Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

Brad Lidge is going under the knife. Actually, he already has. And guess what? He may not be ready for opening day. Opening Day? At Citizens Bank Park? What happened to Clearwater and spring training?

Lidge hasn’t been the same since Ryan Howard fell on him after he ended that perfect season in 2008, sealing a World Series victory for the Phils.

The problem is once again a balky right knee. Yes, the same one he had surgery on before that 2008 season. If you remember, Lidge showed up for the press conference announcing his arrival in Philly on crutches.

It’s not even his first surgery of this offseason. He already had a procedure to clean out his elbow.

Still, you have to wonder about the timing of this. A quick check of the calendar indicates the Phils have not played a game since November. But Lidge is having surgery now, a month before the team heads to Florida?

The Phils are saying it’s no big deal, that Lidge is likely to start a throwing program in about 10 days.

But they’re also saying their closer may be available on Opening Day.
Can you say Danys Baez?

Maybe Lidge just doesn’t like spring training.