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Brad Lidge News & Rumors

Lidge: 'Disappointed' and 'excited'
January 27
CSN Philly
 
"About 10 days ago, Brad Lidge learned he wasn't in the Phillies' plans for 2012. Three days ago, he wanted to hear it for himself. He called general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "Ruben was honest with me and I appreciate that," Lidge said hours after signing a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals on Thursday (see story). "I let him know I was disappointed, but at the same time I wished him luck. There are no hard feelings. It's part of the business.""
Lidge's days with Phils come to an end
January 27
Courier-Post
 
"At his best, Brad Lidge provided one of the most indelible images of the past three decades of Phillies history, closing out Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. At his worst, perhaps no player in recent memory was more roundly critiqued and criticized. After four years of heroics and frustration, Lidge's tenure with the Phillies officially came to an end Thursday when the closer inked a one-year deal with the division-rival Washington Nationals. Lidge's departure from Philadelphia seemed almost assured when the team declined a $12 million option for the 2012 season and declined to offer salary arbitration last month."
Brad Lidge adds wisdom, experience to Nationals' bullpen
January 27
Washington Times
 
"Brad Lidge has been to the top of the mountain — and on the bottom of the pile. He's been the man on the mound when the World Series championship is decided, the one spreading his arms, ready to receive a jubilant catcher after reaching the sport's pinnacle. And he's been to the depths of his profession. In a career that's spanned 10 major league seasons with the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies, Lidge is a pitcher who's struggled through injury, inconsistency and with overcoming one devastating home run swing."
Brad Lidge signs 1-year deal with Nationals
January 26
CBSSports.com
 
"The Nationals have signed former Phillies closer Brad Lidge to a one-year deal, the team announced on Thursday. The 35-year-old Lidge appeared in just 25 games for the Phillies last season because of a shoulder injury. His 2010 was limited by an elbow injury. Lidge was 0-2 with a 1.40 ERA in those 25 games last season, but managed just 19 1/3 innings, striking out 23 and walking 13, putting up a WHIP of 1.500."
Report: Phils remain in touch with Lidge
January 10
CSN Philly
 
"According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Phillies are still in touch with free-agent reliever Brad Lidge, while the Angels are on the periphery. First off, the Angels would be entertaining from a comedy standpoint. Maybe Albert Pujols could ask Lidge to throw him some batting practice balls like the one he served up in Houston in the 2005 postseason, which might still be in orbit if it wasn't for a wall getting in the way."
Should Lidge's number be retired?
January 6
CSN Philly
 columnist Casey Feeney
"With the calendar turned to 2012, the resignation has set in: Brad Lidge will not be a Phillie next season in all likelihood. From the club's perspective, there are a fair number of reasons why they would be set to move in a different direction. Lidge has been injury-prone in recent seasons and his decline is evident both statistically and visually. His fastball is only occasionally effective, which renders him a 1-pitch pitcher on most nights. That's not the point here. Nothing in that previous paragraph is a revelation. Unlike Roy Halladay, we come here, not to bury, but to praise Lidge."
Lidge on Papelbon addition: 'Great pickup'
December 2
CSN Philly
 
"Even though he is no longer a Phillie, Brad Lidge has spent the off-season working out at Citizens Bank Park. The free-agent reliever is hoping it remains his place of employment for the 2012 season. "No doors are closed," the soon-to-be 35-year-old righthander said in an interview with CSN's John Boruk at the ballpark Thursday. "Signing a reliever is not a priority for them right now, but we're still talking." The free-agent market could start popping with the arrival of the winter meetings next week in Dallas. "Things have been pretty slow for everyone except [Jonathan] Papelbon coming to Philadelphia," Lidge said."
Jonathon Broxton, Brad Lidge and Joe Nathan may be able to revive careers with bargain-hunting NY Mets
November 11
New York Daily News
 
"We know what the Mets are seeking on the free agent market this winter: An affordable closer. We also know that Brad Lidge, Jonathan Broxton and Joe Nathan are available former All-Star closers. So what do those pitchers want? According to Broxton's agent, B.B. Abbott, the former Dodger is amenable to an incentive-laden one year-contract, perhaps with a vesting option for 2013. He wants to reestablish himself as an elite reliever, but does not need to become a closer immediat ely. "He's not only looking for a closing job, or the chance to compete for a closing job," said Abbott, who has not heard from the Mets. "He does want to close in the future." Broxton, 27, had 36 saves in 2009, but"
Phillies decline options of Lidge, Oswalt
October 25
CSN Philly
 
