Its obvious that Brad Lidge's career is done. He has blown so many games in post season now. The people who said he wouldn't recover after the Pujols HR, well, it seems like they were right. He should never play for Houston again. He is finished.
Ummm, OK! I think he might have caught some of that Nick Anderson syndrome since the Pujols HR, it clearly missed up his psyche (despite all the denials). However, I wouldn't give up on such a talent, and hopefully a brand new season for him to regain his form will be enough to get him back on track.
Brad Lidge is the most dominant closer in the national league. I'm sorry that you think because a) Albert Pujols hits a mistake a mile and b) the Whitesox who from 1-9 this series had good AB's pretty much every time up hit him in 2 non save situations it means his career is done. It's not.
I don't know if he's done but seeing Brad Lidge come down to earth was like when you're about 13 and realize that your dad isn't superman. That whole Brad Lidge "aura" is gone now. I mean, he was freaking Brad Lidge. I think he'll still be a good closer for the duration of his career, but all of that perception of him is now gone.
Don't forget how many games Clemens should have won but didn't due to pathetic run support. We had the best pitching in the majors this year, bar none. Including Lidge. But you can only do so much with no bats. Evan
I can see from the time you posted that you are stinging from the end of the game, and probably drunk. It's easy to vent and say such things. Yea, he blew some saves, but Mariano Rivera did it too, and his carreer wasn't over. So take a deep breath, look at the big picture, and post again...
That's ridiculous. I guess we should get rid of all the Astros for failing to get timely hits as well.
The guy is not done. It's called putting your closer out there for 2 innings at a time. That wears on you after awhile, especially after a long season.
The list of closers who choked in the World Series that were able to come back is a very very short list. Lidge could do it, but he needs to be a mentally tough person. Personally, I saw him struggling since game 4 of the NLCS.
Lidge definitely is not done ... He struggled down the stretch (even at the end of the season he had rough outings, but he was able to get the outs when he needed them). It happens .. Players slump and his came at a bad time. He'll be back.
I honestly don't know if Lidge will completely recover from this postseason. Remember, he struggled in 4 consecutive games against the Cards before losing 2 games in the World Series. The Pujols home run and the home run in Game 2 will be hard to live down. But to say he is "done" is crazy. Tell you who is done: Roger Clemens. His breaking down reminds me of Nolan Ryan. He should go out on top. What a great final season for a 43 year old.
It depends on what your definition of "done" is. Will he still remain a good pitcher? Probably so. Will he ever be the same dominating pitcher that he was prior to this postseason? Probably not.
Barring injury, Brad Lidge will be among the nastiest closers in all of baseball and get 35-50 saves (depending on how many games the team is in position to win). You can take that to the bank.
I don't think he's the next Mitch Williams, but he has definitely lost his edge in the playoffs...He'll bounce back next year...I hope...
