Rejoice, Philadelphia! Brad Lidge Has Been Placed On The DL

This may be the best bit of news that the Phillies have gotten all-season long. Brad Lidge has a sprained right knee and has subsequently been placed on the disabled list. Via the AP.

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge has gone on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right knee.

The move was announced before Tuesday's series opener at the New York Mets and was retroactive to Sunday.

Lidge is 13 for 19 in save attempts this season with an 0-3 record and 7.27 ERA in 28 games. Last year, he was 41 for 41 in save chances as Philadelphia won its second World Series title and first since 1980.

And while I certainly wish the man the best of luck on his recovery, this is the best thing that could have happened to the Phillies in regards to him. Lidge has gone from hero to goat in this city faster than Professor McGonagall could wave her wand and make Draco Malfoy a goat. His performances all season long have been piss poor and the luck that he had last year when people got on base on him has been utterly nonexistent this year. And now is also the time for Ryan "8th Inning Set Up Man" Madson to not come in the 8th inning but rather the 9th inning and close games out from there. The kid just has some lights out stuff and it also works to his advantage that he was a starter a few years back so if the Phillies decide they want to ride Madson for 2 innings, he should have no problem pulling out a 4, 5, or 6 out save, something that IIRC, Lidge only did once in his Philly tenure and that was Game 4 of the NLCS.