I think I speak for all Phillies fans when I say that I was flat-out terrified when Jose Mesa got the call from the bullpen last night. Manuel brought him in to face Casey Blake with two on and two outs in the Bottom of the 8th and the Phillies nursing a one-run lead. While he had done a decent job in his previous outings and the rest of the Philadelphia bullpen hasn't exactly been lights-out, all I could think about was all the leads Mesa had blown (or nearly blown) for the Phillies in the past. It didn't help matters that he was going up against Cleveland, who had shelled him in his final appearance with the Tigers before his release. Not to mention the fact that it was a one-run game and the first time that the Phillies had used Mesa in a tight game.
Amazingly, Mesa got the out (a grounder to Chase Utley) and actually looked pretty good. He started with a 78 mph breaking ball, followed by a 91 mph fastball; both for strikes. The at-bat was far more painless than I had feared.
The scariest part of the game turned out to be Antonio Alfonseca in the ninth inning. The Phillies put up three runs in the ninth inning, giving them a four-run cushion. Manuel still opted for the closer. Alfonseca gave up a run and put runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs, finally recording the last out on a well-hit fly ball that Shane Victorino ran down in right-center. While the Phillies won by three runs, it seemed much closer than that.
After that outing, I am officially referring to Alfonseca as Jose Mesa 2.0. The physical similarities (minus the extra digits) are uncanny and both have walked the tightrope of being fairly reliable while terrifying their fans in the process. Having either one of them in the game is like having Shaquille O'Neal at the line in a crucial situation. You know he usually makes the big ones, but you also know he's missed a ton and watching it makes you uncomfortable.
Tonight's game is a big one for the Phillies. Winning a series in Cleveland would be quite impressive and it would give them great momentum as they head into (what should be) two easy series. Next up is the Cardinals, followed by the Reds. After that is the Mets. With the Mets taking on Oakland next, it's not ridiculous to expect the Phillies to be tied with them or maybe even holding a one-game lead by the time that series comes around. Of course, the Phillies did drop two of three to Kansas City, so there really is no sure thing with them.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Mesa(s) Get the Big Out
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7 comments:
If the Mets were not in the middle of a complete tailspin at the moment, the Phillies would be looking much worse than they are, especially after last night's debacle.
When the Mets pull it together and start playing better games (which they will, although they may not get as good as they were at the start of the season), it won't be as easy for the Phillies to throw games away as they did last night and remain within two games, let alone take the division lead.
They keep losing based on things that most teams have taken for granted: managerial decisions (Manuel is a walking [well, usually hobbling] disaster), fundamentals (Phillies defense looks like the product of an editor who can't decide whether he's making a highlight-reel or a blooper-reel), and relief pitching (OK, maybe that's not taken for granted much any more).
Hiring Jose Mesa is a sign of desperation. Why else would they hire a man who they know first-hand throws games away so frqeuently? If you have to put unreliable relievers into the game at least make them rookies who are being developed rather than veterans who have proven themselves unlikely to change.
Mesa, Alfonseca, etc... etc..., are the Phillies due to become Seattle on the Delaware? Wait 'n see Gillick has a vision, (when he's not up in Toronto) and to better understand it, we need to examine the tea leaves of Mariner and Blue Jay teams past.
Also, since Manuel is a die-hard numbers guy, doesn't that make his every move transparent to the opposing manager? Leyland certainly played Manuel like a stringed instrument. How will traditionally poor hitters versus lefties or righties every get better if they're taken out of the line-up every time they face their supposed nemesis. And, how many of these pitcher/batter duels are 100%? There's frequency to the minority percent, too. Why take Eaton out? Why wait for Burrell to get hot on the bench?
Questions, questions, questions, such is the entertainment of a Phillies fan. Phunny how acid-tongued Phillies and philosophy both start with pH.
Gillick is definitely trying to rebuild his Mariners teams. If Barajas doesn't improve, I'm fully expecting Dan Wilson to come out of retirement. And didn't Edgar Martinez used to play some third base?
Jose Mesa is a newbie.
Clearly, Mesa and Alfonseca are way past their prime (and one of them is way past the correct number of fingers). The Phillies should not be relying on this duo.
But your comments reminded me a lot of what people were saying about Jason Isringhausen for the past year and half. I would always hear other St. Louisans complaining that every time he went out to the mound he would make you sweat. He would seem to always put a couple runners on and let them game get close before shutting the door. But he finished last year with 33 saves and a 3.55 ERA, nothing outstanding but quite solid. Even though Izzy was not having the best year of his career and was letting the games get close, he did have the mentality to come through in the clutch and be an effective closer, and his statistics showed it.
My point is that it can be easy to get down on a closer for a few rough outings or close calls. But ultimately, we have to judge them by how their statistics reflect their performance over a longer period of time.
That said, I pretty much agree with you. Though I would say that Mesa and Alfonseca have important experience in coming through in the clutch, statistics show that they are clearly over the hill---and if the Phillies want to contend they can't really depend on them.
Mesa and Alfonseca are both major-league pitchers that have experince as regular closers. Statistically, that means that, yes, they must both have experience coming through in the clutch.
However, in view Mesa especially has far too much experience NOT coming through in the clutch -- seemingly a lot more than he does with coming through in the clutch.
I don't think it's a matter of his just having come "over the hill." He was just as inconsistent and liable to blow leads during his first tour with the Phillies four, five, and six years ago.
The difference is that now he can blow leads WITHOUT his good fastball.
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