Time to make a temporay change for Phils closer roll

Something is wrong with Brad Lidge.

The manager and pitching coach say the Phillies closer is throwing well. However, the results would say otherwise.

Lidge blew his second save in as many days against the New York Yankees today. Luckily, the Phillies hung on for an extra inning win to take two-of-three from the previously red-hot Yanks.

Lidge has blown four saves in 12 chances this season after going 48-for-48 on their way to a championship last year.

I can understand a bad game here and there, but with an ERA of 9.15, the Phillies need to make a change.

Now, I am not saying they should make a permanent move. At the same time, they can't afford to lose games, especially late. Lidge needs some work in less important situations.

The Phillies should use Ryan Madson in the closer roll on a temporary basis until Lidge proves he can get outs without allowing runs.

They should have taken all three from the Yankees this weekend and instead came close to losing two of those games.

The Phillies can ill afford to give up leads and lose games with how tight the NL East will be come September.

It's time for Lidge to step out of the closer roll for a little while.

Phils stars struggling, but they still find themselves in second place

If you would have told me prior to the baseball season that come May 2 the Phillies starters would have an ERA that is almost seven, Cole Hamels would not yet have a win, and that Jimmy Rollins was batting .200 I would have told you there was no way that they would be in second place, trailing the Florida Marlins by only one game.

But the fact of the matter is that all of the above is true, yet somehow the Phils are two and 1/2 games ahead of the Mets, whom many picked to win the division this year.

Sure, it is early and the standings don't really mean much at this point. But with the horrid start some of the Philly players have gotten off to, I'd say 12-10 is not so bad.

The Phillies have nine come-from-behind wins.

No, the Phillies will not continue to win unless Rollins picks up his game and they get better pitching. But, they have done enough to win enough games early despite their shortcomings.

Hamels has had a sore arm and now a sprained ankle. Brad Lidge has been battling a sore knee. Carlos Ruiz was on the DL. That's a lot for the first month.

But guys like newcomer Raul Ibanez (.360 average and eight home runs) and Chase Utley (.342 average and eight home runs) have carried the Phillies.

The Phillies have a strong lineup and a solid starting rotation. That tells us that when Rollins gets things going and they get more from their starters, the Phillies should be able to put together a good string of winning months.