"As expected, the Phillies have declined the 2012 options for pitchers Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt, the team announced in a press release. Both pitchers are now eligible to file for free agency. In choosing not to exercise the options, the Phillies paid a $2 million buyout to Oswalt and $1.5 million to Lidge. The move does not mean that Lidge or Oswalt cannot return to the Phillies. Quite the contrary. In fact, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says he would like to bring back the players for 2012."
Lidge looks like old self in 9th inning
August 4
Courier-Post
 
"Jogging in from the bullpen, Brad Lidge felt the weight of the moment. That's a rare thing for the veteran closer. He's spent years ignoring the circumstances in which he enters a game, shrugging off the implications of each pitch he throws. But Wednesday was different. Lidge threw 13 pitches in a perfect ninth inning, recording the 100th save of his Phillies career. But he only learned of that milestone after it was over. What meant more to Lidge was the fact that it was his first save of 2011, the first time he'd wrapped up a victory since Game 5 of last year's National League Championship Series. In the months between, he's battled numerous injuries in hopes that he could one day get"
Lidge hoping for more of the same after solid debut
July 26
Allentown Morning Call
 
"Neatly aligned above Brad Lidge's locker rest hats from the Threshers, Blue Claws and Reading Phillies. They remind him of how far he's come. Each hat represents a step in Lidge's rehab from a partially torn rotator cuff that finally ended when he was activated Friday. Only it didn't seem real to him until he took the mound Monday for the first time this season. "It was amazing to get back out there," Lidge said. "When you're back, you want to get out there as fast as possible. Get those butterflies out of the way. Fans were amazing, and I felt great. A little jumpy, a little jittery, some good butterflies. I almost felt, in some aspects, that the butterflies I had were like my big league"
Even as Lidge returns, Phils look for bullpen help
July 26
CSN Philly
 
"An interesting subplot unfolded in the late innings of the Phillies' 5-4 loss to San Diego on Monday. Actually there were a couple of them, and they both entered through the bullpen door. One hundred and one games into the season, Brad Lidge finally pitched for the Phillies. The erstwhile closer threw 11 pitches in navigating a 1-2-3 seventh inning. If he continues that level of efficiency, the Phillies will have added a nice piece to their bullpen for the stretch drive and beyond. As encouraging as Lidge's performance was, team officials are still considering beefing up the relief corps for this season – and next. That's why the eighth inning was so interesting Monday. Moments"
Return of Lidge overshadows loss in series finale to Padres
July 26
Courier-Post
 
"Brad Lidge is in his ninth season in the majors, and a season debut is usually little more than just another game to him. That was not the case Monday, when Lidge made his first Phillies appearance of the season. He pitched the seventh inning and retired the San Diego Padres in order. He said it almost matched the thrill and excitement of his major-league debut back in 2002 with Houston. Lidge hadn't pitched since straining his rotator cuff in spring training. There were doubts he would return this season, and there were certainly doubts about his effectiveness. So Lidge jogged in from the bullpen to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park. After throwing 11 pitches"
Lidge giddy about returning to big club
July 23
Courier-Post
 
"It has been nearly four months since Brad Lidge threw a pitch in a Phillies uniform. That was during the last week of spring training, when his shoulder hurt and his elbow hurt and even the always optimistic Lidge wasn't sure what the future might hold. "Baseball seemed far away," he said. But Friday, it wasn't far at all. Lidge was back in the locker room with his teammates and, for the first time this season, ready to pitch in a big league game. "It's felt like Opening Day for me," Lidge said. "I had those butterflies in my stomach and it's a lot of fun being back on the team.""
Phils activate Lidge, designate Baez for assignment
July 22
CSN Philly
 
"Brad Lidge is back. The 34-year-old reliever has been activated by the Phillies and the team has designated Danys Baez for assignment. Lidge hasn't pitched in the majors yet this season because of a slight tear in his right rotator cuff. He was originally placed on the disabled list on March 25. In eight rehabilitation games, with Single A Lakewood and Double A Reading, Lidge had a 3.52 ERA, walked two and struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings. In his career with the Phils, he has 99 saves and a 3.99 ERA."
Victorino and Lidge help Reading down Trenton
July 18
CSN Philly
 
