Opinion: Uncertain Future Lurks In Lidge Issue
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, June 09, 2009 03:55 PM | Comments: 21
Opinion, Posts
We’ve solved the puzzle: Brad Lidge is still injured, still feeling inflammation in his knee. Of course, it seemed evident the whole time — his fastball wasn’t hitting with the same velocity, while his slider looked average sometimes. His delivery was off. The result: A complete 180, the poorest season for a closer in 2009.
Good for the Phillies, they know what’s next: Ryan Madson moves to closer, JC Romero remains a setup man and Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin likely contribute against right-handed hitters. Scott Eyre remains the second lefty and Chan Ho Park remains the long-innings man. Meanwhile Paul Bako moves north. Why not John Mayberry Jr.? The Phillies likely wanted Mayberry to start everyday; bringing up Bako allows for Chris Coste to accompany the vaunted right-handed bench spot.
The major question, however, is how the Phillies handle the Lidge situation. If it’s strictly inflammation, he must rest, then rebuild his tissue — and stamina — when the swelling ends. It might take two weeks, it could take longer, and really, there should be no reason to hurry Lidge back.
Lidge has hurt the Phillies in 2009 — his -2.20 win probability added metric means he has sorely negative effect on his team’s chances to win games. Plucking him from the roster means the Phillies actually improve themselves; inserting Madson into the closer’s role means it’s likely he won’t fail like Lidge. So the Phillies must take their time correcting Lidge, getting him healthy and regulating his delivery.
Greater Damage
Of course, there’s a possibility tonight’s MRI will reveal some sort of ligament damage, which could prolong Lidge’s return all the way until the possibility doesn’t exist. If he doesn’t return, the Phillies’ priority becomes finding a new middle relief candidate, whether it’s in-house (Antonio Bastardo, Sergio Escalona) or through a trade. Comforting that the Phillies have a structured and solid bullpen. And Madson can handle being closer.
Still, the matter becomes Brad. If he’s horribly injured and must miss months, how do the Phillies approach the offseason? How do they approach a recovering closer who might not have the velocity or tenacity he once possessed?
These questions will be answered at some point, and for now, we can alleviate our worries. But know that just as the knee inflammation lingered without our notice, the greater issue of the future of Brad Lidge will also stew.
Posts: 0 M.P. aka Phillies Phan SC #54
I am behind Brad 100%. I hope this fixes the issue and he is well for the second half. I agree, let him heal, let him return and take it from there. No doubt this has hurt the Phillies. On one hand I am happy it is June but I wish he or they would have acted sooner if it was known.
Posted: 04:10 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
i don’t understand this move. Lidge clearly IS NOT HURT. the only reason he’s on the DL is because they don’t want him to face the mets and blow a save in this big series. but they also clearly do not want to ruin his role by putting him in the 7th or 8th.
here is some stats you may find interesting. from Philly.com:
Lidge, 32, is 0-3 this season with 13 saves and a 7.27 ERA in 28 relief appearances. Opponents have hit .306 against him. In his last seven games, Lidge was 5 for 7 in save opportunities with a 1.42 ERA and a .182 opponents’ batting average.
Posted: 04:13 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Last time Lidge came off the DL, he had a perfect season… So it’s all good!
Posted: 04:15 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 AM
I saw this coming..I doubt there’s a tear, that would’ve have sidelined him long ago.. I wouldn’t be too surprised if the decision to put him on the DL was 33% knee problem 66% just give him some time off and get his act together. This is the right move. I have faith that he’ll be lights out when he gets back.
picked up Madson for my fantasy squad,
AM
Posted: 04:23 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Matt Kwasiborski
Lidge definitely needs to rest. Better to do it now than have it flare up and lose him for a longer period of time in late July, August, or September. Maybe his knee is bothering him, no athlete comes out and admits it unless it is 1000% obvious.
I am not sold on Madson as a closer. He has the physical tools for sure but his mental preparation will be on a whole different level. He has failed when put it in this position before as a short term fix. We don’t have anyone else but Madson still has to prove he can handle the closer role.
Posted: 04:44 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 M.P. aka Phillies Phan SC #54
Knee injuries are funny – sometimes they hurt, sometimes they don’t. PERHAPS he was hurt but thought he was OK enough. Perhaps it is a BS thing – either way I think it will be fine.
Posted: 04:51 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
If it is truly on two weeks we miss Lidge, than Madson will be fine, I love the guys stuff, but I am always a wait and see guy, if he comes in and dominates the 9th like he has the 8th, then it will be no problem.
In addition, if it is only two weeks, the phillies can use multiple guys in the ninth if need be.
