Yardbarker: Brad Lidge

Phillies Top 10 Stories of 2009: No. 8 -- What the Hell Happened to Brad Lidge?

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:23:40 -0500

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP Browse more photos » From perfection to perdition. From the best to the all-time worst. From a season of unending highs to a season of incessant lows. And yet that doesn't even begin to describe how bad this past season was for Brad Lidge. The Phillies' vaunted closer, who was literally (not figuratively) perfect in 2008, literally (not figuratively) posted th...

Phillies Top 20 Individual Seasons,#14: Brad Lidge, 2008

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:36:02 -0500

I've already gotten started on 2 of the 3 off-season features on ReclinerGM - the all-time tournament, and the top-20 prospects. The third is a continuation of a project I started earlier this season, rankings the top-20 individual seasons in Phillies history. We continue on with #14, Brad Lidge in 2008. Stats and Ranks *65+ IP Required Some Interesting Stats and Facts 11.94 K/9 is the highest rate in Phillies history among pitchers with 60+ IP Gave up 0 runs in 62 of his 72 appear...

Brad Lidge Needs Your Horse's Placenta

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:48:00 -0500

Yeah, you read that correctly.All year long while Lidge was blowing saves many fans of the Fightins were convinced that Lidge was hurt. It was repeatedly denied but as soon as the season finished, a season that saw Lidge give up three runs in a tie Game 4 of the World Series, he was on the operating room schedule for at least one procedure.Just think if Lidge could have been fixed in the middle of the season. That is where the horse placenta makes an appearance in the story.Arsenal (that'...

Need for bullpen, spare closer, can’t be taken lightly

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:15:17 -0500

Brad Lidge, who had a dreadful season, underwent flexor tendon surgery and his recovery could set him behind schedule. Meanwhile, J.C. Romero could also miss the early going. Bottom line: bullpen is a major issue for the Phillies. While the third base debate continues, here’s the dire situation in back of the Phillies’ bullpen. Brad Lidge was the worst closer in baseball last season. He just had elbow surgery. Ryan Madson again demonstrated his limitations as strictly an eighth-inning option...

Failure. Lidge implodes, Yankees take commanding 3-1 series lead

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:53:00 -0500

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) It's been a rough year for Brad Lidge and tonight was the icing on that crap-filled cake. Lidge failed for possibly his last time this season as the Phillies lost Game 4 to the Yankees, 7-4, and now face a 3-1 series deficit. With the game tied at 4-4 going into the top of the 9th inning, the Phillies closer took the mound looking to keep the Yankees off the scoreboard. Lidge got two quick outs, then appeared to have the inning sewn up after he got two st...

Tuesday: Manuel’s patience personified in Lidge

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:35:43 -0500

With three saves and a win already this postseason, Brad Lidge could become Charlie Manuel’s managerial masterwork. “To everything - turn, turn, turn.” Words adapted by Pete Seeger from the Book of Ecclesiastes and popularized by the Byrds. “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.” Often used to denote life-altering, coming-of-age moments in feature films, it’s a soundtrack that’s been playing since Charlie Manuel was handed stewardship over the Philadelphia Phillies. Patience. Perseverance. Change,...

Charlie's Decision to Stick with Lidge Works

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:18:12 -0500

Many of us weren't exactly thinking straight last night in the wee hours just past 2:00 a.m. when Charlie Manuel stuck with his ever shrinking gut and brought Brad Lidge in to pitch the bottom of the ninth with the Phillies leading 6-5. Given the way Lidge had pitched all season leading up to this point, plenty of faces were being buried in pillows when Lidge trotted out. My buddy Scott texted me this morning saying "I woke up and saw Lidge on the mound and thought it was a nightmar...

Clean Slate

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:41:00 -0500

"It felt great," Lidge said. "When the postseason starts it's a completely new slate." Nearing the end of a hard fought 4-hour marathon of a game in freezing weather, most fans did not want to see Brad Lidge trotting to the mound in the bottom of the 9th inning to attempt a 1-run save. Those of you that popped some NoDoz around the 3rd inning to stay awake were treated to a win and the 1st Brad Lidge save of the 2009 postseason. Luckily we won't have to stave off s...

Brad Lidge Blows Saves for a Living

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:57:00 -0500

2009 Brad Lidge: 0-8, 11 blown saves, 1.86 WHIP, 7.48 ERA. That is the highest single season earned run average and third highest walks+hits/innings pitched (WHIP) by a closer in the history of Major League Baseball. He's put 107 runners on base is just 55.1 innings. He's allowed at least 1 earned run in 27 of his 63 appearances, meaning 43% of the games he pitches in the opposition is tagging him for at least 1 run. The man that helped secure the World Series championship is likely t...

Brad Lidge. Blown. Again.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:20:37 -0500

With all due respect to Brad Lidge the man, Brad Lidge the closer is an absolute complete and utter mess. He blew another one on Wednesday night in Florida, his eleventh blown save of the season, and while that loss sucks, it's the inability to do anything to get three outs in the ninth inning of games down the road that I'm really worried about...

Enough is enough, Brad Lidge

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:04:00 -0500

So long, Brad Lidge, and thanks for the memories. At this point, the Phillies need to move on without you. The Brad Lidge from 2008 isn't showing up any time soon so get this guy out of the closer role. His 11th blown save against the Marlins on Wednesday night is beyond the last straw. If Lidge can't close out a game in front of like 15 Marlins fans in a fairly meaningless game in September then how is he going to do in October with a packed stadium and a ton of pressure?Enough alrea...

Describe Brad Lidge in 10 Words or Less

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:39:50 -0500

Go ahead, vent your frustration. Give us all your summary of Brad Lidge, but let's see what you do on a limited word budget. Get creative, think of it like dirty poetry magnets, show your appreciation of past efforts or fear over the present, but you only get 10 words—one for every blown save in 2009. IMG_1127, originally uploaded by lefty516.