Posts Tagged Ryan Madson
Blogger Bitch Fight
Posted by Dickie Assburn in General Thoughts, Mic'd Up, Phillies Rants, injuries on January 18th, 2010
Sorry if you're one of the women fighting in this picture... I would've asked for permission, but we all know you're both too trashy to have any idea what copyright infringement is anyway.
I always like to pretend I’m writing about something timely (and by ‘always’ I mean my last two entries), and ‘bitch fights’ are actually very timely. Over at NBC, Conando and Jay ‘Wake up-shitty monologue-star guests-Kevin Eubanks-shitty band-go to bed’ Leno are involved in a bitch fight over who gets to speak directly after the local news. Conan shits all over Jay’s life – this is something we all know and love. However, how many people actually watch these two? Everyone loves to say ‘I Love Conan!!!!!!’ but how many people actually watch him every night? The same can be said for Jay Leno. No one really watches them. They just want to take sides and talk shit whenever they can… and such is the human condition.
Notice: Conan = Matt Damon creeping around town in The Departed aka bad ass. Leno = Mehhh can you tell I just got raped or nahhh mehhh???
So how about I instigate a public uproar over something people actually do consistently care about, like baseball blog sites? (lolol)
If you follow the Phils during the off-season (a period in time I cannot stand) then you’ve realized that the arbitration hearings are going to be underway soon. Victorino, Chooch, and Joe Fuckin Blanton are all guys that are due to receive raises, and to (at least) some degree, I’d say they’ve all earned them.
Enter Chad Durbin, the guy made about 1.635 million last year and had an ERA on the really wrong side of 4.
Here is something I read that was published on ‘THE PHILLIES FILES’:
Durbin, 32,earned $1.635 million in 2009. Although his numbers are a little down from 2008 (he had a 4.39 ERA in 59 games in 2009 compared to the 2.87 ERA he posted in 71 games in 2008), he’s still due for a raise. This isn’t someone the Phillies should neglect. He’s more valuable than many realize, especially considering he’s one of the few returning to a much-broken up bullpen.
You mean to tell me there isn’t a guy in the minors who can’t suck that bad for us at a lower price than 1.635 million dollars? Seriously? I don’t really think he was ever really that great. For the better part of his career, his ERA struggled to stay under 5. Many seasons saw Durbin pitching much worse than that. His career ERA eats my ass and I really don’t see why such a shitty overall player (for his career) sees a raise coming soon from 1.635 mill. That’s bananas. Sorry, Mr. THE PHILLIES FILES guy. I can’t agree with you here.
BTW… Everyone’s saying Lidge won’t be ready for the start of the season. Not that he’s been any good or anything, but who is going to be our closer come opening day? Madson? Holy shit.
The Phillies have some spending decisions to make
Posted by Dickie Assburn in Coaching, Free Agency, General Thoughts, Mic'd Up, Phillies Rants on November 7th, 2009
Charlie: "I need the same exact players playing the same exact roles as they did last year, even if they are ineffective... Patrick, get back over here and start re-collecting your 14 million dollar yearly paychecks again, we need YOUU AHHHHMFKMAfsdff!!!!"
A lot of you have been talking about the Phillies’ current financial state in light of free agency/the offseason. Already we have seen Cliff Lee’s thrift-store-esque $9 million team option exercised. We have also seen, as stated in the last post, Brett Myers leave without a contract offer.
Amaro has stated that his payroll will be around 130-140 million dollars. We will likely see ourselves locked up for around $125-130 million before we sign any free agents/trade for someone. (Side note: we are paying those pieces of shit known as Geoff Jenkins and Adam Eaton a combined $2 million dollars this year… ugh)
Article of the Future: Charlie Manuel pleas with Ruben Amaro Jr. to bring back Adam Eaton in the interest of loyalty... HE PLAYED HERE IN 2008, WE NEED HIM!
A couple of things I’d like to point out/talk about (in no real order):
1. If Brad Lidge is fucking up, we need to deal for a new closer. I can’t do last season all over again. If he’s going to play like shit, we have to deal for a closer. Period. Fuck ‘loyalty,’ Charlie. I don’t want to hear it. There is no way IN HELL we can settle for 2009 Brad Lidge in 2010. For a team that wants to compete, that is retarded. I don’t think we can afford to sign a closer right now (we have Lidge signed to a big contract and you know they’re going to try their luck with him again because of it), but like I said, if he sucks again… we NEED to get someone to do that job during the season.
