Phillies Preview: World Series Bullpens

2009 World Series

Philadelphia Phillies (93-69) v. New York Yankees (103-59)

The World Series will not feature overwhelmingly great bullpen pitching from either the New York Yankees or the Philadelphia Phillies. However, both teams rely on solid relievers to wrap up games, and this series will be no different. With arguably the best finisher in the game, the Yankees seem to have an edge with Mariano Rivera closing games. The rest of their bullpen, though, is no better than the Phillies' pen. As the two teams square off, the bullpens and the use of relievers will undoubtedly play a major role in the 2009 World Series.

Key Relievers: New York Yankees

Mariano Rivera, RHP - Mariano Rivera is widely regarded as one of the best closers of all time. Though he is in the twilight of his career, the 39-year old still has something to bring to the table. Featuring just a single, devastating pitch, the cutter, Rivera dominates hitters and breaks as many bats as anyone. He is an imposing force at the back end of the Yankees' bullpen that can come in for save situations as long as two innings or more. In 2009, Rivera logged 66.1 innings and recorded 44 saves, his most since 2004.

Phil Coke, LHP - Phil Coke is the Yankees' primary left-handed reliever out of their pen. In his second season as a pro, Coke enjoyed great success setting up Mariano Rivera. Coke, the 26-year old, threw a career high 60.0 innings and had excellent lefty platoon splits. Coke will certainly make some late inning appearances against the tough lefties in the Phillies' lineup. However, he is vulnerable to the long ball (10) and does not pitch especially well on the road.

Phil Hughes, RHP - Phil Hughes has thrived as the righty setup man in the Yankees' bullpen. After a few brief stints as a starter, Hughes settled in to the seventh and eighth inning role and excelled. The 23-year old recorded a career high 86.0 innings pitched and had a great ERA. If the Yankees have a lead, you can count on seeing Hughes late in the game to get the ball to Rivera. He is a strikeout pitcher, with more than one strikeout per inning, and can dominate righties and lefties alike.

Other Relievers - Alfredo Aceves, RHP, Damaso Marte, LHP, David Robertson, RHP

Key Relievers: Philadelphia Phillies

Brad Lidge, RHP - Brad Lidge is widely considered to be the pivitol player in this series. After a dominating 2008 season, Lidge has struggled with injuries and command all season long. The Phillies look for their 32-year old closer to pick up the pieces and have a solid postseason for them again. Lidge racked up 58.2 innings this season and saved 31 of 42 games on the season. Lidge was used as the Phillies' closer and looked sharp, recording two saves in two opportunities in the NLDS.

Ryan Madson, RHP - Ryan Madson is the one, true flamethrower out of the bullpen for either squad. Madson, the 28-year old, throws a wicked fastball that often approaches triple digits on the radar gun. He had a moderately successful 2009, picking up 10 saves in 16 chances for the Phillies. The righty was a horse this year, throwing 77.1 innings and fanning a batter per frame. With Brad Lidge closing once again, Madson will serve as the primary setup man in the bullpen.

Scott Eyre, LHP - Scott Eyre's importance this series cannot be overstated. With an injury to J.C. Romero, Eyre is the Phillies' only reliable situational lefty in the bullpen. Eyre himself struggled through an injury-plagued 2009 season that has left the reliever pondering retirement. The Phillies will need one more playoff push out of the 37-year old veteran. He threw only 30.0 innings this year, so despite bone chips in his elbow, he hopes to be fresh. Eyre also sprained his ankle in the NLDS but pitched after the injury and seems to be okay.

Other Relievers - Chan Ho Park, RHP, Chad Durbin, RHP, Antonio Bastardo, LHP

Pitching Primer: New York Yankees

Mariano Rivera: (3-3) 66 G, 66.1 IP, 1.76 ERA, 72 K, 7 HR
2009 Home Splits: (3-2) 39 G, 39.2 IP, 1.82 ERA, 41 K, 4 HR
2009 Road Splits: (0-1) 27 G, 26.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 31 K, 3 HR
2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 1 G, 1.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (8-1) 84 G, 128.0 IP, 0.77 ERA, 104 K, 2 HR
Career vs. PHI: 60 PA, .158 BA, .200 OBP, .175 SLG, 0 HR, 13 K

Phil Coke: (4-3) 72 G, 60.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 49 K, 10 HR

2009 Home Splits: (4-1) 42 G, 36.1 IP, 2.97 ERA, 26 K, 7 HR

2009 Road Splits: (0-2) 30 G, 23.2 IP, 6.85 ERA, 23 K, 3 HR

2009 vs. Phillies: (0-0) 1 G, 1.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 HR

Postseason Career: (0-0) 4 G, 1.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 K, 0 HR

Career vs. PHI: 6 PA, .167 BA, .167 OBP, .167 SLG, 0 HR, 0 K

Phil Hughes: (8-3) 51 G, 86.0 IP, 3.03 ERA, 96 K, 8 HR

2009 Home Splits: (4-1) 27 G, 39.2 IP, 2.50 ERA, 44 K, 6 HR

2009 Road Splits: (4-2) 24 G, 46.1 IP, 3.50 ERA, 52 K, 2 HR

2009 vs. Phillies: n/a

Postseason Career: (1-1) 8 G, 10.1 IP, 3.48 ERA, 12 K, 1 HR

Career vs. PHI: 17 PA, .286 BA, .412 OBP, .500 SLG, 1 HR, 5 K

Alfredo Aceves: (10-1) 43 G, 84.0 IP, 3.54 ERA, 69 K, 10 HR

2009 Home Splits: (6-0) 26 G, 50.1 IP, 1.61 ERA, 41 K, 5 HR

2009 Road Splits: (4-1) 17 G, 33.2 IP, 6.42 ERA, 28 K, 5 HR

2009 vs. Phillies: n/a

Postseason Career: (0-1) 3 G, 2.1 IP, 7.71 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR

