Just like he was never going to be the same after 2005, except when he put together arguably the finest season for a closer in the history of baseball, and 55-for-55, closed out the NLCS, closed out the World Series (and closed out the NLCS this year as well), huh? Yeah, saw how that worked the first time. It's incredible how stupid people get when it comes to "closers". Alex Rodriguez is one of the best hitters in the history of baseball, and he put together a great swing. It happens. Incredible how people don't seem to think much of it when it happens in innings 1-8, but if it happens in inning 9, it never happens just because the hitter is that great - it's always some wild conspiracy.
Baseball is a joke anyways. I forgot there was a WS game. Favre back in Lamboe probably got better ratings.
Considering he has the second most postseason saves in baseball history and has closed out two pennants and a World Series, I guess I can see the envy and where you'd have an appreciation for something so rare...
Cat I was being sarcastic, thus the second again, and yes I understand he rebounded very well to be great last season BUT are you going to ignore 06 and 07 and 09? Plus he will be dealing with the Philly media/fans not Houston, forgot what happened to Mitch Williams huh?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=291015119 Only one blown save in there, too. Damn good ratio. By the way, as with most of Lidge's struggles this year, the problem was the stolen base. Damon had one hell of an at-bat, yes, but Damon isn't that fast these days. But Lidge makes himself so easy to read, and the Phillies didn't even try to check him back to first. After that, you had RISP for Teixiera and A-Rod, and I don't care who the pitcher is - at that point, you're in trouble.
Second-most postseason saves in the history of baseball. 16-1 save-BS ratio. Closed out two pennants and a World Series. Yes, what a choking loser.
Well tonight he didn't blow a save but he got a loss.. Just as bad and Yankees are now 3-1 instead of 2-2.
Sounds good, you go enjoy all those World Series the Astros have been in without Lidge. Good riddance!
Right, aka there's a reason it's not a blown save. Hard to say a loss qualifies as a "choke" when they weren't even winning the game at any point.
True but he was one strike away from ending the inning and going into overtime, Phils had all the momentum. When Damon stole 3rd I believe he should of ran to 3rd if nobody was over there. Ultimately if the Yankees win the WS, much of the blame will go to him since game 4 is very, very crucial. I don't think it should be like that because Lidge is one of the best closers ever, but it will be like that.
No, but you're acting like there's some correlation between what happened tonight and what will happen. There's not. Lidge isn't an elite closer. His mechanics and the nature of his pitches make him very hit-or-miss. This season was by far the worst of his career -- 2006 was great compared to this -- and it came after potentially the greatest season for a reliever in the history of baseball. That in itself should show how much hogwash the "mental demon" BS is. There's no "rebound" to it. As far as Lidge is concerned, and any pitcher, this will be out of his mind by tomorrow night, much less next season. It just comes down to execution. Will he be able to execute and be a good closer for the Phillies again? I don't know, but whatever he did tonight, positive or negative, wouldn't have done much to sway my opinion. Also, comparing it to Mitch Williams? Really? First of all, Williams came in with a lead -- you know, a critical component to a "collapse" is to actually be in front. Lidge did not have that, thus no blown save. Second, Williams was never an elite closer to start with. He had one season in his entire career (Lidge already has three) with an ERA below 2.5, and he pitched in a much more pitcher-friendly era. Also, Philly media? You may be surprised to figure this out, but media/fans tend to be tougher before you've won anything. Kinda like the Red Sox before 2004, remember that? You might be shocked to know that a guy who went 48-for-48, closed out two pennants and closed out the team's first World Series in nearly 30 years to finish out a perfect season might get a little bit longer leash.
Outside of a few jealous Astros fans, not really. The Yankees already led the series and were widely considered the better team - did even one major analyst pick the Phillies prior to the Series? The Yanks have one of the best lineups in the history of baseball and have consistently gotten it done after those first two games - that's the "legacy." I've got several friends that are diehard Philly fans... talked to them in bot 9, their anger for Lidge is nothing compared to Hamels.
Considering what most of the self-professed Lidge "haters" said following 2005 and his departure from the Astros, I'd say this in and of itself forever procludes you from ever being proven right...
Mitch Williams was BELOVED in Philly but the moment that ball left the yard it was OVER. Did you not read any of the media in Philly this season or better yet the fans? They wanted to kill the guy so that nice and warm feeling will be forgotten very quickly especially when you blow,not choke because I don't believe he choked, a World Series game that probably sealed the result. IMO Lidge will have a really hard time recovering from this but doesn't me he can't rebound but it will be hard. Oh yea Lidge closed out 2 pennants and 1 World Series great for him and Philly but isn' he like 0-3 in the fall classic? Look love the guy so nothing personal and I hope he regains his 04, 05 and 08 form but hard to bank on it now.
