More Phil's fault than Lidge
08/16/2006 01:00 p.m. | Sports
First, let me say this: Brad Lidge has been a sinking ship ever since that fateful 9th inning in game 5 of last years NLCS. Given that, I must place a good majority of the blame for the Astro's sinking on Phil Garner. Let's take this afternoon as an example. Bottom of the 6th, 2 outs, man on 1st and 3rd, and we are down by 1. Andy Pettitte is about to step up to the plate. He should be about to sit back down on the bench. PINCH HIT! Not only do you have Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane, and Adam Everett batting 5-6-7, but you have Ausmus and Pettitte filling out the line-up. You should be so lucky that 2 of those guys even got on base. But instead, you batted Pettitte, who struck out swinging. While Andy did deliver a full game (a loss), you had some arms left. Bad Garner! Very bad Garner! And don't getting me started on letting Preston Wilson go, while moving Jason Lane back into the line-up. Although I will thank Phil for one thing. I am no longer worrying if the Astro's are gonna "make it" this year. You might as well let Lidge pitch every 9th from here on out, just to get the work in.
JMO