Relievers

One of the biggest concerns coming into the season, the bullpen became one of the biggest assets of the 2008 Phillies. Gillick collected a group of castoffs and question marks that outpitched even the wildest expectations.

Andrew Carpenter

You all remember Andrew’s time with the Phillies, right? No? Really? Remember the aforementioned Andy Tracy injury? Well that happened during the aforementioned Phils/Mets game that went 13 innings when Kendrick was warming when the Phillies walked off. Worried they may need an extra arm the next day, the Phillies called up Carpenter, a former second round pick. He did pitch an inning August 27th against New York in a loss, allowing a single to Reyes but striking out David Wright.

Andrew is much younger than me and has a World Series ring. Sigh. No playoffs.

RJ Swindle

Swindle! RJ’s greatest contribution to the 2008 Phillies was his name. I mean, his name is Swindle! He only pitched 4.2 innings in 3 appearances, allowing a run every time but July 11th. That day against Arizona, RJ faced one batter, who got a hit. However he didn’t score, technically making it Swindle’s best game.

RJ is about a month older than me, making me feel slightly better about him acquiring a World Series ring. No playoffs. SWINDLE!

Les Waldron

The Walrus is a career minor league who struck out 19 hitters in a game earlier in the season for Lehigh Valley. Les made his Phillies debut in August against Florida and struck out his first batter with a nasty curve. He failed to retire any of the following three hitters before being lifted. He did win the finale September 28th against the Nats, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out four. No playoffs.

Tom Gordon

Expected to be a big part of the bullpen, age and injuries caught up with Flash this year and he spent the majority of the season on the disabled list. When he did pitch, he was hit or miss. Gordon recorded a three out save April 8th against the Mets, his only save of the season. Despite attempts to return, Gordon did not appear in the postseason.

Rudy Seanez

As far as I can tell, Rudy was signed solely to make Jamie Moyer feel younger. Despite all prediction metrics, Rudy’s numbers would suggest he was pretty solid this year. And I guess for a “pitch the sixth inning of a blowout” type of player he was pretty solid. He was rarely called upon in big moments however. (Good decision, Chuck).

Rudy’s highest leverage situations and wins came in extra innings. He won both the July 11th game against Arizona by pitching a perfect 12th and the August 26th Mets game with a perfect 13th. No playoffs for the old man who recorded 5 wins out of the pen this season.

Clay Condrey

As Wheels liked to mention as much as possible, not much was expected a few seasons ago when Condrey was brought up to be sent down to be brought back up. He settled into the long reliever role in the league’s best bullpen this year, and he was very good at it. On April 3 Clay recorded the Phillies first win of the season, and every team has to start somewhere.

His biggest out this season came September 21st, with the Phillies protecting a 3-2 lead in Miami. The wheels were coming off in the 7th, with a run home already and Durbin and Romero leaving the bases loaded. Condrey came in and got Cody Ross to ground out. A two run Petey homer in the 8th would solidify a 5-2 win. Huge out by Clay though.

Clay, as his role portends, only pitched in losses in the playoffs. He did, predictably, pitch well when given the chance.

Scott Eyre

Air came over from the Cubs in August when they decided they didn’t need him. With J.C Romero’s left arm about to fall off, Eyre was a much welcomed second lefty in the pen. Scott posted a 1.88 ERA in 19 games as a Phillie. A guy who once had a no trade clause assuring he would never play here enjoyed his time here so much he was the first free agent to sign in the offseason, saying he couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else. Winning is a great deodorant.

In his first Phillie appearance August 10th against Pittsburgh, he came into a 2 on 2 out situation in the top of the 6th and retired Nate McLouth keeping the Pirate lead at 3-2. A Dobbs RBI double and Utley 2 run homer in the bottom of the inning later, Air was a winner in his first game. It was a sign of good things to come.

In Game 4 of the NLCS, he came into a 2 on, nobody out situation. After an error, he recording an out and intentionally walking Manny he was relieved by Madson. At the time, it seemed like a minor thing, but a Russell Martin DP later and Eyre helped save the game.

Chad Durbin

Durbin pitched well enough in Spring Training to earn a bullpen spot, but he was disappointed to not be the fifth starter. With expectations low, Chad did nothing but dominate throughout the first half of the season. The Durbinator, whose apparence was originally feared, became the most calming influence once he took the mound. He was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise.

