April 02, 2007
Wickman Gets the Win
Chad Paronto retires the Phillies in order in the ninth to save a win for the regular closer, Bob Wickman. The Braves bullpen allowed just two hits in four innings, although they did walk three. Still they kept runs off the board until the Braves offense could get the job done, and the Braves get off to a good start on the road.
Myers pitched a fine game, striking out 9 over 7 2/3 innings, but the three runs he allowed was too much for the Phillies to overcome today. With that offense, Myers should win most of these.
re: phillies lose 5-3 in extra innings to braves
(1) the home team came down with a bad case of renteria; and
(2) as usual, bobby cox way outmanaged charlie manuel.
(3) why after two seasons of bad bullpen pitching from Ryan Madsen, Ryan Madsen is still a key component of the Phillies bullpen, is anyone's guess. Yeah, he's tall, and yeah, he looks like a pitcher, but he can't pitch.
--arthur j kyriazis, philly
One: It's Madson, not Madsen.
Two: He wasn't bad in 2005, and was much better as a reliever last season than as a starter.
That being said, he worries me. He was throwing 85-mph fastballs yesterday, and an 83-mph changeup. That's not going to get it done.
