Brad Lidge - rut roh

[Clarkmeister]

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.

[prohornblower]

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. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[tdarko]

prohorn,

This is good work. Well done.

[prohornblower]

[ QUOTE ]
prohorn,

This is good work. Well done.

[/ QUOTE ]

It just has become blatantly obvious as-of-late. Lidge does not prioritize throwing inside. I don't care who you are, if you are getting 96mph fastballs in on your hands, you aren't going to hit the ball well (See 2005 NLCS Game 6 Oswalt v. Cards). And if you add an 86 mph slider low and away to the mix, your (the batter's) results will be even worse. Even if you turn on it, hehe, you'll pretty much pull it foul everytime.

Andy Fox pointed something out that I didn't bother typing in here, because I didn't think it was as obvious, but I suppose now that it was. (I often forget that there are people in here more knowledgeable about baseball than I [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) Jeff Kent's sac fly was on a pitch about 4 inches off the plate. He had time to fling his bat out, and get the job done.

NOBODY hits that pitch deep enough to right to get the sac fly, if they have to protect the inside of the plate.

Once he starts doing this, he should get his mentality back into place, which should allow his mechanics to fall back into place. I think his mechanics (walks) are a function of him forcing the issue (See Brett Favre 2005). Once he gets back into the hitters' kitchen, he will not need to force things anymore. I think there is at least a 95% chance he gets back to his old nasty ways.

[andyfox]

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.

[ColdCaller]

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

[joe c]

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...

[MinRaise]

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?

[technologic]

[ QUOTE ]
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?

[/ QUOTE ]

best?!?!? wtf.

[Hack]

He and Isringhausen are both uber crappy this year.