lidge sucks he just does not have the heart of a proven winner

oh wait a minute

I didn't even draft a closer this year and now I win saves almost every week due to people cutting Lidge and Gagne and the addition of Weathers

ESPN reporting Lidge is now Philly's problem. No details on the deal yet.

I don't know if I'd call a 130 ERA+, 11.8 K/9, 3:1 K/BB ratio, etc. a "problem." He's not 04/05 Lidge, but dude still has the ability to be a quality reliever.

he chokes blah blah etc etc st louis blah blah houston's version of rick ankiel

So i guess we can expect him to replace Billy Wagner in 2 years.

LOL the guy generates 8 pages of posts at 99 per page and you guys want to post about whether he can be referred to tongue-in-cheek as a "problem"

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Closer Brad Lidge was traded by the Houston Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies along with infielder Eric Bruntlett on Wednesday night in the first deal of the general managers' meetings.

In exchange for Lidge and Bruntlett, the Astros got outfielder Michael Bourn, right-hander Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Mike Costanzo.

The 30-year-old Lidge was 5-3 with 19 saves in 27 chances for the Astros last year. He struggled to close out games but held batters to a .218 average and averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Philadelphia intends to move Brett Myers, who had been their closer, back into the starting rotation.

Bruntlett hit .246 with 14 RBIs last season, seeing time at shortstop, third base and the outfield.

Bourn batted .277 as a rookie this year with one homer, six RBIs and 18 steals, and Geary was 3-2 with a 4.41 ERA with the Phillies. Costano, 24, batted .270 with 27 homers and 86 RBIs at Double-A Reading.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

This thread is pointless, still, I read most of it...


I am sick.

On behalf of Philadelphia I say, HELL YA!!!

As an Astros fan, on the whole I'm happy with the trade. Lidge becomes a free agent after 2008, and we picked up a solid center fielder who is cheap and will be under our control for a while. A decent 3B prospect is nice, too.

That said, the Astros bullpen needs a ton of help, and losing Lidge does hurt. Wade is talking about going after Cordero, but I'd hate to spend that kind of money without fixing the rest of the bullpen first.

Is Bourn any good? Does he walk? I'm pretty sure he played ball at my alma mater but I don't know much about him.

At least now Joe Morgan can STFU about the Astros not playing well because of a lack of pigment on their team and concetrate on the fact that they aren't doing well because they can't sign their draft picks and make horrible trades.

Lidge, Bruntlett to Phillies.
Bourn, Geary, Costanzo (minor league, not Costanza) to Astros.

"We're getting one of the premier closers in the game," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

No, Mr. Amaro, you're not.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3099599

fwiw, I really liked Bruntlett. He can come off the bench cold and play 3rd, short, 2nd, and any outfield position and hit about .280 off the bench or with playing time for injured players. He doesn't have much pop but he'll hit doubles to the gap. He usually gets pretty quality AB's in there. Plus he's got Viking Power facial hair.

I'll miss Bruntlett.

Bourn is fast. Think Reyes only not as slow. He was very highly regarded in the Phils organization but never got a chance at the big league level.

WTF...we would have gladly given you Ben Francisco and Tom Mastny if you wanted a pile of [censored] in return for Lidge.

Phillies made out like bandits.

Seriously.

ummmmmm.....why didn't Lidge ask to be sent to the American League? Did he forget he'll still be in Albert's league?

He blows. Abraham Nunez is out there if you want another guy that can't hit on your bench.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered?p=665

Nate Silver is not hot on the deal. FWIW, the Astros benefit most from league average players because their team is absolutely terrible, while the Phillies have less of need for those types of players. I disagree that the Phillies got owned here; I think it's pretty fair.

I think it's a helluva deal for the Stros.

They shake Lidge who is simple a shell of his former self and pick up a top of the lineup center fielder a prospect at 3rd and a rag arm to even out the deal.

Bourn can flat out play. He's got wheels and can cover that huge center field. He'll allow Pence to move to right and forever send Jason Lane to purgatory.

hell, it's a good trade for them simply because they move Myers back into the rotation

I usually love Nate, but he doesn't seem to realize that Costanzo is already being tried in the OF because he is awful at 3rd. Striking out that much in the minors is also a major red flag.

Well, Bruntlett came off the bench cold and turned a sick game-ending double play with Adam Everett in the 2005 NLCS I believe. Biggio wouldn't have gotten it. I know it's one play but it was huge. I just like the guy, that's all.

Also, Ballzack, Jason Lane was sent to the Whale's Vagina Padres late this season. Not sure if you realized he's off the team. One thing I don't understand is why the Astros HATE Luke Scott. Dude walks a ton, and hits for power from the left side of the plate.

Pence is fine in Center, too. Lee/Pence/Scott for the whole season would have been fine, imo. But I'm definitely willing to give Bourn a chance, with Scott coming off the bench I guess. Or they're probably looking to ship him now, because his OPS is too high for this team.