Phillies Overly Optimistic on Brad Lidge's Return

To hear the Phillies tell it, closer Brad Lidge could be back from surgery in as little as three weeks. Don't believe it.

Barring a near miracle, Lidge can be expected to miss a full six weeks recuperating from arthroscopic knee surgery, then take at least another week or two regaining his form and confidence, based on historical comparisons with other patients, medical authorities told MLBnewsonline.com.

Look for Lidge to be virtually ineffective through the first 10 days of May, and possibly another 10 days or more.

Hopefully for Lidge, that will be the end of it, but more problems could be in store.

With potential psychological difficulties lingering from his Houston Astros meltdowns over the past couple of seasons, a blow such as this is the last thing Lidge needed as he tries to rediscover himself in Philadelphia.