The Shift that gave the Series away

In game 4 of the World Series on Sunday I saw something new that I have never seen happen in baseball before. In the ninth inning with the game tied at 4 Brad Lidge was pitching to Mark Teixeira with Johnny Damon on first base. Teixeira was batting from the left side so the Phillies had the shift on. Johnny Damon decided to steal second and slide in easily. Then he popped up and ran to third base. He stole two bases on the same play without an error, rundown or anything else you ordinary see happen. With the shift being on, the third basemen was nowhere near it so even though a Philly had the ball and was ready to throw it to someone, there was no one. The pitcher Lidge should have been covering because he was the only option, but he was obviously not told too and didn’t think of it in time. Charlie Manuel should have reviewed that, but I have never seen that happen before with a shift on. So Damon ended up getting a free base which was the go ahead run at the time. The Yankees ended up scoring more runs, but that opened the flood gates. Now it will be hard for them to come back being down in the series 3-1.

I have never see a player steal two bases with the shit on before. Has anyone ever seen that? I am specifically asking you “The 'Bright' One”.

The Marlins know how to celebrate a win

There is so much goodness in this video of the Marlins coming back in the bottom of the 9th to steal another game from 2007 Brad Lidge. First some white dude i've never heard of gets the game winning single. Then another white dude i've never heard of comes dashing out of the dugout with excitement taking out half the team in the process. Then Hanley Ramirez runs toward the first white dude and actually slides to stop instead of just not moving his legs. Thats a true baseball grinder. Someone who slides to stop when doing normal everyday activities like going to the bathroom, walking you dog, or congratulating someone on a win. Hanley then goes NFL superbowl on us and decided to dump a gatorate bucket on said white guy. Too bad no one was in attendance to witness the joy.

The Brad Lidge Turnaround

Last season Brad Lidge was arguably the best closer in the game. Lidge was 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in 72 games and 69.1 innings pitched being perfect in save opportunities going 41/41 during the regular season. Lidge was also perfect during the playoffs for the World Champion Phillies. Once he was handed the ball in the 9th inning (except for the All-star game) you had complete confidence the game was over. This season that isn’t exactly the case. Brad Lidge who was Mr. Automatic for the 2008 season is doing the opposite for the 2009 season. This season Lidge is 0-7 with a 7.11 ERA in 58 games so far this season. Charlie Manual is still going to Lidge even though he has blown 10 saves this season. Lidge started his career being very good in 2003 and was through the 2005 season. He started to loose it during the 2007 playoffs and lost it with that big homerun he gave up in the 2005 World Series. He was terrible in the 2006 season and then got better in 2007, but still had 8 blown saves so the Astros traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies where he dominated in 2008.
Brad Lidge’s stuff seems to have declined this season and his pitches are just not that good. He is the same pitcher he has been in previous seasons. So the question is can Brad Lidge be the good pitchers who used to be the for the 2010 season?