Phillies Mets Meltdown…..The Real Culprit!

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The Phillies went into the bottom of the ninth inning against the Mets with a 4-1 lead.  Cole Hamels pitched 133 pitches.  The bullpen blew the loss behind the pathetic efforts of Antonio Bastardo (retired just one of four batters), Manship and Hernandez.  Hernandez entered the game even though he had started on Friday night and threw 99 pitches.

Papelbon, Diekman, and Adams had the night off because they had all pitched the previous two nights.  Papelbon is the highest paid reliever and only threw 21 pitches over the previous two games.  Monday is a day off.  Fans and sportsradio are jumping on Papelbon for not stepping up and entering the game.

Could Papelbon have a pitched? Maybe.  He indicated some soreness before the game.  I’m never one to say someone isn’t hurt if they say they are hurt.  Don’t get distracted from the real culprit in this Phillies loss…..

amaro_scratching

That’s right…our boy Ruben Amaro, Jr.  He put this bullpen together.  He’s kept Bastardo on this team.  He brought in Manship.  He’s been unable to put together a mediocre bullpen over the past three years.  We’re not even talking a good bullpen.  He can’t put together a MEDIOCRE bullpen!  The bullpens under his reign have blown.

Relating back to a piece done last week, here are just a few of the free agents Ruben could’ve added to this Phillies bullpen in the offseason.  None of which were signed to payroll-breaking big numbers.  The stats were as off last week.

Matt Thornton.  Yankees signed him for 2 years for $7MM.  In 2014: 6.0 IP, 1.50ERA

Boone Logan. Yankees signed the 29 year old for 3 years/$16.5MM.  In 2014: 10.1 IP, 2.61 ERA

Javier Lopez.  Signed by the Giants 3yr/$13MM.  In 2014: 6.2 IP, 1.35 ERA

Chris Perez.  Signed by the Indians for 1yr/$2.3MM.  In 2014: 14.1 IP, 1.88 ERA

Jamey Wright. Signed by the Dodgers 1yr/$1.8MM.  In 2014: 18.1 IP, 2.95 ERA

Matt Albers.  Signed by Houston 1yr/$2.25MM.  In 2014: 10 IP, 0.90 ERA

This isn’t Paplebon or Bastardo’s fault.  This remains a Ruben Amaro, Jr issue.