After a month with Ryan Madson attempting to close out games, the Phillies will have their actual closer back, as Brad Lidge has been activated from the disabled list and will be available for Friday's game against the New York Mets, according to CSNPhilly.com.
With the 2009 season now behind him, Lidge should be better than he was last year. Of course, it wouldn't take much to surpass an ERA that was over 7.50 with 11 blown saves, but anything can happen in baseball. For those of you that think going back to Brad Lidge is a mistake, just think about this: Ryan Madson has already blown two saves this year, and the season is only 21 games old. Do you really want him trying to close games out for the rest of the year? Honestly, Madson is a great setup man, but he doesn't have the stuff to close out games. He didn't have it last year, and he doesn't have it this year, either. He's much better suited to be the seventh or eighth inning pitcher, rather than the closer, and I think he'll do better once he gets back there.
I really can't be happier for Lidge to come back this season. If he's at his top health, then he's going to be much better than he was last year, as well as being better than how Madson has pitched so far this season. With Lidge back, the bullpen is just about where I want it to be, as both Madson and J.C. Romero are back where they need to be for the first time since 2008, and Lidge looks a lot closer to the 2008 version than 2009. This is one of those things that the Phillies need in order to get back to the World Series again this year. That bullpen has to get back together again, or else it's going to be another long year in the late innings. Roy Halladay can't pitch into the eighth inning of every game.
CSNPhilly.com: Phillies activate Lidge
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