Brad Lidge has not been right for sometime. Many of us are pulling for him to get it back because, when he's one, he's one of the best closers in the game. When he's off, he's Tim Redding and Chris Holt combined . I think he will be on a fairly short leash. Continue as he has been pitching in 2006 and this spring training, I'm guessing he's out of the role permanently by June 1. Where do you think the situation will be by June 1?
I'm pretty sure it has to be Wheeler, but I selected other, as I would like to see my darkhorse candidate, Fernando Nieve, get a try, as he has 'closer stuff' with his fastball/slider.
thanks for that v3.0. Why don't you post a pic of Don Beebe stepping out of bounds while you're at it? I think it'll be Lidge. But I don't think "he'll be right and save 40+".
nowhere close to that. remember, pujols went home...lidge went to the world series and won the pennant.
I hope we will have the courage to depose him as closer if he performs badly. My nightmare is that he looks awful...but still manages to close like 70% of his chances and Garner doesn't make the move because it would be upsetting to Brad.
He has what Purp described as "the best curveball in the minor league system" and added a splitter last year. He is indeed filthy. "Oooohh man" to quote Purp. I'd think Wheeler would get the first crack, given that's who they turned to last year for a bit & he has some experience closing games in the bigs The Stros have options in case Lidge can't get it together. Having options going into the season is pretty much all you can ask for when dealing with uncertainties (3B, 2B, RF, CF, back of the rotation, closer).
Why do you think that - as a guy who is described by all who would know as "mentally tough", a guy who had to suffer/battle through multiple arm surgeries & other injuries in the minors, who once thought his career would be over before he even sniffed the big leagues - this one moment has mentally scarred him beyond repair?
