Lidge out as Houston closer

[bravosfan]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

I heard Reitsma might be out as closer soon as well..

Not soon enough.

[dieselboy]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Wheeler or Qualls good fantasy pickups?

[dieselboy]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Not soon enough.

Whos the replacement? Devine? Oscar?

[Briman123]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Wheeler or Qualls good fantasy pickups?

No, they will probally both get 1 save each then Lidge will be back. Both have awful era's also. In most league's Guardoro's replacement J.J. Putz is a K machine and availble and has 4 saves already, or go with Ambriodix Burgos the Royals closer.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Gregg Olson was like this for the Orioles back in the early 90's. Rookie of the Year in '89, was a really good closer for 5 years, and then fell off. Of course he didn't have a Pujols-like incident, it was mainly because of his violent mechanics.

[bravosfan]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Whos the replacement? Devine? Oscar?

It won't be Devine, I don't think. Maybe Oscar, Ken Ray... maybe Macay McBride. At this point there's not really one guy ready to take the job. If there was, I don't think Reitsma would still be getting the call...

[BigRed]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Basically, it comes down to this. Relief pitchers are the worst players on a baseball team, with closers being the best of that group.

Which is why it's good to turn over your team's bullpen every other year or so. These guys never stay good very long. Even the most dominant lefties or situational setup guys, will be just average in the next year or two.

Mostly because these guys don't pitch. They have one dominant pitch and throw it every single pitch. Eventually, the hitters figure it out and either lay off it or learn to hit it.

This stuff with Lidge started in last years playoffs. And I'm not necessarily talking about the Pujols homerun. If you look back at those games, the Cardinals started hitting him and scoring runs off of him two games before the Pujols homer.

Basically, the Cardinals had seen Lidge enough times by then (probably more times than any other team) and they were starting to figure him out.

Then Pujols hit the homerun, which knocked Lidge's mojo and swagger for a loop. He's never gained that back and coupled with teams learning from what they've been seeing, spells trouble.

Bottom line. He is finished as a dominant, shut-the-door, "Lights-Out" Lidge.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

It won't be Devine, I don't think. Maybe Oscar, Ken Ray... maybe Macay McBride. At this point there's not really one guy ready to take the job. If there was, I don't think Reitsma would still be getting the call...

Definatly won't be Devine, not yet atleast. Ken Ray is probably our best option right now. Him or Oscar, but I like Oscar in his role right now.

[skitch]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

He's definitely got some mechanical issues to deal with, but I see Lidge being back in no time.. this isn't going to be a long-term move. He's too good to let a few problems ruin his season.

[Briman123]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Update, yahoo sports

"Lidge's struggles finally forced manager Phil Garner to demote his once-dominating closer. The reason this situation isn't labeled as "Red-Hot" is because the team doesn't have a backup option that can seriously be considered a viable long-term closer option at the moment. Wheeler and Qualls will fill in while Lidge works on getting his groove back, but neither can compare to the overpowering stuff Lidge offers when he's on his game. Lidge will return to the closer role as soon as he shows signs of turning things around. Said Garner, "He's still my closer. This is not (permanently) taking him out of the closer's role. What I want to try to do is give him a couple of outings here where he can work on some of the things he and (pitching coach) Jim Hickey have been working on and do it without thinking the one pitch may cost him a ballgame if he doesn't get it where he wants to."

[JStro]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

It has finally been determined that Lidge is tipping his pitches. The sad thing is it took Joe McEwing to bring it up before anyone noticed. How is it that neither Garner or the pitching coach figured this out?

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/baseball/3868743.html

[BigRed]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Sometimes a pitcher can become obsessed with this. Becoming consumed with whether or not he's tipping his pitches or not.

It's one guy will hit him hard and then he starts thinking about what his actions are as opposed to what he's going to do.

[Briman123]

Re: Lidge out as Houston closer

Brad Lidge: Back in Closer Role

Update: Lidge resumed his duties as Houston's closer Friday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the Rangers to pick up his 12th save.

Recommendation: Lidge, who was temporarily demoted from his closing job, earned his first save since May 4 against the Cardinals, the Houston Chronicle reports. Following his recent demotion, video study revealed that Lidge was tipping his pitches and, after three consecutive hitless outings he was once again used in save situation, looking sharp. "I thought his slider was sharp and he went after them with his fastball," manager Phil Garner said. "He pitched well. He pitched as well as he's pitched this year, that's for sure."