Oh, Cairo had 2 hits!

My thoughts on this game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30YW3wgRvyI

BTW, I freaking HATE Kaz Matsui. Between the NLDS in 2007 and all his other hijinx against the Phils, I won’t cry at his retirement party.

Brad Lidge won Philly a world series but it’s time to make a change. His save percentage is 28/38, or about 3 of 4. This means he blows 1 of 4 and in 1 run saves his mark is even worse. In a playoff series, lidge is statiscally likely to blow 1 save and maybe two. This is is unacceptable. And then add that he can’t pitch from the stretch or hold runners and that he has an era over 7 and I don’t see how he can be a postseason closer.

I have to criticize Cholly now. I don’t blame Lidge anymore. I blame CHolly for stubbornly trotting him out time and time again with the same results.

Seriously, put the guy out of his misery. Put him on the DL and leave him off the postseason roster. Whether it’s his knee, or his mechanics, or his head… I don’t know… but he’s worthless now. He is of absolutely no use to this team. He’s not going to “turn it around” or “figure it out”. Shut him down for the year and see what happens with him in spring training.

Here’s an idea – use another reliever next Saturday if you need a closer in a save situation. Lidge has done half decently the other days of the week but those Saturdays are murder. I don’t think it comes from overwork (with the possible exception of that Tuesday night loss vs. the Pirates eleven days ago) but there’s a similar result on Saturdays, especially on the road, that doesn’t seem to happen on other days Lidge pitches. The numbers?
Five of Lidge’s ten blown saves and four of his seven losses came on Saturdays. The first one was at home back in April, his first blown save as a Phillie. The other four have been on the road, leading to four of this year’s six bitter walk-off losses (Lidge also had a walk-off loss at LA on a Friday night). The rest of the days of the week Lidge has been much better: one blown save on a Sunday (game won in extra innings); two blown saves and a loss on a Tuesday (one game won in extra innings) and two blown saves on Fridays (one game won in extra innings). You can add in Madson blowing a Saturday save vs. the Orioles for good measure. The Phillies overall are only 10-11 on Saturdays.
This might just be coincidence but if you’re like me there is likely a lot more attention focused on baseball games on the weekends. Who knows what goes through a reliever’s thoughts as he prepares for each day’s games, but whatever is going on with Lidge, Saturday is not his day.

We know Cholly, and he’s probably going to stick with Lidge for at least a few more games. That’s just how he is. It’s like telling Andy Reid not to pass.

But question: how small does the lead in the division get before Cholly makes a change? Like 3 games? If it gets that low (God forbid) and Lidge blows a few more games during the descent, would even Cholly change at that point?

A psychologist would have a field day with this guy.

2003-2005: Dominant, All-Star in ’05
2005 Playoffs: Complete meltdown
2008: Dominant, WS Champ
2009: Horrible

What the hell is going on here?