The Phillies deployed the National League's best bullpen to shorten games last season. This year, they may prefer a different strategy -- scrap the ninth inning entirely. That way, manager Charlie Manuel would not have to worry about which reliever to summon for that perilous final out. Not having a reliable closer is chief among the Phillies' concerns as they prepare to defend their World Series title, a title captured in large part because of Brad Lidge's ninth-inning dominance in 2008. As Lidge has struggled, Manuel has improvised, turning to Ryan Madson, who was superb in a setup role but has looked shaky in the ninth. Potential replacements like Brett Myers and Chan Ho Park are ailing, and injuries to the left-handed dynamos J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre have destabilized the bullpen even further. What had been one of Philadelphia's greatest strengths is now its primary weakness, and the flaw could be fatal. The Phillies have a ferocious offense, a deep starting rotation and exceptional defense, but none of that may matter in the postseason. Regardless of how talented teams are in other aspects of the game, they have difficulty staying alive in the playoffs without a dependable bullpen. Three of the last four World Series champions' bullpens ranked among the top three in the regular season, including the Phillies' last year. Some teams with bullpens in far worse shape have, for one reason or another, outlasted the competition. The 2000 Yankees, the 2003 Florida Marlins and the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals finished the regular season ranked 18th, 18th and 14th in relief earned run averages, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 1987 Minnesota Twins' bullpen was a disaster, posting a 5.11 E.R.A., the highest among champions since 1969, according to Elias. In the postseason, managers rely on only three or four starting pitchers, and their most effective relievers. Pitchers with inflated regular-season statistics are used sparingly, if at all, and are often left off the postseason roster. Manuel turned to Madson in 11 of the Phillies' 14 playoff games last season, usually as a bridge to Lidge. That is the ideal pitching sequence: seven or so innings by a starter, one by a setup man, then the final inning from the closer. It is also how successful teams start distinguishing themselves. Having a strong back end and, more specifically, an elite closer -- or at least one who adjusts quickly to that role, as Adam Wainwright did for St. Louis in 2006 -- is usually a harbinger of postseason success. Of the last 10 World Series champions, five featured closers who had an ERA lower than 1.00 during the playoffs. Three did not allow a run: Jonathan Papelbon for Boston in 2007; Wainwright; and Mariano Rivera for the Yankees in 1999. Finding the complementary pieces for a bullpen is one of the hardest tasks in baseball, mainly because relievers are often so difficult to predict from year to year. Even with their resources, the Yankees have had trouble finding a consistent gateway to Rivera. The Red Sox have fielded one of the better bullpens in baseball over the last three years, but they were still aggressive in late August when they acquired Billy Wagner, a move that has worked out well. Almost everyone from the Phillies' 2008 bullpen returned this season, but the pieces have not fit nearly as smoothly. Entering Friday's game in Milwaukee, the Phillies were 75-10 when leading after eight innings. Last season, when Lidge converted all 48 save chances, the Phillies were 79-0, counting the postseason, when ahead after eight. As a group, the Phillies have blown 22 saves this season, including 11 by Lidge and six by Madson. For understandable reasons, Manuel is trying to squeeze as many innings as possible from his starters. Rather than turn the game over to his bullpen on Sept. 13, Manuel let Pedro Martinez throw 130 pitches against the Mets, his highest total since Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series. It prevented any bullpen heartache, but it may have had ramifications on their rotation and closing situation. Martinez left his last start early with neck stiffness and has been scratched from his scheduled start Saturday. The rookie left-hander J.A. Happ, who may otherwise be nudged out of the starting rotation in the playoffs by Martinez, was mentioned by Manuel after Thursday's game as a potential closer. Happ pitched five and two-thirds innings Thursday, leaving with a six-run lead in an eventual 9-4 win. It was the perfect kind of game for the Phillies, one that was essentially over before the ninth inning. But as long as Martinez's status remains uncertain, the Phillies will probably have to abandon those plans for Happ and continue thinking of alternate solutions. Their season -- their postseason -- depends on it. 