April 02, 2007
Popping the Lidge
Brad Lidge wastes no time blowing a save. He comes into the ninth of the Pirates/Astros game with a 2-1 lead, then Nady takes his first pitch into the Crawford boxes to tie the score at two. Lidge doubled his home run rate last season, and is off to a poor start here in 2007. That wastes a solid 7 2/3 innings from Roy Oswalt, although if the offense generated a decent amount of runs, that homer wouldn't be a problem.
Update: The Pirates complete the comeback as Jason Bay homers off Qualls in the top of the ten for a two-run lead, and Torres retires the side in order in the bottom of the 10th to give Pittsburgh a share of the NL Central lead. The bullpen won this game, throwing three innings of one-hit ball. The starter, Duke, allowed the ball to be put in play, allowing just one walk and a hits batter. The Astros hit .333 against him, but only plated two runs. The Astros went 1 for 5 with men in scoring position.
Dan Wheeler, come on down!!!!!!!!
Right now, the Rocket is going "Lidge or Rivera?" and starts packing his bags for NY.
Dan Wheeler, come on down!!!!!!!!
He's on my fantasy roster's bench, so I'd welcome some more Lidge blown saves myself.
Funny thing, if Lee's line drive in the sixth sneaks into center instead of getting turned into a double play, the Astros win at least 3-2 even with Lidge going wobbly in the ninth. Really, the Astros offense was pretty good in the game - nine hits, including four extra-base hits, plus a walk and a HBP. Just didn't get the breaks, which let the Pirates hang around long enough to win. It also helps to have a hitter like Bay.
Anyway, Lidge better not blow another save any time soon. Garner would only say: "he's my closer." Translation: he gets one more chance.
By the way, I just reran the pitch to Nady several times on the much-maligned MLB.TV. (Try doing that on the overpriced Extra Innings package.) The pitch caught too much of the plate, but it wasn't horrendous. The ball was low enough that Nady could have swung over it or beaten it into the ground.
But he didn't.
What's worse is that Lidge almost gave up a hit to Don Kelly.
For those who don't know, Don Kelly is quite possibly the worst player currently in the major leagues. Why Jim Tracy had Kelly coming to the plate in that situation is utterly baffling.
interesting that FSN camera angles shows the pitch to be low and inside - just where brad ausmus says it was.
agree that i was a LOT more concerned about what happened after the homer than i was the homer.
and the catch adam everett made of don kelly's ball was stupendous. any other SS and it would have been 2 more runs.
it WOULD have helped if the hitters had done a little more timely hitting. and if carlos lee had not made 6 outs in 4 AB
