Posted: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 11:44 AM | 13 comments |
 

Pre-game notes: Game 2 line-ups, Game 3 starter, more
options
 

We'll have a meatier blog post up here in a little while, but I wanted to pass on a few quick items.

First, we still do not know the identity of the starter for Game 3 on Saturday in Colorado. J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton will both be available to pitch out of the bullpen again today. Righthander Pedro Martinez likely won't. Manager Charlie Manuel said Martinez is staying sharp, throwing on the side, and that if he does start a game this series, he thinks he will be capable of throwing up to 100 pitches. But Manuel said it is not safe to assume that J.A. Happ will start Game 3 if he does not appear as a reliever today. With high temperatures forecasted to be in the mid-30's and a chance of snow, Manuel said the weather could affect his decision on who to pitch. This is my own speculation, but I think Manuel would go with Blanton in poor conditions, since he seems to be the most low-maintenance starter. Happ and Martinez, both of whom have battled muscle strains over the past month, would not be ideal cold-weather starters.

Second, here are the line-ups for today:

Phillies

  1. Jimmy Rollins SS
  2. Shane Victorino CF
  3. Chase Utley 2B
  4. Ryan Howard 1B
  5. Jayson Werth RF
  6. Raul Ibanez LF
  7. Pedro Feliz 3B
  8. Carlos Ruiz C
  9. Cole Hamels LHP

Rockies

  1. Carlos Gonzalez LF
  2. Dexter Fowler CF
  3. Todd Helton 1B
  4. Troy Tulowitzki SS
  5. Garrett Atkins 3B
  6. Yorvit Torrealba C
  7. Ryan Spillborghs RF
  8. Clint Barmes 2B
  9. Aaron Cook RHP
Posted by David Murphy @ 11:44 AM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:30 PM, 10/08/2009
    Murph: good points....question: If cole shuts em down like Lee, would it anke sense to use Happ as the G3 starter....aka another lefty
    — LongtimeFan3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:38 PM, 10/08/2009
    Murph, you really are a treasure for the fans...you seem to enjoy your work and we are the beneficiaries, thank you.
    — JBP
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:30 PM, 10/08/2009
    Is this right? Are they really leaving Brad Hawpe and his numbers: 285avg 23hr 86rbi .384obp., on the bench?
    — ktdb05
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:35 PM, 10/08/2009
    Good job Murph...as usual your posts are informative. The true fans out here appreciate the effort.
    — PhillieGenes
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:46 PM, 10/08/2009
    Am I the only one not blowing Murph?
    — Big Game
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:59 PM, 10/08/2009
    Stay aggressive, Phils! Keep running on Torrealba.
    — PhilaLogic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:17 PM, 10/08/2009
    always a good idea to go with a power pitcher in the cold. Hitters will have a hard time loosening up and handling a hard thrower.
    — scootch
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:17 PM, 10/08/2009
    Yes Big Game, yes you are. Excellent column Murph!! I am SO FIRED UP!! GO PHILLIES!!! You gotta believe!!! We got high hopes!!!
    — WestPhilBornNRaised
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:20 PM, 10/08/2009
    Wow! The chatter on the "Talk Phillies" (at the bottom of the Phillies page) is ridiculous! All of a sudden, Manual's an idiot, Ruiz is useless, etc. (I guess that's the kiddies' sandbox of message boards.)
    — jman


13 comments
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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