He's doing a much better job of mixing up his pitches. And, the late-breaking slider is still unhittable... the only problem he has is executing that pitch perfectly every time (he overthrew it a couple of times, they swung and missed at one). When his mechanics became sloppy, it was because batters were getting themselves out by swinging at those terrible pitches in the dirt. Thus, he lost the feel for the perfectly-executed late-breaking slider. I'm glad for him that he got it back... mainly because I hate the fact that the 2005 Astros are more associated with Pujols hitting a HR than actually going to the World Series.
Sorry, just the majority of Red Sox fans (and the media that glorifies them). The ones who think they're still the underdogs and the whole us vs the world mentality. Most likely because they're the Yankees of this decade. Didn't mean to offend you though. I'm rooting for Philly to win.
Can't wait to see the Lidge vs Manny matchup just to get that stigma off his back (or made worse, but at least we know he won't be affected by it).
But if Manny happens to get a hit (or even a HR) off Lidge, I won't immediately be thinking... "oh no, Lidge has lost it... he'll never be the same." Why? Because Manny Ramirez is a freaking good hitter. Freaking good hitters get hits (big hits, HUGE hits) off good pitchers. Albert Pujols is a freaking good hitter. Lance Berkman is a freaking good hitter. If all these hitters ever did was hit HR's off awful pitchers (which plenty of average hitters do), they wouldn't be in such high demand. Likewise... mediocre to average pitchers win the battle more than 70% of the time. Elite pitchers get closer to 80%. Lights out pitchers are expected to be around 90%. I guarantee that of those 10 or so percent if hitters that lights out pitchers allow hits to.... elite hitters make up a huge bulk of that damage.
Who knew: Cubs actually had bats at Dodger Stadium Oct. 9, 2008 By Scott Miller CBSSports.com Senior Writer PHILADELPHIA -- Turns out, the Chicago Cubs left their biggest mark on the postseason in the visitors' dugout in Dodger Stadium. After Game 3. When one of them took a bat to a big, thick water pipe behind the dugout, took aim, smashed it to smithereens and flooded the place. Amazingly, none of the television cameras caught the culprit on video and the heavy-hitter Cub's identity remains a mystery. But in the aftermath of Chicago's 3-1 loss, the Cubs had to slosh back to their clubhouse as the dugout filled up with six or so inches of water. The Cubs are expected to pay for the damage. Sources with knowledge of the situation said Chicago general manager Jim Hendry told Dodgers personnel before the Cubs headed home to send them a bill and they'd pay. Who knows, maybe it's the same guy who took a bat to Sammy Sosa's boombox in the Cubs clubhouse following the final home game of the 2004 season. Link ------------------------------------------------- Hilarious! Talk about adding insult to injury.
Lidge just walked the tying run up to the plate... one out And they're talking about how he blew the save as an Astro.
Yeah, baseball fans/analysts never cease to amaze me. I'll quote Nick from a few posts back: No matter how good a closer is, on occasion someone's going to hit a home run or score a run or two. It's part of baseball -- no one's going to have a 0.00 ERA. Yet, here we are, three years after the fact... and you have still have a few idiots rambling incoherently about how Albert Pujols (the game's best hitter) hit a home run. Are you kidding me? It's not a big deal. In any event, Lidge is now 4-for-4 in save opportunities in the playoffs (and closed out one more game, with a four-run lead) with a postseason ERA of 1.50. This after going 15-for-15 in August and September with an ERA under 2 with the division on the line. Remember during the All-Star Game, when all the conspiracy nutjobs swore he wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of big games and he'd blow saves all over the place? *crickets chirping*
I'm really pulling for Tampa Bay. I bet Gerry Hunsicker is loving it. I sure as hell wish we could have kept him around.
Good for Lidge and the Phillies. I also want the Rays to win. The last thing I want to see is a Dodgers vs. Red Sox series where ESPN and the national writers milk the drama and past relationships to the point of nausea. Let's have some fresh blood in the World Series and create brand new Fall Classic heroes.
