Brad Lidge had yet another miserable outing in a miserable spring yesterday. After six spring outings, he’s now thrown to a 9.53 ERA and a 2.47 ratio, allowing ten hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. He’s also hit two batters and given up a pair of home runs.
News this morning is that he will start the year on the DL.
The Twins beat the Phils 7-3 yesterday.
Hamels got the start and got hammered. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, five of which went for extra-bases. Minnesota scored three runs in the fourth on two doubles, a popup lost in the sun by Martinez at third and a solo homer. They added three more on a three-run homer by Delmon Young in the fifth.
After six spring starts, Hamels has a 6.75 ERA and a 1.42 ratio. He’s allowed five home runs in 24 innings. The only good news is that he’s struck out 23. Oh yeah, and that spring stats don’t matter at all.
After Hamels left, Baez and Romero each gave the Phils 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Lidge started the ninth and struck out the first two men he faced before allowing a solo homer to Dustin Martin. If you’re thinking you’ve never heard of Dustin Martin, there’s a good chance you’re right. Anyway, after Martin homered the Twins loaded the bases on a single and two walks and Zagurski came in to get the last out of the game. He did, dropping his spring ERA to 1.08.
Castillo was 0-for-4 and struck out twice, making him 0-for-8 in two games with the Phils. Ruiz went 2-for-3 in the game to raise his spring average to .176.
Martinez started at third and went 0-for-4. Orr 0-for-3. Barfield 0-for-1. Mayberry 1-for-1. Young 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Martinez’s line is down to 274/292/419 in 62 at-bats. Orr is at 295/295/545. He’s slugging .545 without a home run, but has four triples.
Gload started the game in right field and went 2-for-3. I’d say never say never, but it kinda seems like a good time to say never. I’m guessing never. Or if not never, not very often.
Gload had trouble with a ball off of the wall in yesterday’s game and had to be helped out by the center fielder (Pete Orr, of course, started the game in center for the Phils).
This says that Lidge will be shut down for the “unforeseen future.” This has more on Lidge’s status.
March 25th, 2011 on 9:45 am
I feel like I’m going to throw up. It would do me good if the Phils could just come out of Spring Training and run the table, 162-0. I have a feeling they will disappoint me in this pressing regard.
Madson? Mathieson? Someone close a thing.
Wait a minute. Madson. Mathieson. Start with “Ma”, end with “son.” Do we have any pitchers in the system named Mason? I think this is the answer.
March 25th, 2011 on 9:54 am
I’m going to be pretty surprised if they don’t let Madson close. Still, the bullpen was already bad. I don’t think losing guys helps much. 162-0 would definitely solve a lot of problems, so I don’t think we should discount it without careful consideration.
March 25th, 2011 on 11:23 am
And you know what else? Someone needs to publicly call out Cole Hamels. He is so over rated it is crazy. Don’t tell me about his gifts or his potential. I’m talking about performance, which given his gifts and potential is utterly inexcusable. Pretty Boy, the Golden Arm, the Phourth Ace needs to be told that he is NONE of those. Cole Hamels is a waste of God given talent. And I’m sick of his lack of game.
March 25th, 2011 on 11:25 am
Blanton is likely to throw one stinker in there, so I’m going with a slightly more realistic expectation of 161-1. Especially if they can’t figure out the closer thing.
Lidge going to the DL may be the best thing for the Phils, especially since it seems that he is in rough shape and there are other younger (cheaper) pitchers who are likely to be more effective. This is the only way that Charlie will give them a real chance.
March 25th, 2011 on 1:22 pm
I would say there’s no chance for Lidge to be good in 2011, but that’s pretty much what I thought in 2010 and he was pretty okay. So I still think he has no chance to be good in 2011, but I think I might be wrong, too. In summary, I think it’s better if he’s not hurt.
I do agree it means there will be other bodies in the pen. That doesn’t mean Charlie has to use them, though. I think it just means more work for the other guys he will use. That could be a problem. I could easily see him blowing out Madson this year, which would be a disaster for the Phils. I will be interested to see what Stutes, Mathieson, Herndon, Kendrick, Worley and Zagurski do this season — the guys just on the outside of the core of the pen. If Manuel gets confidence in some of them, it seems like it could go a long way towards keeping Madson and other core guys healthy. I also think that some of them at least are good enough to contribute.
Hamels was the MVP of the NLCS and the World Series before he turned 25. I’m not saying he’s going to the Hall of Fame, but I’m not sure how nuts we need to go over his spring training stats.
March 25th, 2011 on 3:27 pm
This Orr kid is intriguing.
March 25th, 2011 on 3:29 pm
is it my imagination, or does Contreras look meaniner this year.
March 25th, 2011 on 3:44 pm
If only Orr were actually a kid…and could actually hit against pitchers that won’t be in AAA.
Hamels will be fine. I think our expectations may be a bit high. He will certainly be an above league average pitcher, and the best “fourth” starter in the league.
March 25th, 2011 on 3:54 pm
The more I think about Eric’s comment on Madsen being overworked now, the more I think it may actually happen and the more I get this horrible feeling in my stomach.
March 25th, 2011 on 3:54 pm
Nats announce that they will be hitting Werth in the two hole.
March 25th, 2011 on 4:15 pm
If you think you miss Werth now, just wait a month or so.
I can’t get too excited about Pete Orr. He turns 32 in a few months, has three career home runs and a career on-base percentage of .287. The Phils are desperate, but I’m not sure he’s the silver lining.
I think the only hope for the Phils at second until Utley comes back is that Castillo can play. In 2009 he hit .302 with a .387 on-base percentage for the Mets. That wasn’t so long ago.
Also, Castillo 1-for-2 with a pair of walks just today.
March 26th, 2011 on 2:28 pm
I do miss Werth; right field continues to be a worry. So does the five hole. And I have a hunch that I will miss him again this year. I am firm, though, in knowing that he is not worth the money it would have taken to keep him. If I have to choose between the money and Werth, I choose keeping the money.
Hmm. Was not aware that Pete Orr was that old. Sigh.
March 26th, 2011 on 2:30 pm
Sigurski and Matheson were optioned today.