Done with Brad Lidge

I’m a reasonable and patient fan but I’ve given Brad Lidge as much as I can give. September is around the corner and the Brad Lidge that’s running out there every day is more like the 2005 Lidge not the 2008 Lidge. This Brad Lidge is doomed to failure.

I keep hearing how the Phillies have to keep him as closer because they don’t have a better option. Wrong. Right now Lidge is the worst option. It’s time for the bullpen by committee. Maybe Ryan Madson can’t do it day in day out – but one day at a time Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee can select a pitcher based on the situation. When Romero and Myers are back – forget the “Bridge to Lidge” – that bridge goes nowhere. Here’s another crazy idea – how about Chan Ho Park?

The Phillies are too close to another World Series to let it slide away because of misplaced loyalty. We have enough time to figure something out and at least patch things together for the playoffs – but sticking our heads in the sand isn’t going to work. The worst thing we can do is nothing.

Werth added to All-Star roster

To the victor goes the spoils. It always annoyed me to see 7 or 8 Yankees or Res Sox players in the all-star game. Now it’s time for everyone else to be annoyed. Plus, if you think you have a chance yo get to the series, why not load up with your guns and get home field advantage?

Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth has been named to the 2009 National League All-Star roster, replacing New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, who is on the disabled list. Werth was selected by NL manager Charlie Manuel in conjunction with Major League Baseball

All-star teams announced: Phillies 3 -Mets 4 (players)

The all-star team was announced yesterday and for those that are keeping count, the Phils have 3 players on the team to the Mets’ 4. The fans have a chance to add an additional player in the Final vote (more on that in a second). As expected Ryan Howard was selected to join the team by Charlie Manuel to join Raul Ibañez and Chase Utley. Howard’s numbers aren’t as great as they’ll be, but one of the problems with the All-star game being played in the summer is that players that put up numbers when it counts get screwed. Based on what Howard does year after year, he deserves to be there.

I think Shane Victorino will end up replacing Carlos Beltran anyway, but why not make the point moot? You have a chance to put him in yourself by voting in the Final Vote. Shane versus 4 other high profile snubs: Christian Guzman of the Nationals, Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks, and Pablo Sandoval of the Giants. All have great cases, but I think Shane’s value goes beyond the numbers he puts up. When the team is going well, he’s in the middle of everything; he’s turned himself into the consummate pain in the ass player; that’s a good thing. Growing up, the best example of those types of players were Pete Rose and Lenny Dykstra (in his pre-Phillie/steroid days especially). If you get a chance you should ask C.C. Sabathia what he thinks.

Anytime I hear Shane’s name in trade rumors, I cringe; there’s a reason why so many teams want him. Shane deserves to go to St. Louis just as much as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, or Raul Ibañez – so put him there.

The Phillies lose another to the DL

To quote Luke Wilson from Anchorman, “this is getting re-goddamn-diculous.”

After losing Brett Myers, Brad Lidge, Scott Eyre (running in from the bullpen), and Raul Ibañez, now they will be losing Clay Condrey to the 15 day disabled list. I should have written this a week ago, but now my point is even stronger; it’s time for the Phillies to make a trade. No offense to Sergio Escalona, who will replace Condrey, but I have little confidence if you’re behind Jack Taschner on the depth chart. The rotation that Charlie Manuel is running out there is not a World Series rotation at this point.  Far from it. Prior to losing Myers, the distance between Cole Hamels starts was great – now it’s insurmountable.

The ripple effect of having sub-par starting pitching is killing our bullpen. And if we’re going to lean heavily on the bullpen, as we can see, it will buckle. I’m not calling on Ruben Amaro Jr. to make a trade for trades sake; but it is obvious that this team needs bolstering. The longer we wait, the harder it gets. For instance, now that Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the DL in Boston, you can count Brad Penny off the list of available pitchers. Jake Peavy is on the DL and so is Erik Bedard.

If we wait until the trade deadline we may end up hoping to bring Adam Eaton back.