[Official] Dodgers @ Astros

[Castor27]

All series talk goes in here. DO NOT GIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY! If you need PBP try Yahoo, ESPN, or Sportsline.


4-24 Derek Lowe, RHP (1-1, 4.50) vs. Andy Pettitte, LHP (1-3, 5.25) 7:05 on KNWS

4-25 Brad Penny, RHP (2-0, 1.88) vs. Fernando Nieve, RHP (0-0, 4.91) 7:05 on FSSW

4-26 Odalis Perez, LHP (3-0, 4.22) vs. Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (3-0, 2.52) 7:05 on FSSW

[Groogrux]

WLW

Andy returns to form and Wandy continues his great start!!

[DaDakota]

RM95 is BRILLIANT !!

WLW

But, I will take WWW.

:D

[Harrisment]

WWW, Penny is going to be our bitch just like Duke was a few days ago.

[Kerfeld]

WWW. Good times

[MadMax]

WLW...to finish the series at 15-6 overall.

[Raven Lunatic]

WWL

Wandy finally comes back down to earth, but Nieve's solid outing the day before helps us easily forget it.

[arkoe]

Brad Penny's been amazing so far this year...

[RocketManJosh]

WWW!!

[torque]

WWW.

Andy will go 7 innings 2 runs. Astros win 5-2.

Nieve will pitch 5 innings 3 runs. Astros win 4-3 in the 9th, Ensberg walk off 2 run homer.

Wandy will pitch 6 innings 3 runs. Astros win 5-3.

[rrj_gamz]

WWW...

Stros' are on a roll...Keep it up...

[leroy420]

WWW again

[Uprising]

WWW.astrossweep.com

Go Stros!!!

[kaleidosky]

WLW filler

[ROXRAN]

2 out of 3 is my expectations, but 3 is nice...

[texanskan]

WWW, Andy gets back on the winning track tonight!

[Surfguy]

Who cares?

Blah-Blah-Blah

Let's play some ball. ;)

[Dream34]

I heard that Brad Penny was going out with Alyssa Millano??? If this is true could that explain his sudden strong performance this year? :D

ps - I remember when she was dating Carl Pavano when he was with the Marlins. That was the last year he pitched well. Even though they broke up at least he turned that season into a big contract with the Yankees.

[Saint Louis]

I heard that Brad Penny was going out with Alyssa Millano??? If this is true could that explain his sudden strong performance this year? :D

ps - I remember when she was dating Carl Pavano when he was with the Marlins. That was the last year he pitched well. Even though they broke up at least he turned that season into a big contract with the Yankees.

Alyssa must be teaching Brad to breath through his eyelids, and he is wearing her underwear when he pitches.

[Buck Turgidson]

Alyssa must be teaching Brad to breath through his eyelids, and he is wearing her underwear when he pitches.
"Rose goes in the front, big guy."

[Uprising]

Let's keep the winning ways going.


The 2006 Houston Astros stats for the entire league...

3rd in the league in HR's at 28
Tied for 5th in the MLB in AVG at .286
Tied for 5th in slugging percentage at .481
Tied for 4th in OBP at .365
10th in walks
10th in total bases at 291
7th in RBI's at 99

7th in Runs scored




GO STROS!!!!! :cool:

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/images/trans.gif

[My Lund]

Andy pitches a gem tonight and the Lance-Morgan juggernaut continues. O yeah and Preston Wilson hits a HR . ASTROS WIN !!!
The best record in baseball :D

[white lightning]

I've been looking forward to this for awhile. Anytime you can hear Vin Scully calling one of your games is a pleasure.

[Saint Louis]

I've been looking forward to this for awhile. Anytime you can hear Vin Scully calling one of your games is a pleasure.

Going from the Pirates announcers to Vin Scully, well there is night and day. I went next door to the neighbors house and caught the last three innings of Sunday's game. The Pirate announcers are horrific.

[RocketManJosh]

Going from the Pirates announcers to Vin Scully, well there is night and day. I went next door to the neighbors house and caught the last three innings of Sunday's game. The Pirate announcers are horrific.

As sad as it is, the Pirates announcers were FAR FAR worse the previous couple seasons. In years past with MLB EI, I would hear the Pirates announcers have literally 30-45 seconds of dead silence with nothing to say at all. You were almost wondering if they were even paying attention to the game. This pirates series, they seemed just like bad announcers, but announcers none the less.

[don grahamleone]

W-W-W

go stro

[Uprising]

Anyone see what PTI said about the stros? I just missed it. They had a segment on Astros/SOX

RECAP PLEASE

[RocketManJosh]

Anyone see what PTI said about the stros? I just missed it. They had a segment on Astros/SOX

RECAP PLEASE

Just watched it on my DVR. They basically just had a meaningless argument about whose start was more impressive. Tony says the Astros because they don't have Clemens, Pettitte is not doing well, and he thinks they are overachieving. Wilbon said it was the Sox because they started out 1-4, and he picked the Stros to be ahead of the Cards to start the season anyways supposedly (I highly doubt that though).

[weakfromtoday]

Dodgers are having some troubles getting the ball to first base. Hopefully Berkman makes them pay for it, right now.

[Nick]

Ugh... Willy fell for that one a little too easily.

Bad baserunning is contagious, I guess. At least Morgan gets to come up with somebody on (since Lance walked).

[rikesh316]

Willy T's baserunning skills are horrible. Its already like the 4th or 5th time he has had a dumb mistake like that.

[weakfromtoday]

Ugh... Willy fell for that one a little too easily.

Bad baserunning is contagious, I guess. At least Morgan gets to come up with somebody on (since Lance walked).

He didn't even turn his head to look and see if it had been backed up. dumb dumb.

[weakfromtoday]

What a catch by Wilson!

[arkoe]

"Tracy McGrady couldn't have done it better." - Bill Brown

Pretty funny.

And now Willy T with a nice grab.

[rikesh316]

Willy's defense has improved so much since last year.

[FranchiseBlade]

What an outfield. Wilson's grab was outstanding. Then Wiilie T making up for the base running error. I love it. What a fun team to watch.

[weakfromtoday]

Preston is making better contact than I've seen him make in about a week. Hopefully his next ab will be better.

[arkoe]

Willy's defense has improved so much since last year.

He seems to know where the ball's heading off the bat a lot better this year.

[weakfromtoday]

Ausmus comes through! He hit that ball pretty hard and Lofton has lost a step.

[Nick]

Ausmus comes through! He hit that ball pretty hard and Lofton has lost a step.

Ausmus seems to have re-invented himself offensively. Far more selective of the pitches he offers at, and he's not trying to pull everything to the boxes (which resulted in a ton of DP's).

Perhaps Gaetti is really worth it as a hitter's coach... I hope nobody else notices him, otherwise they'd give him a managerial job somewhere if this keeps up. Hell, Craig (in his last interview) was RAVING about the changes Gaetti pointed out he should make... and Biggio is a cliche machine (ie - he never talks about something that's on his mind... unless its really important).

[DVauthrin]

Ausmus comes through! He hit that ball pretty hard and Lofton has lost a step.

Had nothing to do with lofton losing a step. Had everything to do with Lofton playing an embarassingly shallow CF. The ball didn't even hit the track part of CF.

[Uprising]

Just watched it on my DVR. They basically just had a meaningless argument about whose start was more impressive. Tony says the Astros because they don't have Clemens, Pettitte is not doing well, and he thinks they are overachieving. Wilbon said it was the Sox because they started out 1-4, and he picked the Stros to be ahead of the Cards to start the season anyways supposedly (I highly doubt that though).

Thanks.

Great hard hit by Ausmus. I love this team, nice D in the out field, and great catch by Lance to keep Adam error less.

[Nick]

Adam's so good... he turns a line drive out into a DP by accident.

Still no errors.

[Nick]

If Qualls ever became more consistent (and turned into a starter)... he'd be Derek Lowe with better stuff.

[Harrisment]

nothing to see here.

[codell]

I'm not gonna say what everyone is thinking about right now.

shut up

[Uprising]

AUSMUS!!!!! :eek: :eek:

2 Doubles for him today.

[Miguel]

:eek:

[Harrisment]

Let Andy swing away here?

[Nick]

I'm not gonna say what everyone is thinking about right now.

It doesn't matter that you said you're not going to say it... the mere fact that u even bring up how nobody is saying anything is problematic.

[weakfromtoday]

That guy looked like he was getting high fives for catching a bag of peanuts and his car keys.

[Nick]

Let Andy swing away here?
Most definitely... giving up an out to get a guy to 3rd base with 1 out already is not a good play... even if the pitcher is batting.

[Harrisment]

It doesn't matter that you said you're not going to say it... the mere fact that u even bring up how nobody is saying anything is problematic.

Good point, edited for the gods.

[Miguel]

It's too late.

[Uprising]

man, we wasted a lead off double. We haven't done that too much this season.

Come on Stros! Get a few insurance runs.

[Harrisment]

Damn ump is pissed!!

[Uprising]

What did the Dodger bench do to piss off the umpire like that? :eek: :confused:

[weakfromtoday]

What did the Dodger bench do to piss off the umpire like that? :eek: :confused:

I think they weren't shutting up about the borderline low strike call for strike 3, and then the next pitch was borderline low on Lowe for strike one.

[Harrisment]

What did the Dodger bench do to piss off the umpire like that? :eek: :confused:

I think the bench has been bitching the last few innings about the strike zone.

[Uprising]

I wonder what they were saying, and how the ump heard them over the loud ball park?

[Nick]

The problem the Dodgers are having is that the ump is calling Lowe's sinker where the catcher catches it (low), and not where its crossing the plate (which is the rule).

Well, at least he was doing that before this inning... a couple of LOW strikes to Willy called.

[VesceySux]

I'm annoyed that I can't watch this game in Austin.

[weakfromtoday]

I'm annoyed that I can't watch this game in Austin.

timewarneraustin.com says its on channel 23. unless you have grande....

[JeeberD]

I'm annoyed that I can't watch this game in Austin.

Right now I hate living in DFW... :mad:

[Uprising]

Ugh, Drew ties the game up. This damn kid always does it....

FIrst HR of the game.

Well we know who the scapegoat of tonights game is going to be....ahem his name starts with a H.... ;)

[weakfromtoday]

Thanks, Harrisment. It's all your fault. :p

[Nick]

Its okay Andy... blame ESPN (they announced it just now during the Cubs/Marlins game).

[Harrisment]

Its okay Andy... blame ESPN (they announced it just now during the Cubs/Cards game).


That's right, blame ESPN!!!

[Uprising]

Its okay Andy... blame ESPN (they announced it just now during the Cubs/Cards game).

Don't you mean Cubs/Fish game?

Man, Bases loaded for cubs with no outs. They are going to catch up here against the fish...stupid fish.

[kaleidosky]

wow, depending on how the rest goes..reminding me of DK's game against the Braves in the playoffs back in..99 i think? Whenever he threw the 1 or 2 hitter and lost (just cause we're tied now as well as andy's pitched)

[Miguel]

Thanks, Harrisment. It's all your fault. :p
:mad: :p

[Surfguy]

Right now I hate living in DFW... :mad:

I don't understand it but they sure are d*cking us out of a lot of Astros home games this year. It seems like we got a lot better coverage last season.

[Harrisment]

Berkman's defense has really been solid this year.

Time to get Andy some runs!

[Nick]

I don't understand it but they sure are d*cking us out of a lot of Astros home games this year. It seems like we got a lot better coverage last season.

KNWS probably wanted most of its games early in the year... more people are still excited about the season, and there was the possible conflict with Rockets playoffs games when the schedule was made (bwahaha).

[rikesh316]

Berkman's defense has really been solid this year.

Time to get Andy some runs!

Yeah Berkman has been great this year at 1st. Gonna be tough to get some runs. Lowe gots his sinker working tonight.

[Uprising]

well, here the Rangers are on FSN and stros are on UPN.

CUbbies just tied up their game in the 8th.

[DaDakota]

It is on in Austin, Channel 23.

Always check 54, 77, and 23....

And Preston Wilson needs to grab some pine, time for Burke.

DD

[Nick]

So, apparently this team struggles against sinker-ball pitchers:

First Webb, now Lowe. Thank goodness there aren't that many more guys like that in the NL... Maddux may be tough on them as well.

[kaleidosky]

Its okay Andy... blame ESPN (they announced it just now during the Cubs/Cards game).

blame the dodgers announcers. they haven't shut up about it over the last 2 innings

[Uprising]

I'm annoyed that I can't watch this game in Austin.

Apparently it is on tv in AUSTIN. Tune in man.

[Nick]

blame the dodgers announcers. they haven't shut up about it over the last 2 innings

But of course... the opposing team is always going for the jinx. Hell, Brownie and Deshaies will attempt to do that within the first 2 innings.

Time for Adam to come up with another big hit.

[rikesh316]

So, apparently this team struggles against sinker-ball pitchers:

First Webb, now Lowe. Thank goodness there aren't that many more guys like that in the NL... Maddux may be tough on them as well.

Yeah don't forget Carlos Zambrano. He is more of a power pitcher but has a very good sinker. He always gives the Astros fits.

[Uprising]

Brad is 3-3! :eek: He is a lowe killer in 2006!

He was 1-15 against Lowe before today. WOW.

[Nick]

Yeah don't forget Carlos Zambrano. He is more of a power pitcher but has a very good sinker. He always gives the Astros fits.

Yea... forgot about him. He throws his stuff so hard, it hardly has any time to sink, but he's effective if down.

[kaleidosky]

any clue how tough it is to watch a no-no bid and 24 at the same time? good thing i have mlb.tv ;)

[rikesh316]

Why Palmerio? He sucks. Rather have Lamb or Burke.

[Nick]

I feel like Mango should be batting here... but Palmeiro is a decent choice as well.

Pettite shouldn't get too down here... he's not going to lose, and somebody has to be the one stuck with no run support (just one of those things in baseball).

[Harrisment]

Questionable pulling Andy already, hopefully Orlando can produce.

[Nick]

Why Palmerio? He sucks. Rather have Lamb or Burke.

He's faced him before, and has a better grasp of the K zone than the other two... but as I said, I like some Mango right here.

[DaDakota]

Lowe's stuff is filthy.

DD

[kaleidosky]

Why Palmerio? He sucks. Rather have Lamb or Burke.

if he sucks that much why even have him on the team? what has lamb done really more than palmeiro? Palmeiro is a pretty good contact guy..single gives us the lead. Lamb is more ex base/power guy, giving up some obp i would think. burke would be in against a lefty for sure..

[Nick]

Questionable pulling Andy already, hopefully Orlando can produce.

101 pitches.. and the game is tied with a runner in scoring position in the 7th... there really shouldn't be much of a question.

[Harrisment]

101 pitches.. and the game is tied with a runner in scoring position in the 7th... there really shouldn't be much of a question.

Ah, didn't realize his pitch count was that high. I thought he was still in the low 90's.

[VesceySux]

Oh, hey, the game IS on channel 23. Sweet! Thanks!

[Nick]

Just thinking out loud here...

I'm hoping that when the sun sets on Ausmus' career... that they can get him in locked in to the organization to succeed Garner as manager. I know Brad is a southern california guy... but there's just something there that I know he would be the perfect future manager for this team, and its young up-and-coming pitchers.

[weakfromtoday]

BERKMAN!!!!! WOW!

[Uprising]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

CHOOO CHOOO CHOOO CHOOOO!!

HR BERKMAN!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :D

[rikesh316]

Berkman with the homer.

[JaWindex]

That was beautiful :D

[kaleidosky]

Just thinking out loud here...

I'm hoping that when the sun sets on Ausmus' career... that they can get him in locked in to the organization to succeed Garner as manager. I know Brad is a southern california guy... but there's just something there that I know he would be the perfect future manager for this team, and its young up-and-coming pitchers.

hmm, seems like a lot of mlb guys can go straight to managing without going up the assistant/coach ranks, huh? At least moreso than in other sports I think. Or did Guillen, among others, Girardi, etc.. start out coaching?


LANCE!

[kaleidosky]

fyi, in case you didn't get it on the houston feed, 415 ft.

[Nick]

hmm, seems like a lot of mlb guys can go straight to managing without going up the assistant/coach ranks, huh? At least moreso than in other sports I think. Or did Guillen, among others, Girardi, etc.. start out coaching?


LANCE!

Yea... I guess its not really fair... but some of these catchers study game plans harder than a ton of coaches. Also, some of the minor league managers are really there to do more developing and teaching young players, and less "training" to become a MLB manager.

[Uprising]

Wow, that guy struck out the side......but....but....LANCE happened. :D

Let's go LIdge! Be Lights out Lidge! :cool:

[Nick]

Lidge gonna have to work hard tonight... top of the order, all lefties.

[DaDakota]

I have a feeling that Lidge will make this hard on himself.....

DD

[kaleidosky]

toughest part about getting the opponent feeds so often is having to hear over and over about "whether lidge will bounce back after the way he ended last year" followed by a run-through of his (past) problems.

Funny thing is, they seem to think he's completely normal this year since he's 7-7 in save opps. They think he's back to Lights Out standard.. you'd think they could look at the ERA and BA they put up and realize it's not QUITE there yet. (but it will be!)

[Nick]

I have a feeling that Lidge will make this hard on himself.....

DD

You can tell he's really fighting his mechanics... ugh, Lofton triple.

[Uprising]

NO so Lights out Lidge.

TRIPLE with 1 out. UGH! LIDGE!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:


WHEELER SHOULD HAVE FINISHED THIS GAME OFF.

[kaleidosky]

NO so Lights out Lidge.

TRIPLE with 1 out. UGH! LIDGE!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

if anyoen can get outta it, it's lidge! K please!

[rikesh316]

Brad Lidge hasn't been himself since the Cubs series at the end of last year. His facial reaction doesn't seem right. He seems nervous everytime he goes out IMO.

[kaleidosky]

WHEELER SHOULD HAVE FINISHED THIS GAME OFF.

wheels faced the bottom of the lineup..lidge is up top..with the lefties. don't be so certain wheels woulda fared better..

[Nick]

Brad Lidge hasn't been himself since the Cubs series at the end of last year. His facial reaction doesn't seem right. He seems nervous everytime he goes out IMO.

Are u implying that he may have stopped using something that made him more confident, and helped a guy with a history of arm trouble suddenly become healthy?

I just think we're looking at Lidge in a vaccume right now... a small sample size since the end of the 2005 season, the playoffs, and now the rocky start.

[Uprising]

wheels faced the bottom of the lineup..lidge is up top..with the lefties. don't be so certain wheels woulda fared better..

Only one way to know for sure though.... ;)


GO LIDGE!!! ugh....that was bs. Full count.....I'm biting my nails.

[weakfromtoday]

Time for a double play.

[Uprising]

Uh oh.....Jkent up to bat....I have bad feeling about this.

Please please please......

[kaleidosky]

Time for a double play.

I'll take a K right now ;)

[Nick]

Kent vs. Lidge... ugh.... something doesn't feel right about this encounter.

[kaleidosky]

Kent vs. Lidge... ugh.... something doesn't feel like about this encounter.

you're too right, same for me..

[Nick]

Honestly, at this point, I'll be happy with a tie game after 9... never thought I'd say that about Lights Out.

[Uprising]

Oh gawd. 3-1 count. 1 out men on corners.....

I don't have any nails to bite anymore.

GO STROS!!!

[kaleidosky]

does fox sports in houston give this completely terrible camera angle on some pitches from above and behind the catcher? like from the net kinda?

[Uprising]

YAY FOUR LIGHTS OUT LIDGE!!!!

BASES LOADED 1 OUT! Great job.....

better get yourself out of this jam........ :(

[rikesh316]

This game doesn't look good for the stros. Nomar always seems to kill the astros.

[kaleidosky]

and nomar is up, hahaha. somewhat ironic

[Nick]

does fox sports in houston give this completely terrible camera angle on some pitches from above and behind the catcher? like from the net kinda?

No... the Dodgers' broadcast are trying to show the fans that they should try and steal.

Basically, they're showing up the manager.

[JaWindex]

Please find the strike zone :o

[kaleidosky]

dear god, 2-0..

[Uprising]

at this rate lights out lidge is going to walk one in....god I hope not.

Please end this Lidge. You are going to give me diahria..... :(

[Nick]

Please find the strike zone :o

I'd prefer he finds it earlier in the count... and then lets it fly against the free-swinger Nomar.

[DaDakota]

Crap

DD

[kaleidosky]

GIVE IM THE HEATER RICKY!

[Harrisment]

wow....just wow.

[Nick]

Crap

DD

was it the gas?

[Uprising]

GRAND SLAM!!! WHOOO LIDGE RULES!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

**** YOU LIDGE!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[DaDakota]

GIVE IM THE HEATER RICKY!

He held it like an egg !

[weakfromtoday]

Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.

[MR. MEOWGI]

ouch.

[RocketFan007]

Wow...

[The Real Shady]

Lights On Lidge. :(

[Miguel]

****


Lidge is officially broken.

[Uprising]

GOD DAMNIT LIDGE!!!!

You ...ugh. Damnit. Time to study. YOU SUCK LIDGE!!!! I hope this eats away at you tonight in bed.

:( Man games like these hurt. Garciapara's first HR this season. LMAO.

Yay for Lidge....

I don't think anyone thinks Lidge is still his old self with the 7-7 saves....

[DaDakota]

was it the gas?


Yep, but in a HORRIBLE spot.....not low but right over the middle BELT high...and Lidge's walks do it again.

He is his own worst enemy.

DD

[kaleidosky]

last fastball, absolutely horrendous location..

[rezdawg]

Shouldve traded his ass...I have zero confidence in him.

:mad:

[Surfguy]

That's embarassing. Oh well. :(

[lalala902102001]

Lidge has lost his edge as a closer since the playoffs last year.

[Vengeance]

He has zero confidence in himself. Last year's playoffs really messed him up.

[gunn]

Damn you Pujols!

[Rule0001]

I can't believe the fans aren't booing. That is pathetic. His head should be on a platter.

[Uprising]

Wheeler needs to be our Closer.

Trade his ass. I like Lidge, but he hasn't been the same pitcher since around the last month of last season. sucks.

If anyone still wants him, pull the trigger.

[SWTsig]

it's time to re-think this "lidge as our closer" schtick.

the guy doesn't have it anymore, and quite frankly he's pretty damn lucky to have gone this long w/o a blown save. he's not fooling anyone w/ that slider...

seriously.

