Jim Hickey needs to go Gary Gaetti on that VCR and probably throw in some superglue to fix our broken Lidge.
Wow. I knew the aura of invincibilty was over with the postseason struggles, but I thought Lidge would still be a top closer this season. It's too early to throw him on the Mitch Williams scrapheap, but it's not looking good. He's had problems all year. This is a new low. What is it about Berkman hitting bombs in the late innings and having the bullpen blow it? This happened a few times last year. I'm thinking of a game late in the year against the Cubs. Jesus.
Funny how lively this place gets during losses... ah well. As DD said, Lidge is his own worst enemy because of the lack of control on his fastball. He's not coming close to spotting that pitch... which is his most important one (especially a first-pitch strike), because it completely sets up the slider. Lidge, throughout 2004 and most of 2005 would tend to always get ahead of the hitter with teh fastball... and finish them with the slider (or if they were guessing slider, bust them inside with a fastball). He already tried throwing from the stretch exclusively (which I thought was a make-shift solution)... I really think he just needs to tweak his mechanics (go back to the windup... it wasn't that broken), and get some more workout time in on re-gaining a feel for that control.
Lidge has joined the company of Miceli as the players I really don't like seeing on the field in an Astro's Jersey. Edit: Well, not that I don't like them. But I sure do get damn nervous when they are pitching. I want the Lidge of old back.
Nothing to do with ERA. His location has been horrible so far this year, like someone said, he's been playing with fire, and lucked out so far this season. Let's hope Hickey can fix him before he spirals further into BKim territory.
wow, i just realized..even if we win this game, i'm still gonna be feeling HORRible, wondering if lidge can get back to being himself. send him into pitching rehab for a month. bring him back good as new
Wow LA just scored again. As if this game wasn't over already. Man games like this one hurt. ****!!!!!
please. the guy is a shell of his former self, plain and simple. you do not make a mistake like that if you're a dominant closer. like i said, he's extremley lucky to have not blown a save (or several) the way he's been pitching.
Well, we are going to win the next 2 games. So it's alright. ./...I hate not winning them all though.
geez...wilson was pretty high with that throw. overthrown. not that it matters much...but it was a pretty easy assist to gain i thought..
Same story all year. Luck finally caught up with him. Great general managers know when to sell high. I think there was ample evidence that last offseason would've been a perfect time to cash in on Lidge's value. We didn't, and his value is likely down the tubes. Wheeler or Qualls, whoever, bring 'em on.
It wasn't so much the walks as it was the triple. And it's not just Lidge either..this whole bullpen has been shaky and coughing up runs left and right. And there goes Gallo giving up a run again. Jeez why can't this team just have everything clicking at once. Last year it was the bats, but the starting pitching and bullpen were lights out. This year the bats have come alive, the starting pitching has continued to be solid, but the freakin bullpen is imploding.
Amazing... a lot of material here that can be summarily shoved back in the face if Lidge turns this around. Also, I'm guessing that a lot of you don't remember Brad Lidge "the set-up" guy... who led this team in appearences in 2003, and was on his way to that in 2004 before we traded Dotel. Lidge was hittable then... as he is now. But, he still had masterful control of his stuff. He'd give up the long ball every now and then because his fastball is hittable. If by saying he's "lost it", means he can't find the zone, fine... but the stuff is still there. Maybe its mental, its probably more mechanical, and they'll have to get it worked out if this is going to be a successful season. Its fastball control... no matter what "other" pitches he develops, he won't do anything without fastball control.
