I'll take a break from the hot stove to ask if anyone would be interested in taking a weekend trip at some point for a Phillies series in 2010. I have found five intriguing weekends on the schedule schedule:
May 28-30 at Florida Marlins: May 31 is also Memorial Day and the Phillies will be in Atlanta. That game could also be worked into the trip.
June 11-13 at Boston Red Sox
July 15-18 at Chicago Cubs: This is a Thursday-Sunday series right after the All-Star Game.
August 13-15 at New York Mets
August 27-29 at San Diego Padres: This series could also connected to a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers from August 30 (Monday) through September 1 (Wednesday).
If anyone is interested in any of these trips, let me know!
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Showing posts with label new york mets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york mets. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
This team needs a spark
The Phillies are in dire need of a spark. They just completed a lackluster 5-5 road trip and after tonight's very flat 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros, the Phillies have now dropped five of their last seven games. Meanwhile, the surging Atlanta Braves are just four games behind the Phillies for the National League East title. Moreover, as Todd Zolecki has pointed out, recent National League champions have played remarkably well in the stretch run. Simply put, this team needs some form of inspiration if they want to win the NL East or make another run in the playoffs.
Last season, the Phillies had just dropped two out of three games to the lowly Washington Nationals and were about to start a crucial three-game series with the Mets, whom the Phillies trailed by three games in the NL East. When the Phillies arrived at Shea Stadium, they were greeted in the clubhouse with an inspirational e-mail from Mike Schmidt. The Phillies responded by winning two of three games from the Mets and finished the season 16-6 and won the division by three games.
Earlier this season when the Phillies were in another tailspin, Manuel called a closed-door meeting after a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Phillies responded by taking the final two games of the Blue Jays series and after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies went on to win 14 of their next 15 games.
While fans and the media have scapegoated Brad Lidge for the Phillies' recent mediocrity, several other Phillies have scuffled in September such as Chase Utley (.692 OPS), Pedro Feliz (.598 OPS), Shane Victorino (.616 OPS), Cliff Lee (5.59 ERA) and Joe Blanton (4.91 ERA). Whether it's in the form of an e-mail from a Phillies legend, a closed-door team meeting or benching struggling starters, Charlie Manuel needs to realize that his team's current problems extend past who is pitching the ninth inning.
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Last season, the Phillies had just dropped two out of three games to the lowly Washington Nationals and were about to start a crucial three-game series with the Mets, whom the Phillies trailed by three games in the NL East. When the Phillies arrived at Shea Stadium, they were greeted in the clubhouse with an inspirational e-mail from Mike Schmidt. The Phillies responded by winning two of three games from the Mets and finished the season 16-6 and won the division by three games.
Earlier this season when the Phillies were in another tailspin, Manuel called a closed-door meeting after a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Phillies responded by taking the final two games of the Blue Jays series and after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies went on to win 14 of their next 15 games.
While fans and the media have scapegoated Brad Lidge for the Phillies' recent mediocrity, several other Phillies have scuffled in September such as Chase Utley (.692 OPS), Pedro Feliz (.598 OPS), Shane Victorino (.616 OPS), Cliff Lee (5.59 ERA) and Joe Blanton (4.91 ERA). Whether it's in the form of an e-mail from a Phillies legend, a closed-door team meeting or benching struggling starters, Charlie Manuel needs to realize that his team's current problems extend past who is pitching the ninth inning.
Read more!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Who needs a closer?
As has been one of the recurring themes of the Phillies this season, just when Brad Lidge looked like he has finally gotten into a groove as closer, he blows another game as what happened last night in Pittsburgh. As good as Lidge says he feels, the Phillies cannot continue to go forward with a closer who blows over a quarter of his games.
This brings up a larger question: is it necessary to have a special pitcher to pitch the ninth inning in a close game?
Let's take a look at the past four games (there were three save opprotunities during these four games and Lidge converted two of these opprotunities).
