Happ to start Game 3
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Happ to start Game 3
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATED 2: Lefthander J.A. Happ will start a rescheduled Game 3 on Sunday night, the Phillies announced. Happ and manager Charlie Manuel will be available to the media later this afternoon.
Happ was hit below the left knee by a line drive from the bat of the only hitter he faced in a relief appearance in Game 2. Afterward, he said he did not think the injury would be an issue.
Had Game 3 been played tonight, as scheduled, Pedro Martinez was expected to start.
Colorado is expected to send out Jason Hammel, as scheduled.
More on the pitching below ...
UPDATED: The Phillies, their fans and baseball commisioner Bud Selig all learned a little bit about playing in adverse weather conditions last fall, with the circumstances surrounding Game 5 of the World Series.
Now, weather is again a factor as snow forced the postponement of tonight's Game 3 of the National League Division Series in Denver. Game time was scheduled for 9:37 p.m. Eastern but the call was made at around noon.
"I made the only (decision) that I could," Selig told Foxsports.com's Tracy Ringolsby this morning. "You know, I did this for over 40 years with the Brewers, when I had to take weather into consideration.
"[Game 5 of the World Series] last year only increased my resolve that we want to take no chance with our game. This is a no-brainer with the weather forecast."
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Apparently, Mother Nature believes in karma.
With a temperature of 18 degrees and snow falling here in Denver, Major League Baseball has pushed Game 3 of the National League Division Series to tomorrow. While the postponement sets the stage for a tricky schedule -- more on that below -- it also will allow lefthander Cliff Lee to start Game 4 on Monday on normal rest. It will also likely allow both lefthander J.A. Happ and righthander Joe Blanton to pitch tomorrow in Game 3, allowing the Phillies to push Pedro Martinez back for a potential long relief appearance of Cole Hamels in Game 5 on Tuesday, or for a potential NLCS Game 1 start on Thursday.
Here is how it sets up:
- Game 3 (Sun., Oct. 11) LHP J.A. Happ w/ Joe Blanton available at RHP Jason Hammel
- Game 4 (Mon., Oct. 12) RHP Cliff Lee at RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
- Game 5 (Tue., Oct. 13) LHP Cole Hamels w/ RHP Pedro Martinez avail. at RHP Aaron Cook
- OFF (Wed., Oct. 14)
- NLCS Game 1 (Thu., Oct. 15): Hamels/Martinez/Blanton
- NLCS Game 2 (Fri., Oct. 16): Happ/Martinez/Blanton
- OFF (Sat., Oct. 17)
- NLCS Game 3 (Sun., Oct. 18): Lee
- NLCS Game 4 (Mon., Oct. 19): Hamels/Happ/Martinez/Blanton
- OFF (Tue., Oct. 20)
- NLCS Game 5 (Wed., Oct. 21)
- OFF (Thu., Oct. 22)
- NLCS Game 6 (Fri., Oct. 23)
- NLCS Game 7 (Sat., Oct. 24)
As for the next few days:
Game 3 will be tomorrow at 10:07 p.m. The start time for Game 4 on Monday will not be announced until tomorrow.
This sets up the possibility of either a day game after a night game on Monday, or late-night travel back to Philly on Monday night for a potential Game 5 on Tuesday.
If the Phillies win the next two games, Hamels would be able to start NLCS Game 1, but Lee would likely be pushed back until Game 3.
More as we get it throughout the day
Smart move.— benjyedwards
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- He'll stick with Pedro for game 3. Also, you have Lee as a right-handed pitcher, and game 5 at Colorado. It's in Philly.— phillyfan412
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- Great time they resheduled it for "10:07pm. What a joke. Game won't end until around 1:30. Good thinking MLB way to loose your viewers.— gwite
- I agree, they've got to start putting up runs before the 5th inning. Jump on the Rockies early and let them play catch-up. Rollins and Utley have to get their bats going to help minimize the pitching issues. Just get on base, the middle of the lineup has been pretty good and will drive in some runs.— Unca Mook
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- Pedro in game 1 of NLCS? No thanks! I'll go with Blanton. Better yet, get it over with in 4 and give me Hamels game 1. Better to go with the 3 lefties (happ, lee, hamels) and take your chances. Then get Blanton ready for game 1.— scootch
- Wait, so they'll postpone an NLDS because it's cold (yes, I know it's going to be really cold) but they won't postpone game 5 of the world series even though it was clear that no baseball should have been played that night???— PhillyinTexas
- 10:07 was already going to be the start for Sunday for game 3. the best team money can buy gets to play at 7.— P Even
- MLB is showing its bias - we will have to play possibly 3 games in a row, one at 8:00 in Colorado, while the Yankees play inside a dome at 6:00 on Sunday and then if that series goes to 5 they get another day off on Tuesday and don't play until Wednesday. Please - its so blatant its ridiculous.— harris09
Since the decision was a no-brainer, it was a perfect one for Selig, who has no brains.- Too bad they don't run spell check. The word commissioner in 1st paragraph is mispelled.— isellford
- Ok as of this moment Phils play Game 4 on Monday at 2pm. The reason being that Twins/ Yanks are scheduled for 5pm and Angels / Sox are scheduled for 8:37pm. If Angels close it out tomorrow then Phils game will move from 2pm to 830pm. If Sox win tomo...rrow and extend the series but the Yanks close out Twins (most likely scenario) Then Phils will play at 5pm on Monday.— gscstud
