Lidge wins NL Comeback Player of the Year

[Bench]

The Link

Congrat's Brad.  Cliff Lee takes the honor in the AL.

[Taras Bulba]

Congrats, Brad.  Go get 'em in the playoffs.

Regarding Lee, he goes from 5-8, 6.29 ERA to 22-3, 2.54 ERA and apparently put in a "lot of work" in the offseason to accomplish it.

You listening, Brandon Backe?

[juliogotay]

The Link

Congrat's Brad.  Cliff Lee takes the honor in the AL.

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

[sporadic]

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

I think comeback player is fitting...went from elite closer to expendible relief pitcher back to elite closer.

[BUWebguy]

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

Playing in Houston.

[austro]

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

A severe case of Albertiasis, if you believe the national writers.

[Gizzmonic]

I'm happy for Brad Lidge.  Hope he has some more success in the playoffs.  Go get 'em, Tiger!

[ybbodeus]

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

He had a problem with those TPS reports and damn near got buried for it.

[JimR]

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

that was my reaction also.

[Bench]

And he nails down the save in Game 1, albeit in dramatic fashion.

Coming in with a 3-0 lead, he mixed three strikeouts with a double, single, walk, and wild pitch that left the tying run on second with two out. 

[Bob Sakamano]

And he nails down the save in Game 1, albeit in dramatic fashion.

Coming in with a 3-0 lead, he mixed three strikeouts with a double, single, walk, and wild pitch that left the tying run on second with two out. 

Just a cosmetic question (I didn't get to watch the game, had to follow online), but why was Lidge charged with an earned run? Box score says the Brewers only run came on an Utley error.

[Bench]

Just a cosmetic question (I didn't get to watch the game, had to follow online), but why was Lidge charged with an earned run? Box score says the Brewers only run came on an Utley error.

I don't think the error was in the ninth.  He gave up a single, and the runner scored from first on Braun's double.

ETA:  At least, that's how I understood it following Gameday.

[homer]

I don't think the error was in the ninth.  He gave up a single, and the runner scored from first on Braun's double.

ETA:  At least, that's how I understood it following Gameday.

That is how it happened.

[Bob Sakamano]

Hmm, that's strange, Yahoo has it as this:

R. Braun doubled to right, R. Durham to third, R. Durham scored on second baseman C. Utley's fielding error

Anyway, it's cosmetic so it doesn't matter, I was just curious.

[Bench]

Hmm, that's strange, Yahoo has it as this:

R. Braun doubled to right, R. Durham to third, R. Durham scored on second baseman C. Utley's fielding error

Anyway, it's cosmetic so it doesn't matter, I was just curious.

Gameday says Braun doubles to Werth.  "Ray Durham scores.  Missed catch error by Utley."

Maybe the later wild pitch vitiated the unearned status?

[homer]

Hmm, that's strange, Yahoo has it as this:

R. Braun doubled to right, R. Durham to third, R. Durham scored on second baseman C. Utley's fielding error

Anyway, it's cosmetic so it doesn't matter, I was just curious.

I was half asleep. This is correct... Durham stopped and then something happened on the throw in from the outfield when it got to Utley that allowed Durham to score.

[Outlawscotty]

It was raining lightly and Utley skidded/slipped to catch the relay throw six foot off the first base line behind first base.  Whether or not he wasn't paying attention to the runner at third was another story that I couldn't see.  The throw to the plate was high and late by about two steps.

[ValpoCory]

... why was Lidge charged with an earned run? Box score says the Brewers only run came on an Utley error.

That's now how unearned runs work.    You have to zoom out a little.   Earned/Unearned run judgments can't be made until the inning is over, or if the error prevented an out, until 2 outs are made.  In this case, the error did not prevent an out, so the decision had to wait until the inning was over.

The official scorer determined Durham would have scored anyway, on the wild pitch later in the inning.

[ybbodeus]

Given the history of Phillie fan, I would imagine Brad would have been made to feel like the Goback player of the year, had his 9th not worked out.  It was pretty tense to watch but a great relief when it ended--a lot more so for him, obviously.

[TheWizard]

What did Lidge come back from? It's not like he was hurt or horrible last year.

The guy had a 3.36 ERA and a WHIP of 1.25 last year(this year 1.22), not to mention 88 Ks (92Ks this year).  Not really sure what he was coming back from... he was never gone.  But nonetheless, congrats to him.

[Noe]

The guy had a 3.36 ERA and a WHIP of 1.25 last year(this year 1.22), not to mention 88 Ks (92Ks this year).  Not really sure what he was coming back from... he was never gone.  But nonetheless, congrats to him.

Watching the game last night, one of the broadcasters (I'm thinking it was Joe Simpson) said that there was a give and take between Lidge and Rollins after the previous game that went something like this:

Rollins "Hey Brad, is there any reason why you can't make these last three outs easy?"
Brad "I've never been a 12 pitch inning guy..."
Rollins "Think you start now?"

So just as he finished that story, Lidge wrapped up the game last night in a 13 pitch inning.  Astros fans who hate Lidge said "See, told you so!"