Rollins to be the next Happy Gilmore?

Check this commercial for Nike and Dicks Sporting Goods.






Somebody please tell me that Jimmy Rollins is not going to sign a big contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Mac Attack: Lights Out, Bullpen Special Edition

The Phillies bullpen, last season and in the postseason, was lights out. The combination of Chad Durbin-Ryan Madson-J.C. Romero-Brad Lidge rivals that of Rivera-Wetteland of the mid-1990s New York Yankees fame. Not to mention guys like Clay Condrey, and the midseason acquisition Scott Eyre stepped up big time and keep the majority of the games close.

So, in the traditional spirit of things and the rule of threes, lets review, then preview the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen.

Long Relief

Clay Condrey

2008 record: 3-4, 1 save, 1 save opportunity, 56 games

2008 ERA: 3.26

2008 Strikeout and Walk totals: 34 K, 19 BB

2008 Innings Pitched: 69 IP

Middle Relief

Chad Durbin

2008 record: 5-4, 1 save, 7 save opportunities, 71 games

2008 ERA: 2.87

2008 Strikeout and Walk totals: 63 K, 35 BB

2008 Innings Pitched: 87.2 IP

Left Handed Specialist(s)

Scott Eyre

2008 with Chicago (NL) record: 2-0, 1 save opportunity, 7.15 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 4 walks, 11.1 IP, 19 games

2008 with Philadelphia record: 3-0, 1 save opportunity, 1.88 ERA, 18 strikeouts, 3 walks, 14.1 IP, 19 games

2008 totals: 5-0, 4.21 ERA, 38 games, 32 K, 7 BB, 25.2 IP, 2 save opportunities

J.C. Romero: See Set-Up Men

Set-Up Men

Ryan Madson

2008 record: 4-2, 1 save, 3 save opportunities, 76 games

2008 ERA: 3.05

2008 Strikeout and Walk totals: 67 K, 23 BB

2008 Innings Pitched: 82.2 IP

J.C. Romero

2008 record: 4-4, 1 save, 5 save opportunities, 81 games

2008 ERA: 2.75

2008 Strikeout and Walk totals: 52 K, 38 BB

2008 Innings Pitched: 59.0 IP

Closer

Brad Lidge

2008 record: 2-0, 41 saves in 41 chances (7 postseason saves for 48 total), 72 games

2008 ERA: 1.95

2008 Strikeout and Walk totals: 92 K, 35 BB

2008 Innings Pitched: 69.1 IP

2008 All-Star stats: 0-1, 0.2 IP, 1 game, 13.50 ERA, walk

2008 Cumulative Postseason stats: 0-0, 0.96 ERA, 9 games, 7 saves in 7 chances, 9.1 IP, 13 K, 3 BB

The Phillies' bullpen has not changed much from last year. Durbin-Madson-Romero-Lidge combined for 44 saves, 244 innings pitched, 274 strikeouts, 101 walks, and a combined ERA of 2.66 during the regular season.

Everyone loves lists, so it's time to reveal the projected 2009 numbers for the Philadelphia Phillies Relievers.

Long Relief

Clay Condrey

2009 Projected record: 6-5, 3.95 ERA, 40 K, 21 BB, 50 games, 72.1 IP

Chan Ho Park*

2009 Projected record as a reliever: 4-4, 4.50 ERA, 60 K, 29 BB, 61 games, 89.0 IP

J.A. Happ**

2009 Projected record as a reliever: 5-0, 3.95 ERA, 70 K, 39 BB, 53 games, 101.2 IP

Kyle Kendrick***

2009 Projected record as a reliever: 5-0, 4.00 ERA, 80 K, 40 BB, 53 games, 102.1 IP

Middle Relief

Chad Durbin

2009 Projected record: 5-1, 2.53 ERA, 50 K, 21 BB, 70 games, 73.1 IP, 2 saves in 3 chances

Robert Mosebach (Rule 5 draftee)

2009 Projected record: 2-5, 3.34 ERA, 49 K, 27 BB, 50 games, 50.2 IP

Left Handed Specialist

Scott Eyre

2009 Projected record: 6-5, 3.67 ERA, 45 K, 17 BB, 49 games, 73.2 IP, 1 save in 1 chance

Set Up Men

Ryan Madson

2009 Projected record: 5-2, 2.99 ERA, 71 K, 25 BB, 80 games, 91.2 IP, 3 saves in 5 chances

J.C. Romero

2009 Projected record: 3-0, 1.99 ERA, 59 K, 30 BB, 50 games, 67.2 IP, 2 saves in 3 chances

Closer

Brad Lidge

2009 Projected record: 3-0, 1.01 ERA, 93 K, 33 BB, 61 games, 101.1 IP, 45 saves in 48 chances

*If Happ or Kendrick take Fifth Starting Rotation Spot

**If Kendrick or Park take Fifth Starting Rotation Spot

***If Happ or Park take Fifth Starting Rotation Spot

Because as the old baseball adage goes, "Good Pitching beats good hitting; pitching and defense wins championships."