Why the Philadelphia Phillies Appear on the Verge of Three-Peating in the NL

Every year as a Phillies fan, I’ve grown accustomed to saying “wait until next year.”

Next year we’ll pick up a big-name player in free agency. We’ll overtake the Braves or Mets in the division race. We’ll get a couple of good breaks, stay healthy all season, and win it all.

Guess what?

It happened.

2008 was a year to remember for Phillies fans. And I have a feeling that won’t be the last I’ll see of this championship team.

Even after watching the Phillies capture a division title in 2007 against all odds, nothing could have prepared me for a World Series Championship in 2008.

Everything came together that season. Brad Lidge and his the slider from hell converted all 48 save opportunities, putting together an unprecedented year that ranks up there with the greatest in history by a closer. The big bats—Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins—were hot when it counted the most.

And who can forget the team’s cool as ice left-hander Cole Hamels, who mowed down the Brewers, Dodgers, and Rays in the playoffs like they were a bunch of Double-A teams?

I wasn’t sure what to expect heading into last year, but I was impressed by this team.

The Phillies didn’t miss a beat, capturing a third consecutive NL East crown (this one by a solid margin) while becoming the first National League team since the 1995-96 Braves to appear in back-to-back World Series.

Sure, the World Series didn’t go as planned, but taking two out of six against a team with a payroll the size of Bill Gates’ bank account isn’t too bad.

I have high expectations for 2010. Really high.

There is absolutely no reason in my mind why this team shouldn’t capture a third consecutive pennant and second World Series title in three years.

Everything is there. Everything is in place.

Here are four main reasons why I think the Phillies are in prime position to win the 2010 World Series:

 

The Nucleus of the Team

How many World Series titles does a team need to be a dynasty? Three? Two titles and three appearances?

Either way, the Phillies have the talent to make it happen.

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins comprise three-fourths of one of the greatest infields in baseball history. The outfield is composed of several blossoming stars in Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth. And Cole Hamels—when he wants to be—is one of the most unhittable lefties in the game.

Say what you want about his batting average or high strikeout totals, but there are few players in baseball more feared than the 6'4 inch slugger. In fact, outside of superhuman MVP Albert Pujols, Howard is probably the most dangerous hitter in the game.

In just four seasons as a full-time starter, Howard has never failed to hit at least 45 home runs or drive in at least 135 runs. After seeing alarming drops in his slugging percentage from ’06 (.659) to ’07 (.584) to ’08 (.543), Howard put up a .571 mark last year that ranked fourth-best in the league.

Utley represents everything good about the game of baseball. He can hit, run, field, and he is one of the most intelligent men in the game. At the rate at which he is performing, he will go down as one of the greatest second basemen to ever play the sport.

Last year, he hit .282 with 31 home runs and 93 runs batted in. He reached base in almost 40 percent of his plate appearances, set a major league record by stealing 23 bases without getting caught, led the league in hit by pitches, and started in his fourth straight All-Star game.

How Utley has never finished higher than seventh in the MVP voting remains a mystery to me. Other than Pujols, Utley is probably the best player in baseball.

Rollins had a down year compared to his normal standards, struggling to stay above .200 for the first three months of the season. The former league MVP hit just .250 and his .296 on-base percentage was by far the lowest of his career.

It seems almost a certainty for Rollins to bounce back this season. Rollins brings with him a boatload of leadership, experience, and a Gold Glove at shortstop that might be the best in the business.

Victorino and Werth are two of the game’s top all-around outfielders. Each is superb defensively, a fine hitter, and a speedster who would give Usain Bolt a run for his money in a footrace.

And although he certainly wasn’t the Cole Hamels we hoped for last season, Hamels is still an elite pitcher in an era when hitters dominate.

Hamels’ numbers dropped from 2008 to 2009. After posting a 14-10 record with a 3.09 ERA, Hamels was just 10-11 last year with a 4.32 ERA.

The main difference? Bad Luck.

Hamels’ strikeout, walk, fly ball, line drive, and ground ball rates all remained the same. The only difference was his batting average on balls in play, which rose from .270 to .325.

Hamels has been pitching all offseason. And rumor has it, he has added a pretty good cutter to his pitch repertoire. I expect a big year from him in 2010.

And don’t forget Charlie Manuel.

While he may not speak the clearest form of English, and while there weren't too many supporting him when he was hired as Phillies’ manager, it’s safe to say Manuel has earned his wings following three consecutive NL East titles, back-to-back World Series appearances, and a championship.

 

Roy Halladay:

You think Cliff Lee was special? Wait until you see The Doc.

He’s that good.

Prior to joining the Phillies, Halladay spent his entire 12 year career in Toronto. And for more than half of those, he was in the discussion for the best pitcher in baseball.

His credentials speak for themselves— six All-Star selections, a Cy Young award, and a reputation as a guy you don’t want to face.

Halladay is a workhorse. He’s a guy who wants the ball. Halladay has averaged 16 wins, over 200 innings pitched, and a 3.13 ERA over the last eight years. Those are phenomenal numbers.

During that span, Halladay ranks first among all major league pitchers in wins and complete games, second in earned run average, fourth in innings pitched, and ninth in strikeouts.

In an era when most pitchers are content to go five or six innings and let the bullpen take care of the rest, Halladay wants to finish what he has started. He has led the AL in complete games in each of the previous three seasons and five times in his career.

With all due respect to Colbert Richard Hamels, Halladay threw nearly as many complete games (four) in September 2009 as Hamels has in his career (six).

Initially, when the Phillies pulled off the three-team trade that sent Lee to the Mariners and brought Halladay to the Phillies, I wasn’t sure it was much of an upgrade.

It is.

Comparing Lee to Halladay is like comparing Donovan McNabb to Drew Brees. Sure, both are good players. But one is the best in the business, while the other is with a class of ten or so in the second tier.

Halladay has no postseason experience, you say. Lee was a machine last season for the Phillies. He was responsible for the club’s only two World Series wins. How could Halladay possibly duplicate that?

All valid points.

Just give Halladay a chance. After 12 seasons in postseason-less Toronto, Halladay must be itching to pitch in the playoffs.

He is a gamer. While Lee posted a 6.13 ERA in his seven starts down the stretch for the Phillies in ’09, Halladay very quietly went 4-3 with a 1.96 ERA for the fourth-place Blue Jays.

As mentioned, Halladay tossed four complete games in the final month of the season. Three of those were shutouts. His only two losses came when his team scored just a single run in each game.

Halladay’s career numbers in September are mind-boggling.

His 2.36 ERA is nearly a full run better than any other month (3.21 in May). His 3.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the best of any month, as is his 1.062 WHIP. His .272 opponents on-base percentage is the same as what Hamels posted in the 2008 season, a figure that led the league.

You think Doc tires in September from a long season?

Nope.

Six of Halladay’s 15 career shutouts have come in September. His 13 complete games are four more than any other month. Simply put, this is a guy you want on your team in crunch time.

Halladay has five pitches he feels comfortable using in any situation—a fastball that tops out around 95 miles per hour, a sinker, a cutter, a changeup, and a curveball. He learned his sinker from Derek Lowe, turning Halladay into a ground ball pitcher, yet still a 200-strikeout guy with pinpoint control.

