Phillies bullpen has potential to be as special as starting rotation

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Like everybody else with a rooting interest in the Phillies, Brad Lidge was thrilled about the arrival of Cliff Lee and is eager to get the 2011 season started.

"A lot of people that I talked to thought we were going to be a World Series contender and the team to beat in 2011 before we got Lee," Lidge said Sunday after pitchers and catchers reported to spring training at Bright House Field and went through physical examinations. "And once we got Cliff, it just seemed like the mentality now for us is that we need to win this thing."

Shortly after the news spread that Lee was returning to Philadelphia, some of the reliever's friends sent him text messages suggesting the Phillies could do something even better than winning the World Series.

"I started getting text messages saying, 'You guys aren't going to lose a game this year,' " Lidge said. "If only it were that easy."

The Phillies, of course, will lose a few en route to whatever their final destination is to become, but exactly how many they win will rely as much on Lidge and the rest of the bullpen as it does on the most celebrated starting rotation in franchise history.

It's entirely possible that the Phillies' bullpen will become a strength rather than a weakness for a team that is likely to surpass the 100-win mark for the first time since 1977.

In between fielding questions about his talent-laden starting rotation Sunday, pitching coach Rich Dubee was asked if he had some concerns about a bullpen that ranked 18th overall and 10th in the National League with a 4.02 ERA last season.

"No," he said, flatly. "We have spots to be won, that's for sure. There are people saying that it's a weakness of ours or whatever, and I guess if you match them up with the four starters - I mean, a lot of teams would have a weakness in their bullpen if they were compared to our four frontline starters and Joe Blanton as our fifth guy."

This is the time of year when every aspect of every big-league team has some reason for optimism, but it's really not false hope to think that the Phillies' bullpen can be special. The one World Series they have won during their current run of four straight National League East titles was a direct result of bullpen dominance.

Lidge was a perfect 48 for 48 as the closer in 2008 and Ryan Madson shifted his game and his fastball into another gear as the setup man. The bullpen's 3.22 ERA was the best in the National League and second best in baseball. Lidge, Dubee, and Madson believe that piece of history can repeat itself.

"I know I feel good, and I know Madson feels good, and I know what we're capable of when we do feel good, so that's kind of the only thing on my mind," Lidge said.

One of the questions still to be answered about the bullpen is who will fill the role vacated by Chad Durbin, who remains an unsigned free agent as the Phillies open spring training. Kyle Kendrick is a candidate, but Lidge endorsed the return of Durbin.

"I do think [Kendrick] is capable of being that kind of guy," Lidge said. "He is a very good pitcher. The only thing is he hasn't had that opportunity, where with Durbin we knew we could rely on him to go out and get that job done. Obviously, with the Durbin situation, we all want him back, but we also understand all the politics that go into it. Chad and I are close friends, so I'm hoping he's back with us. I also understand that he's a free agent, and he needs to do what is best for his future. We hope he is back with us."

Foxsports.com reported Sunday that Seattle was interested in Durbin, but added he wanted to pitch for a contender. Durbin said in a text message that his agent was "in heavy talks with several clubs," but indicated the Phillies were not one of them, because they had "no wiggle room" in their last offer.

A big reason the Phillies went 49-19 in their final 58 games in 2010 was the work of the relievers.

Lidge had a 2.10 ERA after the all-star break and converted 22 of his final 24 saves last year. He followed that up with four more scoreless innings in the postseason. Madson had a 1.50 ERA after the all-star break. Jose Contreras, pitching for the first time in his career exclusively as a reliever, proved that he was an old pitcher capable of learning some new tricks.

"Our goal every year is to be the best bullpen in the league," Madson said. "We keep chasing it. I think people will be very happy with what they see from our bullpen."