Lidge on the DL

The Phillies placed closer Brad Lidge on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21.

That means Lidge will open the season on DL.

He could be activated as early as April 5 in Cincinnati.

Lidge, who is scheduled to throw tomorrow in a minor-league game, had been hopeful he would be ready to open the season, but the Phillies sounded less optimistic after he threw a bullpen session yesterday. Lidge's velocity still isn't where it needs to be, so they're going to give him a little more time to build up arm strength. Lidge had surgery on his right knee Feb. 25, which set him back.

"I'm a little disappointed, but I understand the move," Lidge said. "I hope we blow out everyone and I wouldn't have had anything to worry about anyway."

Setup man Tom Gordon becomes the closer until Lidge returns to action.

"We have the luxury of having Flash, so this makes sense," Lidge said of Gordon. "Hopefully those few more outings will put me at 100 percent. I usually need about 10 outings to get ready in spring training and this will put me right about there."