Phillies Nation

I like the chances the Phils have of a sweep tomorrow. Happ vs. the Dbacks worst pitcher? Yes please.

Amanda, you need to get some sleep – thanks for the report,

Awesome game by Hamels and great patience at the plate. I’d love to see the following.

2009

Hamel
Blanton
Washburn
Happ
Moyer/Martinez/Lopez

2010
Hamels
Blanton
Happ
Drabek
Moyer/Lopez/Myers

Best Phillies July ever? Wondering if anyone knows what that would be and how close they are to it.

Mark Reynolds is having a monster year. Too bad he’s playing for a team that looks like it’s auditioning for a blooper reel.

Hamels had a very nice outing. It makes me feel better to see him pitch deep and rack up the strikeouts. I agree with marty. Our bullpen seems to need more help than our starting pitching right now.

Brad, this is getting old! Phew.

Are you all FREAKING kidding me? Thats 20 of 22 and people still find a way to whine about Lidge. I thought he got the save?! Even if he did make it interesting. It was his 3rd appearence in a row!!!!

Last I checked, even King Cole gives up HR’s. Am I the only one who thought Brad showed alot shaking that HR off, then going 1-2-3?

Mark my words: HE IS OUR BEST OPTION AS CLOSER, HE WILL BE FINE.

It’s very difficult to get a gauge on where Lidge is at right now, a closers going to give up runs no matter how much he’s expected to be a steel-trap. On the positive side he hasn’t blown a save this month but he is giving up runs. Last nights runs surrendered came pitching for the third straight day so maybe it was to be expected, maybe he’s still hurting, maybe he’s back maybe he isn’t we just don’t know.

All we can do is just hope Lidge feels strong going into October, would be very surprised if the Phils acquired anyone more than a middle-reliever with late inning experience.

Looking past the division into the playoffs and hopefully the big dance, the competition will be tougher and the bottom of the 9th will probably have no wiggle room.
True Lidge has not blown a save this month. As a matter of fact he has 6 saves in 6 opportunities even though his ERA in July is nearly 6.
Does anybody feel comfortable going into the post season with our current closer?
I don’t believe in magic NJ. I don’t believe that “… as long as Lidge feels good..” will be enough to bring a second WS championship to Philadelphia.
The Phillies won last year because of our pitching, Lidge was at the center of it all. This is not a new revelation NJ. Regardless of how potent the offense is, without the insurance of a quality closer our chances are not so good.

What I’m saying is how do we know Brad hasn’t got it going? Were not in the clubhouse and on here too many scrutinise from a place looking for every single bit of bad than even want to take a moment to hope or think of the good. There’s time for Lidge to turn his season around if he hasn’t already.
Brad gave up a 2 run shot in his third straight day and two runs in a game he shouldn’t have pitched, ‘closing games’ his ERA’s around 4 this month, not great but lets let the coaches worry about Brad and route for him.

We don’t ‘need’ a new closer, we need our closer to be better. Name all the guys you want- Sherrill, Scott Downs, Cordero… We’re not trading for another closer and I’d rather expect Lidge to be sharp by October than think anyone we could trade for would be so much better it would justify putting Lidge on the scrap-heap.

I think too many EXPECT a second championship so much their routing for reasons to hang their hats guys in other uniforms being the reason if the team doesn’t repeat it will be perceived as utter failure. I sometimes wonder if it would be easier to be a Yankees fan…

Dipsy- You of all people know the BS Riccardi is spouting, there’s still as much chance as there was yesterday of Halladay being dealt.

What do you think the Indians REALLY need for Lee?

The Dipsy

I’m just surprised at the level of anger towards our guys that sometimes comes up here. I have my doubts of course but I’m not going to believe Lidge can’t get it done in this coming post-season and if something were to happen I wouldn’t be joining the inevitable lynch-mob outside his door.

I don’t like Lidge sporting a 7+ ERA, insurance may be necessary but that doesn’t mean trading for another teams closer unless your going to put Lidge on the 60 day DL and say his career in Philly’s over. Don’t see that happening any time soon.

Got to love the phillies nation, you all really think Lidge throws that pitch if they are only up one or two runs? It is the walk to the first guy that is frustrating, he did not not want to walk the a second guy and bring the tieing run to the plate, and groved a slider that hung and he got rocked out of the park. He settled down and throw strikes and got three outs, and the save, is that not what a closer is suppose to do, get the save, save the game. Well he did that,
Does he need to get his head back in the game before the playoffs, yes, are the phillies going to trade for a new closer no. Get you head out of your asses and appreciate a win,

@NJ: I don’t think that making a trade for a closer is a good idea at this point, any more so than trading for Halladay. The team does need to understand what has happened physically or mentally to a guy that had an ERA below 2 last year and is above 7 now. If he can’t get his act together (entire month of August: ERA below 4, WHIP below 1.5, K/BB better than 2.5:1) then he can’t be trusted in the postseason and either Madson or Myers closes. The fact that he hasn’t blown a save yet in July is more about luck than anything else for me.

I agree Jim. There’s time for Lidge to prove he can be the guy in the post-season and there will be a spell of games soon that’ll either make or break him. If he can’t get through, I think the two guys you mentioned are fully capable of coming out and winning the job.

As for Hamels, THERE’S YOUR ACE!

Going head-to-head with arguably the best pitcher in the NL, and coming out with the Win.