Skip to main content

'09 Lidge Will Prevent Repeat


Can the Phillies win the World Series with 2009 Brad Lidge as their closer? No. As we have reviewed multiple times here on PhoulBallz, 2009 Brad Lidge is not the same pitcher who closed out games for the World Champions in 2008. That guy is gone and some look-alike has assumed his job as Phillies closer.

Lidge's current statistics are worrisome, to say the least. They are horrible, to put it more accurately. Through 49 games this year, Lidge has saved 23 games, blown 8 games, has a 0-5 record, a 7.21 ERA and a .299 batting average against. Lidge has allowed runs in 45% of his games pitched this year. Comparatively, 2008 Brad Lidge, saved 41 games, blew 0 games, had a 2-0 record, a 1.95 ERA and a .198 batting avg. against. 2008 Brad Lidge was only scored (earned runs) upon in 18% of his games.

Looking back at recent history, the closer among the previous 20 World Series winners with the worst ERA is Robb Nen (1997 Marlins), at 3.89. For those with a World Series repeat on the brain, doubling the worst ERA among the last 20 World Series winning closers would result in an ERA just 0.57 worse than 2009 Brad Lidge. Once again, so this sinks in, 2009 Brad Lidge's ERA is only a half run better than DOUBLE the worst ERA of the 20 previous World Series winning closers!

The highest non-Marlin ERA among the last 20 World Series winning closers is 2006 Cardinal Jason Isringhausen with 3.55. Isringhausen blew 10 saves that season, but was only scored on in 25% of his appearances. That's 20% better than 2009 Brad Lidge, who is on pace to match Izzy's 10 blown saves.

None of the last 20 World Series winning closers have gone the entire season without a win. In fact the lowest win total of the past 20 WS winning closers was 2007's Jonathan Papelbon, for the Red Sox, who had 1. All others had multiple wins.

Of those past 20 World Series winning closers, aside from Isringhausen, Nen and 2003 Marlin Braden Looper, every single one of them had an ERA under 3.00. 14 of the 20 had ERA's under 2.40 (1/3 of Lidge's current ERA). 10 of the 20 had ERA's under 2.10.

No Phillies phan should feel confident with 2009 Brad Lidge, and his 7.21 ERA, closing games down the stretch and potentially into the postseason. As you've noticed, I've begun using the terms "2009 Brad Lidge" and "2008 Brad Lidge" to identify two men who are clearly different beings. These men wear the same jersey number, have the same birth mark on their faces and enter the playing field to the same song, but there is no mistaking that "09-BL" and "08-BL" are not the same person. How could they be...? One man was perfect and led his team through the World Series, the other man is feeble and craps the proverbial bed too often.

I'd trust a situational committee more than I'd trust "09-BL". Ryan Madson shuts down the Pirates- use him against Pittsburgh. Scott Eyre owns the D-Backs- use him against Arizona. Jamie Moyer has luck versus the Marlins- there you go. Chad Durbin is solid against the Mets- hello, New York! And when JC Romero and/or Brett Myers make it back, get those guys some turns.

This season has reached the latter portion of August. There are less than 7 weeks left before the playoffs begin. The Phillies can't keep waiting for 2008 Brad Lidge to return. It's time to bump the imposter aside and win as many games as possible.

----------------------------------

A list of the last 20 World Series winning closers, and their statistics, can be found in the comment section of this post.

Check out PhoulBallz.com's review of Brad Lidge's deal with the devil.

Get great stats and exclusive updates...follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

Jay Floyd said…
Last 20 World Series winning closers...

2008 Lidge, Phillies- 41 saves, 2-0 record, 1.95 ERA, 0 blown saves.

2007 Papelbon, BoSox- 37 saves, 1-3, 1.85 ERA, 3 blown saves.

2006 Isringhausen, Cardinals- 33 saves, 4-8, 3.55 ERA, 10 blown saves.

2005 Hermanson, ChiSox- 34 saves, 2-4, 2.04 ERA, 5 blown saves.

2004 Foulke, BoSox- 32 saves, 5-3, 2.17 ERA, 7 blown saves.

2003 Looper, Marlins- 28 saves, 6-4, 3.68, 6 blown saves.

2002 Percival, Angels- 40 saves, 4-1, 1.92 ERA, 4 blown saves.

(At this point it becomes difficult to locate blown save stats for players who are older or no longer active)

2001 BH Kim, DBacks- 19 saves, 5-6, 2.94 ERA.

2000 Rivera, Yanks- 36 saves, 7-4, 2.85 ERA, 5 blown saves.

1999 Rivera, Yanks- 45 saves, 4-3, 1.83 ERA, 0 blown saves.

1998 Rivera, Yanks- 36 saves, 3-0, 1.91 ERA, 0 blown saves.

1997 Nen, Marlins- 35 saves, 9-3, 3.89 ERA.

1996 Wetteland, Yanks- 43 saves, 2-3, 2.83 ERA.

1995 Wohlers, Braves- 25 saves, 7-3, 2.09 ERA.

1993 D Ward, Jays- 45 saves, 2-3, 2.13 ERA.

1992 Henke, Jays- 34 saves, 3-2, 2.26 ERA.

1991 Aguilera, Twins- 42 saves, 4-5, 2.32 ERA.

1990 R Myers, Reds- 31 saves, 4-6, 2.08 ERA.

1989 Eckersley, A's- 33 saves, 4-0, 1.56 ERA.

1988 J Howell, Dodgers- 21 saves, 5-3, 2.08 ERA.
Phixer Man said…
Sad to say, but I agree 100%. Very sad.... Don't really know what choice we have in that Madson can't close, maybe Romero if he comes back???????
mvr joe said…
indeed this is a frightening outlook...if anyone spoke of )( BL whilst it was still '08, it would have been sacr-a-lidge-ous...but that lidge fell of a ledge and was replaced by a doppelganger. mebbe we should have raul start every game in the OF, then move onto the mound for the 9th, as he has a better arm then brad
Cup_Crazy said…
I have to agree with the close by committee idea...Not sure if 2009 Lidge can fix whatever the issue is..
bronxbomber said…
Hate to say it, but I don't think the Phillies can repeat if they are counting on Lidge. He's too unreliable. But on the other hand, look at Isringhausen in '06. Anything is possible...

Popular posts from this blog

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...