Lidge has cortisone injection
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Lidge has cortisone injection
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Apparently, there is an explanation for Brad Lidge's poor arm strength thus far this spring. According to team doctor Michael Ciccotti, who briefed reporters this morning, the Phillies' closer has had soreness on the exterior of his elbow, which prompted the club to give him a cortisone injection yesterday.
Ciccotti stressed that the soreness was not structural, and was in no way related to the surgery Lidge underwent this offseason, which involved the interior of the elbow. Lidge is expected to long toss on Friday and throw a bullpen session either Saturday or Sunday, depending on how his elbow responds.
Ciccotti said the shot would not necessarily affect Lidge's timetable to return this season. Lidge viewed the Phillies' April 12th home opener as his target. The Phillies have said they expect him back at some point between the home opener and the end of April.
"Our goal had always been to get him back by mid-April," Ciccotti said. "Of course Brad very much wants to get back as soon as possible, but our goal had been to get him back by mid-April. And so with this, it may not necessarily change that time frame very much. Maybe the third week in April or so."
Lidge's velocity has been down throughout a handful of minor league appearances that he has made this spring. He usually experiences similar soreness in his elbow at the start of spring training, but it tends to dissipate within two to three weeks of starting his throwing program.
"It's just a matter of jump-starting him and hoping to get him over this yearly lateral elbow soreness that he has," Ciccotti said.
Yeah, but he "feels good," just like he said last year before getting shut down with a knee injury, and again before offseason surgery. This guy could have a colonoscopy and claim "I feel good"- Damn...— BammBamm
- I wouldn't count on him to be very good again this year.— Sponge
- raise your hand if you feel like you have been down this road before with this guy............ oh..and where is the baseball "expert" who last week claimed that i knew nothing about baseball because i worried about lidge's lack of velocity...he said not to worry, that his "out pitch" was a slider...still not worried there sparky— Frank_Drebin
- There is no question that this guy's time has passed. He, the phils, and their brass are in denial if they believe he's going to help at all, let alone close. I realize he's getting paid a ton of money, but if this is going to be a championship team, they need to stop trying to fool everyone and get themselves a closer. If they had just blown 11 saves last year, instead of the obscene number they really blew, they'd have won as many as the yankees. It's time to accept reality that Lidge wont ever be the Lidge of 2008. Thanks for that year, Brad, but all the "I'm feeling really good" quotes in the world wont change the fact that you're not going to help them anymore.— jerzeyboy
- Not good. I hope Madson can get the job done this year.— syddan26
- Here we go again.. another year of Lidge saying he feels fine and 20 blown saves.— Dr. Michael
- .........as long as he feels well. Just break off that slide ball. That's all that matters. Just break off that slide ball.
- Cortisone injections are never a good thing. I don't remember him getting them the last 2 years. Rube time to start working on plan "C & D" because we know plan "B" is Madson/Baez— EarlKeese
should of held on to Meyers as a closer option...— thebigrocketboy- %$#@! Never, ever dump $36M into a guy who plays one inning!— 5280philly
I think it's still worth trying to get him healthy and see how it goes. Sometimes, a single cortisone injection is all it takes. Also, you can't just rely on a slider. Pitchers like Lidge succeed by keeping the hitters off balance and guessing, both as to speed and location. And can we please stop with the Myers-as-closer stuff? Did you honestly not see enough of Myers last year, looking up to watch those majestic home runs he kept giving up? The guy was only so-so as a closer, and that was 3 years ago. He can't be relied on to get major league hitters out on a consistent basis, especially with the game on the line. Barring a trade or the development of a minor leaguer or current bullpen hand, our best option at closer continues to be a healthy Lidge.— 1980- I still would go with Madson
I am assuming they got Baez for insurance. Guess they are going to be cashing in that policy eh? Whatever comes out of Lidges mouth is garbage.- Wait, all yesterday's articles were "I feel good" by Lidge; one thing is becoming clear, you can't trust a word that Lidge utters! He'll "feel good" on his deathbed!— JBinPA
