r/phillies • u/Perryplat199 Ask me about my Kody Clemens jersey • 17h ago

News [Phillies] The Phillies have signed Don Mattingly to a two-year contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons

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u/Feisty-Promotion-312 16h ago

Not like there's much or a bullpen to manage

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u/cfaatwork Bryson Stott 16h ago

This is always my issue…like which shit sandwich does he bring in, when the entire menu is shit sandwiches.

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u/one-eared-wonder 16h ago

I’m not a huge ball knower tbh but I’m pretty sure he would constantly warm guys up who wouldn’t come in, so their arms were more worn down than the average bullpen. So honestly he may have been contributing to their shittiness.

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u/scrnlookinsob 16h ago

He warmed people up? my biggest complaint with him is that in spots where a pitcher/reliever should have a short leash, he never had anyone up. For example when Duran was pitching his 2nd inning in Game 1 of the Wild Card, there was absolutely no one up.

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u/Hubris-Manifested 15h ago

There were reports or at least comments (unsure of the sources and validity of any of it) that he would have guys start warming up but then the inning would go fine and Duran would come in to close the 9th. Something like that. So the guy who was the "if shit goes bad..." guy didn't get put in. He just warmed up for no reason

It seems to depend on the pitcher, but for many guys I don't know that that's a "big" problem to get warmed up or semi-warmed up in preparation of going in then not going. Some guys want to be throwing multiple days in a row and like to keep their arm feeling worked or lightly sore. Some don't. I can only compare it myself to running at a high level. Going too many rest days you lose the soreness feeling and it's different and not always for the better when you get back to running. It's like the feeling of stopping then starting versus pausing then starting. Or maybe like an engine going fully cold then restarting versus sitting for an hour then restarting. The oil is still warm and everything just flows better after a short warmup. For me anyway that's how I can describe it. With the soreness you just get back out there the next day, warm up through slow running, it works itself out of the muscles and you feel great like you just had a rest but not like your body ever quit being ready to go. Working with a little soreness isn't always bad. I can't speak for professional pitchers.

I'd say as long as Don and Caleb are talking with specific pitchers and making sure they're catering to their personal needs and wants then it's not an issue. It's honestly hard to come down on one side or another if he was wearing guys out because maybe all the guys he got warmed up were like "yeah, I'll warm up and be ready this inning. I'll do it tomorrow and the next day too. I like it." We don't know unless someone asks every single pitcher and they all give honest answers. So basically... we can't know lol. Because for PR reasons and "not talking shit on the manager" reasons they're never going to give fully honest opinions if they're negative. Maybe once they're out of the league someday down the line.