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."
*
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
Comments (50)
Hmm... I don't really like the message we're sending Pedro here... "Oh yes, you're a great pitcher... we just want to go with a rookie on this one." Don't get me wrong, I think Happ is a tremendous pitcher, but the fact of the matter is he doesn't have as much experience as Pedro. But I must say, I'd probably give Happ the start over Hamels... Anyways, I do agree that Blanton should start against L.A. over Martinez, Blanton did admirably against them last year.— RHCP182- There are so many mistakes in this text that it is difficult to read. In journalism class you are instructed to write on a 6th grade level, so as not to lose your audience. Murph not only do you write at that level, but you spell at that level. Hey but I never knew Cliff Lee was a switch-pitcher.— rockinrob
- These Rockies fans (term used loosely) are killing me out here. The Rockies are least followed of the 4 teams, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, EVERYONE STARTED FOLLOWING THEM AGAIN,...DENVER IS A WEAK SPORTS TOWN. Tjhey think the series is over and not coming back to Philly.— PhillyinCO
- usonis, the problem is, is that you're thinking logically. You have to think like MLB/TBS. The way things have been going, I don't put anything past them.— G FORCE
- shouldnt they start the game earlier on sunday, since the monday game will have to be a mid-afternoon game? MLB needs to replace the people who make their schedules, they suck!— LGbalsac
- I agree with phillyfaninstpete. They should utilze TNT and overlap games.— G FORCE
- phils can't play Monday at 2pm. The Sunday night game won't be over to about 1:30am. that would be ridiculous— usonis
- Like the way this sets up.— lgeagles
- With the way the season played out, if the Phillies can't win three out of five games against the Rockies with Lee-Hamels-Happ-Lee-Hamels as your series rotation, then something is SERIOUSLY wrong. No excuses!— Brian F.
- thingfish...except if your name is Cole Hamels— scootch
- wait...if the phils are getting screwed, aren't the rockies too? Or, wait, you dopes just see things one way. I forget. Actually, day baseball is the best for actually playing the game.— thingfish
Why have these morons scheduled ANY night games in Denver??? GO PHILS!!! GO PHILS!!! GO PHILS!!!- harris09, while I do agree that MLB and TBS have a Yankees bias, I will say that Sunday's schedule doesn't offer much flexibility. The problem is that MLB has decided to try and fit four games in one day. Because of that, we get screwed because Coors Field happens to be the Western-most venue of all those hosting games Sunday. The only options are starting the first game before noon (that won't happen) or moving one of the other games to 10pm (which can't happen in Minn., St. Louis, and Boston). Or, better yet, why won't TBS make use of TNT? They could overlap games by like an hour or two and that way you don't alienate a fan base that drew 3.5 million people to CBP!— phillyfaninstpete
- The weather may have bailed out Charlie by giving him time to reset the rotation . It should be 45 at game time on Sunday, and the Phillies have hit pretty well in Denver. I'd use Blanton for game 4, hoping you don't need Lee until NLCS game 1. Hamels has been a mystery all season, so that probably will continue. If the Phillies are to advance, they'll have to use the bullpen in some meaningful way, so this dinking around with the starters should end right now. Those relievers are being good soldiers by not mouthing off; best thing would be for Charlie to show some confidence in them when the circumstances call for using the pen, instead of acting like they have the plague. They are what they are.— ijj
- LIAR! You could decide to play at noon today!— thenutz72
- victorino is getting on base,rollins and utley are the 2 who are not hitting. at first game 3 game was scheduled for 8:00pm est..now it is 10:00pm est?— only 9
- This just in from the home office....Phils and Rocks are scheduled for a double header on Sunday to give them a travel day on Monday. In fact, the home office has already awarded each team a victory in the double header and the teams are on their way back to Philly for game 5 on Tuesday....— scootch
- Is Dave Murphy just guessin with that scedule or do we know that Cholly has changed pitchers for tomorrow? He needs to go Happ. I'll be Hap-py if he does, but Charlie can be so hard headed. Hope Dubes will talk some sense to him.— greenflyer
- Selig is not too bright. The start times should be determined by potential weather and temperatures. Leaving the snow aside today, Why didn't they have a full slate of games on Saturday. Then the city with the least favorable temperatures would have been played at the warmest part of the day. If they can have a game at 2:37 on two consecutive work days then why can't they play at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon. As a result of the postponement, the Phils game 3 should be played Sunday afternoon then game 4 could be played 24 hours later on Monday thus giving them ample time to get back to Philly for GAME 5 if necessary!— phillyz
- Dave Clemens "Since the decision was a no-brainer, it was a perfect one for Selig, who has no brains." LOL love it.— greenflyer
- Why is TBS screwing the Phillies with this ridiculous schedule? Bud Selig is an a-hole. All about the benjamins and who cares about the kids who need to stay up late or cut school to see these games. Where do they think they are going to get their future revenue from if they do not care that kids are not able to see these games.— mikeyg
- Finally....Cholly has returned to logical thinking. Maybe he took his dementia pill. Or he has been reading the Denver papers. The next 3 games should be happ, lee, hamels.— scootch
- Cole Hamels should not get another start in this series. His mind is not on baseball at the moment. Why not start Pedro in game 4 and Cliff Lee in game 5?— Gnip Gnop
Let me see if I have this right: Defending World Series Champs get two day games (kids have to skip school and adults skip work or leave early). Then, their weekend game is pushed to Late Night. Are you idiots just trying to keep us from watching our Phillies, or are you just plain STUPID. But your beloved Yankees and Red Sox get the great time slots. Hey, even the Cards and LA steroid junkies get a better time slot.- I still say it does not matter a whit about where, when or who: if it is to be, then it is to be. I will cheer just a s loud and long either way......this is the best Phillies team since I have been watching, that's forty-three years now.— TBear
- so wait, is it going to be warmer tomorrow, one hour later? Perhaps they should have just played the game during the day. Pack of wild idiots over there at the home office.— Dave
Comment removed.- Spel chek?— hobbit
- sunday tempS 55-55 degrees with little wind... not GREAT but not bad for OCT— wxdavid
- Selig's quote is unequvoically accurate. He has no brain.— Bob1
- I love the inflexibility of MLB. God forbid they push back the NLCS one day so they can schedule a travel day between Games 4 and 5. Milwaukee has a retractable roof and Florida will get one with their new stadium. Rockies should get their stadium retro-fitted and get with the times.— yardbyrd
- Comment removed.
- Philly in Texas. Drop it already. wow we won it all last yr. Let it go dude!
- So is MLB & TBS actively trying to prevent anyone that has a job in Philly from watching any playoff games?— dilbert1
- Well crustymcd, apparently you are unable to read. I was informing David that he had Lee listed as a right-handed pitcher and game 5 in Colorado, when both are wrong. Don't worry though, practice makes perfect.— phillyfan412
- 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
- Too bad they don't run spell check. The word commissioner in 1st paragraph is mispelled.— isellford
Since the decision was a no-brainer, it was a perfect one for Selig, who has no brains.- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Comment removed.
- 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
- 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
- Comment removed.
- 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
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Smart move.— benjyedwards
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