If Charlie Manuel does decide to go with Brad Lidge during this year’s playoffs, I don’t think it will be a good things for the Phills, but I think it will serve as a finanical stimulus package for the local economy.
First of all, if Manuel hands the ball to Lidge in the ninth inning of a one-run game, there’s a good chance that the game will go into the extra innings. A blown save wouldn’t be a good thing for the Phillies but think of all of the small businesses in the area which would be helped.
You know all the beer distributor ships would be cheering. What about the food distributors?
Would any Phils fans leave a sports bar in the ninth inning with a one run lead and Brad Lidge coming in to close? Would anybody leave a sports bar at the start of the tenth inning of a playoff game?
You and I know that everybody is going to stay put in those scenarios.
The sports bars could get as much as a 25% boost from Lidge closing a game. The Phillies fans all over the Delaware Valley will continue to eat and drink.
Truth is that they’ll probably start drinking more evey time they see Lidge’s name and number. If one of the broadcasters simply mentions his name, the drinking will increase.
The pschologists and psychiatrists in the area will get more business. Fans will be walking around murmuring to themselves.
The pharmaceutical industry will also get a boost. Doctors will prescribe more drugs to more patients.
Later in the year, the rehab facilities will get a boost as Phillies fans try to straighten out their lifestyles.
Out of work handymen will be back to work replacing walls and re-doing drywall in homes where upset Phillies fans couldn’t resist kicking in the wall and tearing up the furniture after watching another Lidge implosion.
How many new televisions will have to be purchased? Some are sure tobe kicked in, if Lidge gets out there with a one-run lead.
For this reason I think Charlie should go with Lidge not becuase it will be good for the team, but because it will be good for the economy.
