If you've watched a game involving the Phillies or seen highlights of their postseason wins, you're undoubtedly aware of the fact they are undefeated when holding the lead after eight innings. While part of this undoubtedly is due to the sensational form of closer Brad Lidge, Philadelphia General Manager Pat Gillick has assembled a deep and capable surrounding cast in the bullpen.
Stolen from Houston last November in what now looks like a lopsided deal, all Lidge has done in his first season in red pinstripes is convert all 41 save opportunities while posting a 1.95 ERA in the regular season. In the playoffs, he's perfect in five save opportunities with a 1.23 ERA.
Lidge's biggest weapon is a lethal slider that opposing hitters have trouble picking out from a mid-90s fastball. He has used that combination of pitches to become the all-time leader in strikeout rate in the history of Major League Baseball among pitchers with at least 200 appearances.
Lidge hasn't been completely lights-out recently, recording just two perfect innings in his last eight appearances, but in the end, he's gotten the job done every time.
The bridge to Lidge took a hit when set-up man Tom Gordon was lost to a season-ending elbow injury in early July, but roles were juggled and the rest of the bullpen stepped up. Manager Charlie Manuel has used several relievers in the set-up role since then, often opting to let matchups dictate his calls to the bullpen.
J.C. Romero signed as a free agent last June after the Red Sox released him due to a numbers crunch. Romero has been remarkable coming out of the bullpen for Manuel, putting up a 2.17 ERA with the Phillies. The lefty handcuffed batters to the tune of a .197 batting average allowed; however, he does struggle with his control at times, as evidenced by his 38 walks in 59 innings.
Tampa Bay's left-handed hitters aren't going to want to look out at the mound as see Romero, as he has completely shut down left-handed bats to the tune of a minuscule .102 average and .342 OPS on the year.
Ryan Madson is the Phillies' primary right-handed set-up option. The owner of a devastating change-up that he mixes in with a good fastball and the occasional breaking ball, Madson has had identical 3.05 ERAs the past two seasons after a disastrous tryout as a starter in 2006. The lanky Madson gives his manager some flexibility, able to go more than inning if circumstances require it.
Following a spectacular first half of the season, in which he allowed just 11 earned runs in 52.1 innings (1.89 ERA), Chad Durbin struggled to keep that form in the second half. After the All Star break, Durbin's ERA was a much more pedestrian 4.33.
The righty is very, very tough on right-handed hitters, who combined for just a .589 OPS against him this season. Interestingly, Durbin's home ERA (1.88) in the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park is far lower than his road ERA (4.37).
Banged around in limited duty with the Cubs the first four months, a change in scenery has done Scott Eyre a world of good. As a Phillie, the lefty specialist has a 1.88 ERA and has been extremely tough on left-handed hitters, who have a lowly .174 batting average against him.
Should the Phillies need some innings eaten, expect to see Clay Condrey. The long reliever's solid 3.26 ERA looks rather fortunate when you consider opposition batters hit .302 off him, but he doesn't issue many free passes and doesn't give up a lot of extra-base hits.
Manuel is going with a four-man rotation again in the World Series, with rookie J.A. Happ serving as the emergency starter and another option in long relief. Happ's solid 3.69 ERA is the highest of any reliever on the Phillies World Series roster.
While past performance is no guarantee of future results, if the Rays find themselves trailing after the sixth inning against the Phillies, they're going to face a tough task against Philadelphia postseason bullpen with a combined ERA of just 2.83.
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