DAY 16: Ryan Madson
By John Gottlieb
The Phanatic Magazine
While not living up to his promise as a prospect in the Phillies farm system, Ryan Madson is still trying to find his niche in the pitching staff.
He was mainly used a reliever last year, but did make 17 starts, finishing 11-9 with a 5.69 earned run average and two saves in a career-best 134 1/3 innings. He had a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio, but much like throughout his entire career he was extremely inconsistent until after the trading deadline.
In his first 22 outings, Madson went only three games without giving up an earned run. That being said the righty finished the season on a strong note, giving up runs in 10 of his final 28 outings, including four runs in his final 10 1/3 frames.However, the long, lanky 26-year-old gave up 20 homers and 176 hits.
It seems as if Madson will never turn into the middle of the rotation pitcher that was once hoped. And as long as Jon Lieber is on the team, Madson isn't even the first guy out of the bullpen for spot starting.
He's got a fantastic curveball that drops off the table and an above average changeup to go along with a decent fastball.
The spring has not been kind to Madson thus far, as he has made only two outings, allowing two earned runs in two innings.
Madson definitely figures into the picture in the shaky Phils bullpen, but how much depends upon his performance. Tom Gordon is solid as the closer and Matt Smith most likely will be the only lefty in the pen, but that leaves as least four spots. Lieber is in unless he gets dealt and he will be joined by Geoff Geary and Antonio Alfonseca, as long as he proves he can still be effective.
That leaves Madson, Clay Condrey and Justin Germano for the two final spots (assuming that the Phils carry 11 pitchers). Madson should get in due to his experience but Condrey and Germano are having good springs so far and may make things interesting.
Tomorrow: Chris Coste
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