Wank's World: Phillies 5, Reds 4: You Can Now Add Wilson Valdez to the List of Relievers More Effective Than J.C. Romero

After watching the Reds hit up Roy Halladay to the tune of 10-plus hits, I figured Danys Baez and a position player would combine to toss six scoreless innings to help the Phillies win. Didn’t you?

I went and checked out The Hangover 2 last night at midnight. Wasn’t really expecting the game to be on when the movie started. Didn’t expect it to be still going on at 1:15 in the morning, either. But you could probably imagine my reaction as I updated the play-by-play on my cell phone and saw a picture of Wilson Valdez and a line that read 0-0 -.– ERA under the “pitcher” heading. I muttered a “what the bleep”. Fortunately for me, the movie was so outrageous that nobody even flinched. (By the way, ‘movie was okay, a bit cheap and over the top–used the exact same formula as the first film, but makes no apologies for it. I’d go see it.)

What went down: After 600 total pitches–six hours and eleven minutes after the first pitch was thrown–the Phillies finally wore out Reds reliever Carlos Fisher by loading the bases in the 19th inning. After a scoreless 19th inning by Wilson Valdez (Wilson Valdez?!?!), Raul Ibanez then drilled a sacrifice fly that scored Jimmy Rollins to end the longest, and maybe strangest game in the eight-year history of Citizens Bank Park.

Roy Halladay went seven innings, but wasn’t at his best. He surrendered 11 hits and struck out six. It looked like he might tough-out the start and leave the game with the lead, but he surrendered a two-run single to Jay Bruce that tied the game at 3-3. While it’s a compliment to Halladay that those numbers equate to what is a mediocre start by his standards, I can’t help be a bit annoyed that he couldn’t squeak out of that inning. He can’t be perfect all of the time, but big-time pitchers that make $20 million a year need to figure it out in spots like that nearly every time. And there’s been a few starts in recent weeks where he hasn’t done that.

After Antonio Bastardo surrendered a solo shot to Bruce in the tenth, it appeared the the Phillies were cooked in late innings for the second straight night. Ryan Howard would have none of it as he sent a shot up the bullpen steps in centerfield to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. The two teams traded donuts for another eight innings before the Phillies finally put together their 19th inning rally to end it. Special shout-out to the eight Phillies relievers that combined to toss 12 innings, while allowing only four hits and a run. Not bad.

Who or what I liked: The pitching. Take a look at the box score. There’s not much to like in the way of offense, except for Wilson Valdez’ three-hits or Ryan Howard’s game-tying homer, so let’s turn our attention to the pitching.

Halladay was fine and Michael Stutes, Ryan Madson, Danys Baez, David Herndon, Kyle Kendrick, and Wilson Valdez were each terrific in relief (notice how I didn’t mention J.C. Romero). As earlier noted, Antonio Bastardo surrendered a homer to Jay Bruce in the tenth, but fine–it happens.

The Phillies would certainly have never won this game without the bullpen–one that is often labeled (perhaps unfairly) as a team weakness.

Wilzon Valdez. Special spot for him today. When Valdez goes 3 for 6 it’s worth a mention alone. Throw in a scoreless 19th inning to become the first position player in over 10 years to pick up a win, well, I think it’s time for some congrats.

Frankly, I don’t want to see Valdez play more than once or twice a week. The infielders ahead of him on the depth chart are superior to him in almost every facet of the game. And while I’ve ripped Valdez on multiple occasions, it’s probably unfair to do so. The Phillies were forced to lean on Valdez way more than he should ever have to be leaned upon. He’s not a 400+ at-bat guy. He is, however, the type of player that winning teams have on their rosters–guys that can do different things, and find a way to help their team win a game here and there. That’s what he did last night, although I’m pretty sure we shouldn’t get used to seeing him out on the mound again this season…I hope.

Who or what I didn't like: J.C. Romero. The time has come for J.C. Romero to get out of town. Romero was a valuable piece of that 2008 World Series team, but 2008 seems like an eternity away for the left-hander who will turn 35 next week. He’s never had good control, but his off-speed stuff was good enough to trick hitters into swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. That’s not happening anymore. Romero is fat when he’s in the strike zone, he can’t locate anything, his pitches are lifeless, and it’s just time to go. He can no longer consistently retire Major League hitters. Whenever he goes into the game you have to cross your fingers that he can get just one guy out. I do not think it’s unrealistic that Romero is no longer on this team come the middle of June.

Jay Bruce. Come on, Jay Bruce? ‘Guy has nine RBI in the first three games of the series. It appeared he’d have the go-ahead hit for the second straight night. He’s a nice player and all, but this is getting a bit crazy.

Can somebody please explain to me: How two offenses, facing back end of the bullpen slop, could combine to score zero runs over an eight inning stretch? In a game full of wacky and crazy facts and statistics, the plain inability to muster a single run is simply stunning.

Now what: Cliff Lee better be good today. He absolutely needs to give this team at least seven innings, so he better figure out a way to not throw, you know, like 30 pitches in the first. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball, it’s time for him to string together some dominant starts and get his record back at .500.