The last few times out, I was lamenting the Phillies' need for a closer because it seemed as though every time I sat down to write another column, Brad Lidge blew another save.
He earned his 10th blown save in Houston over the weekend, and he loaded the bases with just one out in the ninth inning Tuesday night in Washington before he was lifted for Ryan Madson, who preserved the 5-3 win for Pedro Martinez.
Manager Charlie Manuel has always claimed that Lidge was his closer no matter what, even though many fans — and writers — clamored for somebody else. Now it seems that even Charlie will have to think about other options.
When I wrote that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. should keep an eye out for another closer, some readers responded that there weren't any good closers available at the Aug. 31 deadline to have a new acquisition qualify for the playoffs. (A player needs to be on the 25-man major-league roster before Sept. 1 to be eligible for the postseason.)
When I wrote that the Phillies would only have in-house options in the absence of a trade before Aug. 31, the feedback from some was negative. They claimed that I gave the impression that the team had to acquire a closer or it was doomed. That was not my thinking, but that's the way some readers interpreted it.
Since rosters expanded on Sept. 1, teams have been adding players, the most notable of which was Brett Myers' early return to the Phillies over the weekend. Left-handed reliever J.C. Romero is also expected back soon, and if these guys return to form, Lidge is less of a concern.
The Phillies had a formidable bullpen last season, so now the questions are who stays healthy and effective and who replaces whom after a few bad outings. To have Madson, Romero, Myers and Lidge at the back end of the 'pen once again makes it one of the best, even if it is operating on just three out of four cylinders. Unfortunately, injuries change everything. More on that later.
One issue that caught a lot of attention last time was about the four starters who would make up the playoff rotation if the Phillies had to make the decision now. Two weeks ago, I went with Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ — in that order — and wrote that the fourth spot was up in the air for two reasons. Cole Hamels was in a slump, and Pedro Martinez was still an unknown because two of his four starts at the time were shortened by rain. Well, things change.
This scenario is turning out to be a dandy because Hamels then fired off two of his best starts of the season, and Martinez has shown signs of his previous brilliance.
Hamels held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run in eight innings on Aug. 26. He left that game with a 1-0 lead that Madson surrendered in the ninth, although the Phillies did win it (4-1) in 10 innings. Hamels followed that outing with a two-hit shutout over the San Francisco Giants (1-0) on Sept. 1. He gave up eight hits and four earned runs in six innings in Sunday's 4-3 loss in Houston.
Martinez gave up a leadoff home run to the Giants' Eugenio Velez on Sept. 3 but little else after that. He looked like the Pedro of old in that game. He went seven innings, which is what the Phillies had been looking for, and yielded just five hits and one run while striking out nine and walking none. He gave up seven hits and three earned runs, walked one and struck out four batters in six and two-thirds innings in Washington Tuesday night and earned his fourth win with the Phillies. Pedro looked a little more human in this outing, but he went nearly seven innings, and he left with a lead.
If both starters continue to throw well, then the Phillies will have a dilemma choosing four for the playoff rotation. Odds are that whichever pitcher is not throwing well at the end of the season will be bumped. However, I see two possibilities if all five starters continue on their current courses.
Philadelphia could go with five starters, which is a little unorthodox but not impossible, or Happ goes to the bullpen. There are two reasons for this. The Phillies would probably not want three of the four starters throwing from the left side. (Lee, Hamels, Blanton (RHP) and Happ? Probably not.) Also, Happ was effective out of the bullpen during the playoffs after doing well as a starter last year, so he seems to be the obvious candidate to be relegated to the bullpen during this postseason.
However, Happ was scratched from Monday's start in Houston (strained right intercostal muscle), and the team has announced that he will miss his next turn against the New York Mets on Saturday. With a doubleheader set for Sunday, I'm guessing that Jamie Moyer will pitch on Saturday and Kyle Kenrick, who was recalled a few days ago, will start one of Sunday's contests.
With Hamels and Martinez returning to form and with Myers and Romero bolstering a bullpen that was already one of the best in the National League, how these scenarios work out is going to make the last few weeks of this season extremely interesting. However, injuries change everything, and there are a few to deal with now.
Lefty Scott Eyre has a sore elbow and is listed as day to day. Romero got a cortisone shot on Tuesday and has been shut down for a few days again. Madson has tendinitis, but he claimed that he could still pitch, and he was right. He rescued Lidge from a bases-loaded, one-out situation Tuesday night by getting the last two outs and a save.
Manuel has some tough decisions ahead of him. With the ways things have been going lately, the Phillies can no longer mail in the National League Eastern Division championship. Who knows how the rest of September will play out? I only know that it will be either exhilarating or nauseating.
That's my opinion. What do you think? Click on the "Comments?" link below and let me know.
Next post: Sept. 23.
© 2009 www.Bill-McFarland.com
Visit the Phillies Web site.