Brad Lidge wouldn’t have been used in tonight’s loss to the Mutts, but what if that 1 run lead had held up? What happens then?
With Lidge being putting on the 15-day disabled list earlier today, the bullpen is going to have to step up. Lidge was put on the DL with what is being described as knee inflammation. Many people, including me, will point to this trip as a way to get his confidence back. I think by him taking a few weeks off, he’ll be able to refocus on what he needs to do. He needs to find that fire he had in 2008.
If this knee injury is an actual injury requiring any type of surgery and rehab, the Phillies could be in trouble. I think Ryan Madson has the stuff to be a potential closer, but he’s not very good when his role changes. When he went from being a starter to a reliever, he wasn’t very effective. I think he’ll be able to handle the next few weeks in the closer’s role, but not for an extended period of time. This team needs Lidge to come back.
With Lidge out, Madson has been bumped to the 9th inning and J.C. Romero is taking the 8th. The 7th will most likely be filled by a different person depending on the matchup. The bullpen should be able to make it through the next few weeks, any longer than that and it could be trouble.
The Phillies called up journeyman catcher Paul Bako to take LIdge’s spot on the roster. Kind of a surprise, but that does give Cholly the option of using Chris Coste as a RH pinch-hitter that the team has been looking for all year and not worry about losing his backup catcher. Lou Marson wasn’t called up because there’s no playing time up here for him. Marson needs to play everyday, and that wouldn’t happen here.
The next few weeks are going to be tough for the bullpen, but the Phillies should be able to weather the storm until Lidge comes back. Hopefully.
-KK
