September 5, 200322 yr PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies reliever Jose Mesa has lost his closer's job again, this time after blowing two save chances in four days. Manager Admin Bowa said before Friday's game with the New York Mets that Philadelphia would use a committee to finish games. "He said, 'I'm not doing my job and I understand,"' Bowa said. Mesa, booed by Phillies fans at Veterans Stadium for most of the season, doesn't speak to reporters. He has a 7.86 ERA at home. "He said he doesn't feel comfortable here," Bowa said. "He didn't make that an excuse." Mesa (5-7, 6.26 ERA, 24 saves in 28 tries), allowed a game-tying, ninth-inning home run to New York's Prentice Redman on Thursday. The Phillies came back to win, and stayed tied with Florida for the NL wild-card lead. On Monday, Mesa blew a two-run lead against Boston in the ninth inning and the Phillies lost. Mesa temporarily lost his job last month, but came back and had two saves last weekend against the Mets. Mike Williams, acquired from Pittsburgh in July, has 27 saves this year, including two for the Phillies. But his ERA with Philadelphia is 5.09. "We've got guys that can pick up the slack," Williams said. "Nobody's perfect throughout the year. Everybody goes through struggles." The move could mean Mesa is playing his final games with the Phillies. He needed to finish 10 of the next 22 games to guarantee his contract for $5.5 million next season. Dan Plesac has two saves this season, including one on Tuesday night, could be a candidate to fill the role. Lefty Rheal Cormier, who has a 1.70 ERA, has been Philadelphia's most reliable reliever, but he's never been a closer and doesn't have a save this year. "I don't think these guys will second-guess each other," Cormier said. "I think they'll all pull for each other." Bowa said he'll still use Mesa and didn't rule out the possibility he could reclaim the job. "I know he's trying too hard," Bowa said. I like to see a team without a closer try to win in September!
September 6, 200322 yr Mesa is struggling so bad and no one has confidence in Mike Williams. The phils need to find a good closer somewhere if they want to win the WC!
September 6, 200322 yr Mesa blows.......... BIG TIME........ :thumbdown :jackass :hanged :devil :guillotine Mesa is all the above and more. Can't wait to see the Marlins in Philly soon! Best of luck to you all in the WC race! But you know where my heart is!
September 6, 200322 yr Duh your heart is in ur chest,inside your body! Not here to start anything.... I rarely post here.... just wishing you good luck in the WC race... it's been fun so far.......
September 6, 200322 yr lol im just kidding with you? oh.... sorry... I really do come "in peace". If the Phillies don't win the WC, I would love to see you all win it. Keep it in the NL East!
September 6, 200322 yr The Phils bullpen is too shaky for them to make it, I think. They are able to win though, but not like they should be at their current cost (if we are to believe the media that cost = winning). Mesa and Williams, two guys I would not want to rely on - ever. More so Mesa than Williams; Mesa has always been shaky. We have better pitching, if only our offense would be more consistent - even before Lowell's bad break.
September 6, 200322 yr Mike Williams/Jose Mesa, Phillies They've both been so bad that we're going with a closer by committee. After making the All-Star team with a 6.44 ERA, Williams became the symbol of how overrated closers are and how cheap saves have become. He's earning $3.5 million, he has a higher ERA than Maroth, he's lost six games and has blown seven save chances. And the thing is, he isn't his team's worst reliever. That distinction goes to Mesa who has an even higher ERA (6.26) and more losses (seven). He would have more official blown saves (four), but the Phillies keep taking him out before he can officially get it. These guys are making $8.7 million and neither can protect a lead. No wonder Philly fans are so angry all the time. There on the All Bad Team :shifty :mischief
September 6, 200322 yr Well that closer by committee that was so to implode was Frenchy last night and shut the mutts out. Only his second save ever.
