Can erstwhile ace, star closer find their mojo?
The Philadelphia Phillies went to the World Series last season while two of their best pitchers — closer Brad Lidge and starter Cole Hamels— struggled. This spring, each is ready to make amends. Lidge, 33, was 48-for-48 in 2008 and recorded the final out when the Phillies won the World Series. Last season, Lidge, with injuries to his right knee and elbow, blew 11 saves and lost the closer’s role — as well as manager Charlie Manuel’s confidence. In the offseason, Lidge had surgery to fix his right elbow and knee. Lidge, the losing pitcher in Game 4 of last October’s World Series, said that with health, he should be able to return to his dominant self. He said he could be ready for the April 5 opener against the Washington Nationals. “It’s about being myself again and going to my bread and butter,” Lidge told news reporters in Clearwater, Fla. “The good thing is my arm and knee both feel good. We look at ’08 as a model. We didn’t rush it, and I had the best season of my career.” Hamels,