2. Victorino, Blanton, Ruiz, and Durbin will all likely see pay raises. Do I really think Durbin deserves a raise through arbitration after the shitty season he had? No, I don’t. Chooch was Senor Octubre, but over the course of the season, he wasn’t anything spectacular (not that I mind, just saying.) Blanton had a good year, and Shane deserves a raise — ‘no questions asked.’
"Son, I promise I'll be able to afford pants for you to wear once I get this raise..."
3. It would be a good idea to re-sign Scott Eyre and Chan Ho Park. Eyre is a great clubhouse guy that can get the job done out of the bullpen, and Chan Ho was great for us when he settled into his relief role. As long as they’re willing to come back at a reasonable asking price, I’m down.
4. We need a fucking bench – seriously. The problem is that the free agent pool seems to be full of players that are past their prime and will want to start, and guys who will want more than they’re worth (which is partly going to be due to a weak free agent crop.)
5. Regarding Pedro Feliz, Ruben Amaro Jr. said:
“He had a solid year for us,” Amaro said. “I like the man personally. He’s a great person, a great teammate, but I also believe in trying to improve and change can be for the better. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to, but it’s something that we’ll look into.”
For the most part, I agree with this. While I don’t like Pedro Feliz, there aren’t many options available at third base. Kudos to Ruben for telling it like it is.
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This offseason:
Given the pay raises that we will likely see out of the guys we will actually keep, we’ll probably have $20 million to spend at the most. With that, we need to revamp our bench and fix our bullpen. Starting pitching is the next biggest concern, and then, lastly, we should address third base (the only part of our everyday lineup that I’m not satisfied with.)
The Phillies have a lot of guys that can be starting pitchers in the majors, but they do not have a lot of guys that would be good at it. In hindsight, Jamie Moyer should have gracefully retired after we won the World Series last year. I really don’t want him to be guaranteed a spot in the rotation on Opening Day, but I’m sure we all know that that’s going to be the case. We’re going to have to sit through him getting rocked for 5-10 starts before Drabek/Kendrick takes his place.
I’m oddly optimistic about Kyle Kendrick. He seemed to have better stuff when he came up late last season. What we do know about Drabek is that, even if he starts as a rookie and pitches for an ERA under 3 during the season, he won’t smell any playoff action, because it will be more important to pitch guys like Durbin and Madson (even if they put 10000000…00000…00000 runners on base per appearance… YOU MUST BE LOYAL. Fuck JA Happ. l8uh – cholly.)
YOU DID NOT PLAY MUCH LAST YEAR, SO YOU CANNOT PLAY THIS YEAR$@#@ LOL - Charlie Manuel (photo courtesy of thefightins.com)
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Past next season:
Not sure you get paid more or less for looking like Edge
The Phillies have Jimmy Rollins (club option), Ryan Howard, Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson coming off of the books after the 2011 season. To me, it is very possible that none of these guys will be re-signed. Ryan Howard will get many offers from other teams that will overpay him for way too many years, and it will be hard for him to turn that down. I personally do not want Ryan Howard until he’s 40 years old, and you know someone’s going to offer to sign his checks until then… and pay him handsomely in the process. If Cole can get his head back on straight, we will probably do whatever we can to keep him, but if he doesn’t, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him walk, either.
It is important to keep in mind that we will need to re-sign Jayson Werth and Cliff Lee next year. Both are eligible for free agency at that time. Cliff Lee is going to want a LOT of money (the guy hasn’t gotten a good contract yet and he could very possibly be looking for something long term with a lot of zeroes.) We have Werth going into the last year of the extension we signed him to, and he’s making $7.5 million. In my opinion, I think we’ll see him ask for something in the ballpark of $12-13 million, maybe more. We have to decide if what he’s asking is worth it. He can do it all, but he’s not a young guy. He’ll be 31 next offseason, and I think negotiations will depend heavily on how many years he’s willing to accept. To me, he’s worth the money, and his body hasn’t seen as much wear-and-tear as a guy his age would have by now. Overall, the amount of games he has played in isn’t even the equivalent of 4 full seasons. He’s seen less action in the big leagues than the typical 30-year-old big leaguer, and that’s definitely a good thing.
The New Big Red Machine
Posted by Bay Slugga in Breaking News, Game Summaries, Playoffs and World Series on October 22nd, 2009
Two years, and two National League Pennants.
