Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 3

Part 3 of 12

2. A healthy and effective Ryan Madson

A key element to enable Baez to be pushed into a Clay Condrey type role is the return of a healthy and effective Ryan Madson.

The one-time aspiring placekicker has begun a minor league rehab assignment and could conceivably return to the big club within a week or two. Considering his long layoff, it is unclear how long it will take him to re-gain his strength and command.

Madson primarily relies on a mid- to high-90's heater and his excellent change-up. The former requires strength and fitness while the latter requires precision, so it may take some time to find his groove. 

An effective Madson over the season's second half and down the stretch will be very important to the Phillies' chances. The combination of Jose Contreras, JC Romero, and Madson could make late inning set-up a differentiating strength similar to 2008. 

Philadelphia Phillies Key No. 4: Will the Bullpen Sink Or Swim?

A big factor in the Philadelphia Phillies run to a World Series Championship in 2008 was their bullpen. Besides having a closer with an unblemished record when handed the ball to nail down a win, each member of the relief corps found success in a defined role.

As ardent followers, and even casual observers know, the Phillies 2009 bullpen was not quite the same well oiled machine. In fact, at times they conjured up the same type of white knuckle anxiety of a driver behind the wheel of a late model Toyota Camry in a Schuylkill Expressway rush hour.

Stated another way, neither the driver nor the passengers had a great deal of confidence that the ride was going to be smooth and uneventful at best—or smoking rubble at worst. Some days everything worked the way it was designed, but there was always troublesome lingering doubt.

If the Phillies hope to have a successful season and ultimately repeat, a well functioning, consistently effective bullpen is a must.

Although the occupants of the bullpen will look quite different in 2010, it remains to be seen whether they will more resemble last year's group or the 2008 crew? Perhaps neither in terms of performance, but the plan for the set-up and closer roles heading into the season calls for a return to glory of the championship team.

After his well chronicled encore adventure, Brad Lidge went under the knife to correct elbow and knee problems that bothered him throughout the campaign. The team has placed a large stack of chips on the table in gambling that the offseason surgery will restore the pitcher to at least a close facsimile of the "Lights Out" version.

Set-up responsibilities will be back in the hands of tall right hander Ryan Madson and lefty J.C. Romero. In the championship season, both pitchers played instrumental roles by shutting down opponents in the late innings as the "bridge to Lidge."

Madson possesses closer stuff with a four seam fastball that often registers 95 mph and upwards, and a devastating change-up. He has turned in mixed results, though, when asked to take on the added pressure of closing out games.

Romero is working his way back from a nightmarish 2009 season that started with a 50-game suspension and followed with a couple DL stints. Like Lidge, the hope is that offseason elbow surgery will allow him to regain the slider that ate up left handed hitters.

With Ruben Amaro electing not to bring back Scott Eyre, he is betting that Romero will be able to resume the important lefty set-up man job. He is also banking on either Antonio Bastardo or Sergio Escalona to provide another left handed arm out of the pen.

Also gone from last year are middle relievers Chan Ho Park, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker. Allowing them to walk represents somewhat of a risk, especially Park, who often showed the most poise and command of all the relievers as the season wore on.

In their place will be free agent acquisitions Danys Baez and Jose Contreras. Neither is a "sure thing" by any means, but both have had periods of success in their careers.

Baez was an all-star six seasons ago, but fell on some hard times, including a season ending injury in 2007 that kept him out of action for over a year. He turned in a middle of the road performance with the Baltimore Orioles, but Amaro hopes that he will be stronger after a full year of recovery.

Contreras has been a starter for most of his career, including a couple strong seasons several years ago. At the end of last season, he seemed to flourish in a relief role when the Colorado Rockies moved him to the bullpen. He throws hard and Charlie Manual likes that he has a reputation for taking the ball.

After a strong 2008 season, Chad Durbin experienced a significant drop off. He struggled with his command most of the season, so a return to form would provide a big boost in the middle innings.

Condrey and Walker were effective when asked to keep the team in the game in the middle innings. Each of them may have their best days ahead of them, but Amaro decided his dollars were better spent elsewhere, perhaps looking for a little more heat.

One wild card might be Scott Mathieson, the hard throwing rookie who is trying to rebound from a second Tommy John surgery. He has impressed the big club with his stuff in a couple major league stints and is considered to have the proverbial high ceiling if he can stay healthy.

All in all, the bullpen has the potential to be an asset once again—but also could turn out to be the team's Achilles heel. Unlike the everyday line-up and 80 percent of the starting staff, the relievers are a collection of decent odds Vegas bets—some relatively small and some high stakes.

