It just ain't Cole Hamels' season. Even on a night when he throws eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts, Hollywood wasn't awarded a win in the Phillies' 4-1 defeat of the Pirates. Because once again, a save was blown. It wasn't Brad Lidge this time, but rather the most likely candidate (at least before last night) to "ascend" to the closer's role should Lidge be relieved of those duties. Ryan Madson's first stint as Phillies closer didn't go very well during Lidge's earlier trip to the DL. However, the sample size was pretty small, so after Lidge BS'd us on Wednesday, the Madson question was again raised.
And in a world of instant gratification...
Ryan Madson, originally uploaded by leezer877.
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Entering the ninth inning with a one-run lead, then walking to the dugout with it tied up, did Madson answer the question for us? Although he gave up just one run—the equalizing homer to pinch hitter Brandon Moss—Madson was afforded another chance to "close" in the same game. The Phils and Mad Dog were saved from true embarrassment when Ryan Howard answered Moss with a three-run shot, and Madson was able to convert the bottom of the tenth to get the worst kind of win in baseball (actually, Matt Capps got that on Wednesday, blowing the lead and winning from the dugout). Madson had given up an earned run in his previous appearance, but when that happens in the eighth inning and the team is up three, the run doesn't receive much scrutiny. It was also the first he'd given up since July 27th.
In any case, Bill Conlin believes it's time for Ruben Amaro Jr to pay Charlie Manuel a visit and force his hand on removing Brad Lidge. Like most of us, OneChair isn't sure who the best closer option is, but he frames the situation poignantly:
Bullpen by committee? Park has been brilliant since his new role was defined. I'm not convinced Ryan Madson, with the best pure stuff on the staff, is emotionally incapable of getting three ninth-inning outs. Myers riding to the rescue in his eye-popping Escalade? Give rehabbed and fire-dealing Scott Mathieson a September look? But all those options and any others are for the baseball people to thrash out. It's why they make the big money.
Meanwhile, a 95-victory season would be a terrible thing to waste.
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And how. So, a day removed from Lidge's ninth blown save, we've seen that Madson remains no sure thing. Brett Myers is part of the discussion, perhaps more so after a dominant two-inning, five K performance for Reading last night. But who knows the level at which Brett comes back in the majors?
If it's game three of a tied NLDS, Phils have a one-run lead, and you're Charlie Manuel... Who closes the game for you? I think we know what Charlie's answer will be, at least for now.
At least Ryan came through for us...