Ten reasons why Lidge has been more valuable than K-Rod

2008-09-29T12:01:51-04:00

2008-09-22T13:01:00-04:00

2008-09-22T13:11:00-04:00

2008-09-29T12:01:51-04:00

italiiano

Easton 570216

56 okay 1. you can't argue that the pitcher hitting makes it easier, b/c as a closer you'll never get to face a pitcher hitting. 2. if we're talking about cy young let's compare him to some NL guys, if we're just talking about who the best reliever is, you guys have to give some love to Mariano. (Listen I love the Phils and I HATE the yanks, but even i can appreciate this guy) He's got 2 less saves then lidge, and only blown 1 save all year. His ERA is half a point lower than Lidge's and his WHIP is off the charts as only .67 compared to Lidge's 1.23. I know that Mariano doesn't get as many K's as Lidge, but he also only walked SIX GUYS all year!!!! 2931967

2008-09-24T12:44:31-04:00

NLEastChamps08

New York 562966

55 Halloraj, ya dope. Obviously Lidge would be a little tired, if he threw 20 more games to get those saves, he's already pitched 2 more innings than your boy (and soon to be Met anyway.) So looking at the numbers once again: Saves - arbitrary and based on the team situtation the pitcher can't control, then stack up them rest in a simple A vs. B: A:1.87 era, 0 BS, 89 K's, 1.20 Whip B: 2.34 era, 7 BS, 74 K's, 1.33 Whip Pretty simple who the better closer is, and I know you whiny types are gonna come on and say, "but those are arbitrary numbers...I could pick and stat I want as a comparison and say K-Rod's better." Good luck finding any that are based on the game situation these closers enter into. 2841607

2008-09-23T20:45:18-04:00

jyoun79

Norwalk 31716

54 I think the homer Pujols hit off Lidge in the playoffs a few years back is still in orbit 2834683

2008-09-23T18:07:14-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/310/76/thumb/Cheer1.jpg 102 CA

halloraj

Redondo Beach 31176

53 Yes that is exactly what I am saying. You make it sound like saving 20 more games is a piece of cake. That's half of what Lidge has closed all season. Keep in mind that nearly every time a closer is out there, he is a pitch or two away from a blown save. Lidge would have a hell of a time getting to 61 saves, even with the same amount of save opportunities. Pitchers don't get more effective as the season goes on (and batters have seen them) they get less effective. 2833745

2008-09-23T17:33:51-04:00

bulldawgs20

Ridley Park 560620

52 I'm saying if Brad Lidge had 27 more save oppurtunites he would only have to save 20 of them to have the same year K-Rod had. Lidge is better in IP, ERA, SO per IP, WHIP, and Save Percentage. Please tell me how K-Rod is better? 2833418

2008-09-23T17:07:28-04:00

Pittpanthers1976

No City 560759

51 so you're saying if brad lidge converted 20 more saves, while blowing 7, he would be better than KROD, given that the rest of his stats are better? do you see how that makes absolutely no sense. In order to be as good as KROD he has so pitch worse than he has all season....you have made the argument that brad lidge is indeed better. You're the man halloraj 2833142

2008-09-23T16:26:33-04:00

gbc204

Brooklyn 560557

50 Question: Does Bobby Thigpen rank among the best closers ever? Was he even the best relief pitcher the year he set the record? It's a nice record to have, but its totally dependent on team performance. Strikeouts, and to a lesser degree ERA, are not. Todd Jones and Joe Borowski got a lot of saves last year. Were they elite closers? Closers are just the best of the group of pitchers who couldn't cut it as starters. Lidge deserves some third place votes, but no way he's better than Webb or Lincecum. Make Lincecum a closer, and he's easily the best in the majors. 2832638

2008-09-23T16:26:14-04:00

gbc204

Brooklyn 560557

49 Question: Does Bobby Thigpen rank among the best closers ever? Was he even the best relief pitcher the year he set the record? It's a nice record to have, but its totally dependent on team performance. Strikeouts, and to a lesser degree ERA, are not. Todd Jones and Joe Borowski got a lot of saves last year. Were they elite closers? Closers are just the best of the group of pitchers who couldn't cut it as starters. Lidge deserves some third place votes, but no way he's better than Webb or Lincecum. Make Lincecum a closer, and he's easily the best in the majors. 2832675

