Lidge out 3 to 6 weeks

We can all exhale now. Following knee surgery, Brad Lidge will be out 3 to 6 weeks, meaning he might still be ready for opening day. The Phillies should still have a back-up plan ready, just in case Lidge takes a few weeks to get his velocity back. Tom Gordon will do as a temporary replacement, but like I said yesterday, if it's any longer than a few weeks, we won't be able to count on Flash.

Despite this good news, signing either another reliever who could close in a pinch, or another starter so Brett Myers can be moved back into the bullpen, would be the smart, safe move at this point. I doubt the Phillies will spend the extra money to make it happen.