I can see it coming, the calls for Ryan Madson as closer are starting to build again. We’ve been down this road before. Let’s just pause that again.
We all got spoiled last year with Brad Lidge and his season of perfection. He was just unstoppable last season. There is no denying that.
This season, total opposite. Lidge has actually looked mortal, and has been knocked around a few times, most recently last night against the Cubbies. The Fightins’ came back to save him, with a Ben Francisco home run in extra innings to get Lidge off the hook.
So far this season, Lidge has blown 7 of his 28 save opportunities. 25% is ridiculous for a top of the line closer. He has been bothered by injuries all season, and that has obviously contributed to his lace of success.
I also think the Phillies’ ability to string together a consistent streak has hurt him. Lidge has asked to get his work in on days in which the Phillies end up losing sometimes. Last week against the Marlins, in a spot in which he had no business pitching, he gave up 3 runs. I just don’t think closers should be put in a game unless it’s a save situation, a tie game, or down by one. That’s it. Closers have a certain mentality when coming into a game. When coming into a game in which they’re just getting work takes them off of their routine.
Lidge has done this numerous times so far this season, and I think that has also contributed to him blowing a quarter of his save opportunities.
Brad Lidge is the closer for this team and everyone knows it. Madson may be a closer in the future, but not now. Brett Myers may come back soon, but let’s not go and pencil him in as a closer. He may play a valuable part out of the bullpen, but it won’t be as the closer.
Charlie Manuel will say all day today that Lidge is his man, but he shouldn’t have to. Lidge is the closer in Philadelphia. Period.
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