Phillies Breakfast Links, August 27, 2009: Big Brett, Closing Time, Stretch the Lead

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 8:34 AM EDT Comment 25 comments

Without Lidge, Phillies bullpen one of the best
One day, a brave manager with a boatload of talented arms will blow up the "Cult of the Closer."

Pitcher Oliver Perez next Mets' player to be done for year with injury
I feel like the Mets should just be in Operation: Shutdown mode right now. Got a nagging injury? Get some surgery, tomorrow.

There’s no closing argument: Wagner simply wants to fit in - The Boston Globe
Good luck with that...

Bill Conlin: Amaro needs to force Manuel to change Phillies closer
There's some good stuff in here, including a "closer-by-committee" suggestion.

At Reading, Phillies pitcher Myers looks sharp again
Me, I hope there's a BIG FIGHT!

Friars break out bats to beat Braves
Padres defeat the Braves 12-5, setting them eight games behind the first-place Phillies.

WALKER: NOT EVERYONE CAN CLOSE - Philled In
And judging by Tyler Walker's physique lately, he's been closing the buffet quite a bit lately. ZING.

Changing closers isn't easy
It's a little disingenuous to say that Ryan Madson blew his fifth save last night; some of those came when he lost leads in the 8th inning, as set-up guy.

Reading's Galvis adjusts to double A
No-hit shortstop prospect Freddy Galvis rips a homer in his second game for Double-A Reading. The R-Phils are now 2 1/2 games ahead of Erie for the last Eastern League playoff spot.

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Conlin… “Brad Lidge has become a liability”… Fantastic observation. Boy, he really is tuned into the pulse of the fan base {sarcasm}

I didn’t see the presser last night. Any word from Charlie on why Lidge didn’t get the ball in the 9th or 10th? Is it because Lidge whined about overuse the night before? Or is this the start of a new direction with regard to the closer position?

by Boundforbeach on Aug 27, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He pitched four nights in a row.

I don’t really like the “whining” characterization. What do you think he should do? I don’t think his struggles are from lack of effort.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he wasn’t whining, but it did irk me a bit that he played the overuse card after the loss. Maybe its true, but he’s previously said that he needs more work, not less, to become sharper on the mound, and I almost felt like he was throwing barbs at Dubee and Charlie (two of his biggest supporters) for putting him on the mound.

No one thinks Lidge isn’t trying his damn best or that his pitching woes aren’t tearing him up inside. Personally, I feel terrible for the guy. He wants to win as much as anyone. And I don’t think he is done by any means. But if his stuff isn’t there or he’s been hiding an injury, then something needs to be done until he regains his form. I was just wondering if last nights use of Madson was a sign of things to come…

by Boundforbeach on Aug 27, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least in this case, I think truth is an absolute defense.

by taco pal on Aug 27, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Five nights in a row

would just be incredibly stupid, no matter how well or poorly a guy is pitching.

by David S. Cohen on Aug 27, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another link for today

I could have also added this to the post I did yesterday:

Onion: Rare Centuple Play Ends Mets’ Season

by David S. Cohen on Aug 27, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

last line=all-time classic

This was the most outs recorded on a single play since the 2004 Montreal Expos were eradicated from the league after hitting into an ∞-play.

by dajafi on Aug 27, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since we're talking about the Mets

here’s another classic Onion from last year: Mets to Play Brewers in One Game Choke-Off

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/mets_to_play_brewers_in_one

by Boundforbeach on Aug 27, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why do Philly fans

have such an obsession with the NY Mets? Even on this page for the Phillies, who are in first place and heading towards the playoffs, the second biggest topic is another Met injury? Then 3 of the comments are about the mets…just curious really. It seems like there is just as much excitement about met bashing as say, winning a world series. So, what against the Mets? Why not the Braves or Marlins?

by Omir on Aug 27, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They’re a rival. Nothing to talk about the Braves or Marlins because they’re actually good.

by SJPhillyVT on Aug 27, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"obsession"

You keep using that word. But I don’t think it means what you think it means.

by taco pal on Aug 27, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He knows the word well. Its the perfume he uses from Calvin Klein…

by Boundforbeach on Aug 27, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like the Princess Bride reference.

by SmilingJPhilsPhan on Aug 27, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, I post the links in arbitrary order and they get all butthurt over it. Jesus, talk about sissyboys.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention it’s over a couple of links to articles from the friggin’ ONION.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this point, I think the “obsession” runs the other way.

As your presence on a Phillies site, rather than us coming to a Mets site, would seem to suggest.

by dajafi on Aug 27, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention TGP is the ONLY blog on the network he’s joined.

I would recommend our Mets blog, but I like those guys too much.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And if the roles were reversed the mets fans would do the same thing?

Hey – we can’t help it if the mets continual epic failures year after year with their interestingly run organization, bad free agent signings are etnertaining.

Year after year the mets keep coming in as the favorites – the fans crow – and then they collapse – it’s poetic

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Aug 27, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

looks like a caused quite a stir! I am a Ranger fan from Texas, but am moving to Philly and wanted to know more about the phillies so joined this site. I don’t really have an opinion on the mets, but it seemed out here there was a lot of talk from the phillies and their fans against the mets. I know that New York is a better city, so I was curious if that talk stemmed from jealousy. But if the Mets are your biggest rivals, the talk makes sense, and i’m sure they would do it if they won!

by Omir on Aug 28, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm. Smells like bulls—t.

by taco pal on Aug 28, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a perceptive sniffer you’ve got.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 28, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldnt it be Rangers fan?

by Whack8888 on Aug 28, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you don’t deduce from the team being in the same division and being our biggest contention for the division title the past two years that they might be a rival? If you talked crap about the Angels I wouldn’t think twice.

by SJPhillyVT on Aug 28, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Closer

I don’t know all the particulars to contracts but I am wondering with the play-off rotation pretty much set in stone and Myers trying to find a slot in the bull pen would they have the option or desire to try him out as a closer? Or is the front office searching for a deal on the short term services of say a T.Hoffman, H. Bell or D. Aardsma? Even the Comcast D.N.L. guy’s including Ricky Bo. are saying something needs to be done.

by daddieo on Aug 27, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Part of me thinks it’d be “easier” if they could slot an experienced closer (moreso than Myers) in for Lidge for a month or so, so it’s less like he’s getting his job permanently taken, and more of a “helper” situation.

I really doubt Hoffman gets to us.

Delicate ballplayers, fragile egos, etc.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Aug 27, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs