Closer News: Brad Lidge Feeling Good

After throwing his second bullpen session on Wednesday, while rehabbing from arthroscopic knee surgery Phillies closer, Brad Lidge declared he expects to be ready for opening day. "I'm around 90 percent right now and I usually don't get that final 5 percent until the final week of spring training," Lidge said.

Now by my count, thats only 95 percent that Lidge accounts for himself. I am not sure where the other five percent is located to get Lidge to one hundred percent, but we can speculate he lost that five percent in 2005 when Pujols hit that monster home run off of him in the post season.

Lidge is currently scheduled to throw batting practice on Friday and could see some action in a simulated or minor league game as early as next week.

FANTASY IMPACT

All joking aside, kudos to those of you drafted Lidge with the confidence that he would bounce back quickly from this injury. If your draft has not happened yet, you should look to draft Lidge with confidence knowing he is healthy and ona team that is sure to win a bunch of games. Even if Lidge only throws at ninety-five percent all season, his stuff is still better than most other closers out there. Expect Lidge to save around 35 games and collect a bunch of strike outs. He will surrender the occasional demoralizing walk off home run, and look terrible, but the good will out weigh the bad.