

Thus far, the Phillies have a 4.88 team ERA and .276 opponents’ batting average—both dead-last in the National League, other than the Triple-A Nationals.

 

It’s the offense that has carried the team to a first place spot in the division. The Phillies are first in the National League in home runs (101) and stolen base percentage (80.6), second in team OPS (.780), and third in runs scored (372).

 

MVP candidate Raul Ibanez was a threat to win the Triple Crown before an injury sidelined him. He currently rests at .312-22-59, numbers that rank 16th, third, and third in the league.

 

Ryan Howard is fourth in the NL in home runs (20) and fifth in RBI (58). But, a .332 on-base percentage from a no-run, no-field power-hitting first basemen in a hitters’ ballpark doesn’t quite cut it for me.

 

Chase Utley is arguably the game’s best all-around player—a legit five-tool superstar who has a chance in any given season to win an MVP award. He hits for power and average, works the count (his .430 on-base percentage is third-best in the NL), plays the field well, hustles, and knows what it takes to help his team win.

 

The team’s biggest disappointment has been three-time All-Star Jimmy Rollins, the National League MVP just two seasons ago, who is enduring by far the worst season of his nine-year major league career.

 

Rollins has been in a season-long slump and his .211 batting average ranks dead-last among qualifying NL shortstops, and the fourth worst mark among the 166 players in the major leagues who qualify for the batting title thus far in the season.

 

His current 0-for-19 skid earned him a rare seat on the bench for three straight games.

 

Rollins is a second-half player, with a career batting average 23 points higher after the All-Star break than before (.287 to .264), and hopefully this year proves to be no exception.

 

For the Phillies to hold off the Mets, Braves, or Marlins in a tight NL East race, the team is going to need J-Roll at the top of his game and quality performances from both the starting pitchers and All-Star closer Brad Lidge.

Lidge Blows Back-to-Back Saves: Time to Demote “Lights Out” To Setup Role?

 

What was the strength of last year’s World Championship team is now the weakest link on the team.

 

Brad Lidge.

 

He was perfect in 2008.

 

41-for-41 in save opportunities during the regular season, plus an additional 7-for-7 in the postseason. The final pitch of Lidge’s season brought the Phillies the franchise’s World Championship in 28 years, solidifying Lidge’s place into Philadelphia lore.

 

And 2009?

 

He’s been one of the worst closers in baseball.

 

No. Actually, he’s been one of the worst pitchers in baseball.

 

He has been a major weakness for a team that was so dependent on its closer last year.

 

Coming off a six-game streak, the Phillies took on the NL-best L.A. Dodgers in a weekend series.

 

Jamie Moyer pitched seven strong innings, cruising from part of the first through the sixth without allowing a base hit. For the day, he gave up just four hits and two earned runs, leaving the game with a 3-1 lead.

 

Enter Brad Lidge.

 

Lidge got two easy outs to enter the ninth, before a base hit, walk, and throwing error by Pedro Feliz loaded the bases.

 

Andre Ethier’s double drove in the tying and winning runs, handing Lidge his fifth blown save of the season.

 

Tonight was close to the same scenario.

 

Joe Blanton pitched six superb innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run, in one of his finest outings of the season.

 

Heading into the ninth, the Phillies sported a 2-1 lead and once again handed the ball to Lidge to try to nail down the save.

 

And once again, Lidge failed.

 

He surrendered a one-out solo home run to pinch-hitter Rafael Furcal, just Furcal’s second long ball of the season.

 

Both bullpens kept the game going until the twelfth, when Andre Ethier smashed a two-out, full-count home run off of Clay Condrey to win the game. It was Ethier’s second walk-off hit in two days, and Lidge’s second consecutive blown save.

 

It was Lidge’s sixth blown save of the season.

 

Sixth.

 

At what point does it become time to take away Lidge’s role as the team’s closer? He has struggled with mental issues his entire career—see his tenure in Houston for proof—but was thought to have rebounded last year.

 

It’s a difficult decision.

 

I would gladly take a pitiful season in year two if I knew I could have a perfect season and a World Championship in year one. That World Series banner will never be removed, and Lidge’s place in the city of Philadelphia is forever ensured with his performance in 2008.

 

However, it’s time to start thinking about the present.

 

And presently, Lidge does not have what it takes to close ballgames.

 

I don’t feel the confidence I used to when Lidge entered the game. He always has given up many baserunners and gotten himself into a handful of jams, but he’s worked through them.

