Lidge's secret: Just forget about it

Pujols's home run is a thing of the past

Brad Lidge forgot about Albert Pujols's mammoth playoff homer a long time ago. Maybe now that he's had a perfect season, people will stop reminding him.

Lidge didn't wake up in the middle of the night in cold sweats thinking about Pujols. Didn't have constant flashbacks, either. No matter how often others mention Pujols's shot in the 2005 National League Championship Series, the Philadelphia Phillies' closer is over it.

"I've been through such highs and lows that it's helped give me good perspective and a good balance of where I'm at," Lidge said. "I actually look at it like it's a positive thing. It happened and it's made me mentally tougher and I think that's helped me a lot this year."

If it really made Lidge better, Philadelphia should send Pujols a thank you card because the Phillies wouldn't be where they are without the hard-throwing All-Star righthander.

The two-time NL East champion Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers play for a berth in the World Series, starting with Game 1 tomorrow night in Philadelphia. That means Lidge gets another chance to pitch in the NLCS.

"I'd like to get back and win the World Series and have that be the last image in my mind for the postseason," he said.

Lidge rejuvenated his career with his new team after Houston traded him last November. He was 41 for 41 in save chances during the regular season and converted two more in the first round against Milwaukee.

Dating to last season, Lidge has 46 straight saves, counting the last two against the Brewers. Only two relievers had a longer streak. Eric Gagné saved 84 straight for the Dodgers from 2002-04. Tom Gordon, currently on Philadelphia's disabled list, saved 54 in a row for the Red Sox in 1998-99.

Lidge already won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award last week and he's a surprise candidate for MVP, though teammate Ryan Howard or Pujols might get that honor.

Lidge established himself as an elite closer with the Astros in 2004, when he had 29 saves and a 1.90 ERA in his second full season in the majors. He was 42 for 46 with a 2.29 ERA in '05. But after allowing that homer to Pujols, Lidge wasn't the same. Houston still beat St. Louis to advance to the World Series, but Lidge lost two games to the Chicago White Sox during a four-game sweep.

He had a 5.28 ERA in 2006, when he saved 32 games in 38 chances. Last year, Lidge went 5-3 with 19 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 66 games.

Most people point to Pujols's homer as the reason for Lidge's struggles. But Lidge says it was merely a coincidence.

"Honestly, it was never related to that," he said. "Mechanically, I was off. I was trying different things, throwing different pitches, adding different pitches. It was a compilation of things."

Marmol hurt in accident

Chicago Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol suffered minor injuries in a car accident early yesterday in the Dominican Republic.

A truck hit a car carrying Marmol, a cousin, and a friend in his hometown of Bonao around 2 a.m. The All-Star righthander had just arrived in the Caribbean nation after the Cubs were swept by the Dodgers in the playoffs.

Marmol said in an e-mail to the Associated Press that the air bag deployed and he suffered only a cut and an "inflammation" of his forehead.

Burgos turns himself in

New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos turned himself in last night, a week after police say he was involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed two women. Authorities in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, were interviewing him, prosecutor Raul Quiroz told the AP. The news comes after the mother of one of the two victims accused Burgos of intentionally running over her daughter because she refused to go out with him. Eudosia Ruane, mother of 29-year-old Angely Fana, told the AP she filed a report with police alleging homicide . . . The Colorado Rockies let go three coaches after a disappointing 74-88 season. Hitting coach Alan Cockrell, third base coach Mike Gallego, and bench coach Jamie Quirk were not offered contracts.

Surgery for Rivera

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera had surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to resume throwing in three months, a month ahead of spring training. New York Mets medical director David Altchek shaved a calcified joint on the top of Rivera's shoulder . . . Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner may need right shoulder surgery after a disappointing end-of-season physical exam. Hafner spent more than three months on the disabled list with a strained shoulder. During his exit physical, team doctors found the strength had not returned to levels that the club had hoped following the extended rehab, general manager Mark Shapiro said . . . Indicted home run king Barry Bonds made a rare public appearance and said he is enjoying life away from baseball. "I'm happy now that I have more time," Bonds told the crowd at the kickoff event of the Macy's Christmas tree lighting in San Francisco. "I've actually enjoyed myself immensely." . . . Free agent Omar Vizquel, the 11-time Gold Glove shortstop, is recovering from laser surgery on his right eye. "All went well," Vizquel said in an e-mail. He had the procedure last week . . . Longtime Cardinals official George Kissell, 88, was in critical condition after being injured in a traffic accident in Pinellas Park, Fla. Kissell's daughter was driving her parents in a 2002 Chevrolet at about 7:45 p.m. Monday when she apparently ran a red light and was struck by another car, police captain Sanfield Forseth said. Kissell was in a Tampa hospital yesterday with life-threatening injuries, police said . . . The Pawtucket Red Sox play their 2009 home opener April 17 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at McCoy Stadium. They open the season April 9 at Buffalo . . . Television ratings for baseball's Division Series declined from last year. The 15 games on TBS averaged a 2.8 rating, a 26 percent drop from a 3.8 for 13 games in 2007 . . . ESPN and the new MLB Network will split television rights to the World Baseball Classic March 5-23.