With little major league ready help available in the minors, or via trade with the prospect talent pool cupboard somewhat bare, the Phillies fortunes might be a matter of sink or swim with the current relief corps. Amaro and Charlie Manuel are looking to catch a nice wave in 2010— or the entire team could all be in for a cold, upstream swim.

The Philadelphia Phillies 5 Keys to the 2010 Season

Philadelphia Phillies: Key No. 2- Can Cole Hamels Go Back to the Future?

Philadelphia Phillies Key No. 3: Which Raul Ibanez Will Show Up This Season?

Utley Powers Phils Back to New York

Facing elimination, the Phillies came out swinging last night to keep their World Series Championship hopes alive. Chase Utley got them jump started with a 3-run homer in the first inning and then added a World Series record tying 5th home run later in the game, but the Phillies had to endure drama to fend off the Yankees to preserve the 8-6 win. Cliff Lee kept the Yankees in check most of the game to run his post season record to 4-0. The teams now head back to New York with the Yankees leading the series 3-2.

What had been an 8-2 lead, shrank to 8-6 as the Yankees scored three in the 8th and one in the 9th before Ryan Madson struck out slugger Mark Teixeira to end the game. Jorge Posada led off the inning with a double high off the wall in right-center and then pinch hitter Hideki Matsui bounced a single to left to put the tying run at the plate with the top of the order coming up. Madson battled to get Derek Jeter to ground into a double play that was perfectly executed by Jimmy Rollins and Utley. Matsui came home on the play and then Johnny Damon kept the game alive with a single. Once again, the tying run came to plate in the form of Teixeira, but Madson got him to swing over a diving change-up to end the game.

For the first 7 innings, it was pretty much all Phillies as they mounted a 6 run lead. Utley accounted for 3 runs in the opening frame, and the team rallied again in the 3rd to chase starter AJ Burnett. Utley walked and stole second before Howard drew another walk. Jayson Werth then smacked a liner to center to score one run and Raul Ibanez followed with a single to right to score Howard. Werth came across on a fielder's choice to extend the lead to 6-1.

After the Yankees scratched out a run in the 5th that probably could have been avoided with good fundamentals, the Phillies added two more runs in the 7th on a pair of solo home runs. Utley launched his second home run of the game into the right field seats, giving him a National League record and tying Reggie Jackson for the most home runs in a series. Two outs later, Ibanez launched a tape measure shot off the facing of the upper deck in right to make it 8-2.

At that point, Charlie Manuel decided to insert Ben Francisco for Shane Victorino, who had a swollen finger from a fast ball fired at him by Burnett in the first. Victorino was confused by the switch, figuring that Manuel meant to replace Ibanez, but that was not the case. The move was looking very dubious when the Yankees rallied for 3 runs in the 8th inning, particularly since Ibanez and Francisco played roles. First, A-Rod's 2-run double to left bounced off Ibanez's glove and most likely would have been caught by the faster Francisco. Then, Rodriquez scored on a short sacrifice fly to center as Francisco hesitated and followed with an off target throw. Again, it is likely that A-Rod would not even have tried to score on Victorino.

Lee was not as sharp as he has been in previous post season games, but still pitched well. He lasted into the 8th inning and was charged with all 5 runs- a number that belies the true quality of his outing. Howard could have prevented the 2nd Yankees run by looking the runner on 3rd back and tagging the batter, but instead ran back to tag first on a ground ball. In the 8th, besides the aforementioned plays, Damon reached on an infield chopper as Rollins could not get the ball out of his glove.

Chan Ho Park relieved Lee in the 8th and turned in an excellent performance to escape further trouble. He set down three hitters in a row with Phillies fans starting to get very nervous.

Manuel was not done making decisions that could be second guessed, though. In the bottom half of the 8th, Carlos Ruiz led off with a single, but the Phillies skipper elected to pull Park for pinch hitter Matt Stairs rather than bunt, who promptly bounced into a double play. An insurance run would have been big and a strong argument could have been made to send the veteran Park back out for the 9th.

A game that the Phillies seized and then controlled most of the night, ended in high drama with memories of the previous night still fresh in everyone's mind. Although Manuel had Scott Eyre, Brett Myers and Brad Lidge all warming up in the bullpen, it seemed apparent that he was going to let everything ride on Madson. After the game, Manuel told reporters that he wanted to give Lidge a break. Hind sight notwithstanding, this was probably the right call because Lidge had the enormous added burden of the Game 4 loss.