Halladay led the American League in strikeout-to-walk ratio each of the last two seasons, posting astronomical totals (5.28 in 2008 and 5.94 in 2009). He’s the type of guy who will pitch a complete game and not walk a batter. In fact, since 2002, Halladay leads all pitchers with 54 games of seven or more innings pitched and no walks.

The transition to the NL should only benefit Halladay, who spent the last decade-plus pitching to nine real pitchers. With the pitcher hitting at the bottom of the lineup, Halladay should shine like never before. He already posts a 2.88 career ERA in NL ballparks.

The sky is the limit for Halladay in 2010. He threw two scoreless innings in his spring training debut, and followed that up with three more scoreless innings in his second outing.

He has loads of talent around him —both offensively and defensively. His team has appeared in the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and there is no reason to suspect it won’t soon be a fourth.

Expect Halladay to play a major role for this team.

Consistency:

The Phillies are no fluke. You can’t make two consecutive World Series and be a fluke.

No one had a career year for the Phillies last season. That is exciting. This team isn’t a one-year wonder. It is a talented group of 25 ballplayers.

Ryan Howard hit 45 home runs and drove in 141 runs last year, but those aren’t unusual numbers for Howard. That is just a typical season for the big man.

Utley didn’t set a career-high in any statistic. In fact, of the five years he has been a full-time starter, Utley actually posted career lows in doubles (28), runs batted in (93), batting average (.282), slugging percentage (.508), and OPS (.905).

Rollins couldn’t keep his batting average above .220 until the All-Star break, and finished the year with by far the lowest on-base percentage (.296) of his career.

The entire outfield —Raul Ibanez, Victorino, and Werth —made the All-Star team, but then again, all three are All-Star caliber players. Ibanez started the season on fire, but cooled off to the point that he wouldn’t have made the team if the voting was conducted at the end of the year.

Victorino probably didn’t deserve the final spot (San Francisco’s Pablo Sandoval was a little better), but he is a guy who is going to be a .292 hitter with 25 steals for years.

And Werth? Well, he’s as good as his numbers (36 home runs, 20 steals) indicate. He’s one of the game’s top five-tool players, even though he doesn’t get a lot of credit.

In the rotation, Hamels struggled to find his groove all season. Jamie Moyer lost his starting spot late in the year. Brett Myers missed extended time with an injury.

With the possible exception of J.A. Happ, a Rookie of the Year candidate who won 12 games while posting a 2.93 ERA, no one exceeded expectations. And it is too early to tell for Happ, a first-year starter in ’09.

After a lights out season that propelled the Phillies to the World Championship in ’08, the ’09 Brad Lidge put together the worst season by a closer in the history of major league baseball—by far.

His 7.21 ERA is the highest ever by a closer with at least 20 saves. He lost all eight of his decisions and yielded 11 home runs in just 58.2 innings pitched. Oh, and he blew 11 saves in just 42 opportunities.

And the Phillies made the World Series.

That’s how good this team is.

Rollins slumped for half the season, Hamels couldn’t regain any sort of the form he displayed in ’08, Myers spent most of the year on the DL, Moyer lost his starting job, and Lidge turned an entire city against him —and the Phillies still reached the World Series.

As long as everyone does what it is expected, the Phillies are in good position for 2010.

 

Experience

Experience helps in October. And the Phillies have it.

All eight starters in the field have played in a World Series. All but Ibanez and Placido Polanco have played in each of the last two World Series.

These aren’t guys who are new to playoff baseball. Utley hit five home runs in a single World Series last year. Howard would have won the World Series MVP in ’08 had it not been for Hamels’ dominating performances on the mound. And Rollins had the biggest hit of the playoffs last season, when his two-out two-run double in Game Four of the NLCS gave the Phillies a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Other than Halladay, the pitching staff is loaded with guys who have experience in the postseason. Hamels earned both the NLCS and the World Series MVP award in ’08.

Blanton has started five games in the playoffs over the past two seasons. Moyer, although he was left off the postseason roster last season, played an instrumental role in the Phillies’ championship run in ’08.

And don’t forget Lights Out, who has still yet to blow a postseason save as a member of the Phillies, converting all ten since ’08.

 

Breaking Down The Competition:

When you win the division three years in a row and appear in back-to-back World Series, it adds some pressure. People follow you more closely. You’re expected to do well.

That’s okay. The Phillies are this good.

In Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, and Tim Hudson, the Braves have a pretty solid pitching rotation. In fact, I would put their rotation up with almost every team in the league but I can’t see their lineup producing enough to keep this team going into October.

The Mets finished just 70-92 last year. They were decimated with injuries. I would be surprised if that makes the difference between a fourth place finish in the NL East and a run at the playoffs.

The Marlins, unfortunately for them, don’t have the money to keep around their best players. While they finished 87-75 last season, they were only projected to win 82 according to Baseball Reference. I can’t see them competing.

And the Nationals? No comment needed.

Now that’s not to say some other team from the NL couldn’t overtake the Phillies.

The Giants return a top-notch pitching staff with Matt Cain and reigning Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum. The Cardinals, last year’s NL Central champions, boast the game’s best player (Albert Pujols) and two elite starting pitchers (Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright). The Dodgers have been to the NLCS two straight seasons.

And don’t forget about the Yankees or the Red Sox in the AL, two teams who seem certain to represent their respective league in the World Series. These teams —especially the Yankees, with their limitless payrol l—pose a serious threat to the Phillies.

At worst, I see the Phillies winning their division and losing early in the playoffs.

And at best?

Well, it certainly looks like this team has what it takes to return to the World Series. I wouldn’t count out 100 regular season games. As long as the Doc pitches like the Doc, the hitters hit, and Lidge returns to some form between his ’08 and ’09 seasons, this team is the team to beat in the National League.

Maybe all of baseball.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Reviewing the Importance of Playoff Closers, Part Two

A week ago, I wrote an article detailing the importance of an elite closer for a team looking to win the World Series.

 

This article, “Does a Team Really Need a Dominant Closer to Win the World Series?” reviewed the major league playoffs since the establishment of the wild-card format and compared the efficiency of the closer for the team that won the World Series to the team that lost the World Series.

 

My results were predictable, but nonetheless significant, as my data showed that closers for a team that captured the World Series championship saved 68 of a possible 72 games in postseason opportunities, a pretty nifty save rate of 94.4 percent.

 

Meanwhile, closers for teams that lost the World Series didn't fare so well, blowing more games in fewer chances, an overall save rate of 87 percent. My research concluded that for a team to win the World Series, it needs an elite closer.

 

After watching the 2009 Division Series matchups, I am only further reminded just how important the role of the closer is to a playoff team.

 

All four teams that lost their playoff series suffered a blown save from their closer. These closers – Joe Nathan of the Minnesota Twins, Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox, Huston Street of the Colorado Rockies, and Ryan Franklin of the St. Louis Cardinals – combined for an 0-4 record, four blown saves in five opportunities, and a horrific 10.13 ERA.

 

The only one of the bunch to earn a save was Street, who saved Game 2 against the Phillies, but he couldn't hold a two-run lead with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning of Game 4, a game that would have forced a decisive Game 5 for both teams.

