Brad Lidge

BenNX74205 · Post by **BenNX74205** » April 3 07, 5:09 am

Yeah, I remember the Colts-Rams game as well. Maybe you should have mentioned that after we were up 14-0, Bulger got knocked out of the game...

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » April 3 07, 7:12 am

I think Lidge is hurt. The "in" thing is to blame some psychological problem because Albert ruined him, but his problems last year (and probably last night, too- I missed it) were because of poor command and slightly diminished velocity. These are often signs of injury and the guy has a history of them dating back before he reached the MLB level.

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » April 3 07, 7:19 am

RC21 wrote:I think Lidge is hurt. The "in" thing is to blame some psychological problem because Albert ruined him, but his problems last year (and probably last night, too- I missed it) were because of poor command and slightly diminished velocity. These are often signs of injury and the guy has a history of them dating back before he reached the MLB level.

What I keep hearing from various sports pundits is that he has problems with the NL central teams mainly because they've learned to recognize that slider in the dirt and have laid off of it so that he has to come at them with his fastball. I don't buy that, personally; he could make adjustments with that fastball or with his other pitch(doesn't he also have a pretty good change?) so it may very well be that he's hurt.

Go_Crazy_Folks · Post by **Go_Crazy_Folks** » April 3 07, 7:24 am

cabby7588 wrote:
G. Keenan wrote:
Transmogrified Tiger wrote:
G. Keenan wrote:
cabby7588 wrote:
Everyone just look at this picture and tell me that Albert is not a king among men.
Should I, or Shouldn't I
2006 erases that "should I." The "shouldn't I" remains as a moment in time that will live in perpetual greatness into eternity.
I wish GRB was around in 04 for that...Or at least I wish I was a member...That was the single BEST moment of ANY sports game EVER.

I remember the game so well. The Colts were playing the Rams on Monday (or Sunday) Night Football and I had my lucky #88 Colts Jersey on, thought it would work for both teams. I was running and jumping up and down like a little girl. God, I love it.

PS-Rams got up on Colts 14-0 early, and Colts came back and whooped their @$$E$!

I was the same way. When he hit it I just started screaming and literally jumping up and down on the couch. My wife who isn't even a huge baseball fan came in from being asleep and started dancing around. I thought the Cards had that series. I guess that is when I realized momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher.

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » April 3 07, 7:27 am

Cronos-

I'm quite sure he's a 2-pitch guy. If he throws anything other than a fastball or slider, it's nothing more than a show pitch.

beerman · Post by **beerman** » April 3 07, 7:33 am

cabby7588 wrote:
G. Keenan wrote:
Transmogrified Tiger wrote:
G. Keenan wrote:
cabby7588 wrote:
Everyone just look at this picture and tell me that Albert is not a king among men.
Should I, or Shouldn't I
2006 erases that "should I." The "shouldn't I" remains as a moment in time that will live in perpetual greatness into eternity.
I wish GRB was around in 04 for that...Or at least I wish I was a member...That was the single BEST moment of ANY sports game EVER.

I remember the game so well. The Colts were playing the Rams on Monday (or Sunday) Night Football and I had my lucky #88 Colts Jersey on, thought it would work for both teams. I was running and jumping up and down like a little girl. God, I love it.

PS-Rams got up on Colts 14-0 early, and Colts came back and whooped their @$$E$!

That happened in '05...'04 had other great memories (Edmonds HR and catch..coming back against Clemens in game 7).

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » April 3 07, 7:38 am

RC21 wrote:Cronos-

I'm quite sure he's a 2-pitch guy. If he throws anything other than a fastball or slider, it's nothing more than a show pitch.

You're probably right. I thought I remembered hearing he threw a change a couple of times(probably just tried to throw it or tried to show it as you say).

Regardless, I'm sure the "We want Wheeler" whispers are already starting among some Astros fans and maybe even some houston pundits, too. I just hope we don't have as much a problem with Izzy this year as last. I'd gladly take only 5 blown saves.

Post by **heyzeus** » April 3 07, 7:46 am

Cronos69 wrote:
RC21 wrote:I think Lidge is hurt. The "in" thing is to blame some psychological problem because Albert ruined him, but his problems last year (and probably last night, too- I missed it) were because of poor command and slightly diminished velocity. These are often signs of injury and the guy has a history of them dating back before he reached the MLB level.
What I keep hearing from various sports pundits is that he has problems with the NL central teams mainly because they've learned to recognize that slider in the dirt and have laid off of it so that he has to come at them with his fastball. I don't buy that, personally; he could make adjustments with that fastball or with his other pitch(doesn't he also have a pretty good change?) so it may very well be that he's hurt.

Actually, I will vouch for that the theory that teams are laying of the slider. Living in Texas, I get to see most Astros games on tv. The games when Lidge gets hit are the games when he isn't throwing the slider for strikes. Most hitters are laying off it altogether now. When he's locating the slider, like he did in '04-'05, and following it up with 98 mph heat, he strikes out the side. But more and more, he isn't, and the fastball doesn't have the same effect if hitters are picking it up.

Perhaps something in his mechanics have changed that are tipping hitters to the slider?

Popeye_Card · Post by **Popeye_Card** » April 3 07, 7:50 am

Cronos69 wrote:
RC21 wrote:I think Lidge is hurt. The "in" thing is to blame some psychological problem because Albert ruined him, but his problems last year (and probably last night, too- I missed it) were because of poor command and slightly diminished velocity. These are often signs of injury and the guy has a history of them dating back before he reached the MLB level.
What I keep hearing from various sports pundits is that he has problems with the NL central teams mainly because they've learned to recognize that slider in the dirt and have laid off of it so that he has to come at them with his fastball. I don't buy that, personally; he could make adjustments with that fastball or with his other pitch(doesn't he also have a pretty good change?) so it may very well be that he's hurt.

Thing is, even with a possible injury leading to diminished stuff, even with batters laying off the slider and looking fastball, Lidge still struck out 104 batters in 75 innings last year. That's only a slight tick down from 103 in 70.2 IP in 2005.

I think it's a combo. Hitters (especially in the NL Central) have simply said "we won't swing at that slider", and only look fastball. Sometimes he can throw the slider for strikes. Most times, he doesn't. So he falls behind and *has* to throw fastballs. One of two things happen when you throw a fastball that hard--either the batter is going to swing and miss (hence the 100+ K's), or he's going to make contact and hit the ball hard. A lot of those hard hit balls end up over the fence.

So is he not throwing the slider for strikes because he's injured, or could he never really do it, but batters swung at it in the past?

--P--

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » April 3 07, 7:55 am

Richard Justice has apparently had all he can stand of Lidge:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 83090.html

Richard Justice wrote:...That Brad Lidge, the Brad Lidge who shattered bats and made good hitters look like Little Leaguers, is gone. The Astros can pretend he exists. They can keep giving him the ball and praying for better results.

Astros manager Phil Garner said he'd do exactly that if he faced the same situation tonight. This is a mistake. Lidge has had enough chances. Garner shouldn't allow one player to drag his team down...

...In an indication that his once-unhittable stuff isn't fooling anyone, Lidge threw 26 pitches in the ninth inning. The Pirates swung and missed just five times...