No Complaining - Monday, July 07, 2008
326 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   When Ed Wade and Friends were unable to re-sign Billy "Wow, Jayson hit that ball a mile" Wagner four years ago, they were (rightly) excoriated for lacking the necessary fortitude, not to mention checkbook to handle the job. Wagner's price went up during the off-season, and the Mets landed him. It wasn't as cataclysmic as some thought it would be, but it definitely wasn't great news.

   Sunday afternoon, the Phillies announced a club rarity: They had locked up lights-out (for now) closer Brad Lidge for three years with a fat, $37.5 million extension. In the immediate afterglow of the announcement, it was hard to find someone who thought it was a bad move. The Phils had moved decisively to secure the back end of their bullpen through 2011 and had spent lavishly to do so. Kudos were given all around.

   Phillies fans had better remember that feeling as the seasons go by, because they're going to be tempted to curse Lidge's contract at some point over the next few years, just as they have ridiculed the Phils at times for throwing big money at Pat Burrell several seasons ago. Lidge isn't going to be perfect all the time. He'll blow saves. In fact, it's a good bet he'll have a prolonged streak of trouble, if not two. As he labors to get his groove back, don't complain about the contract, even if it's sitting in the middle of an inadequate payroll and self-imposed salary cap, taking up space that the team could use on someone else.

   GM Pat Gillick pulled another good in-season move by signing Lidge, taking advantage of the closer's strong first half and growing affection for our town. It was the kind of move that Phillies fans are always asking the team to execute. Now that the club has pulled the trigger, make sure you don't start whining down the road that his contract is too big or that Gillick ruined the team by saddling it with a giant contract. Lidge is here to stay, and fans had better make a note about how happy they are now, even if a 34-year old Lidge can't get anybody out in '11. There are no guarantees in baseball, and while this move looks pretty good from here, things can change. That's how it goes. If you like this deal now, don't whine later on.

   Unless you're Brett Myers.