"Shane Victorino went 1 for 3, while Brad Lidge allowed two hits in one scoreless inning of work and the two Phillie mainstays helped the Double A Reading Phillies to a victory Sunday against the Trenton Thunder. Reading edged the Thunder, 4-3, a day after romping to a 13-2 victory in which Victorino went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. The Phillies' speedster also stole home in the first inning to put the R-Phils on the board. For Lidge it was the first time the reliever pitched on back-to-back days, and it was also his second straight game in which he pitched a scoreless inning. Lidge allowed two hits in his lone frame, while striking out two on Sunday, but the Phillies' closer also"
Victorino, Lidge impressive in rehab outings
July 17
PhillyBurbs.com
 
"There are little things that you take for granted when you spend a great deal of time in the major leagues. One of those is that the clubhouse guy will always have a fitted hat in your size inside the locker when you arrive. So if Shane Victorino needed any reminder at 4:45 on Saturday afternoon when he arrived at Waterfront Park in Trenton that he was indeed back in the minors — if only for a day or two — all he had to do was take off his cap and adjust the plastic strap on the back of it. Yes, the same kind that you would buy at the souvenir stand. "The rumor is that they don't have anymore fitted caps," Victorino joked afterward. "So I'll be out there (today) with my velco strapped"
Moment of truth arrives for five Phils
July 17
PhillyBurbs.com
 
"The focus is clearly on the task at hand: Keeping their place at the top of the hierarchy of the National League and taking another ride down Broad Street at some point in late October. Still, you have to imagine that in the back of their minds, the countdown clock has already started ticking. After all, baseball players are human beings who can read the writing on the wall as well as the expiration date on a contract. Jimmy Rollins. Raul Ibanez. Ryan Madson. Roy Oswalt. Brad Lidge. Those are five players who have all given the Phillies some memorable moments over the years. Three of them wear world championship rings. The other two have given an honorable effort that led to playoff runs."
Victorino and Lidge shine with Double A Reading
July 17
CSN Philly
 
"Shane Victorino had three hits in a rehab outing and led the Double A Reading Phillies to a 15-hit night and a 13-2 victory over the Trenton Thunder on Saturday. Victorino went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. The Phillies' centerfielder was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 4 with a sprained right thumb. Victorino played well and so did another Phillie who hopes he's on his way back to the big leagues. Brad Lidge made his fifth rehab outing and threw a scoreless seventh inning. Lidge struck out the first batter he faced, then induced a fly out and ended the inning with a ground out."
Lidge struggles in rehab stint for Double A Reading
July 15
CSN Philly
 
"Phillies pitcher Brad Lidge gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning during a rehab outing Thursday night for Double A Reading at Trenton. Lidge allowed one hit, one walk, hit two batters and threw three wild pitches during the seventh inning before being taken out of the game. He faced six batters and threw 28 pitches, 15 for strikes. His previous outing was Monday night when he tossed a perfect inning for Reading. Lidge said prior to Thursday that he will pitch in four more rehab games before hopefully rejoining the Phillies in time for the first homestand after the All-Star break."
Lidge outing: Top fastball, lousy control
July 15
Courier-Post
 
"Reliever Brad Lidge had a tough outing against the Trenton Thunder on Thursday night. Lidge, who has been out all season with a shoulder injury, made his fifth minor-league rehabilitation appearance -- his second straight with the Reading Phillies -- the Phillies' Double-A affiliate. In a 9-5 loss to Trenton, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, Lidge pitched two-thirds of the seventh inning and struggled the whole way. He hit two batters, walked another, threw three wild pitches, gave up two runs and allowed one hit. He threw 28 pitches, 15 of them strikes, but had little command of his fastball. He was pulled by Reading manager Mark Parent to a smattering of boos at Waterfront"
Lidge throws perfect inning for Double A Reading
July 12
CSN Philly
 
"Brad Lidge made it through another minor league rehab outing, firing a perfect 1-2-3 inning for Double A Reading on Monday afternoon. Lidge threw 13 pitches (nine for strikes) and notched two strikeouts against the three hitters he faced during the sixth inning of the Reading Phillies 7-6 victory over Trenton. He reported that his fastball velocity reached the low 90s and that the command of his pitches was better than he expected. Lidge has not pitched in a big league game this season because of a slight tear of his right rotator cuff, but pitched in three previous rehab outings for Single A Lakewood, allowing a run on five hits with four strikeouts."
Lidge's rehab performance encouraging
July 8
Courier-Post
 
