From Roberto Horrendous to Terrible Adams

Another night, another rain-soaked loss for the Phillies, who wasted a sparkling start by Jon Lieber when the bullpen turned a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 loss. Terry Adams imploded in the seventh, and the offense was anemic on a night when Pedro Martinez dazzled, though from my vantage point (eight feet from the TV in my bedroom), he was getting an awful lot of leeway from home-plate umpire Tim Tschida. Regardless, 2005 is shaping up so far much as 2004 did, and 2003, for that matter. Throw in some ominous news on the injury front, and the Phils have themselves a handy, dandy, ready-made excuse for why their 4-1/2 game deficit in the N.L. East looks a lot more daunting than it ought to.

Update: Nearly every Phillie-Phile, as well as commentators on this very post, savage Charlie Manuel for lifting a clearly effective Lieber in favor of a completely mediocre middle reliever whom the Phillies dumped once already. Check 'em out.

Comments

[John Salmon]

Day by day Charlie Manuel looks more and more inept...why pull Lieber after 6 innings and 79 pitches, to bring in Terrible Adams? Manuel still isn't playing Utley every day. And he kept playing Thome despite his health/performance woes...Manuel doesn't have a clue. Being a nicer guy than Bowa (who also was cluless) isn't working! Is Davey Johnson available?

[Jeff]

I agree with John, especially because of how late Lieber could have gone into the game if Manuel had let him. Isn't a 9 inning, 98 pitch outing feasible for quick-working Jon Boy? Or at least 8 plus a RELIABLE bullpen man.

[gr]

how is it that we unload a terry adams in 2003, say our bullpen is better in 2004 and then a year later, bring him back and say our bullpen is better in 2005. can someone dissect that logic for me so i can bottle it and retire? terry adams? a poor man's tim worrell? a boring man's turk wendall? someone get roger mason on the phone. i don't care if he *is* 50.

[bill]

I agree about the Phillies but I think Manuel's hands were tied in lifting Lieber. The Phils had runners on and a chance to score in the seventh. The way things were going it didn't look like we would get another chance so he pinch hit for Lieber. I agree he could have gone longer but we need offense.