Good or bad?
The really good thing about this series with the Yankees is that the Phillies pitching, starting with Bret Myers and again yesterday with J.A. Happ, has been dominant.
Happ, making his first start in place of Chan Ho Park, allowed just two runs on four hits over six innings and left with a two-run lead.
The bad – Brad Lidge giving up a two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez to tie yesterday’s game leading to an eventual loss by the Phillies. Lidge didn’t just give up the tieing runs, he gave up the winning hit to Melky Cabrera as well.
In taking the loss for the Phillies, Lidge also blew his third save of the season, ruining Happ’s solid start and draining the once-unshakable confidence this team had in him.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not just a “glass-have empty” guy, I am a “who stole my fuckin’ water” type of guy. But I know one thing for sure, if the Phillies can continue to pitch the way they have over the past two days – and if Lidge can be two-thirds the closer he was last season – this team will win a ton of games, be a major player at the trade deadline and content for another championship.
I am surprisingly not as angry as I thought I’d be this morning – I’m as excited and confident in this Phillies team as ever.
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Take Lidge out for a while at least until they figue out his issues. Madson can do a good job as closer. His fastball has been as high as 97 lately. I think Lidge definetly needs some “me time” to figure out his issues.