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| According to the Twitter page of Phillies' beat writer Scott Lauber, closer Brad Lidge will have surgery on Wednesday to remove a loose body from his right elbow. Lidge will also have his right flexor tendon evaluated at that time. |
Our View: The Phillies aren't too concerned about this procedure, as it is a fairly minor operation. The flexor tendon could be the bigger worry here, but overall this doesn't figure to be a huge deal.
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| According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Manager Charlie Manuel has yet to say whether Brad Lidge or Ryan Madson will handle the closing duties in the NLCS. |
Our View: Lidge has earned a pair of one-run saves so far in the postseason, while Madson has blown two opportunities, so it's not tough to see who's got the hot hand. Manuel is likely just being coy, and fans should expect to see Lights Out on the mound in save situations. Still, there's no guarantee that his bouts of ineffectiveness won't return against the Dodgers.
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| Brad Lidge took to the mound in Game 2 of the NLDS with a one-run lead in the ninth inning. The struggling closer recorded the final three outs for his first save since October 30th. He allowed two baserunners on walks and needed 20 pitches to get through the frame. |
Our View: It was certainly a relief to see Lidge make an appearance in which he did not give up a run, but this was anything but smooth. He remains the de facto closer, but it's still possible manager Charlie Manuel turns to other pitchers in close situations this postseason.
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| Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has not committed to a closer for the National League Divisional Series, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. |
Our View: When Manuel was asked who would close game one, he responded, "Hard to tell. Whoever you see walk out there." It's clear the Phillies aren't planning on just blindly giving Brad Lidge and his 7.21 2009 ERA the ball with the game on the line this October.
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| Brad Lidge has started throwing a cut fastball, according to MLBlogs.com. |
Our View: Lidge is famous for his fastball/slider combination, but he is apparently adding a third pitch for the playoffs after his meteoric 2009 struggles. It seems crazy for a pitcher to be adding a new pitch for the playoffs, but when you've struggled like Lidge has this year, you will likely try anything. He says he plans on only throwing it to left-handed hitters.
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| Though it's unknown who they'll turn to, the Phillies finally appear likely to give in and move onto another option at closer given Brad Lidge's lack of effectiveness the entire season, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. |
Our View: Lidge clearly isn't the answer, though it's unknown exactly who is at this point. Ryan Madson has been the setup man all season long but has struggled of late. Brett Myers would make sense given his previous closing experience, but he's been out since Sept. 12 with a shoulder strain. Reliever J.C. Romero is a possibility, and given that the Phillies clearly won't be using a five-man rotation in the playoffs, they could even go with one of their current starters, such as J.A. Happ or Pedro Martinez. It's anybody's guess who will close for the Phillies in the playoffs, and it should be an interesting scenario to watch unfold for the defending champs.
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| Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel again stood by beleaguered closer Brad Lidge after his latest blown save on Wednesday night. |
Our View: "He was our closer last year and he'll be our closer now," Manuel was quoted as saying. Without one once of sensationalism, it can be said that he should lose his job if he actually stands by his latest inane proclamation. Aside from his 11 blown saves and 7.48 ERA for the season, Lidge is 0-2 with two blown saves and a 10.80 ERA in 6.2 September innings. So to summarize, he wasn't effective in April, May, June, July or August, and he certainly hasn't been in September. The Phils aren't just losing game because of his struggles, either - they are also getting demoralized at the worst possible time.
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| Attempting to pick up his 32nd save on Wednesday night, Brad Lidge instead blew his 11th, as he allowed the Marlins to rally from a 5-4 deficit for a 6-5 win at home. |
Our View: At what point will enough be enough for the Phillies? Plain and simple, they won't escape the first round of the playoffs, let alone win the World Series, if Lidge remains their fireman. Despite Ryan Madson's struggles (he also allowed a run on Wednesday), they have not been nearly as pronounced as Lidge's, and he should be given time to grow into the role as the season winds down. Not that the Phillies will do that, since that would be the correct thing to do. For posterity, Lidge's mythically terrible numbers now read: 0-8 record, 11 blown saves, 7.48 ERA and an impossible 1.86 WHIP in 55.1 innings. You can tell your grandkids you were alive to see it.
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| Brad Lidge picked up his 31st save of the season on Sunday in the Phillies' 4-2 win over the Braves. Lidge allowed one run on one hit while walking one and striking out two in the outing. |
Our View: Lidge closed the door for the Phils today, but he was far from dominating again. The concern about late innings is legit in Philly, and they need to get something figured out before the postseason begins.
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| Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has hinted that Brad Lidge could close for the Phillies in the playoffs, according to Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: If Lidge pitches well in "lower stress" situations this month, he will indeed be the Phils closer in the playoffs, somewhere he was seven of seven in save opportunities last season. For now, expect Ryan Madson, and possibly Brett Myers, to handle closing duties.
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| According to the Twitter page of Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki, pitcher Brad Lidge will only be used in low stress situations with chances to close until he gets his confidence back. Lidge has given way to Ryan Madson in the last two save opportunities. |
Our View: This isn't a big shocker given how Lidge has struggled this season, but it should mean more save opportunities for Madson. A guy to keep an eye on is Brett Myers, who could take over if Madson struggles and Lidge continues to get bypassed.
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| Brad Lidge was not used in a save situation on Wednesday night. |
Our View: The Phillies and manager Charlie Manuel called on Ryan Madson in a 6-5 game in the ninth inning. He allowed one hit, while striking out one, en route to picking up his sixth save of the season. Lidge, who has an amazing ten blown saves in 38 chances this season, as well as a 7.11 ERA, appears to have finally been stripped of his closing duties. Add Madson as quickly as possible if you are an owner.
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| Brad Lidge had another miserable night on Tuesday. The beyond beleaguered closer allowed one hit, walked another and threw a wild pitch, while recording just one out, before being yanked in favor of Ryan Madson who then promptly recorded the final two outs. |
Our View: What is going on in Philadelphia is just irresponsible at this point. There is loyalty, and then there is insanity and the Phillies and manager Charlie Manuel have crossed over into the latter. If either Ryan Madson or Brett Myers is not installed as the closer before the playoffs begin, very simply, the Phillies can kiss their repeat hopes goodbye.
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| Phillies manager Charlie Manuel stood by embattled closer Brad Lidge on Tuesday, saying "(he) is our closer," according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Lidge blew his major league "leading" tenth save last Saturday, and is 0-7 with a 7.15 ERA in 50.1 innings this season. Brett Myers remains waiting in the wings.
