Lidge: Nationals are 'probably' most talented team I've been on
Remember the days when the bold words would come from the New York Mets. Well, the confidence is brewing among the Washington Nationals in spring training.
Lidge: Nationals are 'probably' most talented team I've been on
Daily News staff
Remember the days when the bold words would come from the New York Mets?
Well, the confidence is brewing among the Washington Nationals in spring training.
Over the weekend, manager Davey Johnson said his starting rotation "stuff-wise" is as good as the Phillies’ rotation.
In a video posted on the team’s website, former Phillies closer Brad Lidge added this to the mix: "Probably the most talented team I’ve ever been on, and I’ve been on some great teams. Very impressed with that. Very young and very exciting."
Now, you can’t blame Lidge, of course. What is he supposed to say? Maybe he is just looking to give his team a boost, be the veteran hand that shows he has faith in his young teammates.
You might recall, though, that Lidge played on the Phillies team that won the World Series in 2008.
Some other Nationals also talk about the playoffs and their prospects in the video below.
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Buy Phillies tickets Comments (106)
I think he must have a concussion— pbuscio- I think he must have a concussion— pbuscio
- I think he must have a concussion— pbuscio
- I think he must have a concussion— pbuscio
Comment removed.- Got rid of Lidge at the right time, it's obvious he has turned into an incoherent, rambling alcoholic.— SilliBilli
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- actually Lidge is probably correct -- talent-wise this team beats Phils, certainly the 2012 Phils edition which after the top 3 starters is comprised of average or below avg players at best— warbiscuit
- Really dude? Unless you're a Nats fan, you've absolutely LOST it.
1b - Adam LaRoche vs. Anybody Phils throw out there until Howard gets back - advantage Phils (Laroche stinks)
2b - Danny Espinosa vs. aging Utley - adv. Utley
SS - Ian Desmond vs. JRoll - Rollins for his speed and defense (Desmond is a sieve), bats are a wash.
3b - Ryan Zimmerman vs. Polanco - Zimmerman easy
LF - Michael Morse vs. Mayberry/Nix - Morse
CF - Roger Bernadina vs. Victorino - Victorino easy
RF - Werth vs. Pence - Pence easy
Catcher - Wilson Ramos vs. Chooch - Even, maybe Ramos
SP - Top 3 for Phils, no comparison in NL!
Closer - Storen vs. Papelbon - Papelbon easy (Clippard is better than Storen anyway)
So that's 7 positions to 3 if you give it to Ramos - what the hell is Lidge's problem?
Oh, waaaaaah, the poor Phillies didn't resign me!!!— cdk104 - Being down here and having the Nts as my number 2 team I can say your analysis is almost correct. LF - Morse - had a career year. So I'm not so sure I give that to him. Laroche won't be there for long as Marrero will be coming back soon. Bernadina won't be in center for long - it'll be Werth , RF will be Harper. Makes things interesting doesn't it.
I think the Phightins' have the advantage but the people down here in Washington are all saying they look to the Phillies as a model. I have to agree. I'd like to see the Phils get younger with Galvis and Mayberry and Brown getting in there. But I still give the Phightins' the edge this year.— Phillyexp - The Nats are trying so hard to be relevant. Maybe if they could win some games they would be. However, until that day comes...shhhhhhh.— beegal99
- I hear they have a catcher who can throw runners out even when the relief pitcher has zero ability to hold them on.— dasher
- What is he supposed to say? How about, "no comment"?— Jerome99RIP
- Lidge is probably right...certainly in comparison with the 2012 edition of the Phillies. Barring a strong Fountain Of Youth injection to the Phillies starting lineup, they'll be hard pressed to keep up with the Nationals this year. Or the Braves. Or the Marlins.
