Brad_lidge_shoulder
This is getting ridiculous. Just as Lidge returned from what was called "biceps tendinitis," a new injury to his pitching arm was announced: Shoulder soreness.

He will get an MRI on Monday when the team returns to Philadelphia. Ruben Amaro said he would likely start the season on the DL.

Lidge: [Zo Zone]

I'm a little concerned because I haven't had shoulder problems in the past. That being said it might just be … there's other things in there that you can have that can be a byproduct of just straining it and they're not serious. That's obviously what I'm counting on right now. Hopefully right now I just needed more time than we gave it.

 

Phillies injuries this spring: Dom Brown (broken hand), Chase Utley (destroyed knee cartilage- I'm paraphrasing), Placido Polanco (elbow tendinitis), Cliff Lee (side strain- from winter, not serious), Brad Lidge (biceps tendinitis, shoulder soreness), Roy Oswalt (ball to back of head), Shane Victorino (facial lacerations). 

So much for starting-off healthy. Luckily, those last two injuries don't appear to be serious.

So what does this mean? Either Ryan Madson or Jose Contreras will be given a chance to be the closer. My vote is for the Big Truck. Madson has been given a number of limited opportunities and has never made the most of them. If Lidge isn't sidelined for more than a month or so, then why take Madson out of a role in which he thrives? The Phillies would then have to replace both their closer and their setup man.

Contreras has looked good this spring, giving up only two runs in seven innings, while striking out seven and walking none. He throws hard and doesn't have as much of a defined role to be removed from. With four aces, the need for multiple mid-inning guys isn't as great. J.C. Romero is more than capable to pitch the seventh.

Plus, Madson gets all sweaty and huffy when he's out there in the ninth [Jim McCormick takes a look at Madson's "closer's mentality"].  That's much different from cyclopes eighth inning Madson, who is frighteningly efficient.

UPDATE: It doesn't sound like Amaro thinks Madson can be the closer, either. [Philled In]

“There’s nothing that Ryan’s done other than his ability – he may have the ability to close as far as his stuff is concerned, but he has not gotten to the point where he would be a guy that we could rely on yet because he hasn’t proven that. Could he prove it at some point? Sure. Could he be a closer at some point? Perhaps. But there’s nothing in his career so far that has shown us that he’s ready to take that step forward.”

 

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.