Once again, the Phillies demonstrated the resiliency that many have attributed to the team. Despite a very disappointing loss one night earlier, they came to the ball park prepared to attack and win, rather than fret about the past or play not to lose. Although the scenario in Citizen's Bank Park did not go as they had hoped this weekend, the Phillies were able to secure a victory in a true "must win" game. And, it now gives this talented group of gamers an opportunity to return the favor by going to New York and winning a couple games in the Yankees own house.

The Other Pedro Jolts The Phils and Astros- Magic Number Drops to 1

You could sense the tension, both amongst the Phillies players and throughout the Citizen Bank Park stands last evening. Furrowed brows and serious demeanors suggested the importance of victory was on the minds of players, especially knowing that the Atlanta Braves were on a winning roll and aided by a favorable schedule. Fans were noticeably quiet and cautious, seemingly devoid of confidence and afraid of the worst.

The Phillies went quietly in the first couple innings as they faced the hazard of yet another young, struggling pitcher. Over the past week, they had been shut down three times in similar situations, including the previous night against Phillies cast-off Yorman Bazardo. After witnessing the home team being dominated by starter Wilton Lopez through two innings, when Lance Berkman launched a two out home run to left to give the Astros a 1-0 lead in the third, you could sense a deja vu feeling and further tightening of the tension throughout the stadium.

Jimmy Rollins took a little of the edge off by doubling home Paul Bako, who had walked and moved to second on J.A. Happ's sacrifice bunt. On the mound, Happ worked in and out of trouble, but seemed to be nibbling and his pitch total quickly grew. He appeared to fear making a mistake, rather than attack the zone, perhaps another indicator that he was not feeling the confidence of having the league's best offense and defense behind him.

In the home fourth, the Phillies quietly mounted a threat when Ryan Howard reached on an infield dribbler, Raul Ibanez bounced a ball up the middle and Jayson Werth worked a walked. This rally from humble beginnings turned into a bang when Pedro Feliz drilled the first pitch into the left-center field bleachers for a grand slam. It was his second of the season and extended the Phillies seasonal team record to eleven. Most importantly, one swing of the bat may have given the team the jolt it needed, clearing the air and affording everyone the chance to breath out and smile.

A single and catcher's interference put Happ in jeopardy in the 5th inning. Similar to the night before, Carlos Lee then muscled a broken bat blooper into left to plate one run, but Happ gathered himself to contain the damage. In the bottom half of the inning, Werth clubbed a two run homer to extend the lead to 7-2.

Of course, the Astros have owned the Phillies in 2009, so they weren't going to go down easily. Charlie Manuel stuck with Happ in the 6th despite his high pitch count , and he surrendered a 2-run homer to Phillies nemesis Kaz Matusi on his 119th pitch of the evening to cut the lead to 7-4 and make it a game. It seemed to be a classic case of one pitch too many.

Jamie Moyer came onto record the last out of the inning. He pitched a scoreless 7th inning, but on the last pitch went down with a groin injury as he watched a long fly out to center. Manuel surprisingly had Ryan Madson warming up in the inning and then brought him in to the pitch the 8th.

After a 1-2-3 inning, Manuel decided to stick with Madson rather than go to Brad Lidge as he had originally planned. Considering the importance of nailing down this victory, along with Madson's save on Sunday, it is hard to understand why Manuel would have taken that risk. In keeping with the Phillies new found tradition, Madson worked into a jam by giving up a pair of singles and having to face two longball and Phillies threats Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence. Madson took another step forward as a closer, though, shutting the door by striking out both hitters to end the game.

Simultaneous to all of this, everyone kept an eye on the scoreboard, where the Braves rebounded from a 4-1 deficit against the Marlins to tie the score at 4-4. On this night, though, the Marlins scratched out a run in the ninth and held on to win 5-4. The Phillies win and Braves loss dropped the team's magic number to 1. Additionally, the Cardinals loss allowed the Phils to move 1 game ahead for playoff seeding.

It took a big blow by Pedro Feliz to ease the tensions and perhaps allow the Phillies to relax in their effort to close out the division championship. He has quietly made a strong contribution all year with great glove work in the field, and by driving in key runs when they needed it most. Last night was no different. Now the team hands the ball to the more famous "Pedro" in hope of wrapping things up and popping some champagne to celebrate their third consecutive NL East title.

Phillies High Wire Act Avoids the Net

Yesterday's Phillies game followed the same basic script as Saturday's game. Grab an early 4-0 lead, let the Brewers chip away to close the gap and then turn things over to their beleaguered bullpen and hope for the best. Unfortunately, as we head towards the end of the regular season, most times that Charlie Manuel looks to the pen to hold onto or close out a late game lead, what he gets is a Cirque du Soleil high wire act.

