If April was a time to reflect on what Ryan Howard means to the offense, then May has been a way to commemorate what Ryan Madson achieved for nine seasons with the Phillies.
These are career splits, calculated over nine seasons by our good Philly-based friends at Baseball-Reference.com: A 3.05 ERA in relief including 486 strikeouts in 539 innings. A .666 OPS against in situations classified as "high leverage," which can be explained here. A 3.26 ERA on one-day rest, a 3.12 on two, 2.76 on three and 1.08 ERA on four. A .634 opponent OPS in the 8th inning. A .617 OPS in extra innings. A 2.36 ERA against the Marlins, 3.36 against the Braves and 2.87 against the Mets. A durable 66 appearances a season during the Phillies' five-year division pennant run and a 2.89 ERA and 8.6 S0/9 over that span. A career-best 2.37 ERA and 32 saves in 2011. Tell me that wouldn't look good in the Phillies' bullpen right now ...
Nix to the DL: The moves reported by Michael Schwimer on Twitter - promotions for Jake Diekman, Hector Luna and Raul Valdes - were made official. Here are the corresponding moves: Laynce Nix has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a calf strain. Brian Sanches has been outrighted to Triple-A. That's according to multiple sources on twitter. Unsure why Sanches wouldn't need to clear waivers.
And the moves are official. Welcome Diekman, Rauuuuuuul Valdez and Luna. Nix to the DL and Sanches to wherever.
Posted by: gobaystars! | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 02:31 PM
J. Weitzel: you forgot to prefix the first URL with http://
Posted by: lurker | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 02:41 PM
Ryan Madson in the Phillies BP would be awesome....except for the fact that he's out for the season.
I listened to Utley talk about his rehab and then talk about the team. Why do I have a feeling he's going to continue his determination to improve for the rest of the season and beyond, yet never take the field?
It's not his fault, but I still find myself feeling frustrated that he's not coming back any time soon, that it's all still very nebulous, and that we're paying him to be a cheerleader at best. Can he at least watch video of his teammates and work with them on plate discipline, approach, etc.?
Posted by: GBrettFan | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 02:49 PM
And with 3 lefties, Charlie still won't use 1 as a LOOGY.
Posted by: Bill | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 02:53 PM
GBrett: he could replace Gross and be the hitting coach
Posted by: Jbird | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 02:55 PM
MG said in the last thread that the Phils have never overcome a worse spot than they are in right now.
Have people just completely blocked May/June/July of 2010 out of their memories? If you need a refresher, check the BL archives for some first-class bridge jumping.
Posted by: Iceman | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:01 PM
Since Sanches flopped, what member of the '07 bullpen are the Phils are going to pick up off the scrap heap next year?
El Pulpo? Gas Can? Joe Table?
Posted by: MG | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:01 PM
If Utley can hit but can't field and they decide to give up on making him a second baseman this season, I'd love to have him on the bench as a pinch hitter beginning on August 31.
Posted by: polly | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:03 PM
Sh*t El Pulp might do better than EL Big Truck at this point MG.
Posted by: Luis | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:05 PM
MG: if Amaro ends up a seller and produces a pupu platter for hamels like he did for Lee, then maybe us fans should hire Ugie Urbina. . .
Posted by: Jbird | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:06 PM
Hard to get worked up about Madson considering he's injured, but having those numbers in the pen would be great.
Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:12 PM
"Tell me that wouldn't look good in the Phillies' bullpen right now ..."
Meh, the choice was between Madson and Papelbon, who has a 3.00 ERA right now - and IS in the bullpen.
There was no way they were going to have both, and as someone who was in favor of re-signing Madson because he was the known quantity, I view the choice as a 'push'.
Always liked Madson, though, and wish him well.
Posted by: awh | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:19 PM
Utley coming back but unable to field would make for some great Kirk Gibson WS Game 1 potential moments.
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Me and my 6 fingers are ready to pitch for you baby! Put me in your pen!
Posted by: Antonio Alfonseca | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:24 PM
I have a feeling laid back California boy Cole Hamels (though a fierce competitor) wants to return home to southern California. I don't see him re-signing here if either the Dodgers or Angels pursue him.
Posted by: pleasesteak | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:26 PM
The Hamels to LAD/LAA stuff is tired.
Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:31 PM
The Madson point seems irrelevant to me. a) he's injured. b) his replacement has been near flawless. Sure it would have been cool to have a healthy Madson as a set-up guy. But that never seemed like a realistic possibilty. And if he did take that role we'd just have more millions on the D.L. right now.
Posted by: BobbyD | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:34 PM
As bad as the bullpen has been so far, I can think of a hypothetically worse situation. We sign Madson for the reported 4/44 deal in the offseason. He gets hurt, then we have no closer in addition to our current problems.
