so I voted for Lidge, simply because I would prefer that the NL win the World Series.

I voted for Lidge because he went through more adversity and always answered criticisms head on, never shied away form reporters, and never tried to shift blame on to others or give excuses. Wheeler is a good guy, and was the leader of our bullpen during the WS days, but I just don’t think I’d rather see Lidge hopping around in joy like a kid, rather than wheeler. won’t happen though, cause the rays are taking the series

I’d be happy for either of them. I don’t hold ill will to either, and am happy each played for the Astros.

I hope Lidge continues his remarkable season and that Wheeler has a better World Series than he had an ALCS.

Maybe Eric Bruntlett can score the winning run in a game for good measure.

because I’ll always remember him dropping the F-bomb on national tv after the Astros won the pennant

You never know, maybe he will have a big game in relief….the Braves have some big time LHB like Ryan Howard, whom Miller should be used to seeing.

I Don’t Think Wheeler cost the Astros anything in ’05

Remember, I was without power when the game was played and wasn’t watching, but I had never thought that Wheeler was by any means the culprit in that series.

Careful overview now at Retrosheet of World Series Game Two (where Wheeler gave up the only runs he gave up during the series) shows that Wheels gave up a leadoff double to Uribe in the White Sox 7th and walked Iguchi with two outs, before getting jobbed on the Dye HBP that hit the bat, not Dye’s hand.

It was Qualls who then replaced Wheeler and gave up the three-run homer.

And we still had the game tied in the ninth before Lidge gave up the homer to Podsednik. [(Shoulda stayed with Gallo :)]

And then he pitched 1-1/3 scoreless in Game 3.

Any and all consideration of Wheeler (at least in the playoffs for the Astros) has to start with the heroic effort he gave us in Game Four of the NLDS—talk about making a difference in advancing to the Series . . . .

Shit had gone terribly wrong somewhere by the time he left, and I cannot defend him for the behavior he displayed with Chris Sampson, but there are PLENTY of people—Lidge among them—who had more to do with us losing the ’05 Series than Wheeler.

Can you tell what my answer is?

I have nothing personal against Lidge, I just want to see him blow ballgames for others the way he did for us once he’d lost it. I was sure he’d blow a game in the NLCS, but I guess it’s gonna be in the series.

And I say that without any malice at all.