Phillies
Rays
I don't understand why an Astros fan would hate lidge...
Good win for the Phillies, even if somewhat predictable with Hamels getting the ball.
The Rays blew some chances in Game 1 to beat Hamels on their own, but the uncalled balk (which seemed pretty clearly to be a balk) seems like a significant play in hindsight. Instead of down 1 with a runner on 2nd with nobody out and Longoria, Crawford, and Aybar due up, the Rays had nobody on, 1 out and that group coming to the plate. Tough to manufacture from there -- much easier if Pena gets 2nd as he should have.
The Phillies got 8 hits, but oddly, they all came from 4 hitters -- each of whom had 2 hits (not sure I've ever seen that before). If the Phillies get production from the bottom 1/3 of their lineup, the series gets very difficult for the Rays, I think.
I don't either. He melted down against Pujols in 2005, but they made the World Series anyway. Lidge had nothing to do with the Astros losing to the White Sox.
IIRC, he really struggled in 2006, but he didn't cost the team a trip to the playoffs or anything.
+1
I think Maddon is crazy like a fox. Hamels would likely beat whoever the Rays sent out there. Why not use Kazmir? If "good" Kazmir shows up, you have a chance (see last night). If "bad" Kazmir takes the mound, you are still guaranteeing favorable match-ups against Moyer, Myers, and Blanton.
Moyer is garbage? 16 wins and a 3.7 ERA is pretty damn good, even if he has struggled in the postseason. Myers really isnt hit and miss lately....since coming back from the minors he only had 2 bad games and has been good in the postseason. Yeah, Blanton's not great but its like everyone on the Rays staff are Cy Young candidates either.
The Phils bullpen is better and their lineup is better, not to mention they have the best pitcher, the best setup man, and the best closer.
Be ready to eat your words. And didnt lidge lose two games in the Astros world series? maybe thats why they wouldnt like him?
I started to wonder why not just use Sonnastine as the sacrificial lamb in that spot and generally keep his rotation sound, but I think you're absolutely right about the Kazmir logic.
It's going to be interesting to see if Manuel changes his approach, particularly if rain postpones Game 3 on Saturday. If there's a rainout, would Manuel bring back Hamels in Game 3 or 4 and then try to have him ready to go again for a potential Game 7, while pitching twice on short rest?
Lidge got hung with two of the losses on paper, but I don't think anyone who watched those games really felt like he was ultimately responsible. Look at the box scores:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/po.../2005_WS.shtml
Game 4 was 1-0 for crying out loud. Even if Lidge doesn't give up the run, the Astros still can't win without scoring a run. The Astros didn't score a run during their last fifteen innings in the WS, all AT HOME! I guess I can't really argue with someone who wants to blame Lidge (two Ls are two Ls), but was he supposed to carry the offense as well?
I'm not trying to start an argument. I'm just saying those were "team losses," as the saying goes.
I thought about that as well, and I came up with two answers:
1) Kazmir is nominally their ace, and this way the status quo is preserved; and
2) Their least effective starter so far in the postseason is the sacrificial lamb, while preserving "face" for everyone.
Personally, I would pitch Hamels in Game 4 if Game 3 is rained out. That would only be short rest in a potential Game 7. Yes, it makes the rest before Game 7 a little too short, but here's my thinking. You have to get to a Game 7 for it to matter. While the potential for abusing the pitcher is there; you're looking at a one-time deal. (Either way, Hamels wouldn't have another start before Spring 2009.)
I honestly believe that if Philadelphia wins this thing, it will be because they get three quality starts from Hamels.
There may also have been some thought to giving the Game 1 nod to Kazmir because he's been as close to a face of the franchise as the Rays have had and is certainly the most historically significant pitcher in the history of the organization to this point. That would be terrible strategic reasoning, but the symbolism works where it also happens to coincide with an acceptable strategy choice, I think.
In either event, I think you're right that the Phillies are going to need at least 2 and probably 3 quality outings from Hamels -- unless Upton, Longoria, and Aybar keep thinking that they can hit 6-run homers with nobody on base.
Oh Baseball I thought this was a scrabble contest of words.
And you can't form the word Tigers with the tiles, so WGAF?
Rays, because Philly deserves another 100 years without a le.
Is there something Price did to warrant all this media coverage he's been getting?
#1 overall pick last year. So when someone shines this early in their career, it's a big deal.
The Phillies won the World Series in 1980. Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Greg Luzinski, Gary Maddox, Tug McGraw, and Steve Carlton were on that team.
I believe you are thinking of the Chicago Cubs.
No, I was thinking of the entire city of Philadelphia. They haven't won a le in any of the four major sports in 100 years(combined of course).
Even so, he's been highly overrated lately.
Huh? That most be the most arbitrary definition I have heard in a long time (and I am a Cubs fan).
I'm going to look this up as I go, because the Red Wings and Pistons do count...
Last le by City in the Big 4:
Philadelphia NHL = 1975 (33)
Detroit NHL = 2008 (0)
Philadelphia MLB = 1980 (28)
Detroit MLB = 1984 (24)
Philadelphia NBA = 1983 (25)
Detroit NBA = 2004 (4)
Philadelphia NFL = 1960 (48)
Detroit NFL = 1957 (51)
That's a combined 134 years without a le, or just 25 (1983). Clearly, you were full of and didn't want to admit you were winging it. (It happens to the best of us.)
In your defense, Detroit has been more successful than Philadelphia in living memory.
It just comes with the hype of being the #1 pick.
Baldelli DID NOT go around by any definition I have seen. The head of the bat did not break the plane, nor did his wrists break. I hate Rocco, but I hate Joe Buck and Tim McCarver a lot more.
The Ray Bays earned this win. the FOX Network.
not nearly as much as manny
Manny's one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He's more relevant than the entire D'bags franchise as a whole.
I thought we were talking about price and the world series
do you have a brain?
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