Flexible Condrey Succeeding In Tight Spots
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, April 20, 2009 01:00 PM | Comments: 7
Opinion, Posts
Last season the Phillies used Chad Durbin in a number of spots. In his first eight appearances of 2008, Durbin was used in the seventh-to-eighth innings in high-pressure spots (4), the early innings as a long reliever (2) and the ninth inning in close situations (2). He was very effective, tabulating a 0.75 ERA out of the gate.
This season Durbin has been used in a late-innings role, mainly because of JC Romero’s 50-game suspension. While he has struggled to keep teams scoreless (he’s given up a run in half his outings), it’s Clay Condrey who is taking the reigns in the swingman role.
In Condrey’s six appearances, he’s kept teams scoreless five times. He’s been used mainly in the seventh inning, sometimes for mop-up work, but mostly for tight-pressure hold work. Twice he was used in close, ninth-inning situations, including yesterday. Handed a one-run deficit, Condrey had to keep the Padres off the scoreboard and give his offense a chance at a late win. He allowed a tough single to David Eckstein, then induced the double play from Jody Gerut and got Edgar Gonzalez to fly out. Two batters later, the Phils took the game on a Raul Ibanez home run.
Early this season, the Phils bullpen has had their share of bumps in the road. Durbin hasn’t been very effective; Ryan Madson’s last two outings were bad; Brad Lidge has even showed scars. But Condrey has been one very consistent arm, and one that’s becoming increasingly reliable as his career continues. Once a journeyman mop-up guy, Condrey is suddenly the most valuable commodity in the bullpen. He’s coming up huge in unnoticed spots.
Posts: 0 Albert
Not to detract anything that Clay has done for the Phillies the last twoish years, but I am not comfortable with him in pressure situations/bad match ups (Adam Dunn’s homer comes to mind). I would have to hope that Durbin can return to 2008 form (this is possible as its still too early to tell) so he can be the main 7th inning guy. However, if Durbin continues to struggle and Park stays in the rotation Clay might be our best option.
Posted: 01:59 PM on April 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
CC has been great. Happ is also doing pretty well in the bullpen. They both kept us in yesterday’s game without allowing a run. The opposite happened against the Nats (when we were also losing 4-2) but Taschner gave up a bunch of runs and officially took us OUT of the game.
Posted: 02:22 PM on April 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed
If you look at Condrey’s appearences from 2007 and 2008 (especially the beginning and middle of the season) you find that he only gave up runs in mop up situations. In close games he usually came through. I think this article is long overdue. He seems to have the closer mentality where he steps his game up when he really needs to. Fans are down on him because his name is Clay Condrey. His stats over the last three seasons are good, but not eyepopping. But if you look at situational splits you realize how good he is and has been.
Posted: 02:25 PM on April 20, 2009
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
both Condrey & Eyre have pitched very well so far this year. Maybe it has something to do with them not being pushed as hard last year as the others were.
Even so, we’re in trouble if the core of Durbin, Madson & Lidge continue to struggle, especially at the same time.
Posted: 04:12 PM on April 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
I find Condrey to be a very underrated pitcher. He is the rare kind you could probably throw anywhere in the game, and he’ll be alright. I mean, he’s not the greatest ever but I rarely see him get shelled either.
Posted: 04:23 PM on April 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Phil
according to geoff we should get rid of him
Posted: 04:59 PM on April 20, 2009
Posts: 0 philsphan
Condrey is actually pretty good, but no is no way to justify leaving him in to face Dunn. Eyre should have been brought in to face him.
Posted: 10:42 PM on April 20, 2009