I guess you saw this coming...

[thacabbage]

Where does Lidge rank right now among MLB closers? Outside of Rivera, Smoltz, and Gagne, I can't think of anyone else I'de want on the mound out there.

Also, didn't he beak the record for strikeouts by a reliever a few nights ago?

[arkoe]

FWIW, here are his fantasy comparison rankings:

Eric Gagne 1900.50
Johan Santana 1877
Randy Johnson 1851
Mariano Rivera 1710
Brad Lidge 1505

Edit: This is from mlb.com.

[SamCassell]

He doesn't have a full season of closing experience, so I don't know if it's fair to compare him, but I'd take the following as being as good or better than Lidge based on current and past performance.

Gagne
Rivera
Smoltz
Hoffman
Benitez
Nathan

The last two have had breakout seasons, the others are long-established. Elite company to be sure.

[francis 4 prez]

it sure has been nice to transition from one dominating closer in wagner basically straight into another one (with a little dotel hiccup in between) in lidge. it sure is nice having a lead wrapped up after 8.

[Lil Francis]

Originally posted by thacabbage
Where does Lidge rank right now among MLB closers? Outside of Rivera, Smoltz, and Gagne, I can't think of anyone else I'de want on the mound out there.

Also, didn't he beak the record for strikeouts by a reliever a few nights ago? What about Jason I.(cant spell last name) for St Louis? He is one of the best also.

[DaDakota]

I wonder where all the people are that were saying he could not hold up for the year, and it was too early to try him as a closer?

Those that wanted to hang on to Dotel....ehem...Major...????


DD

[robbie380]

i think since he has taken over the closing job including tonight he has around a 1.50 era, 19 of 21 saves, 5 wins (2 of which were the blown saves) and 2 losses (came in tied and blew the game), and 86 ks in 50 IP. i added some of that up so i may be off a bit, but that should be close.

[robbie380]

Originally posted by DaDakota
I wonder where all the people are that were saying he could not hold up for the year, and it was too early to try him as a closer?

Those that wanted to hang on to Dotel....ehem...Major...????


DD

i was a doubter of lidge, but i certainly wasn't a supporter of that crappy dotel. dotel choked too much. lidge has proven he is a clutch player.

[bigtexxx]

Who would you rather have? Billy Wagner or Brad Lidge?

[Uprising]

Once I saw Dotel pitch in his first couple of games as a closer, I seriosly began doubting his ability. I was one of the people who said move Lidge over as the closer.

I wasn't upset at all when Dotel was traded. Lidge has so much more in his pitchs, variety.

[Nick]

Originally posted by bigtexxx
Who would you rather have? Billy Wagner or Brad Lidge?

Lets wait till the playoffs for that argument...

Wagner has already proved it over 4+ seasons... Lidge has just finished half a year.

Of course, Billy couldn't do squat in the playoffs.

Also, I like the fact that
a.)Lidge can pitch more than one effective inning.
AND
b.) Lidge has 2 amazing pitches, one of them being nearly unhittable (Wagner had only the fastball... and if you somehow made contact... you could get lucky).

Also, he's getting all sorts of pressure saves this year, and he only looks to be getting better.

[teknokid]

Byung Kim

[DaDakota]

Probably should have just put up this link (http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78758&perpage=30&pagenumber=2)

Just to see who wanted Lidge and who thought Dotel should stay.

Buck..Major, Robbie...???

DD

[Bassfly]

Before you guys all jump on the Lidge bandwagon you have to realize that Lidge is the best reliever on a horrible bullpen. I'm not saying I was opposed to the Dotel-Beltran deal, but that trade, by all means, did not answer any questions for us at that time, and just made a bad bullpen worse. Yes Dotel got us Beltran, but to suggest that we "unloaded him" or "he needed to go" is just foolish.

[Uprising]

Originally posted by Uprising
I also tense up when Dotel comes on to the field to pitch. I just don't think he has the mentality needed to pitch as a closer.

I would love to see Lidge try closing a game.

Well, we were 11 games over .500 when I left Houston. And since we have sucked monkey balls.

I am flying back to Houston tonight, so perhaps we will once again become a hot team. (crossing fingers).....


Awww YEAH! I have always been on the Lidge as a closer wagon.

[Groogrux]

Major is banned. Not fair to call him out. :)

[Refman]

Originally posted by Rocketman95
Major is banned. Not fair to call him out. :)
What did he get banned for? I never remember him posting anything but thoughtful, well drafted posts. I am really in shock.

