REPORTING FROM:
BRAD LIDGE'S FILTHY SLIDER

The thing moves around more than an Army brat.

Jorge Arangure Jr.

A look at Lidge's slider grip.

Memo to major league pitchers: Why your slider will never be as good as Brad Lidge's slider.

Because his slider dives downward while yours probably moves laterally.
"He gets on top of it very well and that takes the hump out of it," Rays first baseman Carlos Pena said. "You see his hand and the ball comes straight down from his hand instead of popping from the hand."

Because you're not 6-foot-5, 200 pounds.
"I don't know if you'd have to reinvent yourself to throw that slider," free agent reliever and former Central Division foe LaTroy Hawkins said. "Some of that stuff is God given. Some things you can't teach. It's release point, height, weight, how long your arms are. It's different things."

Because he can throw it for a strike while you can't.
"He's changed his delivery a little bit," Rays outfielder Cliff Floyd said. "That's the difference. He used to throw that slider for a ball to get you to chase. Now he's throwing it for a strike."

Because studying his delivery, or his grip, won't help you replicate the effect or help you pick up the release point.
"You can watch all the video you want," Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said, "but when you get in that [batter's] box it's different."

Because he's perfected his grip.
"His hand and his fingers are in a position to put tight spin and to get over the ball," Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said.

Because you would have quit in 2000 after having elbow surgery while he simply reinvented himself.
"The only reason I started throwing [the slider] was because when I threw my curveball, it hurt my elbow," Lidge said.

Because you don't work as hard as he does.
Each day Lidge spends at least 10 minutes doing forearm exercises (including hammer curls) in order to increase the torque on his spin and to keep his elbow healthy.

Because nobody can hit his slider while everyone can hit yours.
According to Inside Edge, Lidge's slider was the most swung-and-missed pitch in the majors this year among pitchers who threw at least 210 pitches. Hitters swung and missed at Lidge's slider 50 percent of the time.

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