Did Manuel fix Lidge?
Charlie Manuel said it many times this summer and fall, no matter how dark and confusing Brad Lidge’s season became. The manager believed that Lidge was his most talented reliever, and should be the one to close important games. Now, after the closer finished two one-run saves in the National League division series, looking meaner and more confident than he had since 2008, the question can be asked: Did Manuel fix Lidge in time for another World Series run? After a perfect season last year, Lidge blew his first save as a Phillie on April 18, then failed to convert 10 more opportunities. Several events in September appeared to argue against the wisdom of using Lidge is further save situations—but Manuel’s handling of the pitcher that month now looks like a successful improvisation aimed at preparing Lidge for the playoffs. If Lidge does indeed reverse his ugly summer with a sublime postseason, no one deserves more credit than he. But Manuel, in consultation wit pitching coach and top lieutenant Rich Dubee, helped navigate a challenging situation. The Lidge-fixing strategy began in earnest on Sept. 8. That night, Lidge created a ninth-inning jam in Washington against the Nationals, and for the first time, Manuel removed him for Ryan Madson to prevent a blown save. Madson successfully finished the game, ending Lidge’s reign as the team’s sole closer. Manuel announced in the dugout before the next night’s game that Lidge would be used in a mop-up role while he worked to refine his pitches and regain confidence. Lidge was back in the ninth inning by Sept. 13, and he successfully closed three consecutive games. But a very messy night in Florida on Sept. 23 appeared to indicate that, despite his talent, Lidge could not be relied on in 2009. With the Phillies hoping to reduce their magic number and clinch the National League East as early as possible, Lidge was asked to protect a 6-5 lead against the Marlins. The game provided a perfect study of his issues. Confidence appeared to be primary among Lidge’s problems as the season progressed. He did not throw his pitches with conviction, or in the right instances. Take Ross Gload’s leadoff at-bat of that Sept. 23 game. Lidge opened the ninth as he did so many times this season, by throwing a slider for a ball. Behind in the count too early, Lidge allowed hitters to assume they would see a fastball in the strike zone. Fitting that pattern, Lidge’s second pitch to Gload was a fat strike, and Gload smacked it for a double. Standing on the mound, Lidge did not appear intimidating or even confident. His face was red and sweaty; his eyes seemed to say I hope I don’t blow this. And when a pitcher thinks like that, he blows it. Lidge allowed two more runs in the inning, for his final blown save of the regular season. That game appeared to eliminate him from consideration as the team’s closer, and Manuel refused to name anyone in that role from then on. But he continued to say that he believed in Lidge’s stuff. Knowing that confidence was the largest barrier to success for the pitcher, Manuel puffed him up, and gave him the chance to work on his pitches during games. Pitching mostly in long relief, Lidge fine-tuned his fastball, and even added a cutter. As the month ended, he began to feel better, and enjoyed a memorable celebration when Manuel called for him to earn the final out of the division-clinching game on Sept. 30. That moment, combined with the improvements in command and confidence, sealed what Lidge considered a turning point. “There was something about the last homestand,” he said in a jubilant clubhouse at Coors Field after the Phils won the division series Monday. “Charlie had me in the clinching game, and it’s a new season once the postseason starts.” For Lidge’s sake, that is fortunate. In the regular season, he was 0-8, with 11 blown saves and a 7.21 earned run average (he also had 31 saves). Those numbers were stunning, compared to his 2008 performance: 2-0, with a 1.95 ERA, and a perfect 41-for-41 in save opportunities. Faced with a situation that could undermine his hopes of a second championship, Manuel was forced to finesse the situation and search for a solution. With help from pitching coach Rich Dubee, he navigated September in a way that prepared Lidge for division series success. Now, entering the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team has more confidence in its closer than they have since the beginning of the season. Lidge’s year has been too messy to rule out the possibility of more setbacks, but if Lidge succeeds deep into October, his triumph will be even more satisfying for him and the team than last year.
Did Manuel fix Lidge?
Andy Martino
Charlie Manuel said it many times this summer and fall, no matter how dark and confusing Brad Lidge’s season became. The manager believed that Lidge was his most talented reliever, and should be the one to close important games.
Phila Logic--who put together this roster with pitchers you are afraid to use--Kendrick and no one off the bench who can run other than your only lights out pitcher. I guess you really do get the game..just not baseball— BB Whiz Kid- Lidge could go without a blown save the rest of the way, close out game 7 of the series, and people will still find something to complain about. Manuel is handling the back end of the bullpen as well as it can be considering the parts he has to work with. Everyone calling for Madson to close is forgetting he has blown a higher percentage of saves than Lidge. Park is hurt. Myers is not 100%. Walker is Walker. Lidge is really the only choice, and Chollie has figured out a way to finesse his closer into a closer again. There's a reason we work where we work and Chollie works where he works. He's a smarter baseball guy than any of us. If you don't think so, compare your baseball resume to his. That all-star birth when you were 12 doesn't really compare.— Scorekeeper
- Don't you dare believe it. He's not back. The Tulo had two bad at bats and should have belted those two pitches he made the final outs with. Guaranteed: Lidge blows a game in this series.
- No - he is not "fixed". He is being used now in very selective roles, and will be for the rest of the playoffs. He strikes guys out when they swing out of the strike zone only. Coming in and getting one out does not qualify as "being back".— Bobphxville
- Not so fast. Two saves and he's fixed? I think the team is winning in spite of managerial moves not because of them. Manuel seems to think this is 2008 showing favoritism towards Lidge, Hamels and Meyers when it is not warranted with the seasons they've had. That said, as long as they win, that's all that matters. I'd rather be lucky than good.— BroadStreet
As a long-time and long-suffering Phillies Phan from way back (having both lived and died with the Phillies since the early '60's) I am psyched once more with the prospect of yet another World (F......) Championship. I have nothing but admiration for this team, from the manager on down. We are all very fortunate to be witness to what I believe is the greatest team in baseball, and the Phillies are about to prove it. As the late, great Tug McGraw once said back in 1980: "Ya gotta believe!".— DaveCicc- Hey BB Whiz Kid, I think you need re-take 7th grade math. We had already used up 7 pitchers in a game, that if we tied it, would be headed for extra innings. To waste a relief pitcher on pinch-running, just to avoid the infinitesimal possibility that Cliff Lee could be injured on the basepaths, defies not only baseball knowledge, but basic logic and basic math. Your ignoring of all of my facts and arguments on this point, and then instead complaining about the composition of the roster for the NLDS, tells me you have NO argument against Lee pinch-running. And your complaint about the roster, which was heavy on pitchers because the health of 3 of them (Eyre, Myers, Happ) was in question when the series started, demonstrates that you might also need to work on improving your memory.— PhilaLogic
- PhilaLogic--I stand corrected. Cholly is great--you are the idiot— BB Whiz Kid
