Thoughts on today's injury notes in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
My only criticism of Abreu in the past is that he’s shied away from big at bats. However, I don’t cite that reasoning for his recent invisibility on this road trip.
Abreu, quite simply, is out of gas.
While Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have captured most of the headlines, Abreu has taken the field for nearly every game this season, maintaining his usual level of high production. He leads his team in BA (.292), OBP (.412) and is second in the National League in walks (113).
His dexterity is the easiest quality to overlook. Columnist Rob Neyer called “games” the most underrated stat in baseball. Abreu leads the Phillies in games with an incredible 155, and he and leadoff man Jimmy Rollins rank first and second in baseball in plate appearances (Rollins 783, Abreu 766).
Abreu isn’t a spring chicken anymore. He’s 31 and probably at the apex of his career. He’s also a pretty big guy. The media guide says 6-0, 210, but he looks more like 220 or 230.
The Inquirer reported that he’s playing on some bad wheels, and it’s impairing his fielding, base running and hitting. In spite of that, he’s only had one bad game on this trip, and that was the 10-2 comeback against Florida when he went 0-4 with three strikeouts against Dontrelle Willis. He’s reached base in every other game, including an important walk to set up the ninth-inning comeback against Atlanta on Thursday.
Instead of criticizing Abreu for not showing up in September, it’s worth viewing it as a player that spread his contributions evenly over a marathon season, but is paying the price in the stretch.
Madson’s empty tank can be blamed on overuse
While Abreu has been steady, even with injury, pitcher Ryan Madson’s tank is dry because he was overworked earlier in the season.
I can recall at least five occasions when Madson was used when he didn’t need to be, either in garbage time or to preserve a substantial lead.
It’s rare that you get the same three pitchers holding and closing out games. While the three-headed closer of Madson, Ugueth Urbina and Billy Wagner has been effective overall, in hindsight, it would have been better to drop Madson out of many of those appearances.
Teams have also picked up on Madson’s jerky delivery and change-up money pitch, just as he’s hitting a physical and mechanical wall.
I’d drop Madson into Rheal Cormier territory for the remainder of the season. He's a pretty big mess right now.
Do you think they are picking up on Madson's change-up better because his fastball velocity is down because he is tired? In other words, there isn't as big a difference in the two pitches. And by the way, didn't we all worry about this about a month and a half ago?
Posted by: Tom G | Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 01:17 PM
TG: I cannot tell if he is throwing the change as often as he did earlier in the season. Perhaps he doesn't trust it as much. I also think the velocity on his fastball is not the biggest problem with that pitch; I don't think it has much movement, and without that it is very hittable. Maybe overuse has effected that aspect of his fastball.
Posted by: Tom Goodman | Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 05:14 PM
Like a lot of fastball-changeup guys, once they lose command, they're screwed. Madson has been a foot off the plate some nights. He needs to get that changeup over to buckle hitters for called strikes or to make them chase on a pitch that looks like a fastball coming over the zone. That's his primary problem. In addition, it appears that hitters have a clean read on him.
In terms of how he's been used, just because he's young, doesn't mean he can last. That was the Phillies mistake this season. He was hurt last season, and he's apparently hurt now. He's not a workhorse.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 07:26 PM
calling gene mauch...
Posted by: ae | Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 10:21 PM
to me, he just doesnt have the same control of his pitches and i think that's been a little of problem all yr for him..i recall some mid summer games where he uncorked a wild pitch or hit a guy in a key spot..just this yr he's struggled a bit..
lately its obvious as you all have pointed out that he is out of gas..so its gotta be fultz, urbina wagner..question is will the phillies do it that way..
as down on cormier as we all are, he got some key outs in the 11-10 game on friday.
what a weekend...if you told me friday morning 1 game out monday, i would have taken it.
Posted by: Ken | Monday, September 26, 2005 at 10:43 AM