Starting pitching can only take a team so far. They still have to score some runs. I think it will be a challenge for the Phillies to do that all year long.— SteveS11 - Lidge has joined Werth on the Nats and has to drink of the company koolaid. BTW, the Nationals are a very talented young team. Don't be surprised if they have a good season. However, the most talented ever? I guess some of Houston's teams and Phillies teams must be scratching their collective heads. I understand Lidge is upset at the notion RAJ gave Dontrelle Willis $850K to try to be a situational lefty, but left him out in the cold....kinda like Lidge did the past three years on that $36 million contract that produced 1 1/2 seasons worth of heartburn. I like Lidge and he will ALWAYS be part of Phillies history. But come on, don't go out and do the "Werth" dissing of a former employer/team mates who had your back when you couldn't perform or lied about "not being injured". Remember, what comes around goes around. Just ask Jayson Werth's new employers and how they feel about that $126 million dollar deal.— drhoffman
- At least the fans will look familiar to Brad down there in DC.— s
- This dude needs to shut up... for 3 years after he won the series all we heard from this guy was how he was feeing great and getting better when obviously that was not the case... Thanks for the ring and I will enjoy seeing your release sometime in June for being the ineffective reliever you were here for the last 3 years.— Theo1980
- Everybody is thinking they're great in spring training. No issues here. I think the Nats acting like they don't want Philly fans in their stadium is a bigger deal than this.— burholme
- Nationals have been in business since 2005 - in those seven years they have yet to post a single winning record. Talk about empty words!— Bobby G
- I hope the Phils go 17-2 against the Nats this year. Bunch of tools, like Warbiscuit— SilliBilli
- Phil Garner & 2004-2005 Astros teammates are steaming! I mean, c'mon. Drew Storen & crew probably wondering why Lidge is talking at all— Ed3
- They'll be gone by 2020 just like every other Washington MLB team.
- He went in for mole removal and they mistakenly removed his brain. It was the same size.— Sackbutt
- Nats are superior to Phils at c, 1b, 2b, ss, 3b, and of..obviously Phils have adavantage with top 3 starters but after Hamels leaves and with Halladay and Lee one yr older that will likely change as well.. meanwhile clueless rube has gutted Phils minor leagues while winning zero tiles so expect Nats and Marlins to soon have major adavantge over this Amaro-built sinking ship— warbiscuit
- This coming from a guy they bring in for 1 out with a 11 run lead to build his confidence because he cost the team so many games that year We are forced to stand and cheer for getting 1 out to build him up.He has nothing left but that mole on his face and here's a quarter have a rat gnaw that thing off.— evenmix
- Nice Uncle Buck reference. — raboo
- Can't what for the Phils to bat against Lidge's 89mph fastball.— ldt6143
- Too bad they don't have Ibanez anymore. He was great against the slow-ball/junk pitchers. Wonder how Raul will do in the AL East? — raboo
- Give him another bottle of J.D. ! ! Hey Lidge, your teammates aren't the ones who didn't offer you a contract. You don't have to rip them cause you're sore... ask Werth what it's like to be classy before you speak again.— BuddyBall92
- Give him another bottle of J.D. ! ! Hey Lidge, your teammates aren't the ones who didn't offer you a contract. You don't have to rip them cause you're sore... ask Werth what it's like to be classy before you speak again.— BuddyBall92
- That's what Lidge is supposed to say. No problem. He's being a leader on a young team.— Bartleby
- warbiscuit, when do we get your critique of the GMs in DC and Miami? I want to hear your reminiscences about all the titles Mike Rizzo and Michael Hill have won, since you clearly think they're far superior to Amaro.— 1980
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- The difference between this and Jimmy Rollins in 2007 was that the Phillies had been consistently close for the previous few years and then made a couple moves that Jimmy thought would put them over the top. Turns out it did. The Nats have never been within a mile of the playoffs. They've got a good young team, but their spring training big words have an empty ring to them that are as hollow as every other player who is on a bad team that "feels great" about this season.— commenter1111
- Are they still sellin beers in DC based on Werth's batting average. Great bargain. Maybe Lidge had a few too many.— mike l
- the gnats need to do the talking on the field..when they're 10 games out well see if they feel the same way. go Phillies. oh yea we will see you at CB park south this season— phillysportsnut
- From the city that brought you Richard Nixon— NewMick314
- I don't know if the Nationals are going to be great but I can assure you they are going to be better than the past. I believe we will be disappointed with the Phils this year. Really, Wigginton, Nix, Pierre, and Podsenik aren't starters on a pennant worthy team. And we are trying to get Jim Thome ready to play first base for the first time in five years. Doesn't look promising to me.— Hearts
- Oh that Brad!— craigaa52
- Yeah, the entire DC vibe has me cringing...the Wizards, the Skins and the Crapitals all suck. Until they win 85 games, the Nats can bark all they want, they are still nada!— BirdinParadise
- He had two possible answers: 1)Right answer- We have a good team and this should be an exciting season or b)Wrong answer - This is the most talented team I have ever been on. He's like the ex-girlfriend who can't let go. Brad, you're gone, move on, dude.— ManU63
- yea brad. good luck with that.— Ryan
- Funny how Werth was not even shown in that fluff piece. what a difference a year makes.— CenterFielderGaryMaddox
- What is he smoking— 658012
- Who cares.— Steve Jeltz
- Lidge will be hurt halfway through the season anyway and then he will be on the best 30 day DL he has ever been on.— davegoll
- Talk it up but all they need to do is back it up.— AvoidSundanceVacations
Well, lets make him eat his words.— ej610- Comment removed.
