THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Here are some tidbits from LA LA Land, about 45 from a start that will go a long way toward defining Cole Hamels' season, one way or another:
By adding Eric Bruntlett and Chan Ho Park to the NLCS roster and omitting Kyle Kendrick and Brett Myers, the Phils decided to use 11 pitchers for the series, one fewer than in the NLDS. Manuel said that in the previous series, he felt short-handed on the bench. The three scheduled off-days in this series will allow relief pitchers ample time to rest and recover from game action.
“We got Chan Ho Park back,” Manuel said. “We’ve got the game pretty much covered as far as distance. I felt like we could go with 11 pitchers because we definitely need another position player.”
The manager pointed to the ninth inning of Game 4 in
Manuel said yesterday that because Dobbs calf injury has not totally healed, he was not available to play outfield, though he could see action in the infield.
Bruntlett can play all infield and outfield positions, and pinch-run (without Bruntlett, the Phils used Cliff Lee as a pinch-runner in Game 2 of the NLDS).
“Bruntlett can do a variety of things,” said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. “His versatility can play big for us.”
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Park specialized in multi-inning outings for much of the season, but Amaro said that he might be limited to one inning at a time during this series. The righthander has not pitched since he injured his hamstring on Sept. 16.
“He’s probably best suited to go maybe one inning,” Amaro said. “A lot of it depends on how he feels once he gets on the mound.”
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Manuel made it official today that Cliff Lee would start Game 3 at home.
Pedro Martinez will start Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, according to team sources.
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Charlie Manuel said it many times this summer and fall, no matter how dark and confusing Brad Lidge’s season became. The manager believed that Lidge was his most talented reliever, and should be the one to close important games.
This was a wilder celebration than when the Phillies clinched their division a few weeks ago. How could it not have been, given this wild series, and the way they won tonight? I don’t have to tell you anything about how intense and beautiful those past two ballgames were; whether you are a Phils fan, a baseball fan, or a prematurely jaded scribe, this was sports at its finest and most dramatic.
The series offered an uncommonly generous dose of drama. Cliff Lee began his postseason career with a Game 1 dazzler. Cole Hamels’ wife went into labor during his Game 2 loss. Snow and freezing temperatures postponed Game 3, and when they finally played Sunday night, Lidge saved a tense 6-5 win in record-setting cold.
And then this one. You can read more about it in the game story; inside the clubhouse, I witnessed several genuine moments. First, there was an exhausted Ruben Amaro Jr. talking watching with his brother David.
When the Phillies allowed three runs in the eighth inning last night, their first-year general manager resigned himself to logistics.
“I was thinking about the flight home,” he said an hour later, standing in the corner of a wild visitor’s clubhouse at Coors Field, quiet and exhausted. “Thinking about whether Cole (Hamels) would be ready for a Game 5 start, and about how tough it would be to stop their momentum.”
When they won, the Amaros fell into a long embrace. “It felt like we were hugging for five minutes,” said Ruben Amaro. “My brother and I are very close. This was special.”
Then there was Brad Lidge, who is actually fulfilling his predictions of a postseason that will wipe out his awful summer. A
“This one is pretty special,” Lidge said, when asked to compare this postseason triumph to others. “Not that last year’s division series wasn’t…but to do it two nights in a row, being in front of the home crowd, that was pretty special.”
And then there was Ruiz, a good man who feels deeply for his pitchers, talking about Lidge:
“I really feel it’s the Brad Lidge from last year,” he said, twisting his face to imitate Lidge’s fierce mound stare. “He was so confident on the mound. Now we’re pitching. We tried to force it before, but now it’s like—” after searching for the perfect word, the catcher just snapped his fingers and smiled.
Pregame greetings from a possible clincher. Last night’s game will be hard to top; hope you were able to stay up for what I thought was the most entertaining game of the season. Some news and notes to chew on as you settle in for Game 5:
With Kyle Kendrick, Joe Blanton and Pedro Martinez pitching in relief, the Phillies bullpen is dramatically different than during the regular season. This afternoon, Charlie Manuel offered clues about how he would use the pitchers. Though still a bit vague, this answer gave us a better idea what he was thinking than we had before. Don't be totally shocked to see Blanton in a one-run save situation, if one arises.
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Cole Hamels is long-tossing and working out in Philly while enjoying the first days of fatherhood. He won't join the team in Denver, which makes sense given that he needs to prepare for a possible Game 5.
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It is cold. Nearly as cold as last night, when everyone said it would be crazy to play. The weather will make this game an interesting and novel event, but I wouldn't want to swing at an inside fastball tonight. Cuz, you know, on a warm night I would. Canadian Matt Stairs, who is either one tough SOB or insane, is wearing a light windbreaker with short sleeves. Most of these guys are pretty layered.
The game times for this series have been a joke; if you're a 9-to-5er or schoolkid, you haven't been able to watch any of these comfortable. It'll be better going forward.
According to MLB, tomorrow's Game 4 will be played at 4:07pm ET if the Yankees/Twins series concludes today (the Yanks lead the Twinkies 2-0; they play in about two hours). If Phils-Rox is the only game tomorrow, they will play at 6:07 ET.
If necessary, Tuesday's Game 5 in Philly will be at 8:07pm.
Update: According to Charlie Manuel, Cliff Lee will start Game 4 Monday, and Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels are in the mix for a potential Game 5. Hamels appears a more likely option, because he is a lefty.
Happ said that his bruised left leg is a "non issue."
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Pedro Martinez is a man at peace with himself and the world. Leaving the hotel restaurant minutes ago, Martinez was smiling despite losing his playoff start in Game 3 to J.A. Happ.
"It is the most reasonable thing to do," he said. "I haven't thrown in 10 days. Difficult weather. Happ has been in there. He has a better feel for the ball."
Martinez said he would be ready to pitch in relief tomorrow. "Yeah, I will be. Anything."
He said he would like to pitch in relief before starting another game, becuase it has been so long since he has thrown.
J.A. Happ will start for the Phillies tomorrow, the team announced. No reaction yet from Pedro Martinez, who said before the news came down, "I would prefer you talk to Charlie."
Martinez, smiley as ever, added that he was glad the game today was cancelled. "This was horrible weather for everybody," he said.
We'll have more for you in a bit; just wanted to pass along the basic news.
