Brad Lidge - rut roh - Page 4 - Sporting Events and Fantasy Sports

They've discovered the mechanical flaw that has him losing control of the strike zone. It has something to do with his front shoulder and the position of his hand when the ball is released.

It's easier for me to explain - and that wasn't all that easy, was it? - than it is to fix. It gets back to muscle memory when he gets on the mound. He has heard the phrase ''Stay back'' a few hundred times the last few days and has watched hours of video of himself.

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05-17-2006 , 05:41 PM

#78

Aceshigh7

old hand

Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,654

Very good to hear this news. Once Lidge gets his mechanics under control and trains himself not to give off these tells that he's been giving off, he's got a great shot to become "Lights Out Lidge" once again.

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Lidge gets, gives some tips
Astros pitcher hopes to get closer's job back.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

HOUSTON — Brad Lidge has gotten a lot of tips this year in a baseball season gone wrong. He got another one last week.

The tip came from Astros teammate Joe McEwing, an infielder and a recent callup from Round Rock. McEwing told Lidge he was the one with the tips.

Brad Lidge, who had a career-high 42 saves last year, is trying to recover from 'a horrible month' in which he lost his job as a closer.

It's hard enough to get batters out even if they don't know what's coming. In Lidge's case, many National League batters apparently did know what was coming. McEwing and Astros shortstop Adam Everett told Lidge that he was alerting hitters to his pitches. It was something McEwing said he picked up when he was with the Mets.

"I've been tipping my pitches," a frustrated Lidge said, standing at his locker before Tuesday's game.

When he pitched out of the stretch and came to a stop at his chest before coming home, it was a slider. When his hands rested at his belt, a fastball was on its way. Easy enough to decipher.

"It really ticked me off," Lidge said, "because it took a month out of my career. It turns out to be a horrible month."

Better a month than a monkey on his back that could last forever. Many have openly wondered if the home run blast by St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols in Game 5 of last year's NL Championship Series had shattered Lidge's confidence.

Lidge has no idea if Pujols knew what was coming before the pitch was leaving the ballpark, although it was hit so hard that it's hard to imagine it not leaving a mark. Figuratively, too.

Lidge, though, has been a standup guy, always talking and never hiding in the trainer's room after a loss. He's had a lot of practice this season after giving up runs in eight of his 20 appearances and having blown four saves in his last five chances. His earned-run average is an unhealthy 5.79.

Having a reliable closer is fairly important, especially when it's someone like Lidge, who had a career-high 42 saves last year.

"Brad Lidge is crucial for the success of this team," catcher Brad Ausmus said. "I don't think you can really win without a dominant closer," starter Andy Pettitte said.

Short of re-signing Roger Clemens, straightening out Lidge surely ranks as the top priority if the Astros are to repeat as NL champions.

Of course, Lidge has a new problem. The way the Giants have crushed Houston's starting pitching the last two nights, there's been nothing to close. The Astros have been finished before they've even come to bat in the fourth inning, losing 14-3 on Tuesday night after getting pounded 10-1 in Monday's opener.

If Lidge is ever to regain his role and re-establish himself as one of the game's best closers, his teammates are going to have to help him out. Because of the lopsided scores, Lidge may not be able to prove he still has it until the starting pitching recovers or Clemens comes to the rescue.

Even before Everett's and McEwing's inside knowledge, Lidge has gotten all sorts of tips. Needed to get back to a full windup, which he has. Has to keep his weight back. Should quit nibbling at the corners and become more aggressive.

One well-wisher even wrote manager Phil Garner and told him he'd seen Bob Feller's very first game in the majors and could help Lidge out.

"He looks a little sharper," Garner said of Lidge's last two outings in non-save situations. "It's an issue we'd like to get resolved. Of course, I'd like to score seven more runs a game."

Even that wouldn't have been enough in the first two games of this series with San Francisco. Houston can get by with Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls, although neither has a dominant pitch like Lidge's slider, which ranks with Mariano Rivera's cutter, Trevor Hoffman's changeup and Billy Wagner's fastball. Wheeler's efficient and Qualls has a great sinker, but neither is Lidge.

Lidge, for sure, has had company this season. Lots of it.

He need look no further than Seattle, where Eddie Guardado has lost his job. Or Texas, where Francisco Cordero was demoted. Keith Foulke has been replaced at Boston.

Even those who have kept their jobs as closer have struggled. Wagner with the Mets. Even Rivera, arguably the best stopper of all time, has had off nights.

"Mariano even got booed in New York," Ausmus said. "And New York loves Rivera."

Closers everywhere are struggling. That may be for no other reason than baseball remains in an era of unmatched offensive zest.

For closers, it comes with the territory. Lidge just wants to get back in the territory.

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05-17-2006 , 06:55 PM

#79

prohornblower

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When he pitched out of the stretch and came to a stop at his chest before coming home, it was a slider. When his hands rested at his belt, a fastball was on its way.

Uggg, this sounds too good to be true. I'd love to believe it but I don't think I can. If this was the case, someone would have noticed this by reviewing tape. I mean, we're a month and a half into the season. Someone would have noticed this weeks ago. Hell, Lidge himself would have noticed it.

I hope it's true though.

Also, he still needs to learn to throw his fastball inside.

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05-18-2006 , 02:20 AM

#80

MyTurn2Raise

Drug Free MVP

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 40,622

hahahhahaha

no one in the Astros organization saw this on the video

ROFL

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05-18-2006 , 01:43 PM

#81

prohornblower

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hahahhahaha

no one in the Astros organization saw this on the video

ROFL

You're just mad because your team keeps "underachieving" in the playoffs.

