The Phillies managed to blow their 31st and 32nd saves of the season last night and still managed not only to win, but to gain ground on the first-pace Braves.
Ian Kennedy looks a lot more like Brandon Workman, last year's big closer acquisition, than a competent relief pitcher. Kennedy had one of the blown saves (his fourth in 16 appearances) and gave up a homer that tied the game. It was the seventh homer he's allowed in 15.2 innings. But thanks to a passed ball by the Cubs in the bottom of the ninth, Kennedy got credit for the win (the most useless stat for gauging pitchers).
Workman, as you may recall (or perhaps you'd rather forget), was trash for the Phils last year. He gave up four homers in just 13 innings and had an ERA of 6.92 for that historically bad bullpen. Kennedy's ERA sits at 6.32 for the Phils. Workman only had three blown saves and didn't pitch again after Sept. 22.
So why is Kennedy still the closer? The Phils have zero margin for error with two and half weeks left in the season. It's time to put Hector Neris, Archie Bradley, or even Sam Coonrod in to close games. Kennedy is a liability and can't be trusted to hold a lead.
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