EMA - Payback Sucks

Well, shit.

Someone in the comments section yesterday mentioned that the 'win-at-all-costs' mentality of Tuesday night's game will end up costing the Phillies Wednesday night. Thanks, jerk. That's exactly what happened. Listen, I like the job Rudy Seanez has done so far for the Phillies, but under no circumstances should he be pitching the eighth inning of a game like this. That said, who could they use? From Zolecki's somber game story:

Romero was unavailable because he had thrown at least 20 pitches in each of the last three days. Madson was unavailable after throwing two innings Tuesday. Durbin had pitched in five of the previous seven games.

While the Phils offense had been stymied since the second inning, the game was still tied with six more outs to go for the Fightins when closer Brad Lidge came in, making what I believe to be his first eighth inning appearance. Lidge is terrible in non-save situations. Just awful. Bill James probably has a heart attack everytime someone says Lidge is a top closer because he hasn't blown a save, yet he pitches like this in a tie game against a division rival.

After walking Ryan Church intentionally to put two men on base, Lidge gave up a double to Daniel Murphy that plated Carlos Beltran from second. Daniel Murphy? You're one of the best closers in the game and you let a guy with 57 career at-bats (and one double) knock in the eventual game winner?

"Only one run. Only one run. Still six outs left," you could hear echoing through the seats at CBP. Then also-ran backstop Brian Schneider hit a can of corn down the third base line that nobody could reach, plating two more runs.

Game over.

Links:

• Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus and I have a long-standing debate about two out runs and how important they are to the makeup of a game, and a season. Will claims that over a long haul, runs are runs. It doesn't matter what inning they are scored in or with how many outs. My claim is that it's particularly demoralizing for a team to give up runs with two outs....just one pitch away at any time from getting out of a jam. Instead, failure. After the last two games, Will, prove me wrong again.

• Metsblog: The resilient Mets once again showed again they are a far different team than they were a year ago. (Gag.)

• Looking for pitching help? Randy Miller at Philsville, a site that refuses to use permalinks so you just get linked to the front page and I hope this story is still on top (honestly...), says that Adam Eaton will be called up in September.

Other stuff...

• Due to the glut of running backs, the Birds are trying to make Tony Hunt a fullback. What they should really do is make Correll Buckhalter a wide receiver. Just sayin...

• Chicago malcontent and ATH regular Jay Mariotti resigned this week. Here's an interesting take why, courtesy of Deadspin.

• Local boy Joe Biden has lost his identity. Clicking on JoeBiden.com led me here. If you care to watch Biden's speech from last night, or read what he said, you can do it at HuffPo's website.

See, aggregators can be helpful.

• Second-to-lastly, it turns out there IS a women's soccer league in this country. Just not this year. I joked the other day Carli Lloyd has nowhere to cash in on her gold medal, but it turns out she just might. There's going to be a team in NY/NJ (I love when pro leagues refuse to disrespect either fan base) that will actually be playing close to Philly in 2009. Then Philly gets their own team the next year. Hey, I have a young daughter, so I wouldn't be shocked if you see me there in two years. For now, you can look at the Women's Professional Soccer League's website with hopeful anticipation.

• Last, our fearless leader is coming back today. I think. I'm sure he'll have many stories to tell about China, Hong Kong, LAX and more after traveling for two days to get home. Or he'll take a giant nap and you'll be stuck with me, Kulp, Clare and the rest (there's 'the rest'?) of us for one more day.

• Update: I uploaded my interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols. One of the best shows so far, if I do say so. If you're looking for a way to distract you from yesterday's game, take a listen here.

Cheer up...it really is only one game after all.

Comments

[Jeff]

Actually, Lidge relieved Seanez with 2 outs in the 8th, so it was even worse since he gave up those runs in 1/3 of an inning.

[chris]

i like the opening...

well, shit

[MSM]

I still think Charlie has no clue how to manage late inning pitching. When have you seen a closer succeed when put in a) before the 9th or b) in a tie game? It just doesn't fly. He should have relieved Seanez with someone else, or left him in, and let him finish the inning, and kept Lidge for the ninth. As good as Charlie is with the pinch hit selection, he loses just as many games with his horrendous substitutions (a la Burrell leaving daily between the 7th and 9th) and the pitching changes. This isn't Little League. Everyone doesn't have to play or get a chance every once in a while.

Still, we're even with the Mets... 1/2 game with one in hand. Can't complain too much about that considering at this point last year we were about 5 back.

[Mike H.]

Charlie got Kendrick out of the game at exactly the right time. Eyre came in and got outs fast.

Delgado is 2 for 17 against Madson. Don't tell me he wasn't available, either.

[will]

charlie is an excellent motivator and managed this game entirely on instict. Rudy is the only available pitcher with enough experience to realize what was at stake. What other available pitcher throws the 8th? Burning out your most essential pieces of the pen in late august is not a great way to finish off september (some fans criticize him for that too).

The entire team needs to play well for us to win, all the way down to the last few guys in the pen (who did the job the night before). In hindsight, which we all love to pound charlie, Rudy did not get it done but neither did Lidge. Lidge was our best option, even with two outs in the ninth and the mets took it on one line drive and one nancy blooper--but thats baseball. So, in the end, Charlie doesnt get nearly enough credit. Most phils fans like to knock his decisions but baseball is half execution, and the guys in pinstripes lost the game, not charlie. Any fan can call the game after the fact.