 

Not this year.

 

After posting a 1.95 ERA in the ’08 regular season and an even-better 0.96 mark in the postseason, Lidge’s ERA for the ’09 season has ballooned to 7.20, nearly four times what it was last year.

 

He is allowing close to two base runners per inning. He’s given up three times as many home runs as he did last year in about one-third of the innings pitched. And he’s converted just 68 percent of his save opportunities.

 

He just doesn’t have it.

 

I would give Lidge about two weeks or so in the setup role just to get his head on straight and get his rhythm back. I don’t care who would close games—Romero, Madson, Condrey—but it would hopefully allow Lidge to settle back and get his stuff back.

 

It’s the cruel reality of professional sports.

 

A perfect dream season for Lidge in 2008, and he’s on the verge of losing his starting job just several months into the following season.

 

That’s the way it works.

Dick Allen: What Could Have Been

Every so often in sports there comes along an athlete whose talent far surpasses that of any of his peers.

 

Mickey Mantle was that way for the Yankees in the ’50s. He was born to play center field and had a supreme blend of power and speed that has been unmatched by any player in history.

 

Same with his in-state rival, Willie Mays, who played the same position for the same time with the Giants.

 

Bo Jackson was that way for the NFL’s L.A. Raiders in the mid-1980s. As a running back, experts swear Bo could have rushed for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns had he been surrounded by a solid quarterback and offensive line.

 

In the NBA, it was Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged 50 points per game for an entire season when the runner-up would score in the low 20s.

 

With this in mind, it’s always a shame to see a guy come along with so much talent but have it overshadowed by injuries, racism, off-field issues, and the works.

 

Welcome to the world of Dick Allen, one of the finest yet most controversial players ever to wear a Philadelphia uniform.

 

Allen broke into the major leagues in 1964 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Allen fielded a world of potential, more potential than just about anyone who ever lived. As a pure hitter, there have only been a handful of ballplayers who have been blessed with this kind of talent.

 

Baseball historian Bill James—possibly my favorite baseball man of all time—rates Allen as one of the top four pure power hitters in baseball history, in a category with Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Jimmie Foxx.

 

Anytime you are grouped with those three players, you’re doing something right.

 

Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame slugger Willie Stargell said the following about Allen: “Now I know why they boo Richie all the time. When he hits a home run, there’s no souvenir.”

 

Certainly true.

 

Allen swung a 44-ounce bat, one of the heaviest in major league history, and he used it to pound the ball like few players who have ever lived. There are stories of him hitting home runs well over 500 feet.

 

No athlete in franchise history has hit home runs like Allen did. Not Mike Schmidt. Not Scott Rolen or Pat Burrell. Not even Ryan Howard.

 

Allen had so much raw talent in him that I believe had he been able to clear his head and focus only on baseball, he could have hit 600 home runs.

 

Put him in this current era, and he might be the all-time home run king.

 

He had that much potential.

 

As it stands, Allen is not in the Hall of Fame. In my eyes, he is the most deserving player currently not enshrined. He had a world of talent and didn’t produce as he could have, but too much of the blame goes to Allen and not enough to his teammates, managers, the fans, media, etc.

 

Allen’s career numbers won’t make your jaw drop, but they are pretty impressive.

 

He hit 351 home runs in a pitching era, leading the league twice. He batted .292 for his career, including seven seasons of a .300 mark. He won a Rookie of the Year award and an MVP award.

 

Certainly very respectable statistics, but I get the feeling they could have been better. I KNOW they could have been better. Allen had the potential to hit 500 or 600 home runs. He probably could have won several MVP awards and maybe a World Championship.

 

And he would most definitely be in Cooperstown.

 

So what went wrong?

 

Well, Allen entered the major leagues as a young and angry individual. He had been mistreated frequently during his stint in the minors. He was booed as the team’s first black player and the subject of heavy ridicule and racism.

 

Allen was greeted with signs that said “N*gger go home.” Fans wrote messages on his windshield saying, “Don’t come back again, n*gger.”

 

While he had always been respected for his play on the field—even through his journey in the minor leagues, when Allen’s talent was evident—he kept to himself. Allen was a troubled player living in a difficult environment.

 

Oh, what could have been.

 

In his book, The Great Philadelphia Sports Debate, Glen Macnow calls Allen the “all-time what could have been player” in franchise history.

 

When Allen broke into the major leagues for good in 1964, it was a year to remember. In many ways, it summed up his career in the major leagues.

