June 9 -- AMARO, DUBEE ON LIDGE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

NEW YORK -- So, a little while ago, we heard from Ruben Amaro Jr. on the Phillies' decision to place Brad Lidge on the disabled list. No sense in me explaining the GM's explanation. Here's a brief summary of what Amaro had to say, in his own words:

"I think it's something that's probably been bothering him for a long time, and for us, I think it got to the point where even though it was day-to-day and he didn't really complain about it, it started to affect his performance and his mechanics such that we all thought it was important to go ahead and put him on the disabled list, get him back to 100 percent as soon as possible and then get him back and put him back in his role and have him pitch as Brad Lidge is accustomed to pitch."

According to Amaro, Lidge is going to be examined tonight by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti. After that, the Phillies will have a better idea on a timetable for Lidge's return. He has gotten two MRI exams this season (in April and a few weeks ago), and both times, the test didn't show any structural damage to the knee ligaments. It's possible that the injury, whatever it is, has worsened over the past few weeks, but nothing will be known for certain until after Ciccotti performs his examination.

Rich Dubee said in an in-game interview on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball that Lidge's problem was a matter of confidence, not a physical or mechanical issue. So, was Dubee lying? Not exactly, he contends. "How much do you want people to know about an injury?" Dubee said. "Do you want the opposition to know that he's not moving well on his knee? Sometimes you don't tell the whole story. I don't want people to know that he can't bounce around the mound very well because then you're going to see four guys go up there and bunt in a row."

Ryan Madson will, of course, be the closer in Lidge's absence. Charlie Manuel said J.C. Romero will be the primary setup man, although he will occasionally use a right-hander (possibly Chan Ho Park) in the eighth inning, depending on the lineup. Asked if the Lidge news means the Phillies feel they need to trade for another late-inning reliever, Amaro said, "No. I don't think we do. If, in fact, we lost Brad for a more significant amount of time, I think we have a pretty good alternative right now in Ryan. We have a lot of confidence in him and there are a lot of people in our clubhouse who feel he can do a very good job. It may change the way we view [our club]. A lot of it depends on what happens with Dr. Ciccotti and how long this injury may take for him to come back. It may change our view on what we need to do to improve our club. But that still kind of remains to be seen until after Dr. Ciccotti sees him and examines him and makes this assessment for how long it may be."

Hopefully, we'll have an update from Ciccotti later tonight, and much more from Amaro, Manuel, Madson and Rich Dubee in tomorrow's News Journal.