 

Nathan and Papelbon are probably two of the top three closers in all of baseball (the other being Mariano Rivera), and both uncharacteristically coughed up a lead in a game their team couldn't afford to lose.

 

And Franklin put together a superb season, shocking the baseball world with a sub-2.00 ERA to go with his 38 saves for the NL Central champion Cardinals, but he blew his only save opportunity of the postseason.

 

Meanwhile, the four teams that won their postseason series all received flawless contributions from their closers—Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees, Brian Fuentes of the L.A. Angels, Brad Lidge of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Jonathan Broxton of the L.A. Dodgers.

 

These four pitchers saved all six of their combined save opportunities, with Lidge and Fuentes each earning two saves apiece. Together, the four closers pitched 10.1 innings without allowing a run.

 

Rivera is probably the greatest closer of all-time, and his success was no surprise, but Lidge was a pleasant surprise for we Philadelphia fans who had grown accustomed to his painful blown saves this past season.

 

It's gotten a reputation as a position that is very overrated, but I think this year's playoffs thus far have shown just how important a closer is to a baseball team.

 

Closers for the winning teams: 0-0 record, 6-6 SV, 0.00 ERA in 10.1 IP

Closers for the losing teams: 0-4, 1-5 SV, 10.13 ERA in 8 IP

 

The League Championship Series puts the defending World Champion Phillies against the Dodgers, the N.L.'s best team in terms of wins this past year.

 

In the AL, the Yankees—the majors' only 100-win team—square off against the hot-hitting Angels in what should be a series to remember.

 

These four teams are very evenly matched and I could easily see both series going the distance.

 

And I can virtually guarantee one thing.

 

There series are too short and too competitive to afford a blown save. All four closers better be on the top of their game for their teams to advance.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Does a Team Really Need a Dominant Closer To Win the World Series?

Baseball playoffs are starting next week, so I figured I would take a break from Brett Favre for a little while to address a major concern for many Phillies fans like myself.

 

The closer position.

 

Last year we had the luxury of perfection.

 

This year, we haven't been so fortunate. With Brad Lidge sporting a 7.21 ERA and 11 blown saves, the closer job is between Ryan Madson, J.A. Happ, Pedro Martinez, Brett Myers, or possibly even old Jose Mesa himself out of retirement.

 

So I thought to myself: Do teams even need an effective closer to win a World Series?

 

I went back through the last 13 World Series—every one since the wild-card format was instituted in 1995—and checked the performances of each closer for the team that won the World Series.

 

I added up all their save opportunities in the wild card round, the league championship series, and the World Series, and then checked how many of those opportunities were converted.

 

I was surprised at what I saw.

 

Closers are good. Very good. Since 1995, closers of the World Series champion team have been given 72 save opportunities.

 

They have converted on 68 of them, a pretty impressive 94.4 percent save rate.

 

Two of the four blown saves were by one man in a span of 24 hours, as Arizona's Byung Hyun Kim gave up two-out, two-run home runs on back-to-back nights against the Yankees in Games Four and Five of the 2001 World Series.

 

Bobby Jenks blew one for the White Sox in the '05 World Series, and Robb Nen blew one for the Marlins in the '97 NLDS.

 

And that's it.

 

Other than that, these closers have been top notch for their teams.

 

The Phillies wouldn't have won the World Series without Brad Lidge, who was called upon seven times in last year's playoffs, and came through all seven times. Same with the Angels in 2002, who used Troy Percival seven times, and got seven saves.

 

It should be noted that the Angels also had Francisco Rodriguez in the year he emerged as the unhittable K-Rod, proving a great overall bullpen is even better than just a great closer.

 

Mariano Rivera was probably the single most valuable piece of that Yankees dynasty that won three straight titles, four out of five, and qualified for six World Series in eight seasons.

 

And before Rivera was John Wetteland, who saved four straight games to bring the Yankees back from a two games to none deficit in the World Series, while securing a World Championship.

 

Each of the last five World Series champions had their closer on the mound in a save situation in the clinching game, and it was fitting that these guys could throw the final pitch for the title.

 

Here is a complete breakdown below of each World Series champion closer's performance:

 

 

Year	Name	LDS	LCS	World Series	Total
2008 Phillies	Brad Lidge	2-2	3-3	2-2	7-7
2007 Red Sox	Jonathan Papelbon	---	---	1-1	1-1
2006 Cardinals	Adam Wainwright	1-1	3-3	1-1	5-5
2005 White Sox	Bobby Jenks	2-2	1-1	2-3	5-6
2004 Red Sox	Keith Foulke	1-1	1-1	1-1	3-3
2003 Marlins	Ugueth Urbina	1-1	1-1	2-2	4-4
2002 Angels	Troy Percival	2-2	2-2	3-3	7-7
2001 Diamondbacks	Byung-Hyun Kim	1-1	2-2	0-2	3-5
2000 Yankees	Mariano Rivera	3-3	1-1	2-2	6-6
1999 Yankees	Mariano Rivera	2-2	2-2	2-2	6-6
1998 Yankees	Mariano Rivera	2-2	1-1	3-3	6-6
1997 Marlins	Robb Nen	0-1	2-2	2-2	4-5
1996 Yankees	John Wetteland	2-2	1-1	4-4	7-7
1995 Braves	Mark Wohlers	2-2	---	2-2	4-4
Total	---	21-22	20-20	27-30	68-72

 

 

I wanted to check how much better the closers for the teams that won the World Series performed than the closers for the teams that lost the World Series.

 

Obviously, the teams that lost the World Series still had great closers—you don't make it that far without a great closer—but I wanted to see if there was a significant drop-off.

 

There was, to a certain extent.

 

Closers for the team that lost the World Series saved 54 of 62 opportunities, a save rate of 87.1 percent. That is still a great rate, a percentage any manager would take for his team, but it is seven percent less than the World Series champions.

 

And too often, those blown saves are the reason why the team lost the World Series.

 

Brad Lidge in 2005 blew a monstrous save in the League Championship Series against Albert Pujols, a pitch that set Lidge's career back three seasons. Lidge followed that up by giving up a walk-off home run to Scott Podsednik in Game Two of the World Series.

 

Though it wasn't technically credited as a blown save, because it was a tie game when Lidge entered the game, Podsednik's home run—the only one he hit during the entire 2005 regular and postseason combined—certainly helped the White Sox capture their World Championship.

 

Mariano Rivera in 2001 blew an opportunity in Game Seven of the World Series, giving up a rare ninth-inning single to Luis Gonzalez, ending the Yankees' bid for four straight titles.

 

And Jose Mesa in 1997 made a living blowing saves for the Indians, blowing three of his seven chances that postseason, including a 2-1 lead in Game Seven of the World Series that would have won it all for Cleveland.