[Jojo]

Is this the 4th series with the Mets this year that has gone this way? We win a thrilling game one only to lose the rest of the series (albeit a two-game one this time).

These are the games we need. If we could just get close to a season split with the stupid Mets (which would require a sweep next go-round), that would put us in the position where we want to be (i.e., the playoffs). I hate these games.

And I'm glad Burrell made the most of his not being taken out in the 7th by going 0-7 the other night. A Met series without Pat's bat just isn't right.

[BaseballFans]

Hey math wonder, the Phillies are 5-10 vs. the Mets this year. Unless the Phillies sweep a 5 game series next week, they ain't winning the season series. Dope. I know, I know, math is sooooo hard down there is Phagadelphia.

[Dan Levy]

Jojo, you don't hate these games. You love these games. We all do. We want more than anything for the Phils to win, but could you imaging being the Braves fans right now?

Hell, could you imagine this being four years ago? I would take 30 more days of popping Tums over living in Kansas City or Washington and loving baseball.

[benjamin]

All I have to say is, when you are planning to bring lidge in, and seanez is 3-6 against delgado with 2 HR's, and it's a 1 run game, I think you bring lidge in then. Need another reason? When lidge is in and it's not a scenario, his era is 2 points higher. So Charlie goes against the numbers in two instances by waiting to bring lidge in.

[Phils Phan]

@ Baseball Fans:

JoJo wrote: "If we could just get close to a season split with the stupid Mets (which would require a sweep next go-round), that would put us in the position where we want to be (i.e., the playoffs)."

You wrote: "Unless the Phillies sweep a 5 game series next week, they ain't winning the season series. Dope. I know, I know, math is sooooo hard down there is Phagadelphia."

JoJo sought "close to a season split," which he noted would take a sweep. And, he is right--a sweep would have the season series finish at 8-10, which is close to a season split (i.e., one win/loss combination short). At no point did he state the Phils could win the season series.

While math may be lacking in Philadelphia, reading comprehension clearly lacks in New York. Dipshit.

[MSM]

@BaseballFans:

Defending Jojo, he said "get close", meaning a sweep would make it 8-10 vs the Mets. Maybe math, as you point out, isn't a strong point overall, but clearly teaching critical reading in the NY PS system is lacking. Go back and get some refresher of that fantastic Regents crap NY offers that is utter garbage in the long run.

Anyway, the only number that matters is 1/2. As in games back, essentially even. Last year we were 5 out at this point. You buying that the Mets will play better in September this year than last? The Mets have the Cubs at the end of the year, and they can't beat the Marlins or Nats with any regularity. Have fun with that.

It's going to go down to the wire, just like last year. Cheers to that.

[MSM]

Ha! Nice pick Jojo. Same time, same channel on that slapdown.

[benjamin]

BaseballFans- maybe it's so hard to READ up there, since you missed JoJo's point of making it CLOSE to a season split. Obviously he knows how many games are left and what the record is. And phagadelphia? Really? Great baseball arguement, "fan". Keep your elementary school persona on your NY blogs.

[Chamomiles Davis]

benjamin,

Wait, wait, I've got one... New DORK!

Ha ha! See what I did there? I took a part of their city's name, and I CHANGED it. That way when they see it, they'll think, "Well, gosh, that SOUNDS like our name, but -- OH, NO! Now everyone will think we're dorks!"

Because that's what passes for wit if you're a Mets fan.

[Nixorbo]

Besides, everybody knows that "Philthydelphia" is the disparaging nickname of choice.

[doc]

how does this happen with 13 pitchers on the roster?

[will]

baseballfans definitely stamped his point by prolonging the word 'so.' Also, failing to read the actual statement and jumping to a conclusion was also amusing.

I am sure he will return to this website to see how bad he 'got us,' thus re-reading the comment he was criticizing and realize what a fool he looks like. Sure, we all make mistakes, but that guy is just one mistake that slipped through the cracks.. or condom.

[BaseballFans]

I must admit I did misread the original post. I have no problem saying that, I goofed and you guys had some fun with it, good work. However, my utter disdain for the citizens of your city remains the same. Further, I find it quite hilarious that you automatically and ignorantly declare my place of residence as New York and anoint me a Mets fan. Just because I made a negative remark about your beloved home squad, it leads to your comments about NY and Mets fans. Good job, I'll be sure to send your comments to people in NY and as many Mets fans I can find. Problem is, d-bags, I can't find many in Central PA. I stumbled upon your blog, enjoyed it for a split second, until I realized what a joke your city and teams are. Cheers.

[Dan Levy]

Hey BaseballFans,

They thought you were a Mets fan because you chose to rip on them the day after a big Phils Mets game where actual Mets fans came on the site to rip on them. Stands to reason you'd be following suit.

The fact that you aren't a Mets fan and you live in Central PA means that you aren't a rival from the north taking a jab at the team from down the Turnpike. No, it wasn't a friendly (or not so friendly) back and forth between the fan bases of bitter rivals.

Nope, it was just someone from Central PA being a jerk. Thanks for clearing that up.

And feel free to send this to all the Mets fans you know. I'm sure they'll care.

One more thing, please tell me what part of the site you liked for a split second. We'll make sure never to have content like that on the site again.

[Regan]

In the teeth of some serious competition, 'MSM' wins this decade's award for the most po-faced posting.

I quote: "Phagadelphia? Really? Keep your elementary school persona on your NY blogs."

Cue a deeply boring lecture on what is and isn't funny, and similarly tedious comments on sportszzzzzz.....