Comments on: Should Happ be the Closer?

By: crashburnalley.com » Blog Archive » Charlie Manuel Can Adapt!

crashburnalley.com » Blog Archive » Charlie Manuel Can Adapt! — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:09:17 +0000

[...] off of the DL and is still fighting his way to full-strength — who’s it going to be? J.A. Happ? Nope. Durbin, Condrey, Walker? No, no, no. So, although Amaro never named a closer, he may as well [...]

By: Closing Soap Opera Doesn’t Have An Answer | Phillies Nation

Closing Soap Opera Doesn’t Have An Answer | Phillies Nation — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:27:07 +0000

[...] Should Happ be the Closer? [...]

By: Dr. Baseball

Dr. Baseball — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:09:38 +0000

Lidge is gonna be awesome in the playoffs mark my words

By: bob

bob — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:32:45 +0000

When I said done for 2009 I meant as full time closer…

By: bob

bob — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:31:27 +0000

People need to lay off Lidge somewhat. He shouldn’t get into CBP without a ticket, give me a break. The man deserves respect for giving young and old Phils fans alike the biggest thrill of their sports lives. That alone deserves respect and admiration.

What that said it seems that Lidge is done for the year 2009. He just does not have it any more. I would entertain using Happ or Walker as the closer, depending on the health of the pen. Keys words, health of the pen. I don’t see Lidge closing full time in the postseason, but I see him in relief with certain matchups.

At this point with the state of injuries, ANY arm is a good arm.

Chuck said it best “a healthy and confident Lidge is best”. Since this probably will not happen, guess Im for the pen by committee or using what combo works. We have enough of a lead to try this and lets see where this goes. Quality starts = continued rest for the pen.

By: LH

LH — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:27:00 +0000

j reed – the injury report on Happ was a good perceptive. I’d rather Happ take his chances in a the late innings. But I guess less starting work and more pen work would probably lead to more preparation, and of course less rest. The Phillies have the same outlook since their starting their young star tonight. My fingers are crossed and may the baseball gods shine on his shoulders through tonight and the post season.

By: j reed

j reed — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:59:16 +0000

i agree joedad…knee jerk reactions and snarky quips are fine in the game or post game hangover. Criticism is fine and is part of being a fan…other than gambling, sports are great entertainment and without good and bad criticism it would be meaningless…look at the marlins. But calculated nastiness esp. to players on your own team…there is enough ugliness in life and in the world. Is it wrong i don’t know, but it gets tiresome. If the guy is doing jell-o shots off of strippers every night well then that’s different territory. It honestly pains me to see Lidge go thru this and I don’t care if he makes more money in a day than i do in a year. Actually its irrelevant. like I said before it just sucks dog farts.

By: dolly keen

dolly keen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:46:31 +0000

WHY CANT THEY PITCH LIDGE IN THE FIRST, MADSON IN THE SECOND, THEN LET THE STATER FINISH THE NEXT SEVEN.

DOLL

By: Ryk

Ryk — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:45:58 +0000

@ j reed. Bingo.

By: Ryk

Ryk — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:42:18 +0000

@ Don M -
I completely agree with your post. I do feel that eventhough Lidge has the label of closer, it doesn’t mean he should get the ball in any game when a save opportunity arrises. The job of the manager is to give your team the best opportunity to win in every game. Part of that means giving the ball to the pitcher who has the best chance of recording 3 outs without giving up a run. Yeah, the options are thin with the decimated bullpen, but with his struggles this season, you can’t honestly say that Brad Lidge is that man for that job at this moment.
Should we draw and quarter him? Absolutely not. But Cholly needs to give Lidge an opportunity to correct himself before throwing him into the lion’s den. With every blown save, Lidge’s head is going to be that much more difficult to fix. I’m not a shrink. I don’t know how to get our man’s mojo back. But at this time, high-stress situations just aren’t working out for him.
He WILL get it back. 2008 was proof that no matter how hard he hit rock-bottom, he can always rebound and become a stud. For right now, I think he should be given mop-up duties….unless that messes with his head even more. Anyone here have a PhD?

By: j reed

j reed — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:36:42 +0000

phillies fan in ny city – interesting about dan quisenberry…were any of those BS in the post season?

By: rtbamam

rtbamam — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:19:31 +0000

right back at you joedad

By: mikeB

mikeB — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:14:36 +0000

Good idea for Happ being the closer in the post season. The fourth starting slot should go to Pedro Martinez for his pitching experience and the experience he has in post season play. Moyer for long relief or if something happens to one of the starters. Hard to say at this time because of injuries who is all going to be available for the bullpen to put on the post season roster.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:04:15 +0000

i agree. happ should be our closer.

By: TrappedInNYC

TrappedInNYC — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:02:25 +0000

Just for yucks I hope Manuel lets Lidge pitch the 9th tonight…

By: joedad

joedad — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:44:18 +0000

rtbamam said “Anyone is better than that pathectic excuse of a human LIDGE”

So the guy is perfect in 2008 and was one of the reasons the Phils are WFC and now that he can’t pitch he is a “pathetic excuse for a human”? Criticize his pitching but calling him a “pathetic excuse for a human” is WAY out of line so my request for you to go F yourself has not changed.

By: Chapps

Chapps — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:29:47 +0000

Everyone you are failing to see the only solution that makes any sense, what for it, here it comes……….Jamie Moyer.

Think about it he is the exact opposite of what you would expect from a closer and he normally has a high rate of success the first time through a lineup. Tell me that Manny or Albert wouldn’t be completely thrown for a loop leading off the ninth and facing Old Man Moyer. Not only could it work but it would work.

And I know he has something like zero career saves, but you know what so did Mariano before he got his first. And if anyone is crazy enough to use Moyer in a save situation Charlie is.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:19:33 +0000

If a guy is not getting the job done you cant keep running him out there. Its not last year, its this year. Just because a running back has over 1500 yards rushing doesnt mean they will keep him the next year. Brad cannot keep closing. The season will go under. As a manager you do whats best for the team.

By: Phan in TN

Phan in TN — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:00:48 +0000

sorry to be off topic but I just got a bit misty eyed

i found the audio clips of harry kalas calling those games on this site.

thanks for keeping those, gentlemen

hope you don’t mind that I downloaded them and will play them every once in a while.

By: Don M

Don M — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:45:18 +0000

and if “McNabb” (Lidge) was throwing 5 picks per game… his backup (Madson) has been worse, percentage wise

… yet the team was still in 1st place, and playoff bound again, for the 2nd straight year with him as the starting QB …

you would stick with McNabb in that role

…