 

See the accompanying chart for a complete breakdown of the closers of the losing team in the World Series:

 

 

Year	Name	LDS	LCS	World Series	Total
2008 Rays	Dan Wheeler	1-1	---	---	1-1
2007 Rockies	Manny Corpas	3-3	2-3	---	5-6
2006 Tigers	Todd Jones	1-1	2-2	1-1	4-4
2005 Astros	Brad Lidge	---	2-3	---	2-3
2004 Cardinals	Jason Isringhausen	---	3-3	---	3-3
2003 Yankees	Mariano Rivera	2-2	1-1	2-2	5-5
2002 Giants	Robb Nen	2-2	2-2	3-3	7-7
2001 Yankees	Mariano Rivera	2-2	2-2	1-2	5-6
2000 Mets	Armando Benitez	1-1	1-1	1-2	3-4
1999 Braves	John Rocker	1-1	2-2	---	3-3
1998 Padres	Trevor Hoffman	2-2	1-2	3-3	6-7
1997 Indians	Jose Mesa	1-1	2-4	1-2	4-7
1996 Braves	Mark Wohlers	3-3	1-1	---	4-4
1995 Indians	Jose Mesa	---	1-1	1-1	2-2
Total	---	19-19	22-27	13-16	54-62

 

 

Simply put, if a team wants to win a World Series, it is going to need a top-notch performance from its closer. Not good. Not great.

 

Elite.

 

Brad Lidge did it last year. For the Phillies to repeat, Lidge will need to repeat.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies Near Playoffs: Who Will Close Games for the NL East Champs?

As the 2009 regular season comes to a close, the Phillies have secured their third consecutive NL East title. Coupled with a devastating lineup that features four 30-home run men and a pitching staff loaded with the game's top southpaws, the Phillies appear to be in prime position to contend for a second straight World Series Championship.

 

Right?

 

Possibly. It all depends on the closer.

 

Last season, the Phillies were able to win their division and advance through the playoffs with relative ease due in large part to Brad Lidge's historic perfect season.

 

This season?

 

Not so much.

 

Lidge's 11 blown saves leaves him three short of the single-season major league record.

His 7.34 ERA ranks dead last among all closing pitchers in the major leagues.

 

In fact, in the history of baseball, only four pitchers have pitched in as many games as Brad Lidge (63) and posted an ERA higher.

 

Those three pitchers would be Jesse Orosco (7.75 ERA in 2003 for two teams), Alan Embree (7.62 in 2005 for two teams), Javier Lopez (7.52 for the 2004 Colorado Rockies), and Mike Munoz (7.42 for the 1995 Colorado Rockies).

 

The difference between those four pitchers and Lidge?

 

Orosco, Embree, Lopez, and Munoz were situational lefties. Lidge is a closer. The Phillies rely on Lidge when it counts the most. He's not a guy who comes in to face a power-hitting lefty with two on and two outs in the seventh inning.

 

The first three finished a combined 57 games all season. Lidge has finished 54. That means Lidge is being put out there with the game on the line, and he has failed over and over again.

 

Lidge has frustrated an entire fan base who handed him the key to the city after his amazing performance last season.

 

In 2008, his first season with the Phillies after an up-and-down roller coaster ride with the Houston Astros, Lidge converted all 41 of his save attempts in the regular season. He was then seven-for-seven in the postseason, while leading the Phillies to the team's first World Championship in 28 seasons.

 

The image of a triumphant Brad Lidge kneeling on the ground – arms raised in the air – following his winning strike is one that will live in Philadelphia lore forever and ever.

 

That makes Lidge's 2009 struggles all the more painful.

 

We as fans know he is better than this. Heading into this year, we didn't expect a repeat of his 1.95 ERA from last year. I envisioned Lidge posting an ERA in the mid-threes while converting close to 90 percent of his saves.

 

An ERA nearly four times last year and a save percentage (73.8) that ranks dead last among all regular closers is absurd.

 

Lidge has struggled with his pitch location, his control, that once-devastating slider, and his head. Lidge is a mental pitcher—as are most closers—but this season has really gotten to him.

 

Last year, I loved watching Brad Lidge pitch. Those slim one-run ninth inning leads were where Lidge established his dominance. Sure, he might get into a little bit of trouble, but he always escaped unharmed.

 

In the division-clinching game, Lidge loaded the bases with one out but escaped the jam with a miraculous game-ending double play, keeping his perfect season intact.

 

This year?

 

Lidge just hasn't had it.

 

I remember my reaction after Lidge blew his first save, back in mid-April. It was almost relief. I knew Lidge wasn't going to be perfect again, and it was shocking to see our World Series hero fail (especially in the way that he did, yielding four runs on two hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning).

 

However, I figured Lidge would settle down and regain his form that made him one of baseball's most dominant pitchers last season.

 

Nope.

 

His second blown save didn't come for nearly a month after the first, but when he blew back-to-back saves once in late May and again in early June, Phillies fans like myself began to feel resentment to Lidge.

 

Lidge plodded along, racking up the blown saves while we campaigned for his closer role to be revoked.

 

Along the way, Ryan Madson—perhaps the most underrated setup man in baseball over the past several seasons—had his opportunity to close games, but Madson couldn't get it done, converting just eight of 14 opportunities.

 

As we head toward the playoffs, the role of closer becomes all the more a pressing issue for a Phillies team that—barring a historic collapse—is destined for its third straight National League East division title.

 

Who should close games in the postseason for this club? Lidge? Madson? Someone else?

 

Teams do not win in the playoffs without a reliable closer. Look at the Yankees when they were winning three straight titles and four out of five.

 

Mariano Rivera was arguably the greatest pitcher alive during that run. He was untouchable in the playoffs, and the Yankees absolutely would not have won those titles without him.

 

Same with Lidge last season. I highly doubt the Phillies would be reigning World Champions had Lidge not enjoyed a season for the ages.

 

He isn't getting it done though, so who should close? Let's break down the bullpen:

 

 

Ryan Madson: He seems like he would be the best option. He can throw the heat (97 miles per hour), which coupled with a devastating changeup, makes Madson a top-notch relief pitcher. There are few setup men in baseball better than Madson (26 holds, 3.18 ERA)

 

But he has proven he can't close games either. In his brief stints as a closer, Madson has failed 38 percent of the time—actually a significantly higher percentage than Lidge.

 

Madson as a closer: 7.91 ERA

Madson as a setup: 2.26 ERA

Madson in 2009: 3.18 ERA

 

Madson is one of the more valuable setup men in the game, as evidenced by his 2.26 ERA in non-save situations. Just don't count on him to get the final three outs.

 

Brett Myers: Brett Myers has experience as a closer. He served as our primary closer in 2007, converting 21 of 24 attempts (88 percent), including the final strike to win the NL East title. He has the stuff to make it happen for the Phillies, and I think he is our best option.

 

If he can get healthy.

 

Myers has been injured for the majority of the season. He has returned briefly but as of now is unable to pitch. He would be the ideal option for this team but it depends on his health.

 

J.C. Romero: Romero is one of the best left-handed relief pitchers in all of the major leagues. He was vital down the stretch for the Phillies in their NL East championship in 2007 and the winning pitcher in Game Five of the World Series last season before he missed most of this season due to a suspension and subsequent injuries.

 

That being said, even if he were healthy, I wouldn't want Romero to close out ballgames for the Phillies. He is a great left-handed specialist but I don't think he has the mentality or the stuff to close out ball games.

 

Scott Eyre: Another left-handed specialist in the Phillies' bullpen. Eyre is one of the most underrated pitchers in all of baseball. Since the start of May, Eyre has pitched in 25.2 innings for the Phillies and yielded just one run – an ERA of 0.35!

