Some of you may have noticed that updates were a little sparse last week and if you have read this website for a while it probably shouldn’t have been tough for you to figure out why. As a life long Philadelphia sports fan I was prett busy watching my Philadelphia Phillies wrap up the city’s first championship in 25 by making short order of the upstart Tampa Bay Rays.
As I sat at the bar watching the Phills enter the top of the 9th inning just 3 outs away from ending a quarter century of sports misery in Philadelphia I couldn’t think of a better way for them to close out the Rays than to have Notre Dame product Brad Lidge seal the deal as he had done all season. Lidge, who the Phillies acquired in an off-season trade, recorded his 48th save in 48 tries last Wednesday night by striking out Eric Hinske with one of his signature nasty sliders.
In a city notorious for being tough on athletes, Lidge was able to resurrect his career with a perfect season. He had some rough moments and had a few close calls including in the playoffs, but after 176 games in 2008 season, Lidge made it through the entire season without blowing a single save and the morning after the Phillies won their first World Series in 28 years, it was Lidge who found himself on the cover of the Philadelphia Daily News.
I’ve been waiting a long time for one of my Philadelphia teams to win a title – my whole life actually since I was too young to remember the 1983 Sixers title – and to have a Notre Dame product on the mound to close out the game made it even sweeter.
I had planned a few posts on Lidge throughout the season as he got off to a great start but didn’t want to jinx him, but now that he’s completed the season a perfect 48 for 48 with 2 saves in the World Series I felt I had to post something. His stats for the season borderline on ridiculous – a 1.95 ERA with 41 saves and a gaudy 92 K’s in 69 1/3 innings with another 7 saves and 0.96 ERA to go along with 13 more K’s in only 13 1/3 innings.
Here’s hoping many, many more World Series Championships for Brad Lidge in Phillies pinstripes and thank you Brad for helping give the city of Philadelphia the championship it so desparately needed.
tom, it is hard to believe isn’t it? What a great week of sports it was in Philly last week. I think the suspended game on Monday made it all that much better because it just gave everyone more time in the street to celebrate. Can’t wait to have the same feelings for a Notre Dame national title one day.
I was at the parade Friday. It was a crazy day. I can’t believe they finally did it. Go Phils and Go Irish!
digger, I had a blast watching them win the World Series. Easily one of the highlights of my sports viewing life. The entire city was like one giant party for over a week and it felt great after all of the heart ache Philly teams have had in the past. Lidge was absolutely amazing this season too. Even though Anaheim’s K Rod set the saves record, Lidge was the one named DHL Delivery Man of the Year.
hope u had fun watching your philles! go irish!