Continuing failures have caused the team to use a trial and error, closer by committee approach whereby Manuel hopes to dial up the right reliever to get the job done that day. Last Wednesday, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge faltered in the late going to allow the Florida Marlins to steal a victory against them. In the next tight, late game situation presented on Saturday evening, Tyler Walker was called upon to hold the Brewers off the board and send the game into extra innings. Walker, promptly plummeted into the net, giving up a single and home run to the first two batters he faced.

As events unfolded yesterday, an even more difficult and painful loss appeared to be potentially on the horizon. The Phillies had a comfortable 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, but also squandered many other scoring opportunities along the way. Meanwhile, Joe Blanton was holding the Brew Crew off the board, but making a lot of pitches in so doing.

Perhaps due to Manuel's fear of turning the game over to his relief corp or a recent pitching philosophy discussion with Nolan Ryan, he stuck with Blanton as he labored in the 6th inning and his pitch total soared (124 for the day.) Before they knew it, the Brewers plated four runs to make it 6-5, and likely provided some uneasy feelings throughout the Phillies dugout.

While the Phillies continued to fail to capitalize on scoring opportunities, Chad Durbin and Madson combined for two scoreless innings. Manuel abandoned normal protocol of using a 9th inning only closer, and sent Madson back out for the save. After a quick out, Prince Fielder created the requisite drama with his double into the left field corner, putting the tying run in scoring position. Madson got an infield out after flirting with a walk, sending Fielder to third. He then jumped ahead of Mike Cameron 1-2, just missed on a 97 mph fastball and then got a called third strike on a low and away fastball to end the game.

Madson wobbled a little on the wire, but ultimately was still standing at the end. The Phillies hope that this will help bolster his confidence enough to allow him to step up as the closer for the remainder of the season. He has the velocity, movement and complimentary change-up to get key strikeouts and dominate hitters with the game on the line. To this point, though, he has not developed the required mental toughness, but short of Lidge making an unlikely dramatic turn, he provides the best hope for the team.

Ryan Howard continued his big second half surge, hitting .444 in the four game series, with two doubles and a home run. He also collected 7 RBI, running his season total to 137 and tying him for the NL lead with Fielder.

The Braves are not tailgating, but close enough to see in the rear mirror. They are aided by closing with 7 games at home, the last four against the worst team in baseball. The Phillies dropped their magic number to 3 and still enjoy a 1/2 game lead over the Cardinals for playoff seeding, which would allow them home field advantage in the NLDS. A solid, reliable closer would be a big boost for their final homestand and beyond.

Phillies Hit Bump in the Road to Division Championship

The Florida Marlins, who are fighting to stay off the endangered species list, rallied late to pin a frustrating 7-6 loss on the Phillies. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the bullpen again faltered in holding onto a late game lead, suffering another blown save.  The team also squandered a big game by Ryan Howard, who drove in 4 runs with a home run and double. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves completed a three game sweep of the depleted New York Mets to pull within 6 1/2 games of the Phillies.

A typical sudden Miami down pour delayed the game in the middle of the 8th inning with the Marlins trailing 6-4. When play resumed, Ryan Madson replaced starter Cole Hamels, who was less effective than he has been over the past month, but was poised to earn his 11th win. Madson yielded a run by virtue of hitting a batter and giving up a couple singles.

Brad Lidge was summoned into pitch the 9th inning with hopes of closing out a 6-5 victory. He was quickly greeted with a double in the right field corner by Ross Gload, who moved to third on Chris Coghlan's deep liner to Jayson Werth. Lidge recorded a strikeout on a borderline slider to move within one out of a save, but then walked NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez.  Jorge Cantu stepped to the plate and lined a shot to center for his fourth straight hit, tying the score. After getting pinch hitter Brett Carroll to swing and miss two sliders, Lidge hung another one over the plate that he ripped to center to win the game.

The Phillies are still in good position to win their third consecutive NL East crown and in line to play the wild card Rockies if the season ended today. They also still have a shot at home field advantage throughout the playoffs as they are 2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.

Despite remaining relatively well positioned in those regards, the Phillies have clearly not resolved their bullpen issues. Besides the health of catcher Carlos Ruiz, the relief corp remains the one big question mark for the team. Several key components are injured and after 151 games, Charlie Manuel still cannot avoid the Rolaids and Nexium pills when he hands the ball over in a save situation.

