By Michael Rushton
While nobody expected Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge to repeat his amazing 2008 season, few could have foreseen his career falling faster then one of his patented sliders.
Lidge was the definition of perfection in helping lead the Phillies to a World Series title last year. He converted all 48 of his save chances, including the playoffs, and made hitters look foolish with a fastball-slider combination that led to over 100 total strikeouts in 81 regular and postseason appearances.
It has been a different story so far in 2009. The right-hander has already blown four of his 12 save chances and is pitching to an eye-popping 9.15 earned run average.
He blew back-to-back save chances over the weekend versus the New York Yankees by the same formula. In both outings, Lidge allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base; one by walk and another by base hit. Both runners stole second and later came around to score.
On Saturday, Lidge gave up a game-tying homer to Alex Rodriguez before later allowing the winning run to score on another single, steal then score scenario.
"Obviously I don't feel happy with how I threw," Lidge said after Saturday's loss. "I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand good, but obviously I made a mistake to [Rodriguez]. The leadoff walk was what frustrated me the most."
Despite a troublesome right knee that held Lidge out of action for a few days earlier this year but did not require a disabled list stint, injury does not seem to be the cause of Lidge's troubles.
Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks it is the mental aspect of the game that is giving Lidge some problems.
"It's being committed to what he's doing," Dubee told Philadelphia's official site. "He's caught up in, 'Throw a slider here or a fastball there?' Instead of just being committed, 'Hey, I'm going to throw this here and I'm going to throw it to a certain spot.'"
If it is a mental thing with Lidge, the Phillies have some history to be concerned about. As the former closer in Houston, Lidge never seemed quite right again with that club after he gave up a mammoth homer to Albert Pujols in the 2005 NLCS. Although the Astros recovered to advance to the World Series, Lidge was less than spectacular in that series as well.
He blew six saves while notching a 5.28 ERA the following season with the Astros after a 2005 ERA of 2.29. In 2007, Lidge blew eight saves and also lost the closer's role for a period as well. That eventually led Houston to trading him to Philadelphia for a trio of players.
Lidge's 2008 led the Phils to sign him to a three-year deal, meaning it will take a lot for the club to remove him from the closer role. After all, the 2009 bullpen was built around Lidge with no real safety net. Ryan Madson has pitched to a 2.95 ERA this year and looked great against the talented Yankee lineup this past weekend, but he owns just six saves in his career.
No, the Phillies will stick with Lidge for as long as it takes. They will wait until he can solve his issues with retiring the leadoff hitter by locating his fastball and then getting hitters to hack away at his nasty slider.
"Sometimes things don't go your way, and that's when you have to stay in there and battle through it," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel after Sunday's game. Lidge's stuff is good, he just needs better command."
In other words, Manuel and the Phillies will wait for the light to go back on for "Lights Out" Lidge.
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