What's up with Brad Lidge lately?

[Solair Wright]

I'm getting worried with Brad Lidge now. His control is nowhere near 2005's control, and I hope he can recover from the Pujols home run in the 2005 NLCS. For example, yesterday, Lidge was booed after he allowed five runs to score.

Now, because of his mechanics are broken, he lost his closer role to Dan Wheeler. What can help Lidge regain his focus and be back to his regular self? This is just absurd that he's booed off the mound.

[Knick9]

Perhaps a change of scenery will help out Lidge? I don't know, but I get this feeling that he just can't continue in Houston anymore. It wouldn't surprise me if he was traded later on this season. Is there a chance of that happening?

[redlegsfan21]

Would you like Eric Milton for Brad Lidge, I could see that happening in the world of Reds' fantasy.

[JordanDL3891]

dont mean to be mean, I think he needs to get injured it will give him a break of baseball and give him time to think and re-focus. Lidge is a good pitcher, i'd hold on to him if I was the Astros gm - i'd keep him as closer for another month too.

[Brandon1537]

We need to stop using Albert Pujols as an exuse for his failure.I'm positive Lidge will be out of Houston if not by the All-Star Break or the end of the season.The guy only has 2 pitches his fastball and slider

[Westlake]

Originally Posted by Brandon1537

We need to stop using Albert Pujols as an exuse for his failure.I'm positive Lidge will be out of Houston if not by the All-Star Break or the end of the season.The guy only has 2 pitches his fastball and slider

So? How many pitches does Mariano Rivera use on a regular basis? Trevor Hoffman? Keith Foulke? Many great closers have relied on only two pitches.

I really just think he needs a change of scenery. Houston has lost faith in him, and maybe he's lost it in himself. I really think he's still a great pitcher. I hope to see him succeed elsewhere.

[Dalkowski110]

He needs a change in scenery. I tend to think he'd make a devastating set-up man with some club that likes "project" pitchers but also has other bullpen options OR a club that desperately needs bullpen help...I could see him with St. Louis, Oakland, the Mets, the Phillies, or even the Devil Rays.

[nosoupforyou]

I think scenary change would help. It helped Francisco Cordero last year. He was struggling as the closer for the Rangers, went to the Brewers who were also stuggling with their closer and he turned his stuff around pretty quick. Now he's the Brewers closer and is doing a fine job. Lidge is good, he has the ability to keep closing games, he's just going through a rough time right now.

[tadlock11]

Change of scenery is a nice thought, but let's not forget that he just (re)signed for lots of $$$$. That might make another club think long and hard before taking him on as a "project". I am personally hoping that in his new role (pitching in middle innings) he has tremendous success, not to mention less pressure.

[Pods fan 22]

im not shure "officialy" takeing him out of the closer role was the right thing to do... i think garner should have privately sat him down and said he was going to keep him out of tight situtations for a while, untill his confedence is up, rather than going public.

[Dodgerfan1]

Originally Posted by Solair Wright

I'm getting worried with Brad Lidge now. His control is nowhere near 2005's control, and I hope he can recover from the Pujols home run in the 2005 NLCS. For example, yesterday, Lidge was booed after he allowed five runs to score.

Now, because of his mechanics are broken, he lost his closer role to Dan Wheeler. What can help Lidge regain his focus and be back to his regular self? This is just absurd that he's booed off the mound.

Being booed is part of the game. I know some people think it's 'mean' to boo someone, but hey, with all the huge jack these pampered ballplayers make these days, and the ridiculous prices fans have to pay just to watch these guys play, it's understandable to me for fans to expect someone who makes millions of dollars a year to play like he deserves it and, if he performs as poorly as Lidge has been lately, let the fans get on him. If he deserves the millions when he pitches well, he deserves the booing when he doesn't. It's a small price to pay. I never understood why a change in scenery will help much. I mean, I get that Houston's park is a bandbox, but getting shelled is getting shelled, and a closer should be able to close anywhere.

