Although I'm a believer that closers should be able to pitch regardless of the situation (save vs. non-save)... I really don't see the point in Lidge being in there right now. Its not like he's underworked (pitched on Tuesday), and there's still a distinct possibility that he'll be needed for tommorow, saturday or sunday. Also, you'd think guys like Borkowski/Springer would relish the extra opportunity to fine-tune their games... we don't have many games anymore that are blowouts (by us), or getting blown out that they need to mop up. Now, as it is, Lidge is probably going to have to throw 20-25 pithces, isn't going to get a save, and will likely be in a precarious position for this weekend's series. (btw... Lidge isn't "done"... i'm posting from the position that I don't want to waste him in this game that anybody can finish, and not have him at full strength against a better hitting team like the Padres).
He's NOT back. He never was back. He'll never be back. Ghosts have crowded the young child's fragile eggshell mind. "This is the end, beautiful friend."
I admit I really have a short lease for Lidge. It's gotten shorter and shorter of the last few weeks. I just didn't want to have the tieing run at the plate. (never got to that...thankgod).
He wasn't horrible. The only XBH was by Nady, who hit a fastball that was at his ANKLES for a double. The guy just can't win... he strikes out the side on 10 pitches on Tuesday, and u guys say "well, look who he faced... its the Pirates... he's still horrible." Now, he gives up 1 run in a 4 run game, and its all "Lidge is horrible again.. he should be dominating this Pirates team." I didn't want him to be wasted in this game, and not have him available for tommorow... but as it is, he did a good job of cleaning up the inning and only ended up throwing 14 pitches (10 for strikes).
Closers, whether in a save situation or not aren't supposed to give up extra base hits and aren't supposed to give runs at all. They're suppposes to go out and dominate like he did tues night. What if Morgan doesn't get that HR over the wall? This game would be in 10th inning by now. I'll admit he wasn't horrible, but he didn't really do his job IMO.
This is why I think that we will always have to get insurance runs bc he gives up run(s) fairly often
Closers are supposed to close games out. He did that. Would be nice not to give up runs, but by definition he got his job done.
