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.
How is this a risk? This guy is an ace. And it sets up Cole to pitch Game 5 on five days' rest if need be. But this series is going to be quick, because the Rockies are the 2007 Phillies - can't hit lefties, had to basically win out just to make the playoffs, etc. Phils in 3 or 4 at the most.— seaonasdad- I love all the postive comments! I agree with this move as well. I think Lee will shut down the Rockies and the Phils will take the series in 4 games! Let's go Phillies!!!!!! CBP is going to be crazyyyy...— captain24
- get this drama queen off of philly.com— Phillybilly
- In Cholly I trust.— davekrieg
- Doesn't matter to me because MLB and TBS schedule playoff games at 2:30pm on weekdays when almost everyone is working. I won't be able to see the 1st 2 games if I want to earn a paycheck.— Trephination
- Risky shmisky.— nmb327
- how is it risky?? if not game 1 then game 2.— bobbyd24
- The starters all have warts so does it really matter who started.— DDH1205
- I trust Uncle Cholly!!!— bcmojo
- Lee is gonna shutout Rockies....— tholler1
- Not sure I'd call it a "risky" move, as Game 1 is no more important than Game 2. In fact, you could argue that Game 2 is more important, as it's either a must-win (if you're down 0-1) or a chance to move to 2-0. Besides, if Lee stumbles and Hamels pitches well, Cole can pitch Game 5 on full rest anyway.— mstein_88
- Good move with Cliff Lee 1st, gotta win - GO PHILLIES!!— charliebrown
- total faith in Cliff. I think you easily could have gone either way. hoping JA Happ starts game 3— Ryan
- lionpres, because of travel days, he can still come back for game 5 on normal rest.— Jamerock
- Pitching Cole on 3 days would be a mistake, so good call. But putting Blanton and Happ in the bullpen, to "wait and see" if they start Game 3 or 4 will come back to bite Charlie.— bluehaha