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05-19-2006 , 11:34 PM

#82

prohornblower

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Clark,
Good news. Lidge is back, baby. He came in tonight and gave up a leadoff single to Matthews, Jr. on a decent enough pitch, then K'd Michael Young on three pitches, and K'd Teixeira as well, and got Blalock to pop up to SS to end the game. Astros win 5-3.

Oh, and he threw a fastball 98, and another 97. This year he had been more like 95-96 instead of 97 like last year. And his sliders were between 88-90, and low in the zone.

But I'm sure you are right. I think that poo-holes moonshot will still end his career. It just may take another 7 years or so.

Hope this helps.

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05-20-2006 , 12:39 AM

#83

wisehandpoker

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,652

damn, phb's feeling a little rowdy tonight. Good beats

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05-20-2006 , 12:46 AM

#84

prohornblower

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damn, phb's feeling a little rowdy tonight. Good beats

Notice no retorts for over an hour. lol. Oh wait..some people actually go OUT on Friday night.

Good lookin' out!

In all seriousness, Lidge may be "back". God, I hope so.

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05-20-2006 , 01:29 AM

#85

wisehandpoker

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,652

I called it an early night and got home at 12:30. What's your excuse?

I hope he's back too. Seems like a good guy and I'm ready to dump wheeler in my roto.

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05-20-2006 , 10:35 AM

#86

Clarkmeister

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Oh, man. You called him Poo-holes. Good one dude, you got me there.

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05-21-2006 , 02:03 AM

#87

prohornblower

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Oh, man. You called him Poo-holes. Good one dude, you got me there.

Wasn't trying to "get you". Just taking a cheap shot at the guy who's swing cures cancer.

BTW, what are your thoughts on Lidge's newfound control and domination?

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05-21-2006 , 06:56 AM

#88

anononon

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Posts: n/a

Brad Lidge is fine. Monster home run shots like Pujols hit off him don't magically end careers.

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05-21-2006 , 11:55 AM

#89

Clarkmeister

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Oh, man. You called him Poo-holes. Good one dude, you got me there.

Wasn't trying to "get you". Just taking a cheap shot at the guy who's swing cures cancer.

BTW, what are your thoughts on Lidge's newfound control and domination?

Oh man, what a nasty cheap shot that was!

Regarding his "newfound domination", I guess I require more than one save in a row before I start using words like "domination" when discussing a closer.

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05-21-2006 , 03:15 PM

#90

challenger84

banned

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,220

Quote:

damn, phb's feeling a little rowdy tonight. Good beats

Notice no retorts for over an hour. lol. Oh wait..some people actually go OUT on Friday night.

Good lookin' out!

In all seriousness, Lidge may be "back". God, I hope so.

lol... one good outing and he's "back." I remember here in Colorado when they used to say that about Mike Hampton after he'd have one good outing every now and then.

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05-24-2006 , 02:43 PM

#91

MyTurn2Raise

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Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 40,622

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Oh, man. You called him Poo-holes. Good one dude, you got me there.

Wasn't trying to "get you". Just taking a cheap shot at the guy who's swing cures cancer.

BTW, what are your thoughts on Lidge's newfound control and domination?

Izzy has 15 saves in 17 appearances now and it doesn't mean [censored]. He sucks almost as much as Lidge, whose career is over

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05-24-2006 , 02:52 PM

#92

Jack of Arcades

Jumbo Jack

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 23,569

Izzy's pitching like crap. I don't know if it's just luck or whatever, only seen him pitch a couple times but it did not look good. I always liked Izzy so hope he'll bounce back, but then again I've always liked Wainwright too. Hard not to like a guy who was touted as your team's next ace for so long.

Lidge has put together a nice run of things. Always liked him too, especially when he was a part of that dominant bullpen.

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05-25-2006 , 02:48 AM

#93

technologic

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Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,049

ah where's aceshigh when you need to crush an annoying soul

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05-25-2006 , 02:54 AM

#94

Schwartzy61

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I think this is a good thing. If Izzy pitches like crap and is 15/17 in saves imagine how dominant he'll be when he comes around. He has obvious control issues right now 16BB, 14K, 16.2 IP, but the 15/17 thing shows he can handle the pressure. So he just needs to get his location under control and he'll be good to go...

If Lidge's issues turn out to be mechanical, that's a good sign for the Astros, but mighty strange coincidence that his mechanics go to crap around the same time Pujols crushes a game winning 3 run homer...

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05-25-2006 , 02:56 AM

#95

Hack

banned

Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,632

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ah where's aceshigh when you need to crush an annoying soul

HAHA Lidge's ERA continues to climb.

Lidge pwnage. OWNEDDDD aceshigh

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05-25-2006 , 03:08 AM

#96

Schwartzy61

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ah where's aceshigh when you need to crush an annoying soul

HAHA Lidge's ERA continues to climb. Like the Pujols homer to win Game 5 if it hadn't hit the windows...

Lidge pwnage. OWNEDDDD aceshigh

FYP and to add:

In defense of Lidge, he was perfect tonight, 4 batters faced, 4 runners allowed...

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05-25-2006 , 10:46 AM

#97

Clarkmeister

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Brad Lidge is fine. Monster home run shots like Pujols hit off him don't magically end careers.

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05-25-2006 , 11:05 AM

#98

Clarkmeister

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Meh. Izzy sucks and always has. I suppose he's better than average and is pretty consistent, but it's consistently frustrating.

Those of you trying to bait with Izzy comments are barking up the wrong tree.