August 22: J.A. Happ goes 7 innings and leaves for a pinch hitter. Ryan Madson pitches the 8th inning with a 4-1 lead and records 2 strikeouts in a perfect inning throwing just 11 pitches. Lidge pitches a 1-2-3 9th innings, also recording 2 strikeouts. Although Lidge got the save here, why not let Madson come back out for the 9th since he did so well in the 8th inning? His spot in the batting order didn't come up in the top of the ninth and there was no guarantee that Lidge would be effective throwing in the bottom of the ninth.
August 23: Pedro throws 6 innings and leaves with a 8-4 lead. Durbin gives up a run in the 7th and is pinch hit for and Madson gives up a run in the 8th. Lidge enters the game with a 9-6 lead and surrenders an unearned run before having Francoeur line into the unassisted triple play to end the game. This was a good situation to use Lidge. Durbin and Madson were not effective and since it was a close game, it make sense to use your "best" reliever here.
August 24: Cliff Lee gets pinch hit for after 7 innings and Chan Ho Park throws a perfect eighth and leaves with a 5-2 lead. The Phillies score one run in the top of the ninth but Park's batting spot does not come up. Lidge pitches a 1-2-3 9th inning. I do not understand why Lidge was brought into the game here. I did not see the game but I suppose Lidge had been warming up in the top of the ninth when the Phillies still had just a three run lead and the game was still a save situation and I suppose that Manuel wanted Lidge to enter the game if he had been warming. However, why have Lidge even warm up? Lidge had already thrown in the past two games and the Phillies had a three-run lead against a bad Mets' offense that had only been able to muster two unearned runs all game (back in the first inning) and the Phillies already had a pitcher on the mound in Park who has no problems pitching for multiple innings and looked great in the 8th inning.
August 25: Joe Blanton throws six innings and then Tyler Walker relives him and throws two scoreless innings before he is pinch hit for in the top of the ninth and the Phillies rally to take a 4-3 lead on the Pirates. Brad Lidge enters the game and six pitches later the Pirates win 6-4. While this was an ideal situation to use Lidge in a "closer's role", this blowup could have occured because Lidge had thrown in the past three games. Had Lidge even thrown one of those three games, his arm may have been much sharper.
Instead of panicking over who should be the Phillies' "closer" just for the ninth inning in a close game, the Phillies should instead focus on having the best reliever (or whoever is throwing the ball well at the moment) pitch in late game, high leverage situations.
Read more!
This brings up a larger question: is it necessary to have a special pitcher to pitch the ninth inning in a close game?
Let's take a look at the past four games (there were three save opprotunities during these four games and Lidge converted two of these opprotunities).
August 22: J.A. Happ goes 7 innings and leaves for a pinch hitter. Ryan Madson pitches the 8th inning with a 4-1 lead and records 2 strikeouts in a perfect inning throwing just 11 pitches. Lidge pitches a 1-2-3 9th innings, also recording 2 strikeouts. Although Lidge got the save here, why not let Madson come back out for the 9th since he did so well in the 8th inning? His spot in the batting order didn't come up in the top of the ninth and there was no guarantee that Lidge would be effective throwing in the bottom of the ninth.
August 23: Pedro throws 6 innings and leaves with a 8-4 lead. Durbin gives up a run in the 7th and is pinch hit for and Madson gives up a run in the 8th. Lidge enters the game with a 9-6 lead and surrenders an unearned run before having Francoeur line into the unassisted triple play to end the game. This was a good situation to use Lidge. Durbin and Madson were not effective and since it was a close game, it make sense to use your "best" reliever here.