 

Allen batted .431 in April with five home runs. The Phillies were in first place just three years removed from a season in which the team finished last in the major leagues. And they were being carried by a rookie.

 

For the season, Allen batted .318 with 29 home runs and 91 runs batted in. He led the entire National League in multiple offensive categories, including runs scored (125), triples (13), extra-base hits (80), and total bases (352), and he won the NL Rookie of the Year award.

 

His season was faced with much scrutiny from the media and fans of Philadelphia, however. Allen did have some flaws in his play—he led the league with 138 strikeouts and a whopping 41 errors at third base.

 

And he received a lot of criticism for the Phillies’ historic collapse—blowing a 6.5-game lead with just 12 games to play in the season.

 

Unfair criticism.

 

Allen batted .341 in the final month of the season with a .618 slugging percentage. He hit five home runs, and his 76 total bases were far greater than his total in any other month. He batted .385 in close and late situations for the season, coming through frequently when the team needed him the most.

 

He even turned his play up in the final 12 games of the season, hitting .438 with three home runs and 11 RBI. During the team’s now infamous 10-game losing streak, Allen collected 17 hits.

 

Heading into the final game of the season, the Phillies were one game behind the Cardinals for first place in the National League. For the Phillies to force a three-game playoff, they would have to win and the Mets would have to beat the Cardinals.

 

Allen did his part, carrying the team to a 10-0 victory behind his double, two home runs, and four RBI, but it was too late, as the Mets lost to the Cardinals.

 

Simply put, the collapse was not Allen’s fault. But it cost him the National League MVP award and damaged his reputation in Philly, where the fans booed him from game one, when he slipped in a puddle trying to catch a pop-up, to game 162, when his two home runs weren’t enough to beat the Cardinals.

 

Allen was arguably the best hitter in the league from ’65 through ’67, making three straight All-Star teams. He hit .308 during that span, averaging 27 home runs, 90 RBI, and 15 stolen bases per season. His adjusted OPS for those three years was 166.

 

Compare that to some of the other stars in the league in the mid-’60s. Willie Mays, who won the Most Valuable Player award in ’65, finished third in ’66, and made three straight All-Star teams for the National League, had an adjusted OPS of 154, 12 points less than Allen.

 

Hank Aaron’s OPS was 156. Roberto Clemente—the league MVP in 1966—had an OPS of 150. Orlando Cepeda—the league MVP in 1967—was just 144.

 

Allen was that good, and not many people realized it. He had a way of overshadowing his play on the field with his off-field issues.

 

Halfway through 1965—Allen’s second full season with the team—Allen got into a feud with teammate Frank Thomas. Although it was actually teammate Johnny Callison’s remarks that pushed Thomas over the edge, Thomas retaliated against Allen, swinging his bat into Allen’s shoulder.

 

The next day, the Phillies released Thomas. Allen was threatened with a $2,000 fine if he discussed the story with the media.

 

Eventually, however, the story leaked, and the fans began to boo Allen constantly. The fans and media chose to blame Allen, a black player, for the release of Thomas, a white player. This furthered the distance between Allen and the fans.

 

What was ironic was that Allen had actually publicly supported Thomas, begging manager Gene Mauch not to release Thomas. Mauch didn’t listen, and Thomas played the role of the victim.

 

The incident deeply affected Allen, who hit .348 before Thomas’ release and just .271 afterwards.

 

Philadelphia, a city that had been one of the last teams to integrate black players into the team, struggled to accept Allen, and he, in return, struggled to accept the city back. The city just wasn’t ready for a black star—especially a rebellious one with a chip on his shoulder.

 

It’s a shame really, because I think if Allen could play in today’s game on a team with Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, he would be a fan favorite.

 

Allen’s woes continued with his name. Allen, who preferred to be called Dick, was referenced as Richie by the local media. His Topps baseball card called him Rich.

 

Furthermore, Allen earned himself a nickname with the Philadelphia crowd—Crash—for his insistence on wearing his batting helmet in the field. This was to protect himself from the fruit, ice, bottles, and other objects constantly thrown at him, but it was perceived negatively by the media.

 

By the late ’60s, Allen had worn out his welcome with the team. His off-field issues overwhelmed him.

 

He was an alcoholic, showing up to games unable to even talk without slurring. At times, he was sent home by Mauch. Allen later stated that drinking was the only way he could deal with his problems.

 

In today’s game, he would most likely be treated with counseling or the substance abuse program, but no such thing existed 40 years ago. Allen was considered a bum.