September 6, 200322 yr The Phils bullpen is too shaky for them to make it, I think. They are able to win though, but not like they should be at their current cost (if we are to believe the media that cost = winning). Mesa and Williams, two guys I would not want to rely on - ever. More so Mesa than Williams; Mesa has always been shaky. We have better pitching, if only our offense would be more consistent - even before Lowell's bad break. I agree. I think Philly's bullpen is overrated, and I can't believe how many people are picking them to go to the playoffs. I just don't think they're as good as Florida (maybe that has something to do with me being a Fish fan.) Good idea going to a closer by committee. I mean, it worked so well for Boston, right? :blink:
September 6, 200322 yr How can be rated when all they do is get the grief from Jose Mesa who has been officially kicked out of being a closer and he is not part of this commitee. THe Phillies Pen that's so bad in your bad: Silva has a 4.48 era and can do more than just a closer Wendell: 3.56 era in 47 games Adams: 2.69 era in 65 games Frenchy: 1.68 era Pleasac: 2.22 era in 50 games De Los Santos: 4.07 era in 46 games add Duck, Madson and a few others in there minus Mesa who is offically a mop up guy. So to compare their pen to The Sox obviously took a lot of thinking from you.
September 6, 200322 yr So to compare their pen to The Sox obviously took a lot of thinking from you. I was saying they both had a closer-by-committee. That's as far as the comparisons went. Jeez.
September 7, 200322 yr :mischief2 either stay and be a part of the board or dont.... you said you were gonna leave, so leave... but if you stay, dont be a douche bag, and post legit things
September 8, 200322 yr I remember at the beginning of the series that Mike Williams became our best friend, most of the Phillies bullpen ERA's were under 3.00-2.00. Look at them now.
September 8, 200322 yr I remember at the beginning of the series that Mike Williams became our best friend, most of the Phillies bullpen ERA's were under 3.00-2.00. Look at them now. Josh Clinton makes another brilliant possibly post of the year caliber, post. He completely ignores the fact that The Phillies Bullpen has continued to excell and just goes for the fact that Mike Williams is the reason their pen stinks because he raises their era. With four RL's with an era under four is somehow below average is beyond me. My advise Josh is go read some of the articles in Philly Papers from Friday, you will openly see Bowa basically say that Mesa will only appear in mop up work and will not see a save opportunity.
September 8, 200322 yr Josh Clinton makes another brilliant possibly post of the year caliber, post. He completely ignores the fact that The Phillies Bullpen has continued to excell and just goes for the fact that Mike Williams is the reason their pen stinks because he raises their era. With four RL's with an era under four is somehow below average is beyond me. My advise Josh is go read some of the articles in Philly Papers from Friday, you will openly see Bowa basically say that Mesa will only appear in mop up work and will not see a save opportunity. Again, Rune shows us that you shouldn't put words in other people mouths. I just happened to mention that Mike Williams is our best friend, and he goes on about how I said that he is an example of the Phillies supposed "bullpen woes" (which I never said, though may have implied somewhat). Then he rambles on about how he thinks I said an ERA under 4.00 is below average, which I never did say or even slightly imply. Then he again tells me I'm wrong about something I never even spoke of. Apparently he believes I said something about Mesa still being closer, because he tells me to pick up a Philly newspaper that says he won't get any save chances. Rune, what are you talking about? Do you even read my posts? All I said was that a few relievers ERA's have dropped dramatically since a certain series. Jesus.
September 8, 200322 yr Josh Clinton makes another brilliant possibly post of the year caliber, post. He completely ignores the fact that The Phillies Bullpen has continued to excell and just goes for the fact that Mike Williams is the reason their pen stinks because he raises their era. With four RL's with an era under four is somehow below average is beyond me. My advise Josh is go read some of the articles in Philly Papers from Friday, you will openly see Bowa basically say that Mesa will only appear in mop up work and will not see a save opportunity. Again, Rune shows us that you shouldn't put words in other people mouths. I just happened to mention that Mike Williams is our best friend, and he goes on about how I said that he is an example of the Phillies supposed "bullpen woes" (which I never said, though may have implied somewhat). Then he rambles on about how he thinks I said an ERA under 4.00 is below average, which I never did say or even slightly imply. Then he again tells me I'm wrong about something I never even spoke of. Apparently he believes I said something about Mesa still being closer, because he tells me to pick up a Philly newspaper that says he won't get any save chances. Rune, what are you talking about? Do you even read my posts? All I said was that a few relievers ERA's have dropped dramatically since a certain series. Jesus. All that can be said is LMAO Sorry Josh if you don't like it that not everyone considers you god. Also if you want to call me out due that in PM, if you want to discuss baseball and not just ramble on post something.
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