More "minor" surgery for Lidge
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More "minor" surgery for Lidge
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Early in the offseason, the Phillies did not anticipate Brad Lidge needing surgery on right knee, which bothered him early last season and forced him to spend some time in the disabled list. That apparently changed, as Lidge underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee yesterday, according to a press release issued by the team.
The surgery is Lidge's second of the offseason, although team trainer Scott Sheridan said in a statement that the procedure was unrelated to any previous ones that the closer has undergone. Lidge had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone fragments from his right elbow earlier this offseason. Prior to the 2008 season, he had two arthroscopic procedures on his knee.
In yesterday's surgery, Lidge had loose bodies removed from the knee and a portion of his meniscus removed ("debridement," in medical terms).
The Phillies said that Lidge is expected to begin a throwing program in 10 days. He could miss Opening Day, but Sheridan said he isn't expected to be sidelined much longer than that.
At this point, it looks like the Phillies face the very real possibility of entering the regular season without Lidge or left-handed set-up man J.C. Romero. Romero is expected to miss at least the first week or two of the season, but should by back with the team by the start of May.
Comments (36)
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I'm glad we addressed that bullpen issue this offseason.— wearethechampions- People don't seem to understand that "bone chips" are not a minor surgery. Anytime the interior wall of any joint starts to develop "chips", that's a sign of breaking down, and overall degeneration of the bony surface. A less than smooth bony surface, leads to more friction and more wear and tear. It also means that a player won't ever run very fast again or have the same leg strength available to him ever again. For a thrower, it means never having the same arm speed, hence velocity again. You can't, no matter how hard you try or how strong you get, re-develop a smooth joint surface or the abilty for that joint to move as smooth or fast or as strong as it once did. Lidge is now on the decline in two areas. If we get half a useable season out of him I'd be surprised. He certainly won't be able ever again to be counted on as a workhorse. His being able to fulfill his contract competently would seem to be in doubt. He will only get worse with use and with age. So we'd better use him sparingly. Can you here me, Cholly? Rube, you will need a plan "B". I'm sure Baez could fill the spot short term. Fire up the phones.....and for you Mets lovers out there....Beltran is in the same boat, only worse and won't be nearly the outfielder, base stealer or hitter he once was as his knee is now in more major decline as well. The procedure he just went thru is a salvage procedure to try to buy him a couple of years at best, before he'll need a knee replacement.— Mark1npt
- People don't seem to understand that "bone chips" are not a minor surgery. Anytime the interior wall of any joint starts to develop "chips", that's a sign of breaking down, and overall degeneration of the bony surface. A less than smooth bony surface, leads to more friction and more wear and tear. It also means that a player won't ever run very fast again or have the same leg strength available to him ever again. For a thrower, it means never having the same arm speed, hence velocity again. You can't, no matter how hard you try or how strong you get, re-develop a smooth joint surface or the abilty for that joint to move as smooth or fast or as strong as it once did. Lidge is now on the decline in two areas. If we get half a useable season out of him I'd be surprised. He certainly won't be able ever again to be counted on as a workhorse. His being able to fulfill his contract competently would seem to be in doubt. He will only get worse with use and with age. So we'd better use him sparingly. Can you here me, Cholly? Rube, you will need a plan "B". I'm sure Baez could fill the spot short term. Fire up the phones.....and for you Mets lovers out there....Beltran is in the same boat, only worse and won't be nearly the outfielder, base stealer or hitter he once was as his knee is now in more major decline as well. The procedure he just went thru is a salvage procedure to try to buy him a couple of years at best, before he'll need a knee replacement.— Mark1npt
- People don't seem to understand that "bone chips" are not a minor surgery. Anytime the interior wall of any joint starts to develop "chips", that's a sign of breaking down, and overall degeneration of the bony surface. A less than smooth bony surface, leads to more friction and more wear and tear. It also means that a player won't ever run very fast again or have the same leg strength available to him ever again. For a thrower, it means never having the same arm speed, hence velocity again. You can't, no matter how hard you try or how strong you get, re-develop a smooth joint surface or the abilty for that joint to move as smooth or fast or as strong as it once did. Lidge is now on the decline in two areas. If we get half a useable season out of him I'd be surprised. He certainly won't be able ever again to be counted on as a workhorse. His being able to fulfill his contract competently would seem to be in doubt. He will only get worse with use and with age. So we'd better use him sparingly. Can you here me, Cholly? Rube, you will need a plan "B". I'm sure Baez could fill the spot short term. Fire up the phones.....and for you Mets lovers out there....Beltran is in the same boat, only worse and won't be nearly the outfielder, base stealer or hitter he once was as his knee is now in more major decline as well. The procedure he just went thru is a salvage procedure to try to buy him a couple of years at best, before he'll need a knee replacement.— Mark1npt
- OK. Halladay goes 9 innings and beats the Gnats.
- I'm sorry, but where does it say that he had bone chips removed from his surgically repaired knee? He had bone chips removed from his elbow right after the season, but no where does it say he had bone chips removed from his right knee. Reading is fundamental.— beegal99
- Really, the team didn't have Lidge last year either.....— smallbej
- Pitchers have elbow surgery all the time. I have no doubt that he'll be fine with his arm speed. The knee concerns me because he seems to be getting it cleaned rather frequently. Not a good sign at his age, and I would expect this would be his last year as their closer.— beegal99
- Jose Valverde ..... JOSE VALVERDE!!!! ..... Before it's too late— PhightinPhil
- Elbow? Knee? Joints are all the same...
