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Early life

College career

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues (1998–2002)

The Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Lidge in the first round, 17th overall, of the 1998 MLB Draft. Houston had gained the draft pick that they used on Lidge as compensation for losing free agent Darryl Kile to the Colorado Rockies.[1] On July 1, he inked a deal with the team for a signing bonus of $1.07 million.[2] Lidge made his professional baseball debut on July 11, 1998, earning a no decision for the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits in a 6-5 Midwest League loss to the Fort Wayne Wizards. Lidge pitched only the first two innings of the game, as the Bandits wanted to limit his pitch count, but his velocity in those 43 pitches impressed his coaches.[3] His time in Quad Cities was limited by a recurring elbow injury that required Lidge to be shut down three separate times in a span of less than two months.[4] He made four starts for the River Bandits in 1998, posting a 0-1 record and a 3.27 ERA while striking out six batters in 11 innings.[5]

Lidge was assigned to the Class A-Advanced Kissimmee Cobras of the Florida State League for the 1999 season, but began the year on the disabled list with an elbow injury.[6]

  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001

Houston Astros (2002-07)

2002

2003

Lidge with the Astros in 2005

2004

2005

Lidge (right) with Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler of the Houston Astros

2006

2007

The Astros avoided contract arbitration with Lidge on January 17, 2007, by signing him to a one-year contract worth $5.35 million.[7] After seeing Lidge struggle in spring training and blow his first save of the season, manager Phil Garner chose to make Dan Wheeler the new Astros closer, while offering Lidge opportunities to relieve in the sixth or seventh innings of games.[8] He regained the closer role at the start of June, but was placed on the disabled list that same month after suffering a strained left oblique muscle. Although Lidge described to reporters that the injury bothered him less towards the end of the day, Garner chose to shut his closer down in order to keep the muscle strain from becoming a larger issue.[9]

After returning to the active roster on July 13, Lidge picked up his first save of the season on July 18, against the Washington Nationals. With the July 31 trading deadline approaching, there was speculation that the Astros, who had the third-lowest record in the National League (NL) would trade Lidge, but owner Drayton McLane told reporters, "I see no reason we should even consider it. He's been one of the best closers in baseball."[10] Instead, the club traded Wheeler to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for infielder Ty Wigginton.[11] Despite his early-season struggles and injuries, Lidge finished the 2007 season 5-3 with 19 saves in 27 opportunities. He also held his opponents to a .218 batting average and record and average of 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9).[12] After the season, Lidge underwent surgery to repair a cartilage tear in his right knee, with the anticipation that he would be healthy for the beginning of spring training.[13]

Philadelphia Phillies (2008-11)

2008

On November 7, 2007, the Astros traded Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Michael Bourn, right-handed pitcher Geoff Geary, and third base prospect Mike Costanzo. It was the first major trade of the MLB postseason general manages' meetings. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who referred to the pitching market as "a little scary", acquired Lidge in order to free Brett Myers from closing and move him back into the starting rotation.[12] Lidge required an additional arthroscopic knee surgery that February after tripping on the mound during a preseason batting practice. As the surgery was recommended at the end of February, with an estimated recovery time of three to six weeks, and the Phillies were set to open the 2008 MLB season on March 31, manager Charlie Manuel tapped setup man Tom Gordon to close in case Lidge was not ready to join the team by opening day.[14]

2008 World Series
A fan sports a sign supporting Lidge at the Phillies 2008 World Series championship parade in Philadelphia.

2009

Following his perfect season, Lidge still saw room for improvement in his pitching technique, and he entered 2009 with the intention of enhancing his fastball speed and increasing his arm strength.[15]

2010

Lidge with the Phillies in 2008

2011

After entering spring training fully healthy, Lidge was shut down on March 25 with pain in the back of his right shoulder, which he said was a new occurrence.[16] An MRI revealed a posterior rotator cuff strain that did not require surgery, but would take three to six weeks to heal, and he began the 2011 MLB season on the disabled list.[17] He underwent an eight-game rehab assignment with Lakewood and Reading, going 0-0 with a 3.52 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings before returning to the Phillies roster on July 22.[18] Lidge did not return to the closer role even after coming off of the disabled list; instead, his setup man Ryan Madson filled the ninth inning, while Lidge battled with Antonio Bastardo to pitch the eighth.[19]

Washington Nationals (2012)

