Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 6:51 PM | 33 comments |
 

How the Lidge decision went down, and what happens next
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We now have more information on the Lidge move. Here’s how it went down:          

Ruben Amaro Jr. , Charlie Manuel, Rich Dubee, trainer Scott Sheridan, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock and Lidge met at the team hotel in Manhattan today, according to sources. There, management told Lidge he was headed to the D.L.
 
“He did not suggest it,” said Amaro. “I don’t know how on-board he was with it, because he doesn’t want to make any excuses, but he understands. Our medical people and staff took the decision out of it for him.”
 
Lidge is not at Citi Field tonight, so I couldn’t ask him if he understood or was on-board.
 
Lidge has been saying he is heathy, and Dubee said on ESPN Sunday that the problem was strictly one of confidence. Here’s what Dubee had to say about that tonight: “How much do you want people to know about an injury? Do you want the opposition to know that he’s not moving very well on his knee and stuff? Sometimes you don’t tell the whole story…I don’t think confidence is as much a factor as being concerned that you’re healthy. I think the knee distracted us quite a bit.”
 
Ryan Madson is the closer until further notice, and the team will take their time to make sure Lidge is 100 percent before returning. J.C. Romero will assume most of Madson’s duties. Amaro said that Lidge will not be a Wally Pipp, no matter how well Madson does. "(Lidge) has done nothing to lose that job," he said.
 
Why didn’t the team DL Lidge earlier, if the knee has been an issue since April? “The player never complained to the point where we needed to make a change (until now),” Amaro said, adding that last weekend’s blown saves were not the final straw; the team was concerned with Lidge’s stuff and velocity, and did not want to risk further injury. He said they would have made this move anyways, and also would have DL'd Lidge even if Romero's suspension had not ended.
 
Lidge will undergo unspecified tests over the next few days, possibly including an MRI; two recent MRIs have shown no structural damage.
 
Also, the team considered recalling John Mayberry Jr., but ended up summoning veteran catcher Paul Bako because of the limited number of at-bats available. Mayberry still needs regular at-bats. Having Bako enables the Phils to use Chris Coste as a righty bat off the bench.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 6:51 PM  Permalink | 33 comments
33
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:28 PM, 06/09/2009
    I knew that knee was bothering him and they just waited it out until JC got back. Too bad it cost us 6 blown saves.
    — Flyboy24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:36 PM, 06/09/2009
    Madson should do well as closer. Wonder if Lidge will be traded?
    — CenterCityPhan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:38 PM, 06/09/2009
    Sorry, I believe that Gross was a lefty.
    — Bill from Delaware
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:57 PM, 06/09/2009
    www.ipromisetoneverbooagain.com
    — hit n run
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:14 PM, 06/09/2009
    Trade Lidge because he's injured??? How quickly you have forgotten 2008. Lidge is one of the best closers when healthy. The real question is whether or not Mayberry Jr will be traded soon. He's getting old and he won't be used as a bench player, he's got a while before a position opens up in our outfield. We have other, younger higher ceiling outfielders so we should have Mayberry Jr on our bench helping now.
    — hoyaray
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:29 PM, 06/09/2009
    Flyboy 24--you must be a medical genius. You could make that assessment from long distance. WOW!!!
    — J Ziggy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:30 PM, 06/09/2009
    Flyboy 24--you must be a medical genius. You could make that assessment from long distance. WOW!!!
    — J Ziggy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:31 PM, 06/09/2009
    You are correct, Bill. GG is left handed.... FYI, GG is the batting coach for the Iron Pigs.
    — joeolive
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:08 PM, 06/09/2009
    Amaro says they didn't DL him earlier because Lidge never complained that much? How often do players complain about injuries when they are afraid of looking like wimps and losing their position? Shouldn't the management go by what they are seeing and how he is performing and not wheher he is complaining?
    — atp2007
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 PM, 06/09/2009
    I blame it on Republicans. They make a good scapegoat.
    — Buddude
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 PM, 06/09/2009
    Dubee was lying on ESPN, but he is telling the truth now? I believe him, but Perry Mason would have a field day with him on the stand.
    — sillybilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:58 PM, 06/09/2009
    a good move but should have probably happened 2-3 weeks ago....i hope he comes back strong
    — chollie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:30 AM, 06/10/2009
    If he comes back strong we beinifit (assuming that Madson does well as a closer) by having 2 options each with different pitches and aproaches. If he doesn't come back strong (again assuming Madson does as expected) we are okay, just need to bring up an arm for the Pen as everyone moves up a spot. This may actually help Trash keep his job a bit longer
    — fan_in_jerusalem
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:56 AM, 06/10/2009
    Fake, fake, fake. His velocity has been right at 94 all year...right where it was last year
    — Captain


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