- If I am Davey Johnson, I want my veteran players especially, to feel confident about the team especially in mid-March. And "no comment" is strongly discouraged by the team and by MLB. The Phillies Top 3 starters are better than every Washington starter, period.— tommazza
- They blew this year when they didnt pick up Jose Reyes and re-signed Rollins.— Bobphxville
- "Lights On" is obviously drunk or high when he made that ridiculous statement, the Phillies are still the best team in the NL, the Nats will have their time in 3 years, til then stop hatin' on the Phils
— SouthJerseyMike - Be careful. The Nats moved to within a game or a handful of .500 last year and they'll take another step forward this year. 85-77; 87-55; something like that. They'll be good. On the other hand, Lidge will hear echoes at his home ballpark that he never heard in Philly. Actually, he'll hear Philly cheers, no matter how hard the Nats' owners try to stop it.
— eman - Was noticing the same thing, an 11.5 change in win/loss between 2010 and 2011, and their pitching has improved significantly with a full year of Strasburg, and additions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson. Three pitchers they didn't have for last season (okay, except for a couple games of Strasburg), and they still won the season vs. Phils 10-8.
More worried about the Nats than the Braves or the chaotic media circus the Marlins will be.
Still love Lidge for 2008, and he'll be good in a mid-relief role if they use him right.— raboo - He wears a goatee . 'nuff said— DroppedaKingDunlap
- cdk104 --your analysis is poor for simple reason that Zimmerman, Morse, Espinosa, Ramos, Bernadino, Desmond and Werth (yes Werth) are so much younger and so much more talented than just about anyone on Phils that it makes your position by position "who's better in 2012?" juvenile and irrlevanlt .. and when Hamels leaves becuase clueless rube just wasterd so much money on a closer and no-hit shortstop and a spot-starter after blowing his whole offensice budget on a seriously injured quickly sinking ist baseman that he hasnt eh monet to re-sign Cole, then Phils will be looking up at the Marlins and Nats for many many years untiul cluless rube is long outahere and exposed for the incompetent franchise-destroying rube that he is— warbiscuit
- Lidge is just a little bitter the Phils didn't want him.
H*ll, I didn't want him since 2009. He was one of the most ineffective closers on the staff once past that 2008 magic year.— fmMD - He's obviously still p'd off at the Phils.
