PRC: Chad Durbin

Player: Chad Durbin
Number: 37
Position: RP
Bats/Throws: R/R

Consistency: Durbin has not been that good all year. He started out rocky, settled down a bit in June and then saw his ERA sky-rocket until he pitched an effective September that was beneficial for the Phillies in closing out the season. His 59 appearances were the third highest on the team behind Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge and was second in innings pitched among pitchers that didn’t record a start behind Madson.

He was excellent in the NLDS and NLCS, throwing four perfect innings in five appearances but then fell apart in the World Series, namely game 6 when he allowed three runs in the 5th inning, putting the game out of reach.

Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 69.2 IP, 56 H, 38 R, 34 ER, 8 HR, 47 BB, 62 K, 4.39 ERA, 1.49 WHIP

Post Season Stats: 2-0, 7 G, 5.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 6.75 ERA, 0.98 WHIP

Health: He was on the DL in late July with a sore back. The 15-day stint helped his back out. He was called upon a lot prior to the injury and never saw the DL again after returning.

Intangibles: He was solid for the Phillies. Though he started out rough, he settled down and managed to be okay. He is up for arbitration and it will interesting to see if the Phillies hold onto him. He has stuff similar to Clay Condrey’s, but uses the slider rather than a sinker. He’s also streaky. He will either pitch hot or not be able to get anyone out. He was also the first Phillie on Twitter, like that really matters.

Overall Grade: C. He was below-average for the Phillies. The poor inning in the World Series definitely hurt his grade along with his overall performance this season. If he would have focused more on pitching than tweeting, maybe his grade could have been higher.

PRC: Clay Condrey

Player: Clay Condrey
Number: 55
Position: RP
Bats/Throws: R/R

Consistency: Condrey was actually one of their best righties all year. He started out real well until June when he got whacked around by AL hitting. He was then hurt in July, came back, and then missed all of August but bounced back to pitch steady towards the end of the season. In his last 12 games, he pitched eight innings of work, allowing six hits and two runs, none earned.

Despite the strong finish, he was left off the playoff roster. He is up for arbitration this off season.

Regular Season Stats: 6-2, 42 IP, 37 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 16 K, 3.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP

Post Season Stats: none

Health: He was on the DL a couple times with a strained oblique.

Intangibles: “Big Texas” is a favorite in the club house going by the mini-series “The Pen.” Along with being a positive presence as a team player, he was a positive presence in the righty-specialist role. His fast ball hit low-90’s and so did his sinker, allowing him to get hitters to ground out.

Overall Grade: B. He was statistically one of the Phillies’ best relievers. Him being left off the post season roster was a bit of a surprise. Overall he did nothing wrong but wasn’t exceptional. A “B” grade is what you get for doing your job.

Bad Time For Blown Saves

*photo from "We Should Be GM's"

Brad Lidge was back to his usual self once again. While everyone is counting down the Phillies magic number (5 for Atlanta and 4 for Florida), I'm counting up for Lidge's blown save total. He is currently sitting at 11. That is absolute garbage. Some consider this the best Phillies team ever and he is holding them back.

He held them back again in their series loss to the Marlins. After crushing Florida in the first game and being shut out the second game on Tuesday, the offense provided them with enough runs to win the game and move one game closer to clinching the division but Ryan Madson and Lidge combined for three earned runs to give the Marlins the 7-6 win.

I have asked this question throughout the season and I will ask it again: what the hell are we going to do about Lidge and the closer role for the playoffs? Brett Myers is nursing a back injury and will be out another week. Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park, and JC Romero are all looking at returns to the pen around the same time as Myers but like Brett, won't even be close to taking a role like closer.

Of the healthy choices, Madson sucks as a closer and that is all there is to it. Jamie Moyer does not have the stuff to be a closer, especially with an 82 MPH fastball and a 76-78 MPH change-up. Pedro Martinez could most likely be the fourth starter in the playoffs. JA Happ may actually be a great choice but he is also battling Martinez for the fourth rotation spot and will likely serve as a primary reliever if he is placed in the pen.

The term "Closer by committee" has been thrown around a lot after Lidge's poor display last night and I totally agree. Tyler Walker has earned a crack at the closer role and Clay Condrey could take a stab as well. Those two along with Martinez/Happ/Moyer, Park, and maybe Madson/Lidge could work together to take turns and finish this out.

It's all in the hands of Charlie Manuel who said this:

"Him and Madson, that's what we've got in the back of our bull pen. He was our closer last year and he'll be our closer now... You're supposed to win a majority of those games/ Exactly what percent I don't know but it's God damn high... "Those are our guys. That's what we've got. We'll stick with them... (Lidge) has to do it. Between him and Madson, they've got to do it, I should say. They've got to get it done."

Is Manuel tired of this crap? Certainly but he's relying on keeping Lidge in until he fixes his stuff. We remember the last time Manuel stood by Lidge: he yanked him with the bases loaded and let Lidge watch Madson get out of the jam. Manuel knows what he's doing (we hope) so it's all in his hands.

