Rethinking... Lidge HAS to be the closer this season

Written by Mike Mariano | 15 September 2009

I know I said earlier this week that Ryan Madson is the new closer and he should be.  However, now that I think about it, that was a misguided conclusion.  This series against the Mets proves that, the game where Madson blew the save especially.  Obviously a blown save isn't good, however I'm not upset about the actually pitching performance from Madson.  The problem lies within the current expectations of the Phillies closer.  After last season's perfection and this season's miscues, the job comes with tremendous pressure.  Anyone who fills in for Lidge is expected to be perfect and will be straining to battle the situation in game and in the stands.

Ryan Madson and Brett Myers are the other two closers candidates and I think it would be costly to the team to have them take over as "closer" and assume Lidge's responsibilities.  Neither guy has a reputation of being particularly rock-solid mentally and the added stress of being perfect every time out could lead to inconsistent play and more guys struggling out of the pen.

That is why Brad Lidge is only guy who can be the closer for the Phillies right now.  When Lidge comes out, the feeling is that he will blow it, therefore he's under less pressure from the fans.  He only has to overcome the pressures in his own head, which I don't mean to downplay because in his case they are extensive.  Lidge can go from Mariano-Rivera-like to head-case in less that a year and the transition from '08 to '09 is the second time in his career that it has happened.  The trend is there and we as fans need to learn from it.  The two times that Lidge melted down, it was following a brilliant season closing games.  Once for the Astros, then when he was perfect for the Phillies and perfect in the playoffs.  In the next seasons he came back and tried to be perfect with every pitch, which is impossible.  Next thing you know, he can't get out of his own way.  That is his situation, his way, take it or leave it.

It's a delicate situation right now.  Lidge is putting way to much presser on himself and getting way to fired up on the mound to pitch effectively.  However, that same intensity is what makes him a dominant closer when he has got it under control.  I maintain the thought that he needs some time off, but that already failed once this season and most likely isn't possible.  In short, if I'm Charlie and Dubee, I tell Lidge, "Go out there and just throw, I don't care what happens.  Win, Lose, doesn't matter, just compete."  Because in truth, it doesn't matter.  The team can make the playoffs without Lidge at his best, but the team can't win the World Series again without him.