The Big Three in 17 of 19 Postseason Games - Without Short Rest
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
The Big Three in 17 of 19 Postseason Games - Without Short Rest
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Forget for a moment the possibility of any of the Phillies' Big Three pitching on short rest. If the Phils manage to hang on to the best record in the National League, they'll have the opportunity to send either Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels or Roy Oswalt to the mound for 17 of their 19 potential playoff games.
The National League team with the best overall record gets to pick what day they want to start the NLDS. The choice is either Wed., Oct. 6 with an off day on Thursday and Game 3 on Friday. Or Game 1 on Thursday and Game 2 on Friday.
We'll assume for the sake of the demonstration that Roy Halladay will be the Game 1 pitcher, followed by Hamels and Oswalt.
NLDS
- Oct. 6 - Game 1 - Halladay
- Oct. 7 - Off
- Oct. 8 - Game 2 - Hamels
- Oct. 9 - Off
- Oct. 10 - Game 3 - Oswalt
- Oct. 11 - Game 4 - Halladay (Normal Rest)
- Oct. 12 - Off
- Oct. 13 - Game 5 - Hamels (Normal Rest)
NLCS
- Oct. 16 - Game 1 - Halladay
- Oct. 17 - Game 2 - Hamels
- Oct. 18 - Off
- Oct. 19 - Game 3 - Oswalt
- Oct. 20 - Game 4 - Blanton
- Oct. 21 - Game 5 - Halladay
- Oct. 22 - Off
- Oct. 23 - Game 6 - Hamels
- Oct. 24 - Game 7 - Oswalt
World Series
- Oct. 27 - Game 1 - Halladay
- Oct. 28 - Game 2 - Hamels
- Oct. 29 - Off
- Oct. 30 - Game 3 - Oswalt
- Oct. 31 - Game 4 - Blanton
- Nov. 1 - Game 5 - Halladay
- Nov. 2 - Off
- Nov. 3 - Game 6 - Hamels
- Nov. 4 - Game 7 - Oswalt
If the Phillies started the NLDS on Thursday instead of Wednesday, they would either have to pitch Halladay on short rest or use a fourth starter:
- Oct. 7 - Game 1 - Halladay
- Oct. 8 - Game 2 - Hamels
- Oct. 9 - Off
- Oct. 10 - Game 3 - Oswalt
- Oct. 11 - Game 4 - Blanton or Halladay on 3 days rest
- Oct. 12 - Off
- Oct. 13 - Game 5 - Hamels
Comments (31)
Should be Halladay on short rest or Oswalt if he is willing all throughout the playoffs. I don't want to see Blanton at all. That's what the Yanks did last year with Sabathia on short rest mixed in with Burnett and Pettite.— ronin32- I agree...I really don't mind Blanton pitching one game...and we can always decide based on how the first 2 games go. Secondly, Doc will be starting the series...he's earned that right...and that's why it matters. Pitchers take pride in that sort of thing, and it's obvious Halladay is struggling a bit lately cause he's tired. We should be able to get him rest before then, so it won't be an issue. If you got the Cy Young winner on your team...you put him up there...And hopefully that's what he will be.— MFPhils
- You are correct...if we win NL best record we have off 7th, 9th, 12th. I think Murph got the AL and NL schedules mixed up— MFPhils
- All I gotta say is with the Phils making back to back WS appearances the last 2 years and being the hottest team in the league going in to the playoffs this year, the networks better not stick Phils games at 3 pm or 10 pm like they did the last 2 years. If so, there should be an outcry.— awl
- man this makes me miss Jamie Moyer :(— Hunter S. T
- Will KK be available to pitch BP ?— mick314
- Here's how to look at it. In a 7-game series with normal travel days, your choice is (a) pitch your #1 three times and your #2 and #3 twice each, with four of those seven starts coming on short rest, or (2) pitch #1, #2, #3 twice each and #4 once, with everyone on normal rest. How is this even a contest? Blanton has pitched very well since the ASB. It would be insane to replace one Blanton start with one extra Halladay start at the cost of not one but FOUR short-rest starts.— njns
- Three men and a Blanton!— jeff easton
- If the NLDS and NLCS go the distance - I can't see Roy1 starting 3 games before Roy2 starts his second. I have no doubt Roy1 will find that higher gear once the playoffs start (ala that Lee guy...does anyone remember him?!)....but Roy2 has been brilliant down the stretch and he should not go 10 days between starts.— jimyd0315
- For those of you concerned about having to pitch Blanton, please keep in mind that would also mean the other team is pitching their fourth starter. If you look at the other potential playoff teams, other than San Francisco, Blanton is waaaaaay better than almost any other fourth starter. I would pitch Blanton and keep the others fresher. Now, if one of the starters has to miss a turn (injury?), I would avoid Kendrick like the plague and keep to 3 starters.— Pokerbob
- this team is better than 2009 which was better than 2008. I am fired up. How many 1-0 2-1 games have the phils ever won, well they're winning them this year. I'm still don't have total faith in Lidge but it's getting better.Best record in the major, on fire, what a way to go into the layoffs.— notch44
- And we all know the Spankees will get the primetime games.— slade1955
- Mark1npt: your comment doesn't really make sense. How is R, L, R, R, R (assuming the first series goes 5) splitting up the right handers any more the R, R, L, R, R? In fact, my rotation ensures you won't get three righties in a row in the series. On the surface, your comment makes sense if you're talking about just three games, but in reality not so much.— NJguy
Game 4's are so pivotal - would rather not see Big Joe's name there - but I guess I'm just looking for something to complain about. But he might be okay, and of course, highly motivated. Maybe they'll both be clinchers.— COskier- I'm with you TBear, clinch now and rest up some.— pj katauskas
Popular Posts
About this blog
High Cheese is your place for the best Phillies coverage from the Daily News.
David Murphy
Daily News Staff Writer
Ryan Lawrence
Daily News Staff Writer
Search this blog:
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
