You may remember Mark Buerhle’s perfect game last season. You may also remember that iSportacus roving reporter, Koob, was at that game. The 18th perfect game in MLB history would not have happened without that theatrical catch by DeWayne Wise in the top of the ninth inning (he was inserted into the game in that inning by Ozzie Guillen as a defensive substitution).

What you may not know is that Wise is now a Phillie. He signed with the club back in November and is likely to be in Lehigh Valley this season, though an injury or two to the big club’s outfielders could see Wise in a Phillies uniform at some point this season. And with his history of robbing hitters of home runs in mind, this may be music to Brad Lidge’s ears.

Much is being made of the fact that Jayson Werth is in the last year of his contract with the Phillies. Werth is due $7.5 million this year, which will make him the 7th-highest player on a team that has a $138 million payroll for the 2010 season. Ruben Amaro has made a lot of noise about the fact that this team is not the New York Yankees, presumably meaning that the Phillies cannot afford to have more than 4 or 5 players making more than $15 million per season. How this relates to their ability to resign Werth is unclear at this point, so let’s take a look at some of the Phillies’ payroll commitments for the near future.

In the short term, the six Phillies who will make more money than Werth this season are Ryan Howard ($19 million), Roy Halladay ($15.75), Chase Utley ($15.29), Raul Ibanez ($12.17), Brad Lidge ($12) and Jimmy Rollins ($8.5). All six of these players are under contract for the 2011 season and only two of them, Howard and Halladay, are due raises in ‘11 ($1 million and $4.25, respectively). This means that the Phillies are committed for about $88 million in 2011 for their top players and $133 million altogether.

Going a step further, Raul Ibanez’s advanced age and free agent status makes him a certain subtraction from the Phils’ payroll in 2012. Brad Lidge (who knows what he’ll be like in 2 years) is only due $1.5 million in 2012. Utley and Halladay are both under contract through the 2013 season so Jimmy Rollins will have to be renegotiated (2012 is the last year of his deal). With the bulk of the Phillies minor league talent existing in the form of outfielders, the need for Werth’s services past the 2011 season are questionable, which may make parting ways with him palatable for Amaro and the organization. But that all boils down to how much money Werth can expect from suitors in the free agency market.

Obviously, Ruben Amaro is better in touch with the mechanics of free agency than we are, so let’s just do a cursory look at what Werth, a career .265 hitter, can expect in the form of a raise. Statistically, Werth is coming off his most impressive season. He hit 50% more home runs in 2009 than in his next-most productive season (24 in 2008). He’s never tallied more than 100 RBI (max was 99 last season) and he’s never had an OPS better than .879. His career strikeout-to-walk ratio isn’t good (just about 1 BB for every 2 Ks) and while Werth does have good range in right field, his speed hasn’t translated that well to his stolen base totals: his best seasons were ‘08 and ‘09 where he stole 20 bases each season. For his career, he steals a base about once in every nine games he plays.

Let’s take Jason Bay’s signing by the Mets as a comparison. Bay’s contract will pay him $54.5 million over the next 4 years, plus a $17 million club option for 2014, meaning he’ll average about $13.63 million in his guaranteed years with the Mets. Considering Werth is making $7.5 million, should he expect a $6 million raise on par with a guy like Bay?

Like Werth, Bay has played 7 Major League seasons. His career average is .280. He hit the same number of home runs as Werth this past season (let’s consider Fenway Park and Citizens Bank Park to be washes in terms of their favorability to power hitters–two of the smallest lots in baseball). Bay has hit twice as many home runs in his career than Werth (185-93). Bay has tallied more than 100 RBI in 4 of his 7 seasons (119 in 2009) and has a career OPS of .896 which is better than Werth’s best single-season OPS. Bay’s SO-BB ratio is about 6% better than Werth’s. While Bay has a career best of 21 stolen bases (exceeding Werth’s best season), that was in 2005 and he only steals a base every 14 games.

We know the Mets are a relatively free-spending team when it comes to free agency. Considering they are spending less than $15 on Jason Bay (who has had a markedly better offensive career than Werth), can we really project that Werth will be able to command a contract that pays him in excess of $15 million per season? And assuming we can’t, how should we take Amaro’s argument that a likely parting with Werth will happen because the Phillies don’t want to overspend, on par with a team like the Yankees?

Jayson Werth is a very good outfielder who is coming off his best season. But it seems unlikely to me that Werth will command the kind of money that will prevent the Phillies from making him a competitive offer in free agency. So if the magic number is $140 million for 2011 and the Phillies are already committed to $133 million (with all the other top players under contract), it will be interesting to see how far over $140 Amaro will be willing to go to resign Werth.

pic via Balls, Sticks and Stuff

The Phillies captured their 3rd-straight N.L. East title last night by beating the Astros virtue of the Braves losing moments before Brad Lidge was brought into the game with 26 Astros’ outs in the book. I thought that move by Charlie Manuel showed what a gentleman he is to make a point on the grand stage of the team’s clinching the division that even its most maligned star will not be thrown on the trash heap. Of course, Jamie Moyer’s season-ending injury prevents Manuel from having to make such a decision of the 46-year old but at least Lidge got some time in the sun. We should all take stock in the fact that this team’s accomplishments may well not have come about without the leadership of one of the classiest men in baseball.

