You don't need me to tell you how strange and tragic Cory Lidle's sudden passing was. Instead, I'll leave you with a memory of my favorite moment during Cory Lidle's tenure with the Phillies.
It was a game earlier in the 2006 season against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Cory Lidle wasn't even pitching (I don't remember who was). It was a fairly normal game, when Julio Lugo of Tampa Bay attempted a bunt that rolled foul, and suddenly the home plate umpire turned toward the Phillies dugout and waved his arm, ejecting somebody, and Cory Lidle ran out on to the field screaming about something.
I've watched thousands of baseball games in my brief time here on this planet, and I can't ever recall a player getting ejected from a game he wasn't playing in in a non-brawl situation. We found out after the game that apparently Lidle took offense to Lugo attempting a bunt hit with two outs when his team had a four run lead and yelled at him from the dugout.
And that's why Cory Lidle was one of my favorite Phillies during his time here. He wasn't a Cy Young pitcher (though when he was hot, he bore a very strong resemblance to Greg Maddux), but he knew how to play the game, he knew his role, he was always open and honest (even if it got him into trouble, as it did mere days before his death), and he called bullshit when he saw bullshit. Baseball could use more guys like Cory. He'll be missed.
One more thing: while we're on the subject of the passing of former Phillies, condolences are in order for the family of Johnny Callison.
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