gloom and doom! lidge hobbled already?

Despite all of the yapping from the Mets, who have pretty much played into the media's needling, I had no doubt that the Phillies were again the team to beat, if they stayed healthy. So what happens when newly-acquired closer Brad Lidge toes the rubber yesterday? He catches a spike on the first pitch and something gives in his surgically-repaired knee. Last seen he was limping off the field and into the clubhouse down at Bright House Field. Sigh. Since spraining my knee last November I have relearned how tricky and longlasting knee injuries are. Just when all seems well, something gives. If Lidge misses the start of the season (please, no more than that!), the Phillies are likely to get off to their usual, maddening slow start. If that's the case, the media will have to back off this whole Mets-Phillies rivalry they are so busy building up this spring.