Lidge with the Washington Nationals in 2012

On January 26, 2012, the Washington Nationals signed Lidge to a one-year, $1 million contract, plus additional incentives.[20] He had not been signed as a closer for Washington, but after Drew Storen suffered from elbow inflammation during spring training, the team prepared to use Lidge and Henry Rodríguez in the ninth inning.[21] The pair officially took over for Storen when the latter underwent surgery for a bone chip in his elbow.[22] After allowing four earned runs in seven innings and blowing two saves, Lidge was placed on the disabled list with an abdominal wall strain. He was diagnosed with a sports hernia and underwent surgery on May 1, with an estimated recovery time of three weeks before he could begin throwing again.[23] After pitching a perfect inning in a rehab assignment for the Class A-Advanced Potomac Nationals, Lidge was able to rejoin the Washington active roster on June 7, a week earlier than expected; he effectively replaced Rodríguez, who was placed on the disabled list with a strained finger.[24] He was unable to perform with the Nationals, going 0-1 with two saves and a 9.64 ERA in 11 bullpen appearances, with opposing hitters batting .308 against him. The Nationals designated Lidge for assignment on June 17 after two poor outings against the New York Yankees, and Ryan Mattheus was activated in his place.[25] He was released from his contract shortly after, and returned home to Colorado in order to spend time with his family and consider whether or not he would pursue another contract.[26]

Retirement

After being released from the Nationals, Lidge took the remainder of the summer to decide whether he wanted to continue his pitching career. On December 2, 2012, he announced his intentions to retire from baseball. At the time of his retirement, Lidge had 225 regular-season career saves, as well as 18 postseason saves. He also struck out 799 batters in 603+1⁄3 regular-season innings for a career 11.919 K/9, the second-best ratio of any pitcher with more than 500 innings.[27] Lidge signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Phillies on August 1, 2013, enabling him to officially retire as a member of the organization.[28]

Pitching style

Personal life

Career highlights

Honors

Awards

Award Season(s) Ref.
MLB
NL All-Star 2005, 2008 TK
World Series champion 2008 TK
NL Comeback Player of the Year 2008 TK
NL Rolaids Relief Man Award 2008 TK
Delivery Man of the Year 2008 TK
Philadelphia Phillies
Good Guy Award 2009 TK
Most Valuable Player 2008 TK
Houston Astros
Rookie of the Year 2003 TK

Statistical highlights

References

  1. ^ Gagnon, Cappy (2004). Notre Dame Baseball Greats: From Anson to Yaz. Charleston SC, Chicago, Porstmouth NH, San Francisco: Arcadia Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 0-7385-3262-2. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Patterson, Spencer (July 2, 1998). "Nannini inks deal with Astros". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Batterson, Steve (July 11, 1998). "From the archives: Bandits' top pick shines in loss to Wizards". Quad-City Times. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Doxsie, Don (October 21, 2005). "In Lidge they trust". Quad-City Times. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Brad Lidge Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Carroll, Frank (April 11, 1999). "Cobras counting on pitching". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Duarte, Joseph (January 17, 2007). "Astros' Lidge set for 2007 at $5.35 million". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  8. ^ de Jesus Ortiz, Jose (April 9, 2007). "Wheeler replaces Lidge as closer for Astros". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "Strain puts Astros' Lidge on DL". Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. June 20, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  10. ^ McTaggart, Brian (July 18, 2007). "Astros' McLane says Garner, Purpura safe". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "MLB Notebook: Astros get Wigginton in deal with Tampa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 28, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Lidge goes to Phillies from Astros for Bourn, Geary". ESPN.com. November 7, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Astros' Lidge has surgery to repair torn cartilage in knee". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 1, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lidge needs surgery". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. February 25, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  15. ^ Curry, Jack (February 25, 2009). "Perfect in Saves in 2008, Phillies' Lidge Sees Room to Improve". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  16. ^ Gelb, Matt (March 25, 2011). "Lidge shut down with new shoulder pain". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "Phillies' closer Brad Lidge out 3-6 weeks with shoulder injury". The Patriot-News. Associated Press. March 29, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  18. ^ "Lidge returns, Baez designated for assignment". Philadelphia Daily News. July 22, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  19. ^ Brookover, Bob (September 30, 2011). "Madson ready for first trip through playoffs as Phillies closer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "Nats sign Brad Lidge to 1-year deal". ESPN.com. January 26, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  21. ^ Kilgore, Adam (March 24, 2012). "Drew Storen might miss opening day; Brad Lidge, Henry Rodriguez could fill in as Nationals' closer". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  22. ^ Kilgore, Adam (April 27, 2012). "Brad Lidge on disabled list, Ryan Perry called up". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  23. ^ Comak, Amanda (May 1, 2012). "Brad Lidge's surgery goes well, expected to begin throwing in three weeks". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  24. ^ Kilgore, Adam (June 7, 2021). "Nationals place Henry Rodriguez on the disabled list, reinstate Brad Lidge". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  25. ^ "Nationals DFA Brad Lidge". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 17, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  26. ^ Crasnick, Jerry (June 29, 2012). "Brad Lidge undecided on 2012 plans". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  27. ^ Stark, Jayson (December 2, 2012). "Free agent Brad Lidge plans to retire". ESPN. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  28. ^ Breen, Matt (August 2, 2013). "Lidge closes the deal and retires as a Phillie". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
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