Mar. 24 -- THE LIDGE ANSWER

TAMPA, Fla. -- So, in the time it took for me to talk to Brad Lidge at Bright House, drive over the Courtney Campbell Causeway to Legends Field and meet with Charlie Manuel, you no doubt heard the news. Of course you did. You read delawareonline.com.

Lidge will open the season on the disabled list.

"It's not what I wanted," he said about an hour ago. "I was trying to get ready as fast as possible. Unfortunately, I think, in the end, my arm strength is behind. I was trying to cram four weeks of spring training into a little over a week. It makes more sense to make sure I'm 100 percent ready when I start, instead of being 90 percent. It's better for our team, and it's better for me."

Clearly, Lidge was disappointed by the decision. But I sort of had a feeling this might happen when the Phillies posted their weekly pitching schedule yesterday. The only reason for Lidge to pitch in minor-league games, rather than Grapefruit League games, this week was to assure that he could be placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 21. If he had pitched in a Grapefruit League game today or tomorrow or the next day, the DL stint would've had to be set retroactively to the date of his last game. That would've meant Lidge would miss more time during the season.

As it stands now, Lidge is eligible to be activated before the April 5 game in Cincinnati, meaning he'll miss only the first four games of the season. In his absence, Tom Gordon will be the primary closer, with J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson serving as setup men. But a few moments ago, pitching coach Rich Dubee left no doubt that Lidge will be the closer when he returns. "We traded for Brad Lidge to be a closer," Dubee said. "We didn't trade for him to be a sixth- or seventh-inning guy."

More from Lidge, Manuel, Dubee and Gordon in tomorrow's paper. Speaking of which, I have to get started on writing that story and your daily Phillies notebook, too.

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For now, your lineup for tonight's game against the Yankees and RHP Phil Hughes: SS Jimmy Rollins, CF Shane Victorino, RF Greg Dobbs, 1B Ryan Howard, LF Pat Burrell, DH Chris Snelling, 3B Pedro Feliz, C Chris Coste, 2B Eric Bruntlett. This game is televised back in New York on the YES Network, so the Yankees have close to their A-lineup against Jamie Moyer: CF Melky Cabrera, SS Derek Jeter, RF Bobby Abreu, 3B Alex Rodriguez, DH Jason Giambi, C Jorge Posada, 2B Robinson Cano, LF Shelley Duncan, 1B Morgan Ensberg.