[rocketfat]

Octavio Lidge
"Lights on" Lidge
"Light up" Lidge

take your pick. he's a shell of what he was in 2004. accept it people.

[UTweezer]

guy was castrated last year. It's blatantly obvious he doesn't have it anymore.

[JunkyardDwg]

Well he was gonna blow a save eventually...and he's been playing with fire all season. Sucks cause this a game we really needed with Nieve coming up tomorrow.

[gs1998]

looks like he found the strike zone...

[The Real Shady]

last fastball, absolutely horrendous location..

His location has been terrible all year.

Damn. Some of the fans are booing him as he walks off the field. Houston fans are turning very Phillyish.

[Uprising]

I can't believe the fans aren't booing. That is pathetic. His head should be on a platter.

Sounds like half of them are booing him. and 1/4 aren't making any noise, they are all leaving.

and then the other 1/4 are clapping.



The TV didn't go to ads for some reason. Here's what the commentators are saying right now. "Well, 1 out triple is aweful too." "Yep, they need to go back and watch tape tape tape tape. (lidge i'm guessing)"

[Gene the PIG]

Pathetic.

I'm too spent to even post that Jim Morrison crap about his fragile eggshell mind.

[Luckyazn]

Is time to get rid of LIDGE!!!

HIS ERA IS 6.75 :eek:

[gunn]

His location has been terrible all year.

Damn. Some of the fans are booing him as he walks off the field. Houston fans are turning very Phillyish.

What do you expect? Applause for his effort?

[Miguel]

Jim Hickey needs to go Gary Gaetti on that VCR and probably throw in some superglue to fix our broken Lidge.

[BMoney]

Wow. I knew the aura of invincibilty was over with the postseason struggles, but I thought Lidge would still be a top closer this season. It's too early to throw him on the Mitch Williams scrapheap, but it's not looking good. He's had problems all year. This is a new low. What is it about Berkman hitting bombs in the late innings and having the bullpen blow it? This happened a few times last year. I'm thinking of a game late in the year against the Cubs. Jesus.

[rezdawg]

Im so pissed.

F!!!!!!!!!

LKFJLISDOAHF:LJDLKjsfLK ScsvF

[rocketfat]

Damn you Pujols!


it ain't because of pujols. he lost his stuff waaaay before that home run.

[Nick]

Funny how lively this place gets during losses... ah well.

As DD said, Lidge is his own worst enemy because of the lack of control on his fastball. He's not coming close to spotting that pitch... which is his most important one (especially a first-pitch strike), because it completely sets up the slider.

Lidge, throughout 2004 and most of 2005 would tend to always get ahead of the hitter with teh fastball... and finish them with the slider (or if they were guessing slider, bust them inside with a fastball).

He already tried throwing from the stretch exclusively (which I thought was a make-shift solution)... I really think he just needs to tweak his mechanics (go back to the windup... it wasn't that broken), and get some more workout time in on re-gaining a feel for that control.

[KaiSeR SoZe]

time to turn the lights out

[Uprising]

Lidge has joined the company of Miceli as the players I really don't like seeing on the field in an Astro's Jersey. :(

Edit: Well, not that I don't like them. But I sure do get damn nervous when they are pitching. I want the Lidge of old back.

[Luckyazn]

Should have traded him for TEJADA!!!

Imagine our lineup with TEJADA instead of Everett

[Miguel]

Is time to get rid of LIDGE!!!

HIS ERA IS 6.75 :eek:

Nothing to do with ERA. His location has been horrible so far this year, like someone said, he's been playing with fire, and lucked out so far this season. Let's hope Hickey can fix him before he spirals further into BKim territory.

[kaleidosky]

wow, i just realized..even if we win this game, i'm still gonna be feeling HORRible, wondering if lidge can get back to being himself. send him into pitching rehab for a month. bring him back good as new

[UTweezer]

His location has been terrible all year.

Damn. Some of the fans are booing him as he walks off the field. Houston fans are turning very Phillyish.

i think thats a good thing, about the fans. Shows a deeper passion for the team...

[Uprising]

Wow LA just scored again. As if this game wasn't over already. :( :( :(

Man games like this one hurt. ****!!!!!

[SWTsig]

His location has been terrible all year.

Damn. Some of the fans are booing him as he walks off the field. Houston fans are turning very Phillyish.

please.

the guy is a shell of his former self, plain and simple. you do not make a mistake like that if you're a dominant closer. like i said, he's extremley lucky to have not blown a save (or several) the way he's been pitching.

[Uprising]

Well, we are going to win the next 2 games. So it's alright. ./...I hate not winning them all though. ;)

[kaleidosky]

geez...wilson was pretty high with that throw. overthrown. not that it matters much...but it was a pretty easy assist to gain i thought..

[gunn]

it ain't because of pujols. he lost his stuff waaaay before that home run.

I'm sure he has recurring nightmares about that blast.

[Miguel]

Meh. 5 run 9th? :)


Edit:
Due up: Preston Wilson
Nevermind

[The Cat]

Same story all year. Luck finally caught up with him.

Great general managers know when to sell high. I think there was ample evidence that last offseason would've been a perfect time to cash in on Lidge's value. We didn't, and his value is likely down the tubes. :(

Wheeler or Qualls, whoever, bring 'em on.

[JunkyardDwg]

Yep, but in a HORRIBLE spot.....not low but right over the middle BELT high...and Lidge's walks do it again.

He is his own worst enemy.

DD

It wasn't so much the walks as it was the triple.


And it's not just Lidge either..this whole bullpen has been shaky and coughing up runs left and right. And there goes Gallo giving up a run again. Jeez why can't this team just have everything clicking at once. Last year it was the bats, but the starting pitching and bullpen were lights out. This year the bats have come alive, the starting pitching has continued to be solid, but the freakin bullpen is imploding.

[Nick]

Amazing... a lot of material here that can be summarily shoved back in the face if Lidge turns this around.

Also, I'm guessing that a lot of you don't remember Brad Lidge "the set-up" guy... who led this team in appearences in 2003, and was on his way to that in 2004 before we traded Dotel.

Lidge was hittable then... as he is now. But, he still had masterful control of his stuff. He'd give up the long ball every now and then because his fastball is hittable.

If by saying he's "lost it", means he can't find the zone, fine... but the stuff is still there. Maybe its mental, its probably more mechanical, and they'll have to get it worked out if this is going to be a successful season.

Its fastball control... no matter what "other" pitches he develops, he won't do anything without fastball control.

[The Real Shady]

Same story all year. Luck finally caught up with him.

Great general managers know when to sell high. I think there was ample evidence that last offseason would've been a perfect time to cash in on Lidge's value. We didn't, and his value is likely down the tubes. :(

Wheeler or Qualls, whoever, bring 'em on.

Give Lidge another month to see if he can turn it around. If not I would go with Weeler as the closer. I would also like to see Nieve go to the bullpen to be groomed as our future closer.

[bigtexxx]

I have a feeling that Lidge will make this hard on himself.....

DD

Yeah I guess you could say that.

[gunn]

Wheeler or Qualls, whoever, bring 'em on.

I have more confidence in these two right now than I do with Lidge. With Qualls, it seems to be more of a mechanical problem. With Lidge, it seems mental.

[tigermission1]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/tigermission1/choking1.jpg

Brad Lidge = Nick Anderson

And some smarties here were "not sure" about trading this guy away for Miguel Tejada? LMAO!

Oh well, we missed the train, now he's been exposed.

Much like the Rockets ruined Nick Anderson, "Fat Albert" has ruined a once-promising career of "Replace the Light Bulb" Lidge...It's going to get ugly unless he gets a change of scenary or he seeks intensive therapy.

