If Lidge can't prove in Spring that he deserves the closers role then it is Garners responsibility to do whats best for the team. If he sticks to his stubborn ways like he did last year, it will be his job that he is hanging on the line.
Trade Lidge for Carr! They're both shell shocked! However, I don't think Drayton would take on the salary and the Texans wouldn't want the cap hit. But you can trade Lidge to the Sox for the curse of the Bambino or a case of baseballs that would have gone into the Crawford boxes anyway. Then have one of our 2 farm stud pitchers close rather than start in the minors since Wandy somehow always gets a spot in the rotation. Just make sure Adam Everett is included somehow included in the trade, even if we have to bring back Lugo and hire extra security to break up fights between him and his wife in the parking lot occasionally.
I'll resere to make a judgement on Lidge until he sees some real action in the regular season, I'd imagine Gar will have him on a short leash. But until I actually hear some direct news regarding his situation, it's really hard to get a guage on what is going on with him.
i heard garner saying nieve was competing for the 5th spot which i guess implies that the 4th is already wandy's. how disgusting is that. it really pisses me off that sampson isn't given a shot to be a starter. he doesn't have electric stuff and he has a small sample size of major league work, but he's done nothing but produce.
I'd like to give Lidge the benefit of the doubt seeing as how he is experimenting with his cutter and not using the slider as much...but he needs to make some serious strides over the next 2 weeks or else we could be in trouble. I wonder if Lidge and Luke could fetch us a starter good enough to push Woody to the 4 spot.
It seems like Brad Lidge was at the top of the mountain at the 2005 all-star game, striking out the sides in like 11 pitches. Then he slowly started to lose it.
Not even close. I was in St. Louis when Ankiel's meltdown started... the kid was 21 years old, a lefty, DOMINATING down the stretch run, ready to summon the ghosts of Koufax/Spahn/Grove/Ford all in one... and BOOM. Could not find the plate AT ALL during a first round playoff game (actually, that's putting it lightly... he was throwing to the backstop). Then, does the same thing against the Mets in the NL freaking CS. Then, a tommy john surgery later, he's an outfielder. Let Lidge experiment with his cutter all he wants... but in the end, he needs to get back to harnessing the slider/not overthrowing.
Nick, it was more of a metaphor than a one on one comparison. But, Lidge's biggest issue is his lack of control on his fastball. He has not been able to locate it down in the strike zone like he used to. I understand he is experimenting with a cutter.....he used to have a great curveball...I wonder why he is not using that? Seems that would be better than a cutter...he needs an offspeed pitch. DD
Without Wandy, we don't have a lefty in the rotation; So I'm guessing that's why he continues to have his chances. But then you have to ask yourself, is having a lefty with experience who is prone to the big inning and has confidence issues better than a righty with little experience but has shown some good stuff in the time he's been here?
Sampson should be #4 of #5. Forget all that Wandy lefty mess. What good is a lefty if they have an era of 6?
Why is Pence continously being used as a damn PH in these Spring Training games when Lane is getting 3ABs???? ARRRRHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
