Will This NL East Division Clinching Happen Already?

I am tired of putting Brad Lidge’s picture at the top of my stories, so I reached down to just beyond recent memory to give an answer (LOL) to the quagmire that the Philadelphia Phillies closer situation has become.

This Phillies pitcher, shown at right, won the Cy Young Award in 1987, when he recorded 40 saves, went 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA. This pitcher had 184 career saves.

Who is he? I know, but I wonder if anyone know who he is or what the answer is to the Phillies back end of the bullpen. And can this guy come out of retirement?

I don’t think Phillies manager Charlie Manuel knows. Listen to his comments in Thursday, Sept. 24 Philadelphia Daily News story by David Murphy:

“Him and Madson, that’s what we’ve got in the back end of the bullpen right now,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “He’s struggling. At the same time, it’s hard for us to close a game out. It’s tough. It’s kind of what we’ve got. I mean, I’ve got confidence in him. I keep running him out there. Hopefully he does the job. I pull like hell for him every time he goes out there, believe me.”

What? What the heck is Charlie talking about? Later in the story he said that the percentage of games are won when a team has a lead in the eighth and ninth inning, they should win a high percentage of games.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

He is frustrated just like the rest of us. He witnessed the Phillies bullpen blow a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning, with Ryan Madson giving up one run and Brad Lidge blowing the save and with two outs, allow the winning run to score in the bottom of the ninth for a 7-6 loss.

The magic number sits at four for the Marlins and five for the Braves.

The Phillies play four in Milwaukee, then head home for three with the Astros and four with the Marlins at home.

They, as a team, have to put this loss behind them and finish off the Brewers.

Because right now, they went 3-3 against their closest division rivals, not a formula to close things out. They did reduce the number by one against the Braves and two against the Marlins during their past six games.

Historically, the team that wins its division early is swept out of the playoffs.

The Phillies have to get healthy, in their pitching staff especially, and get the bats going.

Last night, before the ninth inning washout, I was pleased by the offensive production from the Phillies. Ryan Howard, with his two-run home run sits at 130 RBI, one behind the Brewers’ Prince Fielder for the National League RBI lead.

My solution?

Just like Rickie Bottalico said on Phillies postgame on Comcastsportsnet: You have to make the change now and the change is Ryan Madson.

Done. Forget it. End of conversion.

Brad Lidge, with 11 blown saves this season, should not touch the ball until the Phillies clinch the NL East.

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Not The Best But The Quirkest Number 99

Mitch Williams was probably not the best number 99, but had the most personality, and personally, is my favorite number 99.

All apologies to the most talented number 99, hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky.

Williams, a closer by trade, pitched for six major league teams, including the Cubs and Phillies. Former Cubs teammate and friend Mark Grace said that Williams pitched “like his hair was on fire.”

It didn’t hurt that he had a fast ball in the low 90s. It was not always accurate, however. Early in his career his number was 28, but he changed it to 99.

In his career, Williams saved 192 games from 1986 to 1997. His best year, by far, was the 1993 year with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Williams saved 43 games that year, with a 3-7 record and a 3.34 ERA. He caused indigestion to players and fans alike, as he sometimes walked the bases loaded then struck out the side.

The first I remembered Williams was when he was pitching with the Cubs. The Phillies loaded the bases on Opening Day in Chicago, then Williams struck out the side.

Some remember him for giving up the game-winning home run in Game Six of the 1993 World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays’ Joe Carter.

I would rather remember him jumping in the air for joy after striking out the Braves Bill Pecota to send the Phillies to their first World Series appearance in 10 years.

I would rather remember the late July morning, 4:41 a.m. to be exact, when “Mitchie Poo”, as Phillies announcer Harry Kalas called him, singled home the winning run in a rain-delayed game.

I would rather remember him almost falling off the mound on his follow through, shown above, and Phillies then-ace Curt Schilling putting a towel over his head when Williams was closing.

Baseball officials say that left-handed pitchers are odd. Williams took odd to a new level.

Williams, who had a brief stint as the manager of the Atlantic City Surf, an independent baseball minor league team. I think I even remember him starting a game on a holiday, when the Surf ran out of pitchers.