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| Brad Lidge pitched a mercifully quiet ninth inning for the Phillies on Friday night, allowing no baserunners while striking out one en route to his 26th save. |
Our View: Lidge "lowered" his ERA to 7.17 with the scoreless frame. It would be nice to be able to believe tonight was the beginning of a trend for the beleaguered fireman, but one good night won't erase the memories of those nine ugly blown saves.
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| The agent for Brad Lidge insinuated on Wednesday that the reason behind Lidge's struggles could be his unusually high batting average against of .352 on balls put into play, according to Fox Sports. |
Our View: Right, and the only reason Kobe Bryant scores so much is because he "luckily" always gets left wide open. Are the 11 home runs Lidge has allowed this season also by virtue of being "unlucky"? Perhaps they are actually just a result of his lifeless breaking pitches and down-the-middle fastballs. Unless the Phillies have absolutely lost their minds, or Lidge miraculously has a a second career resurgence in as many years, expect all this madness to end before the playoffs begin, and for Lidge to be out of a ninth inning job.
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| According to MLBlogs.com, Brad Lidge will remain as Phillies' closer despite blowing his ninth save of the season on Tuesday. Lidge is 0-6 with a 7.33 ERA this season. |
Our View: The closer is starting to look like a major problem for the Phils in their quest to repeat as champs. Lidge has been awful, but the team doesn't have anyone else that they feel comfortable with. Watch for Brett Myers as a possibility, as he is due back soon and could step into the role if he pitches well and Lidge continues to struggle.
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| Brad Lidge's tenure as the Phillies' closer was in its final act on Sunday. The struggling righty had already allowed two Mets runs in the ninth inning, cutting the Phils lead to 9-7, before putting two other runners on base without recording an out. His inevitable demise, and loss of his closing job, had finally arrived. That's when Jeff Francoeur lined into the 15th unassisted triple play in major league history. |
Our View: Only the Mets could fail to deliver the knockout blow to a beleaguered closer by virtue of hitting into an unassisted triple play. Lidge lives to blow saves another day.
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| Brad Lidge got a one-out save on Sunday night in the Phillies' 4-1 win over the Braves. |
Our View: It looked like Manager Charlie Manuel didn't want to use old Lights Out, but when Scott Eyre allowed a two-out walk, Lidge only needed one out to not blow the game. He has 23 saves on the season now, but still holds a 7.21 ERA and leads the league in blown saves with eight.
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| Brad Lidge took his fourth loss of the season on Tuesday, giving up the game winning run in the ninth, as the Reds beat the Phils 4-3. |
Our View: Lidge had been pitching incredibly well since coming off of the disabled list, but had another meltdown on Tuesday, allowing two hits and walking one. Still, it's hard to ignore the strides he's made lately, and tonight was probably little more a hiccup in his return to dominance.
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| Brad Lidge earned his first save since June 1st on Sunday afternoon. He allowed a hit and a walk in the ninth inning, but a run did not cross the plate as the Phillies finished off the Blue Jays 5-4. |
Our View: Lidge has had a tumultuous season to date, but has still recorded 14 saves. His ERA is still a depressing 7.57, but perhaps today's performance was the boost he needed to get back on track. We'll see.
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| As expected, the Phillies have activated closer Brad Lidge off the DL and optioned reliever Sergio Escalona to Triple-A, according to TSN.ca. Lidge is expected to be available for tonight's game against the Rays. |
Our View: Lidge may not be at 100 percent yet, but he feels good enough to be back with the team. He should resume his role as the team's closer immediately, especially considering the struggles of fill-in Ryan Madson. Lidge should be activated immediately in all leagues so he is available as soon as possible.
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| Updating an earlier report, Brad Lidge will be activated from the DL Thursday, according to Andy Martino's twitter page. He has been recovering from a sprained knee. |
Our View: Lidge fared fine while throwing a hitless inning in his Single-A rehab outing today. He should resume his role as the Phillies' closer immediately upon his return.
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| According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Brad Lidge felt good while throwing a hitless inning of relief in a Single-A rehab appearance on Tuesday. |
Our View: Lidge drove hard of his bad knee and said that he felt strong and healthy. His fastball got up to 93 mph and he was apparently hitting his spots. It's uncertain if he'll need another rehab appearance, but the team says he may come off the DL today. Stay tuned.
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| According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Brad Lidge will make one more rehab appearance before coming off of the disabled list. |
Our View: Originally slated to return to the Phillies on Tuesday, Lidge will pitch in Class-A that day and head back to the majors on Wednesday. If the team feels he needs another session after that he could be bumped back to Friday. Still, this week looks like a strong possibility for his return.
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| According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the team feels closer Brad Lidge will be ready to come off the DL on Tuesday when eligible. |
Our View: Manager Charlie Manuel said that Lidge has just "natural soreness" and is progressing right on schedule. He threw a 42-pitch bullpen session on Thursday and could throw another today to test his injured knee. As of right now everything looks good and barring a setback expect Lidge to be closing out games early next week.
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| The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that Phillies' closer Brad Lidge threw 42 pitches in a bullpen session on Thursday and felt great afterward. Lidge is confident that he will be ready to begin a rehab stint on Friday, but the Phillies want to wait and see how he feels tomorrow before making that decision. |
Our View: Regardless what the Phillies decide on his rehab stint, Lidge should be back closing games with the Phils very soon. As long as he still feels fine tomorrow, expect him to make his rehab trip and he could be activated as soon as next week.
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| Brad Lidge threw 30 pitches off a bullpen mound on Tuesday and said his achy right knee felt fine according to the Wilmington Journal. |
Our View: Lidge is scheduled to throw again on Thursday, and if that goes well he might pitch in a minor league game this weekend. He is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 23.
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| Brad Lidge was upset with the decision to place him on the 15-day DL, according to MLB.com. The closer also said he doesn't think he'll need much more than the 15 days for his knee to get back to 100 percent. |
Our View: The article also speculates that he injured the knee during the initial World Series celebration, but Lidge says there's no truth to that. Ryan Madson will close games until Lidge is able to return.
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| The official Twitter page of the Phillies is reporting that closer Brad Lidge has been placed on the 15-day DL with a sprained right knee. Lidge has blown six saves this season, and there has been rampant speculation that his knee has been bothering him all year. |
Our View: This comes as a bit of a surprise, but it was obvious Lidge was not at 100 percent. Hopefully a few weeks off will allow the knee to fully heal, but fantasy owners need to find another option quick at closer. Don't expect him to be out for much more than the 15 days unless he has a setback.