[Brandon1537]

I'd give him a nice big Boo if he couldn't even at least get a few outs in a relief role.Maybe one run but 5

[strosfan]

I think we should send him down for a few weeks - let him blow away hitters for a while until he's got that confidence back that a closer needs. I know he makes alot of jack for AAA ball but if it helps in the long run - it's worth it to me. If that doesn't help by say end of May -- then trade him to an American league team. I think he still has great stuff and the '05 Lidge is still in there somewhere.

[Brandon1537]

Sending him down to AAA would just really piss him off he's already been demoted of his closer role.They just need to put him into a tight game and let him do his work that's the only way he can get his confidence back.Believe me fanning people in AAA then getting hit homeruns off of in the majors would not work.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

How about we send you Chad Cordero and Cristian Guzman for Lidge and Burke?

[strosfan]

Originally Posted by Brandon1537

Sending him down to AAA would just really piss him off he's already been demoted of his closer role.They just need to put him into a tight game and let him do his work that's the only way he can get his confidence back.Believe me fanning people in AAA then getting hit homeruns off of in the majors would not work.

Putting him into a tight game and letting him do his work is exactly why he's in this position. I'm a strong believer of "if it aint broke, don't fix it" BUT...IT'S BROKE!

[Monarch]

Okay, I'm a Cardinals fan sneaking around in here. But, for what it's worth, it is time to trade Lidge. He won't recover from the Pujols bomb or the homer he gave up in the Series. This is a classic case of a player just needing a change of scenery and a fresh start. I wish him the best of luck because he was a major force out of the pen for awhile, but his time has passed in Houston. Send him to the American League, where he won't have to face Sir Albert and he can focus on getting it right again.

[holyroman]

i think he has pitched 4 scoreless opportunities in a row now.

so people get a grip, its early

[Dodgerfan1]

Originally Posted by holyroman

i think he has pitched 4 scoreless opportunities in a row now.

so people get a grip, its early

It isn't just some people losing a grip. Even the Houston management is concerned and demoted him from his closer status. Yes, it is very early in the season, but obviously some people in a better position than we are to judge his mechanics and effectiveness are very concerned, so I don't consider it just a bunch of armchair managers making much ado about nothing by any means. He may well have figured out his probalem and, if so, good for him and the Astros, but he certainly wasn't right for a while.

[holyroman]

yes be blew up in his first 2 appearances
he gave up 1 earned run in his first save chance in a tight game. he blew the save.
next time out he gave up 2 earned runs. he did not factor in the decision (statistically)
so they pulled him knowing somebody could do a better job while he was struggling. they bumped him back to setup or long relief he hasn't struggled again.
I'm just updating this thread...
he has pitched 4 scoreless outings.
I saw there was a new thread this morning that was from a cardinals fan calling for us to trade lidge. I'm sure he would like that- not going to happen.
for one he is a quality arm. second you don't trade someone while there value is diminished. and lastly he is only signed to a one year deal this year. So good move there. lets give him a chance beyond the 1.2 bad innings he has thrown this year

[PopTop]

There are a bunch of GMs, according to the reports, that would love for Houston to trade Lidge. But they're all trying to low-ball the Astros right now with their offers hoping the 'Stros will make a knee-jerk decision they will regret later on. The Lidge-for-Baldelli rumors were just conjured up by some writer trying to fill column inches or some message board rumor run amok.

[Westlake]

Originally Posted by PopTop

There are a bunch of GMs, according to the reports, that would love for Houston to trade Lidge. But they're all trying to low-ball the Astros right now with their offers hoping the 'Stros will make a knee-jerk decision they will regret later on. The Lidge-for-Baldelli rumors were just conjured up by some writer trying to fill column inches or some message board rumor run amok.

Purpura would have said yes to that in a millisecond.

[strosfan]

I think I know why he is #54.

It's for "5...4...3..2..1 BLAST OFF!!!!!!!"