 

Again with Eyre, he is much more valuable as a left-handed specialist, and Eyre's current injuries will prevent him from pitching for a little anyway.

 

Chan Ho Park: I never would have thought I would consider him—especially after he couldn't even hold onto the No. 5 starting spot early in the season—but Park has settled down and really become a dependable relief pitcher for the Phillies.

 

Park has a 4.43 ERA for the season. As a relief pitcher, his ERA is 2.57 and he has registered 13 holds. Park strikes out a high percentage of hitters, doesn't walk too many, and hasn't given up a home run yet since his move to the bullpen.

 

Definitely a candidate.

 

Tyler Walker: A very very plausible option. Walker is a veteran relief pitcher with closing experience. He saved 23 of 28 opportunities for the Giants in 2005, filling in for injured closer Armando Benitez.

 

This season, Walker has posted a 3.24 ERA for the Phillies in 33.1 innings pitched. He strikes out a high ratio of batters (7.0 per nine innings) and has a near-3:1 strikeout to walk ratio.

 

Walker is also the only pitcher in major league history to enter the ninth inning with the bases loaded and no one out, strike out all three batters, and not allow a run.

 

Clay Condrey: Condrey is a very dependable relief pitcher, serving as one of the Phillies' primary middle relievers. He has posted a 3.02 ERA in 44 games this season.

 

Condrey has never been used in save situations, and I don't think he is the solution. He is a solid reliever but I wouldn't want to pitch him with the game on the line.

 

Chad Durbin: Durbin is a solid middle relief pitcher, like Condrey, but he just hasn't been as effective in 2009 as he was in 2008.

 

Durbin 2008: 5-4, 2.87 ERA, 1.80 K:BB, 1.323 WHIP

Durbin 2009: 1-2, 4.46 ERA, 1.32 K:BB, 1.485 WHIP

 

Durbin just hasn't been the reliable pitcher in 2009 that he was in 2008, and I wouldn't put him in save situations.

 

Jack Taschner: Just a left-handed specialist. Taschner has a 5.08 ERA for the season. He allows nearly two baserunners per inning and he has no experience as a closer. I'll pass...

 

Sergio Escalona: A rookie with a 5.25 ERA and just a dozen career innings pitched. Not who I want to see facing Albert Pujols with the game on the line in the NLDS.

 

Pedro Martinez: Now onto the starters. Pedro was signed by the team after the All-Star break and has filled in admirably as a low-risk signing. Martinez's ERA in nine starts is 3.63 and he has posted a 5-1 record for the defending World Champions.

 

Moving him to the bullpen wouldn't be too bad of a move. Martinez is an 18-year veteran who knows what it takes to win. He's turned into a smart finesse pitcher who gets hitters out with his mind.

 

The only problem is his age and durability. I can't envision Martinez being able to warm up too quickly and pitch every day. He is a starter, even at this point in his career, and moving him to the bullpen would not be the best option.

 

J.A. Happ: Happ is just a rookie, but it's difficult for me to believe that. He has handled everything thrown at him this season with class and a whole lot of poise.

 

This season alone, Happ lost his fifth starter spot, moved to the bullpen, moved back to the rotation and became arguably the team's most reliable starting pitcher, dealt with trade rumors all of July, overcame an injury, and now is being rumored to move to the bullpen to be the team's closer in the postseason.

 

Happ is one of the top lefties in the game, as evidenced by his 12-4 record, 2.85 ERA, and league-leading two shutouts.

 

Cole Hamels/Cliff Lee/Joe Blanton: Our No. 1, 2, and 3 starters in the playoffs. No way any of them moves to the bullpen.

 

My Verdict: It's not an easy decision.

 

I don't think Madson is ideal to close out games. I like him way too much as a setup man. Park just isn't quite good enough. Walker might have been a solid pick, but he gave up a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning of a tie game last week, and now I have my doubts about him.

 

That leaves Myers or Happ.

 

Too very possible options.

 

Myers is probably my initial choice, but his injuries have prevented him from pitching consistently for a little white. He has experience and he has proven he can handle the job. It's tough to argue with that.

 

If he can stay healthy.

 

If not, I say go with Happ. Happ might be a rookie by MLB's standards, but he sure has played up to his potential this season. With a rotation that is most likely to feature Hamels, Lee, Blanton, and Martinez, Happ might be the odd man out.

 

Putting Happ in the rotation would be an overkill of lefties and I don't see Martinez as much use in the bullpen. I think leaving Martinez as our No. 4 starter in the playoffs and converting Happ to closer might be the wisest choice.

 

That is, unless Charlie Manuel decides to stick with Brad Lidge.

 

We'll find out in less than a week...

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies’ J.A. Happ Making Strong Case for N.L. Rookie of the Year Award

There remains just over a month to play in the 2009 baseball season, and it is time to start looking at the potential candidates for major league baseball's most prized individual awards.

 

Albert Pujols seems to be a lock for the MVP award and the Cy Young award will most likely come down to a battle of Giants (Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain) or Cardinals (Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright).

 

The Phillies' own J.A. Happ seems to have the edge on the rest of the National League for the Rookie of the Year award.

 

Happ currently leads all rookies with 10 wins and his 2.59 ERA is fifth best among all major-league starters, first among rookies by close to half of a run. His .833 winning percentage and two shutouts are tops among all NL pitchers.

 

And this is a man who wasn't even supposed to be a starter when this season began.

 

For the Phillies during their World Championship season of '08, Happ hurled 31.2 innings as a relief pitcher and occasional spot starter. He posted a solid 3.69 ERA with an adjusted ERA of 117.

 

There were rumors that Happ would be given a chance to start in '09, and he was given every shot to win the job.

 

Happ lost a well-publicized battle at the beginning of the season for the Phillies' fifth starting spot. The competition seemed to be among Happ, Chan Ho Park, Carlos Carrasco, and Kyle Kendrick.

 

Kendrick appeared to be the favorite, with 24 big-league wins under his belt, including a key role in the Phillies' 2007 NL East division championship, but he never got it together like the club wanted. Kendrick struggled to pitch consistently in spring training, which led to his demotion to Triple-A.

 

Same with Carrasco.

 

A once promising prospect with a strong future ahead of him, Carrasco has been inconsistent in Triple-A this season, posting a 10-10 record with a so-so 4.80 ERA thus far.

 

Park, a former starter with 15 years big league experience and 117 wins to his credentials, beat out Happ for the spot.

 

Park pitched poorly however in his seven starts, posting a 7.29 ERA and .311 opponents' batting average. He failed to pitch consistently and after getting rocked for five runs in one and one-third innings in a May 17 start against the Nationals, Park lost his job to Happ.

 

And Happ pitched to keep his spot.

 

The young left hander has been arguably the Phillies' best starting pitcher this season, far outperforming the two veteran lefties, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer.

 

Happ has been dominant this season, pitching a quality start in 11 of his last 12 starts. He won his first seven decisions of the year. And he appears to be a key factor for a Phillies team looking to contend for a second straight World Series title.

 

If Happ wins the Rookie of the Year award, he will be the second Phillie—Ryan Howard in 2005—to win the award in the last five seasons.

