Sorry, Kids: Yankees 5, Phillies 4
by dajafi on May 23, 2009 7:23 PM EDT
Email
PrintIt was a great story for eight innings: on the strength of rookie J.A. Happ's first start of the season and rookie John Mayberry Jr's spectacular major league debut, the Phillies had a 4-2 lead on the Yankees and were three outs away from improving both their NL East lead and MLB-best road record. But Brad Lidge gave yet another reminder that 2008 is gone for good, recording just one out as the Yankees scored three runs to win the game in walkoff fashion.
Lidge began the ninth by walking Johnny Damon on a full count. He came back to strike out Mark Teixiera on three straight sliders, and got ahead of Alex Rodriguez 1-2. But after Rodriguez laid off two sliders to work the count full, Lidge came back with a fastball that the tabloid superstar hit just over Mayberry's glove for a two-run homer, tying the game at 4. A single, steal, and single later, the Yankees were celebrating at home plate and the Phillies had another Lidge meltdown to contemplate.
Earlier, Happ and Mayberry had been the story. Happ quickly justified the decision to insert him into the rotation in place of Chan Ho Park, holding New York to just two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked none and struck out four. Mayberry broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with a three-run homer off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte, and added a double later.
Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson followed Happ with an inning each of scoreless relief, Madson striking out the side in the eighth including Derek Jeter to end it. Earlier, Raul Ibanez slugged his big-league best 17th home run of the season.
Cole Hamels and CC Sabathia face off in the series finale tomorrow.
29 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Why pitch to Rodriguez when Caino was on deck? Why? Why?
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on May 23, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions
Bright side: Happ’s start should give him a spot in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
If Mayberry sticks around and continues to hit, we might be able to trade him in for a lockdown reliever to take Madson’s place as the set up man as Madson becomes the closer.
Or he could be packaged for another starter to take Blanton or Moyer’s place.
Or he could become the right handed bat off of the bench that we have been needing.
Or nothing at all.
Probably better that he doesn’t now that I think about it. Better that scouts and GMs only get a short glimpse of what he can do against ML pitchers than keep him around and risk that he starts to stink it up.
But I think the right move is to look to trade him considering that he is going to be blocked for several years.
And if he’s not going to start for the big club, we’d rather him be getting as many AB as he can in the minors.
I’d rather he be on the bench than matt stairs as he’s more versatile…but then again, i’m not sure who this we is and if i’d want to be a part of said we.
"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."
Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.
by jemagee on May 23, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I really like Mayberry, and I hope the Phils keep him. Yeah he might have a few more years before he can become a starter here but once Ibanez’s contract is up, or his age starts to catch up to him, I want to see Mayberry take his place. He will be a force to be reckoned with once he makes it up to the bigs full time, and I’d rather him be in a Phillies uniform than any other.
by worldphuckinchamps on May 24, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I like Lidge, but what are the chances that Madson is the closer by playoff time ?
What about the brief case? You forgot the brief case! I'm going home! So clear a path, you motherf*ckers! Clear a path! I'M GOING HOME! -Bill Foster
Closers
I think Madsen should be the closer and Lidge the setup man for a while.
by fan since late 40's on May 23, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions
Re: Lidge
"His stuff’s good and his breaking ball’s good. Give them credit. He made some pitches and they hit ‘em," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
That is not encouraging at all. His stuff is not good. But it seems like they are going to stick with him. How much more failure will it take?
And if he was making enough pitches, damon wouldn’t be on base.
"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."
Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.
by jemagee on May 23, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Madson has the psychological aspect of being a closer down like Lidge does. Yeah he screwed up, and doesnt have the best stats, but his sliders were still money, and his fastballs were pretty good. I think he just needs to get better control of his fastball in particular and be able to place it like he did last year. And lets all remember that last year all though he may have been perfect, I believe that the Phillies defense got lucky and made some great plays to not have allowed him to blow any saves. The balls are just finding the gaps more… and sometime beyond the outfield walls.
by worldphuckinchamps on May 24, 2009 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Madson came in in some incredibly high leverage spots in the playoffs last year and was nothing short of amazing. I don’t buy this for one second.
by FuquaManuel on May 24, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
There is a significant difference between being a set-up man and a closer. Closer is the last man standing. I think Madson can eventually develop into a top notch closer, and showed that he can pitch in those high pressure, high emotion situations last year in the post season. But Lidge is already there. Lidge is having some health issues but thats about it, I have faith that he will be up to speed somewhat soon.
by worldphuckinchamps on May 24, 2009 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Well to develop into a top notch closer, he probably needs a chance to close, me personally, I’ve never met him, so I know nothing about his pschological make up.
