share
email
font size
options
 
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Lidge sidelined for second straight game

From Paul Hagen at Citizens Bank Park ...

The Phillies were without closer Brad Lidge for the second straight game against the Pirates.

“I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about,” said manager Charlie Manuel. “It’s not what you’d call serious, but he’s definitely a little sore.”

Lidge, who is 28-for-28 in save opportunities this season, described the soreness as “bicep tendinitis,” but also downplayed the seriousness of the problem. He’s taking anti-inflammatory medication and said that, along with an adjustment in his mechanics, should allow him to begin pitching again as soon as Monday night in Los Angeles.

“(Pitching coach Rich) Dubee said, ‘I looked at your mechanics the last couple and you’re definitely rushing out in front and your arm isragging behind, and that’s what’s causing pressure on your shoulder.' I’ll work on ironing that out and giving it some rest, then come back strong,” he predicted.

The first indication that something was wrong came Saturday night when Chad Durbin, not Lidge, came into a save situation in the ninth inning.

Posted by Daily News staff @ 5:11 PM  Permalink | 16 comments
16
Comments   
Posted 07:16 PM, 08/10/2008
BobbyD
Uh-oh.
Posted 08:27 PM, 08/10/2008
KGKoons
Long tossing, get mechanics straight and in a few days, he should be OK unless the ole Phillies' jinx hits the team as the recent hitting drought!! Oh, they have Les Walv. as the stopper. Right!!
Posted 08:48 PM, 08/10/2008
vhhn
Put Myers back as a closer and lets Happs pitch in the rotation.
Posted 10:08 PM, 08/10/2008
phineas
Give Lidge more time off ! Our pitching rotation is shaping up pretty well, work them deeper into the game. Concentrate on getting a solid hard hitting right handed hitter. Our offense sucks at 5 of the 8 regular positions!
Posted 10:19 PM, 08/10/2008
32pitch
well maybe the worlds greatest manager will continue to use lidge in non saves situations on consecutive days and completely ruin his arm..great job cholly...
Posted 12:16 AM, 08/11/2008
midnitesonny
Lidge has been anything but lights out for the last month. He's been very lucky to get out of jams with getting hit and control issues that he's created after being put in for saves or non-save opportunities. something is def wrong..give him some rest so he's ready for the stretch run
Posted 01:38 AM, 08/11/2008
scars73
midnitesonny, I totally agree with you. Since the day he signed his contract extension and was named to the all-star game, he has not been the same pitcher. I thought that contract was a mistake. We shall see.
Posted 07:09 AM, 08/11/2008
jeff gross
the mistake was warming him up a million times in the meaningless All Star game so he could pitch 100+ pitches. He needs to rest for a week or so. Problem is who replaces him? GOrdon is done, Myers can't be moved back and forth as has been proven, perhaps the closer from Lehigh Valley is worth a try? NOt the best time for this to happen, for sure
Posted 10:01 AM, 08/11/2008
acerulli
jeff: I totally agree with you, and I cannot help but wonder, if the Rockies were in first place at the Break, and Brian Fuentes was the last closer in the bullpen, would Clint Hurdle have had Fuentes warming up in every inning from the 9th through the 15th, or would he perhaps have waited until the NL actually took the lead before telling the closer to get up?
Posted 10:03 AM, 08/11/2008
acerulli
Best case scenario: the offense scores some runs against the Dodgers, who cannot score, Manny or no Manny, and they avoid a save situation for a few more days and justifiably continue to rest Lidge. Bright side: provided he comes back strong whenever he comes back, a few extra days of rest will be real good for him before Charlie starts riding him like a horse down the stretch.
Posted 10:44 AM, 08/11/2008
acerulli
This is all Billy Wagner's fault, BTW. If that world class choke artist hadn't given away the lead in the 8th inning of the All-Star Game, Lidge would have been pitching the bottom of the ninth to preserve a one-run NL victory, rather than pitching about 5 innings in the bullpen, THEN getting into the game!
Posted 12:24 PM, 08/11/2008
jeff gross
Acerulli: I like how you manage to blame the rat for everything. Remember, if there is no logical reason, it must be the Mets' fault. I would like to see them use teh oppurtunity to give that kid in Lehigh Valley a chance. It's not too early to start seeing what we have for next year, and learning what we truly need to get this winter. and remember, We MUST sign the Bat again. Can't let him walk away
Posted 12:32 PM, 08/11/2008
acerulli
If I could figure out how global warming and escalating fuel prices were Billy Wagner's fault, I would be thrilled to point it out to everyone. It isn't so much about the Mets...it is about Wags himself. I just don't like him. I have a hard time hating the Mets and Mets fans like everyone else seems to, considering their franchise is almost as pathetic and inept and sure to destroy your baseball fandome as ours is... ALMOST...
Posted 12:40 PM, 08/11/2008
jeff gross
let me help you hate teh Mets acerulli, they're from NY, isn't that enough?? Hate the Mets and the yanks. When the two play each other I have a hard time deciding who to boo more....
Posted 04:14 PM, 08/11/2008
acerulli
I don't hate NY... I hate the NY Rangers, that's about it. (I suppose I would hate the Giants, but being that I am not an Eagles fan, there is no point). You have to hate the Yankees over the Mets. Any team that wins as frequently as they do takes all the fun out of sports. If a competition is not competitive, what then is it? If you know Michael Jordan is going to win the NBA title, why bother watching any of the basketball season? (Which, by the way, is the reason I don't watch basketball anymore. I may be the only person in the world for whom Michael Jordan ruined basketball.) Hate the Yanks for taking the fun out of so many seasons.
Latest Sports Videos
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times.

You can now follow High Cheese on Twitter.
Advertise Here