Time to close the door on Lidge

The question facing the Phillies no longer is whether Brad Lidge should be the closer, but whether last year's hero should even be on the postseason roster.

Lidge can no longer close major-league games. His performance all season has shown that and his ultra-meltdown on Wednesday night was just the final nail in the coffin. Maybe he'll recover next year, but this one is over - way over - for the guy who was perfect in 2008.

And if Lidge can't close games what, really, can he do? Pinch-run?

It sounds cruel, and there's no disrespect intended here, but it's where the Phillies have arrived this September, through a combination of an incredible string of injuries and their failure to acquire a closer in July.

(Not to second-guess Ruben Amaro Jr., but Morning Report advised obtaining George Sherrill from Baltimore before the trade deadline. The righthander has a 0.77 ERA in 25 appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers.)

Since Lidge can't be the closer in the postseason and since Ryan Madson has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to do the job, either, that leaves only a few options.

And before you roast Charlie Manuel for sticking with Lidge this long - as many e-mailers have been doing all day - keep in mind the limited number of available arms.

J.C. Romero remains on the disabled list. Brett Myers has been hurt, as have Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin and Chan Ho Park.

Pedro Martinez had a stiff neck and J.A. Happ was battling a strained oblique that quieted any thoughts of using him in the bullpen. And, as he showed last night, the rookie lefthander belongs in the rotation.

So who does that leave to stomp to the mound in October and face down the likes of Todd Helton, Manny Ramirez or Albert Pujols?

Jamie Moyer? Kyle Kendrick? Tyler Walker?

Walker at least has done the job before. He had 23 saves (and five blown saves) in 2005 with San Francisco. He had 19 holds and four blown saves a year ago. He had a 2.30 ERA in 27 games before last night.

He loaded the bases in his only inning against the Brewers, giving up two singles and hitting Jason Kendall.

It wasn't a clean inning by any means, but this team is grasping at straws.

The Phillies might not even need a closer in the first series. Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels could pitch complete-game victories.

Or the hitters could shatter opposing pitching and run up a string of 9-4 wins like last night's, making Condrey's ninth-inning struggle irrelevant.

But somewhere along the line in October, somebody will have to close out a win.

Think about it: Oct. 28, the new Yankee Stadium, the Phillies lead the Bombers, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth. Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira are due up, with Alex Rodriguez waiting to swing if somebody gets on.

Who's your closer?

My guy's Pedro Martinez.