Wheeler should be the closer, but Gar wont make the move. I think Sampson could make a decent closer too, if all else fails
Im just saying look at Lidge's performance since game 5 of the NLCS. You cant tell me that Pujols' bomb didnt do anything to him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN3_h_XKAWg<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GN3_h_XKAWg"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GN3_h_XKAWg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> Another nail in the coffin for Lidge
If that's the case, why did he start 2006 so well? In his first 7 appearances, he had 4 saves in 4 opportunities, 7 IP, 1 run and 9 Ks. Shouldn't Pujols HR have affected him to start the season or did he all of a sudden start thinking about it 2 weeks into the season?
Before game 5 you could argue that Lidge was the best closer in the game. Since that game he is just average and im pretty sure you hold your breath everytime the Astros are up by one in the 9th with Lidge on the mound. Almost every Astro fan does. I would rather have Wheeler up there.
No, even the last Cubs series of that season Lidge was having problems. It was going on before the Pujols shot.
You should look at his performance in the two or so weeks prior to that bomb, when he was already starting to suck.
I hope like hell it is Lidge, but I have a sinking feeling that he has lost it for good. The team can not afford to go another season and let him ruin their confidence by blowing lead after lead. If he struggles he has to go down to AAA to work it out.. DD
All I know is that I'll break everything in my living room the first time Lidge blows a lead...all hell will break loose.
I dont remember him struggling the last 2wks in 05 but for the most part Lidge was maybe the best closer in the MLB that season. He blew past the Braves in the divisonal round and the Pujols blast messed his mind up for some reason. He even gave up a walkoff shot to Podsednik and he didnt hit any homers in the regular season. I guess we have different views on it but I think that Pujols shot is still bothering Lidge to a certain degree.
this isn't about opinions. the fact is that lidge was struggling well before the pujols blast. people stick that in their memory cause it was one of the most dramatic moments in astros history, but it wasn't the end of lidge. had he gotten that save, he still wouldn't be any different than he is now.
i would agree with you....IF: 1. he weren't already struggling coming in to that; 2. the Astros had actually lost that series.
From my recollection, he was in trouble in the previous games before the Pujols blast, like he allowed some runners on base, was deep in the count before eventually closing them out. The Pujols blast was the crack in the dam that broke it open, and now Lidge is basically Nick Anderson after he missed those FT in the finals, emotionally damaged. Remember Nick was a good FT shooter before that, after that he plummeted to Shaq like level.
The "Lidge head case" theory has been shot down so many times by so many facts, it's really sad to see people still arguing it. His 2006 wasn't nearly what his 2004 and 2005 were, but it was due to fatigue and poor mechanics, not "Pujols nightmares". I voted for Lidge, but only out of hope--IF he's in his 2004-2005 form, that means the Astros are probably 1st in the division or very close to it.