The next 4 days present somewhat of a dilemma for Manuel. On one hand, jockeying for seeding position against the other 3 playoff teams could result in favorable matchups/home field. But with the Phillies desperately in need of some rest and lots of work to do on the bullpen, this time is better spent working out the kinks. So expect to see a lot of Adam Tracy and Eric Bruntlett this weekend. I can stand to miss Utley and Ibanez for a few games if it means they’re fresh next week at this time, when it counts.

Brad Lidge is in the midst of a historic season. The record for most blown saves in a season is 14, held by 5 players, including Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers. But that 14 is deceptive as the last guy to do it was Ron Davis in 1984. Back then, relief pitchers usually went 2-3 innings, so there was way more time to blow a save. The “modern” record is 12, set by Ambiorix Burgos of the Kansas City Royals in 2006. He is currently in jail for beating his girlfriend.

I wrote recently about how Charlie should be commended for sticking by Brad. However, think it is obviously time for some straight talk and a change. Brad Lidge has given up 16 hits, 5 walks, and 11 earned runs in his last 8 2/3 innings. That is beyond awful. There is no way he should be on the postseason roster. None. Charlie has tried everything, and everything has failed. I would honestly rather see Jose Mesa recalled and take over the closing role than see Brad trot out there one more time. It’s time to turn the lights out.

Barring a 1964 type collapse, the Phillies are essentially playing out the string, and 2 wins over the Braves this weekend in Atlanta pretty much ended any hopes the Braves had of making a run. So yesterday you probably were watching the Eagles instead of the Phillies. I was too. But I looked at the box score and, surprise surprise, Brad Lidge gave up another run in the bottom of the 9th inning. To show you just how worthless the stat of save is, he has allowed 4 runs in his last three innings…and recorded three saves. It looks like the Phillies are counting on having three run leads throughout the playoffs, as Lidge is incapable of shutting teams down. He has given up 13 hits, 5 walks, one hit batter, and 9 earned runs in his last 8 innings. In other words, over two runners per game are getting on base, and at least one of them is scoring. And as bad as he’s been in this streak, it has hardly affected his ERA at all.

As we watch this juggernaut of a Phillies team (better in every department over last year other than closing and bench hitting) march towards the playoffs, one cannot help but think of Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War. When he was an infant, his mom (Thetis) grabbed him by the ankle and dunked him in the River Styx. Everything the sacred waters touched became invulnerable, but the heel Thetis held him by stayed dry. As an adult, he was indestructible in battle, destroying everyone in his path, running roughshod over overmatched foes, much as the Phillies have in the NL East. But Paris shot for his heel, and when the arrow hit it’s mark, Achilles fell dead.

And so go the mighty Phils into battle, with a lineup seemingly sent to us from the baseball Gods, one that is one World Series win away from being mentioned in the same breath as the deities known as the Big Red Machine and the Murderer’s Row. And yet, the Baseball Gods are lovers of chicanery, and have left one heel frightfully exposed. That heel goes by the name of Brad Lidge, and once the playoffs start, opponents with sharp arrows will know exactly where to aim.

photo courtesy of weshouldbegms.com

While yesterday was a glorious day to be a Philadelphia sports fans in some ways (Phils win 2 over Mets, Eagles win blowout), there were also dark clouds forming on the horizon (McNabb hurt, Brad Lidge…being Brad Lidge). A day after Ryan Madsen choked against the Mets, allowing David Wright to win the game for New York, Brad Lidge entered with a 5-2 lead and instantly fell to pieces, allowing two runs to score before recording the 3rd out. Needless to say, he’d be facing much tougher batters in St. Louis, LA, or Colorado than he will from a fractured Mets team if the Phils make the playoffs. Incredibly, Madson’s choke job on Saturday gave him the third most blown saves in the majors, with 6. This despite the fact that he’s only had 14 save opportunities! While an excellent 8th inning pitcher, he obviously doesn’t have a closer mentality. Which brings us to fan favorite Brett Myers. Of course, he melted down on Saturday, giving up three runs while recording only one out. So what now? Do you keep plugging away with a two man closer team of Madson and Lidge, despite the fact that they have combined to blow 16 games? Do you take a chance with Myers? And what about the most underrated player on this team this year, Chan Ho Park? Does he deserve a shot? There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding a team that, outside of the bullpen, is the 2nd best team in baseball besides the Yankees.

The Phillies got the series win against the Braves this weekend and probably closed the door on the division, gaining an 8 game lead in the process. While I saw neither of the first two games, last night’s game was a success in the sense that it gave me very little to get angry about (I’m choosing to ignore Ryan Madson). Brad Lidge got another save, the bottom of the order hit well and Joe Blanton gave the Phillies another quality start (he has 18 on the season, only 4 behind N.L. leader, Tim Lincecum).

