Background: A former Cherry Creek High School star, Brad Lidge was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 1998 draft as compensation for the Rockies signing Darryl Kile. Lidge battled injuries as a starter in the minor leagues before breaking in as a setup man and eventually evolving into the National League’s top closer during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
What’s up: All the talk in Houston isn’t just about the return of Roger Clemens, but what’s wrong with Lidge? The crisis reached a boiling point Friday when Lidge officially, if not temporarily, lost his closer’s job. Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls will share the role while Lidge tries to fix his mechanics. He’s working on keeping his shoulder closed during his delivery to regain command.
What’s next: Manager Phil Garner admitted to me last week that the league has adjusted to Lidge. No longer are hitters flailing wildly at the right-hander’s devastating slider, a pitch that helped him produce more strikeouts than any reliever the past three seasons. Garner said Lidge still has electric stuff. Simply put, Lidge needs to throw more strikes. He has a staggering 16 walks in his first 17 2/3 innings. If he can get ahead in the count – “He can do it with either his fastball or slider,” Garner said – hitters will again be at his mercy.
Renck’s take: Closing is a mind game. Everything suggests a rally in the ninth – a ball, a walk, an error – and when opponents sense fear they are like piranhas. If a pitcher is fragile, he’s easy prey. There’s talk in Houston of turning the lights out on “Lights Out” Lidge, with fans clamoring for a trade. My theory on the ninth is that it’s OK to give a guy a breather – the path Houston is wisely pursuing. Let him set up for a few games to regain his traction when the fire alarms aren’t blaring. It was a notion I advanced with Shawn Chacon when it was clear the job had consumed him. Let Wheeler and Qualls work the ninth for two weeks, then bring back a rejuvenated Lidge. This guy is too accountable, too high character to start talking about moving him after a bad six-week stretch. With the way Houston leaned on him the past two years, it owes it to Lidge to exhaust every option in his recovery.
