Not a great start given how dominant he's been in recent years. Nomar last night and blew another one tonight. His last 5 games have not been up to par at all and his season ERA is basically 7 now.

One has to wonder how much last year's postseason is affecting him. Between the horrific World Series and Pujols' moon shot it's not out of the realm that he could be damaged goods.

No.

There is one thing that he is not doing that he needs to be doing. It has nothing to do with "giving up a moon shot to Pujols". Everybody and their grandma has let that happen.

He needs to THROW HIS 96-98mph FASTBALL INSIDE!

It just hit me that he NEVER brushes anyone off the plate. Once he starts doing this the hitters will not be leaning over to waste his nasty slider, allowing them to sit on his fastball.

Besides, if he's going to walk 3 people every appearance, why not drill one of them in the chest? Sends a message...saves 3 pitches... ???

PITCH INSIDE LIDGE! PITCH INSIDE!!! PLEASE!!! I'm sick of defending you on internet forums!!! I know you're a nice guy and all, but it's OK to give chin music and even hit a guy now and then. Hell, wait for a 2 or 3 run lead before you drill someone...just DO IT. Get the signal out.

Walks in 2005 - 23 total
so far in 2006 - 10

looks like he'll get off the hook tonite, Little is attempting to lose this game. 3 pitch outs in a row? nice call grady. led to a walk, big surprise...

I thought I had the best closers in the league with Lidge, Nathan, and F. Cordero. Lidge and Cordero are getting lit up (and absolutely killing me) and Nathan never gets a chance. Who knew David Weathers would be my most steady closer option after I drafted those three?

best?!?!? wtf.

prohorn,

This is good work. Well done.

He and Isringhausen are both uber crappy this year.

Yeah, note that Kent was able to lean out over the plate, 0-2, and hit the semi-hanging slider deep enough to right to drive in the tying run tonight. Maybe if he's thinking about a high hard one there he's not quite out over the plate with such alacrity.

On another note, watching the Dodgers/Astros game, these could be the two worst managers in the history of baseball, major league or otherwise.

Definitely. If the pitcher fears the batter, he cannot be successful.

Yeah, this has some shades of Wohlers/Leyritz, but Wohlers was pretty solid the following year - then he fell apart - if I remember right.

Man, Im really pulling for Lidge to work his way out of this funk. I think the guy is awesome and I absolutely hate what is happening right now.

Im confident that he will sort things out and we will see Lights Out Lidge again.

it's what he gets for the blasphemy declaring he was the best closer in baseball

He was close. He's the best closer in the NL, at least.

from what I've heard, he also has zero command of his slider right now.....he's bouncing it all over the place which is messing with his confidence, his walk totals, his baserunners (who can run all over him), and his fastball/location/etc....

He certainly was the best closer in the NL last year once Gagne went down.

The pic is just so badass. It's on my short list of great ones.

Maybe. Wagner has a case.

Did Pujols hit the first pitch? I don't think it was a long at-bat.

Billy Wagner says hi. More innings pitched and less walks, along with far fewer hits. He didn't K as many but he does't need to.
Wagner > Lidge, for his career and for last year.

Izzy blows one... and Pujols (along with Eckstein, good game for him today) puts the team on his back again. Go Cards go!

I think many of us called it then....that moon shot blew apart his confidence. If he can ever regain that is a big question. He has the skills, but it's about much more.

I still think he broke his neck with how quick his head turned around after Albert's blast.

Not sure there's any merit in this. Donnie Moore was phenomenal in 1987. Dennis Eckersley was phenomenal in 1989. Byung-Hyun Kim was phenomenal in 2002. Any other relatively recent backbreaking HR's allowed by relievers that I'm forgetting about?

They're actually gazing at a huge pile of undetectable alligator steroids in the left field upper deck.

Mitch Williams

Mitch Williams is a really counter-argument. While he wasn't great in 1992 or 1993, he totally fell off a cliff in 1994. He could have just been really sad about the labor stoppage, though.