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by **bradlee** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:57 pm

Brad Lidge is being removed from the closer's role as the Astros tweak his mechanics and have him resume working from the windup.
One day after manager Phil Garner said it wasn't an option. "He's flying open," Garner said. "What that means is when your front shoulder goes out too soon, your ball tends to flatten out. Fastballs don't have the same finish on them and more importantly your slider doesn't have the same break on it that it normally does. So that's been his major issue." Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls are candidates to fill in for at least the next few days. "[Lidge is] still my closer," Garner said. "This is a move not to take him out of the closer role as it is to try to get him where I think he's right. He's not exactly pleased with the situation, but I feel certain he'll be OK." May. 12 - 8:48 pm et

by **Mr Irrelevant** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:08 pm

Yeah I just heard this on the radio. Time to pick up Wheeler, even though he has horrendous numbers
5.40 ERA 1.60 WHIP :-t

by **rentz** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:09 pm

this sucks, i certainly hope its short term, having lidge was a big reason that i traded away street

by **redjake** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:17 pm

That makes three solid, maybe four depending on who's counting, incumbents that have received the dreaded 'vote of confidence' shortly before they were shown the bench.

Only my second year, so...does this happen often? And, do the incumbents usually reclaim their spots?

Why are all these guys falling apart?

by **j24jags** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:46 pm

lidge was a consensus top 4 closer coming in, many people thought hed overtake mariano as #1. now hes not even closing, i think this is a bit premature given his unbelievable past, despite his lame #s

by **d18Mike** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:29 pm

Q: How many closers get their role back after losing it for non-injury reasons.
A: Not Many.

Lidge has to be among the most likely candidate to do so -- he's terrific -- but the streets are littered with "stud" closers who woke up one day and couldn't get it done. I know. I've had 99% of them on my teams.