Given the dimensions of Citizen’s Bank Park, it’s amazing that the Phillies had such an early season slump at home. I mention that because I came across the stat yesterday (a Beerleaguer tweet, I believe it was) that the Phillies lead all teams in percentage of runs scored via home run. 46% of the Phillies runs have come off the long ball, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but isn’t the kind of approach that traditionally leads to huge success in the post season. With that said, the Phillies did win the World Series last year with essentially the same lineup. Yet anyone who watches Jayson Werth swing the bat knows that it’s not just Matt Stairs who tries to go deep on every pitch.

And two quick personnel notes. As today is the last day to acquire a postseason-eligible player off waivers, it’s being reported that the Phillies are scouting Nomar Garciaparra. Now I know some folks will say the Phils have the right-handed-hitting-bench-player-who-can-play-any-infield-position spot covered in Eric Bruntlett, so chew this information very slowly before swallowing. Also on the waiver wire/rumor wire is news that the Brewers won’t reveal which team has claimed all-time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman, off waivers. Could it be the Phillies?

When Jamie Moyer was bumped to the bullpen for Pedro, it was the first sign that Charlie was managing the 2009 team, not the 2008 team. It’s time for another move. Brad Lidge 2008 and Brad Lidge 2009 are two entirely different creatures, with the 2008 version looking like Megan Fox and the 2009 version looking like Grigori Rasputin.

Lidge is making a run at the record for most blown saves in a season in the 2000s (12), set by Ambiorix Burgos in 2006. (Burgos is currently doing time in prison.) But those blown saves were for a Royals team that won like 25 games all season, so they were irrelevant. These blown saves are too, to a certain extent, because the Phils would still win this division if they had Curious George pitch the 9th. But they won’t be going anywhere in October with Lidge as the closer. There is no way I want to see Brad Lidge pitch to a single batter on the Cards or the Rockies. I would honestly rather see Scott Eyre than Brad Lidge. I’d rather see Ryan Madsen than Brad Lidge. I would rather see Antonio Alfonseca than Brad Lidge.

The Phillies have the rare luxury of having a month to figure this out. The team is so good that they can fend off the Marlins and the Braves with starting pitching and hitting alone, so they need to start trying out others for the closer role. And who knows, perhaps a couple of low key appearances in blow outs with no pressure on will help Lidge get his groove back. But what’s going on right now isn’t working, and will not work. As Einstein told us, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Continuing with Lidge at this point would simply be insane.

Apparently Jamie Moyer is unhappy with the fact he’s been demoted to the bullpen. Of the impression he had that his starting spot in the rotation was guaranteed, Moyer said the following:

Ultimately, I’m a little disheartened because I know this past winter, when I was negotiating with the Phillies, this was a sore thumb, if you will, about this potentially happening. You can’t promise anything in this game, but I really feel like Ruben kind of parlayed to me that this type of situation would not happen.

In response, Ruben Amaro said “and you and your agent assured me and my staff that you wouldn’t suck.”

Of course Amaro didn’t say that but perhaps he should have. Obviously, the contract negotiations included the part about how the Phillies would intend to continue using Moyer as he’s always been used: as a starter. But nowhere is it written that he is inked-in for 40 starts during the season. Especially when his ERA ranks 91st in the N.L. among all pitchers who’ve started a game this year.

On one hand, I feel bad for Moyer because his benching really doesn’t accomplish anything. His replacement, Pedro Martinez, is most-likely not going to pitch his way into the playoff rotation so Moyer’s being cooled for a long shot. But on the other hand, Moyer has been around long enough to realize that performance dictates playing time. At some point (Brad Lidge) the manager has to make a change when something isn’t working (Brad Lidge) regardless of how dear the player is to the team’s soul.

Last night Cole Hamels was magnificent against the Diamondbacks. Despite the fact they’re an awful team, Hamels’ line was dominating: 8 innings, 4 hits allowed, 1 earned run with a 9 strikeout to 0 walk ratio. Hamels’ last three starts have yielded equally gawdy numbers. He’s 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA, a 1.67 BAA and a 20 strikeout to 3 walk ratio. Granted, 2 of those outings were against San Diego and Arizona (and the 3rd against Florida) but at least Hamels is finding a comfort zone and winning games. As we approach the homestretch that’s what it’s all about.

Colebert Richard Hamels’ improved pitching may turn out to be for naught. As would the acquisition of Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay or Walter Johnson for that matter. The reason? Brad Lidge. Lidge did his best to blow yet another save last night as he gave up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that almost landed in the Grand Canyon. Ironically, it was hit by Mark Reynolds, the only man in MLB history to strike out more times in a season than Ryan Howard.

Come to think of it, the decisive stat that may make the Phillies willing to trade for Halladay after all is his 44 career complete games. Seriously, if Brad Lidge is going to continue to be this bad, you may need a pitcher who can close his own starts. Last year, Lidge’s ERA was 1.95 during his “perfect season.” This year it is 7.11. If the Phillies want to experience anything like they did last October, Ruben Amaro may well be as busy before Friday finding a closer as he is trying to find a starter.