Career vs. PHI: 1 PA, 1.000 BA, 1.000 OBP, 1.000 SLG, 0 HR, 0 K

Damaso Marte: (1-3) 21 G, 13.1 IP, 9.45 ERA, 13 K, 3 HR

2009 Home Splits: (0-2) 11 G, 6.0 IP, 18.00 ERA, 6 K, 2 HR

2009 Road Splits: (1-1) 10 G, 7.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 7 K, 1 HR

2009 vs. Phillies: n/a

Postseason Career: (1-0) 6 G, 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 K, 0 HR

Career vs. PHI: 47 PA, .279 BA, .326 OBP, .349 SLG, 0 HR, 13 K

David Robertson: (2-1) 45 G, 43.2 IP, 3.30 ERA, 63 K, 4 HR

2009 Home Splits: (2-0) 21 G, 20.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 27 K, 1 HR

2009 Road Splits: (0-1) 24 G, 23.2 IP, 4.18 ERA, 36 K, 3 HR

2009 vs. Phillies: n/a

Postseason Career: (2-0) 3 G, 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR

Career vs. PHI: 3 PA, .000 BA, .333 OBP, .000 SLG, 0 HR, 1 K

Pitching Primer: Philadelphia Phillies

Brad Lidge: (0-8) 67 G, 58.2 IP, 7.21 ERA, 61 K, 11 HR

2009 Home Splits: (0-2) 33 G, 31.0 IP, 6.10 ERA, 33 K, 5 HR

2009 Road Splits: (0-6) 34 G, 27.2 IP, 8.46 ERA, 28 K, 6 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: (0-1) 2 G, 1.1 IP, 27.00 ERA, 2 K, 1 HR
Postseason Career: (2-3) 31 G, 38.1 IP, 1.88 ERA, 55 K, 2 HR

Career vs. NYY: 33 PA, .276 BA, .364 OBP, .414 SLG, 1 HR, 11 K

Ryan Madson: (5-5) 79 G, 77.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 78 K, 7 HR

2009 Home Splits: (1-4) 36 G, 36.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 35 K, 4 HR

2009 Road Splits: (4-1) 43 G, 41.0 IP, 2.85 ERA, 43 K, 3 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: (0-0) 3 G, 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 K, 0 HR

Postseason Career: (2-0) 18 G, 18.2 IP, 2.89 ERA, 20 K, 1 HR

Career vs. NYY: 19 PA, .211 BA, .211 OBP, .316 SLG, 0 HR, 7 K

Scott Eyre: (2-1) 42 G, 30.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 22 K, 3 HR

2009 Home Splits: (0-0) 20 G, 13.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 10 K, 2 HR

2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 22 G, 16.1 IP, 0.55 ERA, 12 K, 1 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: (0-0) 1 G, 0.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 HR

Postseason Career: (0-0) 22 G, 11.2 IP, 1.54 ERA, 5 K, 0 HR

Career vs. NYY: 54 PA, .217 BA, .333 OBP, .500 SLG, 3 HR, 13 K

Chan Ho Park: (3-3) 45 G, 83.1 IP, 4.43 ERA, 73 K, 5 HR

2009 Home Splits: (2-1) 22 G, 41.2 IP, 3.67 ERA, 38 K, 2 HR

2009 Road Splits: (1-2) 23 G, 41.2 IP, 5.18 ERA, 35 K, 3 HR

2009 vs. Yankees: n/a

Postseason Career: (0-1) 9 G, 7.0 IP, 3.86 ERA, 4 K, 0 HR

Career vs. NYY: 88 PA, .216 BA, .326 OBP, .432 SLG, 4 HR, 21 K

Chad Durbin: (2-2) 59 G, 69.2 IP, 4.39 ERA, 62 K, 8 HR
2009 Home Splits: (2-1) 28 G, 31.0 IP, 4.65 ERA, 30 K, 4 HR
2009 Road Splits: (0-1) 31 G, 38.2 IP, 4.19 ERA, 32 K, 4 HR
2009 vs. Yankees: (0-0) 2 G, 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR
Postseason Career: (2-0) 11 G, 7.1 IP, 1.23 ERA, 4 K, 1 HR
Career vs. NYY: 75 PA, .200 BA, .253 OBP, .314 SLG, 2 HR, 10 K

Antonio Bastardo: (2-3) 6 G, 23.2 IP, 6.46 ERA, 19 K, 4 HR
2009 Home Splits: (0-2) 3 G, 9.0 IP, 8.00 ERA, 6 K, 1 HR
2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 3 G, 14.2 IP, 5.52 ERA, 13 K, 3 HR
2009 vs. Yankees: n/a
Postseason Career: (0-0) 2 G, 0.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 0 HR
Career vs. NYY: n/a

Phillies World Series Previews

Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters, Benches

Game Previews: One, Two, Three

Game Recaps: One, Two, Three