Like a lucky rabbit foot, Williams has landed on his feet.

He is a baseball analyst for Comcastsportsnet in Philadelphia and an analyst for the new MLB network channel.

He was just fun to watch. Philadelphia, by in large, and myself, almost immediately, forgave him for giving up the Carter home run.

Heck, the Angels’ Donny Moore shot himself in the head after giving up a game-winning home run.

Not Williams. Some call him a self-centered jerk.

I think he talks to fans on their level when talking baseball. No pretence of being someone special, just the facts.

He calls ’em as he see ’em.

Thanks, Mitchie Poo.

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Don’t Worry Phillies Fans, What Could Happen?

The Philadelphia Phillies have an eight-game lead in the National League East and their magic number to clinch the division is down to six with 14 games to play.

Sound familiar? It should. The Mets were something like seven games up with 17 games to go in 2007 and lost the NL East crown to the Phillies on the last day of the season.

But for fans who know their Phillies history and those who are old enough to remember it, there is a much more familiar time in Phillies’ history.

I don’t want to be a naysayer, but as an FC, I am supposed to write three Phillies stories a week and with an off day on Monday, what the heck else is there to write about?

Aha, 1964.

To sum up briefly, the Phillies had a six-and-a-half game lead with 12 games to play in the National League. There was no East, Central, or West in those days—only a pennant winner in each league and the World Series.

On Sept. 21, 1964, the Reds’ Chico Ruiz stole home in a 1-0 Reds victory. That began a 10-game losing streak for the Phillies, while the Reds went on a nine-game win streak.

The St. Louis Cardinals won the 1964 National League pennant at 93-69, while the Phillies and the Reds finished one game behind, both with a 92-70 record.

Ouch.

Now if memory serves me, the Gene Mauch—led Phillies used Jim Bunning and Chris Short almost exclusively as starters down the stretch. It proved fatal.

The Phillies are too deep in starting pitching to use Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels down the stretch on alternate days.

What is the one way the Phillies, yikes (yeah, says Richard Marsh, Mike Kent, and Lou Cappetta), can blow an eight-game lead?

Hey, everybody, let’s all say it together, Phillies and Mets fans: Brad Lidge.

Now to be fair, Ryan Madson has blown six saves in a much more limited closer role, but even Charlie Manuel has admitted, Brad Lidge is his closer.

Imagine the carnage/celebration of such a slide. I won’t go game by game, but here is my Chico Ruiz (no relation) moment:

Jayson Werth steals home against the Marlins with two outs in the top of the ninth to put the Phillies ahead, 5-4. But wait, Shane Victorino steals second on a double steal and is thrown out. He argues the call and pushes the umpire and is thrown out of the game.

Inning over, 4-4. Lidge blows the game in a non-save opportunity in the bottom of the ninth. The game ends when Jayson Werth and Ben Francisco collide on a ball hit to right center. Marlins win 5-4.

Victorino is suspended for two games and fined. Werth breaks his collarbone, while Francisco is day to day.

Seriously though, the Phillies have to get a lot more healthy as they head into the playoffs.

According to Phillies.com, the injuries to the pitching staff is as follows: left-handers Scott Eyre (loose body in his left elbow), J.C. Romero (strained left forearm) and Jack Taschner (strained back), and right-handers Brett Myers (sore right shoulder) and Chan Ho Park (strained right hamstring).

Also Pedro Martinez had a stiff neck and may not start Friday.

No wonder Charlie Manuel is taking these last two weeks day to day.

Because he knows if he looks too far ahead, things could get worse.

A lot worse.

 

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Phillies Continue to Hammer Opponents

The Phillies had a tenuous 5-3 lead heading into the ninth inning of last night’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

Brad Lidge was warming up in the bullpen.

These days, any lead less than three runs is case for concern for any Phillies fans.

Then it happened. The Phillies bats exploded to help the Phillies to a 9-4 win.

Ryan Howard, shown above, staked the Phillies to a 3-1 lead with his 39th and 40th home runs, respectively.

While Jason Werth’s two-run hit extended the Phillies to a 5-1 lead in the top of the eighth, but Brian McCann’s two-run home run cut the lead to two.

