It doesn't have to be a war... I just think your opinions aren't very well thought out, uneduated, and sometimes just flat-out wrong ("Wagner is the most accomplished/experienced post-season bullpen pitcher the Astros have ever had").
The course of this year has consisted of Lidge continuing his funk from last year to start the season... beind demoted... regaining his mechanics through more regular work (something that was never done last season)... regaining his job (but no save opportunities)... getting hurt... and then fully regaining his job and looking quite good in doing so. Given that you can't control for a guy with faulty mechanics, or being hurt, Lidge's stats quo season as closer began after he came off the DL... and he's looked pretty damn good since then. I hardly see how that means its "par" for the course. The only thing I care about Lidge is if he's throwing the good slider consistently. It sets up EVERYTHING... makes hitters look silly on his 97-98 mph fastball (which he can throw anywhere), and makes them look doubly silly on the slider. The slider Braun hit broke late, and was at his calf... I don't care where on the plate it was (even though it was at the same part of the plate that he routinely gets hitters... even the above average ones... to swing over), if he can throw that pitch in that same location consistently, he's still the guy I want as a closer. You say he can't be a closer because he couldn't get a pitch that routinely breaks DOWN to break 3-4 inches in or out (which ultimately may not have made a difference, with the way Braun went down and GOT that pitch).
Maybe you can post Lidge's stats as a middle reliever this year and tell us again how he'll be fine. That'll probably shut up all those whiners!
I'm not sure I get the point of this. Even though I think it's beyond ridiculous to think he can be a dominant setup man but not a dominant closer, what aspect of that home run tonight was mental? It would be one thing if he missed his location on a consistent basis, trying to throw the "superhuman" slider as Garner calls it. That can be a product of nerves. He didn't miss his location. He made his pitch. He threw his best pitch. He threw it out of the zone. A great hitter simply made an incredible swing and hit it out... what could he have done? While I would disagree with you, if he had hung a slider and Braun took advantage of his mistake, I could at least see where you were coming from (in hinting that he can be a good middle reliever, not a closer). With this, he made absolutely his best pitch, so what you're saying makes absolutely zero logical sense. If you think this is a result of Lidge not having enough pitches, I disagree, but whatever -- I can understand that. But if that's the case, then Lidge should and will have problems everywhere and in every pitching role -- not just the ninth inning.
Bottom line: want to complain? That's fine. But don't complain with some abstract, ridiculous line of BS that has nothing to do with this game in this series. Look at the pitch, the scenario, and analyze what he could've and should've done differently, because I'm not seeing it. The pitch was his best slider, down and well out of the zone. Want to complain that he can't close? Well, if this is "mental," what part of this was a mistake? Where did he screw up? If you can't identify that, you're whining. It's rare, but sometimes the best pitches in the world can be hit for home runs. Likewise, on some occasions, you can crush a pitch about as hard as humanly possible, but it might be lined right at someone. Or in the case of Scott's 433-foot shot in the 17 inning game with the Mets, it might have to do with a strange ballpark and an incredible play by the opponent. It's a game, and you can't control everything. Crazy things happen sometimes.
The sad part was that I actually thought the Astros might have a miracle run in them. Just watched the highlights. This was a bad loss. The Brewers own us this year.
If this was the beginning of the season, I'd agree w/ your thoughts on lidge...but he's been pitching pretty damn well since being put back into the closer's role and coming back from his injury. And I never said what the main factors were in putting the team deep in the postseason in '04 and '05...I just said that Qualls, Wheeler and Lidge helped. It's quite simple really... Wagner's postseason stats: 9.58 ERA, 10.1 IP w/ 11 runs and 3 out of 4 in saves Lidge: 2.52 ERA, 25 IP w/ 7 runs and 6 out of 8 in saves Shoot you talk about experience, well Lidge has pitched more than twice the amount of innings than Wagner in the playoffs.
w/e...i don't trust him as a closer. it doesnt take a genious to figure out that he isnt the guy you want out there in a close game.
Same old thang. Bullpen blows another game. What's new. Let's go Texans....then Let's go Rockets....then let's go Astros. What's new.
Ya know... I still hate Wagner for how he acted after that season. He ran his mouth and the next thing you know he's gone and Lidge is FORCED into the closer role. I don't hate Lidge. I hate Wagner. Shrugs. Everyone whining... This isn't the worst season ever. Time to start rooting against the Cubs. If the Astros can do anything right this season, it will be keeping the Cubs out of the playoffs. I believe they have 6 games left vs. the Cubs. If we can play a role in ruining their season, it would give me some joy in this mediocre season.
Some friends and I were in a Suite at the Texans game last night. We spent most of the second half drinking in the bar area. On the TVs behind the bar, they had Texans on three TVs and Astros on one. The cute bartender saw we were paying attention to the Astros and right as Lidge was getting his second out in the ninth she said "He always blows it with two outs". Lidge then proved her right and she yelled "Dammit! I told you! Two outs!" Everyone in the Suite gave us the evil eye. Very funny.
I've watched essentially every out this season, and I want him out there in a close game more than anyone else on this staff. No question. One flukish at-bat doesn't change that.
What does this even mean? Whay is he not a closer anymore? Because he blew a save? In that case no one is a good closer because it happens to everyone.
he can't be a closer because he's got a mental block. you can sit here and argue mechanics all day, the fact is the guy hasn't looked comfortable since the pujols home run. billy wagner may have blown saves, but he brushed it off everytime he got on the mound. he could put the past behind. closing is a mentality.
Um... that goes both ways. You can argue till your blue in the face about the Pujols thing... but the fact is... He was struggling before the Pujols homer. It is a popular choice on the list of BS reasons for Lidge's woes. I still maintain mine... Lidge was forced into the closer role. He was never brought up to be a closer. He was always destined to be a middle reliever. Because of BS he ended up there. This is going to be the last time I even talk about Lidge because there is no appeasing any of ya'll.
