It's broke, and the Phillies have to fix it. I'm talking, of course, about the closer dilemma. Brad Lidge did it again Tuesday night, recorded his 9th MLB-leading blown save, pushed his record to 0-6 and his ERA to 7.33, the highest its been since June.Clearly, something must be done. The question is what-- or, more specifically, who and when? A couple of recent developments have cast a strange light upon the drama and further fueled the quandary (that's "quandary," not "Condrey," he's still on the DL).
First of all, the Mets essentially released closer Billy Wagner, the former Phillies All-Star closer. Strangely, the Phillies showed absolutely no interest in him, despite the obvious need they have and the shockingly low price tag he carried (no players, only cash, which the Phils seem perfectly happy to throw at virtually retired available starting pitchers nearing 40).
Personally, I loathe Wagner. I'd like to think his attitude is why the Phillies showed no interest in him this week, but I doubt it very much. I will always remember his days as a Phil, but less for his accomplishments-- after all, we weren't today's powerhouse during his tenure, so the team never made a lasting mark. Rather, I will remember Wagner as the guy calling for (then manager) Larry Bowa's head, claiming the team couldn't win with Bowa around.
Then, when Wagner returned to the Phillies the following season, sans one controversial manager (Bowa), Wagner went to the press and on record as claiming that the entire Phillies team was "a bunch of losers." So, I guess Bowa should be comforted that he was, in Wagner's eyes, in good company. So, where did that put Wagner? A Lone Ranger winner in a world of losers? Well, looks like he took the losing bug with him to the Mets and left us to soar to new heights in his absence. In essence, he did the Phils a favor and proved that he, not they, was the Biggest Loser.
The second occurrence this week came when Lidge blew the save and lost the game in the 9th inning on Tuesday night. In a postgame interview, Charlie Manuel said: "We've got to stay with him, he's got to keep going. What the hell? That's all we can do."
The following night, Manuel curiously did just the opposite. Once again in a save situation in the 9th inning vs. Pittsburgh, Manuel gave the ball, instead, to Ryan Madson. Madson promptly blew the save, his preposterous, staggering 5th blown save in 9 attempts this year! Remarkably, Madson is 4 for 9 in saves. That means Lidge and Madson are a combined 29 for 43 in save attempts, having coughed up 14 saves this year between them. More amazingly, Madson's reliability as a closer makes Lidge look, well, reliable. That's scary.
Hopefully, the Phils didn't mess up Madson this time around. Last time they tried him out as closer, during Lidge's DL stint in June, it took him all of July to fumble his way back to form, until he had recorded a 0.84 ERA in August. Hopefully, tonight didn't change all that. The Phils went back to him as a closer and the results were unchanged. Time will tell if he survives this bump in the road.
Time is not on the Phillies side. Now, they must choose between alternatives, each of which carries a big question mark-- and with only a month left to play games before season #2 in October launches. It's an awkward time to bring in Myers, who hasn't pitched since 5/27 and cast the bright lights of closerdom back on his uneven shoulders. It's an equally dangerous time to gamble on Chan Ho Park or Scott Eyre in a role they are neither experienced at or suited for, although if it's going to be trial and error, now is that time. After all, the division lead is 7 games.
So, where does that put the Phillies in their need for a closer? Well... Hey, I heard Billy Wagner is available. Oh, he's spoken for? Well, just as good, I don't see how he could stake his claim that Charlie & co. are a bunch of losers, seeing as how they are the defending World Champs.
notes:
Cole Hamels may be onto something. Hamels had gone 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA since July 28th, including a combined 10 BB & 8 S.O. in 3 of those games, totally uncharacteristic for Hamels. Wednesday night, he threw a season-high 123 pitches. Still, with 7 S.O. and only 2 B.B., coupled with 0 runs in 8 solid innings, this was a definitive return to form. Now, will it stick? Time will tell. Hamels next outing is against a far more formidable opponent, Sept. 1st vs. S.F.
NL POW: Jayson Werth
Phillies OF Jayson Werth takes home National League Player of the Week honors.
Jayson Werth, enjoying a career-year, was named much-deserved "NL Player of the Week" for the week ending 8/23. In 6 games, Werth led the NL with a 1.160 slugging percentage and 5 home runs. He tied for the NL lead with 9 RBI, batted .440, scored 7 times and had a .481 on-base percentage. All in a week's work, showing he's more than Werth his $2,500,000 salary.
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