Posted: Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 5:17 PM | 37 comments |
 

Lidge's role in flux
options
 

Regardless of what happens in tonight’s game—and Brad Lidge could be the closer if a need for one arises, but he also might not, according to Charlie Manuel today—one thing is clear: the situation has shifted from where it has been all season.

Manuel said “Brad Lidge is a closer,” but unlike at every other point this year, he did not say “Lidge is my closer.”
           
It had already changed last night, when Ryan Madson began warming in the ninth at the first signs of trouble for Lidge. “We wanted him ready,” Dubee said. “If we had to use him, I didn’t want him to wait until the last second. I just wanted him ready in case the situation came up."
 
Manuel said that, while he remained committed to getting Lidge right, he felt a different kind of hunch last night: the need to get Lidge out of the game. “We just go with how I feel,’ Manuel said. “Definitely I want to be loyal to him and things like that, but at the same time, like I told him last night, winning the game is the first priority. 
 
"But the more that I sat there and the way the game went, I felt like basically I had to go take him out. Basically, if we were going to win the game, I didn’t like how I felt about it.”
           
“I’m getting kind of tired of it, if you want to know the truth. I am, and the reason is because I figure I can put him in the game when I want to. I’ve been very loyal to him, and I’ve stuck with him. I did everything I think possible to get him going. There is no way I would ever lie to him, because I don’t do that, and I don’t have a history of doing that. 
 
“But at the same time, we’ve got to win the games. The best way we’ve got to win the games now, if that includes Brad is not out there to close, then I guess that’s going to be my decision."
Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:17 PM  Permalink | 37 comments
37
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:24 PM, 09/09/2009
    Lidge just didn't have poor control last night...he was WAY off with his pitches. He hit Harris, he threw a wild pitch, he walked another batter on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt that wasn't even close. It wasn't like he was just missing his spots. Manuel had no choice but to get him out of there last night.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:27 PM, 09/09/2009
    Andy, you gotta get some rest ... Looks like you fell asleep in the midst of writing the fourth paragraph.
    — PhightinPhil
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:39 PM, 09/09/2009
    I think people forget that this is how Lidge was pitching last year. Last year he was throwing that same slider in the dirt and batters were swinging. He never came close to the strike zone last year. Just look at the last pitch to win the World Series, that pitch almost rolled to the batter and he still swung. Nobody will swing at his slider this year basically rendering Lidge useless this year.
    — Nothing but the truth
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:43 PM, 09/09/2009
    Lidge is Mitch Williams v.2009
    — BHite15
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:59 PM, 09/09/2009
    Hello Philly Fans, Lidge will forever ( long time) be remembered for that final strike in October. '08. And, not to mention, 48 straight. Nothing more needs to be adde do his resume. Thank you for that memorable season of ball. Great. FAN tasic, exceptional, never done better. Go out to the pen, listen to THE HAWK , get ready for October, '09. It's not over for you. It's not over for us.....back to back and we give you Chase once again. Gotta love it.
    — Burgh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:01 PM, 09/09/2009
    Lidge did not put himself in these games. Aim the disdaining remarks to the manager who kept trotting out a troubled pitcher.
    — Manor2009
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:06 PM, 09/09/2009
    I really had thought that Chralie solved Lidge's problem by not pitching him back to back. But after last night I'm convinced things are worse than I first thought. Hell, if you can't close out the Nats, who can you pitch against. With runs seemingly scanty with this team these days, a sharp closer is essential. That hasn't been Lidge so far.
    — atp2007
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:28 PM, 09/09/2009
    yo Nothing - sorry that I have to question your "Truth", but the final pitch of the WS was the best slider Lidge has ever thrown, and it was barely below the knees. Perhaps you should get off yours next time you see the replay... A trigger-happy ump would've called it a strike.
    — Brian F.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:34 PM, 09/09/2009
    Thank You Brad, now get some R&R and we'll see ya next month. Be Ready!
    — sillybilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:36 PM, 09/09/2009
    just when you think you've read the dumbest post ever you read "this is how Lidge was pitching last year."
    — snakeplissken
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:50 PM, 09/09/2009
    I think that we should use madson and myers to close, imho
    — cheleyman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:50 PM, 09/09/2009
    I think that we should use madson and myers to close, imho
    — cheleyman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:52 PM, 09/09/2009
    Brett Myers...for now. Let Lidge get himself settled, maybe claim an ankle "injury" and get him a rehab stint with the Pigs.
    — JSaq
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:03 PM, 09/09/2009
    Brett Myers and Ryan Madson should alternate. They are both quite capable. Lidge is fading just as he did in Houston. His ERA is off the charts. His money pitch is not over the plate and he is walking and hitting people. He has blown 10 games this year and that is enough.
    — Horlet


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