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| The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that the knee of closer Brad Lidge is not an issue anymore. "It feels like I don't really have to worry about it as much anymore. I don't have to worry if it's going to respond. It's stronger, and I am confident that it will." Lidge recorded a save in four straight days from May 29 to June 1. |
Our View: Lidge has been much better as of late, so it seems like his knee injury may be a thing of the past. He has been pitching on consecutive days on a regular basis, so fantasy owners can expect to see the Brad Lidge of old going forward. Be weary of an injury recurrence, but for now it appears that Lidge is completely healthy.
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| The Philadelphia Enquirer is reporting that Brad Lidge is back on track after converting his last three save chances. "I feel really good right now," said Lidge. "My command has come back, and my stuff has come back. Even when I wasn't going good, I felt like this was going to happen. It just took longer than I hoped it would." |
Our View: Lidge appears to be back, much to the delight of his fantasy owners. His stuff is there, so keep him in the fantasy lineup. If for any reason he is available in your league, now would be a good time to pounce.
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| Brad Lidge pitched a 1-2-3 inning en route to his 12th save of the season against Washington on Sunday. |
Our View: Lidge has picked up a save each of the past three days and has looked great in his past four outings since blowing two-straight saves against the Yankees last week. He appears to be back on track, although you may want to consider benching him tomorrow if you're league has daily lineup changes, as it's unlikely manager Charlie Manuel would send him out to the mound for a fourth-straight day.
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| The Phillies' allowed three runs in the ninth inning on Tuesday, but it wasn't when Brad Lidge was on the mound. He came in for the final two outs and mopped up the mess, earning his ninth save. He walked a man and struck out one as well as the Phillies beat the Marlins 5-3. |
Our View: Lidge has been so bad this season that pundits are wondering if he's been hurt or if something is wrong mentally, or with his delivery, or if he's tipping his pitches, and so on and so forth. Tuesday's outing was a positive sign and hopefully Lidge can build from there.
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| The AP reports that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel will stick with Brad Lidge as his closer, despite blowing back to back save chances against the Yankees this past weekend. Lidge has blown four of 12 chances this season after converting all 48 of his opportunities a season ago. |
Our View: Lidge has an awful 9.15 ERA through 21 appearances this season. At Yankee stadium this weekend he gave up four runs in 1.1 innings of work. The closer may be lacking confidence which has been a problem for him in the past. Ryan Madson would be the likely alternative to close games should Lidge ever lose the job.
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| Brad Lidge's struggles continue. He blew his fourth save of the season on Sunday and his second in the last two days. He allowed one run on two hits, but the Phillies eventually won the game in the 11th, nipping the Yankees 4-3. |
Our View: Lidge has been horrible this season after being perfect in 2008. With an ERA over 9.00 and a WHIP over 2.00 we're wondering if he's handing the ball to his evil twin brother. He's still the Phillies' closer, but if this trend continues he may not be for long.
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| Brad Lidge was unable to hold onto Philadelphia's two-run lead over the Yankees in the ninth inning on Saturday, surrendering a two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez and a game-ending RBI to Melky Cabrera. It marked Lidge's third blown save of the year. |
Our View: Three blown saves in 11 chances isn't awful, though it's certainly a disappointment after he was perfect in 41 regular season and seven postseason opportunities last year, and even worse when you consider the 9.00-plus ERA and 2.00-plus WHIP. There is a bit of reason to worry, though he does not appear hurt or at any risk of losing his closing role at the moment.
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| Brad Lidge made it interesting once again, but got the job done on Tuesday. He allowed a hit and a walk, but earned his eighth save of the season in the Phillies' 4-3 win over the Reds. |
Our View: Lidge has been flat out bad this season, but he has showed signs of turning it around. He will get plenty of save opportunities, and has convinced everyone that he is truly healthy, so now it's just down to performance. Let's hope he delivers.
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| Brad Lidge believes he is healthy and is just trying to regain his mechanics after missing time with knee inflammation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: Lidge has allowed eight walks, 11 earned runs and five homers over 11.2 innings, but should remain in fantasy lineups as long as he is the closer of the defending champion Phillies. Hopefully he will get on track soon.
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| Updating a previous report, Brad Lidge threw a pain-free bullpen session Friday afternoon and has been declared ready to go for Friday's game, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Lidge will be back in the closer's role tonight and is available to pitch in a save situation. Keep Lidge in your lineup unless he suffers a setback in the next few days.
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| Brad Lidge, who is dealing with right knee inflammation, will throw a bullpen session Friday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Lidge said, "That is a big day. If it goes good, I am going to be able to go that night."
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Our View: If his session does not go well, the club may place him on the 15-day DL. GM Ruben Amaro noted that the next 72 hours should let the team know how he feels.
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| Brad Lidge is day-to-day while dealing with right knee inflammation, and manager Charlie Manuel indicated that he is not yet a candidate to land on the DL, according to the Journal News. Manuel said, "We do not think so yet. I will check Tuesday and see how he feels. He is a day-to-day guy." |
Our View: Lidge is concerned with the ailment because it is not feeling great, and he is anxious to return to the mound. Lidge should be held out of fantasy lineups until further notice.
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| The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Brad Lidge was held out of Monday's 13-11 win over Washington due to right knee inflammation. He had an MRI on the knee, but it revealed no structural damage. He is currently considered day to day. |
Our View: Lidge has had a rough April and it looks like we can attribute it to a balky knee. Hopefully he will avoid the DL, but rest is probably the only thing that will get him back to 100 percent.
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| Lidge's perfect streak through his first 51 opportunities in Philadelphia ended on Saturday after he blew a save and got tagged with the loss upon giving up four runs to San Diego. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, neither his fastball nor his slider has been sharp this season. |
Our View: "My fastball command is pretty poor right now," Lidge said. "I'm trying to hit my spots, its just not getting there... That being said, I've left a couple of sliders up as well." We can't say that Lidge owners shouldn't be at least a bit concerned, as Lidge emerged as one of the game's most reliable closers last year but was shaky with the Astros in the seasons beforehand, although we'd still put our money down on him figuring things out and being just fine this season.
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| Brad Lidge needed 25 pitches, but eventually worked his way past the Rockies in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Phillies. He surrendered a hit and a walk while striking out one and not giving up a run. |
Our View: Lidge has already made for appearances in seven days, and the Phillies want to be careful not to overuse him. Through those four innings of work, only two of them were save opportunities.
