Waiting on the rain
Here's my nightmare scenario:
Waiting on the rain
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Here's my nightmare scenario:
Tomorrow night's game gets rained out. Double-header Sunday. Phillies, Mets and Brewers all finish the regular season tied. Game against the Mets for the division Monday. Game against the Brewers for the division Tuesday. Playoffs start Wednesday.
I'm sure the Phillies are hoping tonight's Mets-Cubs game doesn't get rained out. If it does, the Mets will be able to skip over Pedro Martinez, AKA the Weakest Link, in their rotation. That would not bode well.
Here are the pitching match-ups for the final weekend, as well as a preview box for tomorrow:
LHP John Lannan (9-14, 3.86) at RHP Joe Blanton (8-12, 4.79)
PHILLIES UPDATE: The Phillies are 9-6 against the Nationals this season but lost two out of three to them at the beginning of September. . .The Phillies are 8-4 in Blanton's starts since he joined them via a trade with Oakland in late-July. Blanton is 3-0 with a 4.45 ERA during that span. . .Blanton has allowed five runs in his last 12 innings over two starts. . .In a 3-2 win over Florida on Sept. 20, Blanton allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. . .Jimmy Rollins is 4-for-9 with a home run and four RBI off Lannan. . .Chase Utley is 4-for-8 with two RBI off Lannan.
NATIONALS UPDATE: The Nationals have lost six of their last seven and 11 of their last 14 dating back to Sept. 9. . .Lannan, 23, has faced the Phillies twice this season, losing both outings. He allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of a 4-0 loss on Sept. 2. On July 31, he allowed eight runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 8-4 loss. . .Ron Belliard is 3-for-8 with a double in his career off Blanton. . .Aaron Boone and Willie Harris are the only two Nationals who have homered off Blanton.
PROBABLE PITCHERS: Sat. - LHP Odalis Perez (7-11, 4.27) at LHP Jamie Moyer (15-7, 3.78 ERA), Sun. - RHP Shairon Martis (1-3, 5.89) at TBA
TICKET INFO: Standing room tickets will go on sale prior to tonight's game.
Scenario #2: If there is a tie for a Division Championship and the winning percentage of the two tied Clubs is lower than the winning percentage of the second-place Club with the best record among all non-Division winners in the same League, the tie for the Division Championship shall be broken as follows: A one-game playoff shall be played— gbrettfan- No need to worry... Phils may not have to win another game with the Mets doing all the work...— EndTheDrought
- I know the Cubs have earned the right to take it easy down the stretch, but could Lou Pinella allow just one of his regulars to at least pinch hit for the integrity of the game. He let Koyie Hill and Daryle Ward bat with the go ahead run at second in the top of the 9th and not surprisingly they failed to get the job done.— wru
- Piece of cake ... We don't have to face Tim Redding. The cup is ours.— FloridaBill
- Would Lou intentionally take it easy on the Mets and Brews because he fears them less then the Phils down the road? Hmm...— jsweetman
- jsweetman - maybe take it easy on the Mets because he fears them less than the Dodgers maybe. The Cubs are likely to play either the Mets or Dodgers (assuming the Phils don't blow the division).— Gary Varsho
- Vash -- true for the first round, but you have to assume the best team in the league thinks it will get through the first round w/no problem. We'll see how hard they play against Milwaukee.— jsweetman
- There was this great article on MLB.com describing the "Baseball Stomach" syndrome. It affects all fans who's team is in the hunt for the playoffs. We're now in the Football stretch of the Baseball season. Where every win or loss means a lot.— roque32
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