[weakfromtoday]

2 on, no outs. uh oh!

[Kerfeld]

That extra run Gallo gave might be huge!

[Uprising]

It really does seem to be mental, but man. He seems to be throwing the ball a lot more in the dirt, but when it goes it goes in a straight motion. He used to have nasty sliders that went into the dirt. Now they are obvious and hitters don't even bite.

Man, they are doing it again. Some chick is holding up a sign that said I believe, and she has been on the tv for 2 min now. Crazy.

Jim Brown is whislting around , and humming to clear his throat. Lol.

[kaleidosky]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/tigermission1/choking1.jpg

Brad Lidge = Nick Anderson

And some smarties here were "not sure" about trading this guy away for Miguel Tejada? LMAO!

Oh well, we missed the train, now he's been exposed.


disagree.

[arkoe]

This guy's motion is WEIRD.

Lidge'll figure it out.

[kaleidosky]

lost in all this is that Wilson got a SOLID HIT

[Uprising]

disagree.

Great post, i love the in depth..... ;)

Well, 2 on and no outs. Lets hope that extra run gallo gave up doesn't turn out too big.

[JunkyardDwg]

Amazing... a lot of material here that can be summarily shoved back in the face if Lidge turns this around.

Also, I'm guessing that a lot of you don't remember Brad Lidge "the set-up" guy... who led this team in appearences in 2003, and was on his way to that in 2004 before we traded Dotel.

Lidge was hittable then... as he is now. But, he still had masterful control of his stuff. He'd give up the long ball every now and then because his fastball is hittable.

If by saying he's "lost it", means he can't find the zone, fine... but the stuff is still there. Maybe its mental, its probably more mechanical, and they'll have to get it worked out if this is going to be a successful season.

Its fastball control... no matter what "other" pitches he develops, he won't do anything without fastball control.


Agreed. I for one am willing to give Lidge more time to figure things out. After all he's still converted 7 of 8 saves this year. And that's a pace to notch 35-40 saves. And even Wagner has blown one already. This is such a knee jerk reaction I'm seeing after one game in the beginning of the year, you'd think we were in October already.

[Nick]

I have more confidence in these two right now than I do with Lidge. With Qualls, it seems to be more of a mechanical problem. With Lidge, it seems mental.

Yet Lidge is the one tinkering with his mechanics that everybody (himself, Ausmus, Garner and Hickey) are saying its off.

Wheeler seems to have the composure to be a decent closer in this league... but Qualls looks like the great set-up guy, but he doesn't have either the mental makeup, or great control that you need to be a good closer.

Seriously... control is more important than stuff 9 times out of 10 for a closer. Wheeler comes in throwing strikes regardless of the situation. Qualls, not so much.

In any case, maybe this will cause them to do something drastic with Lidge... like make him a starter again, or work him in situations strictly to work on his mechanics.

The problem about the "mental" argument is that Lidge still wants the ball... and he'll say it again in the paper tommorow. He's either that mentally strong, or simply is a glutton for punishment. Either way, I'd give Lidge more time, and give him the benefit of the doubt that something needs to be tweaked again mechanically (and please don't broadcast it so other teams can find out).

[kaleidosky]

Great post, i love the in depth..... ;)

Well, 2 on and no outs. Lets hope that extra run gallo gave up doesn't turn out too big.

heh, no need to expand. but if you want, nick anderson was weak-minded. lidge is not! ;)

[Uprising]

Nevermind....game ending DP.

That sucked donkey ****.

We'll win the next 2. If our offense comes back to life.

GO STROS!!!!

[KaiSeR SoZe]

so close...

[kaleidosky]

Nevermind....game ending DP.

That sucked donkey ****.

We'll win the next 2. If our offense comes back to life.

GO STROS!!!!

I hope so! I hope the offense can figure out Penny...and we need about 6 IP, 2 ER out of Nieve..at least!

[Nick]

Ugh... the bandwagoners (ie - Rockets fans who are not baseball fans) are striking again... too bad it took 19 games for them to come out of the woodwork, but here they come.

[Miguel]

Wow, I think that's the first time I've kneejerk-ed in a while :(

Alright, we take the next 2. Frosty and Double H will bring home the series win before the road trip.

[RocketManJosh]

Well that's the first loss that really hurts this season. Let's just not have too much of a hangover and we'll be A-OK. Next two games are going to be tough though!

[BMoney]

If our bullpen is this lousy then the Astros are toast. On a sidenote: how good does Mariano Rivera look in light of the the shocking collapse of Lidge and Gagne's injury problems? I think he's one of the top 5 players in the last 20 years. Best reliever of all time.

[gunn]

Yet Lidge is the one tinkering with his mechanics that everybody (himself, Ausmus, Garner and Hickey) are saying its off.

Wheeler seems to have the composure to be a decent closer in this league... but Qualls looks like the great set-up guy, but he doesn't have either the mental makeup, or great control that you need to be a good closer.

Seriously... control is more important than stuff 9 times out of 10 for a closer. Wheeler comes in throwing strikes regardless of the situation. Qualls, not so much.

In any case, maybe this will cause them to do something drastic with Lidge... like make him a starter again, or work him in situations strictly to work on his mechanics.

The problem about the "mental" argument is that Lidge still wants the ball... and he'll say it again in the paper tommorow. He's either that mentally strong, or simply is a glutton for punishment. Either way, I'd give Lidge more time, and give him the benefit of the doubt that something needs to be tweaked again mechanically (and please don't broadcast it so other teams can find out).

They can call it what they will, but what I'm seeing with my eyes appears to be less a mechanical problem and more a mental problem stemming back to the Pujols mash over the tracks. In this game he didn't seem to have his control, but I think it runs deeper than that.

[Nick]

If our bullpen is this lousy then the Astros are toast. On a sidenote: how good does Mariano Rivera look in light of the the shocking collapse of Lidge and Gagne's injury problems? I think he's one of the top 5 players in the last 20 years. Best reliever of all time.

He is... but I know tons of Yankee fans who were ready to groom another closer after his meltdowns in the playoffs in 2001 and 2003. In fact, many believe they'd have at least one (if not two) more championships since 2000 if Mariano "the great" hadn't blown some ridiculous saves.

That's the life of a closer... you're really only as good as your last save. Whenever a guy like Rivera (and formerly Lidge) blows one, its always front-page news... it takes a ton of moxie to be able to handle that pressure well.

If Lidge has an injury that he's not telling anybody about... that would be worrisome. Otherwise, the pattern of his control looking great in some games/to some batters (see Milwaukee last week)... and then dissapering on any given moment (tonight) seems more of a pattern of mechanics just going haywire, and not some "mental block" (you'd have seen a few more meltdowns if he really needed a shrink).

[tigermission1]

Ugh... the bandwagoners (ie - Rockets fans who are not baseball fans) are striking again... too bad it took 19 games for them to come out of the woodwork, but here they come.

If you're addressing me, then you're dead wrong! I've been raising questions about Lidge's mental toughness and advocating the "sell high while you can" position well before the season even started.

I like the Astros and I think they're a solid team, I just have my opinion about Lidge.

[arif1127]

They can call it what they will, but what I'm seeing with my eyes appears to be less a mechanical problem and more a mental problem stemming back to the Pujols mash over the tracks. In this game he didn't seem to have his control, but I think it runs deeper than that.

can you read my mind too? please.
its location, location, location, when his location is right he's unhittable. when his location is off, he's hittable(as is every pitcher in baseball).

