A Risky Call with Lee
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced today that Cliff Lee will start Game One of the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies tomorrow. Cole Hamels will start Game Two.
A Risky Call with Lee
Andy Martino
UPDATE: Here is the official NLDS roster
Catchers (2): Paul Bako and Carlos Ruiz
Infielders (6): Miguel Cairo, Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley
Outfielders (5): Ben Francisco, Raul Ibanez, Matt Stairs, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth
Pitchers (12): left-handers Antonio Bastardo, Scott Eyre, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Cliff Lee and right-handers Joe Blanton, Chad Durbin, Kyle Kendrick, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Pedro Martinez and Brett Myers
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel named former Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee as his Game One starter against the Colorado Rockies in Wednesday's Game One of the National League division series. He will face 25-year-old righthander Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47 ERA).
Lee is 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA with the Phillies after coming over from Cleveland in a July trade.
Lefthander Cole Hamels will start Game Two on Thursday. He finished 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA. Last year's National League Championship Series and World Series MVP has struggled at times, but seems to have regained much of his confidence. "I understand now what a difference I can make, the tone I can set when I win a postseason game," Hamels said Sunday.
Last year, Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA and won the American League Cy Young Award.
“I’m just going to try to do what I’ve done my whole career,” he said earlier this week.
Quick analysis: This is a risky move, given Lee's Sept. performace. Hamels would only be starting on short rest because the Phils sent him out there on Saturday. A better pitcher in Sept. than Lee, Hamels also has impressive postseason experience.
Lee pitched very well against Colorado in August, but that was before his innings total climbed to career-high levels, appearing to undermine his performance.
As for the bullpen, Manuel does not know, or would not say, who his closer would be in the first save opportunity. Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ will be in the bullpen for the first two games, an indication of how Manuel feels about his relief corps. Both are candidates to start Game 3 and Game 4.
Come on Cliff, need about 9 innings out of ya tomorrow...— MTust24- Go get em Clifton Phifer Lee
General Lee, this is a must win battle!- Good choice, let's get a WIN!!!!!!— Dadair1
- YES! Great choice Charlie. Less than 26 hours away?!!?— Mark Patrick
- that's hot— Zackz
- Gives Cole his normal rest and he can come back if need in game 5— lionpres
- Pat Farnon believes in Lee and that makes me a believer!!!!— mquinn35
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Phils in 4.— DaveCicc- Lee can come back in game 4, if needed, as well......— joeolive
- LETS GO PHILLIES— Centanni28
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I think it's a good move. Game 2 will be the more critical game anyway, so Cole will have the spotlight. GO PHILS!!!— bobby- Pitched a gem vs. Rox in August in his home debut. Hopefully he'll repeat in his postseason debut.— brio