This is a joke but you never know maybe Park can be the closer for two weeks, well really only 12 days. Sometimes you never know
Posted: 04:52 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Kimmy
well if madson starts slipping up we have romero, between the 2 of them, i’m confident we will come out on top. as for brad, he need this time, i hope they take it slow with him coming back, maybe he doesn’t come back until the beginning of july, then he’s got some time off for the break, and BAM lights out is back. it’s my plan for him. lets hope he reads this and follows it! :)
Posted: 04:52 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 I'm Chutly
Too bad for Lidge. Good news for Phillies phans, Ryan Madson is and will always be better than Lidge. Ryan Madson is going to do one heck of a job as closer for your Phillies. Like when Putz went down for the Mets. It’s addition by subtraction. The Mets bullpen is better without him. The Phillies bullpen is better without Lidge. On another note: This series really means nothing at this point in the season. First off: THER WILL BE NO SWEEP. If the Mets take 2 they will be 2 games out (so what, its June). If the Phillies take 2 then the mets are 4 out (so what , it’s june)….Let’s face reality, September is when it really counts for these two teams, not June.
Posted: 05:06 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
If Madson shines in the closer role for awhile and Lidge comes back in form, one of the two of them could be trade pieces for a high value starter right?
Posted: 05:11 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
noooooooooo, keep them both
Posted: 05:13 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
lineup: Victorino, Utley, Werth, Howard, Ibaenz, Rollins, Feliz, Ruiz, Happ
Posted: 05:15 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Ibanez*
Posted: 05:16 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Richie
Ryan Madson is not a better closer than Brad Lidge. That is just absolutely Ludicrous! Get a grip guys…Madson has done very well for us as a set-up man but closer is a different animal and I hope he does tremendous and is perfect until Lidge comes back healthy, but the fact of the matter is that if Brad Lidge is 100% and Madson is 100% Brad Lidge is the closer hands down. Brad Lidge’s Slider is the best out pitch in MLB, the only competition is Santana’s slider…Period…end of story!!
Posted: 05:17 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
I mentioned this the other day. IF Lidge is hurt for any extended period of time, the I think Bastardo should go the pen. My reason for this lies primarily in the fact that he is a 1 1/2 pitch pitcher right now. Fast ball with some slider mixed in. Ultimately, when he starts to have confidence in his change up, he looks like a major league starter. But I think the 7th and 8th innings are a really good “workshop” to start mixing in his change up in while pitching a lot. And they need him. And, as an aside, if anybody out there wants to make sure something doesn’t happen, just have Ken Rosenthal say that it will.
The Dipsy
Posted: 05:22 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
P.S. – Richie…I think you means Santana’s change up.
The Dipsy
Posted: 05:24 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Philsphan
Even,
I would definitely say hold onto both. If Lidge comes back and returns to his old form, with Madson pitching the 8th, and JC taking the 7th, we have arguably the most dominant late-innings staff in the league. These three’s heroics last year played a major role in bringing us the WFC last year and they can definitely help do it again this year.
Posted: 05:37 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Philsphan
I meant Evan*
Posted: 05:38 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Travis
I think Lidge will be back to his normal dominence like in July. The Paul Bako call up isn’t bad because he’s a very solid defensive catcher who can get some hits. This means if Coste is brought in to pinch hit, we don’t have to take Ruiz out for a defensive sub.
Posted: 05:53 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
From Rob Neyer’s blog on ESPN:
“We knew Lidge wouldn’t go 41-for-41 again this season, but we didn’t know he’d do this. When a player’s performance deviates radically from expectations, we can figure it’s either because of an injury or the vagaries of chance. Before we assume the former in this case, we should acknowledge the possibility that Lidge has been victimized by poor luck, but his employers don’t believe in poor luck. For what it’s worth, Lidge is throwing his fastball nearly as fast as last year, and he’s throwing his slider exactly as fast. Which isn’t to suggest that speed is everything.”
Posted: 05:58 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Travis
Around the NL East Tonight:
Pirates at Braves: 7:00pm
Ohlendorf (5-5, 4.85) vs Lowe (6-3, 3.40)
* Braves start the day 5.5 back of Phillies
Reds at Nationals: 7:05pm
Cueto (5-3, 2.43) vs Detwiler (0-2, 5.23)
* Nationals start the day 18 back of Phillies
Mets at Phillies: 7:10pm
Happ (4-0, 2.48) vs Santana (7-3, 2.00)
*Looks like this game will get underway. Thunderstorms expected around 10pm, 11pm and 12am. Cloudy with maybe some light drizzle/showers.
Mets start the day 3 back of Phillies
Phillies start the day as leaders of the NL East
Cardinals at Marlins: 7:10pm
Carpenter (4-0, 0.71) vs Johnson (5-1, 2.63)
* Chris Carpenter has been dominant so far this year
Marlins start the day 7 back of Phillies
Posted: 06:02 PM on June 9, 2009