Manuel has tirelessly stayed the course in his attempts to restore the confidence and effectiveness of Lidge, and to a lesser degree, Madson. He knows that he almost surely needs them to be able to close games if the team hopes to repeat in 2009. Any thought of Brett Myers emerging to assume the role has been dashed by his shoulder strain and you cannot help but to recall a similar injury shutting him down for quite awhile in 2007.

With only 11 games left in the regular season, it seems apparent that the team would head into the post season with at best, a level of uncertainty in its ability to close out games.  Last year's most reliable aspect of the team will be this year's most anxiety producing. That does not mean that it is impossible for Lidge and Madson to fare well in the post season, as both possess the "stuff" to come through.

The good news for the Phillies is that they have the National League's best line-up, best defense and a strong cast of starting pitchers. Those three components are capable of powering them to victory, but surrendering games that were seemingly won, has a way of derailing teams sooner or later.

The 1993 Phillies team made it to the 6th game of the World Series with a closer who was "out of gas." That is not the case here as both pitchers still have plenty of zip on their pitches, so there is hope that they will find their groove, but they are clearly still searching for it. The '93 team also reinforces that a different formula than the one the team relied on in 2008 can work. Of course, Manuel, the players and the team's followers alike would greatly prefer seeing fans confidently waving the white towels in the air at closing time rather than pulling a Curt Shilling with those same towels.

The Phillies Last 17 Games are Important for Many Reasons

The Phillies have a comfortable 7.5 game lead with 17 games left to play in the regular season. The magic number to win the National League Eastern Division has dropped to 10. Besides the obvious need to finish business to reduce that magic number to zero, the manner in which the team accomplishes that is critically important to their ongoing success.

First and foremost, the Phillies themselves demonstrated how a similar scenario of a 7-game lead with 17 to go is not reason to relax. Two years ago, that situation played out with the Phillies passing the Mets to win the division. The current Phillies team chemistry and collective "heart" is vastly different than that Mets team, but those events in 2007 serve to raise an important caution flag to keep on grinding.

This is especially true considering that the Phillies now head on the road to face their two division rivals, who will both be teaming with adrenaline and a sense of urgency to make a last ditch effort to close the gap. And, a few head-to-head wins against the Phillies would suddenly take the comfort out of the lead.

A good scenario would be for the Phillies to win at least one game in Atlanta and two games in Florida. Two and two would put them no worse than 7.5 games up as they head to Milwaukee for a four game set, and reduce the magic number to 5 or less. With the schedule ending at home with their recent nemesis Houston Astros and the Marlins, there really is no breathing room just yet.

All of that aside, the team does not want to be in the position of playing pressure packed games to the finish. Surely, the Phillies would like to not overwork their starting staff and allow players such as Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez to rest their hobbled legs. Most importantly, though, the team does not want to tax the already aching arms, bodies and psyches of the bullpen.

The ideal scenario would be to minimize the burden on Ryan Madson, Brett Myers, JC Romero, Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey as all are fighting injuries or soreness. Chan Ho Park simply needs to get healthy and prepare to be ready if the team does make the post season, but a late season, non-pressurized cameo appearance to tune up would be great. Lastly, a comfortable finish would allow Charlie Manuel to put Brad Lidge, Madson and possibly Myers in better positions to succeed and build confidence heading into the post season, where they will need to close out tight games as they did a year ago.

The next two series will not determine the final outcome of the NL East, but they surely are important. The Phillies have the talent to win the division, advance through the playoffs and win another a championship, but the competition will be stiff. These games now can go a long way towards setting themselves up for another magical run.

A Bullpen By Committee Can Work for the Phillies

Little did Major League Baseball or the Phillies know when they taped "The Pen" that one of last year's strengths and most reliable contributor would take the opposite turn. As the season heads down the stretch, the team faces uncertainty and is now scrambling to find the right formula. Last season, the bullpen hurlers fell neatly into defined roles and executed with precision.

This does not mean to suggest that they do not have the potential to be a strength or the possibility of getting the situation righted before it is too late, though. Amongst the current negatives and uncertainties, there are also positives and some light at the end of the tunnel.

Obviously, the continuing struggles and resurgence of Brad Lidge is the linchpin. Most everything begins and ends with that topic as it creates a ripple effect through the entire bullpen. The health of JC Romero will be important, particularly with the other key left-hander Scott Eyre attempting to pitch through elbow pain. Chad Durbin does not appear to be 100% healthy and has not been the same dependable middle reliever. And, although Ryan Madson appears to be the preferred option to close currently, his recent biceps tendinitis bears watching. His velocity had been touching 96-97 mph, but has dropped into the 92-94 range.

