Philadelphia Phillies: Where Will Brad Lidge Fit When He Returns?
Brad Lidge is hoping to be back in Philadelphia by the end of July and wants to start rehabbing next week in Reading, according to Philly.com.
My question is where will he fit into the Phillies bullpen when he does return?
When looking at career numbers, it seems that Lidge should return to be the closer. He has had two bad seasons in his career (2006 and 2009). If you look beyond these two seasons, it becomes pretty evident that he has the potential to be dominant.
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He has 222 career saves with an ERA of 3.51. He is definitely a power pitcher, averaging 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings his career.
In Philadelphia he put together a perfect season, saving 41 games in 41 opportunities in 2008.
However, would putting Lidge back in the closer role disrupt the success that the Phillies have been enjoying so far?
Ryan Madson was doing very well as the closer before he went on the DL recently. Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes have also been excellent so far as setup men despite the fact that they are relatively young and inexperienced.
Could a move like this mess with the minds of these already successful pieces?
If Lidge returned to close, Madson would be put back in the eighth inning, where he has been successful in the past.
Bastardo would become more of a left-handed specialist than he already is as opposed to the setup man, and Stutes would become more of a middle reliever even though he already does that somewhat.
Should the Phillies consider rearranging the entire order of the already successful bullpen to accommodate Lidge's return, hopefully in late July?
I want to hear what you all think.



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