Backing Down Off the Lidge: Phillies 4, Reds 3

by dajafi on May 19, 2009 11:06 PM EDT Comment 18 comments

Right there with ya, Brad. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

It's largely been forgotten in the wake of all that happened six months later, but Brad Lidge made his regular-season Phillies debut during a visit to Cincinnati in April 2008. A day after pitching one inning of mop-up relief in an 8-2 loss on April 6, the club's new closer came on to try for his first save of the 2008 season. But it wasn't easy: after coming in with a 5-2 lead and quickly recording the first two outs, Lidge issued a walk (to newly acquired Phils minor leaguer Paul Bako). Corey Patterson followed with a fly ball to left that So Taguchi, in for Pat Burrell, misplayed into a two base error to put men on second and third. Lidge then intentionally walked Ken Griffey Junior and uncorked a wild pitch to score Bako. But he got pinch-hitter Javier Valentin on a called third strike that I still remember as one of the worst-called pitches this side of Eric Gregg in the 1997 playoffs to register the first save of what turned out to be a very special season.

Back at Great American Ballpark Tuesday night trying to protect a 4-3 lead, Lidge--coming off two weekend saves in Washington that raised hopes his struggles through the first six weeks of the 2009 campaign might be through--found himself in trouble again. The inning began with a deep flyout to right on an 0-2 pitch that caught too much plate. Alex Gonzalez followed with a hard-hit grounder to short that Jimmy Rollins could not field cleanly, ruled an infield single. Lidge then walked pinch-hitter Laynce Nix to put the tying run in scoring position and the potential winner on base. He ran the count full on Willy Taveras, but after two fouls, he got the speedy outfielder to chase a low slider for strike three. Evidently settled, Lidge then retired Jerry Hairston Jr. on a soft fly to center that ended the game.

His scoreless inning of relief, following zeros put up by Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson, ensured Cole Hamels' second victory of the season. The lefty ace worked six innings, throwing a season-high 117 pitches while allowing three runs--including solo homers from Jay Bruce and Hairston--on five hits. He was just a bit better than Reds starter Johnny Cueto, who surrendered a Ryan Howard solo home run in the second inning and three runs in the fifth on RBI hits from Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley and a Raul Ibanez sacrifice fly.

The victory was the Phillies' fifth straight, tying their longest win streak of the season, and ensured that they would remain no worse than tied for the NL East lead. Jamie Moyer takes the mound tomorrow against the Reds' Aaron Harang.

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Key save for Lidge

I believe this was the game! If Lidge would have lost this one, I think it would be in his head for along time. But he got through the inning and I expect a good year from Lidge.

by DeanH on May 19, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How can you possibly know any of this?

by FuquaManuel on May 20, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He didn't say he knows

He said he believes, he thinks, and he expects.

by BigPhillyStyle on May 20, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh okay. Well I believe in bigfoot.

by FuquaManuel on May 20, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bigfoot

Can you tell me more about your bigfoot? Just curious. :-)

by DeanH on May 20, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can you tell me more about how Lidge’s save last night marked his crossing of some kind of psychological barrier?—aside from “feeling it” in your loins or wherever.

by FuquaManuel on May 20, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

He has blown 2 saves this year. In 8 straight games he has allowed a run. He had not had a 1 run save in awhile, and against a good team it was test.

As BigPhillyStyle said for me, it is my opinion (I believe). Could I be wrong? Sure, but a blog is expressing opinions. That is my opinion.

Now, back to bigfoot………..

by DeanH on May 20, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there might be something to this. I didn’t put it in the writeup, but with last night, Lidge has now gone three straight appearances without allowing a run. That doesn’t sound like much until you realize it’s only the second time in 2009 he’s managed that.

He says he’s fine, Dubee says that stuff-wise he’s as good as or better than the last few months of ’08. That all could be blowing smoke, but the results are encouraging.

by dajafi on May 20, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lidge on CSN

Stated he has extra support in his shoes and has stopped throwing his “strike out” slider as much. Did state that he feels much better than earlier this year and has done other adjustments.

I was going to tease and say that after last night, he said he was set to go for the rest of the year. But decided I better not!

by DeanH on May 20, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I feel guilty counting the Washington games as full wins. Seriously, AA teams could feast on their pitching. Lets say they are each half a win, so we have a 3 game winning streak.

by Neduol Caz on May 20, 2009 5:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, actually, the Nats have the 3rd best offense in the NL, so I don’t think the wins were that bad. Yes, their pitching is terrible. But to get a 4 game sweep in just a matter of a few days is tough, even against the worst teams.

by doubleh on May 20, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was only joking. A four game sweep is a four game sweep. But, do not try and make the Nationals out to be something they are not. The Nats have the worst run differential in the league at -51. They are horrible.

by Neduol Caz on May 20, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s true. But I like it when we beat up on the bad teams; my sense, without looking back at numbers, is that during the near-miss years (2001-06) the Phils frequently played up or down to the level of their competition. They could handle the Cardinals or Padres, but not the Expos…

by dajafi on May 20, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not trying to make them anything they are not, but you have to beat the teams you are supposed to beat. And all that live batting practice got the bats going again, which was good for Jimmy and Chase. I thank the Nats for their service.

by doubleh on May 20, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's true so far this year

We’ve beaten the teams we’re supposed to, except for losses to the Braves and Padres.

by Screen Name 20 on May 20, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just off the top of my head

We’ve actually lost more series than we’ve won, we’ve just been helped by our wins over the Nats. We need to turn it up and hold our own against the better teams (lost series to Dodgers, Brewers, Mets (we’ll combine the 4 games), Braves (X2) and Padres).

by Screen Name 20 on May 20, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs