The Imperfect Season?

Scott Eyre held the fate of Brett Myers' quality start in his two million dollar left arm. Myers had only permitted three runs to score in his six and two-thirds innings of work, but the baserunner on first base was his responsibility. If David Eckstein came around to score, without the benefit of a fielding malfunction by the Phillies, Myers' dream of a quality start would be dashed. The Phillies had a chance at their second quality start in three games, but only if Eyre held up his end of the bargain.

Eyre fell behind Giles, three balls to only a single strike. Myers watched from the dugout, a mixture of concern and ferocity evident on his chiseled visage. Eyre stared in to the plate for the sign, realizing the significance of the situation. Giles fouled off Eyre's offering, moving the count to three balls, two strikes. Eyre was one pitch away from ensuring the quality start. He reared back and fired. Giles swung through Eyre's high fastball, ending the inning. Myers and the Phillies had their quality start. With the score tied at three, as play entered the bottom of the seventh, nothing that followed could take Myers' quality start away. The performance of the Phillies' relief corps for the remainder of the game, be it beauteous or hideous, would not sully the quality of Myers' performance.

Unfortunately, after a 2008 season in which they typically chose the beauteous option, the 2009 version of the Phils' pen went with hideous again on Saturday night. Ryan Madson, continuing to struggle with command issues, allowed the go-ahead run to San Diego in the top of the eighth inning. However, he appeared to be in position to vulture a win, as Philadelphia went ahead 5-4, in the home half of the inning.

Brad Lidge, who had last blown a save in September of 2007, came on in the ninth to finish off the Padres. He proceeded to give up the tying run, blowing a save opportunity for the first time as a Phillie. With the score tied, the Phillies still would have had a good chance to win in the bottom of the inning. But Lidge continued to struggle, surrending consecutive two-out singles, and a three-run homer. The homer, by Kevin Kouzmanoff, dropped the Phils' WE from 52.5% to 4.1%. Lidge had to blow a save at some point, and it's better that it was in April 2009, than in October 2008. Lidge deserves to be cut some slack, considering the overall success of his time with the Phillies. He was by the CBP fans who cheered him, despite his struggles on Saturday. But for the 2009 Phils to succeed, Lidge and Madson will both need to get their command problems under control. The Romero-less bullpen is much too thin to succeed without them.

The Phillies' offense did enough to win this game, with solo homers by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez keying the attack. But the Phils had only eight hits, with Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino combining to go 1 for 9 in the top two spots in the order. With more timely hitting from the top of the order, the three homers would likely not all have been of the solo variety. Of course, it's tough for any offense to win, when the pitching allows eight runs.

Chan Ho Park gets the Sunday start in a CBP matinee. Hopefully, that's not a sentence Phillies bloggers will be typing too many times. The pleasant memories of Park's strong Spring Training (25/2 K/BB!) have already begun to evaporate, as he was shelled in his first start that counted. Park, pitching on six days rest, needs a quality start of his own, or he'll take another step towards an exciting opportunity in middle relief. Considering the recent performances of the current Phillies relievers, the offense might need a ten-spot to secure a Sunday victory.