#philadelp

Night Time Is The Right Time

I thought a break from the incessant pre- and post-draft content was necessary. So, time to focus on the only one of my teams still playing.

As for the title of this post, I didn't say it, Bobby Valentine did -- with conviction -- during Sunday Night Baseball two Sundays ago, when the Phillies were playing the Mets (you might also remember this as the night the world learned of Osama bin Laden's death). The thought is an interesting one to ponder. Given the current uncertainty about the closer position moving forward into next season and beyond -- remember, Ryan Madson will be a free agent -- it really would be a boon for the Phillies if Antonio Bastardo could emerge as the potential successor in that role. He certainly has the stuff to do it: An explosive fastball with late movement that sits in the mid-90s, a hard slider with depth and nasty bite, and a developing changeup (he's certainly with the right team to teach him how to make that pitch a weapon). As Valentine and Orel Hershiser mused during the telecast, facing Bastardo is anything but a comfortable at bat for left-handed hitters.

Every Phillies fan knew coming into the season that Bastardo was key to helping stabilize what was otherwise a shaky (and now injured) bullpen. The results so far have been encouraging, and he's become the new J.C. Romero, except with the potential to be much better. Whether Bastardo can build on his early success is yet to be seen, but there's no question he has the talent to do so, and I'm excited -- cautiously, of course -- to watch his progression over the course of the season. He could very easily carve out his niche on this team as the seventh or eighth inning guy (depends on the Brad Lidge situation and whether Madson has to continue serving as closer). Make no mistake, Bastardo will be crucial to this team's fate late in the season and into the playoffs.

For the record, I hope we re-sign Madson to be our closer. Yes, I think he can do it. More importantly, he's ready to do it. I'll gladly settle for Bastardo being the left-handed specialist/setup guy if it means Madson becoming a legitimate major league closer.

PS - Don't look now, but it's very possible that this team gets both Chase Utley and Domonic Brown -- who's been annihilating minor league pitching -- back by the end of May. Utley is Utley, and, let's be honest, Brown needs to be the Phillies' everyday right fielder. Outside of Victorino, our regular outfield production on offense is well below average. Brown's the future at a critical position, and he needs to begin honing his craft at the major league level. It's time to see if he's the real deal. Also, at some point this season, I want the Mayberry-Victorino-Brown trio to start in the outfield. Sounds/looks kinda sexy, right? Something to think about, at least.