 

Allen’s problems were frequent and often overhyped. In ’67, he severed the ulna nerve in his right wrist pushing his car up a hill during a storm. Allen’s wrist required a five-hour surgery, and doctors gave him just a 50-50 chance of ever playing ball again.

 

Allen courageously returned to the game, but false rumors leaked that he had injured his hand in a bar fight, and he began to receive constant hate mail. His children were even harassed in school.

 

By that time, Allen had been labeled a bum by the media and decided to play the role.

 

In ’69, Allen was late returning to Shea Stadium for the second half of a doubleheader and fined $2,500. He was later fined for failing to hustle on the basepaths. It got so Allen began to get fined several times a week, the standard being $500 for missing batting practice, $1,000 for drinking, and $1,500 for showing up late to a game.

 

In July of ’69, Allen skipped the second half of a doubleheader to attend a horse race. He heard on the radio that he was suspended and stayed away from the team for 26 days before begrudgingly returning.

 

And Allen didn’t make any friends with his famous remark: “I can play anywhere. First, third, left field, anywhere but Philadelphia.”

 

It got so Allen begged to be traded, particularly to the Mets. There was no such thing as free agency back then, so Allen was stuck with the Phillies. He began to scribble messages in the dirt at first base, saying, “BOO” and “Oct. 2,” which marked the end of the season.

 

MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered Allen to stop, so Allen wrote, “Why?” and “No.” An umpire eventually ordered Allen to stop, so he responded by writing, “Mom.” This was Allen’s way of saying his mother was the only one who could tell him what to do.

 

Ironically, during the six-game span in which he wrote messages in the dirt, Allen hit five home runs.

 

Following the ’69 season, in which the Phillies finished 37 games out of first place, Allen was mercifully traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Following a solid season with the Cardinals—.279 average, 34 home runs, 101 RBI—Allen was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

He had a solid season with them, hitting 23 home runs with 90 runs batted in, before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for the ’72 season.

 

Allen then enjoyed the finest season of his career. He batted .308 and led the entire American League in home runs (37), RBI (113), walks (99), on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.603), OPS (1.023), and adjusted OPS (199). For his efforts, Allen was awarded as the AL MVP.

 

Allen is often credited with saving the White Sox, as the franchise was rumored to have been destined for Seattle. Allen stayed three years with the Sox, leading the league in home runs again in ’74, before he was traded to the Braves.

 

He refused to report to Atlanta, retiring instead. The Phillies managed to coax him out of retirement, where he played two years back in the city he had once called home.

 

Allen didn’t quite have the skills he possessed in his first stint with the team back in the ’60s, as he hit just .248 with 27 total home runs in his two years. But he proved to be a positive influence on a young Phillies club that captured the NL East title in ’76.

 

The Philly crowd forgave Allen for his attitude and problems a decade prior, and he seemed to enjoy playing in the city. It was fitting that Allen could come back to the city and make peace with its fans, who had treated him poorly for so many years.

 

Allen became a hero in Philadelphia and was cheered on a regular basis, even for the most routine of plays. The conditions were perfect in Philly, and Allen was a role model, helping to tutor future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, the National League home run king in 1976.

 

Allen has always stated that Schmidt reminded him a lot of himself. Both were quiet players who kept to themselves and had difficulty fitting in with their teammates and the fans. Both were power hitters who struck out a lot and had the potential to contend for the MVP award in any given season.

 

Things got a little rough at the end of the season. As the Phillies’ front office was preparing its postseason roster, it became apparent the team planned to leave off 42-year old Tony Taylor, a second baseman who had played for the Phillies for over 15 years.

 

As Taylor was Allen’s closest friend on the team and former roommate, Allen announced he would not be playing in the postseason unless the team made a roster spot for Taylor.

 

The Phillies eventually gave in, and when the team clinched the NL East title, there were two separate celebrations—one for the majority of the team and a private one for Schmidt, Allen, Taylor, Garry Maddox, and Dave Cash.

 

Allen was released by the team after the first round playoff exit, seeing as his best days were behind him. He played one final season as a DH in Oakland before hanging up his cleats for good.

 

No player in history has been as misunderstood as much as Allen. He was unfairly blamed on numerous occasions. He was portrayed by the media as a selfish, me-first kind of player, when in reality, Allen wanted nothing more than to be close to his teammates. He longed for support from the fans and his managers.

