The Final Lidge Verdict

A compilation of analysis from the “Brain Trust.”

 

Lidge has a mental problem since the NLCS a few years back against St. louis. He's a wuss and couldn't close.  He blew first to 2 opportunities s (maybe even 3) this past year, went to setup and was dominant and then got back to closing in 2nd half when Astros couldn't close anything and he was very good.  I bet his overall numbers last year were pretty good and if you removed his worst 4 outings he'd be lights out in the other 22 games.

 

We get a closer AND  a frontline starter, because we flip Myers back into rotation. It's like the Thome deal to ChiSox in that regard, we got a good CF in return and freed up Howard to play full time heading into '06.

 

Again, that's if Lidge works out.

 

Bourne was a nice addition, but if all goes well, we ought to be able to find a similar type player on the market in late July (think Dave Roberts in '04). The Myers thing is what makes this a good deal.

 

We just got the best offseason starting pitcher and a quality closer. My initial concern was that Lidge was going to set up Myers (which would help the mental thing), but if Myers is back in the rotation then it's a HUGE upgrade.  Basically becoming Myers for Bourn

 

Lidge’s ERA was respectable, 3.36 or 3.60, around there. Down from disastrous '05, but way up over '03 and '04, when he was lights out. Lidge was not very good in the second half when he returned as closer, he just was not as disastrous.  Common sense tells you that if Lidge were his old self, or even close, they would not have traded him for Bourn.

 

While i won't dismiss the mental issue completely, a lot of his trouble last year can be contributed directly to Phil Garner's mishandling him the first week of the season.  Going back and looking at his game log, it's insane the way Garner misused him, then discarded him when he had trouble pitching in a meaningless situation.

 

Opening day he gave up a homer to Xavier Nady in a 2-1 game in the ninth.  Big deal.  SIX DAYS LATER in his next appearance, Garner brings him trailing 5-1 in the top of the ninth.  He gets a quick ground out, then a single, walk, and then get Albert F'n Pujols to hit a double play ball that Morgan Ensberg kicks away.  All hands safe, bases loaded.  Rolen then doubles them all in.  THAT, my friends, cost Lidge his job until July 17 when Wheeler got hurt.

 

His K/9 and K/BB are all you need to know about Lidge, and they are both healthy.  Obviously not what they were in his simply incredible 2004 season, but still top notch.  And he had a 3.35 ERA and 1.257 WHIP last year, despite being jerked around by the manager.  He also played through a balky knee that eventually needed off-season cleaning up.