The makers of the MLBN reality show The 'Pen picked the wrong end of the season. Much of the real drama is occurring in the here and now.
Let's see: Clay Condrey still out with an oblique strain, J.C. Romero still out with lower arm tendinitis, and now Scott Eyre, most ominously of all, has sharp pain in his throwing elbow. Then there is former 'pen guy J.A. Happ, who missed his last start and will miss his next with an oblique strain. Ryan Madson, who finished off last night's game in dramatic relief, is nursing biceps tendinitis. Am I missing anyone? Other, of course, than Brad Lidge, who continues to have a nightmarish year.
Without Brad Lidge, the Phillies would not have won last year's World Series. With him, they may not make the play-offs this year. Baseball breeds stoicism and loyalty. The Internet too often breeds snarky, snap judgements and shallow silliness; many, including those paid to do so, who use it to vent or air their opinions come off as self-intoxicated. Reading message boards and blogs about Lidge has made me want to scream. He is after all a stand-up guy who, even as he struggles mightily, deserves at the very least respect. The agonizing decision on his role is up to Charlie. I'm happy to leave it to him. But the bullpen, the strength of the team last year, may be its undoing this year.