I know pitching the 8th inning of a close game is a pretty high lieverage situation and that Madson has been much better than lidge this year.
Not to mention, in ‘low leverage’ situations lidge has pitched like crap this year as well
"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."
Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.
by jemagee on May 24, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
WTF?
As he did earlier this month, manager Charlie Manuel stood by Lidge and expressed confidence in his closer. “He’s going to have more chances to close games,” Manuel told the Phillies’ official site. Lidge is now 0-2 with a 9.16 ERA after 20 appearances. “I feel great,” Lidge said, after being asked about his confidence. “When I was making a mechanical adjustment for a while, when my stuff wasn’t as good and command wasn’t as good, I was a little unsure of what I was doing. But I’ve made that adjustment and the ball is coming out of my hand a lot better now. As long as I feel healthy and am throwing the ball like I can, I’m always going to feel confident. I can rely on experience. I’ve done it before. But I just need to make an adjustment with my location. That’s the biggest thing. I feel like when I do that it’s going to be the same as it always is.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6913/news;_ylt=AmcNwk7xQE5LbXLXBU5ZKQaFCLcF
If this is how he is when he is feeling good, I would hate to see him when he is not. But really, this is fucking ridiculous. They sound like they are living on another planet…like one where Lidge isn’t coming in and stinking it up on a pretty regular basis. I don’t think I am alone in thinking that Lidge should be working out whatever issues he has in the minors or mop-up duty as opposed to the 9th inning of games when the Phillies are leading by 3 or fewer runs.
I agreee with all your thoughts
except your !??!#@%. I do not believe they are necessary and take away from the well thought out blog.
I think he needs to do a Brett Myers for the team and go down to the minors. Enough is enough of costing us 3 games. Today was a great pitched game except for him.
K-Rod blew 6 saves last year
Just for some perspective. Even the best closers blow a few. Yes, it is concerning, without a doubt, but the Phils have to handle this situation carefully. Most closers have pretty big egos and you can’t just go and demote the guy when the truth is that you need Lidge to be right again in order to have any shot at repeating. He has a history of being fairly fragile mentally and felt the Astros “gave up on him” when they shuttled him back and forth from set-up to closer’s role. It’s not like just switching him to the 8th inning is going to get him right; you can just as easily blow a game in the 8th inning.
What do you expect Manuel to say in post-game interviews? My closer is pitching like crap? How does that help Brad’s confidence? Manuel always backs up his players. When he doesn’t, then you know something is really wrong.
K Rod is grossly over rated – and the save is a stupid stat
WHat people would like is the best pitcher for the situation, nd right now the BEST bull pen pitcher, hands down, is Ryan Madson.
I expect Charlie Manuel to do the best thing to help the phillies win, and all Lidge is doing is helping the phillies lose games they should win…
"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."
Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.
by jemagee on May 24, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree, but I don’t think Lidge is “done”. He still has the stuff, he just can’t command it right now. They need to DL him to get his knee healed and get him some rehab work. He will not lose his closer’s job until he’s blown 5 or so in a row. Manuel said today after the game that Lidge will remain the closer.
It’s not like the Phils have a plethora of swing and miss pitchers in their bullpen that you can just jettison Lidge. Maybe when Romero gets back they have more options, but who do you want pitching the 8th? Taschner? Condrey? Eyre?
Not a good situation. I know it’s not 2008 anymore, but people have to give Lidge a little more rope to figure this out considering he was probably one of the MVPs for the team last season. No Lidge, no WFC. If he blows his next 6 opps, then get back to me, but I think he’s earned the right to get himself right.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Next Game
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Marlins agree to unretire No. 5 for Logan Morrison, who will honor his father’s favorite player
- Weatherman Derek Holland does Dallas TV
- Ask Alex: Will Julio Teheran or Matt Moore win rookie of the year?
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
