Phils pumped to face Yankees; rotation and roster notes
As promised, here are more detailed notes. Charlie Manuel is still ducking a lot of concrete questions about the roster and rotation. That’s probably because few decisions have been made, as team brass continues to meet and discuss. As you know, Cliff Lee will face the Yankees’ CC Sabathia in Game 1 on Wednesday; everything beyond that remains unclear. Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels will likely start Games 2 and 3, with the order still unknown. Manuel did say that he would have no problem using Martinez at Yankee Stadium. The 37-year-old righthander has pitched well at Citizens Bank Park this year, going 2-0, with a 1.88 earned run average. In the regular season, he was 3-1, with a 5.66 earned run average on the road, before pitching seven scoreless innings at Dodger Stadium in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Pitching for the Boston Red Sox, Martinez went 0-2, with a 5.93 earned run average in his past five playoff appearances versus the Yankee. “Pedro has been in the big environment,” Manuel said. “He has pitched everywhere you can pitch. I don’t’ think anything is going to really bother him, or get him upset. We can pitch him in either ballpark, really. I don’t think it matters at all.” *** Manuel said that Brett Myers was healthy enough to pitch in the World Series. But the manager did not indicate whether Myers would be included on the roster. “He’s throwing the ball better. He’s definitely gotten better. He’s probably well to close to being healed or well.” Manuel also said that he was comfortable keeping lefthander Antonio Bastardo on the roster, but would not overexpose the rookie. “Right now, he’s on our roster,” Manuel said. “I’d use him. We’ll definitely put him in the game. It’s not like I don’t want to use him, but I don’t know how long he could stay out there, because he is a young kid, and he doesn’t have experience, and he is subject to make mistakes. His big need right now is to pitch, and get confident and get adjusted to the major leagues.” In other pen-related matters, without officially announcing it, Manuel appeared to indicate that he would continue to use lefthander J.A. Happ as a relieve during the World Series. “Being lefthanded and stuff like that, he can play up in our bullpen,” Manuel said. *** Manuel said that Raul Ibanez would likely be the designated hitter in Game 1 against CC Sabathia. “He’ll DH some against a lefthanded pitcher,” Manuel said. “Righthanders, I don’t know exactly what we’re going to do yet.” *** The Phillies sound pumped about the opponent and location for this year’s World Series. Here’s a sampling: Jayson Werth: “There is a special mystique when you walk into Yankee Stadium, new or old. It’s the cathedral of baseball, and where everybody wanted to play as a kid. It’s Yankee Stadium. As far as that goes there might be something to that and a little bit of motivation. Manuel was also looking forward to the challenge of playing against New York. “Playing the Yankees, and who their names are, and what they stand for, that’s enough to motivate you,” he said. “I know when I walk into Yankee Stadium, the new ballpark now, it’s almost like the old stadium except the locker rooms are better, bigger and everything. As far as the field goes…it’s still got that same feel to it. “It’s just got an atmosphere, an aura about it. It is baseball, and you think about all the great players and great teams that they’ve had come through there. I’m sure our players feel that same way.” Hall-of-Famer Robin Roberts, whose “Whiz Kids” team lost to the Yankees in the 1950 World Series, has been watching intently, and also views this era as remarkable.
Phils pumped to face Yankees; rotation and roster notes
Andy Martino
As promised, here are more detailed notes. Charlie Manuel is still ducking a lot of concrete questions about the roster and rotation. That’s probably because few decisions have been made, as team brass continues to meet and discuss.
As you know, Cliff Lee will face the Yankees’ CC Sabathia in Game 1 on Wednesday; everything beyond that remains unclear. Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels will likely start Games 2 and 3, with the order still unknown.
Manuel did say that he would have no problem using Martinez at Yankee Stadium. The 37-year-old righthander has pitched well at Citizens Bank Park this year, going 2-0, with a 1.88 earned run average. In the regular season, he was 3-1, with a 5.66 earned run average on the road, before pitching seven scoreless innings at Dodger Stadium in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Pitching for the Boston Red Sox, Martinez went 0-2, with a 5.93 earned run average in his past five playoff appearances versus the Yankee.
