don't know if this has been addressed, and my friend and I were watching with the sound down. Why was no one covering third when Damon stole?
Lidge's slider is very good, but it's never been the single most dominant pitch in baseball, as with Rivera's cutter. (Rivera does mix in a two-seamer and four-seamer too, for what it's worth.) The biggest difference is the control. Even when Lidge has the slider working at its best, there's always going to be a healthy percentage that aren't strikes, and hitters know this. Likewise, there's always going to be a healthy percentage in the dirt, which limit his willingness to throw it in certain situations (such as a runner on 3rd, like last night). With Rivera... you have a pitch that's not only filthy, but because it's just a slight variation on a fastball, is able to routinely be thrown for strikes. I think that's the biggest difference. Rivera is an exception to the rule in every sense, imo. He's just phenomenal.
Agreed. I hate when people compare other closers to him. It's not apples and oranges. Lidge has to deal with the fact that hitters know that he struggles to get his pitches over the plate because of movement. Rivera can hit and spot in the zone in any count AND his ball has fantastic movement.
When the catcher threw it to 2nd Lidge ducked to avoid getting hit, he was suppose to shift to 3rd but I'd imagine the duck kind of slowed him down.
My favorite part of this series thus far is that it is exposing Jimmy Rollins. That the media and Philly fans says this guy is on the level or better than Derek Jeter is laughable.
Ok fair enough, I just didn't know what your background was with him, since you discuss him so vehemently.
Didn't watch but I guess the headline is Cliff Lee delivers again. So what's the matchup for Wednesday -- Pedro vs. Pettitte?
