Astros’ All-Time Best Seasons: Closing Pitchers
By texasfury93

Yeah. Despite that devastating home run that Brad Lidge yielded to Albert Pujols, he still had one of the greatest years in Astros’ history.
Brad Lidge (Credit: Lisa Blumenfield)
2005 was one of two all-star seasons for Lidge. The other came in 2008 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen. In 2005 Lidge had these statistics:
- 2.29 ERA
- 2.13 FIP
- 1.146 WHIP
- 42 saves/46 opportunities (91.3%)
- 65 games finished
- 70 2/3 innings pitched
- 5 home runs allowed (0.6 HR/9)
- 103 strikeouts to 23 walks (4.48 K/BB)
That performance came on the heels of a season in which Lidge established himself as a big league closer with 29 saves. His ERA in 2004 was an impressive 1.90 in 94 2/3 innings. The season before that Brad had been voted 5th in the rookie-of-the-year process.
Brad has now officially retired from baseball with 603 1/3 innings pitched. He compiled a 26-32 record with a 3.54 ERA and 225 saves throughout his 11 seasons at the big league level.
Next: 2008: Jose Valverde