Internet sports betting still had the defending World Series winner Philadelphia Phillies as one of the favorites at the sportsbook but all is not well in Philadelphia. The Phillies have struggled of late in offshore sports betting and they have a serious question about who will close games for them.
Internet sports betting had Ryan Madson getting the last two saves for the Phillies after closer Brad Lidge had been pulled. Lidge has blown 10 saves this season after having a perfect 2008 in Internet sports betting stats. Manager Charlie Manuel has even mentioned former closer Brett Myers getting some work. “You know what?” Manuel said, “It’ll be what it’s going to be. That’s kind of the way I look at it.”
Manuel seems to be leaning toward Madson as offshore sports betting indicated although he could just go with whoever is hot. On Tuesday and Wednesday night in Internet sports betting it was Madson retiring five of the six batters he faced, each time with the tying or go-ahead run on base or at the plate.
Philadelphia will have to clear things up before the playoffs begin and Internet sports betting odds are on the sports book board. Their lead in the National League East still seems safe although it is not what it once was as offshore sports betting shows. It has been cut to five games by the Florida Marlins who are hanging around in offshore sports betting.
The Phillies will have to decide what to do with Lidge. Manuel does not want to give another player the closer role but may have no choice as Internet sports betting info indicates. “I don’t see us using him in the seventh or eighth inning,” Manuel said of Lidge. “We might use him sometime to get him some work, if we are winning by a large margin or losing by a large margin, but I don’t see pitching him in the seventh or eighth inning. I look at him as a closer. For me, that’s kind of where he fits. I see him pitching once he needs work if we are behind in a game or ahead by a big margin to make sure he pitches live in the games and things.”
Lidge has a 7.11 ERA this season as Internet sports betting stats show. “I’m definitely not giving up on him as a closer and in talking to him he is definitely not going to give up on himself,” Manuel said. “Basically what we have to do, is we have to get him where he can be consistent, where he can pitch a little bit better than how he’s been pitching.”