Brad Lidge returned to the closer’s role over the past few weeks and has looked strong in his appearances. Lidge has been able to locate his pitches very well and showed a 94 MPH fastball. His signature pitch, the slider, was sharp and of the vintage un-hittable variety. It is the best Lidge has looked since 2008.
The Phillies and Lidge have done a much better job of managing his health this season. Both sides have learned from last season that unless Lidge is healthy, he will not be the shut-down closer he is capable of being.
The Phillies have been patient waiting for Lidge to get 100% healthy. They did not push him in spring training, and after he came off of the disabled list for the first time and felt stiffness in his elbow, the Phillies didn’t hesitate to put him back on the shelf.
Lidge, for his part, has been more willing to disclose discomfort, as opposed to last season when he didn’t reveal until after the season that he had problems with his elbow. It was hard for him to go right back on to the disabled list, but he let the Phillies know right away when he felt the new problem in his elbow.
Although he is healthy now, there is cause for concern. His age, his mileage, and the number of cortisone shots he has needed to get the elbow ready to pitch means that Lidge is increasingly likely to go down at any time. The Phillies do not want to go into the post season without a capable. Therefore, the best solution is to limit his innings during the regular season.
A possible solution is to occasionally use Jose Contreras to close. Contreras has shown that he can close without being overwhelmed by the responsibility of getting the final three outs. Another candidate some would suggest is Ryan Madson, but he has been a disaster as a closer, and has struggled with keeping his nerve, as evidenced by his current stint on the disabled list caused by a self inflicted broken toe, after a blown save.
Lidge is obviously the Phillies best option to close games, but his constant health issues are a cause for concern. The Phillies have been taking the right steps to get their closer’s health back, but they can’t afford to wear him down by the time the playoffs come around. Spreading the work around will help insure that Lidge is around for the playoffs, when the Phillies need him most.
I agree 100%..
The big problem I see, is that you have to have a lead late in the game once in a while…
Lidge around for the playoffs.. are you kidding me… where’s coach Jim Mora when you need him..
This team is 3rd/4th place team in it’s own division and nowehere near a playoff team right now..
Take out their 9-2 fast star and they are about 5 games below .500 since mid-April (2 months now)
this is not the birds they wont just lay down long season we will be back