Jimmy Rollins connected for his 19th home run of the year with two on and one out in the top of the ninth. Ben Francisco followed with a solo shot to put the Phillies up 9-3.

Lidge sat down and Chad Durbin got up. Durbin let in a ninth inning run in a non-save situation and the Phillies reduced their magic number to eight games.

Whew.

With this win, what jumps out at me?

The Phillies’ awesome power. It is freakin’ amazing.

Last year, the Phillies led the league with 214 home runs.

In 146 games this year, the Phillies have hit 209 home runs. Colorado, in 148 games, is second with 174 home runs.

No one else in the National League is even close.

Last week, the Phillies became the 12th club in Major League history to have four players with 30 home runs.

A week later, Ryan Howard leads the way with 40 home runs. The incredible Jayson Werth has 34 home runs, while both Raul Ibanez and Chase Utley have 31 home runs.

Ryan Howard has 121 RBI and Jayson Werth and Chase Utley both have 90 RBI. Ibanez has 86 RBI.

Incredible numbers.

Where does it end?

The Phillies could possibly wrap up the division by next weekend, but they have a large task at hand.

That is getting Brad Lidge right.

If they can’t do that, Phillies fans have to live with Ryan Madson as the closer in the playoffs.

But let me ask you this: With a one-run lead in the ninth inning, right now, who do you want to close the game?

I thought so. Me, too.

Hopefully, there will be more homer happy games where it won’t be an issue.

What a fun season.

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Pedro Martinez Could Be Philadelphia Phillies’ Wild Card In Postseason Play

As the Philadelphia Phillies inch closer to finishing off their third straight National League East title, playoff thoughts are not far behind.

If I am not mistaken, heading into Wednesday’s game with the Nationals, the Phillies magic number is 13 games.  After the Phils finish the Nationals series, they travel to Atlanta and Florida.  Talk about taking care of business.

Think about last year’s playoff rotation: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer.

This year: Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton/J.A. Happ and Pedro Martinez.

Last year, the rotation included the soon-to-be named World Series MVP, a starter/closer/starter, a good mid-season pick up and the one of the all-time winning left-handed pitcher.

This year: A World Series MVP, reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, a possible Rookie of the Year, and a three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Pride aside, statistically, the Phillies do not match up with some of the best starting pitching teams in the National League: San Francisco, St. Louis and Atlanta.

Realistically, only the top three pitchers will matter, at least in the first round, and San Francisco has the best with three 10-win pitchers: Tim Lincecum (14-5), Matt Cain (13-5) and Barry Zito (10-12).

St. Louis’s Adam Wainwright may be the best choice for the Cy Young Award at 18-8 and with a 2.59 ERA.  Joel Pineiro is 14-10 and Chris Carpenter is 16-4.

Atlanta, led by Javier Vazquez, 13-9; Jair Jurjens, 11-10; and Derek Lowe, 14-9, probably won’t make the playoffs.

Jamie Moyer is the Phillies winningest pitcher at 12-9, but might not make the postseason roster.  Cole Hamels (9-9) and Cliff Lee (7-2) are the Phils top two playoff pitchers, but Pedro Martinez (5-0) may take over the third spot from Joe Blanton (9-7) or J.A. Happ (10-4).

It all depends on Martinez’s next couple starts, following his eight-inning 1-0 shutout of the New York Mets on Sunday night.

So even though the Phils don’t match up statistically, they are peaking at the right time.

Add Albert Pujois and Matt Holliday to a pitching-loaded St. Louis, and you might just see the World Series move to the Midwest.

In golf, the saying is drive for show and putt for dough.

Pitching is the putting in baseball.

St. Louis has the edge, but if Martinez can pitch like it’s 1999, the Phillies have a good shot.

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As Philadelphia’s Magic Number Shrinks, Florida and Atlanta’s Hopes Disappear

Monday was an off day for the Philadelphia Phillies, their last of the season.

Sunday’s exciting doubleheader sweep of New York not only mathematically eliminated the Mets, it gave the Phillies a 6 1/2 game lead over the Florida Marlins in the National League East, reducing the Phillies magic number to 14.

