Lidge Not to Blame

How many times must it be said, how many ways can you say it? At what point does the obvious become visible to those in command? This is no longer about Brad Lidge. I don't think a single detracting word can justifiably continue to be said about the man who was as valuable as any other in bringing a championship back to Philadelphia after a mega-drought.

No, at this point in the season, his ineptness on the mound must be seen in a new light, one which acknowledges that he is sadly doing his best, at present, for whatever reason and because of whatever ailments are hindering him (be they mental or physical or both).

However, make no mistake, don't bury your head in your hands after Wednesday's walk-off Marlins win. Rather, stand tall and absorb the fact: there will be no retaining the crown if Brad Lidge remains the closer on this team, this year.

It is time to name names: Charlie Manuel and Rubén Amaro, Jr., wake up and smell the toilet water you're flushing the 2009 season-- and the title with it-- down in. No longer can well-wishing and pats on the back, slaps on the wrist followed by 10th and 11th chances be seen as merely 'sticking by your players' or good managerial loyalty.

Chuck, it's time to see reason and apply tough love by grounding your unruly bird before the flock is lost. Reuben, it's time to exercise that new found executive decision, even if it means overruling what might be, when it's all said and done, the best Phillies skipper of all-time (thus far: 1 World Series title, soon-to-be 3 divisional titles and an accumulative .553 winning % : 442 wins to 357 losses).

The jury is still out on that debate, but the judgment should have long been proclaimed on Lidge. The only thing the Phillies are doing is wasting precious time, which they should be using to experiment until a clear-cut closer or effective committee can emerge. With Myers injured and Madson thus far unreliable at closer, they ought to have been giving Madson an extended look and may ultimately need to move Pedro or Happ to the role for the postseason if Madson cannot secure it.
This team is too good, this moment in Phillies history too precious to allow to disappear with one inning, the 9th, and one stroke by Vlad or Jeter or Puljos. This team is 3 outs away from a full deck. Lee appears righted, Blanton has pitched 2 straight shutouts, Hamels has begun to flash his October '08 brilliance, Pedro has been an angel in cleats and Happ has been Rookie of the Year material. The tattered bullpen showed their true colors against Atlanta, where rain delays forced them to carry a heavy load shorthanded (due to injury), and they shined like the stars that they are, surrendering just 6 runs in 16 innings (3.75 ERA). When they go full-strength with Eyre, Romero, Myers and Park rejoining Walker, Madson and Condrey, the pitchers should be able to hold down the fort, while the wrecking crew that comprises the Phillies lineup, fronted by J-Roll and the Flyin' and anchored by 30 HR-men Howard, Utley, Werth and Ibanez, the Phillies are equipped to wrestle with even the Yankees.

However, as I've previously stated [See: The Lidge Dilemma (8.12), Phils Must Again Take Action (8.16), Closer Quandary (8.26) and Stop Saying it Ain't So (9.5)], pretending just isn't going to make it better at the backend of the bullpen. We all want that perfection back, the end of the 8th inning lead leading to a big sigh of relief, knowing that the game is in our hands, that the win is good as sealed and the only thing left to do is sit back and enjoy the show as it's delivered. Perhaps we didn't know how good we had it. Maybe we did. Next year may even bring a repeat performance in the last year of Lidge's contract, but one thing is for sure, it's sanctity in baseball and that's the numbers: 0-8, 7.48 ERA with 11 blown saves. In every other case, that wouldn't earn a player a spot in the Major Leagues, let alone merit him a spot on the postseason roster of a defending World Champion.

Dreams come true when mitigated by facts. Last year's legacy of perfection certainly might secure Lidge a spot on this team until the bitter end (although last year's contribution by Moyer probably won't), but just how bitter that end ultimately is rests 100% entirely in the hands of the 2 other men making the call.

	2008	2009
W-L	2-0	0-8
ERA	1.95	7.48
Saves	41	31
Blown saves	0	11 (Most in NL since 1998)
Opp. BA	.198	.305

Charlie Manuel ready to knockout reporter

Tuesday's ESPN feature article on Jayson Werth (in case you missed it).