Brad Lidge: Are the 2012 Nationals His Most Talented Teammates Ever?

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I had to laugh when I read this article about Brad Lidge claiming that the 2012 Washington Nationals are the most talented team he has ever played on.

Seriously?

I have absolutely nothing against the Washington Nationals. In fact, if you follow me on Twitter, you might remember that I tweeted a while back that I think that the Washington Nationals will make the playoffs this year. They are talented.

However, Lidge has played on four teams that were arguably more talented than this year's Washington Nationals. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

2011 Philadelphia Phillies

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Granted, the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies were somewhat disappointing in the playoffs after they exited in the first round at the hands of the future World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

However, that team was still able to go 102-60 during the regular season. It takes an incredible amount of talent (and one of the best pitching staffs in recent memory) to be able to put together a season like that. Very few teams break the 100-win plateau.

2005 Houston Astros

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This is probably a painful memory for Brad Lidge given the fact these Houston Astros were swept in the World Series. However, the team was obviously talented with the powerful bats of Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio and Morgan Ensberg (remember him?).

Their rotation was led by Roy Oswalt, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Even though the end was obviously not what the Houston Astros wanted, they were good enough to make it to the World Series. That means they were pretty talented.

2009 Philadelphia Phillies

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Again, this probably isn't the happiest memory for Brad Lidge. On a personal level, he had a rather difficult season, and the Philadelphia Phillies ultimately fell to the New York Yankees in the World Series, 4-2.

However, this team was a run-scoring machine. They led the National League in both runs and home runs. Their pitching staff was also sparked by the acquisition of Cliff Lee around the trade deadline. Again, a World Series-caliber team is pretty talented.

2008 Philadelphia Phillies

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The picture I have put beside this paragraph has become legendary in Philadelphia. Lidge was able to put together a perfect season as he converted every save opportunity he was handed.

Their offense was still incredibly productive and a great performance from then 45-year-old Jamie Moyer helped push the Philadelphia Phillies to their first World Series in 28 years. The Phillies must have been doing something right to win the ultimate prize.

Conclusion

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The Washington Nationals are without a doubt a talented team. However, it might be a slight exaggeration for Brad Lidge to claim that this team is the most talented he has ever played on.

At the end of the season, I might feel differently, but for right now, the Washington Nationals have a lot of potential that they need to realize before they move on to this list.

Whether you think I know everything or nothing about Major League Baseball, you should follow me on Twitter and keep in touch. I love hearing what you all have to say!

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