The Phillies made one of the underrated trades of the off-season when they acquired closer Brad Lidge from Houston, along with utility infielder Eric Bruntlett. The cost? Michael Bourn, a fourth outfielder with great speed and defense… Michael Costanzo, a solid third base prospect with lots of home runs, lots of strikeouts and lousy defense… and Geoff Geary, a once solid middle reliever who was sent to Triple A last season because he was lit up like a pinball machine.
While this move obviously allows the Phillies to move Brett Myers, who’s better than any free agent starting pitcher available, back into the starting rotation, having Lidge at the back of the bullpen is just as important. Heading into last season, Lidge still hadn’t recovered mentally from the effects of Game 5 of the 2005 National League Championship Series. The Astros were one out away from their first World Series when Lidge served up a three-run moon shot to Albert Pujols of the Cardinals. But Lidge regained his role as closer in mid-2007 and finished with 19 saves and a 3.36 ERA while battling knee problems that seem to have been corrected this off-season.
Lights out closers with 100-mph heat are not easy to come by. While Brad Lidge hasn’t been lights out for two years, he made great strides last season and a change of scenery could return him to his 2005 form. With JC Romero re-signed, Ryan Madson returning from injury and reliable Tom Gordon, the Phillies bullpen, an annual question mark, could be one of the better units in baseball.
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