Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 10:54 AM | 31 comments |
 

Phils hold the advantage
options
 
In the gloomy light of  morning, after post-game bar arguments and other suitable deliberations, here are the two main points about Game 5 of the World Series, butchered-by-Bud:

1) Whenever they re-start, the Phils will be batting in the bottom of the sixth of a 2-2 game. The Phils, therefore will have four at-bats if they need them while the Tampa Bay Rays will have only three. Advantage, Phillies.

2) When they resume, the game will be in the back end of the bullpen. The Phillies have had the best back end of the bullpen all season, and they have the best back end of the bullpen in this series, and Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero -- both of whom pitched a significant amount in Game 4 -- will now be rested, which they would not have been on Monday night. Advantage, Phillies.

Feel any better?

Look, I know that this is frustrating, and that you are convince the world is against the Phillies, and that you want to drink paint-thinner. And I agree that the game should never have been started by Selig & Co. -- especially because of the way the fans were abused. But once it was started, well, this was not a bad result. It could have been worse.

The conditions began to deteriorate at about 9:20 pm, according to the scrawl in my scorebook. "Rain picks up top of fourth," is what I wrote in the margin. And if you had based the stoppage decision based upon those conditions alone, a stoppage from the top of the fourth on would have been appropriate -- it was raining sideways, after all. But the Phillies didn't want that. To only have gotten nine outs from staff ace Cole Hamels before banging the game really would have been criminal.

But they don't base it primarily on those conditions, but also on the condition of the field. I think it's  fair to say that anytime after the start of the fifth inning could have raised the question of stoppage based upon field conditions. But I said this as it was happening: "Watch the pitchers. The first one who slips, they'll stop." Funny thing, though. No pitcher slipped significantly. And no batter slipped on a swing. That is the traditional measure -- something the umpires said after the game. But no pitcher or hitter slipped.

The infield was cleaned up by  the grounds crew at about 10:05, when the Rays were making a pitching change in the bottom of the fifth. They spread a ton of that drying agent stuff on the dirt and, when they left, it was dry enough to continue. By the top of the sixth, it was much worse, though. By the bottom of the sixth, after the tying run was scored, it was raining harder and it was a mess.

One argument was that they waited until it was a tie game to stop it because it just looked better. That's what I thought as it was happening because what we didn't know is that both team front offices had been told beforehand that the regular-season rain rules would be suspended and that any game would be played to a conclusion after the rain stopped. But given that new rule, which everyone says was decided upon ahead of time, consider:

You are Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. You have been put in a crummy situation by MLB. Again, this game should not have started. That is the crime here, starting. But once it did start, you have your ace on the mound and you have to want him out there as long as humanly possible. Knowing now that the Rays scored the tying run, you would have wanted it stopped in the top of the sixth. But truth be told, as Hamels stood on the mound to start the sixth, leading 2-1, the Phillies wanted him out there. They wanted the game to continue. They wanted to milk as much out of Hamels as they could. And, again: if he had slipped and fallen while delivering a pitch, they would have stopped the game. But he didn't.

It was a terrible situation. It should never have happened. On that, we can agree. That is Selig's incompetence. If you want to rip baseball,  that's the rip -- for starting in the first place, given the weather radar. But once it did start, the Phillies had to want it to go as long as possible. And because you don't like the way the top of the sixth inning turned out does not change the fact that, if they had been given the choice of stopping the game before the inning started, the Phillies likely would have voted to keep playing, to try to get a few more outs from their ace.

The rain robbed them of a full Hamels outing. It took away part of their expected advantage. It has to be frustrating. But the Phils have four at-bats remaining and the Rays have three. The Phils have the better bullpen, and the bullpen is now rested.

Advantage, Phillies.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 10:54 AM  Permalink | 31 comments
31
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:10 AM, 10/28/2008
    i couldnt agree more Rich. although we lost cole, we have the better bullpen, we have 1 more at bat then the rays(if necessary), and we have home field advantage, so i would say advantage phillies absolutely. im not really comprehending why every network sports guy is all over the rays and saying that they have the advantage. if david price comes out and shuts us out 4 straight innings then ill understand where they were coming from but i honestly dont see that happening.
    — davemarsh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:42 AM, 10/28/2008
    The baseball God's have switched everything was going to well, look outside its friggin snowing!!! I am heading back down to the game, the bottom line is they better not charge me again for parking.
    — matty H
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:46 AM, 10/28/2008
    Well put, Rich. People are treating this as a loss. Trust in the bullpen people! The Rays will most likely throw Price(a starter) for this mini-game, but the Phils tagged him a little in game 2. Just get one run, build the bridge to Lidge, then meet me at Frankford and Cottman! GO PHILS!!!
    — Bunns
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:49 AM, 10/28/2008
    I agree also. However, I am not so sure I go right to the bullpen. It would depend on if the Phillies score in their first at bat (bottom of the 6th).If the game is not played until tomorrow I would think about sending Jamie Moyer out for the top of the 7th if the game stays tied. It is not really like pitching in the late innings of a game. To me it is more like pitching in the begining of a game because of the time off. If the Phils score first I could then see using the bullpen. Another advantage is that Longoria made the last out in the 6th. If the Rays batters go down in order you would not see Upton, Pena, Longoria until the 9th. However the Phils meat of the lineup will most likely get 2 at bats. Rest assured Phillies fans, its over.
    — dyemondav
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:55 AM, 10/28/2008
    Go Phils! And please keep Mcnabb away from the ballpark.
    — philslifefan
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:08 PM, 10/28/2008
    If the Rays want to use Shields or Garza (and thus put themselves at a loss for either game 6 or 7)....well, how does that help them in those games? If they did that....awesome. I'll gladly take 3 innings of Shields on the road - where he isn't good - than 6 or 7 of the guy in Tampa. Bring on big game james.
    — vinni
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:14 PM, 10/28/2008
    Well said points by Hoffman. I don't like that the Phillies had a crummy mound in the top of the 5th and now the rays will have a good mound in the bottom of the 6th. Oh well, just get some runs in the bottom of the 6th and that would be the best scenario. Bottom line...It is there for the Phillies to take.
    — davekrieg
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:15 PM, 10/28/2008
    response to st: they would have that advantage last night/today/whenever-- there is no tomorrow for Tampa Bay I don't think they could possibly play this evening, anyway.
    — Joe Gonnelli
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:15 PM, 10/28/2008
    st - the Rays are not going to waste a starter that they would need for Games 6 or 7. yes, they must win Game 5 to get to 6 or 7, but Maddon won't do that. He already said he's using his bullpen.
    — pringleschief
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:16 PM, 10/28/2008
    I like your positive thinking there Bunns! But unfortunately I am a life long fan from around here. Pass the paint thinner.
    — TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:17 PM, 10/28/2008
    Shields and Garza will NOT pitch in this game...and if they do... Garza will get lit up like last time. I live in Atlanta so I can't attend the games, but the fans have rattled the Rays pitchng staff, ear plugs and all!! Phils win this game by more than 4 runs...Pat Burrell comes up with a clutch hit to break this thing open.
    — Giojr24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:23 PM, 10/28/2008
    Phils will win! I agree. And there will be much rejoicing. However this Series is forever tainted by the buffoonery of Selig, MLB and Fox. Hamels, who, as Buck relentlessly pointed out, may never get this opportunity again. For him I feel bad. How often does a pitcher, with Cooperstown aspirations, get the ball in his hand to clinch a title at home. Not often. You can't stop the rain. That is obvious. But what's up with MLB's weather models. I understand not postponing it, given the forecast for Tuesday, but why didn't they move the game up to an earlier start? Oh well. It's a mess. And it shouldn't come as a surprise that Philadelphia's only title in a quarter century would have to happen under such crazy circumstances. It's snowing right now. You gotta be kidding me. I wonder if Selig wants to come to my house for Thanksgiving.
    — idiotbox


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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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