Phillies Breakfast Links, September 10, 2009: Sad Brad, Minor Playoff Notes, Weekend Plans

by WholeCamels on Sep 10, 2009 8:32 AM EDT

CASE CLOSED FOR MADSON? - Philled In
I try not to put too much stock into the whole "closer mentality" thing, but at least anecdotally, Ryan Madson has struggled when given the opportunity to close.

Manuel looks away from Lidge for ninth
I don't think I could be happier than if the Phillies made a deep playoff run successfully deploying a closer-by-committee approach.

Paul Hagen: In Phillies' Lidge situation, just business as usual for Manuel
It's not so much Charlie Manuel's fault as it is our modern bullpen system that "entitles" one guy to the ninth inning role.

Reading bulks up for playoffs
Michael Taylor sent to Reading to help with the playoffs, where he will almost certainly collide with Domonic Brown in the outfield, killing both instantly. Kyle Drabek will try to help and will be eaten by a jackal.

R-Phils fizzle vs. Aeros in opener
Reading drops Game One of their opening round playoff series to Akron by a score of 9-4.

More after the jumpo!

SAL playoffs: Lakewood 4, Kannapolis 2
Lefty starter Matt Way goes seven innings, striking out seven. Travis d'Arnaud with an RBI single.

HLP states his case: Michael Bourn as the Astros' team MVP - The Crawfish Boxes
MVP of a fourth place team... sounds about right. Oh wait didn't they destroy the Phillies last weekend? I still hurt.

Phils' Eyre to have elbow examined
Not good.

Phillies recall reliever Escalona and first baseman Tracy
Escalona expected to fill the LOOGY role until Scott Eyre returns (if he returns....)

Phillies Notebook: Kendrick in line to start Sunday in Phillies' doubleheader vs. Mets
Oh boy... good thing the Mets are done.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Gotta root root root for Kendrick. If he pitches well in a couple of spot starts, he might actually have a little trade value this offseason.

by taco pal on Sep 10, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

Phils’ Eyre to have elbow examined
Not good.

Eyre or the elbow examination or both?

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

by jemagee on Sep 10, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

It’s not that I don’t want Reading to win the EL. But I’m really, really excited to see Scott Mathieson pitching for the big club again…

by dajafi on Sep 10, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve missed stories on him for a month or so now. Any chance of seeing him as a call up if Reading tanks?

by Steve J on Sep 10, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Personally, I would leave him be. He isn’t going to make the postseason roster anyway, so I don’t think there’s much to be gained. So let his season end on a guaranteed good note. I mean, I’m sure that if you asked Mathieson now, he would say he thinks a major league cup of coffee would be a “good note” even if he gets hammered, but it could still affect his confidence a little.

by taco pal on Sep 10, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Manuel has had a couple glaring problems with the roster of late:
Lidge as the closer.
Stairs as the go-to PHer.

We all know that he finally gave up on Lidge.
While Tracy is a stop-gap, at least he’s doing something different. Finally….

Now if the could just get J-Roll to get that damn uppercut out of his swing.

by Bilzo on Sep 10, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

I thought of something -

I wonder if putting Happ into the bull pen and letting Pedro be the 4th starter in the playoffs is a good idea. The main reasons for this are that it seems like Happ would do better from the bull pen then Pedro because of easier transistion and would also be a welcome addition to a somewhat beleagured group. Happ also has had a pretty long year, and though he is young, he has still been pitching quite a bit. Pedro, on the other hand, though he is old, has basically been resting for a good 2 or 3 months.

A lot would depend on the performance of both of these guys over the next two or three weeks of course, but Pedro has certainly played well enough to raise the question.

by Whack8888 on Sep 10, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

If the playoffs started today, even taking away the injury, my playoff rotation is Lee-Hamels-Blanton-Pedro.

1. Happ gives you a potentially important bullpen lefty, in light of the Eyre injury.
2. Pedro, with small sample size caveats, seems to struggle when he first enters the game, then settles in. Bad for relief pitching.

Your points about Happ’s workload are solid too, but Happ isn’t exactly young (he’s older than Hamels).

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Sep 10, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions