Who will close for the Phillies now?

Lidge surgery called successful; to be out 3-to-6 weeks

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)鈥擯hiladelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge is expected to miss three to six weeks after having surgery Monday on his right knee. The team said the operation was successful.

The 31-year-old right-hander, Philadelphia鈥檚 biggest offseason acquisition, caught a spike in the mound on his first pitch of batting practice Saturday. Doctors removed torn cartilage from the same knee in October.

Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said officials will make sure Lidge is healthy before he takes the mound.

鈥淚 know he鈥檒l be chomping at the bit, because he鈥檚 looking forward to it and he鈥檚 excited about the season, but 鈥?that鈥檚 our main goal, that he鈥檚 healthy when he gets on the mound and pitches for the Phillies,鈥?Amaro said.

Lidge, who has 123 career saves, finished 2007 with 19 saves in 27 chances and a 3.36 ERA for Houston.

They will rely on Tom Gordon until he goes on the DL and then it will be up for grabs, probably a committee of some sort.

It's going to be Tom "Flash" Gordon

Phils have a bad bullpen even when Lidge was healthy but the closer heading into the year is probably Gordon. Can't see Romero being the closer

flash gordon

Tom "Flash" Gordon

It should be Gordon's job anyway. Lidge is always a meltdown waiting to happen.