August 24: Cliff Lee gets pinch hit for after 7 innings and Chan Ho Park throws a perfect eighth and leaves with a 5-2 lead. The Phillies score one run in the top of the ninth but Park's batting spot does not come up. Lidge pitches a 1-2-3 9th inning. I do not understand why Lidge was brought into the game here. I did not see the game but I suppose Lidge had been warming up in the top of the ninth when the Phillies still had just a three run lead and the game was still a save situation and I suppose that Manuel wanted Lidge to enter the game if he had been warming. However, why have Lidge even warm up? Lidge had already thrown in the past two games and the Phillies had a three-run lead against a bad Mets' offense that had only been able to muster two unearned runs all game (back in the first inning) and the Phillies already had a pitcher on the mound in Park who has no problems pitching for multiple innings and looked great in the 8th inning.
August 25: Joe Blanton throws six innings and then Tyler Walker relives him and throws two scoreless innings before he is pinch hit for in the top of the ninth and the Phillies rally to take a 4-3 lead on the Pirates. Brad Lidge enters the game and six pitches later the Pirates win 6-4. While this was an ideal situation to use Lidge in a "closer's role", this blowup could have occured because Lidge had thrown in the past three games. Had Lidge even thrown one of those three games, his arm may have been much sharper.
Instead of panicking over who should be the Phillies' "closer" just for the ninth inning in a close game, the Phillies should instead focus on having the best reliever (or whoever is throwing the ball well at the moment) pitch in late game, high leverage situations.
Read more!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Stay away from Billy the Kid
Today marked the return of former Phillies closer Billy Wagner for the New York Mets following a year-long sting on the disabled list. Wagner threw a scoreless inning for the Mets in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. However, before Wagner even threw a pitch, he was placed on waivers by the Mets. This has stirred up some speculation that the Phillies may be interested in re-acquiring their former All-Star.
However, it would be wise for the Phillies to take a pass on Wagner.
If the Phillies were to claim Wagner off of waivers, they would be responsible for paying the remaining $2.7 million on Wagner's contract which is more than Ryan Madson, Chan Ho Park, Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey are making for the entire season.
The Phillies also have an abudnance of left-handed relivers. Scott Eyre has done a very good job as the primary lefty out of the pen while J.C. Romero has been on the disabled list. Jamie Moyer was also excellent in his first relief appearance on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. Minor leaguers Jack Taschner and Sergio Escalona have also proved themselves capable in short stints with the big league team this year.
One option for Wagner would be to use him in the closer's role where both Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson have struggled so far this year. Wagner does have 385 career saves but trusting the ninth inning to a 38-year-old coming off of major injury would be a major leap of faith for the Phillies. It would make more sense for the Phillies to continue to gut out the closer's role with Lidge or experiement with two-inning saves for Chan Ho Park.
Lastly, Billy Wagner has proven to be a bad teammate with both the Phillies and the Mets. His presence in the clubhouse could create an unnecessary distraction for a clubhouse that appears to be unified and is cruising towards their third straight division title.
Read more!
However, it would be wise for the Phillies to take a pass on Wagner.
If the Phillies were to claim Wagner off of waivers, they would be responsible for paying the remaining $2.7 million on Wagner's contract which is more than Ryan Madson, Chan Ho Park, Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey are making for the entire season.
The Phillies also have an abudnance of left-handed relivers. Scott Eyre has done a very good job as the primary lefty out of the pen while J.C. Romero has been on the disabled list. Jamie Moyer was also excellent in his first relief appearance on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. Minor leaguers Jack Taschner and Sergio Escalona have also proved themselves capable in short stints with the big league team this year.
One option for Wagner would be to use him in the closer's role where both Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson have struggled so far this year. Wagner does have 385 career saves but trusting the ninth inning to a 38-year-old coming off of major injury would be a major leap of faith for the Phillies. It would make more sense for the Phillies to continue to gut out the closer's role with Lidge or experiement with two-inning saves for Chan Ho Park.
Lastly, Billy Wagner has proven to be a bad teammate with both the Phillies and the Mets. His presence in the clubhouse could create an unnecessary distraction for a clubhouse that appears to be unified and is cruising towards their third straight division title.
Read more!
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