But he's toast.— VicM - The most talented, not including him and his 86mph fastball, of course.— gentian
- He lives good for a guy on disability.— escapedcamden4monterey
- I agree with Lidge. I made the case here a few weeks ago. At almost every position the Nats were as good or better than the Phils last year and their players are on the upswing while the Phils' players are aging. Harper and Strasburg are two of the most talented players to come along in years. They have three solid, possibly spectacular starters in their mid-twenties. The best third baseman around and a young automatic closer. Throw in talented vets Werth and Morse and I just don't see how the Phillies match up talent-wise. What the Phillies have going for them is experience and savvy in the rotation.— jtj10
- I good year and he stole money the rest of the time— Ssteve115
- I think billy conlin is now covering the nats— stoky
- Brad needs to get real, no way are the National's a better team than the Phils, even with no hitting.— f3408cooky
- The Phillies do not need bulletin board material to win. Whatever Lidge's motives, the comments were meant strictly for Washington local consumption. It doesn't change my opinion of Lidge at all. He's trying to encourage his teammates on. You know the realistic guys in the Nats dugout are asking, "Is this dude crazy?"— RunningTheBases
- Poor Lidge...I hope he gets an invite to Werth's house to watch their former team in the playoffs on the big screen this year. BWAHAHAHAHA Go Phillies!!!— Fly Guy
Not relevant! Nats are lucky to play .500 This is a ghetto club using D.C. as its name when they won;t have anything to do with the D.C> ghetto area. Lidge is already smoking the local crack...- while i agree these comments are nonsense - i do commend them. what's the harm in a little swagger for a young team?— CosmoK
- I hope you people will have to eat your words.Iknow philly fans are not humble enough to say Iwas wrong. You dumb a**es keep trying to forget the last 3yrs.Ithink you can add this one too,with all the old men.Don't forget you have the best pitcher who gives up a run in the first inning and loses 1_0,and a 125million pitcher who can,t hold a 4-0 lead.Stop belittleing other teams and belittle yours they haven't embarrested themselves as the 102 gamers did.Warbis-cuit why do you keep trying these guys won't listen as right as you are.— tobyjoe
- embarrested themselves' did you get raised by the state.You just embarrested yourself . — evenmix
- Everyone is tied for first in March— JamesJ
- You have to give Brad Lidge credit for what he is doing. This rag-tag bunch couldn't find first place with a GPS and a tour guide. Brad Lidge is playing sports psychologist and telling them they are the best he has seen.
In one of the classic financial disasters of all times, the Phillies gave the Senators Jayson Werth on a silver platter but they turned him into Wilson Valdez. The inimical combination of John Mayberry and Dom Brown out homered and out RBI-ed him---for 123 million less dollars---and had a higher batting average!
But Lidge is a winner. He thinks like a champion and if he can bolster his team, God bless him...as long as they are one place behind the Phils.— gotedge - Lidge is just trying to pump up young guys with little confidence; it's what he should be doing!— JBinPA
- I don't think he's far off. Remember, he said "probably the most talented team'' he's ever been on and "Very young and very exciting." Not the best. Which is different. Also, take into consideration is Spring Training and he's watching Harper and Rendon and some of the other young prospects in the Nationals organization. The Nats Minor League System was ranked #1 before the Gio Gonzalez trade.— EL Zorro
- It's on now! I mean, is he some kinda of moron or is he just living in some kind of fantasyland? I wasn't gonna boo him if he somehow was healthy enough to pitch against us this year... now... i'll be heckling him in CF all game long.— Apollo Creed
- warbiscuit - Werth (yes Werth) are so much younger and so much more talented than just about anyone on Phils
You gotta be kidding me. Werth who just finished the year with a .230 avg is not younger or more talented than anyone in the Phillies outfield. He's older than all of them and has a career avg of 264. I'll take the much better Pence, Victorino and hell Mayberry will probably post better numbers than Werth this year.
— mtuske - I have been a serious Phillie fan since 1954 when I was eight years old. I moved to DC in 2003, and I struggle to find any Phillie game on TV. I go to my car to hear them on radio. I am still a devoted Phillie fan. I remember names that most never heard. I also watch alot of the Nats. Watch out: the Nats are for real. It is about pitching. They have pitching in place, but it needs experience. They could become awesome very fast. Nevertheless, this is the year of the Phillies! Win one more WS for Richie, Wally, Grannie, Seth, Robin, Curt, Harry the Hat, Stan, Ted, Del, Jack, Byron (By), Gene, Mayo, Curt, Dick, Michael Jack, Lenny, Rick, Steve, Johnny, Harry...— Long-time fan
- He's on the Nationals now. He can't be worried about hurting feelings in Philly. He has always been a very optimistic guy, and this is an overly optimistic statement. I'll say though - talent is one thing, experience and ability to actually convert that talent into wins is another thing. The Nationals are further along on that first one than the second, and you'll notice Lidge was talking talent.— Phils Phan 28
- Long-time fan - they make radios you can play in your house. Cost you about $20. Probably a good investment. You can also get mlb.tv and watch games online. just a thought.— Phils Phan 28
- You people are taking this WAAAAAAAAAAAY too serious!— jonpoetical
- It's all head games, guys - including warbiscuit's serving of crapola. At least he gave Ruben a day off. I really like "toolbiscuit," by the way.— dwp66
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whiplash from watching too many blown saves over the past two years...- Whoa there, war biscuit, when VEGAS oddsmakers post their picks they are more informed than the rabid "FANATIC" .... and gee, what is it with these ex-Phils(LIDGE & oh, what's his name? Oh, yeah, JASON
22M. & .235 last year) ...they are so "bitter"....try a latte' and chase it down with a prosac ....cry-babies...— Chappy - I only have one thing to say to the nats.