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| Brad Lidge is looking good in spring training, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He said, "It is a steady progression, and I feel like I am where I need to be. The ball was close enough to where it is supposed to go, which is not bad for mid-March."
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Our View: He had been dealing with forearm tightness earlier in camp, but looks to be fine now. Lidge should be safe to target as a top-10 fantasy closer.
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| Brad Lidge, who had been bothered by forearm tightness earlier in the spring, pitched one inning of an intrasquad game on Wednesday, allowing one hit (a home run) and zero walks while striking out one, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: While he apparently aimed poorly on a fastball that led to the home run, the good news was that his forearm felt fine afterwards. "I felt probably a little better than I thought I'd feel," said Lidge. "My slider was better than it is normally this time of year." Though it's not to say he doesn't come with a bit of risk given his inconsistent years with the Astros in the past, his phenomenal campaign last season, his first in Philadelphia, makes him a sure-fire top-10 closer.
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| Brad Lidge, who has been dealing with a tight forearm, is slated to pitch Wednesday, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. He felt good following a bullpen session Sunday. |
Our View: As of now, Lidge looks to be safe to draft as a top-10 fantasy closer.
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| Brad Lidge, who has been dealing with a tight forearm, threw a bullpen session Monday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: His session went well, and tightness and stiffness is usual for him in spring training, meaning fantasy owners should not be concerned. He will throw a few more pen sessions as a tune-up before working in a game.
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| Brad Lidge has been named the Sportsman of the Year for 2008 by the Philadelphia Daily News. He received 13 of 35 first-place votes and 133 points. Skipper Charlie Manuel, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels rounded out the top four. |
Our View: Lidge earned the honor by nailing down 41 saves in the regular season, and another seven saves in the playoffs to bring the World Series title to Philadelphia.
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| Brad Lidge picked up another honor for his 2008 efforts as he was given the Closer of the Year award by the This Year in Baseball Awards that were presented by State Farm, MLB.com. |
Our View: Lidge was 41-for-41 last season in saves, though it bears mentioning that he didn't have a single "tough save" which is defined by an outing in which he entered the game with the tying or winning run on base and recorded a save. Still, it's hard to ding a guy when he was perfect.
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| Closer Brad Lidge shut the door on another win in the playoffs for the Phillies in their 4-3 World Series clinching win. |
Our View: Lidge was unbelievable all season, not blowing one save opportunity all year.
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| Closer Brad Lidge shut the door once again in the Phillies' 3-2 win over the Rays. |
Our View: Lidge has not blown a save in all of 2008. That includes all of the regular season and all of the playoffs.
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| Brad Lidge worked a scoreless ninth inning to send the Phillies to their sixth World Series as they defeated the Dodgers by the score of 5-1 on Wednesday night. Ryan Madson worked a scoreless eighth inning and has allowed just one run in nine innings. |
Our View: Lidge allowed a run in his first playoff appearance, but he hasn't allowed a run over his last six appearances covering 6.1 innings as he and Madson have virtually turned every Phillies game into a seven inning affair.
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| Brad Lidge earned his second save of the NLCS in Friday's 8-5 win over the Dodgers, as he fired three strikeouts, with no hits and two walks issued, in the ninth inning. |
Our View: Lidge continues to dominate in the playoffs after nailing down 41 saves in the regular season, with a 1.23 WHIP.
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| Brad Lidge shut the door on the Dodgers with a perfect ninth inning in Game 1 of the NLCS. He needed 13 pitches to get three outs, including one strikeout. |
Our View: Lidge has not taken a loss all season or in the playoffs. He was the NL Comeback Player of the Year as he nailed down 41 saves with a 1.95 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 69.1 innings, with 92 strikeouts.
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| Brad Lidge has been selected as the NL Comeback Player of the Year, according to the AP. He re-established himself as a lights-out closer as he nailed down 41 saves with a 1.95 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 69.1 innings, with 92 strikeouts. |
Our View: He helped lead the Phillies to the NL East division title. He recently pitched in the World Series with the Astros in 2005.
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| Brad Lidge is still perfect in converting saves, and on Sunday he recorded the 40th save of his first season in Philadelphia. |
Our View: Lidge is also 2-0, and his ERA sits at 1.87. Toss in a 11.90 K/9 mark while limiting batters to less than a .200 average, and it seems talk of him being mentally damaged material because of that Albert Pujols home run was greatly exaggerated don't you think?
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| Brad Lidge closed out Monday night's 8-6 victory over the Marlins, collecting his 35th save of the season. |
Our View: Lidge has been lights out all season. He continues to thrive in the closers role for Philly.
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| Brad Lidge altered his mechanics during his time off dealing with shoulder soreness, and it has not only helped him deal with the pain, but it has also given him extra bite on his slider, according to Phillies.com. |
Our View: Lidge has been out of sight this season, striking out nearly 12 batters per nine innings while shutting the door on opponents to accumulate 29 saves.
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| Brad Lidge, who has been unavailable to pitch for two days because of some tenderness in his shoulder, tossed the ball in the outfield on Monday and proclaimed himself ready to go, according to MLB.com. "It's up to them. If they don't call down, they don't call down, but I'm ready." |
Our View: The Phillies are very unhappy with how Lidge was used at the All-Star game, he was forced to warm up six times, and they maintain that his current shoulder issue are a direct result of that night though Lidge stopped just short of saying that. Regardless, he will look to return to the dominating form that he flashed in the first half.
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| Brad Lidge was not available to pitch today due to a shoulder that was deemed "sluggish," according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Lidge believes the malady is mechanical, and that he felt better Sunday and should be able to pitch on Monday.
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| It wasn't pretty on Sunday night but Brad Lidge picked up his 28th save in 28 chances against the Cardinals. |
Our View: Tory Glaus hit a mammoth blast off of Lidge but it was the only run he allowed, though he did permit three hits in the frame.
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| Brad Lidge was hammered by the Atlanta Braves as the closer came into the game in a non-save situation. Lidge was trying to keep the Braves lead at 1-0, when he allowed five runs on four hits, including a grand slam to Brian McCann. |
Our View: Chalk this one up as an abberation. Lidge has been fantastic this season, and this was simply a clunker.
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| Brad Lidge recorded his 22nd save in 22 chances on Tuesday against the Mets. He gave up one run in the effort. |
Our View: It was just the sixth earned run Lidge has endured in 42 innings this season.
