The Phillies took two of three this weekend in Cincinnati to improve to 6-11, but they have a long way to go to get where they need to be:
- They would need to play 7-1 the rest of the month to finish April with a winning record at 13-12.
- The Phillies say they will be fine as long as they win series. But consider for a second that if they beat Houston in a make up game tomorrow night at Citizens Bank Park they will be just 7-11. They would need to take two of three in upcoming series against Washington (April 24-26), Florida (April 27-29), Atlanta (April 30 - May 2), Arizona (May 7-9) and Chicago (May 11-13) and split a four-game series in San Francisco (May 3-6) just to get above .500 before May 14. That leaves almost no room for error.
- The Phillies finished 10-14 (.417) each of the previous two Aprils. They can go 5-3 the rest of the month and actually have a better April at 11-14 (.440). Of course, that's little consolation for fans.
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I heard John Kruk on ESPN Baseball Tonight wonder why Charlie Manuel pitched Brett Myers in the ninth inning with the Phillies holding a seven-run lead. He thought it would have been a perfect spot for Ryan Madson to get some work. I thought so, too. Myers was warming up to close the ninth when the Phillies had a three-run lead. (Manuel said Tom Gordon wasn't available.) Manuel said he pitched Myers even after the Phillies scored four runs in the ninth because Myers "is probably spent anyway because of all the times he's been up. I wanted him to pitch the ninth because we probably wouldn't be able to use him tomorrow, anyway." In other words, Myers is still new to being a relief pitcher and they want to break him in slowly. They don't want to get him up multiple times and not pitch him. That will come later, I'm sure.
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If you're ever in Cincinnati and like barbeque, the Montgomery Inn is a good place to try. It's not the best barbeque I've had -- Tom Jenkins in Ft. Lauderdale easily is the best -- but it's in my top five.
Comments (6)
I guess giving Myers as much late inning work as possible is a good thing, to get him more acclimated with the role (assuming he will be the closer in a few weeks). But I don't get Manuel's logic. If Myers was "probably spent anyway" as Manuel says, then why'd he pitch him. Besides from the looks of things so far this season, the rest of the bullpen needs as much work as possible.
Posted by James | April 23, 2007 8:21 AM
Posted on April 23, 2007 08:21
This is another example of Charlie being Charlie. There was no logic or reason in the decision. Madson could have used the no pressure work. The chances of Myers not being available on Monday greatly increased by him being used on Sunday. I don't see how it helped anybody. Hopefully Eaton will go deep into tonight's game with a lead and the loss of our best bullpen pitcher will not be a factor. But I'd be more comfortable with Myers available.
Is Charlue really still our manager? Is the nightmare almost over? How many in game mistakes has he already made in this young season?
Posted by Josh | April 23, 2007 10:24 AM
Posted on April 23, 2007 10:24
I am OK with letting Myers pitch, I think it was useful just for him to work on his concentration. I often thought as a starter he would have periods where he "drifted off" and I think yesterday was an opportunity to see that he has to have that killer instinct in his new role. And until he becomes the desiginated closer, Manual is going to be second guessed no matter when he brings him in. Heading down tonight, if Eaton can pitch a decent game we might be ready to roll.
Posted by jimmy mack | April 23, 2007 11:16 AM
Posted on April 23, 2007 11:16
There are at least 20 barbecue joints in North Carolina better the two you note. I guess you needed to cut your teach covering the Durham Bulls.
Posted by bob | April 23, 2007 12:56 PM
Posted on April 23, 2007 12:56
No lead is safe with Madson on the mound, and Charlie Manuel obviously knows that. I can remember a game two years ago when the Phillies had a 5 run lead. Madson came in and promptly got hammered for a six spot. I think it's safe to say that the Ryan Madson experiment is over. The guy is a stiff.
Posted by Bill | April 23, 2007 1:14 PM
Posted on April 23, 2007 13:14
Madson should have plenty of opportunities for no pressure pitching. At Triple A. He's a bigger stiff than Shawn Bradley.
I was at the second game of the year, Hamels pitched a beaut, Gordon came in, blew the save, then we saw Madson strolling in from the 'pen-and we strolled-to the parking lot and headed home.
Posted by John | April 23, 2007 7:58 PM
Posted on April 23, 2007 19:58