Lidge surgery called successful; to be out 3-to-6 weeks
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge is expected to miss three to six weeks after having surgery Monday on his right knee. The team said the operation was successful.
The 31-year-old right-hander, Philadelphia’s biggest offseason acquisition, caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice Saturday. Doctors removed torn cartilage from the same knee in October.
Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said officials will make sure Lidge is healthy before he takes the mound.
“I know he’ll be chomping at the bit, because he’s looking forward to it and he’s excited about the season, but … that’s our main goal, that he’s healthy when he gets on the mound and pitches for the Phillies,” Amaro said.
Lidge, who has 123 career saves, finished 2007 with 19 saves in 27 chances and a 3.36 ERA for Houston.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Smokey // Mar 17, 2009 at 11:56 pm
It’s going to be Tom “Flash” Gordon
2 hurricanes // Mar 18, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Phils have a bad bullpen even when Lidge was healthy but the closer heading into the year is probably Gordon. Can’t see Romero being the closer
3 wanna-speek-french // Mar 21, 2009 at 9:16 am
flash gordon
4 say hey kid // Mar 21, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Tom “Flash” Gordon
5 JIK // Mar 22, 2009 at 9:04 pm
It should be Gordon’s job anyway. Lidge is always a meltdown waiting to happen.
6 bdough15 // Mar 23, 2009 at 5:53 pm
They will rely on Tom Gordon until he goes on the DL and then it will be up for grabs, probably a committee of some sort.
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