This will never get old.
We are all witnessing something very special, and our Philadelphia Phillies may be the best this city will ever see. The players haven’t been complacent after last year’s magical run, and they are obviously hungry for more World Series glory. Jimmy Rollins summed it up best in saying that winning once wasn’t good enough, they want to go down in history with teams like the Reds, Yankees, and Red Sox.
Hopefully they’ll be calling us the Little Red Machine
While you may be a little guy, Jimmy, I assure you their is nothing small about this team – I’m going to stick with the New Big Red Machine.
We like NASCAR team! Now go to World Series!
What went down: With their foot on the gas, and Chase Utley’s blunder in the rear-view mirror, the Phillies finished off the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizen’s Bank Park to clinch their second consecutive National League Pennant. Cole Hamels was ineffective once again, as he surrendered three runs over four long innings. Vincente Padilla didn’t fair any better, as he allowed six runs to cross over three innings of work. The big blow that got the party started was Jayson Werth’s three-run homerun in the first inning after Padilla walked both Utley and Howard. All and all, the bullpen did a fine job of bailing out Hamels after an early exit. Chad Durbin, J.A. Happ, Chan Ho Park, and Ryan Madson all did a great job of keeping the Dodger’s at bay and coasting to the victory. Brad Lidge came in and worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, and showed a swagger that Phillies fans haven’t seen since this time last year. Credit to Charlie Manual for sticking with his closer, and credit to Lidge for really delivering when his team has needed him.
The Power of Werth Compels You!
What I liked: Jayson Werth. You only had a few hits this entire NLCS, but boy do you know how to time them. You launched two homeruns tonight, and are now the Phillies leader for extra basehits in the postseason – wow. You really exemplify what this Phillies team is all about. CC and Pettitte should be afraid, very afraid.
Chad Durbin. I’m going to go out on a limb and and say that this is the first time you have been under the “What I liked” section of 4DR. You picked a hell of a time to make your mark, and you pitched a hell of game in relief. You fucking owned Manny – keep it going.
Shane Victorino. You put the champagne game on ice with you’re moonshot homerun in the 6th. I love how former Dodgers really came back to bite their old club. Save a few more for CC please? K, thx, byez.
Brad Lidge. You’re back from the dead, Brad. What else can I say?
Chan Ho Park. You were absolutely filthy this NLCS. Brett Myers who?
MVP! MVP! MVP!
Ryan Howard. Your fantastic postseason continues, congratulations. You are an absolute force in the middle of our lineup, and like Werth, you strike fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers. Who is capable of getting you out? Phil Coke? Please.
What pissed me off: No Harry Kalas 
Can somebody explain to me: how Mets fans must be feeling? I’m not rubbing in our success (not yet anyway), but it must be a shitty feeling to field such a shitty team and then have the Yankees and the Phillies meet in the World Series.
Now what: We wait. Though I’m basically assuming the Yankees will beat the Angels in Game 5 of the ALCS, I suppose it is possible that the series could get interesting.
Charlie Manuel Is Out Managing Joe Torre. Really?
Posted by WTT in Coaching, Phillies Rants, Playoffs and World Series on October 19th, 2009
Editor’s Note: Written during the sixth inning of Game 4…
If you opened up the papers today after Sunday night’s 11-0 win, you may have read the lavish praise heaped upon Charlie Manuel for simply “out-managing” Joe Torre. I guess my question is this- what series has everyone been watching? Let’s take a look at both managers moves throughout the first four games of the 2009 NLCS.
Joe Blanton can go deep too, I'll totally leave him in the game so he can get as many at bats as possible tonight.
Game 1: Joe Torre decided to stick with Clayton Kershaw after Carlos Ruiz touched him up for a three-run shot. I particularly enjoyed when Jim Thome reached base after pinch-hitting, only to be replaced on the base paths. Torre’s stream of consciousness appeared to work along these lines…Thome is going to replaced by…wait…who the fuck am I going to put into the game? Shit, Wolf doesn’t even have his fucking shoes on. Lemme call timeout.” Okay,I’d agree that Manuel got the best of Torre in Game 1, although Manuel’s use of the pen in Game 1 didn’t appear to brilliant because, well, the bullpen sucks.
