June 20 -- MADSON ON CLOSING

BY SCOTT LAUBER

In late April, when Brad Lidge was shut down for five days after getting his first cortisone injection in his balky right knee, I asked Ryan Madson if there's a discernible difference between pitching the eighth inning with a one-run lead and pitching the ninth. After all, we know there are many times when a setup guy mows down the middle of a lineup in a save situation, and the closer gets the easy task of facing the bottom of a lineup. Anyway, here's what Madson said:

"There's definitely a difference in pitching the ninth inning. Like Billy Wagner used to say, if I don't have it that night, there's no cavalry behind me. You're kind of the last-man standing. It's an overall sense of finality. It's a mentality that you have to get used to, and I think I can do that."

So, tonight, after allowing Gregg Zaun's solo homer and the game-winning, two-run shot by Brian Roberts (on a two-out, two-strike fastball) in a deflating 6-5 loss, Madson stood in front of his locker and refused to blame the defeat on his having to get accustomed to the closer role. And while that's noble (none of Madson's teammates wanted to hear excuses after a loss like this), it's reasonable to believe that Madson, as a fill-in novice closer, is in a tough spot.

By all accounts, Madson's problem tonight was pitch location. The pitch to Roberts, in particular, was up and over the plate, and it was hit hard. Pitch selection may have been an issue, too. Madson threw 22 pitches tonight, 19 fastballs. He threw only two of his signature changeups, both to Roberts. But based on our previous conversations about closing, I asked Madson if he makes a pitch differently when he's in trouble in the ninth inning. Knowing there's no safety net if he allows a run in the ninth, is he more careful (too careful?) when he gets in trouble?

"No," Madson said. "You just try to stay aggressive. I thought I did a good job throwing first-pitch strikes and getting ahead of the guys. I just couldn't put them away tonight."

In case you're wondering, Madson will be back on the mound tomorrow if the Phillies have the lead in the ninth.

"Madson's our closer," Charlie Manuel said.