Lidge on the Edge: The Rise, Fall, Rise Again, and Fall Again of Brad Lidge

June 8, 2009

Statistically speaking, Brad Lidge was widely held as the best closer in the National League entering 2009.  Vexed Lidge owners are already rueing draft day as Philly’s stopper currently sits with a robust 7.27 ERA and 1.81 WHIP.  His 13 saves in 19 opportunties is a campaign that stands in stark contrast to last season’s 41 saves in 41 opportunities. 

But, the statistic that I find most disturbing about Lidge in ‘09 is not his raw number of blown saves, or even the chunky ERA or WHIP – it is what opponents are batting off of him – .306.  His career mark in opposing BA is .216.  Even in Lidge’s worst season (before ’09) opponents only mustered .238.  In fact, in doing some homework on Brad Lidge’s career splits, there is no single season stint (even during the worst of times) that compares favorably with what we are witnessing this season from the league’s “best closer.” 

Watching the Phillies vs. Dodgers game last night I heard ESPN’s Joe Morgan offer his opinion – that Lidge is simply the victim of statistical averaging.  Morgan contended that Lidge’s six blown saves in 2009, when averaged with zero from the previous season in ‘08, really don’t represent a significant number for the average closer.  It is hard to agree with Mr. Morgan given the story told by Lidge’s peripheral numbers.  After all, for the first time in his professional career, Brad Lidge is allowing greater than a hit per inning-pitched, homers at an unprecedented rate, and fanning fewer batters than ever before.  The next logical question is – why?

The answers do not come easily.  What is encouraging is that Charlie Manual seems committed to sticking with Lidge as his closer, and letting him work through his horrific first half woes.  But, Philadelphia Philly fans are unlikely to continue turning the other cheek.   This season’s difficulties are going to test the mental and physical toughness of Brad Lidge in a way that 2006’s collapse never did (a collapse thought to contribute to his trade from Houston). 

After all, Lidge has a World Series ring and has electrified the spirits of long-disenchanted throngs of Philly fans and captured the nation’s heart with a storied post-season of heroics.  Yet, we are haunted by the question – what happened to Brad Lidge?  It could be a nagging injury, or perhaps Lidge is tipping his pitches.  Whatever the cause,  desperate Lidge owners turn their focused gaze from the heavens to the mound at Citizen’s Bank Park for answers.

Written by Russ · Filed Under Player News | 2 Comments 

h2h Corner ~ Red Light District, the Closer Carousel

June 8, 2009

Closers do most of their work late at night, often after most upstanding fantasy managers have gone to bed. They necessitate early checking of box scores and Fantasy Baseball 101 to see if they secured the win for the home team. Read more

Written by Albert Lang · Filed Under H2H | 2 Comments 

h2h Corner ~ I’m a Believer: May Edition

June 8, 2009

Welcome to May’s “I’m a Believer” column. Yes, I got the name from a Monkees’ song. And yes, I like the song. Did you know that Neil Diamond wrote it, as well as many other songs by the Monkees? Isn’t Neil Diamond cool (Red Sox fans)? Therefore – fantasy baseball love notwithstanding – aren’t I cool (hello, transitive property)? Read more

Written by Albert Lang · Filed Under H2H | Leave a Comment