[Bobblehead]

Has he even gone 1 , 2 , 3 in an inning this year????
It seems like walk after walk after hit after hit and then some lucky double play to get him out of a jam.
This guy has been in a jam sandwich all year!!
He stinks!

[Nick]

They can call it what they will, but what I'm seeing with my eyes appears to be less a mechanical problem and more a mental problem stemming back to the Pujols mash over the tracks. In this game he didn't seem to have his control, but I think it runs deeper than that.

Well, how can I argue with logic like that.

I've seen Lidge face batters this year looking pretty damn good... then its gone at a moment's instance (and manifests into deep counts, pitches fouled off, and eventual long balls).

They've all seen him be so out of whack mechanically that they made him scrap the windup. There's a good chance that he's doing something wrong from the stretch also...

Hell, I'd venture to guess that in the last two years, he's had more 1-2-3 saves than the vast majority of MLB... meaning he was constantly pitching from the windup. Why else would they scrap it, unless they knew something was wrong with either his arm-slot, or where his legs are landing.... something just purely mechanical.

[Uprising]

well. Even though that one hurt so badly, to the point where i was cussing like I don't normally do when watching the stros. Hell, my damn knee hurts, I smashed it against the desk when I saw the contact Nomar had.

After all this pain etc, it's still only one game. We'll take this out of our memory as soon as we win the next 2 and continue our winning ways of series.

We were all gloom and doom when we got shelled by the Brewers (IIRC), but look at us now. :)

We'll come out tomorow swinging...and connecting I hope. ;)

GO STROS!!!!

[Rule0001]

He is... but I know tons of Yankee fans who were ready to groom another closer after his meltdowns in the playoffs in 2001 and 2003. In fact, many believe they'd have at least one (if not two) more championships since 2000 if Mariano "the great" hadn't blown some ridiculous saves.

That's the life of a closer... you're really only as good as your last save. Whenever a guy like Rivera (and formerly Lidge) blows one, its always front-page news... it takes a ton of moxie to be able to handle that pressure well.

If Lidge has an injury that he's not telling anybody about... that would be worrisome. Otherwise, the pattern of his control looking great in some games/to some batters (see Milwaukee last week)... and then dissapering on any given moment (tonight) seems more of a pattern of mechanics just going haywire, and not some "mental block" (you'd have seen a few more meltdowns if he really needed a shrink).

Just look at the difference between Mariano's blown saves and Lidge's. Rivera's blown save against the twins last week was filled with broken bat bloops and 2 blown strike 3 calls. The hit that did him in went about 6 feet. As with his "blown saves" in the postseason. When's the last time Rivera gave up some devastating bomb in the playoffs, well in the season for that matter? Lidge gave up more homers in the world series than rivera did the entier year. Please don't mention Lidge and Rivera in the same sentence.

[DaDakota]

7 out of 8 saves is not bad for a guy who is struggling.

As soon as he starts locating his fastball, and throwing his slider for strikes he will be back.

Everyone struggles...Joe Sambito did, Dave Smith did, Billy Wagner did....everyone.

I have faith in Lidge, and being 13-6 to start the season is not bad.

The Astros could have made it easier by scoring more runs earlier........

It is a team win and a team loss......

Just shake it off and come back strong tomorrow.

DD

[gunn]

can you read my mind too? please.
its location, location, location, when his location is right he's unhittable. when his location is off, he's hittable(as is every pitcher in baseball).

I don't recall making any psychic evaluations. Just simply calling it like I see it.

[Nick]

If you're addressing me, then you're dead wrong! I've been raising questions about Lidge's mental toughness and advocating the "sell high while you can" position well before the season even started.

I like the Astros and I think they're a solid team, I just have my opinion about Lidge.

I wasn't addressing you in particular... just look at the 3 pages before of people summarily saying "lidge is done" (a statement that was probably itching to be said as soon as he was going to blow his first save, no matter where it was).

Of course, you comparing him to an average basketball-player role-player didn't help your appearence. If you had said Lidge = Wholers, or Lidge = Kim, or Lidge = M. Williams... that would have still been extreme, but would have made a semblance of sense.

You didn't make much sense otherwise... and coming on here saying "I told you so" is a silly comment to make in the 19th game of a 162 game season.

[Nick]

Just look at the difference between Mariano's blown saves and Lidge's. Rivera's blown save against the twins last week was filled with broken bat bloops and 2 blown strike 3 calls. The hit that did him in went about 6 feet. Please don't mention Lidge and Rivera in the same sentence.

A blown save is a blown save... Mariano blew TWO saves in a series where his team was up 3-0. He blew a save in game 7 of the world series.

He's great... phenominal... but he does blow them too (even in the playoffs). The thing that makes him great is that he works on his problems, and comes back stronger... exactly the same thing that Lidge has been trying to do all season. (scrapping the windup, working on new pitches, and analyzing the hell out of himself).

[tigermission1]

I wasn't addressing you in particular... just look at the 3 pages before of people summarily saying "lidge is done" (a statement that was probably itching to be said as soon as he was going to blow his first save, no matter where it was).

Of course, you comparing him to an average basketball-player role-player didn't help your appearence. If you had said Lidge = Wholers, or Lidge = Kim, or Lidge = M. Williams... that would have still been extreme, but would have made a semblance of sense.

You didn't make much sense otherwise... and coming on here saying "I told you so" is a silly comment to make in the 19th game of a 162 game season.

No "I told you so", just reaffirming what I have already made clear in the past.

Anyways, the Lidge-Anderson comparo is only concerned with the mental aspect of the game, not talent or anything else...I thought that was obvious.

I will admit the Anderson comparo is a little extreme, but the point stands. All I am saying is that Brad Lidge's stock won't EVER again reach what it was pre-demoralization last season. Could Lidge get over it? Possibly, but his stock has fallen big time compared to what it used to be. I don't think anyone will argue with this point.

Just ask any great player and he will tell you that the game is 90% mental...all a guy has is his self-confidence and if you take that away a lot of former greats would be nothing more than average Joes.

[Kerfeld]

I still have faith in Lidge, he is struggling for sure, and I am not going to say I am not completely worried that this guy has lost it, but he still has his fastball in the upper nineties. I just think the book is out on him. Hitters know to lay off those sliders. His slider isnt as nasty as it used to be either.

Now it is time for Lidge to adapt...all the great ones do.

[rocketfat]

Clemens as closer? :D

[arif1127]

I don't recall making any psychic evaluations. Just simply calling it like I see it.

can you teach me to see fear through a tv? really, his location has been spotty the first 3 weeks of the season, and he's still 7 of 8 in saves, he and the stros will be fine. what was the difference between the other saves he had this year in which he struck people out or got double plays in pressure packed situations and tonight? the only difference was the result.
lidge is not "different" on the mound, he just isn't hitting his spots.

[Nice Rollin]

it ain't because of pujols. he lost his stuff waaaay before that home run.
it is cuz pujols. that homerun wouldve screwed mariano too

[Rule0001]

A blown save is a blown save... Mariano blew TWO saves in a series where his team was up 3-0. He blew a save in game 7 of the world series.

He's great... phenominal... but he does blow them too (even in the playoffs). The thing that makes him great is that he works on his problems, and comes back stronger... exactly the same thing that Lidge has been trying to do all season. (scrapping the windup, working on new pitches, and analyzing the hell out of himself).

Nope, Mariano's perfect. Never made a mistake. The hammer of God. He can do no wrong.

[gunn]

can you teach me to see fear through a tv? really, his location has been spotty the first 3 weeks of the season, and he's still 7 of 8 in saves, he and the stros will be fine. what was the difference between the other saves he had this year in which he struck people out or got double plays in pressure packed situations and tonight? the only difference was the result.
lidge is not "different" on the mound, he just isn't hitting his spots.

