Phil Sheridan: Phillies' Durbin among bullpen diamonds

Charlie Manuel ran through his postgame checklist, as always. J.A. Happ starting the game? Check. Shane Victorino ending the game? Check. In between, the Phillies manager spoke volumes about this extraordinary game and this exceptional season with an almost offhanded eight-word comment. "The bullpen," Manuel said, "did a heck of a job." It's funny how these things work.

The last few years, there were plenty of things to say about the Phillies' bullpen. It was frustrating, it was inconsistent, it was undermanned and overtaxed. There was little danger of Manuel or anyone else taking the guys out behind the center-field fence for granted. Not coincidentally, Manuel took a lot of criticism over those same long seasons. How could he bring in (insert name of your favorite disaster here) in that situation? How could he leave GeoffGearyAntonioAlfonsecaJoseMesa in to face another hitter? Manuel made a questionable pitching decision in last night's ...