That is a combination of 14 wins by the Phillies or 14 losses by the Marlins, but more likely a combination of the two. It likely will not happen for about two weeks, but it could happen sooner.

While the Phillies open up a three-game set vs. Washington, Florida heads to St. Louis and the Mets play at Atlanta.

Following the home series against the Nationals, the Phillies travel to Atlanta and Florida.

Talk about taking care of business yourself.

Going into the Mets series, I said the Phillies had to win three out of four, which they did, highlighted by Pedro Martinez’s eight inning shutout of the Mets in a 1-0 win.

There is no reason the Phillies should not sweep the Nationals, but figure the Nationals win one. Ryan Madson or Brad Lidge should blow at least one lead.

The Phillies then can take care of Atlanta, but the games in Florida have traditionally been tough for the Phillies.

But let’s start with tonight: Cliff Lee (13-11) faces Garret Mock (3-7). Lee has to pitch into the seventh or eighth inning to give the bullpen a rest. Pencil in a win for the Phillies.

All season long, despite bullpen problems, closer problems, prolonged slumps and more, the Phillies have kept pace in front of the NL East. Some say they should have had a larger lead, but once again, the only team that is playing out of their mind is the Yankees.

Isn’t that the way baseball is supposed to be?

Destiny is in the Phillies’ hands. By next weekend, they could be NL East champs for the third year in a row.

There will be bumps along the way, and for whatever reason, it might not happen next weekend.

Shortly after that, though, it should happen. It would help to get Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, or Raul Ibanez to get hot again. Ibanez is the current hottest Phillies hitter.

Sweep the Nats and then two or three from the Braves and Marlins, and things will be fine.

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New York Mets Should Be a Apple Ripe For Picking By the Philadelphia Phillies

While the rest of the town is obsessed with Brad Lidge-gate, the Phillies have a job at hand and it’s manager Charlie Manuel’s job to keep the troops ready for action.

The New York Mets come to town for a four-game series. What is at stake for the Phillies is getting closer to clinching the National League East pennant and keeping the Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves at arm’s length.

For the Mets, it is a chance at redemption, if only for the weekend. The Mets, 62-78, lost three to the Marlins, who are five games behind the Phillies.

The Nationals, who lost two-of-three to the Phillies, travel to Florida to play the Marlins, while the Braves, who are eight game behind, travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals.

Worse case scenario, the Marlins sweep the Nats and the Mets sweep the Phillies, the lead would be an uncomfortable 2 1/2 game lead for the Phillies.

It ain’t gonna happen.

The Mets got a boost Tuesday when center fielder Carlos Beltran was activated. He has not played since June 21 due to a deep bone bruise in the right knee.

The Marlins will probably take two of three and if the Phillies take three of four, the lead would go to six games.

Tonight’s matchup is key for the Phillies. Cole Hamels (8-9) vs. Nelson Figueroa (2-4). This is a key game for the Phillies to set up the weekend.

On Saturday, Mike Pelfrey (10-10) faces Jamie Moyer (12-9) and Sunday looks like John Maine (5-4) and Tim Redding (2-5) vs. Kyle Kendrick (0-1) and Pedro Martinez (4-0).

For sure, tonight’s game is the Phillies best pitching matchup.

Believe me. I have to give Charlie Manuel all the credit in the world. It took a lot of male body part duplicates to take closer Brad Lidge out of Wednesday’s game. Um, er, I mean two eyes. OK?

Think it is easy? Tell me: How the heck did Terry Francona become a genius? Phillies fans must wonder that all the time, because Francona stunk when he was here.

Baseball is a funny game. It takes a funny guy like Manuel, who despite the country bumpkin exterior, is as tough as nails.

He wants to win, but at the same time, realizes he has to keep Lidge happy, because there are two years left on the closer’s contract.

Depending on how Friday and Saturday games go, Sunday’s doubleheader could get real interesting.

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Time for Phillies to Carefully Step off the Lidge

Manager Charlie Manuel made a tough decision in last night’s 5-3 Phillies win over the Washington Nationals: He pulled closer Brad Lidge out of the game before the game’s conclusion.

It was the right move, apparently. Normal set-up man Ryan Madson collect two 0-2 counts with 95-MPH fastballs, then got the Nationals to commit to two changeups for strike out and ground out, respectfully.