On the positive side, Brett Myers provides a big boost to the bullpen. Now that he has gotten re-immersed and has been a successful closer in the past, Myers represents a strong option in those pressure situations. Although he has performed well after rehabbing from hip surgery, the Phillies would be wise to not allow him to do too much, too soon in order to avoid a breakdown.

After some previous mixed results, Madson appears to be getting more comfortable in the closer role, but still totes some uncertainty with him to the mound. If Romero comes back and regains his form, he will provide a much needed weapon against lefty hitters, especially with runners in scoring position. Although he faltered the other night, Chan Ho Park has been a force in the pen. He throws hard with good movement and has the type of breaking ball to get big strikeouts in key situations. It would also be remiss to not recognize the consistently good job done by Tyler Walker.

Manuel seems determined to find a way to get Lidge back on track. He correctly understands that what is required to make that happen is mostly in Lidge's mind and psyche. Manuel also sees that this would ultimately put the Phillies in the best position to defend their World Series title and will work hard to nurse Lidge's confidence back.

A closer by committee approach is workable. Myers and Romero have both demonstrated the mental toughness in the past to handle the role. Myers is throwing harder with better command since his return. Madson will need to continue to develop a closer mentality, but may be on the path. Park has the strikeout "stuff" to close. Perhaps if Lidge can string some good set-up outings together and he sees others having success as a closer, he will take some pressure off himself and find the "Lights Out" guy within?

It would also help for Manuel to not be locked into conventional wisdom of the closer role. For instance, last night would have been a perfect opportunity to leave Myers in after a 6-pitch, 1-2-3 8th inning, with Madson in the wings if he encountered trouble. With an expanded bullpen and if Romero is back, he could go with same side match-ups as the hitters dictate. Another option would be to give Lidge opportunities to close a 2 or 3-run lead, but call on Madson or Myers with a more precarious 1-run lead.

The situation is certainly not what the team envisioned or would want, but the good news is that the bullpen has depth. With a little creativity and players stepping up, it has a chance to have a happy ending.

Manuel Continues to Handle the Lidge Situation Correctly

Charlie Manuel is not the most eloquent speaker in baseball. He does not possess the ability to captivate the media with articulate analysis, wit and an air of supreme confidence like some other managers. Since coming to Philadelphia, he has been often questioned in regard to his tactical, in-game decision making. But, because the qualities and skills that he does possess as a leader are often not visibly apparent, it could be easy to overlook the often masterful work that he continues to do in leading this club.

Every year brings new situations and new challenges. Some are more sustained and publicized (such as Jimmy Rollins' first half slump, Cole Hamels' inconsistencies and the Jamie Moyer demotion), while others are more subtle series to series, game to game, inning by inning. The most currently relevant example is Manuel's handling of the season-long challenge revolving around Brad Lidge, which has reached somewhat of a nadir over the past couple days.

First, on Tuesday evening, Manuel gathered the courage within to act on his gut instincts and step out of the dugout to make his way to the mound in the ninth inning. This time he was not heading out to summon Lidge to close out a 2-run game, but rather to call for Ryan Madson to bail out Lidge from a bases loaded, one out jam. Last evening, with the successful decision and the resulting post game media probing still in his mind, Manuel opted for Madson to preserve a 6-5 lead in the ninth.

Many media types and fans alike have been calling for a change with Lidge, ranging from demotion out of the closer's role to demotion to the minor's to an out right release. Manuel took the heat and did the right thing- he stuck with Lidge. And, even though he chose a different course this time, it does not appear that he has abandoned his efforts to artfully steer Lidge back on track.

Manuel's greatest strengths relate to his instinctual ability to understand human nature and the sometimes fragile psyches of players. Many mistakingly believe that because players make a great deal of money, they somehow are immune to pressures, self doubt and the need for positive reinforcement. Manuel gets that team chemistry includes the right players, the right personalities and managing them the right way. He understands how to massage situations, provide much needed support, bolster confidence and at times provide the proverbial "kick in the butt."

Charlie made the right decisions in Washington this week. The collective team needed to win right now, especially coming off a four game sweep at the hands of the Astros and the Marlins gaining ground. Also, Lidge's command was so far off on Tuesday evening, despite his convictions to show support and get his closer mentally righted, Manuel could see this was almost surely headed to an 11th blown save.

And, although many would disagree, Manuel has handled the situation correctly all year long. The best scenario for the team was, and still is, to have Lidge regain the air of confidence that powered him to that 48-for-48 magical season that culminated with him kneeling triumphantly on the Citizen Bank Park turf. After all, we are only months removed from "Lights Out Lidge" and the radar gun provides ample evidence that the physical ability is still there in 2009. Until now, the only viable replacement would have been Madson, and he had not exactly prospered when given the opportunity to close.