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| After being concerned with the nearly 100 pitches Brad Lidge threw while warming up in the All-Star Game, the Phillies had to be pleased when their closer threw just 11 while picking up his twenty-first save of the season tonight. |
Our View: Lidge also got a strike out, so it was an economical yet effective inning for the dynamic closer. He continues to dominate with his electric stuff.
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| Tim Kurkjian of ESPN is reporting that the Phillies are very concerned that Brad Lidge threw nearly 100 pitches will warming up, multiple times, during the just completed All-Star Game last night. |
Our View: The Phillies have been extremely careful with their use of Lidge this season and he has rewarded them with a huge first half including a 1.13 ERA and 20 saves. Keep an eye on how Lidge pitches once the season begins again, and you can bet this won't be the last time we hear about it if Lidge goes on to struggle.
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| Brad Lidge will pitch the ninth inning for the National League All-Stars, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: Lidge has had a great season and is certainly worthy of the honor, having struck out 55 batters in 40 innings and carrying a 1.13 WHIP into tonight's contest.
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| Brad Lidge has agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension with the Phillies, according to MLB.com. The deal includes a club option for 2012 and performance incentives. |
Our View: He is worthy of the extension, as he is off to the best start of his career, with 19 saves and 47 strikeouts over 35 innings, with a 0.77 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
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| Brad Lidge worked a scoreless ninth for his 19th save securing Cole Hamels' eighth win of the season. Lidge has yet to allow a home run this season. |
Our View: Lidge made it interesting by giving up two singles before striking out Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley.
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| Brad Lidge remains a perfect 18-for-18 in save opportunities this season, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: That is the most consecutive saves to start a season with Philadelphia since 1975, when the current save rule began. He has only allowed three earned runs over 29 innings, with 37 strikeouts. He is yet to allow a home run this season as well.
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| Brad Lidge shut the door on the Reds on Monday night and earned his 14th save. The right-hander struck out two batters, and he now owns a ridiculous 17 whiffs over his last nine innings. |
Our View: Maybe Lidge really did just need to get out of Houston. The closer had blow-up periods in 2006 and 2007, but he's been wicked thus far.
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| According to the Phillies team website, Brad Lidge's slider is dominating hitters. The note reports that "hitters flail, heads shake and muttering begins." |
Our View: Lidge has allowed 11 hits, two earned runs, walked 11 and struck out 26 in 22 innings this season. He sports a .082 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP to go along with his 12 saves.
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| Facing his old team, Brad Lidge allowed one hit in the ninth inning on his way to his 12th save in 12 chances for the Phillies. |
Our View: Lidge has 23 K in 21 innings while he has allowed all of one earned run leading to a 0.43 ERA. He showed the Astros tonight just what he's got left in that right arm, and the results were predictably dominating.
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| Brad Lidge picked up his 10th save of the season though he allowed his first earned runs of the season to see his ERA rise to 0.50. |
Our View: Lidge has had a remarkable turnaround this season so we can easily forgive a poor outing like tonight. Bottom line is that he nailed down the save, and that's what he gets paid to do.
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| Brad Lidge finished off the Giants for his ninth save in as many chances, striking out the side while allowing one hit in the Phils 7-4 victory on Friday night. |
Our View: Lidge has been over-the-top good. The right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in 18 appearances dating to his final outing of 2007.
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| Brad Lidge picked up his eighth save of the season on Wednesday night as he ran his scoreless streak to 16 innings with the Phillies. |
Our View: Lidge's fastball is once again blazing, and his slider diving, as hitters have been rendered practically useless. Lidge picked up two K on the night and how has 15 in his 16 innings proving that he can still be an ultra successful closer.
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| Brad Lidge picked up a win on Sunday when he tossed a scoreless ninth inning against the Giants. The Phillies broke a 5-5 tie with an unearned run in the bottom half of the frame. It was Lidge's first victory of the year. |
Our View: Lidge is now up to 15.0 innings without allowing an earned run. Fantasy owners obviously use closers for saves, but the occasional win is nice, too.
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| Brad Lidge worked his 12th inning, in his 12 appearance, and failed to allow a run for the 12th time on Thursday night. He also recorded his seventh save. |
Our View: So much for those who felt Lidge was toast. Lidge has 13 K in those 12 innings, with a WHIP of 0.92, giving those Phillies fans nothing to boo about.
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| Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save in six chances as Philadelphia defeated Pittsburgh 6-5 on Friday night. He has pitched 11 innings without allowing a run. |
Our View: If there were any questions about the health of Lidge's knee, the hard-throwing right-hander has answered.
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| Brad Lidge nailed down his fifth save of the season as he allowed one hit in the ninth inning in Thursday's 3-1 win over Milwaukee. |
Our View: Lidge is yet to allow a run in 10 innings of work. He regained his former dominance with a fresh start in Philadelphia, and his fantasy stock will continue to rise, and is proving to be a steal for those who took a chance on him.
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| Brad Lidge is fitting in well with the Phillies, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. Lidge is yet to allow a run over nine innings, with 10 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP. Manager Charlie Manuel commented, "Each time he's been out he's been better." Lidge is pleased as well, and said, "Right now I feel like I'm starting to get back into pretty consistent form with my control. I think there have been a few games where my fastball has been up in the zone where I was able to get out of the inning without giving up any damage. Now I'm starting to feel like my control is a lot better."
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Our View: He was once dominant in Houston, and has seemingly regained his edge with a fresh start in Philadelphia. His fantasy stock will continue to rise, and is proving to be a steal for those who took a chance on him.
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| Phillies closer Brad Lidge picked up his fourth save of the season, closing the side in the ninth in dominating fashion as Philadelphia seals the win over the Colorado Rockies, 8-6. Lidge faced three batters in the ninth, striking out two and forcing the third into a ground out. |
Our View: Lidge has struggled a bit with walks this season, but tonight he was on the mark, making 10-of-11 pitches thrown count for strikes.
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| Brad Lidge didn't pick up the save on Monday night but he did strike out two for his eight straight appearance without allowing a run. |
Our View: Lidge has been searching for his best stuff in the early going but it is clear that his knee issues are a thing of the past marking him as a possible top option out of the bullpen in the National League.
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| Brad Lidge escaped a shaky ninth for his third save of the season, and the Phillies defeated the Mets 5-4 on Sunday night. |
Our View: Lidge still doesn't have complete command of his arsenal. The right-hander allowed a hit, issued a walk and struck out one in the final inning.
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| Brad Lidge picked up his first save of the season on Monday, albeit in interesting fashion. Lidge got the first two hitters out before a walk, error, and intentional walk loaded the bases. The closer then threw a wild pitch before striking out the final batter. |
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| Brad Lidge made his first appearance since coming off the disabled list on Saturday. The right-handed closer pitched a perfect eighth, striking out Ken Griffey Jr to highlight his return. |
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| The Phillies have announced RHP Brad Lidge has been officially activated from the 15-day disabled list, according to MLB.com. Lidge was put on the DL during the spring as he recovered from offseason knee surgery. He has completed one rehab start with Class A Clearwater, allowing one run in one inning of work with two strikeouts. To get Lidge on the active roster, the Astros has designated RHP Tim Lahey for assignment. |
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| Brad Lidge worked an inning for Single-A Clearwater on Thursday, and it wasn't pretty. He served up a homer, a double, and a walk but managed to strike out two batters and depart with only one walk allowed. Lidge could rejoin the Phillies as soon as Saturday. |
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| Brad Lidge is expected to come the DL on Saturday, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. He would be ready to pitch when he returns. |
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| Brad Lidge retired all five batters he faced, and struck out four of them, in a minor league game on Tuesday, according to the AP. Lidge will begin the season on the disabled list while recovering from knee surgery, but this was a promising performance. |
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| Brad Lidge, despite his claims he "felt good" was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21, this according to Delaware Online. Lidge underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Feb. 25 and hasn't been able to take any live work this spring. The Phillies say the stint on the disabled list will allow Lidge to complete his recovery from the surgery.
Lidge will be eligible to be activated April 5. |
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| The recent talk about Brad Lidge beginning the season on the disabled list is nothing more than just that, talk, according to Lidge and the Philadelphia Daily News. Lidge will remain in Florida while the rest of the Phillies fly to Philadelphia Thursday, but he told the paper he doesn't expect to start the season on the disabled list.
"That's obviously their decision, but at the same time I feel like if I'm not ready for Opening Day, [next Monday] I'll be ready, with the day off, maybe the next day," The Phillies ninth inning option, who has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in February, verbalized that everything feels OK.
Lidge pitched in a minor league game yesterday at the Carpenter Complex. The right-hander faced five hitters, loading the bases with two hits and a walk before getting a batter to ground into an inning-ending doubleplay. |
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| Brad Lidge reportedly pitched well in an intrasquad game on Thursday, according to the Philadelphia Enquirer. He threw 19 pitches, and struck out three of the five batters he faced, with one walk. Lidge commented, "There's nothing better than facing hitters, and that was a lot of fun. I felt a lot better with my command. I think part of that is just having actual hitters, kind of getting a little extra boost and being able to lock in with an actual game surrounding. That's real important for me. Obviously, I need a few more of those now." Lidge underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee February 25, and he said that he thinks he will be ready for the March 31 season opener.
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| The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Brad Lidge could start this weekend if all goes well with his minor league start Thursday. The scheduled Saturday start for the Phillies closer would be his first Grapefruit League appearance. Lidge, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Feb. 25, threw a live batting practice session Monday morning and said both his knee and arm are in good condition. |
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| Brad Lidge is feeling good right now, according to MLB.com. He could pitch a minor league game on Thursday and a Grapefruit League game on Sunday and said, "I feel great about where I'm at. I still have some work to do, but I feel like the work I have to do isn't far off from what I'd normally do at this point in Spring Training." Later when asked if there was a chance that he could miss opening day he replied, "I hope not. I don't want to say it's by any means smooth sailing from here. There could be something, but I don't know what that could be. Right now, my right knee feels pretty darn good."
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| The good news from Philly camp on Thursday was the performance of ninth inning option, Brad Lidge , this according to Philly.com. Lidge threw another bullpen session yesterday and will face live hitters tomorrow and Sunday. If all goes well, he estimates that he'll make an appearance in a simulated game sometime next week before making his first Grapefruit League appearance. Lidge threw 25 to 30 pitches without issue. |
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| Brad Lidge threw 26 pitches in his second bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled to toss batting practice on Friday and Sunday, according to MLB.com. It's possible Lidge could appearance in a minor league or simulated game sometime next week. "I felt outstanding again," Lidge said. "It feels like it's coming really fast, so I think next week is a possibility for getting in games." Recovering from knee surgery, Lidge is hoping to be ready by opening day. |
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| Brad Lidge returned to the mound on Monday, according to the Philadelphia Enquirer. The former star threw 25 pitches during a bullpen session and later stated, "I was really happy. I didn't feel the knee at all. I tried to let it go, and it felt great. I'm obviously real encouraged by that. That's a big step for me." He also mentioned that he thinks he will be ready for the March 31 season opener. This is good news for him and the Phillies.
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| Brad Lidge is hoping to throw off a mound by Monday and get into a game by March 17. He is recovering from right knee surgery. "Obviously, everything has to keep going right like it has gone so far," Lidge tells the Philadelphia Inquirer. "But if it does, I'm still assuming and being optimistic about the start of the season." |
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| Brad Lidge already has begun playing catch and could throw off a mound as soon as this weekend, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Lidge underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday and will require 3-6 weeks to recover from the procedure. Barring any setbacks, Lidge has a good chance to be ready for opening day. |
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The Philadelphia Enquirer reports the surgery on closer Brad Lidge's knee was successful. The report notes that team physician Michael Ciccotti performed the surgery and the damage was not significant.
"He went in and cleaned out about 15 to 18 percent of it, which leaves him a good 80 percent of the meniscus left," Phillies athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said. "For us, it really was the best case scenario that it was the only thing going on. His other side of the knee that he had repaired (Oct. 1) was fine, so it's pretty simple for us."
Lidge is expected to be ready for opening day, barring a setback in the final week of spring training.
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| Brad Lidge underwent surgery on his right knee today in Philadelphia, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. With a timetable of 3-6 weeks of rehab, and the season opener being only five weeks away, the worst case scenario is that Lidge will miss a week of the regular season. If in fact Lidge is not healthy enough to be the teams ninth inning option on opening day, Gordon is this team's closer. The Phillies have no plans to return Myers to the bullpen.
