Brad Lidge vs Michael Bourn

The acquisition of Brad Lidge from the Astros has, to date, been one of the best trades in Phillies history, as no other player was more responsible for last year's championship season. And the cost appeared minimal - Mike Costanzo, Geoff Geary and Michael Bourn. Costanzo, a career minor leaguer, is now in the Orioles' system. Geary had a so-so 2008. This year he had an ERA of more than 8 when he went on the DL with tendinitis. Recently he came off the DL and was immediately optioned to the minors.

That leaves Bourn and this is where it gets a little more interesting. Bourn never got many swings with Philadelphia, serving primarily as a utility player and pinch-runner. In his one full year with the Phils, in 2007, he batted .277 in just over 100 at bats. Last year, in 467 at bats with his new team, the Houston center fielder hit only .229 and he didn't give the coaching staff much reason to believe that he was a long-range solution to the their needs in the outfield.

But in 2009, through June 21, he is hitting .300 with 15 doubles, 5 triples and 24 stolen bases. The Astros started the season miserably and were 8 games under .500 at the end of May. But currently they are only 3 games under .500 and are only 5 games out of first place in the rugged National League Central Division.

And Michael Bourn has played a key role in this revival. According to Houston manager Cecil Cooper, quoted in the Houston Chronicle, Bourn is the team's MVP: "... he's played terrific baseball really from opening day. He's been very consistent, and he's played great defense. He's done what we've needed him to do from the top of the lineup. He's been huge all year."

In the meantime of course, Lidge has been a shadow of last year's self, whether due to knee problems, mechanics, post-World Series syndrome, or all of the above. He is expected to return to form and for now he still has to be considered part of one of the most successful transactions in Philly baseball history, perhaps second only to obtaining Steve Carlton in the notorious Carlton-Rick Wise trade. But for the first three months of the '09 campaign at least, Bourn is out-producing Lidge. It should be added that Eric Bruntlett, the other half of the Lidge package, who was so valuable last year in a utility role, has made a much smaller contribution this year, although this is mainly because Raul Ibanez doesn't need defensive help the way Pat Burrell did.

Is Bourn an emerging star? Is he capable of being an impact player in Texas the way Lidge was in Philadelphia? It's way too early to tell. But the career of Michael Bourn bears watching.