Game 2: All Torre had to do was write the name “Padilla” in the lineup card and the rest was easy. Still, it was a good move opting for Padilla here, given that up until a month ago it seemed like his most notable accomplishment in 2009 would be contracting swine flu. Meanwhile, Charlie Manuel used five fucking pitchers in a catastrophic eighth inning that lead to a disgusting and disappointing loss. I’m not going to kill him for removing Martinez after the seventh, but if Madson is your eighth inning guy, then start the eighth with him. Worse yet, bringing in J.A. Happ, who spent the majority of this season in long relief and as a starter, is terrible. Happ isn’t a situational lefty. He’s on the road. The bases were loaded. Come on. Hind sight is 20/20, but even as it was happening, there I was cursing the move in a crowded bar. So fuck your hindsight.
Game 3: Manuel wrote the name Cliff Lee in the lineup card. Not exactly brilliant, but for the Phil Sheridan’s out there who were high on the win, sure, Charlie was great.
Game 4: It was pretty clear that Blanton had nothing left after allowing 5 runners to reach base in the fourth inning, but Manuel wanted to get at least five out his starter. Enter Matt Kemp who hit what Ron Darling (pussy) termed a “majestic” home run. Okay, fine. You want to get the big guy through five, I’ll accept that. But in the bottom of the fifth after the Phillies finally figured out how to reach first base to leave Joe Blanton in the game to hit is absolutely inexcusable. The Phillies were down, the Dodgers have a stellar pen, and Blanton was obviously completely cooked. So what does Chuck do? He sticks with Blanton who ends the inning and then promptly surrenders a run in the sixth. That’s fucking awesome. It felt a little bit like watching Andy Reid on Sunday throw play action go routes on 3rd and 2.
Manuel isn’t blowing the series, but he’s made his fair share of moves to this point that have had me wondering what the fuck he was doing. All year, Manuel’s point of pride has been having confidence in his players, but he’s managing scared and that has to stop. So if someone wants to explain to me why exactly Manuel has been so superior to Joe Torre in this series, go ahead and fill me in because the hangover of 11-0 is wearing off here in the eighth…
EDITOR’S NOTE (POSTGAME) FUCK YES. CHARLIE IS GOD! LOLZ!
In all seriousness, the claims above remain, in my view, true, but…fuck it. It’s amazing how a win like that takes you from analyzing every single pitch to just screaming obscenities and jumping up and down as your cell phone is flooded with obscenities from people who were also jumping up and down. That, friends, is what it’s all about.
Un-Fucking-beLEEvable
Posted by Bay Slugga in Game Summaries, Playoffs and World Series on October 13th, 2009
What went down: The Phillies put the NLDS on ice last night with one of the most exciting games I have ever seen, and continue their journey towards a World Fucking Championship. Cliff Lee was stellar through seven innings, as he held the Rockies to one run until a Rollins error would let in two more. Ryan Madson let the Phillies lead slip through his grasp in relief of Lee, but the team picked him up in the top of the 9th. With runners on first and second and two outs, the Big Piece, Ryan Howard strode to the plate and received his wish to bat.
Just get me to the plate, boys!
Howard delivered on his promise and plated Victorino and Utley on a double to right – the game was now tied. Jayson Werth wasted no time in sending Howard home and Huston Street to the showers. Aided by two outs from the indestructible Scott Eyre, Brad Lidge struck out Troy Tulowitzki to send the Fightins’ to Los Angeles.
I swing a big dick.
What I liked: Ryan Howard, the Big Piece. You had a monster series, and the scary part is that you haven’t even hit your stride yet. You are one of the few players in this league capable of carrying a team with your dick stick, and the NLCS is going to be your launching pad. Keep it up, dawg. Oh, yea, you hit .375 in this series? Seriously? That is stupid.
Cliff Lee. You were amazing again, Cliff. Even though the Rockies had seen you earlier in the week, you went out there and did your thing. An effective formula of mixing up your pitches and giving the hitters different looks allowed you to cruise into the 8th inning. The error by Rollins was a tough one (interference should of been called), and Madson couldn’t hang on to the W for you.
Chase Utley. I don’t give you enough props on here, Chase. You played excellent defense, and you are an absolute presence at the plate. You were the key hitter in 9th when you worked a tough walk off of Street, and little things like that can go overlooked when big black dudes are launching clutch doubles. Did you even show some emotion when you scored the tying run? Gasp, shame on you.