 

As it currently stands, Allen works in the Phillies’ front office as a public relations man.

 

When the dust settled after Allen’s career and it came time to evaluate his Hall of Fame chances, voters were unsure just how to factor in Allen’s off-the-field controversial issues. Allen hovered around 15 to 20 percent each year, far less than the 75 percent needed for induction to Cooperstown.

 

Allen was a player who hit 40 home runs just once but probably should have topped that mark half a dozen times. He drove in 100 runs three times but probably should have done that 10 times or more.

 

His defense sure wasn’t his strong suit. He played every position on the field at one time or another (except pitcher and catcher) but never could find a permanent position that could minimize his iron glove. He also struck out far too much and grounded into quite a few double plays,

 

However, Allen’s career slugging percentage of .534 is one of the highest among eligible players not in the Hall of Fame. He never won a World Series ring as a player but certainly made enough of a positive impact on a number of teams.

 

He was a diverse hitter who at one point or another led the league in runs scored, triples, home runs, runs batted in, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

 

His career adjusted OPS of 156 is 19th on the all-time list, higher than the career marks of noted Hall of Fame sluggers such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Robinson, and Mel Ott. He is also tied for seventh all-time for most career walk-off home runs (10).

 

What is holding him back is his attitude on and off the field, but even his managers, when asked if Allen’s attitude negatively affected the team, replied with, “Never.”

 

Simply put, Allen was a heck of a hitter, a better-than-noted team player, and a man with all the talent in the world.

 

Message to Philly Phaithful: Relax and Don’t Stop Believin’ In This Bunch

It’s always tough to defend a World Championship.

 

The pressure is on from day one. The fans expect more. The sports magazines pick your team as the favorite to win it all. The games sell out and everyone holds your team to such high standards that anything less than another title is unacceptable. They know what your team is capable of doing, and they long for another championship.

 

In short, defending a World Championship is not easy.

 

Yeah, right. How would I know?

 

I’m a Philly guy. How would I have a clue what it’s like to defend a championship? No Philly team has ever won anything in my lifetime (except for the Philadelphia Soul, but then the entire Arena Football season got canceled). This feeling is all new to me.

 

And I love it.

 

People have been getting on the Phillies’ case so far this year. They’re not playing well, the starting pitching sucks, they overachieved last season, blah blah blah. Everything I hear from my friends, family, co-workers, etc. is about how the Phillies are not playing well thus far in 2009.

 

Relax, people.

 

Take a deep breath.

 

The Phillies are 4-3 this year. That’s pretty good. Compare that to their 92-70 record last year.

 

2008 winning percentage: .568

2009 winning percentage: .571

 

The Phillies this year have won a greater percentage of their games than last year’s club.

 

Sure, the season is just over three percent over, but that’s still a pretty good winning percentage. That projects to 92.5 wins for the year, or pretty much the same number of regular-season wins as the 2008 World Champion Phillies had.

 

There are some obvious flaws with the ’09 team so far.

 

No quality starts from the starting pitchers in seven games is pretty bad. The Phillies have been trailing first in all seven of their games this year. And who can ignore former MVP Jimmy Rollins’ anemic batting average or World Series MVP Cole Hamels’ mammoth-sized ERA?

 

But there’s a reason this team is above .500.

 

Talent. Determination. And that never-say-die attitude that led to eight wins in a huge comeback win against Atlanta to avoid an opening series sweep.

 

There’s Chase Utley, who defied all odds, and not only didn’t miss a game after his hip surgery, but is hitting at a .400 clip with a .516 on-base percentage. Ryan Howard is hitting .345, close to one hundred points higher than his 2008 average. And Lights Out Lidge is still perfect—although he’s been close several times.

 

This Phillies team is resilient. Tough. Motivated.

 

And after last postseason, experienced.

 

The team is 4-3 and they have the ingredients to make another championship run. Utley, Rollins, and Howard would make any team in baseball jealous. Hamels isn’t going to give up seven runs in every start this season.

 

Matt Stairs is the best “if you need a home run” pinch hitter in baseball. And Raul Ibanez is sure making Philly forget about Pat Burrell with his tremendous play (three home runs, six RBI, and a .690 slugging percentage).

 

This is a team that historically starts off slow in April. So 4-3 really isn’t too much to be worried about. It’s above .500.

 

This is a team that peaks in every month leading up to September—and really comes through down the stretch. Not to worry right now.

 

Keep watching, Philly phaithful, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to defend a World Championship.

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