Not the old Lidge, but he can still contribute for Phillies

MY DISCLAIMER is that I openly admit that I am pulling for Brad Lidge to return to some semblance of the "Lights Out" guy who played a vital role in helping the Phillies win the 2008 World Series.

Come on, the guy was 48-for-48 in save opportunities, including the postseason, and threw the pitch that clinched the second world championship in franchise history.

I understand that professional sports are "what have you done for me lately" enterprises, but stuff like that still resonates with me.

I don't want to write Lidge off just yet. I don't want the last two seasons, when Lidge struggled with 16 blown saves in 74 opportunities, to be what he is more remembered for.

So, yes, I probably am reading a little more into the scoreless sixth inning Lidge pitched in the Phillies' 7-4 loss to the New York Mets yesterday.

Lidge walked Ruben Tejada to start the inning, then struck out David Wright and Lucas Duda before getting Jason Bay to fly out to end the inning.

The line read one inning, zero hits, zero runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

Considering his previous outing, when he loaded the bases in the 10th inning and hit a batter to force in the winning run for the Washington Nationals on Sunday, Lidge rebounded nicely.

And when you look at the way the Phillies' bullpen is likely to set up for the playoffs, pitching a sixth or seventh inning, as opposed to an eighth or ninth, is what Lidge likely will be asked to do.

"I assume it's going to stay the same," Lidge said. "Since our starters are usually going seven innings, my situation might be if were a run down in the eighth.

"[Antonio Bastardo] is going to pitch the eighth and [Ryan Madson] is going to pitch the ninth. [Phillies manager Charlie Manuel] will look at matchups like he always does, but that would be my guess."

And despite having been a closer for most of his major league career, Lidge is fine with that. He knows the situation. He knows that while his shoulder was hurt for most of the season, Bastardo and Madson grew into their roles of locking down the back end of the bullpen.

The Phillies have the best record in baseball at 83-45. Bastardo ranks first among NL relief pitchers in opponents' batting average (.119) and fourth in ERA (1.48). Madson has a career-high 23 saves, with only two blown saves.

"In a perfect world, I wouldn't have gotten hurt this year and I'd be throwing the ninth," Lidge said. "But I got hurt, and Madson and Bastardo have done an outstanding job.

"No, it's not what I wanted to do at the beginning of the year, but what I want to do and what's best for the team are two different things.

"Madson and Bastardo have what they've got. If they weren't doing the job, it might be something else, but they are."

Some have suggested Lidge might not make the playoff roster. I'd put him on without question.

He's the first to acknowledge his stuff is not at the level it was 3 years ago, but except for the meltdown in Washington, Lidge has been effective. In 10 of his 12 appearances, Lidge has not given up a run. He has one save and three holds.

Granted, his eight walks do not make you overflow with confidence, but the bottom line for a reliever is to not give up runs, no matter what inning he pitches.

Lidge has always known how to wiggle his way out of self-created messes.

"Even though I've got a few walks, I've been able to control the innings for the most part," Lidge said. "That means I can get people out and get the job done.

"I'd like to have a couple more miles an hour, but today, it actually felt a little bit better than where I've been at. I think it's slowly moving that way.

"I don't think my stuff is at its absolute best, but I'm happy with the way I'm throwing."

You can look at the difference between the Lidge of 2008 and Lidge now and judge it by that if you want.

But the real issue is whether Lidge can still help this team in whatever role the Phillies decide to use him.

Yes, he can.

"Ultimately, you've got to get it done, and there can be no excuses," Lidge said. "If you're not throwing the ninth inning, you get it done in the seventh.

"If you aren't throwing the seventh inning, you better get it done somewhere else. It's a little more complicated than that, but in the end, you just have to make sure that whenever you are called, whatever your inning is, you get the job done."