"Every time I go out, I want to progress," said Lidge, who threw seven sliders and six fastballs. "I know it won't be an exact straight line. Tonight, I felt good about my control, about my slider. I want to keep working on my fastball. I knew I still have some work yet to still do on that."
Reports were that his fastball was clocked from 86 to 88 mph in his initial outing Monday against Hagerstown, when Lidge gave up two hits, but got out of the inning on a doubleplay and a groundout. He said he would like to get his fastball up to 90 mph.
"When I had a few rehab games [last year], I started at 87 mph and it went up a mile per hour each game," Lidge said. "I got it up to 90, 91 mph. And then when I got back to Philly, it magically jumps up 2 miles per hour when I get into those situations."
Lidge added that what will "take the longest is getting that final arm strength . . . that final couple clicks on the fastball."
He is hopeful that his season will have a happy ending.
"It's been rough," said Lidge, who said he feels healthy and stronger with each outing. "Watching games the entire season is mentally very difficult. With that being said, there is no doubt the season can have a good ending. I just need to get back out there, get the work in and get Charlie [Manuel] to know that I am still capable of throwing in the innings when we have a small lead at the end of the game."
How long does he expect the rehab process to take? Lidge said he is not sure.
"When this process started, they were saying seven to 10 outings," he said. "I am hopeful it is on the shorter side of that . . . it's going to be very hard to be patient. It's been a long time, and I want to get back."
