If you had told me at the beginning of the season that the Phillies would probably be without Chan Ho Park in the playoffs, I’d have responded with, “…and…?”¬†But now, he has a 2.57 ERA out of the bullpen and has been a rock since he was sent there in mid-May.¬† Last night, on his final pitch of the inning, Park heard a pop in his hamstring and limped off the field.
“He’s probably going to be down a while,” manager Charlie Manuel said.
Eh.
“We’ll probably know more about it tomorrow,” Manuel continued in his best version of the King’s English (I kid, Charlie. I kid). “But, yeah, he’s out for a while. I’m very concerned about him, because he pulled it pretty good.”
If Lidge was worth much at all, this wouldn’t be a huge problem.¬† But this could mean that they need Myers to do more of what Park was doing instead of being Ryan Madson’s setup man.¬† It would surely help if they got Scott Eyre and J.C. Romero back, but who knows with them.
One of the big reasons this team won a World Series last year was the bullpen.¬† You could argue that this year’s squad has hands down better starting pitching (they do by far) and an improved lineup.¬† But it’s that bullpen.¬† It’s that bullpen that will be the reason for an early exit this postseason.¬† Should they face a Lincecum or Cain, they won’t be up 7-1 in the ninth.¬† They will need that bullpen and it’s not looking good right now.¬†¬†
I was thinking last night about what the Phillies are going to do for a starting rotation in the postseason (remember when these kinds of thoughts were just a cruel joke?  Yeah, it was only like four years ago).  Pedro Martinez has improved quite a bit and is going deeper into games.  JA Happ has been cleared to return and the rookie has been spectacular this year.  Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton are a guarantee to be in the postseason rotation.  Jamie Moyer?  Just kidding.  But with Park out, it becomes really clear that the Phillies are going to need Martinez or Happ out of the bullpen in the playoffs. Heck, Moyer too.
The injury to Park couldn’t have come at a worse time and the Phillies are going to need all their ammunition to get this sorted out.¬†
