Lidge gets closer
Brad Lidge made what might be his final rehab appearance today, pitching a scoreless eighth inning for Lakewood in a South Atlantic League game.
Lidge gets closer
Daily News staff
Brad Lidge made what might be his final rehab appearance today, pitching a scoreless eighth inning for Lakewood in a South Atlantic League game.
Lidge, who has not pitched all season for the Phillies, retired the three batters he faced with two groundouts and a strikeout. He threw 10 pitches, seven for strikes.
Lakewood scored five runs in the bottom of the inning to win, 8-2.
"Everything feels good, finally,'' Lidge said. "My slider feels great right now. As I always say, that's a real important pitch for me. That's normally how I get guys out.''
Lidge has made eight rehab appearances, four with Reading and four with Lakewood. With Reading, he allowed two runs in 3.2 innings pitched. With Lakewood, he allowed one run with four strikeouts in four innings.
Lidge expressed confidence in a fastball that has lacked velocity throughout his rehab stint.
"One of the most important things for me is not just velocity, but the downward angle on the fastball and obviously command of it," he said. "If I've got those two things going and the velocity goes up even one mile an hour when I get back to Philadelphia, I'll be fine.''
He is hoping to rejoin the Phillies when they return home Friday to face San Diego.
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Anything on his velocity??— FABER- oh no!— Mark1npt
- Buckle up fans, it's going to be a bumpy ride!— jimyd0315
- Can Lidge and his 88-mph fastball possibly be worse than the three stooges (Herndon, Baez, or Carpenter)?— Danielson
- Agree, Danielson, he has to be far better than those three clowns...— M60tanker
- @Danielson, a pitching machine would be better then those 3. Hopefully this doesn't preclude RAJ from getting a little more help for the 'pen.— paulNC
- Actually, I would rather have Valdez come in to pitch than Baez, Herndon and Carpenter. — jimyd0315
- just don't put this guy anywhere near a situation where the game is on the line in late innings.— AlexSp
- Thanks for the Great Year, Brad. Please move on.... I cannot afford anymore Alka-Seltzer, Tums, or Excederin this year. And, oh yea, the blown Saves. I hear GNC Romero calling, you better pick it up!— NRGjunk
- No fan will ever be more critical of a Philly player than Philly fans. Why not welcome him back (unless you forgot his 2008 performance of zero blown saves) and see if he can make the team better. Or we can waste prospects, after finally getting the farm system replenished, on a reliever from a different team and continue to mortgage the future. Now, I'm not against winning this year, but if you have a piece you can add from the I.R., instead of moving pieces, then you get a win-win. Give the guy a break and act like you remember him helping this team win a World Series!— Bleue
- I agree that he is a walking heart attack, but he's another arm in the mix. Having the best record in the league gives you an opportunity to see if the guy has enough in the tank to help you come October. I hope he does have something left.— Orange845
- Keep Brad at Lakewood, sign the pitching machine to an extension.— NewMick314
- If Lidge can stay healthy, he deserves to be on this team for the rest of this year. He would be a nice upgrade over Baez, Herndon, and Carpenter, but can't see him being used as a closer anymore with the way Madsen and Bastardo have come through for us.— Phillyfan among the NYers
- I doubt Lidge will close. But he could still help this club. The bullpen, actually seems fine. Bastardo and Stutes have been excellent. Madson is working his way back. If Oswalt comes back, Kendrick can go back to the long relief role that he was doing well in.
That should be enough to get them through most games. Their starters have been so brilliant that the lack of 6th inning guys has not hurt them too badly.— Muckrakers - He will be a mop up guy....Cholly won't call his number in the 7th, 8th or 9th inning, maybe the 18th though.— scootch
