Now even the SportsPickle is getting into the act of making fun of embattled Stros reliever, Brad Lidge:

Brad Lidge confident he can help Astros lose in the eighth inning just as much as in the ninth
Although he has been demoted from closer to a setup role, Astros reliever Brad Lidge says he believes he can contribute just as much to team in the middle innings as he can in the ninth inning.
ìIím going to keep going out there, and doing what I do ñ throwing the ball as hard as I can right down the middle of the plate,î said Lidge. ìWhether thatís in the sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth inning, itís no matter. The batter is going to have to put his bat on it. And if he does, good for him. Itís a guaranteed home run.î
Even though he is disappointed to lose his closerís role, Lidge admits he may serve the team better as a setup man.
ìSeeing me come in for the seventh or eighth inning will be motivating for the team,î said Lidge. ìTheyíll know that they still have one or two at-bats to come back from the deficit I put them in. Whereas when I gave up walkoff homers as a closer, they never had a chance to come back. Having me available at any point in the game will ensure the team never gets lackadaisical.î

Lidge is an easy target these days, but there are plenty of other Stros who aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard in the season’s early days. For example, through 11 games, Stros icon and lead off man Craig Biggio has an RCAA of -3, an on-base average of .240 and an OPS (OBA + slugging percentage) of .620, he has not yet drawn a walk in 50 plate appearances, has scored only 5 runs and has struck out 10 times while grounding into 2 double plays.
Granted, it’s still early in the season. But coming off his least productive season in 2006, Bidg has no business leading off for a Major League Baseball team at this point in his career. Although maybe good for the box office, it’s looking as if the Stros are going to be paying dearly on the field as a result of indulging Bidg’s quest for 3,000 hits.