Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 5:20 PM | 11 comments |
 

Lidge basically rules out opening day
options
 
It does not appear that Brad Lidge will be ready for opening day, but he plans to return shortly thereafter.
 
Lidge saw his first game action of the spring today, following offseason elbow and knee procedures. He pitched the first inning of a minor league game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Carpenter Complex.  He allowed run on three hits, said he was encouraged to feel healthy afterwards, and basically ruled  out a return in time for the opener at Washington on April 5. His new goal is to pitch in a road series against the Houston Astros April 9-11; if that does not happen, Lidge said he will "definitely" be active for the Phils' home opener on April 12, barring any unforeseen setbacks.
 
"I guess I'm going to hope for the Houston series, because it doesn't look like I'm going to be ready for the opener," Lidge said.    
 
The pitcher was mostly pleased with yesterday's appearance. He threw 16 pitches, about six of which were sliders, and explained that he was focused on building arm strength rather than getting outs with his breaking ball
 
"For my first outing, I would say I was pretty pleased," Lidge said.  "My knee felt real strong.  Couple location problems, command is not really spectacular right now.  My arm speed--I'm pleased with where my arm is.  It's just going to take however many outings to get behind the ball and get through it to get the velocity going.  But in terms of any problems, no.  That was very encouraging that there were no problems.
 
***
On this off-day for the Phils, J.A. Happ pitched in a different  minor league game against still more Blue Jays.  In five innings, he allowed five hits and two earned runs.  Happ walked two and struck out three, throwing 77 pitches (41 strikes).
 
Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:20 PM  Permalink | 11 comments
11
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:58 PM, 03/18/2010
    Was the game "yesterday" or "today"?
    — dawk2020
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:29 PM, 03/18/2010
    1 run on 3 hits... sounds like most of his 9th inning appearences last year.
    — SouthJerseyRob
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:58 PM, 03/18/2010
    I got nothing. Cliff Lee
    — Dan in Holmesburg
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:03 PM, 03/18/2010
    That's okay Brad, take your time, get it right. (besides, there's some guy named Doc-somebody pitching that day, and another named Cool-Hand-Hamels the next).
    — ExiledinFla
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:20 PM, 03/18/2010
    I am shocked it took six posts to get a Cliff Lee reference.
    — Hiding Behind My Keyboard
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:38 AM, 03/19/2010
    We should have kept Cliff Lee and made him a closer and traded Brad Lidge.
    — maximusud
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:04 AM, 03/19/2010
    Mensas aplenty this AM
    — mick314
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:01 PM, 03/19/2010
    Didn't Brad Lidge tell us how great he felt after every outing last season too?
    — Steve the Cabbie


11 comments
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