It's interesting that Lidge is allowed nowhere near a save situationa anymore. They brought in Wheeler for the hold in the eight inning, but wouldn't take a chance on lidge. Contrary to what Phil Garner and Tim Purpura keep telling the media about how Lidge can and will reclaim his job as the closer one of these days and that he's untouchable in trades, I really can't see him as an Astro much longer...he really needs a change of scenery from Minute Maid, as long as he stays there, I think he'll keep being haunted by the memory of that Pujols shot disappearing deep into the Houston sky.

I'm sure the Astros would love to package Lidge as part of a deal for a hitter or three. But I'm not sure that anybody is willing to give up much for a reliever who's seen his ERA skyrocket since 2005.

So Houston may be stuck with using Lidge in low-pressure situations and hoping that he somehow stops coughing up runs. With the team already well behind in the NL Central, he won't get the ball in any kind of important situation right now.

Qualls, not Wheeler, was brought in for the 8th inning hold situation. Wheeler is the closer, and he has been fine in that role. So it's not like there is a rush to move Lidge back to the closer role. The pattern in the past is that Lidge will have a good one or two outings after he is moved back to the middle relief role and then he encounters problems again when he is immediately returned to closer. I think this time the Astros would like him to get a lot more work in the lower pressure situations. So far Lidge has lowered his ERA from the 11+ range to the 5's. He had his first 1-2-3 inning last week. He needs to continue showing that he can consistently do that.

well david, now you SEE how fast relievers can go wrong. qualls gave up 3 runs with 4 hitters in a row - and no one else was warming up because no one else expected that