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| Brad Lidge is scheduled to undergo more surgery on his knee on Monday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He said an MRI showed "no big, new tears, nothing substantially wrong. But enough on the medial side of the knee that would warrant a scope. We're going to do a scope and clean out some of the small tears and get that done with, so it won't bother me during the season." Lidge, who tweaked his previously surgically repaired knee when he caught a cleat on the mound while making a pitch on Saturday, will need 3-6 weeks to recover. That means his status for the beginning of the season is now in doubt. |
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| Brad Lidge injured his knee on the first pitch of his batting practice session Saturday when he caught a spike in the mound, according to the AP. "It was my push off leg," Lidge said. "I caught my spike in the mound. I threw the pitch but it felt like I pulled something in the knee. … It swelled up a little, but I’m optimistic that I just pulled some scar tissue loose." The scar tissue to which Lidge was referring would be from his fall surgery that removed damaged cartilage from the joint. More should be known Sunday, but let's hope it's just scar tissue and not something serious. |
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| Brad Lidge said he's been throwing off a mound since January and that his surgically repaired knee is ready to go. The reliever said if the season started today, he'd healthy enough to pitch, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Lidge had surgery on the knee last October. |
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| The Phillies signed Brad Lidge to a one-year, $6.35 million contract Thursday, avoiding arbitration. Lidge was acquired in an offseason deal with the Astros. He held a 3.36 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 67 innings last year to go along with 19 saves. |
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| The Phillies acquired Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett from the Astros Wednesday in exchange for Michael Bourne, Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Mike Costanzo, according to the AP. Lidge, who posted a 3.36 ERA with 19 saves in 2007, will handle the closing duties for Philadelphia last year. Brett Myers will be moved back into the starting rotation. |
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| Brad Lidge underwent surgery on Monday to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. "The repair was done soon enough where spring training is not something that we have to be concerned about at this point," general manager Ed Wade tells the Houston Chronicle. "Brad will, I'm sure, begin his rehab as quick as possible and come back to spring training at 100 percent." |
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| Brad Lidge underwent an MRI exam on his right knee on Monday, the AP reports. Cecil Cooper didn't know when Lidge would return, but promised he would pitch again this season. "He's going to be available," Cooper said. Cooper said Lidge will have minor surgery on the knee in the offseason to remove loose cartilage. |
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| Brad Lidge experienced pain in his right knee on Monday, but it was feeling better yesterday, according to the Houston Chronicle. Lidge has been bothered by loose cartilage in the knee for much of the season. |
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| Brad Lidge picked up his second save in as many days on Wednesday night. He pitched a spotless ninth against the Dodgers. Lidge has picked up five saves, allowed no runs and three hits, and struck out 13 batters over seven innings since coming off the DL. |
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| Brad Lidge finally recorded his first save of 2007 on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning at Washington. Lidge did have to work plenty in the frame, however, throwing 25 pitches (17 strikes) even as he retired three of the four batters he faced. Perhaps this is a pushing-off point for Lidge, who was re-instated as the Houston closer earlier in the week. |
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| Following Monday's game, Astros manager Phil Garner announced that Brad Lidge will return to the closer's role. "It feels like my mechanics are in sync and everything feels good coming out of my hand," Lidge tells the Houston Chronicle. The right-hander has worked two spotless innings since coming off the DL. |
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| The Astros activated Brad Lidge from the DL Thursday. Lidge had been out with a left oblique strain, according to SportsTicker. He'll set up initially but is expected to regain his closer role sooner rather than later. Mark McLemore was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make room on the roster. |
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| Brad Lidge is slated to come off the disabled list on Friday, but he won't be asked to work in the ninth inning. "Obviously we can't expect him to be 100 percent. He won't close right away," general manager Tim Purpura tells the Houston Chronicle. |
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| Brad Lidge threw a perfect first inning for Double-A Corpus Christi Thursday, needing to throw just eight pitches, the AP reports. Lidge, coming back from a strained oblique and knee, is on course to be activated Friday. |
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| Brad Lidge felt well Saturday after tossing a 35-pitch bullpen session the day before. He's now tentatively slated to make a rehab appearance Wednesday and come off the disabled list on Friday, according to the Houston Chronicle. Lidge no longer is bothered by his strained oblique and knee, so barring a setback he'll be activated on Friday. |
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| Things are looking better for Brad Lidge to return after the All-Star break. He said he threw at "about as high intensity as I could get" in a 35-pitch bullpen session on Friday and reported no problems with his strained oblique, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I've still got to see how it responds (today), and that's really the main thing," Lidge said. So long as he responds well Saturday, it's likely that he will come off the DL next week. |
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| Although Brad Lidge said his oblique muscle felt fine after Monday's throwing session, he's now battling a sore right knee that will delay his return until after the All-Star break, the AP reports. Lidge has been on the disabled list since June 16 with the strained oblique. He had a bone bruise in the knee in May, but said the latest flareup was nothing serious. "It's not really a big problem," Lidge said. "For whatever reason, it kind of acted up on me again. It's a little frustrating because I was trying to get back before the break." |
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| Brad Lidge, who is out with a strained oblique muscle, easily threw 28 live pitches on Monday and hopes he'll be ready to pitch again by the end of the week, according to the AP. Lidge has been out since June 16 with a strained oblique muscle in his left side. "I was real happy with what happened today," he said. "I just kind of dialed it up to where I'd be if I was in a game. I still have to be cautious about how I'm going to feel tomorrow when I wake up, but I'm very optimistic." Manager Phil Garner is still considering sending Lidge to the minors for a quick rehab stint. |
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| Brad Lidge threw a 50-pitch bullpen session prior to Saturday's game without any setbacks, and if all goes well, he could be ready to return to the team by the middle of next week, the Astros official site reports. Lidge, who was eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday, estimated he threw at about 90-95 percent intensity and did not feel any lingering discomfort from the strained oblique muscle that has sidelined him for two weeks. |
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| Brad Lidge is eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday, but manager Phil Garner said Friday he won't be ready, according to the AP. Lidge has been out since June 16 with a pulled oblique muscle. "He's doing well though, but he won't be coming off then," Garner said. Garner said he is unsure of when Lidge will return. |
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| Brad Lidge threw 25-to-30 pitches off a mound on Tuesday. It was his first such action since straining his left oblique and landing on the DL last week, the Houston Chronicle notes. Lidge threw at only 50 percent. |
