bullpen problems updated 4/10

all4phillysportsfan · 03-17-2007, 10:22 AM

Phils' pen continues sad story | Inquirer | 03/17/2007

Phils' pen continues sad storyThree hurlers allowed seven runs yesterday, and spots remained up for grabs.
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
LAKELAND, Fla. - Does anybody want a job?
The Phillies played their 16th Grapefruit League game yesterday, a 12-9 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium, and so far manager Charlie Manuel hasn't seen anybody step forward to claim one of the available jobs in the bullpen.

So far, he has seen nothing that makes him feel confident about handing the ball from a starter to a reliever come April 2.

"I'm concerned about it," Manuel said, "but we talked about that in the winter."

The Phillies' bullpen allowed seven runs in 31/3 innings yesterday. It also allowed three inherited runners to score.

Combined, that's 10 runs.

But that's been the norm. The 14 Phillies relief pitchers currently in camp have a 7.14 ERA in 691/3 innings.

"That speaks for itself," Manuel said. "We've got jobs, roles, whatever, that are wide open. Somebody ought to be able to step up and take one of them, shouldn't they?"

One would think.

Five pitchers are considered locks for the bullpen. They are, along with their statistics, righthanders Tom Gordon, with two scoreless innings in two appearances; Antonio Alfonseca, with a 6.00 ERA in three appearances; Geoff Geary, who has a 4.91 ERA in five outings; and Ryan Madson, with a 6.00 ERA in three appearances; as well as lefthander Matt Smith, who has compiled a 16.62 ERA in four outings.

Lefthander Fabio Castro is a strong candidate should the Phillies fail to acquire a veteran lefthander, which they said they would like to do. In four appearances, Castro has an 11.05 ERA.

Rule 5 draft picks Alfredo Simon, who has amassed a 12.46 ERA in three appearances, and Jim Ed Warden, who has an 8.31 ERA in five outings, haven't made a favorable impression.

Then there are others such as Clay Condrey (8.44 ERA), Kane Davis (7.36 ERA), Justin Germano (4.50 ERA) and Brian Sanches (7.56 ERA).

Ryan Cameron has a 2.25 ERA in three appearances, however.

Germano and Condrey are out of options. That means if they don't make the 25-man roster, they would need to clear waivers to remain with the Phillies.

Joe Bisenius has thrown well. He hasn't allowed a run in four appearances, but the Phillies think he needs seasoning and is more likely to open the season with triple-A Ottawa, with a midseason call-up likely.

"At this point, I don't rule anybody out," Manuel said. "He's looked real good. He lacks experience, but we'll keep running him out there and we'll see what happens. I like his arm. He's been throwing strikes. We'll see."

Manuel talked to his players in the outfield before Thursday night's game against Toronto at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater.

"I told them the importance of the next 18 days or whatever," he said. "From here on out is big. I think they know the importance of it."

Freddy lives. Righthander Freddy Garcia allowed one run, three hits and one walk through four innings yesterday before he found trouble in the fifth. That's when he walked two and allowed two hits before Brian Sanches allowed a bases-clearing double.

"I'll be ready for the season," Garcia said.

The 31-year-old righthander pitched between 85 and 89 m.p.h. in his first Grapefruit League start on March 10. He consistently threw around 88 m.p.h. yesterday.

There were concerns about Garcia's velocity last season. Garcia said he was fatigued after pitching an entire postseason for the World Series champion Chicago White Sox in 2005 and then participating in the World Baseball Classic last March.

Garcia said his arm was feeling much fresher this spring, but also said he was fine throwing 88 to 90 m.p.h.

"I've thrown a lot of innings the last eight years," Garcia said.

Said Manuel: "He's figured out how to pitch. I think how he feels will determine how much velocity he has. Last year, at times, he could get up to 93. He used to be better than that, but there's a lot more in his arm."

We need to acquire somebody. We can't keep letting this go anymore. Linebrink, Benitez, Chad Qualls, Rick Bauer, please Pat Gillick we need another arm.

fire_bettman · 03-17-2007, 05:20 PM

do you think they will try to get cormier back ? i saw in the daily news the reds might move him

all4phillysportsfan · 03-17-2007, 06:34 PM

Actually I wouldn't mind Cormier at all. He would probably be our 2nd best pitcher in that pen right now.

fire_bettman · 03-17-2007, 09:48 PM

i agree

all4phillysportsfan · 03-18-2007, 08:11 AM

Lets make that trade we made with the Reds. Trade Germano for Cormier, maybe instead of Germano how about Carlos Ruiz, and keep Coste as our backup catcher.