On the Fourth of July, Chad followed JA Happ against the Mets. He came in with the bases loaded and the Phillies trailing Johan Santana 2-0. He struck out Carlos Beltran to end the inning. He proceeded to strike out five of the next six hitters, compiling a line of 2.1 IP 0 H 0 R 6K and keeping the Phillies in a game they would come back to win.

He saw a decreased role in the playoffs due to the efficiency of the starters and the emergence of 97 MPH heat from Ryan Madson. He did record a key out in the 7th inning of Game 3 against Tampa which kept the Rays from taking the lead.

JC Romero

Much like Scott Eyre in 2008, Juan Carlos was released in 2007 by a bigger payroll club, this time the Red Sox, who no longer saw a need for him. While his erratic control can be frustrating, all JC has done in his year and a half as a Phillie is get people out, especially left handed people. Pinpointing a pinnacle moment for a situational lefty can be difficult, but fortunately Cholly gives JC plenty of chances.

On the 25th anniversary of my birth, the Phils were in Wrigley nursing a lead. I was with Rush and Grebe in Sea Isle not nursing Miller Lite. This was a situation, caused in part, to the Phils blowing 8th inning leads to the Cubs the previous two nights. The Phillies and Brett Myers took a 5-1 lead into the eighth, and the Cubs promptly went single, single, single. Of course. JC came in with runners at 1st and 2nd, nobody out and protecting a three run lead. Strikeout, strikeout, walk on four pitches (this is Romero, after all), strikeout. Game won, team psyche saved, alcohol poisoning prevented. Thanks, JC.

Romero was dominant in the postseason. He pitched 7.1 innings of scoreless baseball, recording a win in Game 3 of the World Series.

Game 5 against Tampa is memorable for so many reasons. When Manuel brought in Romero, I remember hoping it was good JC. After finishing off the 7th, an 8th inning leadoff walk to Iwamura caused concern. BJ Upton, seemingly due for a big hit, stepped to plate and hit into the most glorious double play ball of my life. Suddenly no one was on base, and the Phillies were four outs away. Romero would get the win.

Ryan Madson

Another longtime Phillie, Ryan Madson did not have a defined midseason role. At that point, Lidge was closer, Romero/Durbinator handled the 8th, and Condrey was the long man. Then something fantastic happened to Ryan Madson. He started throwing 95 consistently and getting everyone out. Suddenly he was the Bridge to Lidge and pitching the 8th inning of every important game after Labor Day.

September 20th, in the hellhole that is Dolphins Stadium, Madson came in to protect a one run 8th inning lead. After a Cantu single and Jacobs double, it appeared the curse of the Marlins would continue. Fortunately, due to Cantu being extremely slow, the game had yet to be tied. Uggla hit a grounder to a drawn in Dobbs, who threw home. Cantu was called out in a very favorable call to the Phillies. A groundout and nine pitch Cody Ross K later, this one was for the soldiers.

The biggest pitch Ryan threw in the playoffs was a rocket off the bat off Russell Martin that Chase Utley somehow managed to not only catch, but dive for second and get a DP. I could watch that game on repeat for the rest of my life.

Brad Lidge


When Brad Lidge was traded here, the general sentiment seemed to be “You are trading a guy with a fragile psyche to Philadelphia??”. I admit I had my doubts. Jack was mad they traded Michael Bourn, as were some other people. All Lidge did was not blow a save the entire season. When Drowning Pool “Soldiers” was played at CBP, the game was over.

When greatness is achieved with such ease, it seems to be more appreciated in the rare occurrence it is a struggle. On August 3rd, I was nearing my bottom point of faith in this team. They had decided to stop hitting for some reason. They were alternating winning streaks with losing streaks, and consistency was nowhere to be found. Plus I had to listen to Miller and Morgan drone on stupidly as the Phillies played in St. Louis. A great Blanton effort looked to be wasted, but Victorino heroics gave Lidge a 5-3 lead. Troy Glaus’ leadoff homer was the first HR surrendered by Brad all season. After getting a fly ball, Lidge labored through two singles and a HBP and his first blown save seemed imminent. 7 pitches and two strikeouts later, the game was over.

Without question his moment of the postseason was Game 5 of the World Series. He ended it like Tug ended it; strikeout swinging. WE WIN!