"Whether it's been a view from the Philadelphia dugout or watching on television, Phillies closer Brad Lidge said 2011 has been a frustrating experience. "It's been rough," said Lidge Thursday night following a second consecutive scoreless rehab appearance this week with the Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League. "Obviously watching games the entire season right now is mentally very difficult," Lidge said. "It's just short of making me go crazy." But he said he believes his season, personally, can still end happily. "I just need to get back out there and get work in and get (Phillies manager Charlie Manuel) to know that I'm still capable of throwing in the innings where we have"
Lidge looks to salvage injury-plagued season
June 30
Allentown Morning Call
 
"Brad Lidge may not close a game for Philadelphia this year. He may not even be wearing a Phillies uniform next season. They're things Lidge can't control. That's why the next three months mean so much to him. "I keep thinking about this year and how I want to get everything out of this year that I possibly can," he said. "When this year's over, I have no idea where I'll be or what the process will be going into next year, but really, I'm just super concerned right now and all my energy is going into coming back this year and giving everything I can for the last couple months of the season." Lidge threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and will throw another Friday followed by an"
Phils reliever Lidge could pitch in minors next week
June 30
CSN Philly
 
"Brad Lidge is almost ready to give it another try. The veteran Phillies reliever says he is healthy after missing spring training and the first half of the season with assorted shoulder and elbow ailments. Now it's time get on the mound in some minor-league games, build some arm strength, and see how far away he is from returning to major-league action. Lidge threw 35 pitches in the bullpen at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday afternoon. He plans to test himself in the bullpen again on Friday and if all goes well could be pitching in a minor-league game by Monday or Tuesday. "Everything right now is good," Lidge said. "It's just a matter of strengthening my arm." Lidge would likely need"
Lidge planning to contribute
June 30
Courier-Post
 
"Asked before Wednesday's game what has surprised him the most about the 2011 season so far, manager Charlie Manuel had little trouble determining an answer: The bullpen. Three months ago, the loss of Brad Lidge created a chasm at the back end of the Phillies' bullpen. By Wednesday, Lidge's bullpen session was almost an afterthought. But while the Phillies' relievers have plugged along without him, Lidge's focus hasn't wavered. "I keep thinking about this year and how I want to get everything out of this year that I possibly can," he said. So far, there have been more setbacks than steps forward -- enough to test even the unrelenting optimism that has been Lidge's hallmark during his time"
Lidge a step closer to returning
June 30
PhillyBurbs.com
 
"Brad Lidge, Mr. Perfect three seasons ago and Mr. Injured a lot of the time since, is getting closer to starting what figures to be his swan season with the Phillies. His spring injury, a partially torn rotator cuff, has healed. He's also over his May setback, an elbow strain. The 34-year-old righty with 222 career saves has been throwing pain-free, progressing to bullpens, and within days, he hopes to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. And he's knocking on wood that he'll be back pitching for the Phillies within a month. "Everything feels great, everything is right," Lidge said Wednesday after throwing a 35-pitch bullpen and before the Phillies' 2-1 win over Boston. "It has gone a"
Hamels isn't panicking; Cortisone shot helping Lidge
June 15
Allentown Morning Call
 
"Cole Hamels doesn't want everyone getting worked up over his eight-inning departure Tuesday night. "Come on guys, it hasn't even been 12 hours," said the lefty, who left Tuesday's game with middle back stiffness. "It's not like I'm injured. I'll talk to you in five days." LIDGE ENCOURAGED BY CORTISONE SHOT Since having a cortisone shot last Tuesday (June 7) in his right elbow, Brad Lidge played catch for the first time Wednesday morning. "We didn't crank on it or anything, but for the first day it felt real good," the Phillies reliever said."
Lidge's DL stint may be getting longer
June 7
Allentown Morning Call
 
"This wasn't the way things were supposed to go for Brad Lidge. The Phillies closer, who has yet to throw a pitch this season, estimated on May 20 that he could be back as early as the end of June. "I might be a little ahead [of schedule]," he said a few weeks ago. "We were saying before the end of June, and that's definitely possible. Maybe mid-June if everything goes right." His elbow is saying otherwise now. Lidge, on the disabled list since the end of spring training with a partially torn rotator cuff, has been in Clearwater, Fla., for extended spring training since May 22, trying to build up his arm strength. But in the midst of throwing bullpen sessions, general manager Ruben Amaro"
Setback for Lidge, Rollins improves
June 7
CSN Philly
 
"Phillies reliever Brad Lidge, who's been throwing in extended spring training in Florida since experiencing right shoulder soreness in March, was on his way back to Philadelphia Monday after experiencing elbow soreness, General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before Monday's Phillies-Dodgers game at Citizens Bank Park. Lidge was diagnosed with a posterior rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder in March, and Amaro said Lidge's shoulder is now actually fine, but he's now having issues with his elbow. "He had a setback," manager Charlie Manuel said Monday. "According to the doctors, that's kind of common, that soreness there that will hold you back." Amaro said Lidge will be examined by"
Lidge's sore elbow concerns Phillies
June 7
Courier-Post
 
"For now, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is not saying that closer Brad Lidge has suffered a setback in his recovery. But he is worried enough to have Lidge fly back to Philadelphia to have his elbow examined by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti. Lidge has been in extended spring training in Clearwater, Fla., working his way back from a rotator-cuff strain, which has kept him out all season. Amaro said Lidge typically has elbow soreness during spring training. This period is like spring training for Lidge, who hasn't pitched competitively since late March. "If it's something more serious than just normal soreness, then, yeah, it could be a setback," Amaro said. Lidge appeared in"
Lidge takes another step in rehabilitation process
May 29
CSN Philly
 
"Brad Lidge took another step in rehabilitating from his torn right rotator cuff on Saturday. The Phillies reliever pitched one scoreless inning in an extended spring-training game in Clearwater, Fla. He gave up one hit, struck out one batter and threw 24 pitches. He is expected to make a similar appearance on Tuesday."
Lidge's imminent return raises questions
May 28
Delaware County Times
 
"Brad Lidge will take his first step toward making his 2011 debut today, when he pitches in an extended spring training game in Clearwater, Fla. It will mark the first time Lidge will pitch in a game since March 24 in a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins. Before leaving for Florida last weekend, Lidge was optimistic that he would be able to rejoin the Phillies in mid-June. While a lot can happen in the next three weeks, it's worth wondering: When Lidge arrives, who goes? The easiest thing the Phillies could do is option rookie right hander Michael Stutes back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. But unless Stutes blows up between now and when Lidge is ready, it's pretty difficult to"
Phillies' Lidge cautious in recovery
April 22
Philly.com
 
"When Brad Lidge shags balls during batting practice and one happens to roll his way, he's tempted to pick it up and fling it to the bucket with his right hand. "Nothing would happen," Lidge said. Instead, he exercises the caution doctors have instructed. He will toss it underhand or use his left hand. Lidge has not actually thrown a baseball with his right arm since March 24. That was the day the pain in his shoulder was too much for him to complete an inning of a Grapefruit League game. It was later discovered he has a partially torn rotator cuff, making a return in the first half of the season difficult. There is progress: When the team returns home from this seven-game West Coast trip"
Lidge continues progress
April 18
Courier-Post
 
"Phillies closer Brad Lidge moved a step closer to returning to the mound this weekend, but it will still be several weeks before he begins throwing. Lidge met with team physician Dr. Michael Cicotti on Saturday and was told his ailing rotator cuff appears healed. "Things are progressing well," Lidge said. "I passed their first exam of getting into Stage 2 of the rehab." The right-hander hasn't pitched in more than three weeks, and Lidge said he'll need another 10 days to two weeks to build strength in the rotator cuff. Once that is complete, he'll go in for another evaluation and, ideally, begin throwing soon after. "Hopefully I'll begin to throw in about two weeks," Lidge said. "So then,"
Lidge likely out until near All-Star break
April 8
MLB.com
 
"Phillies closer Brad Lidge likely will be out until around the All-Star break, manager Charlie Manuel said during an appearance Wednesday on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM. "I'm probably looking at maybe All-Star break, or ... just before that," Manuel told the station. Soon after the Phillies clubhouse opened to the media before Thursday's game against the Mets, Lidge confirmed the news. "I don't know if it's anything new, but yeah, I agree with Charlie," Lidge said. "When I first got hurt, there was this three-to-six week talk before playing catch or throwing a ball. If nothing serious happens, and I'm hopeful it won't, I can see myself being back by the All-Star break. I'm doing"
Phils' Lidge out until July
March 30
Courier-Post
 
"Now that Brad Lidge has been diagnosed with a posterior rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder, the Phillies' closer says his best-case scenario would be to return sometime in July. Tuesday's news was far worse than Lidge, or the Phillies, had hoped for. An MRI showed the injury, which Lidge said is equivalent to a tear, not a strain. While it will not require surgery, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said Lidge will need at least three to six weeks of rest before he can start throwing again. Once Lidge is cleared to begin throwing, it could take a month or more before he would be ready to pitch in a game. "I had no idea of what it was going to be," Amaro said. "But we knew it was"
Phillies' Lidge suffers another setback
March 26
Philly.com
 
"As he attempted to describe the location of the newest pain in his oft-injured body, the worried look on Brad Lidge's face said enough. For a moment, the Phillies closer stared blankly into space. A day before, after a particularly bad outing, he uncharacteristically declined to speak to reporters. On Friday morning, he called a group over to his locker. The back of Lidge's right shoulder hurt. He has never felt soreness there before. He doesn't know what to make of it. "I know," Lidge said, "I wish there was no pain." A myriad of injuries have rarely tested Lidge's faith. The 34-year-old righthander is constantly optimistic when faced with a stint on the disabled list, as he is now. And"
Brad Lidge derailed by shoulder issue
March 25
ESPN.com
 
"The injury-filled spring for the Philadelphia Phillies got even worse Friday when closer Brad Lidge acknowledged that he won't be ready for Opening Day due to soreness in the back of his shoulder. "We're optimistic and hoping that it will be only a couple of weeks, and not much past that," Lidge said Friday. "It looks like we'll rest it for a week, then play catch for a week, then do a couple of bullpens and see how it feels." Lidge pitched Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, but felt pain deep in the back of his shoulder after the game. He will see a doctor in Clearwater on Saturday, then have an MRI on Monday or Tuesday in Philadelphia after the club returns home from spring training"
Lidge pitches without pain
March 23
Courier-Post
 
"Brad Lidge threw in a game situation for the first time in more than a week, and after a scoreless inning against the Pirates' minor leaguers, he said he felt as good as he has all spring. Lidge threw 16 pitches -- 12 for strikes -- in a scoreless first inning, striking out one batter and allowing just one hit on a looper over the shortstop's head. Afterward, Lidge said his sore shoulder felt good, allowing him to get a better trajectory on his fastball than he had before being sidelined with biceps tendinitis last week. "One thing that was really hard for me to do before this game was throwing my fastball down," Lidge said. "I kept leaving them up. My shoulder feels to the point now where"
Lidge looks sharp in return against minor-leaguers
March 23
Philly.com
 
"The Phillies made a short road trip to Dunedin on Tuesday and crossed off another Grapefruit League game from the schedule. The more relevant event took place in Clearwater, where the guy charged with putting the finishing touches on the anticipated works of art by the four aces climbed back on the mound for the first time in 11 days. After being shut down by biceps tendinitis following a March 11 outing against Baltimore, Brad Lidge was encouraged by his one-inning stint against a group of Pittsburgh Pirates minor-leaguers. He pitched one scoreless inning, allowed one hit, and threw 16 pitches, including 12 for strikes. "It actually felt really good," Lidge said. "I kind of thought I was"
Phillies closer Lidge trying to keep things straight
March 21
Philly.com
 
"Brad Lidge wants to pitch in a game tomorrow, and he wants to bring the proper mechanics with him. The veteran closer labeled himself ready to go after a max-effort bullpen session yesterday, and said his chief focus is maintaining a straight line to the plate during his delivery, the absence of which contributed to the biceps soreness that has sidelined him for the last week. "It's a little confusing when you watch people pitch, like Roy Oswalt flies open after he makes the pitch, so sometimes it looks like we are flying open every time," Lidge said. "But if you watch his mechanics, they are actually perfect when he is throwing the ball, when he is releasing, the ball, and then he peels"
Phillies Lidge and Polanco say they'll be ready for opening day
March 21
Philly.com
 
"Both Brad Lidge and Placido Polanco have missed a week's worth of game action, but both acted Sunday as if opening day was not remotely in doubt. Lidge, who has not appeared in a game since March 11 because of biceps tendinitis, threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Sunday morning and tried to simulate pitching in a game as best he could. "It felt real good," Lidge said. "I was definitely encouraged by this one." Lidge said he is planning to pitch in Tuesday's game and thinks he could have four or five more outings before the spring is over - if he pitches every other day. He insisted he could also pitch on back-to-back days right now, too. "I'll leave that up to them," Lidge said. As for"
Brad Lidge upbeat, will throw again
March 18
ESPN.com
 
"Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who has been out with biceps tendinitis, threw a bullpen session Friday morning in Clearwater, Fla., and reported "no discomfort" in the area near his right shoulder. Lidge said he plans to throw another bullpen session this weekend, then hopes to pitch in a game "in three or four days." Lidge's velocity on his fastball has been down all spring, topping out at 88 mph March 11 in his previous outing, according to scouts. "My pop will never be there until my first game closing in the regular season," Lidge said Friday. "It hasn't been for the last 10 years. ... But that said, I should be able to get more out of it than I've had my last couple of outings.""
Phillies have a few options if Lidge needs a sub
March 16
Philly.com
 
"Your perspective on the following scenario will depend on a number of variables, from the weight you place on objective statistical analysis, to the beliefs you hold about the psychology of athletic competition, to the benefits you see in the specificity of roles. On whatever side of the debate you land, however, one thing is clear: If the Phillies find themselves in need of a closer, and Brad Lidge is not available, there is a debate to be had. While conventional wisdom holds that the job, as it has in the past, would fall to marquee setup man Ryan Madson, the emergence of hard-throwing righthander Jose Contreras might very well prompt a rechiseling of that concrete plan. "There are two"
Lidge not worried about shoulder tendinitis
March 15
MLB.com
 
"Closer Brad Lidge seemed to be in good spirits at Bright House Field on Tuesday morning.If he is worried, he is not showing it. Lidge is unable to pitch because of tendinitis in his right biceps, which explains why his velocity has been down this spring. He said on Tuesday that he plans to play catch over the next couple of days before throwing a bullpen session."
Lidge skips appearance, dealing with tendinitis
March 15
Philly.com
 
"Brad Lidge diagnosed his problem as an acute case of spring training. That was his successful attempt to maintain his sense of humor despite the latest in a long series of health issues he has endured during his four spring trainings since joining the Phillies. Lidge actually has "biceps tendinitis," and it prevented the closer from making his scheduled exhibition appearance against the Houston Astros on Monday in Kissimmee. "We just wanted to back him off for a couple days," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said after Lidge did not make the morning bus trip with his teammates. Lidge said he does not think the soreness will keep him from being ready for the April 1 season opener against"
Lidge's sore arm latest bit of bad medical news for Phillies
March 15
Philly.com
 columnist Paul Hagen
"The late Illinois senator Everett Dirksen is supposed to have once delivered this sage commentary on the federal budget: "A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you're talking real money.'' A similar vibe is beginning to settle over the Phillies' spring training. There hasn't been any single, cataclysmic event to suggest this is no longer a team to be reckoned with. Instead it's been a steady drip, drip, drip of uncertainty that has created vague angst. A Domonic Brown here, a Chase Utley there . . . The latest news flash to chip away at the presumed invincibility of a team widely viewed as having a free pass directly to the World Series came early yesterday morning when the buses"
Lidge's sore arm doesn't worry Phils
March 15
Courier-Post
 
"A little arm soreness is nothing new for Brad Lidge in spring training, so pitching coach Rich Dubee was quick to write off his closer's latest injury. "It's a yearly thing, really," Dubee said. Lidge was supposed to be on the bus to Kissimmee to face the Astros on Monday, but the Phillies held him back after he complained of some soreness that the team categorized as mild biceps tendinitis. General manager Ruben Amaro said Lidge would be "pushed back a few days." He was next scheduled to pitch Thursday. Dubee said there's no specific timetable to get Lidge back on the mound, but Opening Day isn't in doubt for the closer at this point. Lidge told reporters Monday that he started feeling"