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| Brad Lidge will begin rehabbing his strained left oblique on Friday. He is on the disabled list and hopes to return in less than a month. "I'm not sure the exact protocol, but I think it's like 10 to 14 days before they start letting me throw aggressively," Lidge tells the Houston Chronicle. "I'm hoping that after the All-Star break, I'll be ready to go." |
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| Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list after Tuesday's game, the Astros official site reports. He's dealing with a strained oblique muscle in his left side, and while he could be activated from the DL on June 30, it's more likely that he'll be out for longer than the 15 required days. Dan Wheeler will go back into the closing role for Houston while Lidge is out. |
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| Brad Lidge returned to the closer's role Tuesday night and picked up right where he left off, allowing a game-tying solo homer to Oakland's Mark Kotsay in the ninth. Lidge had not allowed a run in his last 10 outings before that. |
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| Astros closer Dan Wheeler blew a save on Thursday allowed three runs for the third time in four outings. Is it time for Brad Lidge to take over his old role? "Don't ask me that now," manager Phil Garner responds to MLB.com. "Now is not a good time to ask me that question." Lidge owns a 0.74 ERA over his last 23 appearances. |
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| Brad Lidge should be cleared to resume pitching in games on Tuesday, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I feel better," he said. "I threw about 25 pitches off the mound (Saturday). While there was some discomfort, it's manageable. I think based on what I hear we're going to try to stay away. If it's an emergency I'll pitch, but by Tuesday I'll be a full go." Lidge hasn't pitched since sustaining a bruised right knee last Monday, but it appears he's about ready to return to the mix. |
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| Brad Lidge is dealing with a sore right knee, and he will fly back to Houston today to have it checked out by team doctors. "Hopefully it's nothing and it clears up in not too long, but we'll know more once we get it looked at," Lidge told the Houston Chronicle. "I'm optimistic that it's nothing more than a couple of days (he'll be out)." The knee first started bothering him on Monday, and it was still sore on Tuesday. Lidge has been lights out as of late, holding a 0.77 ERA over his last 10 appearances. |
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| Brad Lidge is not currently the closer, but he's throwing like one. Lidge has allowed two runs (one earned) over his last 13 appearances. He is 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts over his last 13.1 innings. "We're all kind of in a pretty good spot right now," Lidge tells the Houston Chronicle regarding the team's bullpen. |
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| Manager Phil Garner said there is no timetable for when Brad Lidge will return to the closer role, according to the Houston Chronicle. "Let's just let him pitch, and that will come," Garner said. "I had to put him in a situation where he pitches more often, and we've done that." Lidge hasn't allowed a run in nine of 10 outings since April 13. |
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| Phil Garner likes the way Brad Lidge is throwing the ball of late, the AP reports. "I'm seeing more confidence," Garner said. "I see good determination." Lidge hasn't allowed a run in nine of his last 10 outings and has eight strikeouts in his last four appearances.
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| Brad Lidge was warming up in the ninth and ready to come in yesterday if Dan Wheeler hadn't gotten Matt Murton to pop out to end the game, according to MLB.com. Wheeler entered in the ninth with a four-run lead and gave up two runs before getting out of the jam. "If we needed to do it, he was going to come in," manager Phil Garner said of Lidge. "If I've used all the guys to get to that point and we have a glitch, then I'll use Lidge." Garner also hinted that Lidge might not be out of the closer role for long. "I do not believe that this is a long-term deal," he said. "I believe that Brad Lidge will get back. I'm a firm believer." |
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| Brad Lidge will not be closing games for the Astros in the foreseeable future, Phil Garner announced before Monday's game. "Brad will not be closing as a general rule," Garner told the Astros official site. "There may be a situation where it will be right to do it, but we'll probably pitch him earlier in the sixth or seventh inning." Dan Wheeler will be the primary closer for the Astros.
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| Brad Lidge blew a save in his first opportunity of the year on Monday against Pittsburgh, allowing a game-tying solo homer to Xavier Nady with two outs in the top of the ninth. The Astros went on to lose the game, 4-2. Lidge is coming off a down year in which he held a 5.28 ERA, and if he continues his inconsistency this season, the club may not hesitate to remove him from the closer role in favor of Dan Wheeler. |
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| Brad Lidge pitched a live batting session on Sunday after struggling with his slider in his last game, according to the AP. "He wanted to work on the slider -- the release point on his slider," manager Phil Garner said. "He was trying to get his arm angle in the right slot and get a good release point." |
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| The Astros signed Brad Lidge to a one-year, $5.35 million deal on Tuesday, according to SportsTicker. "We are very pleased to have Brad signed prior to the exchange of arbitration figures," GM Tim Purpura said. "We are looking forward to a great 2007 season with him as our closer once again. Brad is one of the leaders of our team, and we are expecting great results from him this season." |
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| Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth inning Thursday for his 32nd save in 38 opportunities. Both Lidge and Dan Wheeler have worked in high-leverage situations down the stretch as the Astros continue their push to try to catch the Cardinals. |
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| Brad Lidge has retired nine of the past 10 batters he's faced and picked up a save on Saturday. However, manager Phil Garner said he isn't ready to dub Lidge his full-time closer again at this time, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
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| After giving up a game-tying home run to Chicago's Matt Murton in the ninth inning on Tuesday, Brad Lidge has lost his job as the Astros closer, according to the AP. "I'm going to take him out of the closer's role," Garner said. "It's going to be closer-by-committee." It was Lidge's fifth blown save of the season. |
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| Brad Lidge got in trouble while trying to close out Friday's game and was pulled with the bases loaded and two out. However, Astros manager Phil Garner said Saturday that Lidge remains his closer, according to the Houston Chronicle. Dan Wheeler picked up the save Friday and probably would be next in line if Lidge can't turn things around. |
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| ESPN's Steve Phillips is reporting that the Rangers are trying to acquire Brad Lidge from the Astros in exchange for Hank Blalock. Should this deal happen, it could lead to a Morgan Ensberg/Scott Linebrink swap. |
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| Brad Lidge is experimenting with a cut fastball, a pitch he used while walking Ken Griffey Jr. on four pitches Thursday night, according to the Houston Chronicle. Because of Lidge's struggles lately, there has been some speculation that Dan Wheeler is the new closer in Houston, but manager Phil Garner is still adamant that Lidge is the stopper. However, Garner did say that he would relieve Lidge with lefty Trever Miller on occasion against left-handed batters. |
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| Phil Garner stated that Brad Lidge was still his closer, despite the fact that he was pulled in the ninth inning Wednesday with a three-run lead after he allowed two runners to reach base, according to the AP. Garner said the move was purely situational. Dan Wheeler ended up picking up the save. |
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