The Phillies lead in the standings has also provided some additional leeway that might have otherwise forced a different approach. Probably Manuel's only mistake was sending Lidge out to pitch for a fourth consecutive day in Pittsburgh, which resulted in a walk-off loss and a blip in the pitcher's positively trending confidence level.

As Lidge has struggled throughout the season, Manuel has not just stuck to script, but has rather creatively looked for ways to put him in situations stacked for success. He has also continued to outwardly back him in words and in action. At various times, discussions have mentioned issues related to mechanics and nagging injuries, but Manuel has not lost sight that the most critical element is Lidge's mental state of mind.

None of us knows where this goes from here. Certainly, much of what transpires will be dependent upon the players involved and how they respond and perform. The return of a healthier, harder throwing Brett Myers, along with Madson, gives the team options. Expect Manuel to persist in his attempts to restore Lidge's confidence, but also expect to see any of the three called on to close games. The ideal situation is for Lidge to get his legs under him (to form a dynamic bullpen with Madson, Myers, Romero, Park and Eyre) as the team heads towards another post season. Of course, the artful way that Charlie handles the situation will be most important, as they need to first get there.

Houston, We Have a Problem

The Phillies headed to Houston toting an 8.5 game lead in the NL East to face an Astros team that was seemingly moving backwards, having lost 8 of the previous 10 games. Four days ago it seemed to be a good opportunity to extend their lead in the 4-game extended weekend set. Unfortunately, it did not work that way as the Phillies came up empty for the series.

Today followed a similar pattern as yesterday, with the Phillies taking an early lead, yielding it to the Astros and then not being able to rally in the late innings. Friday's lopsided loss was followed with three straight one run defeats. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins took two of three games to narrow the gap to 6 games.

Charlie Manual expressed his great displeasure about the team's weekend effort after the game suggesting that players may have gotten a little too comfortable. Manuel has been around long enough to know that it is dangerous for players to think they can turn it on and off as needed. Perhaps the Mets felt that way the previous two seasons?

The Phillies have gone into September the past two seasons with the inherent motivation that comes from being the team trying to make up ground. This year it will require a different type of mental toughness to make a sprint to the finish line without looking back.
J.A. Happ, Besides losing ground in the standings, a few new situations bear watching. J.A. Happ was pulled from his scheduled start today due to a strained oblique muscle. Also, Ryan Madson was unavailable due to the same type of injury. The team hopes that the injuries are minor and both players will recover quickly, but they also have seen the same injury land Clay Condrey on the Disabled List since late July with no signs of a return anytime soon. Losing either or both of those players for any extended period would be surely problematic.

Fortunately, Jamie Moyer provides some insurance for Happ. Moyer was able to step into today on short rest and produce another strong performance. He has pitched remarkably well since being taken out of the rotation a few weeks ago, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA.

Ryan Howard, the August NL Player of the Month, has continued his hot hitting. Today he went 3-4 and crushed a home run high off the concrete facade in left-centerfield. The ball hit well above the yellow home run line in Minute Maid stadium, which seems to have been designed by the firm Wiffle Ball Architectural Associates. Raul Ibanez followed Howard's shot with a home run of his own and is starting to show some signs of emerging from his two month slump.

Lets hope that Charlie's message lands safely on his players. One series sweep is not worthy of deep concern, but the team would be wise to turn up the thrusters to maintain a safe cruising distance.

Pedro: 2005 Vintage

Facing some tough pitching and struggling offensively over the past week, the Phillies have needed to rely on their own pitching and defense to scratch out wins. Last night, starting pitcher Pedro Martinez and relievers Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge held up their end of the bargain as the team faced reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. In fact, after his first pitch of the game, Martinez appeared to be the 2005 Pedro vintage.

"The Freak" proved to be tough competition as expected, limiting the Phillies to 4 hits and 6 total base runners over 7 innings, while whiffing 11 batters. The Phillies were able to take advantage of their limited opportunities against him, though. With one out in the second, Jayson Werth crushed a 3-2 slider that hung in the middle of the plate into the upper deck in left field to knot the score at 1-1. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Ryan Howard lined a double to right-center to score Chase Utley, who had taken a fastball in the shoulder with two outs.

But the real story of the night was Pedro as he out-dueled the Giants' young ace. The most interesting aspect, though, was the way he did it. He appeared to step back in time to his younger days, throwing riding fastballs past batter after batter. He consistently hit 91-92 mph on the radar gun, with good up and in movement coming from his three-quarters delivery, which was particularly nasty after he mixed in diving change-ups.