fire_bettman · 03-18-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Trade Germano for Cormier

i could live with that

all4phillysportsfan · 03-19-2007, 08:23 AM

Hey fire, I have a list of possible arms that the Phillies could acquire. I am talking about names that have been thrown out there as trade bait or pitchers that have been released:

Scott Linebrink- San Diego
Armando Benitez-San Francisco
Brian Meadows- released by Cincinnati
Rheal Cormier-Cincinnati
Chad Qualls-Houston
Rick Bauer-Texas
Joaquin Benoit-Texas
Byun-Hyun Kim- Colorado

In your opinion, who would you like? I want Linebrink, but right now I'll take any of those pitchers over our current staff.

fire_bettman · 03-19-2007, 08:09 PM

i would like to see cormier or linebrink... i think cormier would cost us less

any idea why meadows was released?. i dont know much about him but i thought i remembered him being an ok pitcher

all4phillysportsfan · 03-19-2007, 10:05 PM

Not sure why Meadows was released, but the Reds do have an abundance of relievers: Todd Coffey,Mike Stanton, Weathers,Dustin Hermanson,Cormier. So Meadows was released. He was half decent for Florida, I think He would be alot better than Alfonseca, and Castro right now.

fire_bettman · 03-20-2007, 09:25 PM

we should give him a shot if it doesnt cost us any players

Emmanuel · 03-21-2007, 01:42 AM

Armando Benitez is the human form of gasoline.
Meadows isn't much of an upgrade
Baurer isn't much of an upgrade
Byung Hung Kim I would like to see him back in the pen, when he first came to the majors he was eletric
Joanquin Benoit is a young guy with some upside
Chad Quallls would be a great option, although I am not sure what the Astros would want
Linebrink is the ideal fit however

all4phillysportsfan · 03-21-2007, 06:53 AM

I think Meadows would be an upgrade over Alfonseca, plus then we could send Castro back to AAA. Kim was great with Arizona in his 1st couple of years, his stuff was great, then they moved him into the rotation and it was a shell shock to him.

fire_bettman · 03-21-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Armando Benitez is the human form of gasoline.

i agree this would be like arthur rhodes part 2

Emmanuel · 03-22-2007, 12:48 AM

I wouldn't put Castro in AAA . I think he has really solid stuff

all4phillysportsfan · 03-22-2007, 03:05 AM

He does, but I think the Phillies want him to be in the rotation at AAA. I think he's more useful than a setup man, why not give him a chance to start.

03-17-2007, 10:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	bullpen problems updated 4/10 Phils' pen continues sad story \| Inquirer \| 03/17/2007 Phils' pen continues sad storyThree hurlers allowed seven runs yesterday, and spots remained up for grabs. By Todd Zolecki Inquirer Staff Writer LAKELAND, Fla. - Does anybody want a job? The Phillies played their 16th Grapefruit League game yesterday, a 12-9 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium, and so far manager Charlie Manuel hasn't seen anybody step forward to claim one of the available jobs in the bullpen. So far, he has seen nothing that makes him feel confident about handing the ball from a starter to a reliever come April 2. "I'm concerned about it," Manuel said, "but we talked about that in the winter." The Phillies' bullpen allowed seven runs in 31/3 innings yesterday. It also allowed three inherited runners to score. Combined, that's 10 runs. But that's been the norm. The 14 Phillies relief pitchers currently in camp have a 7.14 ERA in 691/3 innings. "That speaks for itself," Manuel said. "We've got jobs, roles, whatever, that are wide open. Somebody ought to be able to step up and take one of them, shouldn't they?" One would think. Five pitchers are considered locks for the bullpen. They are, along with their statistics, righthanders Tom Gordon, with two scoreless innings in two appearances; Antonio Alfonseca, with a 6.00 ERA in three appearances; Geoff Geary, who has a 4.91 ERA in five outings; and Ryan Madson, with a 6.00 ERA in three appearances; as well as lefthander Matt Smith, who has compiled a 16.62 ERA in four outings. Lefthander Fabio Castro is a strong candidate should the Phillies fail to acquire a veteran lefthander, which they said they would like to do. In four appearances, Castro has an 11.05 ERA. Rule 5 draft picks Alfredo Simon, who has amassed a 12.46 ERA in three appearances, and Jim Ed Warden, who has an 8.31 ERA in five outings, haven't made a favorable impression. Then there are others such as Clay Condrey (8.44 ERA), Kane Davis (7.36 ERA), Justin Germano (4.50 ERA) and Brian Sanches (7.56 ERA). Ryan Cameron has a 2.25 ERA in three appearances, however. Germano and Condrey are out of options. That means if they don't make the 25-man roster, they would need to clear waivers to remain with the Phillies. Joe Bisenius has thrown well. He hasn't allowed a run in four appearances, but the Phillies think he needs seasoning and is more likely to open the season with triple-A Ottawa, with a midseason call-up likely. "At this point, I don't rule anybody out," Manuel said. "He's looked real good. He lacks experience, but we'll keep running him out there and we'll see what happens. I like his arm. He's been throwing strikes. We'll see." Manuel talked to his players in the outfield before Thursday night's game against Toronto at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater. "I told them the importance of the next 18 days or whatever," he said. "From here on out is big. I think they know the importance of it." Freddy lives. Righthander Freddy Garcia allowed one run, three hits and one walk through four innings yesterday before he found trouble in the fifth. That's when he walked two and allowed two hits before Brian Sanches allowed a bases-clearing double. "I'll be ready for the season," Garcia said. The 31-year-old righthander pitched between 85 and 89 m.p.h. in his first Grapefruit League start on March 10. He consistently threw around 88 m.p.h. yesterday. There were concerns about Garcia's velocity last season. Garcia said he was fatigued after pitching an entire postseason for the World Series champion Chicago White Sox in 2005 and then participating in the World Baseball Classic last March. Garcia said his arm was feeling much fresher this spring, but also said he was fine throwing 88 to 90 m.p.h. "I've thrown a lot of innings the last eight years," Garcia said. Said Manuel: "He's figured out how to pitch. I think how he feels will determine how much velocity he has. Last year, at times, he could get up to 93. He used to be better than that, but there's a lot more in his arm." We need to acquire somebody. We can't keep letting this go anymore. Linebrink, Benitez, Chad Qualls, Rick Bauer, please Pat Gillick we need another arm. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.

