‘Lights Out’ In Philly For Three More Years July 6, 2008
Posted by Dave in Philadelphia, Phillies.Tags: Brad Lidge, Philadelphia, Phillies
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Brad Lidge is happy about being in Philly for at least three more years. (Pat Sullivan/AP Photo)
It has been an annual tradition for the Phillies to have a question mark about the back end of their bullpen. This season was no different as the Phils’ were worried about the health of their newly acquired closer Brad Lidge. “Lights Out” Lidge was worth the wait and in his first three months as a Phil has a 2-0 record with a staggering ERA of .77. He has saved 19 games in as many opportunities while striking out 47 batters. His payoff for a stellar start came Sunday when the Phillies extended his contract.
The three-year extension for Lidge keeps him in Philadelphia until at least 2011. The $37.5 million deal is more than meets the eye. ESPN reveals there could be an even bigger pay day for Lidge.
“The deal includes a signing bonus, an awards package, assorted escalators and a fourth-year club option that could bring the overall value of the contract to $49 million.”
The Phillies don’t usually make deals with current players regarding their contracts until the season is over, but they’ve made an exception to secure the future of their bullpen which has won them quite a few games in the 2008 season.
Utley Will Start, Lidge (and Burrell?) Phil the All-Star Roster July 6, 2008
Posted by Aaron in Philadelphia, Phillies.Tags: 2008 mlb all-star game, Alex Rodriguez, alfonso soriano, all-star game, Brad Lidge, Chase Utley, chipper jones, david ortiz, derek jeter, dustin pedroia, geovany soto, hanley ramirez, ichiro suzuki, joe mauer, josh hamilton, kevin youkilis, kosuke fukudome, lance berkman, manny ramirez, MLB, mlb 2008, ryan braun, yankee stadium
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Chase Utley and Brad Lidge will represent the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2008 All-Star Game on July 15th in the Bronx, while fans can VOTE IN PAT BURRELL in MLB’s Final Vote.
Utley will start for the second straight year. He was the leading vote getter in all of baseball, no small feat. This selection shouldn’t come as a surprise, take at look at these numbers (coming into today):
2B - CHASE UTLEY
.296 AVG / 24 HR (leads
MLB) / 67 RBI / .602 SLG
The other Phillies player selected will come out of the pen:
P - BRAD LIDGE
2-0 / 0.77 ERA / 19 SV in
19 OPP / 47 K
The 79th mid-season classic will be a special one as it’s the last festivity to be held at Yankee Stadium, which is in its last year. Long time great Phil Niekro recently said, “This final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium is what the stadium is about — memories.” There is no doubt that these stacked rosters will be a special sight to see in just over a week.
Oh yeah, and here’s the complete All-Star teams if you were interested…
NL STARTERS
C - Geovany Soto, CHC (1st time)
1B - Lance Berkman, HOU (5 time All-Star)
2B - Chase Utley, PHI (3 time All-Star)
SS - Hanley Ramirez, FLA (1st time)
3B - Chipper Jones, ATL (6 time All-Star)
OF - Ryan Braun, MIL (1st time)
OF - Alfonso Soriano, CHC (7 time All-Star)
OF - Kosuke Fukudome, CHC (1st time)
NL RESERVES
Brian McCann, ATL (3 time All-Star)
Aramis Ramirez, CHC (2 time All-Star)
Matt Holliday, COL (3 time All-Star)
Dan Uggla, FLA (2 time All-Star)
Miguel Tejada, HOU (5 time All-Star)
Russell Martin, LAD (2 time All-Star)
Nate McLouth, PIT (1st time)
Albert Pujols, STL (6 time All-Star)
Ryan Ludwick, STL (1st time)
Adrian Gonzalez, SD (1st time)
Cristian Guzman, WSH (2 time All-Star)
NL PITCHERS
Aaron Cook, COL (1st time)
Tim Lincecum, SF (1st time)
Dan Haren, ARI (2 time All-Star)
Ben Sheets, MIL (4 time All Star)
Carlos Zambrano, CHC (3 time All-Star)
Brandon Webb, ARI (3 time All-Star)
Ryan Dempster, CHC (1st time)
Brian Wilson, SF (1st time)
Edinson Volquez, CIN (1st time)
Kerry Wood, CHC (2 time All-Star)
Brad Lidge, PHI (2 time All-Star)
Billy Wagner, NYM (5 time All-Star)
_____
AL STARTERS
C - Joe Mauer, MIN (2 time All-Star)
1B - Kevin Youkilis, BOS (1st time)
2B - Dustin Pedroia, BOS (1st time)
SS - Derek Jeter, NYY (9 time All-Star)
3B - Alex Rodriguez, NYY (12 time All-Star)
OF - Josh Hamilton, TEX (1st time)
OF - Manny Ramirez, BOS (12 time All-Star)
OF - Ichiro Suzuki, SEA (8 time All-Star)
DH - David Ortiz, BOS (5 time All-Star)
(well, I’m glad this team wasn’t put together by fans blindly voting in Yankees and Red Sox…)
AL RESERVES
J.D. Drew, BOS (1st time)
Jason Varitek, BOS (2 time All-Star)
Joe Crede, CWS (1st time)
Carlos Quentin, CWS (1st time)
Grady Sizemore, CLE (3 time All-Star)
Carlos Guillen, DET (3 time All-Star)
Justin Morneau (3 time All-Star)
Milton Bradley, TEX (1st time)
Ian Kinsler, TEX (1st time)
Michael Young, TEX (5 time All-Star)
Dioner Navarro, TB (1st time)
AL PITCHERS
Scott Kazmir, TB (2 time All-Star)
George Sherrill, BAL (1st time)
Roy Halladay, TOR (3 time All-Star)
Mariano Rivera, NYY (9 time All-Star)
Jonathon Papelbon BOS (2 time All-Star)
Justin Duchscherer OAK (1st time)
Joe Nathan, MIN (2 time All-Star)
Joakim Soria, KC (1st time)
Cliff Lee, CLE (1st time)
Francisco Rodriguez, LAA (3 time All-Star)
Ervin Santana, LAA (1st time)
Joe Saunders, LAA (1st time)
FINAL VOTE
AL: Jermaine Dye, CWS / Jason Giambi, NYY / Carlos Guillen, KC / Evan Longoria, TB / Brian Roberts, BAL
NL: PAT BURRELL, PHI / Corey Hart, MIL / Carlos Lee, HOU, Aaron Rowand SF / David Wright, NYM
VOTE HERE FOR PAT BURRELL TO MAKE THE NL ALL-STAR TEAM
photos from phillies.com