 

Happ's main competition appears to be either pitcher Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves, outfielder Dexter Fowler of the Colorado Rockies, or outfielder Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

Hanson is having a fabulous year himself, although he is not quite in Happ's class.

 

Since being called up to the majors in June, Hanson has a 9-2 mark with a 3.12 ERA for the Braves. He has been vital to the Braves' hunt for the wild card spot, as he has pitched a quality start in each of his last four starts.

 

Fowler leads all rookies in at-bats, hits, doubles, runs scored, stolen bases, and walks. He has swiped 26 bases this season for a Colorado ball club that is hanging on in the N.L. wild card race.

 

McCutchen is a speedy center fielder who looks to be a future All-Star for years to come for the Pirates. At age 22, he is already a five-tool player and a .284 hitter with 14 steals in 15 attempts in his first taste of big league action with the Pirates.

 

McCutchen is also a talented fielder, with just two errors in 69 games in center field for the Pirates and a solid .988 fielding percentage.

 

While those three players have been excellent for their teams this season, they haven't been Happ. And barring a sudden drop in his performance, Happ appears to be the prime contender for the N.L. Rookie of the Year award.

Lidge Blows It Again: What to Do About a Closer Who Can’t Close Games

Similar scenario happened tonight.

Phillies are up 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, enter Brad Lidge, and boom! It's tied.

 

Another blown save for Lidge.

 

The Phillies still held on to win 4-3 in 12 innings courtesy of Ben Francisco's home run, and in the process took the first game of the series with the Chicago Cubs, but it was shaky.

 

What would have been automatic for Lidge has now become anything but.

 

Last year's postseason hero converted 41 of 41 save opportunities during the regular season and seven of seven during the playoffs, including the final out of the first World Series Championship for the Phillies in 28 seasons.

 

This season?

 

Lidge has seven blown saves after tonight. His 7.35 ERA is close to four times what it was last year. He's pitched in 46 games and given up a run in 21 of those appearances. That's almost half the time.

 

Compare that to last year when Lidge blew no saves, posted a 1.95 ERA, and gave up runs in 12 of his 72 appearances, just one-sixth of his games.

 

Last season was magical. I know that.

 

It's unfair to expect a repeat performance of a perfect season, in which Lidge finished eighth in the National League MVP voting, earned the MLB Comeback Player of the Year award, and DHL Delivery Man of the Year award.

 

And that World Series trophy, along with the image of a victorious Lidge moments after he struck out Eric Hinske to end Game 5 of the World Series, is priceless.

 

Lidge set the bar pretty high in his first season, and I had a feeling he would slump a little this year.

 

I thought that ERA might double to a mark around 3.50 or close to 4.00, and I expected a handful, maybe three or four, blown saves.

 

But a 7.24 ERA and seven blown saves? That's absurd.

 

The walks aren't so much the problem. Lidge has struggled with his control this season, but even last season he walked his fair share of hitters.

 

2008: 4.5 walks per nine innings

2009: 5.3 walks per nine innings

 

That's definitely a decline in Lidge's performance, but the more telling numbers are the rise in home runs allowed, hits allowed, and the decrease in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

 

2008: 0.3 home runs / 6.5 hits / 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings

2009: 2.2 home runs / 10.5 hits / 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings

 

There reaches a point in which Lidge needs to have his closer role taken away from him.

 

It's that time.

 

Someone else needs to take over the role of the team's closer.

 

I think Ryan Madson is the best choice. He is arguably our best relief pitcher and has been on the team for quite some time. He even has experience as a closer from earlier this season when Lidge was on the DL.

 

Brett Myers has some experience as a closer, remember 2007 when Myers struck out Wily Mo Pena to win the division, but he is still injured.

 

I think Madson should take over the duties for now. If he does well, he should stay in that role. If he struggles, I would put Myers as the closer when he returns.

 

Lidge has lost his closing job before. He's had an up-and-down career, to say the least. I have faith in him that he can battle back and regain his closer role.

 

The bottom line is the Phillies appear to be going to the playoffs, and you cannot win in the postseason with a closer who can't close games.

 

It cannot be done.

A Surplus of Philly Starters But Only Five Spots: Who’s In, Who’s Out?

There is no such thing as too much pitching.

 

Right?

 

Welcome to the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies.

 

The Phillies feature an astonishing number of pitchers with the ability to start ballgames, but can only implement five in their rotation.

 

Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Joe Blanton are mainstays in the rotation. Brett Myers has already volunteered to join the 'pen upon his return.

 

That leaves it to J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, and Pedro Martinez to fight for the final roster spots. Not to mention that Chan Ho Park and Rodrigo Lopez are very capable starters being used as middle relievers.

 

Happ, Moyer, and Martinez. A rookie, a future Hall of Famer, and the oldest active player in the major leagues.

 

I thought I would visit this case to see what to do. I reviewed the three starters, then broke down an analysis of the three candidates.

 

 

The three starters:

 

Cole Hamels

 

The lefty ace is on track to become the best homegrown Phillies pitcher of all-time. He is a two-time All-Star and last year's postseason hero, taking home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards while helping the city of Philadelphia to its first world title in 25 seasons.

 

Hamels has struggled at times this season and his current 4.68 ERA won't turn any heads, but he is still one of the game's elite pitchers when he is on his game.

 

For his career, Hamels is a much better pitcher in the second half of the season, with a second-half earned run average close to a full run than his first-half earned run average.

 

Phillies fans should expect to see their beloved World Series star pick up his game down the stretch as the Phillies get closer and closer to an attempt at becoming the first NL team to win back-to-back World Series in over 30 years.

 

 

Cliff Lee

 

Recently acquired in a trade with the Indians right before the trade deadline, Lee may not be Roy Halladay, but he and Hamels give the Phillies one of the best 1-2 punches in the National League.

 

Lee threw a complete game in his first start as a member of the Phillies and a dominating seven inning, one run outing in his second start. He has allowed just six runs in his first five starts, and despite just a 9-9 record for the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA for the year.

 

Lee is an experienced veteran who has been around for eight seasons and knows how to pitch effectively. He will be a huge part of the Phillies' playoff run.

 

 

Joe Blanton

 

His stock in the rotation is even more important given the overload of lefties in the rotation.

 

Blanton this season has become more than just an innings eater but quite possibly the most valuable Phillies starter since late May. Blanton has a 5-2 mark and 2.33 ERA in his last 12 starts, and he's provided the Phillies with solid starts nearly every single time he takes the mound.

 

He has gone at least seven innings in nine of them, including five straight. With Hamels and Lee as the 1-2 punch, Blanton has a huge role as the No. 3 starter.

 

The Candidates

 

J.A. Happ

 

The Phillies' rookie left hander is one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season. Happ wasn't even expected to be a starter at the beginning of the year, but has since proven he is well deserving of a spot in the rotation.

 

Although he is just the No. 4 starter for the defending World Champions, Happ could easily be a No. 1 or 2 on many other teams, and he is a huge reason why the Phillies have maintained a solid lead in the NL East.

 

Happ has had to pitch around trade rumors and the possibility of a demotion to the bullpen, but he's just continued to pitch well. Very well.

 

Happ's 2.74 ERA is over a run and a third better than the next best Phillies starter. He leads the team in winning percentage (.800). His 1.12 WHIP is one-sixth of a batter better than the team's second best pitcher. And he has 10 quality starts in just 14 starts, good for a team-best 71.4 percent.

