In a not so surprising opening to the baseball season, the Philadelphia Philles have suffered their first semi-major (could potentially be major, but who knows?) injury. What position, or whom will be effected you ask?Well.
Brad Lidge, the newly acquired closer whom the Phillies got from the Houston Astros for (mainly) Geoff Geary and Michael Bourn, suffered a slight tear in his meniscus while throwing his first pitch in batting practice.
Yeah, first pitch. Embarrassing, we know.
Apparently, during his windup, one of Lidge's spikes became wedged into the dirt of the pitchers mound, slightly tearing his meniscus in his right knee. Lidge had surgery on the same knee back in October 2007 when he tore some cartilage.
This could have some potential drastic effects, while at the same time be a great chance for former everyday players, such as Tom (flash) Gordon, to prove their reemergence as quality everyday players for the Phillies and become possible trade bait for teams (hopefully not us) who find themselves injury plagued as the season begins.
The drastic effects?
Well, there's always the possibility of rehab becoming a set back and Lidge never getting back to 100 percent. Now, is that a likely scenario? Not really. But, still, it's happened before in a case such as Brett Myers' arm injury last season. Rehab took forever but granted, it worked out well for everyone in the end. Everyone is wondering if Brett Myers would eventually be put back into the closing position in Lidge's absence but, the Phillies maintain that in a certain case such as this, Flash Gordon will replace Lidge and Myers will stay in the number two starting slot in the Phils' rotation.
So, chalk this up on the ole' injury board as injury number one for the Phillies this season. Hopefully the Phillies stay at least moderately healthy this season, and don't become the league leader (again) in the overall worst and most despised stat in the stat books for any sport, injuries.
Knee Surgery to shelve Phillies closer for 3 - 6 weeks - ESPN
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