Roster Moves

A day after the Phillies purchased injured pitcher John Ennis, the Phillies called up Jack Taschner to the bull pen. He's 1-1 with a 5.20 ERA in 21 appearances before he was previously designated for assignment two months ago. He went 0-2 with two saves and a 2.08 ERA and a .213 OBA with Triple A Lehigh Valley.

Ennis is recovering from Tommy John surgery. After the Phillies bought him, they placed him on the 15 day DL because any player on the 25 man roster or DL by August 31 can be eligible for the playoffs. They're hoping Ennis can pitch by then if they want. The Phillies have 31 players eligible which include the six on the DL: Brett Myers, J.C. Romero, Clay Condrey, Greg Dobbs, Antonio Bastardo and Ennis.

Pitching Moves

Clay Condrey was put back on the 15-day DL and Andrew Carpenter was dropped back to AAA. In there places comes Steve Register (who pitched last night) and, sit down before reading this,.... Kyle Kendrick.

This should really inspire our rotation to pitch well enough to go seven innings every start.

Happ On Mound Tonight

Tonight: Happ (5-0, 3.00), Vazquez, J (5-7, 3.04)

After dropping the first two games of the series to the Braves, the Phillies will try to rebound and get a win going into the crucial 10-game home stand starting versus New York. At this rate, the Phillies could easily be in second by the break or probably third. The Marlins are only 1/2 game back where as the Mets are only two games out.

The Phils heat up after the All Star break but with the pitching being as terrible as it has been and the inconsistency of the offense, this special run could be over very quick. I hate to play the role of the pessimist but this team is showing some serious signs of being a mediocre team. Last year's team was legitimately good. But when you lose your second best pitcher to injury (Brett Myers) or when age catches up to your leader in wins (Jamie Moyer), things tend to change.

Also injuries have plagued the Phillies bull pen with Brad Lidge going down and not being himself all year. He has only converted 14 of 20 saves and has an ERA of 7.57. Clay Condrey will be joining the Phillies soon as he also went on the DL. He probably has been their best reliever. Scott Eyre should be back this weekend. Raul Ibanez, the team's best offensive weapon this year, should also be back during the series versus the Mets.

I am getting blue in the face constantly saying this. Jimmy Rollins is the worst lead off hitter in the National League. He is hitless in 27 AB's and is swinging like a blind-folded kid hitting a piñata. The last time he had a hitless streak that bad was in 2002 at 25 AB's. I've said it before and I will say it again: "Lead Off Shane!"

Here are Jimmy's sweltering numbers on the season in 70 games:

AB: 307

R: 41

H: 63

2B: 15

3B: 1

HR: 6

RBI: 27

Avg: .205

OBP: .250

Clay Condrey to the DL

Ryan Howard gets hit with the flu bug. Clay Condrey gets hit with the injury bug. That little pest has been plaguing the Phillies clubhouse the past two weeks, starting with Brad Lidge and being passed on to Scott Eyre and Raul Ibanez. Now it's Condrey's turn.

Condrey was put on the 15-day DL after a strained oblique. He had a 3.71 ERA, 22 K's, and 14 walks in 34 innings. Though these numbers aren't awesome, he's still been very solid for a bull pen struggling to find an answer anywhere. Sergio Escalona was called up in his place.

Phils Swept By Jays

This is the same team that took a series versus the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers in their parks. Surely they could come home and take a team that hasn't beaten a National League foe yet all season. Coming into this series with a 13-16 record at home, should we really have been surprised the Phillies got swept by the Toronto Blue Jays?

The Phillies were struck out 31 times during the series and 89 times the past nine games, a number that has to drop immediately. As far as scoring, they went into today's game with only four runs. They scored seven today which still kept their RPG for the series at 3.75.

Tuesday: Cole Hamels pitched solid but needed to go past six innings. As the team's ace, you need to go deep into a game every start. His six innings, two runs on seven hits and six strike outs may have been enough to earn him a win but there is no reason he couldn't have gone deeper. Ryan Madson blew the game in the ninth and the game went into extra innings. Clay Condrey imploded, giving up five runs in the top of the tenth.

Wednesday: See my recap I wrote earlier today.

Today: It was a see saw battle as the Jays jumped out to another early two-run lead. The Phillies clung on and took the lead in the fourth, 4-3 after a two-run Rollins homer. They added another in the fifth off of a John Mayberry Jr. homer and then let the Jays tie it up in the seventh. Toronto took a two-run lead in the eighth and Philadelphia then tied it up. But Rod Barajas took Madson deep to put the Jays up for good, 8-7.

Series MVP's: Former Phillies Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas

Rolen: 6-14, 3 runs, 2 doubles, HR, 4 RBI's, .394 OBP

Barajas: 4-9, 2 runs, 2 HR's (one game winner), 4 RBI's

Next Series: Baltimore Orioles (28-37; 8-20 on the road) @ Philadelphia Phillies (36-28; 13-19 at home)

This is another the series the Phillies should sweep or at least win but with their current home record and lack of competence versus AL teams, I don't know what to expect. They play tonight at 7:05 versus the Mets so these numbers are prior to then. They are 5-3 in inter league play (Phils are 3-6) but are 4-6 in their last ten. With a putrid record on the road for Baltimore, this should be cake for Philly.

