Over the past two seasons, it’s been established that Brad Lidge is the closer in Philadelphia with Ryan Madson setting him up.
When Lidge has hit a rough patch or been injured, it’s been Madson that has bumped back to the end of the bullpen and asked to close games for the Phillies.
Those times have been a mixed bag for Madson. He has struggled through closing games. While not expected to be the shut down closer that Lidge has shown himself to be, he is expected to at least hold the position down until Lidge can come back.
In the offseason, the Phillies went out and signed reliever Danys Baez, who has closed a lot of games in his career. Baez has 114 career saves, compared to 15 for Madson, with 10 of Madson’s coming in 2009. Baez has been brought in as a veteran backup at the closer’s spot.
With Lidge coming off an injury, his status for Opening Day in Washington is up in the air. Even though Baez is in camp and ready to go, Charlie Manuel has endorsed Madson as the one to close if Lidge isn’t ready to go.
“I’d say Madson is first in line with that. He’s got a big arm, and definitely the last couple years he’s gotten more experience with it. He has a chance to get even better at closing out games.”
While that endorsement may help Madson’s confidence, it won’t do much for helping him get the job done. Madson has been shuffled between duties during his major league career in Philadelphia. He was a starter, long reliever, set up man closer and back and forth between those spots during the season. He had his best season in 2008, when he was able to stay in the set up role that he is best in.
Madson seems to have closer’s potential and will undoubtedly be a closer full time at one point, shifting him between responsibilities hasn’t helped Mad Dog. If Madson can head into a season knowing what his role is, he’s better off for it. When it is time for him to be a closer, it would be much better for him to know that going into the season.
Baez was brought in to be a veteran presence with closer’s experience in what is shaping up to be a young bullpen. Let Madson stay in that set up role and keep his focus on what his job is. If Lidge isn’t ready to go, put Baez back there and let Madson be the 8th inning guy.
Hopefully Madson proves me wrong and shows that he can go back and forth in his roles in his 8th (really?!) season with the Phillies.
