Good one. Look, it's great seeing Lidge rebound and battle back from a tumultuous 2006 season. I think it is a bit presumptuous to say that "he's back!" To be a superstar, you have to be consistent and get it done year after year otherwise, you're just a "flash in the pan" kind of player that is like that hyped music group that only produces that ONE BIG HIT! However, he gets his ERA below 3 and I bet ESPN will be wanting to do a cover story on the Brad of old coming back. From what I hear, last year his problem was taking too much advice. He either overcompensated or under compensated for his faults on the mound. Because of that, he never was really in any sort of a groove last year. Potentially, this has the makings of a good story. No one would like to Lidge exorcise these demons more than yours truly. Yes, he is a special talent. BTW 'Stro fans, the great Mariano in NYY has an ERA over 8, I wonder how long he will get a pass with the fans up there as well as with "just win George!?!" C'mon Brad, Gitter done!
A suggestion ... try this one Putter Hunze is Awwsumee! Car and Daviss bring exitment to Texan games? LOL. A mind is terrible thing to taste!
Which brings us to a statistical anamoly. Assume a runner on third and two outs. A wild pitch is an earned run, but if the pitcher attempts to pick the runner off third and throws the ball away, it's an unearned run.
Lidge is not "back" per s, but I can definately notice the difference in his pitches. The last slider he threw to get the strikeout was downright nasty.
I still don't trust him in close game situations. But his slider did look a lot better in the last outing. And his ERA has really dropped. But again, I DON'T believe in him as a closer (in close situations...) ...quite yet. if he get's back to his nasty stuff, then I'll welcome him with open arms. (if he becomes the best setup man....)
We've seen Lidge perform in the closer's role last season and he was terrible. He's doing well this year as a middle innings guy. Why would you want to throw him back in the fire, when he's performing much better with the reduced pressure? Don't screw things up -- he's a positive, contributing member of this club for the first time in a long time.
3.57 after today's win. Like I said, I don't care if he's the closer or the 8th inning guy. We just need him back. So far, he's looking amazing. A dominant bullpen is going to keep us in the race. That's why Lidge is the key. Keep it up Brad.
I couldnt agree with you more. The bullpen will be the only reason this team competes and they will not be able to do it without Lidge.
Anyone else think they are getting his ERA down to make him more tradeable? Make it seem like his problems are ironed out and then WHOOSH ...off he goes. DD
So, when he's not pitching good, it's because they are trying to get his ERA up? If they were capable of controlling his ERA for trade purposes, why wouldn't they control his ERA of the purposes of winning. It's not like he's only pitching to one batter in the 7th inning of a blowout game every time out. Not to mention, I highly doubt scouts for other teams use the box scores printed in the paper as their main resource.
Brad Lidge chipped in a scoreless inning, striking out two. In his last 12 appearances, the former closer has an 0.73 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .227 against Lidge during that span. But Garner is content to leave well enough alone. "The whole idea [behind the switching roles] was to give Brad a lot of [opportunities]," Garner said. "He's pitched much more often than he would have had he been in the closer's role. Our bullpen is working well, so I don't want to do anything when it's working well. It's working, let's just stay with it." astros.com
Who's "they"? The illumanati? Or MLB conspirators paying off players to fail against Brad Lidge so the Astros can trade him?
I mean the Astros brass...... If they believed he was truly back, wouldn't he be closing by now? I mean Wheeler has not exactly been nails at the end of games. They have been playing Lidge in semi-pressure situations. It may be that they are trying to build his confidence back, I just wonder if management is going to trade him.....that's all. DD
They got him out of the closers role to get him more work, and get his perfection on his mechanics back. As has been illustrated many times, Lidge needs to execute his slider... its the only reason he's a "special" pitcher... because of that one pitch. Batters don't recognize it when he's throwing it right, but if he isn't, its easily recognizable... and forces Lidge to throw his hittable fastball. Clearly, Lidge is responding to the increased/more regular workload. Also, for the first time all year, this team may have a commodity that's actually above-average. The pitching isn't, the hitting isn't, the defense isn't, but the bullpen could actually be an assett. Stop projecting DD... if it were up to you, Lidge would already be waived without any compensation.
Right now Lidge is pitching like he has somethig to prove.....you want him closing like he did in '04 and '05. He was one of the best in the NL. If he's given back the closer's job and he's in 05 All-Star form, why would you trade him? We saw how that turned out last time. Wagner for Buchholz, Duckworth-less and Astacio.
Along with Woody Williams after about 2 starts and who knows how many other players over the past two years.
If Wheeler continues at his pace (homer/game), he'll soon be clamoring for more "regular work" to keep his mechanics in check.
