The Score: New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, a licensed pilot, and his co-pilot died today when the plane Lidle piloted crashed into a building in New York City's Upper East side.
Sfvftc's Shot: My prayers go out to both Cory Lidle's family, friends and former teammates and to the family and friends of his unnamed co-pilot.
The scouting reports on Cory Lidle characterized him as a right-handed thrower with "average stuff" but a savvy pitcher. He broke into the majors in 1997 with the New York Mets. In 9 seasons with seven different teams, he compiled a respectable 82-72 record with a 4.57 ERA.
Lidle had his best year as a MLB pitcher in 2001, while a member of the Oakland Athletics. That year, he posted a 13-6 record and a 3.59 ERA. He limited opposing batters to a .242 average against him in 188 innings of work and helped the A's reach the playoffs.
This year, he pitched for both the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. With the Phillies, he recorded an 8-7 record and a 4.74 ERA before they traded him to the Yankees on July 31st--MLB's trading deadline.
For the Yankees, Lidle notched a 9-4 record and a 5.16 ERA. Also, he helped New York to the American League Division title. Of course, on Saturday, he entered game 4 of his team's ALDS match up against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning. He lasted only 1.1 inning and surrendered 3 earned runs, as the Tigers won the game and vanquished the Yankees from the playoffs.
Lidle started a planned trip, with several scheduled stop overs, to fly across the country to his home in California today from New Jersey. Apparently the manager in the sky, God, needed a wily veteran right-handed pitcher for his team of Angels.