No, I can't. But I can sure as hell show you a pattern of shaky outtings late in games since the Pujols blast.

[Nice Rollin]

Nope, Mariano's perfect. Never made a mistake. The hammer of God. He can do no wrong.
what if he gave up a homerun to pujols that if the roof was open wouldve went into the parking lot and ****** up a car....im conviced pujols is God

[arif1127]

No, I can't. But I can sure as hell show you a pattern of shaky outtings late in games since the Pujols blast.

well, he got out of the first 7 "shaky" outtings to start the season, i don't think the memory of pujols was affecting him then. if he truly had gone all nick anderson after pujols shot, he wouldn't have saved 7 games this season. just go back and watch tapes of his pre-pujols games and post-pujols games, it all comes down to spotting the fastball. when he hits the corners with it, and gets ahead, he's fine. his problem has been location, tonight he left a fastball thigh high over the middle of the plate and nomar whacked it.

[Major]

No, I can't. But I can sure as hell show you a pattern of shaky outtings late in games since the Pujols blast.

Except the shake outings started before the Pujols game.

I suspect it's one of three things:

(1) (My theory) He's injured similar to how Wagner was (not necessarily the same injury, but the same concept). When Wagner was hurt in 2000, he refused to admit it, and you couldn't tell by watching his stuff. He still threw 98+ mph, but people just hit him.

(2) People figuring out his pitching / needing a new pitch. While it looks like this, I don't think this is the case at all. That would happen over a period of time, but with Lidge, it happened suddenly in game 4 of the NLCS. Until then, he was completely and totally unhittable, especially by the Cardinals. That game, they got their first run against him. Then the next game, Pujols had his HR. And it's been sketchy ever since. Figuring out a pitcher doesn't happen overnight.

(3) Control problems - this could be part of it, but I don't think he suddenly lost the ability to locate his pitches overnight. If this is the case, I suspect it is a result of #1.

[Nick]

No, I can't. But I can sure as hell show you a pattern of shaky outtings late in games since the Pujols blast.

What about the Cubs series before that... or how both games 3 and 4 of the NLCS were shaky saves before the game 5 meltdown?

Lidge should have blown game 4, he got lucky. He probably should have blown 1 or 2 games this year... he battled out of it.

Hitters have a book on him... its called swing at anything that looks like a strike, and lay off anything else because he just can't find the plate right now.

There are also two other possibilities: 1.) an injury of some kind that is subtle enough for him not to really notice it, but troublesome enough to cause a slight change in release point, arm slot, or leg-work. or 2.) the dreaded "s" word that has been floated as a reason for the offensive explosion this year (the fact that pitchers aren't on it anymore).

[DaDakota]

Last time I looked hitters were professional ball players too.

Lidge will work his way out, his stuff is NASTY.....

DD

[Nick]

In addition to the "Its all Pujols' fault" argument:

In that game, Lidge walks Edmonds (a guy he flat out owned more than any other Cardinals) BEFORE he faced Pujols.

That perfectly fits the pattern we're seeing now from him, and saw earlier in his career... a guy with control issues. Perhaps it could be an injury, but he's pitched a ton since last year's playoffs (ST, the WBC, and now the first 19 games)... if Lidge knew something was wrong physically, he'd say it (its not like he hasn't recovered from injuries before).

Also, Major... IIRC, he gave up his first run against the Cards in game 3 (didn't end up meaning anything), needed the amazing DP to save game 4 (a game he should have blown), and the game 5 that I already said he was asking for it by letting Pujols come up to bat.

Hell, if you want to blame anybody, blame Eckstein... if he doesn't get a 0-2 meatball to hit, Lidge has a 1-2-3 inning... which would have been his most recent 1-2-3 inning at this point.

[toby]

Clemens as closer? :D
he has the balls to do it . . . but i don't think he has the energy to go out there every other day . . . travel with the team everywhere . . .

a great dream though . . . clemens starting every ten days and closing on home stands . . . hell, get him on the left field wall instead of wilson . . . alas, just a dream

[Saint Louis]

Clemens as closer? :D

That was my first thought after seeing on Yahoo that Lidge blew the game. It seemed like Clemens was pretty pumped about coming out of the bullpen in that extra inning playoff game. The only issue is that the closer has to be at the game every night, no skipping games on road trips.

To be honest, Lidge hasn't looked the same since Pujols hit that shot. He just seems shaky. Too early to go to plan B, but management better start thinking of one if it comes to that.

[Buck Turgidson]

Ugh... the bandwagoners (ie - Rockets fans who are not baseball fans) are striking again... too bad it took 19 games for them to come out of the woodwork, but here they come.
The GARMification of this forum is almost complete.

Pretty ****ing sad.

[My Lund]

Friday SEP 30th 2005 Vs CUBS
Berkman homered in the 8th to give the Astros the lead.
Lidge Blew the save.
NLCS game 5 2005
Berkman homered in the 7th to give the Astros the lead.
Lidge blew the save.
Monday APR 24th vs DODGERS
Berkman homered in the 8th to give the Astros the lead.
Lidge blew the save.

All of Lidge's notable blown saves have come after a HR by Lance Berkman late in the game. Is this a bad omen or just a quirky fact?

[My Lund]

If our bullpen is this lousy then the Astros are toast. On a sidenote: how good does Mariano Rivera look in light of the the shocking collapse of Lidge and Gagne's injury problems? I think he's one of the top 5 players in the last 20 years. Best reliever of all time.

I would not be so sure. Let me point out that he blew the save in game 7 of the 2001 WS. Several more since then especially in 2004 against the Red Sox in the playoffs. The fact is that blown saves are a part of the game. Just because Lidge blew one save this season he is already collapsed? great !!!

[texanskan]

Friday SEP 30th 2005 Vs CUBS
Berkman homered in the 8th to give the Astros the lead.
Lidge Blew the save.
NLCS game 5 2005
Berkman homered in the 7th to give the Astros the lead.
Lidge blew the save.
Monday APR 24th vs DODGERS
Berkman homered in the 8th to give the Astros the lead.
Lidge blew the save.

All of Lidge's notable blown saves have come after a HR by Lance Berkman late in the game. Is this a bad omen or just a quirky fact?

It just means Berkman in ****ing clutch.

[ryan17wagner]

No, Rocket will not be a closer. No, Brad Lidge isn't hurt. I don't know if the memo came out, but Lidge is human. You can't win every game. You can't save every game. Don't freak out. I don't care who you are.....if you can't locate your pitches and get ahead; You're asking for trouble. There's a reason why people say, "Walks will kill ya." Every pitcher knows that phrase. He'll be fine. Go 'Stros!

[LongTimeFan]

He'll be fine. Go 'Stros!

He hasn't been fine since Pujols sent one into orbit. He has had plenty of time to mentally recover since, and hasn't. The bottom line is Lidge is no longer a "top-flight" closer. Even when he does get the save he has struggled.

[arkoe]

He hasn't been fine since Pujols sent one into orbit. He has had plenty of time to mentally recover since, and hasn't. The bottom line is Lidge is no longer a "top-flight" closer.

Which is why Lidge is leading the NL in saves and is 2nd in the NL among relievers in K's.

I'm not going to argue with you that he's looked shaky, but come on. Ensberg was in a funk in the playoffs last year too. He's figured it out. Lidge will do the same.

[The Real Shady]

7 walks in 10 innings by Lidge is unacceptable. Instead of nibbling around batters and getting into bases loaded jams, he needs to come at people with the fastball to get ahead and drop in the occasional slider. If he gives up a home run because he can't locate his fastball so be it. It sure beats having to deal with the bases loaded because you walked 2 batters.