Fellow countryman Eugenio Velez jumped on Martinez's 88 mph, "get over" fastball to start the game and sent it into the left-centerfield stands. That appeared to spark Pedro, though, as he reeled off 7 strikeouts over the first 3 innings. Overall, he scattered 5 hits, did not allow any free passes and recorded 9 strikeouts over 7 innings. Although his pitch count was only 87, Charlie Manuel opted for a pinch hitter in the home 7th in an attempt to add on an insurance run.

The narrow 2-1 lead was now in the hands of Madson and Lidge. Madson set down the Giants in order in the 8th, and then Lidge did the same with the first two hitters in the 9th. With the count 0-2 and the crowd on its feet anticipating a game ending pitch, Winn got enough of a slider to bounce it into right field. A couple of Winn steals and a walk later, Lidge was able to seal the victory by getting dangerous pinch hitter Fred Lewis to ground into a fielder's choice.

The win allowed the Phillies to take 2 of 3 in the series against a team they could face in the playoffs. They were also able to do it facing lefty strikeout pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, the pumped up new addition Brad Penny and this year's NL All-Star starting pitcher. With the offense in a little bit of a lull scoring less than 2 runs per game over the past 7 contests, the series provided some very positive signs as Martinez continues to sharpen his skills, Cole Hamels tossed a 2-hit shutout and the team demonstrated the ability to rely on its own strong pitching to win tight games.

Pitching Still the Key Concern for the Phillies

Pitching continues to be a key focus and a source of some lingering concerns for the Phillies as they head down the 2009 season stretch. Oddly enough, the concerns revolve around the four most reliable and successful pitchers from a year ago. On one hand, it speaks volumes that this year's team has been able to withstand their struggles and prosper without them performing at the level expected. On the other hand, these issues will become increasingly important.

In 2008, Cole Hamels was the clear ace of the starting staff and a rising star in the National League. The team was able to ride his excellent pitching through the playoffs and World Series. The other major strength was found in the back-end of the bullpen, where Ryan Madson and JC Romero were the dominating "bridge to" Lidge, who was merely perfect in all 48 save opportunities.

As has been well documented, both Hamels and Lidge have continued to struggle throughout the season (see Hamels and Lidge Need to Find Their "Mojo" for more on that topic), unable to find any level of consistency. Madson has displayed similar dominance for periods of time this season, but continues to be very shaky in the biggest pressure moments. Lastly, Romero was suspended for the first 50 games of the season, pitched well in his return, but then found himself on the disabled list.

Lets take a further look:

Cole Hamels and Ryan Madson

Perhaps Hamels righted himself last evening with a strong performance against the Pirates. He shut out the Bucs through 8 innings, scattering 7 hits, while walking two. Unlike some previous outings, he was able to put away hitters and struck out 7 batters.

Hamels was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the 9th, but would not have been permitted to return to the mound to earn a shut out since he had already thrown 123 pitches. With Brad Lidge unavailable after pitching four consecutive days, Ryan Madson was called on to protect the 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Unfortunately, Madson was unable to gain his 5th save as he yielded a one out, game tying home run to Brandon Moss.

The Phillies went on to win in the tenth inning when Ryan Howard clubbed his 9th home run in the past 13 games with mates aboard, and then Madson pitched a scoreless bottom half of the inning to earn the victory. It was a twist of fate for Hamels as he deserved the win, but Madson let it slip away and then himself earned the win.

Last night had the appearances of a spring board opportunity for Hamels, but he faltered similarly following through on a couple previous occasions this season. Meanwhile, Madson reinforced how different and difficult it is to close games.

JC Romero

Romero is progressing slowly in his efforts to return to the team. He is only at the stage of throwing in the bullpen, so he appears to be at least a couple weeks away. Fortunately, Scott Eyre has very ably filled his role as left handed set-up man in his absence.

Brad Lidge

After making some strides forward with his previous 3 appearances, he crashed on Tuesday evening when he suffered his league leading 9th blown save, giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth. To be fair, and also thoughtful in assessing the meaning of it, Lidge was pitching for the 4th consecutive day. In retrospect, his bad outing was most likely attributable to being overworked and not something to get overly alarmed about in terms of his pitching ability. The key will be whether Lidge can use a little selective amnesia and not let it erode his confidence.

All in all, the Phillies continue to roll on, winning 12 of their last 15 games, while expanding their division lead to 7 games. This gives them some flexibility to work through the difficulties, but it still remains critical for these four key members of their staff to find their groove as the games get more intense and meaningful. The team's lofty post season aspirations will surely require it.