 

In fact, Happ has been so dominant this season that he is a prime contender for the National League Rookie of the Year award.

 

Look how Happ fared Wednesday night with talk of a possible switch to the bullpen swirling. He tossed a complete game four-hit shutout, striking out ten batters. In doing so, Happ moved into a tie for first place in the National League with two shutouts.

 

Simply put, he is the Phillies' best starter each and every time he takes the mound. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated, “Happ's not going anywhere. He deserves to stay in the rotation. He's pitched very well. He's probably been our most effective starter.”

 

That should be enough to guarantee him a spot in the rotation.

 

But is it?

 

 

Jamie Moyer

 

The fan favorite, the ageless one, the player-coach, the proven 23-year veteran born and raised just outside of Philly.

 

Moyer is a crafty lefty who gets by on experience and guile. He won't fool anyone with his 82-mile per hour fastball, but his changeup can be devastating. Moyer has proven to be an excellent mentor for young Cole Hamels, a similar left handed pitcher with a nasty changeup.

 

Last season, Moyer's 16 wins led the team and his quality start in Game 3 of the World Series helped bring a title back to Philly.

 

This year, Moyer has struggled. To say the least. His 10 wins still lead the team, but the more revealing numbers are the astronomic 5.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He has pitched a quality start in just nine of his 21 starts this season, for a meager 42.7 percent.

 

Moyer has been very inconsistent, especially as of late. In his last nine starts, Moyer has either been very good or very bad. No in-betweens.

 

In the four even starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed just three runs, earning the win in all four games.

 

In the five odd starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed 26 earned runs.

 

I hate to say it, but it would have been nice if Moyer had retired after last season, just to go out on top.

 

That hurts me to say it, but Moyer doesn't have his best stuff this year, the first of a two-year, $13 million deal he signed last December with the Phillies.

 

So should he go to the bullpen?

 

Well... it's either him or Pedro.

 

 

Pedro Martinez

 

A three-time Cy Young award winner and future Hall of Famer way past his prime, just barely hanging on in the major leagues.

 

Martinez has yet to pitch in the majors for the Phillies, but he has looked good in his rehab starts, particularly his last one in Double-A Reading, in which he struck out 11 while walking none in a six-inning, quality start.

 

Martinez is a righty, which would help mix up the core of lefties in the rotation. From what I understand, Martinez has a clause in his contract, which says he is not allowed to pitch in the bullpen.

 

At best, Martinez appears to be a fifth starter for the Phillies, but who knows? Maybe he'll be much better than we expect. Maybe he'll be the pitcher to push the Phillies over the top.

 

After all, Martinez has plenty of big league experience. He most likely won't start in the playoffs—given that he is likely to be the fifth starter at most and teams only implement four-man pitching rotations in the playoffs – but he could be vital down the stretch for a club looking to wrap up its third consecutive NL East title.

 

Martinez has only pitched 269.2 innings since 2006, and none yet at the major league level thus far this year. During that stretch, he has a 17-15 record with a 4.74 ERA, numbers that are marginal at best.

 

The Verdict: Well, it's not an easy decision, but I think I would go with Pedro as my fifth starter and Moyer to the bullpen. It is a very awkward move to send an experienced veteran and one of last year's postseason heroes to the 'pen, especially at his age, but I think it has to be done.

 

Moyer has pitched in the bullpen before. In 1996, he was briefly sent to the bullpen for the Seattle Mariners, where he posted a 2-0 record and 3.71 ERA in 13 games, before returning to the rotation.

 

Relief pitchers are normally expected to throw hard, and Moyer sometimes has trouble hitting 80 with his fastball, but I see no other logical decision.

 

Putting Pedro to the bullpen wouldn't make sense to me, because he has been doing well in rehab, he has been a capable starter before in his career, and Moyer is hurting the team vastly every other time he takes the mound.

 

I don't know if Amaro will necessarily demote Moyer to the 'pen—I would be surprised if he does—but I think if the Phillies want to win as many games as possible, that move makes the most sense.

Cliff Lee Dazzles In First Start: GM Ruben Amaro Looking Like a Genius

 

The Phillies didn't get Roy Halladay.

 

What the defending World Champions did get however was last year's American League Cy Young award winner in Cliff Lee, a tremendous lefty who could be the player to push the Phillies over the top.

 

Even better, GM Ruben Amaro managed to pull off a move that kept the Phillies' top three prospects—starting pitcher Kyle Drabek and outfielders Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown—all in the farm system.

 

The Phillies instead parted ways with struggling Triple-A pitcher Carlos Carrasco, along with three other prospects—starting pitcher Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson, and shortstop Jason Donald.

 

Considering the Phillies were able to bring in one of the greatest pitchers in the game today, it was a small price to pay.

 

It was especially impressive, given that Lee is virtually every bit the pitcher as the coveted Halladay, without the cost.

 

Lee led the AL in wins (22) and earned run average (2.54) in 2008, a year after struggling to the point where he was demoted to Triple-A.

 

Prior to joining the Phillies, Lee posted just a 7-9 record with the Indians, but an impressive 3.14 ERA, good for sixth-best in the American League. He ranked first in the league in innings pitched and batters faced.

 

In his first start in Philly, Lee was magnificent, everything the Phillies could have wanted.

 

He pitched a complete game, throwing 109 pitches while dominating the wild card-leading San Francisco Giants. Lee took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, a shutout into the eighth, and finished with four hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts.

 

His control was spot on as Lee walked just two batters and tossed 78 of 109 strikes. It was Lee's third complete game in his last four starts.

 

Lee also added a single and a double at the plate, while becoming the first Phillies pitcher to throw a complete game in his first start with the team in over a decade.

 

With the addition of the Lee, the Phillies have one of the top pitching rotations in baseball.

 

In fact, there are too many starting pitchers on this team. If that is possible.

 

Hamels and Lee provide the dominating 1-2 punch, with right hander Joe Blanton—arguably the team's top starting pitcher this season—as the third starter.

 

The veteran Jamie Moyer, who leads the team with 10 wins on the season, and the rookie sensation J.A. Happ, who is 7-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 13 starts for the year.

 

Don't forget three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez, who just joined the team and is working his way through rehab.

 

With Martinez to join the big league team soon, the Phillies have six dependable starters for only five spots in the rotation.

 

The odd man out will most likely be Happ, who will move to the bullpen, a decision that will only bolster one of the league's already top 'pens.

 

Returning from his injury soon will be right handed starter Brett Myers, who has already stated he will move to the bullpen.

 

Simply put, this Phillies team has depth at pitching like it hasn't had in quite some time.

 

Coupled with that already dynamic offense that features five All-Stars and a combined two MVP awards, the Phillies are looking good. Really good.

Phillies Win Tenth Straight: Is This Team Destined to Repeat As Champs?

 

What a game.

 

Jayson Werth's dramatic three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning propelled the Phillies to their tenth straight win on Tuesday.

 

Werth reached base in five of his six plate appearances, collecting two hits and three walks, but the heroes of the game were the five Phillies pitchers who combined to throw 13 stellar innings.

