Phillies, you have a problem
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Phillies, you have a problem
Andy Martino
“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.
Comments (78)
Not only is Lidge a physical and mental basket case, but I have the feeling the Phils are hiding something with Madsen, too. There were hints of this when he failed in Lidge's night after night repetitive role while Lidge was out and he hasn't been seen from in 3-4 games now either. I guess he just can't bounce back and throw so often as a reliever should? At this point, Tyler Walker is a better option than anyone. Romero walks too many guys and tip toes down a high wire act when he's in there. His new elbow issue will only compound that fact and he'll be even wilder when he gets back. Myers is the only answer. We'd better hope he's ready...and able.— Mark1npt- Okay, let's move on to today's game. They need all the right-handed hitters in the lineup they can get. This is an excellent day to rest Ryan Howard. Let Cairo play first. Maybe put Francisco in left. Ruiz catches. Forget about pitching, Charlie needs to manage the offense better.— JayW
- At some point, since Lidge is totally unwilling to admit there is a problem, Cholly has to take the bull by the horns and sit him until he gets his head screwed on straight or fesses up to the fact that he is in fact injured. De-Nile is a long river in Egtypt and there is abolutely NO place for it baseball.— PhillyfaninFL
- Anyone who blames Lidge for last night is a dope. Its the MANAGER's job to put players in a position to succeed. Lidge is having a bad year, I know I know, but putting him into a game for the 4TH STRAIGHT NIGHT is an awful decision!!— UncleEddie
- What about Bastardo? He throws heat, always a good think in a closer, and was successful in his starts. What is teh situation with his injury? Is he ready to come back or is he really hurt still? Who closes for LV? He should be ready, isn't that why AAA exists?— fan_in_jerusalem
- Like everyone else i am at the boiling point with Lidge but..this one is on Charlie and Dubee. You never throw a reliever 4 straight days..having done that myself back in college ball, i can tell you your stuff is so flat (like lidge last night)..usually affects your offspeed stuff the most. Someone as fragile as Lidge should be put in the best spot to succeed and build confidence. He has got to get right but this one is on management in my opinion. Anyone agree?— philsfan in the atx
- Couldnt agree more Uncle Eddie, just saw your post is basically same voice as mine. Dead on!— philsfan in the atx
- Cards will beat us, Rox will beat us, Dodgers will beat us, let alone whoever represents the American League.Time for Plan B. Heck, with this closer we could lose the Division! Must be able to win a close game.— dadtown
I just want to see what happens today if we need a closer. Guaranteed it won't be Lidge.— Phiggles- Ruben will have to step in and order Cholly to try someone else.
- What a bunch of pathetic crybaby morons.Yeah Charlie doesn't know squat about baseball but you all do.That's just one of the reasons Philly fans get such a bad rap,as soon as things go wrong we start pointing fingers.I don't know the solution,but far smarter baseball people thn you or me will figure it out.— tuck
- calm down - things will sort out by plau-off time— russ4philly
- i seriously dont think Mitch, Bottalico, or Jose Mesa...yes Jose Mesa...ever had a season as bad as this one. Is that fair to say?— gulls3012
Charlie's loyalty to Lidge is one thing, but what about loyalty to THE TEAM as a whole? The manager's first responsibility is to give the team the best opportunity to win, and by running Lidge out there again and again (especially last night, which was unforgivable), he is letting the entire team down. I love Manual and Lidge for what they gave us last year, but right now they are both hurting the team.— bobby- To follow up on last night, this was a situation that was a perfect opportunity to try someone else in the closer role. Lidge had pitched 3 nights in a row, and they should have regarded him as unavailable. Then use Madsen or whoever else to see what they can do in a one-run game. I'd be a lot less upset (and I have to believe the players would as well) if they lost in the 9th with someone else on the mound besides Lidge the way that went last night. Remember, this wasn't even close: Lidge threw 7 pitches and gave up 3 runs off 2 singles and a HR. That is just brutal, and it confirms that he should not have been throwing last night. If you question that, here's what Lidge himself had to say: “The fourth day in a row for me historically has been pretty bad. I need an adjustment if I’m going to throw four days in a row and I wasn’t able to do it. The last three days, the ball’s jumping out of my hand and tonight it wasn’t there.” Case closed.— bobby
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