“Pedro has been in the big environment,” Manuel said. “He has pitched everywhere you can pitch. I don’t’ think anything is going to really bother him, or get him upset. We can pitch him in either ballpark, really. I don’t think it matters at all.”
***
Manuel said that Brett Myers was healthy enough to pitch in the World Series. But the manager did not indicate whether Myers would be included on the roster.
“He’s throwing the ball better. He’s definitely gotten better. He’s probably well to close to being healed or well.”
Manuel also said that he was comfortable keeping lefthander Antonio Bastardo on the roster, but would not overexpose the rookie.
“Right now, he’s on our roster,” Manuel said. “I’d use him. We’ll definitely put him in the game. It’s not like I don’t want to use him, but I don’t know how long he could stay out there, because he is a young kid, and he doesn’t have experience, and he is subject to make mistakes. His big need right now is to pitch, and get confident and get adjusted to the major leagues.”
In other pen-related matters, without officially announcing it, Manuel appeared to indicate that he would continue to use lefthander J.A. Happ as a relieve during the World Series.
“Being lefthanded and stuff like that, he can play up in our bullpen,” Manuel said.
***
Manuel said that Raul Ibanez would likely be the designated hitter in Game 1 against CC Sabathia.
“He’ll DH some against a lefthanded pitcher,” Manuel said. “Righthanders, I don’t know exactly what we’re going to do yet.”
***
The Phillies sound pumped about the opponent and location for this year’s World Series. Here’s a sampling:
Jayson Werth: “There is a special mystique when you walk into Yankee Stadium, new or old. It’s the cathedral of baseball, and where everybody wanted to play as a kid. It’s Yankee Stadium. As far as that goes there might be something to that and a little bit of motivation.
Manuel was also looking forward to the challenge of playing against New York. “Playing the Yankees, and who their names are, and what they stand for, that’s enough to motivate you,” he said. “I know when I walk into Yankee Stadium, the new ballpark now, it’s almost like the old stadium except the locker rooms are better, bigger and everything. As far as the field goes…it’s still got that same feel to it.
“It’s just got an atmosphere, an aura about it. It is baseball, and you think about all the great players and great teams that they’ve had come through there. I’m sure our players feel that same way.”
Hall-of-Famer Robin Roberts, whose “Whiz Kids” team lost to the Yankees in the 1950 World Series, has been watching intently, and also views this era as remarkable.
The 83-year-old Robin Roberts, whose team lost to the Yanks in 1950, is excited. “I really enjoy watching the games,” Roberts said. “It would be awful nice to see them win it again, not just because it’s the Yankees but because they are bordering on something really extraordinary.”
***
One more thing. I’m hearing a lot of confidence from Phils fans about facing CC Sabathia, because your boys beat him last year in the playoffs. Manuel provided an important reminder today that the CC of October, 2008 was not the CC of right now. The Phillies offense is good enough to beat up on just about any pitcher on the right day, but don’t think Sabathia will be a pushover.
Sabathia had pitched on short rest many times for the Brewers during the stretch run, and Manuel did not see that game as indicative that the Phils had solved the Cy Young Award-winning lefthander.
“At the end of last year, the day we beat him out here he threw a lot of change-ups,” Manuel said. “When’s really good, he pitches off his fastball. At the end of last year I thought he was a little tired.”
