Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 8:09 PM | 49 comments |
 

Hamels in Game 1. . .Sounds like Pedro in Game 2
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As expected, Cole Hamels will start Game 1 for the Phillies tomorrow against lefthander Clayton Kershaw. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he was not ready to announce his starter for Game 2, although he provided several strong clues that indicate it will be veteran righthander Pedro Martinez. Like last series, righthander Joe Blanton and lefthander J.A. Happ will be available to pitch in the bullpen in the first few games of the NLCS, Manuel said. Unless Manuel decides to start Cliff Lee on three days rest in Game 2, an unlikely possibility, then Martinez is the only other player who would be ready to start Friday.

Martinez threw a simulated game on Tuesday, facing hitters for the first time since his final regular season start on Sept. 30. Manuel said he thought Martinez could throw anywhere from 75 to 90 pitches, perhaps even reaching 100. He said Martinez's stuff is still there, and he would be comfortable starting him in an NLCS Game.

"He threw a simulated game yesterday, and what I saw, I liked his stuff," Manuel said. "(Pitching coach Rich) Dubee and I stood there, and we were talking while he was throwing, and his stuff is there. That speaks for itself."

So right now, here is how the match-ups look:

Game 1 - LHP Cole Hamels at LHP Clayton Kershaw

Game 2 - RHP Pedro Martinez at RHP Vicente Padilla

Game 3 - RHP Hiroki Kuroda at LHP Cliff Lee

Game 4 - LHP Randy Wolf at RHP Joe Blanton

Game 5 - Kershaw at Hamels

Game 6 - Kuroda at Lee

Game 7 - TBA

^

The Phillies have not announced their roster, but it sounds like Chan Ho Park will be a member of it. The veteran righthander said he was healthy enough to pitch, and Manuel said he felt like Park was ready to contribute in the NLCS.

That means at least one person who was on the NLDS roster will not be on the NLCS roster. Manuel said he had not talked to that player, or those players, yet.

 
Posted by David Murphy @ 8:09 PM  Permalink | 49 comments
49
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:26 PM, 10/14/2009
    The matchups favor the Phils. We can win it in five if Cole is sharp, but Lee will win it in the sixth game if necessary.
    — greenflyer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:46 PM, 10/14/2009
    I'm not surprised if the Phillies decide to start Pedro in Game 2. They probably figure he has a better chance of doing well in the warm weather as opposed to the cold weather he'll experience in Philadelphia during game 4. The bigger shock to me is the Dodgers' decision to use Wolf as their no. 4 starter. He opened the NLDS for them, so I thought he would at least be used ahead of Padilla.
    — catnameddomino
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:52 PM, 10/14/2009
    hopefully the weather holds up for pedro.. half the time he is supposed to start it either rains or snows
    — zwarte piet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:53 PM, 10/14/2009
    Padilla stinks so if Pedro is going to get a shot game 2 is a perfect time. I love that matchup.
    — Realistic One
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:55 PM, 10/14/2009
    Mistake, mistake, mistake. Hope Cholly takes another dementia pill before he screws up the rotation like he did last series, but was bailed out by the weather. Game 2 is critical. If you win game 1, you can come home with a sweep. If you lose game 1, you absolutley need game 2. That means you need your best available right hander...Blanton. You can't throw a question mark in game 2. This is a HUGE mistake.
    — scootch
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:59 PM, 10/14/2009
    Scootch, he's facing Vincente Padilla. Relax.
    — Greg V.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:01 PM, 10/14/2009
    David, you said above that: "Unless Manuel decides to start Cliff Lee on three days rest in Game 2, an unlikely possibility, then Martinez is the only other player who would be ready to start Friday." HUH? Blanton last pitched on Sunday's freezer game in Denver. By my count, he could go on normal 4 days rest and pitch Friday. What am I missing?
    — scootch
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:10 PM, 10/14/2009
    Greg, it not a weekend series in May. It the freaking CHAMPIONSHIP series. Winner to the WORLD SERIES. Last I checked the box score from last week, Padilla pitched pretty damn well against a good Cardinals team. Pedro hasn't pitched in weeks and hasn't pitched WELL in a month. It has disaster written all over it. If the Phils lose the first two, which is more than likely with Hamels and Pedro, it's game , set, match. If I am going down, I want to go down with my best. Be honest, who gives you a better chance to win..Pedro or Fat Joe?
    — scootch
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:13 PM, 10/14/2009
    Dont you guys feel like Wolf and Padilla will play well against the Phillies? Look at how well former Phils play against us...Barajas, Helms, Rolen, Bourne
    — FlyersFan561
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:20 PM, 10/14/2009
    Scootch -- Manuel apparently said that Blanton and Happ will be available out of the bullpen for games 1 and 2. If Blanton is available in the bullpen in Game 2 then he's obviously not starting Game 2, leaving only Pedro. As for the move in general, I like it. Pedro's one of the best big-game pitchers of this generation he doesn't rely on raw stuff to get it done (he's traditionally been so cooked down the stretch that he's struggling to hit 90 on the gun, see '99 series vs. Cleveland, '04 series vs. NYY and STL, etc.), and he's going to get a chance to throw against Vicente Padilla in a pitcher's park in warm weather...giving Lee an extra day of rest, sitting Happ against a lineup that wears out lefties, and allowing Blanton to come out of the pen (something Pedro can't do because of his 1st inning struggles this year). I love this move.
    — Burrito_77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:25 PM, 10/14/2009
    With ChanHo and Happ in the bullpen now, a Pedro meltdown would not be as scary as Happ's bad game was.
    — Scholes
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:34 PM, 10/14/2009
    Burrito...Cholly probably did say that. And I say, like I said last series, don't do it. Set your rotation. Chan Ho is available so Blanton isn't as crucial in the pen. I'd love the Blanton vs Padilla matchup. I think TBS got involved to make both teams start a hispanic pitcher in L.A in exchage for a premium start time...lol Cholly got away with one last series. Let's not test it again. Set the starters, get them ready, but Pedro shouldn't be in that spot. He hasn't pitched well in a month. It's crash and burn.
    — scootch
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:36 PM, 10/14/2009
    i like it a lot... game 2 will be in sunny 80 degree weather... perfect conditions for Pedro... plus he's a gamer and has been here before... love this move... obviously he'll be on a short leash and if needed you can go Blanton or Happ... however vs. Padilla i expect good things
    — EndTheDrought
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:41 PM, 10/14/2009
    LOVE pedro in Game 2. He's proven he has plenty left in the tank and you cannot match his experience and fierce competitiveness. He relishes this type of situation. he knows he may not get it again. believe me, Pedro will pitch well.
    — The Boston Strangler


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About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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@90_feet_perfect Yes that is a mistake on my part - 9:29am
 
@zoowithroy and a cold glass of whoop ass - 9:06am
 
For what it's worth, Blanton says his elbow is no longer an issue. "Physically, I feel I am over it." - 9:04am
 
Leading off this morning from Clearwater: A look at the Blanton market and the luxury tax: http://t.co/izsww5lW - 9:02am
 
@ChelsCoyle More power to you. I usually stopped paying attention by the all star break - 02/18/2012
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