With the unabridged game story in Wednesday's 50-cent edition filled to the brim with details of Carlos Ruiz's dramatic walk-off home run, let's address some other Phillies issues in The Blog.* Curious about how Brett Myers would respond to his first blown save? Well, he was so eager to put Johnny Estrada's game-tying homer behind him that he was ready to pitch the 10th inning. He would have, too, except that Ruiz homered. "I can't be perfect every time," said Myers, 5-for-6 in save chances with a 1.08 ERA in 14 relief appearances. "I'd like to be. But I can't. I just made a terrible pitch."
* Charlie Manuel won't say whether Myers will remain the closer after Tom Gordon returns from his shoulder injury. And, really, why should he? Gordon hasn't resumed throwing yet, so Manuel doesn't have to make a decision. Although, to me, it's a no-brainer. Myers HAS to be the closer. Who do you want to see in the ninth inning -- Myers or Gordon?
* After starting the season in a 3-for-24 slump, light-hitting Abraham Nunez has 19 hits in his last 47 at-bats for a Ted Williams-like .404 average. What gives? Manuel, who once debated hitting with the Splendid Splinter (that's a story for another day), said Nunez isn't lifting his front leg as high. By shortening his stride, he's driving the ball better. "His stride was real quick," Manuel said. "He wants to hit so bad sometimes that he jumps at the ball. This year, he's kind of smoothed out his stride." So, I ask you, who would you rather see getting the bulk of the playing time at third base -- Nunez or Wes Helms?
* Even after roughing him up the past two nights, the Phillies would still take Derrick Turnbow. In a heartbeat.* Nobody is going to call for Greg Dobbs at first base after Ryan Howard comes back. But check out Dobbs' numbers in his last five games (four starts): 9-for-16, two homers, four RBIs, four runs. For the season, he's batting .312 with 12 RBIs in only 48 at-bats. Pretty good production, don't you think?
* Look who's being brought in to help heal Howard's strained left quad.
4 comments:
The sad part about the Myers/Gordon debate is that I fear Charlie will consider it a tough choice.
I had no idea Nunez was hitting that well.. then again, I hide my eyes when he's up to bat, purely out of habit.
Some would argue that Gordon's best season came when he was the primary set-up man for Rivera with the Yanks. It might be a role he feels more comfortable in in the first place.
It's obvious Dobbs has a bat, but his defense should also get noted. He made a great scoop last night on a throw from Nunez and also turned a very difficult 3-6-3 double play. I'm not advocating he stay at first, but he might be the solution to the Helms/Nunez third base debate.
Fun game to watch. Only thing I didn't like to see was Ryan Howard in the thick of the madhouse/mosh pit at home plate after Ruiz homer.
I must be the only person in Philadelphia who thinks putting Gordon back in the ninth innings isn't such a bad idea.
First off, if we're feeling more confident about Myers than Gordon, isn't he more valuable to the Phils as a "fireman"? Coming into the close games in leveraged situations to try to minimize damage? Given his youth, durability, and obvious talent, this seems, to me, like a more valuable role than pitching 1 inning in a non-leveraged situation.
Secondly, if we feel like the most valuable reliever should be the "closer", isn't there an argument to be made for a healthy Tom Gordon? Sure, if he's not 100%, it's no contest, but take another look at Gordon's first half numbers last year. Gordon's first 15 or 16 innings in 2006 are BETTER than Myers' first 15 or 16 from the 'pen. His first half (read: healthy) numbers are outstanding.
I don't think this choice is that easy at all, and I think it definitely comes down to Gordon's health.
Oh, and as for Nunez vs. Helms. If Helms can't find some power in his bat, then they're essentially the same hitter, aren't they? At least, so far this season, I believe they've been of approximate equal value at the plate. If that continues to be the case, then the tiebreaker must, obviously, go to Abe's glove. If Helms turns it on, and starts posts OBP and slugging numbers like he did last year in Florida, then Abe almost has to be a late inning defensive replacement and spot starter.
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