Posted: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 11:38 PM | 79 comments |
 

Phillies, you have a problem
options
 

“Angry,” Brad Lidge said when asked to describe his reaction last night. “It makes you angry.” 

That’s probably how many of you feel after the closer blew his ninth save.   Charlie Manuel is remaining supportive. “He’s our closer,” Manuel said tonight. “I’ve said it all over the place. That’s the guy who we’ve got.”
 
A lot of fans are frustrated with Manuel for his steadfast refusal to make a change, but he has to say those things. Manuel’s job is to coax an improved performance out of Lidge, and he is not going to achieve that by publicly questioning a guy whose confidence is known to sometimes waver.
 
The larger question that many of you are asking is, why keep putting him into save situations? It’s a reasonable question, getting more so with every blown save. But the team really, really doesn’t want it to come to that. Think about how disruptive it could be to make such a major change so soon before the playoffs. The closer anchors everyone else in his role, and any change would be a major risk, perhaps a greater risk than hoping Lidge improves or at least survives in the playoffs.
 
And who are your candidates to replace him? Ryan Madson, who struggled in that role earlier in the season, and Brett Myers, whose third rehab outing tonight takes on increased significance. Some emailers have suggested Chan Ho Park, but the Phils cannot afford to lose him in his current role. A swingman capable of pitching several innings and setting up is more valuable than a closer.
 
I think that Manuel has been crossing his fingers all year that Lidge would turn it around, and that he wouldn’t have to make a tough call. Manuel has often referenced the way Lidge was treated in Houston, where he was demoted from the closer job, and said he doesn’t want to operate like that.
 
So what’s wrong with the guy this year, after a perfect 2008? I would not be at all surprised if we learned during the offseason that his knee was more seriously injured than we knew, but that is mere speculation right now. Tonight, he blamed fatigue caused by appearing in four consecutive games. His confidence cannot be very high.
 
Whatever the causes, the fact is: This is a problem for the Phils. I’m sorry not to have any sharper insight than that, but truly complex problems never have easy solutions.

 
Posted by Andy Martino @ 11:38 PM  Permalink | 79 comments
79
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:58 PM, 08/25/2009
    again, he is our horse and helped get us here, and we all know he is going to kill us in the playoffs. It is like watching a slow motion train wreck beginning and there is not much you can do about it. Last gasp hope is Myers, or we beat everyone by 19 runs a game.
    — zonaindie2
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:58 PM, 08/25/2009
    again, he is our horse and helped get us here, and we all know he is going to kill us in the playoffs. It is like watching a slow motion train wreck beginning and there is not much you can do about it. Last gasp hope is Myers, or we beat everyone by 19 runs a game.
    — zonaindie2
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:58 PM, 08/25/2009
    Which is the Phillies' worst problem-- their closer, or the manager's stubborn support of said closer??
    — KPREAVY
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:03 AM, 08/26/2009
    Andy, what about Jamie? He doesn't really have a role and I know he has to kind of back up Pedro. But isn't the guy capable of getting aggressive hitters out in the 9th inning with his junk? Kinda like Doug Jones, who, frankly, wasn't all that bad a closer on a few bad Philly teams. Jamie doesn't walk many guys, lots of players are trying to hit game-winning homeruns, etc. And the guy knows how to win games. I think an experienced veteran like this can stop the bleeding for a while, and maybe give Lidge time to get the knee healed for the playoffs.
    — seaonasdad
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:04 AM, 08/26/2009
    The Phillies are going to get bounced out of the first round of the playoffs and Charlie Manuel is still going to be saying Brad Lidge is my guy.
    — Gnip Gnop
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:10 AM, 08/26/2009
    Enough with the excuses. First it was tightness in the knee, then it was the 'ball is not bouncing my way', now its fatigue. No closer = no pennant repeat. "The trade you don't make" cuts both ways as the Phillies will soon learn.
    — Manor2009
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:10 AM, 08/26/2009
    The problem is not that complex. The fact is that Lidge is by far the worst closer in baseball. It's August 26 and he has yet to right his season. It's highly unlikely that he is going to be sorted out in the last month of the season. The reality is sticking with Lidge is a much greater risk than going with someone else. They aren't going to win another World Series with Lidge as the closer. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to repeat and they will throw that down the drain by sticking with Lidge. The worst part is if he blows our postseason I don't think he can come back from that. He will be public enemy number one and his fragile confidence can't handle that. The Phillies made a huge investment in him and they can't afford ruining him by keep running him out there to fail. At this point anyone is a better option than Lidge. A great manager would be trying to actively find a solution instead of sitting on his hands and hoping for the best when the odds are it's not going to get better.
    — perfectcrime
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:13 AM, 08/26/2009
    Pedro can be the closer, and Jamie can go back and start.
    — cnova000
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:16 AM, 08/26/2009
    We must be living some alternate world because a SMART manager would not keep going at it like this. It is like he needs to PROVE to himself that Lidge can't save games this year.
    — tokar
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:21 AM, 08/26/2009
    Well, now, wait a minute, Andy. If the Phils' starters go back to regularly requiring relief in the 6th inning, I agree that Park is more valuable to the team in his present swing role. But Lee, Happ, and Blanton now seem to reliably finish at least six. We just got back Durbin, are about to get Romero, and will eventually get Condrey. Isn't that enough for the 6th and 7th, along with some use of Jamie? Of all the staff, I'd feel most confident with the efficient, strike-throwing vet Chan Ho in the Phils' next save opportunity. Why not see what happens?
    — Wurm
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:21 AM, 08/26/2009
    Stick a fork in him! Lidge is DONE!!!
    — SAILOR7175
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:23 AM, 08/26/2009
    Pedro isn't the answer. 4/8 ERs have come in the first two innings and I think 6/8 in the first three. He's the type that comes in and gets rattled early and then settles...not closer material. I think Myers is probably the answer right now. If he shows strong at Reading and Lehigh...they'll make the move. I think Charlie has to express confidence in Lidge because there's nowhere else to turn yet. I suspect one week from now, this may change.
    — UpstateNYPhilsFan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:28 AM, 08/26/2009
    Bring in the Ho!!!!
    — J H
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:36 AM, 08/26/2009
    Is Lidge approaching a single season record for blown saves? The Phillies cannot let this to continue. It is unfortunate after his 2008 year budt Lidge has to be moved from the closer role now. There have been too many reasons and too many excuses. It is too late for him to set things right this season.
    — RICH W ALLEN
  • Comment removed.


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