 

Blanton started the game, pitching seven strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits and no walks while striking out five. He lowered his ERA on the season from 4.44 to 4.24.

 

The bullpen was absolutely phenomenal, pitching six scoreless innings. Without allowing a hit.

 

Madson pitched a perfect eighth inning, taking over for Blanton. Lidge got a lucky double play to get out of the ninth. Chan Ho Park—the exiled former starter—pitched three hitless innings in relief, striking out five batters. And Clay Condrey topped it off with a perfect 13th inning.

 

It's a good thing the pitching staff was so effective, especially because the heart of the lineup—Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez—combined to go 0-for-14 with six strikeouts, topped off by Howard's 0-for-4 night with four strikeouts.

 

It's a testament to the Phillies as a team, though, that this bunch can win despite subpar performances from its top hitters.

 

And both Howard and Ibanez came through in the 13th inning with clutch walks to set up Jayson Werth's dramatic game-ending home run.

 

Werth's home run broke a streak of 36 consecutive batters for both teams combined without a hit. In fact, no one had gotten a hit since Victorino singled with one out in the eighth inning.

 

The home run gave the Phillies their tenth consecutive win—the franchise's longest winning streak in nearly 20 years. It also made the Phillies the first team defending a world title to win ten straight games since the 1971 Baltimore Orioles.

 

Coupled with the Mets' 4-0 loss to the Nationals—seriously—the Phillies now have a ten game lead over the team many people thought would be the toughest competition in the already-tough NL East division.

 

The 53-38 Phillies are 6.5 games above the Florida Marlins in the division, seven up on the Atlanta Braves, and ten up on the Mets. Oh, and 27 above the Triple-A Nationals.

 

With a .582 winning percentage, the Phillies are now tied with the L.A. Angels for the majors' fourth-best record, behind just the L.A. Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, and the N.Y. Yankees.

 

The Phillies trail only the Dodgers in the NL and appear to be prime contenders to repeat as World Champions.

 

This team is good right now. Really good.

 

The Phillies can hit better than just about any team in baseball. Tonight's one-run output in 12 and 2/3 innings was the exception, not the rule.

 

This team leads the National League in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. Five of the eight hitters in the lineup are All-Stars and another is a former MVP who is hitting .388 over his last 16 games.

 

The pitching staff is looking better and better every day.

 

Joe Blanton is arguably the team's top starting pitcher right now. Over his last ten starts, Blanton has a 4-1 record with just a 2.32 ERA. He has pitched at least seven innings in seven of the starts, and has recorded a quality start in all but one of his last ten.

 

J.A. Happ is making a solid case for himself as National League Rookie of the Year. He is undefeated on the season, at 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA.

 

Cole Hamels has struggled at times this season, but he is still the reigning World Series hero and arguably the game's best big-game pitcher when it counts.

 

The bullpen is deep. Lights Out Lidge has struggled for sure this season, but the rest of the guys around him have stepped it up.

 

Ryan Madson has been brilliant as the team's set-up man, compiling a 3.26 ERA, 16 holds, and nearly a strikeout per inning for the season. Chad Durbin (4.07), Clay Condrey (3.60), and Scott Eyre (1.96) have been terrific, especially as of late.

 

Even Park, who lost his starting job earlier in the season, was the unsung hero of today, with three hitless innings and five strikeouts.

 

The team can hit, pitch, and field.

 

The bottom line is that this team knows how to win. And they have proven it over and over again.

 

And they finally proved to the world last October they are capable of winning a World Championship.

 

This year is the ultimate test, as the Phillies look to defend their world title and become the first team since the '99-'00 Yankees to repeat as champions.

Pedro, Halladay, Victorino, and Other Philadelphia Phillies News

For the past several days, Ruben Amaro and the Phillies have been in close contact with free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez. The team is reportedly close to a deal that would put Pedro in a Phillies uniform as the club's fifth starter.

 

The fireballing right hander isn't what he used to be—a future Hall of Famer with three Cy Young awards, eight All-Star selections, and four ERA titles. He is on his last life as a starting pitcher.

 

Maybe even past his last life.

 

In limited action last season for the Mets, Pedro posted a 5.61 ERA and new career worsts in home runs per nine innings (1.6), strikeouts per nine innings (7.2), base runners per inning (1.5), and adjusted ERA (75).

 

His velocity of his fastball—a pitch that hit in the upper 90s a decade ago—is down to 91 or so, according to reports from the Phillies' front office who watched him throw a few simulated innings on Tuesday.

 

Martinez has started just 25 games over the last two seasons, and it's doubtful as to whether the 37-year old can even stay healthy at this point in his career.

 

There have been conflicting reports coming from Philly, with some sources saying Martinez has already been signed and others saying nothing is official yet.

 

I don't know if Martinez can provide anything to this club that Anthony Bastardo or even a prospect like Andrew Carpenter or Kyle Drabek couldn't.

 

I wouldn't waste my time with a pitcher who is a shell of his former shelf.

 

Now Roy Halladay?

 

That's pretty tempting.

 

Halladay is 32—a little older than I realized, and he is a workhorse, having compiled over 220 innings pitched in three straight years—but he is a pretty good option.

 

His trade value right now is at an all-time high, but rightfully so.

 

Last year, Halladay won 20 games, posted a 2.78 ERA, and led the American League in innings pitched (246), complete games (9), shutouts (2), WHIP (1.053), and strikeout to walk ratio (5.28).

 

This year, his 10 wins put him just one behind Tim Wakefield's 11 for the league lead in wins. Halladay also sports an impressive 2.79 ERA and an AL-best 1.3 walks per nine innings.

 

He is arguably the game's top pitcher.

 

From what I hear, the Phillies would have to give up a lot to get Halladay. I have heard rumors of two or three top pitching prospects, plus the team's top offensive prospect (Lou Marson), and J.A. Happ as well.

 

That's a lot of prospects to give up, but Halladay is a fabulous pitcher who would provide an instant upgrade to the Phillies' staff.

 

With Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, the Phillies would feature arguably the top 1-2 pitching punch in all of major league baseball.

 

And I think it would make the Phillies the best team in baseball, putting the defending World Champions in prime position to repeat.

 

In other Philly news, Shane Victorino secured the final spot on the National League All-Star team, beating out Giants' third basemen Pablo Sandoval.

 

Victorino is hitting .308 for the season, including .464 over the last week. He ranks second in the NL in runs scored (61), sixth in stolen bases (15), and second in triples (6).

 

Add in his lights out defense for the first-place Phillies and Victorino is more than a worthy All-Star candidate.

 

Phillie fan favorite Chase Utley made the team as a starter for the third straight year. Utley is having his usual under the radar, MVP quality season, with a .306 average, 19 home runs, and 60 runs batted in.

 

Raul Ibanez made the team as a starter, the first time in his career the 37-year old has qualified for the Midsummer Classic. Despite time on the DL, Ibanez has 22 home runs and 59 RBI to go along with a .312 batting average.

 

Ryan Howard made the team as a reserve.

 

Howard is batting just .252 for the year. His walks are down, his slugging percentage is down, and he only has two intentional walks, but the fact of the matter is Howard's 21 home runs and 63 RBI make him one of the most dangerous hitters in the league for his ability to crank one at any given time.

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