Phillies Notes: Madson holding down the ninth

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Posted: 11:45 p.m.

By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com

Charlie Manuel says that it was simply a matter of confidence for Ryan Madson as it pertained to closing out games. Oh sure, Madson had the stuff to be a big league closer with a big fastball and knee-buckling changeup, but sometimes battles are one and lost between the ears.

Needless to say, Madsons 26 career saves in 50 chances heading into this season didnt inspire much confidence.

I always said that if he ran off three or four or five in a row that might help him, Manuel said after Wednesdays 2-1 victory over the Rockies at the Bank, and I think it has.

Madson struck out the side in the ninth inning to nail down his seventh straight save in as many chances, while also pitching his 11th straight scoreless inning.

Nevertheless, Wednesdays save No. 7 wasnt as smooth as the three Ks in the scorebook looked. First, Madson gave up a leadoff double to pinch hitter Seth Smith before working deep counts to Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki before getting the strikeouts.

After an intentional walk to Todd Helton, Madson quickly took care of Jason Giambi to end the game with about as much drama as Manuel could handle.

That just shows you he can do the job. Madsons really been throwing good, but I dont need to tell you that, Manuel said. His changeup is the best Ive seen it. Hes consistent with ithe can throw it for strikes, or he can bounce it whenever he wants to. His stuff is as good as Ive ever seen it.

Two seasons ago, the folks who keep track of swings and misses of opposing hitters claimed Madsons changeup was the best in baseball based on the fact that it drew so many failed swings. However, when Brad Lidge went out with an injury last year, Madson struggled in the closers role and eventually went on the disabled list with a broken toe suffered when he kicked a chair after a blown save in San Francisco.

But by the end of the season, Madson was back to throwing strikes and getting outs in his setup role. He was so good that when Lidge went out again, Manuel wanted to keep him as the eighth-inning guy and tabbed Jose Contreras to close games.

And then Contreras went down with an injury and now Madson might not ever give up the job.

I think it will be a tough decision, but it will work itself out, Manuel said when asked where Madson will go when Contreras and Lidge return. When hes pitching like that, I think it makes it kind of tough to move him. What would be the point?

Its a good problem to have, perhaps.

Im not worried about the role, Im just worried about pitching good, Madson said. Staying healthy is No. 1 and just going out there and trusting catcher Carlos Ruiz. I havent shook him off all year. Ive been healthy, so thats good.

With both Madson and Lidge in the final years of their contracts, one has to wonder if Madson is the teams closer of the future. Better yet, what if the future is now? Does Madson want to be the closer from here on out?

Oh, I dont care. Whatever they decide is fine by me, he said. Im just here to pitch and get outs. We all are out there, so Im having fun.

Injury report
Shane Victorino did not start for the fourth game in a row on Wednesday with a hamstring strain. He is expected to be back in the lineup this weekend. Rule 5 selection Michael Martinez started for Victorino in all three of those games, going 3 for 11 with a sacrifice.

Jose Contreras pitched two-thirds of an inning in his first rehab outing for Single A Clearwater where he allowed three runs on four hits. In the same game, Chase Utley went 1 for 4 with an RBI.

Play ball
As the media searches for any reason for the inexplicable hitting slump the Phillies are going through, Manuel wonders if his players could benefit from a little more enthusiasm. To wit:

Weve been playing here for seven years since Ive been here, and our slogan is, We do it because we want to do it and not because we have to do it. I look at it sometimes and if theres anything wrongmaybe we need to want to do it a little bit better. Does that make sense?

Maybe we should want to do it a little bit more. We can relax and play loose, but maybe we do need to enjoy it a little bit more. I look at our ballpark and all of our fans here, and I cant imagine a hitter not wanting to walk into our ballpark and play. If Im hurt, and I can possibly play in this yard, Id be out there playing. And I mean that. Thats putting everything aside. You have a full house, and this is just a good place to play.

Im not saying that. I cant read anyones mind. But I can watch how they can play.

E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com

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