[MadMax]

wait...is the season over again? ;)

[MadMax]

If our bullpen is this lousy then the Astros are toast. On a sidenote: how good does Mariano Rivera look in light of the the shocking collapse of Lidge and Gagne's injury problems? I think he's one of the top 5 players in the last 20 years. Best reliever of all time.

shocking collapse of lidge???

where am i?

the guy has been shaky. i don't think i'm ready to write off his career just yet.

damn...now i'm gonna have to go buy a lidge t-shirt to counteract all this nonsense. you fools have me spending more of my hard-earned money!

[russian88]

Lidge just needs to have his head checked....heh his probs are all mental right now. He will be fine. His location this early in the year sucks and that's why he is struggling.

[Major]

No, Rocket will not be a closer. No, Brad Lidge isn't hurt. I don't know if the memo came out, but Lidge is human. You can't win every game. You can't save every game. Don't freak out. I don't care who you are.....if you can't locate your pitches and get ahead; You're asking for trouble. There's a reason why people say, "Walks will kill ya." Every pitcher knows that phrase. He'll be fine. Go 'Stros!

The problem has nothing to do with the blown save - it's the underlying season long numbers. He's being consistently hit this year, and his walks are up substantially. The problem finally came to hurt him yesterday, but the problem has been looming all year long.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6913/career;_ylt=As7iuTcpXxzuiz6q9GOnqJiFCLcF

Here's his career - check out his last two year's Walks and Hits per Inning, and Batting Average Against. Those are the concerns - he's simply not dominating hitters this year (oddly, though, his strikeout pace is the same as always).

[Buck Turgidson]

Lidge just needs to have his head checked....heh his probs are all mental right now. He will be fine. His location this early in the year sucks and that's why he is struggling.
So which is it? Is is "all mental" or is his location for sh!t right now?

The presumptuous kneejerk bullsh!t armchair psychology going on here is a joke. None of you have the foggiest idea what's going through his head. None. None of you have talked to him, none of you have talked to people who have talked to him.

You're writing a script you think sounds plausible.

He's had crappy months before - look at May last year: 0-2, 2 blown saves, 4.7+ ERA, .296 BA against. Not pretty. He turned it around, good players always do.

[Texas Stoke]

Lidge will be alright when he gets control of his slider again. Every Slider he threw last night was in the dirt. So of course Nomar was sitting on fastball.

[Buck Turgidson]

Here's (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060424&content_id=1416333&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou) what went down last night:

"I tried to go for some strikeouts to two patient hitters," Lidge said. "You'd like to face different guys in that situation, but Kent and J.D Drew are pretty good hitters."

"He didn't go fishing for any sliders," Lidge said. "He battled back in the count. It was a pitch I was hoping to get and I didn't." [The 2-2 (iirc, maybe 3-2) slider on the outside corner missed by an inch or 2. Not too many hitters take that one.]

Then:

"Jeff Kent's the same type of hitter, very patient," Lidge said. "He didn't go fishing for any sliders. I wanted to keep Kenny Lofton on third, so I've got to throw some pitches out of the strike zone. They just did a good job of not swinging." [Sounds like a good approach to 2 good hitters with the tying run on 3rd in a 1-run game.]

"Early, maybe I threw too many sliders and then to Nomar, I threw one too many fastballs. It's one of those deals where if I'm making better pitches from the get-go, then I don't have to face that. I'm very disappointed with what happened."

"I threw him two fastballs that were pretty good and then threw him the third one and he was right on it," Lidge said. "He was a great hitter and unfortunately, that's what happened tonight." [Wait...I thought he was scared to challenge hitters with his fastball?]

Now...that sounds like a good approach...what part of this indicates some sort of mental dysfunction? Or could it be:

"Lidge acknowledged that his location was a bit off on Monday, but he feels that, overall, he's the same as always. He senses he may be "jerking" the ball, and he'll be studying tape in an attempt to rectify that mechanical flaw.

'I'm definitely going to be looking at that and trying to straighten it out," he said. "I felt it a little bit as I was doing it. I'm not really staying true on my path to home plate, I was pulling it a little bit.'"

Nah...couldn't be that. I'm sure he's still having nightmares about homeruns he gave up 7 months ago.

[Nick]

Dude... Lidge sounds like a freakin gamer. Not many guys would come back that same night and not only take the blame, not only say he'll work harder and vow to improve, but go through systematically and analyze each individual pitch (and why he threw it) in each situation.

I'm sure many of you have once been good at something (golf, tennis, work)... only to mysteriously find out one day that you're having trouble. You gotta figure out what's wrong, and you have to fix it... end of story.

"But Lidge is so messsssed up in the head... I think he's having PTSD (or some other crap)... I don't think he wants to pitch anymore... he's so dejected and nervous out there, he has no clue what he's doing... he's done... "

What concerns me more about this team is that they're going to need some production from the #5 spot soon... whether it be Wilson, Lane, or Burke.

[Nick]

The problem has nothing to do with the blown save - it's the underlying season long numbers. He's being consistently hit this year, and his walks are up substantially. The problem finally came to hurt him yesterday, but the problem has been looming all year long.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6913/career;_ylt=As7iuTcpXxzuiz6q9GOnqJiFCLcF

Here's his career - check out his last two year's Walks and Hits per Inning, and Batting Average Against. Those are the concerns - he's simply not dominating hitters this year (oddly, though, his strikeout pace is the same as always).

Notice how his WHIP increased last year from 2004 (he was truly unhittable the second half of that year). The more times hitters see him, they get a better feel for that slider.

Lidge, seeing that guys weren't swinging away at his stuff in the dirt, probably tried to adjust to that... tried to stay ahead of the batters. Unfortunately, its manifested in poor control, and falling behind in counts.

The fact that his K numbers are the same is no suprise... his stuff is still good against a majority of hitters. But, against the ones who do have the right approach to him, and CAN recognize the slider as its being released... he has started to struggle.

[macalu]

it would help if he didn't throw his slider into the dirt 10 feet in front of the plate.

[MadMax]

Lidge will be alright when he gets control of his slider again. Every Slider he threw last night was in the dirt. So of course Nomar was sitting on fastball.

i told my wife that very thing last night during the nomar at-bat.

[msn]

Notice how his WHIP increased last year from 2004 (he was truly unhittable the second half of that year). The more times hitters see him, they get a better feel for that slider.

Lidge, seeing that guys weren't swinging away at his stuff in the dirt, probably tried to adjust to that... tried to stay ahead of the batters. Unfortunately, its manifested in poor control, and falling behind in counts.

The fact that his K numbers are the same is no suprise... his stuff is still good against a majority of hitters. But, against the ones who do have the right approach to him, and CAN recognize the slider as its being released... he has started to struggle.
But hasn't he been able to put that slider in the strike zone at times? I thought I've seen him get the called 3rd strike on the corner with that nasty thing a number of times. What struck me last night, beyond the sliders in the dirt, were the sliders coming in on the other side of the plate from where Ausmus set up. Dude's control was so off, I was wondering if his arm was sore.

[msn]

Nah...couldn't be that. I'm sure he's still having nightmares about homeruns he gave up 7 months ago.
Agreed.

[My Lund]

Nobody knows for sure what the problem with Lidge is,except for Lidge himself. Maybe its mechanics, maybe its God or maybe even Jodie Foster ;) The fact is that after one blown save in April you cannot write off a guy as collapsed. We will have to wait and see how he does in his future outings. I would be worried if this continues through July but right now it is April guys . The team is 13-6 sit back and enjoy.