[Refman]

Originally posted by Bassfly
Before you guys all jump on the Lidge bandwagon you have to realize that Lidge is the best reliever on a horrible bullpen. I'm not saying I was opposed to the Dotel-Beltran deal, but that trade, by all means, did not answer any questions for us at that time, and just made a bad bullpen worse. Yes Dotel got us Beltran, but to suggest that we "unloaded him" or "he needed to go" is just foolish.
19 saves in 21 opportunities with that low of an ERA makes him a lot more than just the best releiver on a bad bullpen.

Those are some blow you away type stats.

[adeelsiddiqui]

Originally posted by Refman
19 saves in 21 opportunities with that low of an ERA makes him a lot more than just the best releiver on a bad bullpen.

Those are some blow you away type stats.

dont forget the K's, more than many starters.

[Bassfly]

sorry for the confusion, i realize what i said came off wrong. i didnt mean to make the arguement that 'he puts up good numbers on a bad team' similar to a SAR on the hawks. i meant that he is the lone highlight on a horrid bullpen.

[BigM]

Originally posted by Bassfly
sorry for the confusion, i realize what i said came off wrong. i didnt mean to make the arguement that 'he puts up good numbers on a bad team' similar to a SAR on the hawks. i meant that he is the lone highlight on a horrid bullpen.

yeah i was about to say something about your last post until you clarified. our bullpen took a hit this year but i 'm getting a little more confidence in guys like harville and now qualls.

dotel is obviously not great closer material but as a set-up man he's nasty and about as good in that role as you can get. ideally it'd be nice to have lidge as the closer with dotel setting him up but once we promoted dotel we couldn't put him back in the eighth without shaking his confidence even more. anyways i'd rather have beltran even if it does turn out to be a rental, this year has been fun(at least the last month or so) :)

[redgoose]

I could see Dotel in pinstripes next year as a setup man. And no, i'm no talking about Astros pinstripes. Plus, he played in NY before. So he should be comfortable playing there again.

But we need to find some bullpen help in the off season. After resigning Beltran, that should be priority #1.

I often wonder if we could turn Redding into a great setup man. Then he could use all his arsenal in 1or 2 innings and not worry about pitching a whole game. If some of you remember, Lidge used to be a starting pitcher for us, but he was too injury prone.

[NJRocket]

Originally posted by SamCassell
He doesn't have a full season of closing experience, so I don't know if it's fair to compare him, but I'd take the following as being as good or better than Lidge based on current and past performance.

Gagne
Rivera
Smoltz
Hoffman
Benitez
Nathan

The last two have had breakout seasons, the others are long-established. Elite company to be sure.

Wags has to be on that list as well

[Rocket Fan]

Lidge has been awesome.. if we can find a really good guy to put before him.. like we had in the dotel wagner tandem. that would be even better..

[DaDakota]

The Dotel/Lidge/Wagner bullpen did not get us into the playoffs.

;)

DD

[MadMax]

Originally posted by DaDakota
The Dotel/Lidge/Wagner bullpen did not get us into the playoffs.

;)

DD

i'm hoping that wink means you're not serious.

[DaDakota]

Originally posted by MadMax
i'm hoping that wink means you're not serious.

Of course !!

But true for last year.

DD

[MadMax]

Originally posted by DaDakota


But true for last year.

DD

what do you mean?

[DaDakota]

I mean that we finished one game out of the playoffs last year with an outstanding bullpen.

DD

[Refman]

Originally posted by Rocket Fan
Lidge has been awesome.. if we can find a really good guy to put before him.. like we had in the dotel wagner tandem. that would be even better..
Chad Qualls has looked pretty impressive.

[Groogrux]

I was cursing DD's name when Lidge walked Rolen and got behind on Edmonds! I thought he'd jinxed him! :D

[LongTimeFan]

Originally posted by DaDakota
I mean that we finished one game out of the playoffs last year with an outstanding bullpen.

DD

Weren't you also the one that was calling for Drayton to blow up the team?

I think it was something along the lines of,


"Blow them up !!!!!

DD"

Sounds about right ;)

[DaDakota]

Originally posted by LongTimeFan
Weren't you also the one that was calling for Drayton to blow up the team?

I think it was something along the lines of,


"Blow them up !!!!!

DD"

Sounds about right ;)

Yep,

That was me, quick draw Macgraw....

DD

[PiPdAdY33]

I think we're fairly set as in the role of set up man next year with either Qualls or Harville stepping in nicely.