Manuel and Lidge both have said that Lidge is still the closer. But if you listen to Manuel closely, the door was open for another option.

In part of a quote in today’s Philly.com story by Andy Martino, here is what Manuel said about loyalty and his closer:

“… I’ve been very loyal to him, and I’ve stuck with him. I did everything I think possible to get him going. There is no way I would ever lie to him, because I don’t do that, and I don’t have a history of doing that. 

 

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Phillies-Nationals: Winning Plays Spark Phils Victory

The Philadelphia Phillies were in desperate need of a win and they got it, 5-3, over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital.

Sure, five solo home runs, two by Raul Ibanez, helped the Philadelphia cause, but a key play in the game happened in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Pitcher John Lannon’s two-out single looked to increase the Nationals’ early 2-0 lead to three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. But Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino fielded the ball, threw home and tossed out Wil Nieves at the plate.

Sure enough, the play sparked the Phillies to a win over Washington and it may just lead to another Phils’ winning streak.

In the top of the fifth, Ibanez hit his first of two home runs to cut the lead to 2-1. The Phillies took the lead in the top of the seventh inning with home runs by Jayson Werth, Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz, for a 4-2 lead.

A solo home run by Willie Harris pulled the Nationals to one run in the bottom of the seventh. That blast ended starter Pedro Martinez’s night with the Phils holding to a one-run lead.

Brett Myers pitched a scoreless eighth. During the commercial break and the Phillies leading 5-3, I texted my buddy: “DON’T BRING IN BRAD LIDGE.”

I don’t usually shout and I have been a very recent Brad Lidge supporter.

“I thought the same thing,” my friend texted back.

Sure enough, Lidge loaded the bases with one out after allowing a single, a wild pitch,  hitting a batter and a walk.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel made the move of the season, when he took Lidge out in favor of Ryan Madson.

Madson, who blew a few saves himself earlier in the season, did something important: he threw strikes.

He collected a strikeout and got a ground out to end the game and the Phillies’ losing streak was over.

It all started, I contend, with Victorino keeping the deficit to one run in the bottom of the fourth inning when he threw Nieves out at home.

I tell you, I could feel it in my bones.

If the Phillies got swept or lost two of three to the Nationals, the Mets would eat them up at home and that would spell trouble for Philly’s standing in the NL East.

If the Phillies sweep the Nats or take two of three, they will take care of the Mets and win the series at home.

Things would look a lot better for Manuel’s boys then.

Tuesday night was the first step.

Brad Lidge’s confidence as the team’s closer may have been shot on Tuesday night, but getting the win was more important than coddling any one player’s feelings.

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Phillies’ Skipper Not Always a Good-Time Charlie

After being swept in a four-game series in Houston against the Astros, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was searching for answers.

He suggested in a Philadelphia Inquirer story by Andy Martino, that they better put the pedal to the metal if they want to win their third straight National League East baseball title.

“I hear some of them talking, saying we’re a team that plays better when we have to,” he said. “[Expletive] the last couple years. What the hell? That don’t mean [expletive]. Last year is dead and gone. We play for today.”

Brad Lidge’s 10th blown save put Phillies fan in a funk on Saturday, but the offense has shown some life, but not nearly enough.

The Phillies scored six runs in the final two games of the Astros series. Five of them came on solo home runs.

As Oakland Raiders National Football League owner Al Davis once said: “Just win, baby.”

Easier said than done.

But you want the right attitude? Look no further than Jamie Moyer.

Moyer got the start Monday, getting short notice when J.A. Happ went down with an injury.

Moyer gave the Phillies six good innings and allowed two runs on three hits and struck out four batters. The Phillies were ahead 3-2 when he left Monday’s game.

Brett Myers has the right attitude, too. He just wants to fill in where needed.

It is not to say that the rest of the team has the wrong attitude. But they have lost their confidence, hitting prowess or something.

Perhaps a trip to Washington will cure what ails them.

Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez all hit home runs in yesterday’s game. The fact that they were all solo shots didn’t help.

A six-game lead with 27 games left. Is it enough?

It should be.

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