Just as sure as the sky is blue, the sun rises in the east, and Tom Cruise is gay, Brad Lidge is certain to choke when it really matters.  Actually, it’s a relief because sometimes, when the world feels all topsy-turvy, I know I can look to Brad Lidge for the consistency my life lacks.  I can simply turn on the TV during the spring, summer or fall and a wave of relief will wash over me as I am assured that, yes, everything is as it should be.  Just as long as Brad Lidge is up there on the mound in the 9th inning, ripping the hearts out of fans from coast-to-coast, I know there is always a reason to smile.

Lidge said after the game, “I felt good.  I felt like it would be one of those innings that would be a good quick inning.”  Traveling out of the Never-Never Land Mr. Lidge resides in, what really happened is stated below:

[Damon] fouled off three consecutive nasty sliders. Lidge then missed with two fastballs. Then he threw two more fastballs, which Damon fouled off…. But Damon wouldn’t go away.

Damon’s single to left seemed innocent enough, but the urgency of the inning immediately was turned up when Damon broke for second on the first pitch.

Whatever the explanation, Lidge lost it. All that nasty stuff he had for the first three batters of the inning was gone. He immediately plunked Teixeira on the elbow. Alex Rodriguez then came to the plate. Second base was open — with Mariano Rivera looming in the bullpen, it didn’t really matter if the Yankees scored one or two or three runs — so Lidge could have pitched around Rodriguez. He wanted to pitch him inside. His second fastball was inside, but not far enough. Rodriguez smoked it into the left-field corner for a two-run double. (Fanhouse.com)

 As avid a National League supporter as I may be, there is something so wonderfully silly and ridiculous about the obscene amount of chances Brad Lidge has been getting.  Why is he cut so much slack?  Did he save a bunch of orphans from a building engulfed in flames?  I guess it really just goes to show how low the overall talent level is amongst Major League relief pitchers.  Even Jeff Fassero had a long MLB career!

Lidge Blows It, Hard, And Over-And-Over Again is a post from: The Baseball Chick - Baseball News, Updates, Fantasy Advice, Rumors & Gossip

Heidi Strobel Hamels, one classy lady and mother

Cole Hamels’ Reality Star Wife, Heidi, a former contestant on Survivor, popped out their first child last week.  She went into labor while Hamels was still on the mound in Game 2 of the NLDS.  Thankfully, his pitching was sort of lame anyways.

Apparently, Frank Coppenbarger, the Phillies’ director of team travel and clubhouse services, received a text message directly from Hamels’ wife stating: “I’m in the hospital going into labor. Could you please tell Cole as soon as he is done pitching.”  Coppenbarger kept the information to himself.

“The next inning, we pinch-hit for him,” Coppenbarger said after the game. “I went over and mentioned it to [pitching coach] Rich Dubee first. He said, ‘Just go ahead and tell him right now.’ He was sort of numb,” Coppenbarger said. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

It’s clear that the real father of this baby is Mr. Coppenbarger.  Why does she have his number?  And why else would Cole’s mood be “numb” as opposed to “overjoyed” or “jubilant” and “ecstatic”?

Sorry, I watched soap operas all Columbus Day…

Cole Hamels and Wife Welcome Baby is a post from: The Baseball Chick - Baseball News, Updates, Fantasy Advice, Rumors & Gossip