What the hell else was I going to write about...?

It will be too late for many people's liking, but it's really about time to NEVER USE BRAD LIDGE IN A SAVE SITUATION ON THE ROAD AGAIN. Lidge in 2009 road games- 0-6, 8.10 ERA, 15 saves, 10 blown saves.

One of my favorite statistics that I regularly update here on PhoulBallz is the percentage of games that Brad Lidge has allowed earned runs in this season, compared to the 18% he allowed in 2008. This year, Lidge has allowed earned runs in 43% of his outings. And, as a reminder, in 2007 Brett Myers allowed earned runs in just 21% of his relief appearances.

Considering Lidge's season-long struggles, what is the solution when Brett Myers is ailing with a back muscle/shoulder injury, when Chan Ho Park has an injured hamstring, when Ryan Madson looks just as inept in the 9th inning as Brad Lidge seems and when JC Romero is still unavailable to pitch due to a forearm injury? Well, on Wednesday night, with Hanley Ramirez batting with two outs and the tying run on 3rd base, your answer was Scott Eyre. Ramirez ended up walking, which led to a Jorge Cantu game tying single, then Ramirez later scored the winning run on Brett Carroll's game ending hit. Eyre would have been the ideal pitcher to face Hanley in that spot, needing just one out. Eyre is a lefty. Ramirez is batting 39 points lower against lefties this year than he is against right handers. He also has hit just ONE of his 23 homers against lefty pitchers this season. Furthermore, Eyre has been exceptional on the road this season, having allowed only 1 earned run in 22 road games. The Phillies stated that Eyre was available for Wednesday night's game, and he should have been used.

Don't confuse the outcome with the decision either...sure, Ramirez was not the batter who got the walk-off hit, but that doesn't change the point that a better match up, with a left hander facing the batter, is more likely to end the game there.

Charlie Manuel has spoken plenty about Brad Lidge getting back on the right track. Okay, even if he was on the track, he's just standing still on it. When that train comes through, it makes an awful mess.

It makes sense to some extent that the Phillies might try to stand by Lidge based on financial details. Brad Lidge is currently the third highest paid player on the team. He is owed a guaranteed $24.5 million dollars, going forward. Sure, there's an investment involved and he costs a lot, but he's costing the team more than money right now. Lidge is costing the Phillies games.

Can Brad Lidge continue looking in the mirror and not see what he has become? It doesn't matter. Can Charlie Manuel continue watching Lidge blow games and not make changes? Hopefully, not.

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

PhoulBallz has had plenty of Lidge posts this year. Follow these links to a couple favorites you may have missed.

Lidge Will Prevent a Repeat

Lidge needs to renegotiate his deal with the devil

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

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

World Series Preview: Phillies vs. Astros

The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network. ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston. RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA). In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA. Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason. Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston. In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts. Verlander has...

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Ben Brown talks TJ recovery, O'Hoppe, cancelled season

Image- MiLB.com Out of action since last May when it was determined he required Tommy John surgery, righty pitching prospect Ben Brown is using the downtime of the pandemic hiatus to continue his physical recovery. A 33rd round draft selection of the Phillies back in 2017, Brown made his professional debut that same year, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 10 appearances in the rookie level Gulf Coast League. The following season, Brown began to make a name for himself in the GCL, striking out 16 batters in one July appearance. He would post a 3.12 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 10 games (eight starts) before earning a promotion and finishing the season with a pair of outings with Class A short-season Williamsport. Brown, a Long Island, NY native, opened last year with Class A Lakewood. In four appearances with the BlueClaws, he struck out 20, walked four and allowed no runs in 13 2/3 innings and looked well on his way to making an impact on betting odds and avai...

2019 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #7 LHP JoJo Romero

JoJo Romero, image- Jay Floyd With a growing crop of very talented pitching prospects in the Phillies organization, left-hander JoJo Romero is certainly among the standouts. The five-foot-11 200-pounder was the Phils’ 4th round draft selection in 2016. That year he helped Yavapai College, the same school that the Phillies drafted Kenny Giles from in 2011, clinch the JuCo World Series, leading the way with an 11-5 record, a 3.64 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 mark. He also tossed a complete game gem to earn the win in their title game. After signing with the Phillies, Romero made his professional debut as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. There, he notched a 2-2 record with a 2.56 ERA while striking out 31 and walking 11 in 45 2/3 innings. In 2017, he got off to a terrific start with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. In 13 starts, Romero tallied a 5-1 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 9.3 K/9 mark and was honored as a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star. R...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog