Afternoon Baseball

Mr. Lights Out, multiple innings every day, dream 7th inning to setup man to closer to 100% save percentage closer unless Roger Clemens needs a save. Now, however, he's Mr. Blows All Andy Pettite's games with big home runs.

Let's not overreact. He did not give up the first World Series grand slam, a la Chad Qualls. And the St. Louis HR was by Albert "I'm really 31" Pujols, and it proved inconsequential because of Roy Oswalt's continued greatness. But....Lidge, as I've said, has not looked right the entire postseason. And now Houston faces long odds to turn the situation around.

I think it may be a run-down Lidge. He does put everything he has into every pitch. But I think Houston might be a victim of its own success. They sport hard throwers in the rotation and throughout the bullpen. After seeing 7-8 innings of that, perhaps that fastball/slider combo does not seem as unique. Of course, the slider has been abysmal, and Lidge does not seem to be the type (Rivera) who can throw just fastballs that cut or move a little. And it's not quite Mark Wohlers to Jim Leyritz, because Lidge's slider IS his best pitch.
But I think there's something to having no soft throwers (or few) and then handing off to yet another. Especially in the playoffs.