9/24/09 Phils @ Marlins GT

[philliesphhan]

i agree with you the division the is clinched, but i don't need to see lidge trying to figure anything out anymore. as bottalico just said, who cares what he did last season? his season is done and he needs to start looking toward next year. i honestly didn't even look up from the article i was reading for the last few batters. i was only 8, but i don't think it even felt this way when mitch williams entered the game.

Mitch was never as good as Lidge last year and never as bad as Lidge this year

Fregosi would have even given up on Lidge by now

[dajafi]

Look at Adam Eaton's 2007 and 2008 numbers, and compare them to Lidge's 2009.

Eaton was better both years. It's not remotely close.

Have #$!&@ Kendrick close. Call up Mathieson. I don't care--Lidge can't get another chance. Results have to matter at some point.

[Barry Jive]

LC, I don't think you understand. He's the worst relief pitcher in all of baseball this season. Literally anyone in the majors, including everyone in that bullpen, would be a better choice.

[lowcountry]

I thought I was the overly pessimistic one, actually.

You ARE the overly pessimistic one. You've worked hard for that distinction; you've earned it fair & square. Who are these new guys?

Look, I can't figure any of this out. Up is down. Cats and dogs living together and all that.

[Titlehungry]

While a magic number of 5 with 11 games to go seems easy enough, the fact that we got to go to MIL for 4, then home with Houston, who we haven't beaten since 1980, for 4 and Florida for the last three coming off some major adversity doesn't seem too comfortable to me yet

[philliesphhan]

Would I have lidge on the postseason roster now? No.
Would I pitch him in pretty much every save opportunity from now until the end of the year? Yes.

Why?

1. Because fixing him should be Priority 1, IMO. Now, whether or not that can be done in a week is a hell of an argument. But I've got no beef with a manager trying to salvage his closer when he's got a division lead of 7 in the loss column.

2. Because somebody's gotta close in the postseason. What are the alternatives?

Bert: Hurt and shelled lately

Madson: Seems to give up runs every time he goes out there. And my last impression of him in the postseason was Baldelli's bomb.

Park: Hurt

I THINK YOU'RE CONFUSING SOMEONE WITH BRAD LIDGE.

[jamiethekiller]

i think a lot of this meltdown falls onto Bako.

he can't block a slider so lidge has to hang them all day long.

did you guys see manuel killing bako in the dugout?

[CalvinBall]

yea clearly bakos fault

[Bucky]

I sorta agree with lowcountry.

Chollie has had some wiggle room and he's trying to take advantage of that to get a potentially devastating closer righted. I'm sure if today was a 2 game lead instead of 7, Lidge wouldn't have been out there. I can't fault him for what he's done so far.

But, looking at the calendar, two weeks today we'll open the division series. So there's little runway left. Even if he does pick up speed, there's not enough room to decree him ready for takeoff. So now Charlie needs to spend the final two weeks setting up plan 'b' for the playoffs.

[drsmooth]

Somewhere Tyler Walker is squinting at a point off in the distance; he looks like he's about to say something.

But then he doesn't.

[lowcountry]

LC, I don't think you understand. He's the worst relief pitcher in all of baseball this season. Literally anyone in the majors, including everyone in that bullpen, would be a better choice.

Then why is it that everytime somebody gets a chance, they #$!&@ themselves?

Madson had his crack and was awful. Bert had a half a crack and was bad and got hurt.

Would I have a problem if they cut Lidge tomorrow? No. But as long as he's around, I've got no beef with trying to catch lightning in a bottle again by getting him right for the playoffs.

Like I keep saying, somebody's gotta be the guy.

[ReadingPhilly]

While a magic number of 5 with 11 games to go seems easy enough, the fact that we got to go to MIL for 4, then home with Houston, who we haven't beaten since 1980, for 4 and Florida for the last three coming off some major adversity doesn't seem too comfortable to me yet

it seems we've been having this conversation for the last month. this team has never not risen to the occasion in the past 3 seasons. they're not going to lay down and die now. this is superior team with a sad sack closer destroying a possible historic season.

[philliesphhan]

i think a lot of this meltdown falls onto Bako.

he can't block a slider so lidge has to hang them all day long.

did you guys see manuel killing bako in the dugout?

Um, no, Lidge sucks when Bako catches. Lidge also blows when Ruiz catches.

[jamiethekiller]

yea clearly bakos fault

when was the last time you saw lidge agree to throw a slider 0-2 or 1-2 and throw a hanging slider instead of one thats in the dirt?

the guy just swung at the previous two sliders, too.

[Soren]

this is entirely my fault for lining up my "all we have to fear" picture ahead of time. I apologize for the heart ache I have caused all of you.

[gpicaro]

i think a lot of this meltdown falls onto Bako.

he can't block a slider so lidge has to hang them all day long.

did you guys see manuel killing bako in the dugout?

Yeah, I still don't really understand that whole thing. How is it Bako's fault that Manuel had to have him in the game to catch Lidge? Lidge needs to grow a pair, stop worrying about if the pitch will be caught, and not throw a #$!&@ dead-center, hanging slider. Hell, if Bako misses it, at least all the hate wouldn't be directed at Lidge. You would think Lidge would want that.

[CalvinBall]

lc stop pretending like closing is some high and mighty calling.

[jerseyhoya]

LC, I don't think you understand. He's the worst relief pitcher in all of baseball this season. Literally anyone in the majors, including everyone in that bullpen, would be a better choice.

Then why is it that everytime somebody gets a chance, they $#@! themselves?

Madson had his crack and was awful. Bert had a half a crack and was bad and got hurt.

Would I have a problem if they cut Lidge tomorrow? No. But as long as he's around, I've got no beef with trying to catch lightning in a bottle again by getting him right for the playoffs.

Like I keep saying, somebody's gotta be the guy.

Then we should use Walker or Madson or someone else. Madson did pretty well as a closer the second time around, no? Or did he blow one? I can't even keep it straight anymore.

I'm so done with Lidge.

[ReadingPhilly]

yea clearly bakos fault

when was the last time you saw lidge agree to throw a slider 0-2 or 1-2 and throw a hanging slider instead of one thats in the dirt?

the guy just swung at the previous two sliders, too.

he #$!&@ sucked when bako was back in montana herding cattle or whatever the hell it was paul bako was doing before he decided to make a comeback.

[Titlehungry]

i think a lot of this meltdown falls onto Bako.

he can't block a slider so lidge has to hang them all day long.

did you guys see manuel killing bako in the dugout?

Um, no, Lidge sucks when Bako catches. Lidge also blows when Ruiz catches.

Maybe he'll be good if Hoover catches