Brad Lidge might not be ready to shut the door on opening day.
The closer’s right knee was scoped Wednesday as doctors removed loose bodies and meniscal debridement, said the Phillies.
Those are some big words to be taken out of a knee but the team diminished the severity of the injury by talking about the future.
“The surgery went well and Brad is expected to begin his throwing program in 10 days,” said Phillies Head Athletic Trainer Scott Sheridan.
So does that mean the 33-year-old reliever won’t miss the beginning of the season?
“We’re not sure if he’ll be ready by Opening Day, but we don’t expect that he’ll be too far behind,” Sheridan said.
Lidge missed the opening of the 2008 season with a knee injury and the righty also spent time on the DL last season with pain in the same plant knee.
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But, the team downplayed this surgery having anything to do with his past right knee issues.
“This surgery was not directly related to any previous surgeries,” said Sheridan.
The Phillies signed of Danys Baez earlier this month to at least give the team a stopgap to close if Lidge went down. Baez might need to immediately step in if Lidge remains on the mend for longer than expected.
