Lidge's Arm Still Attached in All-Star Loss
Yes, the All-Star Game finally ended last night. Finally.
Lidge's Arm Still Attached in All-Star Loss
Todd Zolecki
I think the All-Star Game just ended, didn't it?
Four hours, 50 minutes.
15 innings.
Memorable, yes. Fan friendly, no. Newspaper friendly, no (although nothing is newspaper friendly anymore). But last night's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium sure ended dramatically when Justin Morneau scored from third on Michael Young's sacrifice fly off Brad Lidge. The AL beat the NL, 4-3, to gain home-field advantage in the World Series and extend their unbeaten streak against the NL to 12 games. Poor Lidge. He warmed up in the bullpen six or seven times, starting in the ninth inning, before he finally got into the game.
That never happens for a relief pitcher.
Never.
"It kept going and going and going," Lidge said. "Some innings we had runners in scoring position so I had to let it go a little harder. Some innings we didn't, so I tried to pace myself. Obviously, in a situation like that, I was just happy to get into the game when I did. I didn't know how much I had left down there to keep doing it. When you continually do that, obviously it takes its toll a little bit."
He couldn't even guess how many pitches he threw in the bullpen.
"It was a fair amount of bullets down there," he said.
He had a few bullets left when he entered in the 15th. He said he threw some good sliders that the AL hit, but I suspect he definitely wasn't as shapr as he typically is.
"Put it this way, I'm might not have been as quite as fresh as normal," Lidge said. "It's not a scenario you want to have, really, if you can prevent it. You just try to stay mentally in the game."
There's almost no chance Lidge would have pitched the 16th. AL manager Terry Francona said he was ready to have J.D. Drew pitch the 16th. We're not sure about the NL, but there weren't many options. Think the NL could have used Cole Hamels? I think MLB should expand the rosters a bit to add a couple more pitchers, and move up the start time. Last night's game didn't start until 8:40 p.m. That's ridiculous.
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Jim Salisbury tells us about Chase Utley's all-star experience, and how the Phillies are eager to host another All-Star Game.
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Brett Myers is scheduled to pitch July 23 agianst the Mets at Shea Stadium.
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OK, Yankee Stadium is one of the best (although I take Lambeau Field over Yankee Stadium in a heartbeat, and not just because I'm a Packers fan). But I'm ready to leave the love fest. I'm sure the players are, too.
Uh, Navarro was actually CLEARLY safe earlier. Game should have been over. Great throw, amazing catch and tag... still. He was safe.— John in LA- John in LA - I agree. That tag missed his foot and was high on his leg. He was safe. I agree with Zo - something has to be done about the pitching situation. In a situation like that, we're lucky Lidge didn't get hurt.— Gary Varsho
- john, on the replays I saw he looked out. The ball ws up teh line and by the time the tag was made he was in.— jeff gross
- I'm checking with my dental plan to see if the 4 hr, 50 minute root canal administered by Tim McCarver is covered. Almost made me miss Wheels.— jimmymack
- Like I said, amazing play all-around; can't fault the umpire. I'll see if I can watch it again but the tag did look high.— John in LA
Comment removed.- The game is called the midsummer classic for reason. Where is everybody's sense of nostalgia. Everything doesn't have to mean something for the adults, the kids love this game, look fwd to it and keep in mind they are the ones that will be supporting the sport in the future. Think ahead and in entirety, do not vent based on one extra inning gm.....I thought it lived up to its billing.— Truth
Let's hope it carries over with Uggla this weekend. Three errors and three Ks. He looked like a deer in the headlights.— RAS- "I can't believe I *watched* the whole game"! LOL! Not sure who to blame. Uggla. Or Wags for allowing the tying run. I bet Clint Hurdle wished he could have kept Chase in for the whole game! "Back in the day", there were players who played the entire game. Since the game determines home field advantage for the World Series now, it has to be more than an *exhibition* game. Those plays at the plate with the bases loaded were sure fun to watch! Despite the loss, still a great game!— Norma
- The all-star game is the ultimate oxymoron. Winning is important for home field but managers feel they have to play everyone. Another inning and J.D. Drew would have been pitching? So how important is the winning for home field? It should be an exhibition game, nothing more, can't have it both ways. But I'm with Norma & Truth, late night but it was a fun game and the tension on the extra inning plays was great. But I doubt that very many kids hung in there, which is a shame, they missed some good (and bad) baseball. LA has a hell of a catcher there, John is he really as good defensively as he looked last night?— jimmymack
- I hope Lidge does not begin to slip. His mental makeup is fragile. Uggla will rip Phillies' pitching because as we know it is not quite all star caliber. I said it first. Uggla is more productive than Utley this weekend.— wmontanez27
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- lidge should have gotten the mvp for allowing the game to end.— brad21
I actually enjoyed last night's game more than any AS game I can recall. Got to see some excellent pitching early (a treat for us Phils fans), a couple of homers, and then some great defense in the clutch late. I do agree that they need more options on the picthing side. The manager should not have to make those goofy decisions. Chase represented us well (certainly compared to Uggla!), and Lidge got caught in a bad spot. The most obvious mistake of the entire event: The presence of Fukudome, or whatever his name is. What a joke that he was there at all, much less starting. (And yes, I realize that it's on the fans to correct that.) Ryan or Pat would have been a welcome sight. OK, now on to the pennant...— bobby- Ray....That was actually a suggestion from one of the Fox commentators. I think they could let it go a couple of innings past the 9th. Maybe 12? But then that's it! Especially if it's going to have such a late start. How many TV viewers actually stayed up to watch the end?— Norma
