Revitalized Lidge ready to face postseason demons

The hangover lingered for two years, with then-Houston manager Phil Garner compounding the situation by removing Lidge from the closer’s role three times. The Astros finally gave up and sent Lidge to Philadelphia last fall for a package headlined by center fielder Michael Bourn.

The Phillies win that deal by unanimous decision.

Bourn, hitting .224, has been a huge disappointment for the Astros. Meanwhile, the Phillies showed Lidge that he had been struggling because he rarely had been working the inside portion of the plate with his fastball. Lidge made the adjustment, which was needed to set up his slider against righthanded hitters, and changed the face of the N.L. East.

He eagerly awaits the next step.

“It’s kind of what we live for,” Lidge said. “I known when I’m out there and the games are so important and every pitch counts ... it’s the greatest feeling in the world. That’s why I’m out there.”

I still worry about the threat that the Pujols home run is to the International Space Station, though.