Will Cliff Lee start Game 4?
Yeah but this is the World Series. Lee at 75% is going to shut down the Yanks. He might have it in him, you never know?
Lee's pitching mechanics are so good and he is so strong, that even after throwing 120 pitches, he still had all his velocity and stuff to strike out Arod and Posada to end the game. I think he can come back on 3 days rest and would like to see that happen. Lee seems very open to the idea as well and he is our best shot in any game he pitches.
It all depends on where the series stands. In the situation where the Phils win tonight and win game 3 at home, they would rest Lee until game 5. Lose tonight, and Lee becomes more attractive on Sunday.
The only way I would pitch Lee in Game 4 would be if we are behind 2-1 in the Series. Even then, I'd probably still rather have Happ or Blanton - not because they're as good as Lee; nobody is right now - but to keep Cliff on his routine. We're in the driver's seat and don't need to overreact to what the Yanks are doing with their rotation.
I wish Lee could pitch every game of the Series.
Don't do it. Charlie Manuel is the anti-Gene Mauch, and us old folk remember the two-pitcher rotation of, well, the year which must not be mentioned.
Don't do it. Charlie Manuel is the anti-Gene Mauch (oh, he was so "smart!"), and us old folk well remember the too-clever-by-half two-pitcher rotation down the stretch of, well, the season which must not be mentioned.
Won't need Lee for game 4 they way we're hitting. If Pedro keeps the magic going in game 2, Yanks will be in panic mode and should start dismantling. Even Hamels should finally one. But I'd keep Lee in his routine.
Maybe we can get Halliday in the offseason. Lee, Halliday, Hamels, Happ and Drabek.
Lee looked like Koufax in '63. A 'Roid looked like he shot his load in LA...so to speak.
Yanks are already in panic mode! Cliff has the stuff to come back in game 4 if needed. What about Pedro in that rotation! Lee, Halladay, Hamels, Martinez, Happ. Who's gonna beat that??
Let him pitch game 5...don't mess with what he's doing.
Let the situation dictate the pitcher. I'm inclined to use him in Game 5 instead of 4. However, I still would rather see Happ go in Game 3, instead of Hamels. Since I know we are going to win again tonight to go up 2-0, why jepardize the momentum in Game 3 with a questionable Hamels start. Hell, Blanton is even pitching better than Hamels right now. But who knows, maybe Hamels can settle his emotions down and rise to the occasion one more time.
Good to see some clear heads here. In addition to the other risks of pitching him on 3 days rest, let's not overlook the message that sends to the rest of the staff - that they are not capable of winning, only Cliff is.
The Phils should be able to win one of the next two games, which keeps them in the driver's seat. Cliff should stay on 4 days rest, and be available for relief if there's a Game 7. Go back to the 2001 Series and see how the D'backs used Randy Johnson; it's quite instructive.
Bobby...How would he be able to go on game 7 if he goes game 5?
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