03-17-2007, 06:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	Actually I wouldn't mind Cormier at all. He would probably be our 2nd best pitcher in that pen right now. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.

03-18-2007, 08:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	Lets make that trade we made with the Reds. Trade Germano for Cormier, maybe instead of Germano how about Carlos Ruiz, and keep Coste as our backup catcher. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.

03-19-2007, 08:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	Hey fire, I have a list of possible arms that the Phillies could acquire. I am talking about names that have been thrown out there as trade bait or pitchers that have been released: Scott Linebrink- San Diego Armando Benitez-San Francisco Brian Meadows- released by Cincinnati Rheal Cormier-Cincinnati Chad Qualls-Houston Rick Bauer-Texas Joaquin Benoit-Texas Byun-Hyun Kim- Colorado In your opinion, who would you like? I want Linebrink, but right now I'll take any of those pitchers over our current staff. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.

03-19-2007, 08:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
fire_bettman Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south jersey Posts: 400	i would like to see cormier or linebrink... i think cormier would cost us less any idea why meadows was released?. i dont know much about him but i thought i remembered him being an ok pitcher Last edited by fire_bettman; 03-19-2007 at 08:14 PM.

03-17-2007, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
fire_bettman Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south jersey Posts: 400	do you think they will try to get cormier back ? i saw in the daily news the reds might move him

03-17-2007, 09:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
fire_bettman Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south jersey Posts: 400	i agree

03-19-2007, 10:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	Not sure why Meadows was released, but the Reds do have an abundance of relievers: Todd Coffey,Mike Stanton, Weathers,Dustin Hermanson,Cormier. So Meadows was released. He was half decent for Florida, I think He would be alot better than Alfonseca, and Castro right now. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.

03-20-2007, 09:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
fire_bettman Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: south jersey Posts: 400	we should give him a shot if it doesnt cost us any players

03-21-2007, 01:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
Emmanuel Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 112	Armando Benitez is the human form of gasoline. Meadows isn't much of an upgrade Baurer isn't much of an upgrade Byung Hung Kim I would like to see him back in the pen, when he first came to the majors he was eletric Joanquin Benoit is a young guy with some upside Chad Quallls would be a great option, although I am not sure what the Astros would want Linebrink is the ideal fit however

03-21-2007, 06:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	I think Meadows would be an upgrade over Alfonseca, plus then we could send Castro back to AAA. Kim was great with Arizona in his 1st couple of years, his stuff was great, then they moved him into the rotation and it was a shell shock to him. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.

03-22-2007, 12:48 AM	#14 (permalink)
Emmanuel Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 112	I wouldn't put Castro in AAA . I think he has really solid stuff

03-22-2007, 03:05 AM	#15 (permalink)
all4phillysportsfan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,630	He does, but I think the Phillies want him to be in the rotation at AAA. I think he's more useful than a setup man, why not give him a chance to start. __________________ Philly Sports: The worst drought in America.