Lidge, after giving up two hits in a scoreless inning Monday against Hagerstown, felt as though he made significant progress in his second rehab appearance. If he proved nothing else, he can still get low-A-ball hitters out with the darting slider that has made him a wealthy man.
After getting Carlos Sanchez, the Kannapolis leadoff man, on a grounder back to the mound, Lidge struck out the next two hitters - Marcus Semien and Dan Black - with sliders that nose-dived out of the strike zone.
"I'm pretty happy with [the slider]," Lidge said. "It feels a little bit further ahead than my fastball, and, to be honest, my slider is my pitch, so that's probably a good thing."
The outfield radar gun at FirstEnergy Park has not worked during either of Lidge's rehab outings, but the Phillies said after his first start that his fastball was clocked between 86 and 88 m.p.h. Lidge indicated that his velocity remained in that range Thursday, but he intends to focus on his fastball more when he makes his third appearance with Lakewood on Saturday.
"I'd like to get it back around 90 or 91," Lidge said. "I think last year when I started a few rehab games, it started about 87, and every outing it went up about a mile an hour until it got up to 90 or 91. Then when I got back to Philly, it magically jumps when you get out there in those [adrenaline] situations. That's what will take the longest, is to get that final arm strength back, that final couple clicks on my fastball."
Pitching coach Rich Dubee has said Lidge needs to go through a summer version of spring training before he'll be ready to rejoin the Phillies.
"I know when this process started they were saying seven to 10 outings," Lidge said. "They weren't exactly sure. I'm hoping it's on the shorter side of that, but I know with how good we're doing right now; there is no reason to cut yourself short a couple outings if you just need a couple more."
Lidge, 34 and likely to be a free agent after this season, is still hoping the miserable start to his 2011 season can lead to a different ending.
"I think there is no doubt that this season can have a good ending," he said. "I just need to get back out there and get work in and get [manager] Charlie [Manuel] to know I'm still capable of throwing the innings where we have a small lead toward the end of the game."
First, a series of brief outings remain on Lidge's long and grinding rehab road.
Contact staff Bob Brookover
at bbrookover@phillynews.com
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