2008-09-23T16:06:03-04:00

bulldawgs20

Ridley Park 560620

48 Halloraj. No offense but if you want to talk about who is the better closer with numbers and math. I'm a mathematician. Lidge would have to go 20 for 27 in order to have the same numbers as K-Rod. A very easy task for Lidge or any decent closer to accomplish. Even your starter example. That starter would only have to go 5-3 in order to have the same numbers. A very easy task to accomplish for a pitcher who has gone 15-0. I'm not trying to take anything away from K-Rod. It is a 1A, 1B situation but if you have to choose who has the better season it is Lidge. Lidge doesn't deserve the Cy Young Award. TL deserves it. Lidge deserves the Hoffman Award for the best Closer.(P.S. I just made that name up) 2832446

2008-09-23T15:13:19-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/310/76/thumb/Cheer1.jpg 102 CA

halloraj

Redondo Beach 31176

47 j11forbes: Halloraj: If saves are all that matter, isn't the pitcher who is 40 for 40 better than the pitcher who is 58 for 65? I mean, that is third grade level math. Who has the better save percentage? Lidge. Therefore, by your argument, he is a better closer this year. No, Lidge is not a better pitcher, he has had less opportunities. If you looked at it in terms of starters it would be comparing apitcher who was 20-3 to a pitcher who was 15-0. Both are good, but it is easier to to have a perfect record with less opportunities. You cannot assume that the 15-0 pitcher would be 23-0 if given the chance. Eight straight games is an awful lot to win. 27 straight save opportunities (the gap between K-Rod and Lidge) would be just as tough for Lidge to convert and stay perfect. 2831604

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img title="Brad Lidge" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/lidge-phi.jpg" alt="Brad Lidge" width="298" height="380" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">Brad Lidge is a perfect 40-for-40 in save chances in 2008. </div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: right;">Tom Mihalek/AP</div> </div> As we've started to hear Brad Lidge's name whispered more and more frequently as a dark horse candidate for the Cy Young Award, we thought we'd serve up 10 reasons why Lidge has been the most valuable closer in baseball this season -- even though Francisco Rodriguez's record-smashing campaign has garnered more national pub. 1. The hard-throwing righty converted a pair of tough saves over the weekend to improve to 40-for-40 in save opportunities this season. While K-Rod has earned an MLB-record 60 saves (and counting), he's also blown seven opportunities. 2. With a 1.87 ERA in 70 appearances, Lidge is staking his claim to one of the greatest statistical seasons for a closer in history. (Rodriguez has a relatiely human 2.34 ERA in 73 appearances.) 3. During Philly's six-game swing through Atlanta and Florida this past week, Lidge earned saves in four of the five wins, pitching with a multiple-run lead just once. 4. He's been Citizen's Bankable in September, converting seven saves while throwing 10.2 scoreless innings. 5. He's the biggest reason why the Phillies are 75-0 this season when leading after eight innings -- the best mark in the majors. 6. He's excelled in the season-long NL East pressure-cooker. By contrast, the Angels have owned first place since early May -- and Rodriguez has pitched since mid-July with the reassurance of his team's double-digit cushion in the AL West race. 7. Lidge has surrendered just two home runs in 2008 -- the best rate of his career -- in 67.1 innings this season. (Rodriguez has surrendered four homers in 65.1 innings.) <img style="margin: 2px 10px; float: left;" title="Lidge vs. K-Rod" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/lidge-krod.jpg" alt="Lidge vs. K-Rod" width="225" height="122" /> 8. Aside from K-Rod's stratospheric save count -- in part a result of his team's high-powered offense -- Lidge's numbers rank favorably in every other major pitching category. 9. Lidge has already established single-season franchise records for consecutive saves and consecutive saves in a single season. On Sunday, the 31-year-old extended his personal streak to 43 saves, dating back to his time with the Astros last season. 10. Playing in one of baseball's most hitter-friendly parks -- in one of the nation's most demanding sports cities -- Lidge has shown no signs of letdown since signing a 3-year, $37.5 million contract extension in July. If anything, he's been even more clutch as the spotlight has burned brighter. What do you think? Who's been more valuable to their team between Lidge and K-Rod in 2008? Should Lidge garner serious consideraiton for the Cy Young Award in the National League if the Phillies make the playoffs? 6881

The SI Staff

New York City 21244