- Crashburn Alley - http://crashburnalley.com -  Ryan Madson,
Closing, and Contracts  Posted By Bill Baer On April 5, 2011 @
9:27 am In MLB,Philadelphia Phillies,Sabermetrics | 11 Comments
Over at Brotherly Glove, Eric Seidman refutes the suggestion
that the Phillies named Jose Contreras closer partially to
deflate Ryan Madson‘s leverage in contract negotiations.  While
the idea that the team is trying to cost-control Madson by not
allowing him to close is interesting from a storyline
standpoint, I highly doubt the Phillies are implementing such a
devious tactic.  How would it even make sense? The front office
would spend this year deflating Madson’s confidence, convincing
him that he lacks the mental fortitude to be a closer, hoping
that he and Boras buy in and re-sign at a lesser price, only to
eventually use Madson in the role they said he could not fill?
It’s just too wacky a theory when every angle is examined.  I
haven’t seen anyone else suggest this besides myself, so it’s
just a theory of mine and is