Jimmy Rollins. Despite a rough game until the 9th inning, you took it too another level against Street. You looked completely over matched the entire game, but for the second night in a row, you knew you had to get on base. You worked the count a little and fouled off some tough pitches before you beat out an infield hit. Did you actually hustle on a play? OMG it’s the playoffs, way to go.
Remember this guy?
Brad Lidge. Let the love fest continue. Scott Eyre did the heavy lifting, but you flashed back to 2008 and cock slapped Tulowitzki to end the game. Slider, Slider, Slider, Slider, Slider.
Who and what pissed me off: Pedro Feliz… is a piece of shit. Your approach to hitting resembles that of a drunken, middle aged softball player, and you make me sick. If your teammates didn’t win this one I would of sent a package loaded with C4 to your locker in Philadelphia. You had some huge hits in last year’s postseason, so you better get your fucking act together. Take the cue from Utley and work a fucking count.
Can somebody explain to me: why this team plays with such heart and intensity? I would say that the lack of an interference call on Dexter Fowler is about the same magnitude of the lack of a call on Utley’s play in game three. The difference here is that the Phillies still win. Shane Victorino missed third base on the biggest play of his life, and had the foresight to scramble back and tag it before Utley could run through him – paging Ryan Church? This team has “it”, and it is fucking awesome to watch.
Now what: The Phillies will head to Los Angeles to start the NLCS rematch against the Dodgers. The Dodgers are a very different team from last year, and they have home field advantage this time around – I expect this to go at least six games. Cole Hamels will look to build on his complete game shutout he threw earlier in the year, and erase his poor outing against the Rockies. In the words of the great Harry Kalas, ” Manny my fanny.”
Must Read: This is a slam dunk for Stark, check it out here.
It's a celebration, bitches
Happy Ever After
Posted by Bay Slugga in Game Summaries, Playoffs and World Series on October 12th, 2009
You sucked. Phillies won. You get a pass.
What went down: This game was fucking wild. J.A. Happ only managed to go three innings, and was able to hamstring the fightins with the three spot the Rockies put up. Happ wasn’t pitching very well, obviously, but he was seriously fucked by the little league strike zone of Jerry Meals -Jason Hammel didn’t fair much better than Happ, as he was chased out of the game in the 4th. Back and forth scoring, strategic pitching changes, and injuries equated to the longest game in National League Postseason history, thanks again Bud Selig. Brad Lidge managed to come in and close out the 9th and earn his first save of the Postseason.
What I liked: Chooch. This guy has become a postseason hero for the Phillies the last two years, and Chooch continued his success last night with two clutch RBI hits.
Utley – Howard – Werth – Ibanez. The middle of the order has been getting it done this series, and last night was no different. All of you are hitting over .300 this series, and I’d like to see you put up a nice 15 spot for Cliff Lee tonight.
Madson. Even though you were charged with a Blown Save last night, you really saved this game. After Eyre gave up a leadoff double to Ted Williams Carlos Gonzalez and an infield hit which caused him to roll his ankle, Charlie decided he needed his best bullpen arm to put out the fire. You did an awesome job of working out of the jam – well done.
Lidge. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but you still got the save. I thought you made some nice pitches to Giambi, and Tulo. Keep it going.
Who and what pissed me off: Pedro Feliz. You are a terrible hitter, absolutely horrendous. Your approach is awful and you always kill the rally with a double play. I know you have a great glove at 3rd, but you really suck cock. I’d be very surprised if the Phillies pick up your option.
Jimmy Rollins. You scored the winning run, but you weren’t very good in the leadoff spot. If we want to keep winning games, you need to start getting on base and scoring runs.
Jerry Meals. You were fucking disgraceful tonight with your strike zone. I’ll let you off the hook because you missed the call on Utley’s play. If there is officiating like this for the rest of the series, God help us all.
Can somebody explain to me: why Major League baseball can’t train umpires that know what a fucking strike looks like? After the first inning I decided to watch GameDay to see just how bad Jerry Meals was, and it made me sick. Not only was he squeezing the Phillies’ pitchers on the corners and the low part of the zone, but he was giving those pitches to the Rockies’ pitchers – it was really sickening. I’m not one to bitch (wait a second, yes I am), but go watch the first few innings on GameDay.
Now what: Cliff Lee will look to close out the series tonight, and send the fightins to LA for a rematch with the Dodgers. Got to like our chances tonight – LETS GO LEE!
You just got served.