Remember that game last Wednesday. Cliff Lee was on the mound and pitched a great game, home runs were flying out of the park for the Phillies and it was Brad Lidge bobblehead night. I was at that game and decided to keep my Lidge bobblehead at my office sitting on my desk. I came into work this morning to find the Lidge bobblehead in the trash can, because my co-worker couldn't stand to look at. It is still sitting in the trash can because I can't stand to look at it. NINE blown saves this year. What happened to the closer that was perfect last year? Charlie Manuel has a decision to make soon with less then 40 games left in the season as we move towards October baseball.
The first pitch of the game last night Jimmy Rollins sent it over the wall to give the Phils a 1-0 lead and things looked all good, business as usual, fly out to Pittsburgh for the first game and continue winning baseball games. Blanton had another servicable start going 6 innings stiking out 7, but let up a 2 run homer in the 6th to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. I wasn't even worried because this team can put up multiple runs in any inning to come back and win. And come back they did. In the top of the ninth, the Phils got doubles by Carlos Ruiz & Ben Franscisco then followed up with a Shane Victorino triple that was misplayed by centerfielder Andrew McCutchen. Come from behind in the ninth, now its Brad Lidge time. A time that has been shaky all season and has given Phillies fans worries all year. Lidge let up 2 singles and Werth dropped a ball he was trying to pick up and throw that made his throw home off line. Game tied, blown save #9 for the year. Now its 4-4, and up steps McCutchen the speedy rookie who lost the lead for the Pirates just a half an inning earlier, and bang. 2 run walk off homer to win the game 6-4 and the Pirates took game 1 of the series.
Charlie Manuel was quoted after the game, "We just keep going. We just keep playing," Manuel said. "That's where we're at. That's our closer. That's the guy we give the ball to in the ninth inning." Well Charlie the guy you keep giving the ball to keeps blowing games for you. We are coming into the final stretch of the season and this cannot keep happening. Only positive out of this situation I can see, its not the playoffs yet and we could have other options out of the bullpen that may help.
The Phils still hold a 7 game lead in the NL East over both the Marlins and Braves who are both battling for a wild card spot so they will continue to try to win games down the stretch. Tonight the not so great lately Cole Hamels(7-8) faces off against Paul Maholm(7-7). Here's to hoping the Phils get up early and often and we don't have to discuss our closer situation tomorrow morning. The bobblehead is still sitting in the trash can........
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