- Beegal, another story this morning listed it as "loose bodies" and meniscus removal. Loose bodies are bone chips and can be pieces of cartilage too. And yes pitchers have elbow surgery all the time. BUT, having TJ surgery where a ligament is replaced is not the same as having bone chips removed. If your joint is degraded, you can never develop the necessary arm speed again, no matter how much you rehab. Get used to Lidge throwing a new changeup. Consult your orthopedic surgeon, please.— Mark1npt
- Is there any chance the Phillies would take a chance on Ben Sheets? They've gone after Kris Benson (didn't work) and Pedro (decent signing). I don't see why a 1 year incentive-laden contract would not be an option for the Phillies. Any thoughts?— college33
- Hey how 'bout making Halladay a closer? Then he could pitch every day and we could really get our money's worth. ;-)— TheKeys
- Strandman, you have much to learn. All joints are NOT the same.— vafan
- Sheets has been a DL nightmare his whole career (much like Bedard)was supposed to be ready to pitch the end of last season, and wasn't. The fact that he hasn't signed yet, means he hasn't convinced himself or anyone else he can be ready for this season either. Besides, he has indicated he would like to pitch near his Texas home. Obviously they have serious doubts that Pedro's arm can last more than a few starts. That's the problem with old broken down/repaired pitchers. They rarely can subject the arm to the repetitive wear and tear of throwing every so many days over a 9 month season. Old/repaired tissues just can't handle that kind of workload without breaking down further. If they had the luxury of starting Pedro every 10 days instead of every 5, he might would be an option, but that's not feasable on a ML staff. Not much else out there to choose from. It looks like Smoltz is biding his time to see which contender is the most desperate for his services, then he'll choose. He might fill a couple of holes for us, but I'm sure he'll hold Rube hostage for top $.— Mark1npt
- Sheets has been a DL nightmare his whole career (much like Bedard)was supposed to be ready to pitch the end of last season, and wasn't. The fact that he hasn't signed yet, means he hasn't convinced himself or anyone else he can be ready for this season either. Besides, he has indicated he would like to pitch near his Texas home. Obviously they have serious doubts that Pedro's arm can last more than a few starts. That's the problem with old broken down/repaired pitchers. They rarely can subject the arm to the repetitive wear and tear of throwing every so many days over a 9 month season. Old/repaired tissues just can't handle that kind of workload without breaking down further. If they had the luxury of starting Pedro every 10 days instead of every 5, he might would be an option, but that's not feasable on a ML staff. Not much else out there to choose from. It looks like Smoltz is biding his time to see which contender is the most desperate for his services, then he'll choose. He might fill a couple of holes for us, but I'm sure he'll hold Rube hostage for top $.— Mark1npt
- why in the hell did he wait until a month before spring training?— soliteryman
- Let go of Valverde. He wants far too much money than what he's worth, and would cost a 1st round pick at a time when the farm system is depleted. And Sheets still wants $12-14 million over two years. Neither is worth it. Someone will emerge in Clearwater; they usually do (like when Madson went from AA to bullpen workhorse -- who saw that coming?).— ejc527
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- I have said before and will continue to say that the Phillies greatest concern next season was the closer, even more than Hamels. If Lidge has a repeat of last season, then the team is in trouble. The primary reason I opposed the Lee trade was his potential to go 9 innings, much like Halladay, and thus obviate the need for a closer; Blanton, Moyer, Kendrick, and even Hamels rarely go more than six innings. What is particularly annoying is the team claiming it has nothing to do with last season. Baloney!!! Everyone knew he was injured, despite his constant protestations. Mark1npt: your posts are no more interesting the third time you hit the submit button, something you do with great frequency, than the first time, but thanks for sharing.— chuckw
- Chuck, my posts have a way of not showing up sometimes as some people here don't want to hear the truth. Therefore I keep hitting the submit button until they do, otherwise they are lost to eternity and i don't have the time to rewrite them. If you don't like it too bad.— Mark1npt
Why cant Mark1npt figure out how to only post once. Not sure ive ever seen him post the same comment less than twice. Dude, seriously...type, hit submit, be done with it!— Neebo- Comment removed.
- i really thought jj putz would have been a quality signing and it didn't happen and now we're stuck hoping for a full recovery from lidge,...i've got some faith in lidge for a bounce back year, but you can never have enough good arms in the pen as we have seen ours wear down in september,.....still think garland would be good 5th starter for that 5 mil they keep saying is available,...they could get garland here for the 5 mil plus easy achievable incentives that you wouldn't mind paying if the production numbers are there.....just a thought— SyddBarrett
- Scott Matheison for Closer.— gulls3012
- Garland is a flyball pitcher, and doesn't impress any of the brass. Bet they're still holding out for Smoltz.— Mark1npt
- and the hits keep a rollin'...— phigglesfan75
- "can you here me cholly??" lol with the success this team has had, something tells me he doesn't need to HEAR a thing. Lol everyones always so much smarter than the guys that actually got the city a championship. Hilarious.— KannonWired965
Safe to say the injuries are mounting, Lidge will be affected by the surgeries as anyone would be.— road515- Comment removed.
- Valverde? All he cost the Tigers was $14 million over two years and a first-round draft pick. Even if the Phils had been stupid enough to pay that price, he wouldn't have come here because he wants a guaranteed closer job, not a chance to close if Lidge is hurt or ineffective. And don't confuse Sheets with Benson or Pedro. Benson came here on a minor league contract. Pedro signed for part of one year for $1 million plus incentives. Sheets wants a two-year deal worth $10 to $12 million plus incentives. That's a whole different level of risk.— GoPhilsGo
Why did Lidge wait until one month prior to Spring Training to have this?- Lidge costed the Phillies one game in the 2009 World Series. I hope he gets his act together in 2010.— Phillies2008WSChamps
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High Cheese is your place for the best Phillies coverage from the Daily News.
David Murphy
Daily News Staff Writer
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