Probables:

6/19: R. Hill (2-1, 5.81), Bastardo (2-1, 5.25)

6/20: Bergesen (4-2, 3.79), Happ (4-0, 3.53)

6/21*: Guthrie (4-7, 5.42 ERA), Hamels (4-2, 4.48 ERA)

*attending

Phillies Sweep Nationals

It was a good weekend for the Phillies as they pulled off a feat as easy as tying your shoes: sweeping the Nationals. They out pitched and out slugged them, taking advantage of their poor fielding all weekend to improve their record to 28-20. Brad Lidge saved every game, showing signs of his 2008 form.

They opened the series Friday with JA Happ on the mound. He earned his first win as a starter for the 2009 season. Happ (3-0) went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on as many hits. He got plenty of help with 16 hits even though the offense could only cross the plate five runs. Shane Victorino had four hits and Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz added a pair of doubles each.

Saturday's game featured some fire works from Ryan Howard. After trailing early 3-0, Howard stepped up and belted a solo homer to the 2nd level in right field in the second. He then came up in the 3rd with the bases loaded. He jacked a shot over the "Powerade" sign on the 3rd porch 475 feet) for his 3rd grand slam of the season and 8th in his career, a new Phillies record. Cole Hamels (3-2) got the win despite giving up six runs in six innings as the Phillies won 9-6.

Jamie Moyer (4-5) finally got win #250 in his 6th try, pitching six strong innings, giving up one run on three hits as the Phillies won 4-2. He got help from Chase Utley when he drove in Victorino in the first and from Chris Coste's solo shot in the 2nd. He gave up a home run to Josh Willingham in the 4th. Willingham added another in the 7th off of Clay Condrey. Howard hit an RBI triple in the 8th for insurance.

Series MVP: Howard (4 for 13 with 2 homers, double, triple, 6 RBI's)

Next Series: @ San Diego Padres

6/1 - Blanton (3-3, 6.14), Correia (1-3, 5.11)

6/2 - Bastardo (0-0, -.--), Peavy* (5-5, 3.67)

6/3 - Happ (3-0, 3.00), Young (4-3, 4.45)

*Would love to see him in a Phillies uniform.

Anyone Seen the Lidge?

Lidge watches Damon after A-Rod's game tying homer Saturday evening

I'm sorry for the Dave Matthews Band reference in the title but I mean come the f*ck on, Brad Lidge. You're terrible! 8 saves in 12 chances and he's blown back to back versus the Yankees, including a loss on Saturday.

I thought you were Mr. Perfect! I'm not expecting you to be 12/12 with a 1.00 ERA but all kidding aside, your pitching sucks and your head isn't on straight. Lidge this year is 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA and a putrid 2.03 WHIP. in only 19.2 innings of work. He has also struck out 20.

I don't know if he's hurt or not but I seriously think a trip to the DL and the calling up of Sergio Escalona would be best. If that's the case, who would close? The obvious choice seems like it could be Ryan Madson. Another choice could be Clay Condrey but he would likely set up Madson.

If you remember, Lidge had arthroscopic surgery in his right knee back in November and had to miss some regular season game time. I don't think he's healthy and it has to be his knee. His slider is not going where he wants it to and his fastball is all over the place.

Whatever it is, Charlie Manuel needs to make a decision or Lidge needs to come clean. We are past the point where we thought Lidge would pitch out of his slump. There is something wrong and we can't afford to lose games because of it.

Bako Signed/Ibanez Honored/Romero Ready

The Phillies signed veteran catcher Paul Bako to a minor league contract where he will be assigned to an extended spring training. He will then have to go through the minor league system. I really don't care about this signing at all. He's 36 and not that good. He's batting .231 with 21 homers and 186 RBI's in 745 games for his career.

In other positive news, Raul Ibanez won the NL Player of the Week honors. He tied for the league lead with 12 RBIs and nine runs scored, and tied for second in the league with four home runs and 13 hits. He hit .481 (13 for 27) with a .963 slugging percentage and a .576 on-base percentage. Pat who?

And the best news I have, JC Romero is only 16 games away from helping this bull pen tremendously. He was suspended 50 days for using a banned substance. He will be able to take the late innings role from Scott Eyre and will take a lot of the load off of Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin. His return should get the bull pen back on track.

A few notes

I'll start this off with saying that Andrew Carpenter, the 24-year old called up to make his first career start last night versus the Nationals, wound up getting the win. He originally wouldn't have recorded the win because he didn't go 5 innings but the MLB said because the game was ended in the top of the 6th, Carpenter pitched enough to earn the win. He went 4 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and striking out 4. Clay Condrey picked up the save.

In other news, the Phillies sent Carpenter to the minors, calling up Sergio Escalona from AA Reading. He had a 2.08 ERA with 10 saves in 17 1/3 innings. He pitched today, going 1 inning and giving a hit and striking out 1. Ryan Howard flipped him the ball after the inning, giving Escalona a souvenir.

With the call ups/downs of the pitches, Miguel Cairo became the odd man out. He got optioned to AAA Lehigh for assignment, which will lead to the Phillies either trading or releasing him, if he isn't signed by another team first.