BRING IT OR SHUT UP— cybersnake2 - I'm not sure what the big deal is about this comment. What did oyu expect him to say? He's not on the Phillies any more. He's part of the Nationals 'team.' Would Pappelbon have made the statement about the Phillies fans being smarter than the Red Sox fans last year? Fans-get over yourselves and look at the whole picture.— rolenfan
- How was this a "shot?" Get over it, people. He's working for a new employer.— frankenslade
- Well a good amount of his former teammates from the phils are with him in dc and the nats have the same colors, he must be confused where he is at.— flavious27
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- hey brad,all this hot air about the nats being more talented than the phillies is just that-hot air...prove it on the field before you put your foot in your mouth...the phillies KNOW how to win...the nats HOPE they can win..big difference loudmouth...— jabac
- We all knew how valuable Jason Werth is to a team, but apparently none of us fully grasped what is hidden in a .232/.330/.389/.718 performance.— P2will
- Sounds like he (and Werth) have "Billy Wagner" disease - common for ex-Phils to be a bit bitter towards their old team....— NYC sucks
- @P2will - It's very obvious that believe that numbers = importance. But any one who truly understands baseball will tell you otherwise. For example..... Dom Browne's number are not all the impressive, but the Phillies must consider him an important part of the future. Or else they would not spend the time maturing him and getting him ready for what should be a long successful MLB career.— imabigdog
- I recall Lidge saying "I feel the best I have ever felt" right before going on the DL for the second time. Talks out his a**— phillyceltic
- so Horst is garbage too and Singleton looks like he would have been nice as future replacement for Howard .. clueless rube has purged the system of any talent under age 30 while accumulating such useless dreck as Nix, Schneider, Thome and Willis -- for this the man shells out $170 mil.+ per year?! oh yeah everyone points out that rube must know what he's doing because he got Phils 3 division titles (after inheriting a WS-chamo team) and for that all you loser fans are apparently grateful -- do you not realize that for that money and the dozen prospects he lost he should have had at least put together a bench and bullpen instead of squandering Phils future for nothing— warbiscuit
- Anyone who supports the Phillies would have at least one positive post about them, instead of constant stream of uper-negative comments. But since you do not, what team do you really support? — raboo
- Phils have only 1 player on offense ranked in top 50 players (pence --in high 40s); Phils have only 1 player ranked as top 100 prospect (about no. 74) ..clueless rube has gutted the Phils system of any talent whatsoever after 3 starting pitchers (soon to be 2 after Hamels leaves becusae rube left himself no room to re-sign him becuase he'd rathe have an ovepaid closer, an overpaid shortstop and an overpaid spot starter after losing $125 mil. on a seriously injured 1st baseman)— warbiscuit
- Sounds like someone has their "light out" upstairs! What a dope.— Miles_Dyson
- Phillies fans are supposed to be the most informed baseball fans (if you believe Papelbon, which I'm happy to do as a die-hard Phillies fan). We have to acknowledge that the Nats have improved more over the off-season than the Phils have improved. Does that mean they are better? For 2012, I don't think so, but in a couple of years, the younger talent they have seems to be better than what the Phils will have in 2015 if not 2014. Of course, RAJ may pull some rabbits out of his hat, especially with the payroll advantage. I just hope he doesn't sacrifice more of our best prospects to accomplish this.
Lidge's 2008 easily overrules his recent comments, he's doing what any player would do coming to a new team, building them up via veteran leadership.— raboo - Comment removed.
- Hey, NatNals. Walgreens called, they want their 'W' back.— JoePhils2
- 2nd half of last season nationals whipped the he_ _ out of the phillies don't care who is on their roster they won the games, if that trend continues phillies will have a long season maybe even over after 162 games.— only 9
- Talent. didn't a certain philly team have all the talent in the world on paper. Ah, what was it, the dream team. Yea, having talent only means that you have talent. doesn't mean your gonna win.— Fritz and Alice
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