Posted by: Sil Campusano | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:35 PM
Me and my 6 fingers are ready to pitch for you baby! Put me in your pen!
Posted by: Antonio Alfonseca | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:24 PM
AA - Which finger do you use to flip someone off?
Posted by: Colorado Phan | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:36 PM
If I were from SoCal and one of the teams there wanted me, I think I'd go.
Posted by: BobbyD | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:36 PM
Hamels had PUBLICLY stated he wants to stay in Philliy, and has gone so far as to disparage SoCal fans.
More likely, he'll get big offers from a lot of teams, not just on the West Coast.
He'll be the #1 FA pitcher on the market - a certifiable ace, WS and NLCS MVP, big game pitcher with a 3.09 postseason ERA.
Potential playoff teams (Yankees, RSox, etc.) will not have to worry about how he'll respond in the playoffs.
Posted by: awh | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:36 PM
As far as trades - the blockbuster version- when the phillies gave up a stud, like FJenkins, Schilling, and Rolen come to mind, we always get a pile - of washed up veterans or 'can't miss' that do miss 'prospects, Larry Jackson, Vincente Padilla, and Polly who was eventually trades for UU. (I didnt even include Sanberg or Abreu) I know there are other players involved, but the point is we never get proper value back when we trade our ' superstars' away... We have a history of it,, except for Wise for Carlton trade ...
So what makes me suspicious of what the Amaron brain trust could Get for Shane or Cole...
Posted by: Let's go | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:40 PM
AA - Which finger do you use to flip someone off?
Posted by: Colorado Phan
Esta conundrum!
Posted by: Antonio Alfonseca | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:44 PM
"Hamels had PUBLICLY stated he wants to stay in Philliy, and has gone so far as to disparage SoCal fans."
I don't fully believe him. One rings up points with Philly fans when you disparage other cities and their fans. It gives him street cred.
Posted by: pleasesteak | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:47 PM
Listening to utley on CSN yesterday, my guess is he won't be back until August, maybe, or not at all.. He's in no rush getting to 100% - If that is even achievable--
And it sounds like he won't return until he is at 100%
Posted by: Let's go | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:49 PM
And FWIW, Hamels' dad/family are (or were) Bosox fans.
Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 03:52 PM
Nix to the DL sucks, as he was one of the few guys who has been hitting and who represents a genuine power threat. On the bright side, I'm glad to see that the roster shakeup did not involve the expected demotion of Erik Kratz. Having Kratz & Luna on the 25-man roster at the same time might just be the signature moment of my Beerleaguer career.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:06 PM
Let's go at this another way.........Yes!!! Cole Hamels desperately wants to return to California. So much so that he has refused any offer the Phillies have made and has made it known that they cannot re-sign him and he is sorry he was ever drafted and had to play in Philadelphia. For all the nonsense he has put up with with this fan base it's a wonder he does live in the area and seems to understand this fan base and city.
Posted by: kitty kat | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:06 PM
What's the line-up tonite I wonder?
Posted by: pleasesteak | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:27 PM
Per Salisbury twitter:
Rollins ss. Polanco 3b. Vic cf. Pence rf. Wigg 1b. Ruiz c. Mayberry lf. Galvis 2b. Worley P
Posted by: Steve | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:31 PM
"Having Kratz & Luna on the 25-man roster at the same time might just be the signature moment of my Beerleaguer career"
Seriously, that's the first thing that went through my mind, proving, yet again, I spend far too much time on Beerleaguer.
If ever there were an opportunity for BAP to gloat, or be unabashedly whipped, we've just entered that specific time...
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:35 PM
Ruiz/Worley in the same lineup????
Posted by: Willard Preacher | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:36 PM
So apparently Ruiz can only bat as high as 5th? But Polanco is back in 2nd. Lovely.
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:38 PM
Per Salisbury twitter:
Rollins ss. Polanco 3b. Vic cf. Pence rf. Wigg 1b. Ruiz c. Mayberry lf. Galvis 2b. Worley P
Posted by: Steve
Thanks!
Posted by: pleasesteak | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:43 PM
Yo new thread.
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:44 PM
Phils are -155 with a o/u 7.5, give me the Phils and the over tonight, im feeling good.
Rollins Polly Vic Pence Wigginton Ruiz Mayberry Galvis is a fully RH lineup against a pretty crappy lefty in Richard who has a career .792 OPS against RHB, while Worley has one of the best starts of his career (7IP, 0R, 11K) vs San Diego earlier this season.
Posted by: lorecore | Friday, May 11, 2012 at 04:59 PM