Unexpected: Lidge Blows It; Expected: Everything Else
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, April 19, 2009 03:28 AM | Comments: 18
2009 Recaps, Posts
It happened. It finally happened.
Brad Lidge blew his first save as a Phillie. He was handed a 5-4 lead going into the ninth inning, but he couldn’t hold it; moreover, he completely let it overcome him, as the Padres won a relative laugher, 8-5. Lidge did get a positive ovation upon his exit, but it wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.
Brett Myers had his best outing yet, though he surrendered a mammoth drive by Adrian Gonzalez. Otherwise, he went 6.2 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks, while striking out six. Scott Eyre did his job in relief, but Ryan Madson couldn’t — for the second night in a row. He allowed the Padres to tie the game.
Madson’s blown save is one thing we’re starting to expect as Phillies fans. Two other things we can expect: sterling offensive efforts from Chase Utley (HR) and Raul Ibanez (2-for-4, HR). But that’s it. We expect Jimmy Rollins to hit poorly, and he went 1-for-5. We expect bad bench play, and pinch hitters went 0-for-3. Yes, this isn’t the 2008 Phillies. At least not now. Not even close.
Posts: 0 nate
to be fair, they did start off 4-6 last year. but i’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in saying that right now it seems like nothing is how it should be with them.
Posted: 04:41 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 KB
Seems like cold streak losses in the past were due to hitting. Now it seems to be pitching. There isn’t one big bright spot on the pitching staff right now, which is unheard of. Can’t even count on Lidge and Hammels right now and that’s causing anxiety. Meanwhile Santana and the Mets bullpen are tearing it up. Not so much the rest of the staff, but still…far cry from the last couple years so far. K-Rod, Putz, and Green aren’t going to lose all those 7th inning leads…so far Minaya’s investment is looking brilliant. This is going to be a nail biter of a season!
Posted: 07:16 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
The mets don’t scare me as much as the florida marlins. One thing is they are loaded with young talent in the minors. And if a team like San Diego or Oakland wants to deal a Peavy or Holiday then especially Holiday who is going to be a free agent they can get him and not affect there payroll.
Posted: 07:52 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
I really wish the phillies in the offseason went for lowe and holiday. instead of ibanez who is doing well. I would have let blanton walk and moyer.
Posted: 07:54 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason
honestly, as soon as Lidge blew the save, he started pitching based on anger, it was easy to see it in delivery and on his face. Once the save was blown, he collapsed. I hate saying it, I really do, but that is what happened. The Biggest thing coming out of last nights game is, will Lidge let this haunt him the rest of the season, or will it be one and done, and he will rebound. The guy was so dominate that i would have to believe that he will rebound.
Posted: 08:01 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Lidge’s save streak was bound to come to an end and it was just bound to happen when the pitching staff is looking terrible. I’ve said before not to judge the starters until their closing in on a half dozen starts but no-one in the staff is pitching well and it’s worrying.
Posted: 08:06 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
Not that I believe it should mean anything but something tells me the postseason, the off season, the spring training, the WBC, the drama of ring cermonies and the tragic passing of Harry Kalas has just been a bit overwhelming for this ball club. Utley and Ibanez are ultimate professionals and have proven themselves to be among the best the game has to offer. Scott Eyre of all people is holding things together and proving to be rather clutch, where the rest of the bullpen now has not. The rest just seem to be thinking too much, but I’m confident it will snap. This is a tough time for this organization and all they can do is play through it.
Posted: 09:07 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Joey
do you think he still blows that save if chooch is behind the plate? I was only listening so i couldnt see where his slider was. I think theyll snap out of this but a lot of their pitchers had career years last year. we may need one more guy.
Posted: 09:16 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
I watched the whole game and in my humble opinion the pitchers really miss Carlos badly. Also Myers was settled in and should have kept pitching he gave two runs in a inning that he should have been out of and the pen has looked shacky the last couple of times out why not give them a rest. And there is no way they should have conceded the run to tie it up in the ninth. If they get a cheap hit through the drawn in infield it would still be one out with a guy on first, hindsight and all that ground ball would have been playable and it would have been two outs man on third. But I am not baling on the team and feel they will come back, I just think Charlie is living in last year. Also has Madson lost movement on his pitches or what is the deal he is throwing 96 and still not getting people out. I am willing to chalk it up to April but they really have to start winning some series against these teams. Hopefully Park will have a better game today. Lets not give up the year in April. And just start winning games. One finally note Raul is going to be an rbi machine all year this will work out and he is playing really well, even defensively.
Posted: 10:00 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Ped
I think there has been just way too many distractions this year for phils, the world series hoopla, the bullpen show mlb is filming, and the unfortunate passing of Harry the K and these are affecting the pitchers ability to prepare and focus.
I’m only content with how our bats are doing, with the exception of Jimmy Rollins. I think Howard even looks better than he normally does at this time of year.
What’s freaking me out is the possibility that our pitching staff just had one of those lucky years last year where everyone clicked at the same time and now we’re seeing how average some of them really are.
Shouldn’t Madson and Lidge have gotten a night off after how they pitched on Friday?
grumble grumble
Posted: 10:03 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
Who pitches then Ped? Taschner and Condrey? You can’t throw them in save situations!
Posted: 10:10 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Ped
You’re right Greg, I just remember them throwing lots of pitches on Friday. That’s why I said this.
I wonder how much of what we’re seeing with the bullpen is connected to JC not being there.
Posted: 10:23 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Tim, That’s probably the most dramatic thing i’ve ever read from you.. the last paragraph
We expect blown saves from Ryan Madson.. and Jimmy Rollins’ to hit poorly??
It’s TEN games into the season and people are seemingly ready to turn in their fan cards..
If’ we’re all so sure that this season is going to shape up the way the standings and stats look right now.. Who is going to win the BlueJays- Marlins World Series?
Relax people.. maybe get outside and enjoy some nice weather today.. but stay away from Bridges, we don’t need anyone jumping off of those yet.
Posted: 10:55 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
Don, I agree. Some people think the worst and hope for the best, when it’s not nearly that bad. We could be the Nationals or Royals, you know.
Posted: 11:04 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 goosebumps
i feel like our big happy balloon as popped. we are slammed back to reality and its tough for the team (and the phans) to handle. last year was just so amazing…nothing but high hopes (pun intended). we got our rings and harry is gone, lidge blew a save, the pirates have a winning record and the padres are one of the best teams in baseball right now. wtf is goin on?!
Posted: 11:08 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
All these distractions are not helping the team at all. Can’t wait for the start of the “regular” season.
Posted: 11:37 AM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
Tim says~”..We expect Jimmy Rollins to hit poorly…” and Madson blowing “saves”? Huh? Who’s we? Why not be positive and think Rollins will snap his mini-slump today/tomorrow? C’mon Tim, you should know better. I agree with Don; We’re entering into the THIRD week of the season with 152 games to play and the whining is in midseason form. Let’s not make any prejudgements on certain players and the team as a whole. Maybe you like using very small samples (stats) which really don’t amount to a hill of beans after just TEN games. Let’s keep in mind what you previously stated in the past..”it’s a marathon..not a sprint”.
Posted: 02:05 PM on April 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Phillies Phan SC
On a positive note, if it cannot be the Phillies, I would take the Marlins over the Braves or Mets… I do think we will get it together eventually as I am an optimist. Not the 2008 team for sure…
Posted: 07:31 PM on April 19, 2009