I'm glad I don't have a format where I have to predict this series. It is strikingly similar to an intrasquad setup. One big difference is that the Phils are a more balanced club. Not that the Yanks have weak links, but while a hero from underneath could emerge, at this point, the Yanks remind me of the real estate 80-20 rule where 20 per cent of the realtors make 80 per cent of the money. Their talented squad is very top heavy as its more carried by their stars than the Phils balance. I do have some strong feelings on what it will take to win even if I'm not comfortable with a prediction, or even one with range. Assuming that the schedule stays as is (weather), it is pretty essential that the Yankees hold serve in Games 1 and 2 and head to the Bank up 2 if they are to have a good chance to win. Should they face Cole Hamels in Game 3 with a 2-0 lead, objectivity has to lead to a conclusion of liklihood that they could take a 3-0 lead. But because of the Yanks top heavy talent, the 3 game set in Philly projects as quite plausible that the Phils win at least 2 of 3. CC, who would pitch on 3 days rest in game 4, would be doing it on the road. He's as good as anyone today on short rest, but on the road and against the same club in 4 days is a tough proposition. Plus, Rivera is unlikely to pitch consecutive innings on consecutive days, and the 3 games at the Bank are 3 days in a row. Thus, the Phils have a decent chance to take 2 of 3 at home, and be on the verge of a Series win, if not clinch in 5 games. But it is critical that they win 1 of the first 2, if not sweep in NY. Neither Games 1 or 2 will favor them from the pitching matchup. But then again, the Phils haven't won a lot of matchups on paper, and are a mere 4 wins from WFCX2.— KBland
Comment removed.- Rotcod is right, Girardi almost over-thought himself into losing to a vastly inferior opponent. Manuel knows more about baseball in his pinky than does Girardi with all his stupid computer printouts.— davi
- I hope the players remember that they're playing the 2009 Yankees. They're not going up against Dimaggio, Ruth, Gehrig, etc. It's not the House that Ruth built anymore, it's the House that NYC Taxpayers Built. Don't get caught up in the legends and mystique. They're as beatable as we are.— shark08034
- I know it's heresy to have only one lefty in the bullpen, but I think J.A. Happ is much more valuable as a starter than as a reliever. From the time he joined the rotation to the end, he was the Phillies' most consistent starter. Not quite sure why he's not in the rotation, especially given the Yankees' left-handed strength. Maybe A-Rod, who bats right, is the reason? I dunno... The kid has guts and knows how to handle himself on the mound.— andrewfrombrooklyn
- If 2008 was a fluke because CC Sabathia was tired, how do you explain the fact that CC Sabathia also got rocked in the 2007 ALCS versus the Red Sox? He was 0-2 with a 10.45 ERA.— Gnip Gnop
- I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw Martino say "Your boys" The New York is coming out of him. Maybe the Inquirer will get a Philly guy to be the Phillies beat writer next season.— EC1981
- No knowledgable Yankee fan will ever admit the Phillies will be a cake walk. The Phillies are the only team in the NL that gets any sort of respect from any American League fan. The rest of the NL is a disaster, to argue this would be ridiculous. The Phillies would compete well in the American League. What I find hilarious is how the Philly fans think the Yankees are going to be a cake walk. The Yankees did not look their best against the Angels..however it was the Angels...the 2nd best team in Baseball according to record. It should be a great series on both sides. Yankees obviously have a slight advantage due to the arms. Lee is good, but Hamels has had a crap eyar and has struggled in the postseason and Pedro ERA is awful on the road and the Yanks used to shell him in his prime. Counter, AJ is a headcase and the Phillies can definately shell him if he pitches poorly. However, even though you guys played well in the playoffs...remember that you played the Rockies and the Dodgers, hardly dominant teams in a weak NL division. In the end...it should be a great series and I am sure I will be have plenty of Pepcid to take as I watch it. Yankees in 6 is my prediction— andy0682
- Comment removed.
- I admit I kinda was falling for the Yankee world beater stuff, but the Phils are rising right now to a peak. Fingers crossed that Chase can get back into form. Also, any team that needed six games to eliminate the Angels--a team that couldnt find its butt with both hands tied behind its back--sure doesnt intimidate me.— Rando
- WELL THE BLOGGERS HERE ARE READY....PHILLIES NEED TO FOCUS ON THE TASK,GET STRONG PITCHING,THE HITS WILL COME.YANKS AIN'T THE TEAMS OF YESTER YEAR.THESE GUYS ARE HUNGRY TOO.SINCE THEY HAVEN'T WON THE WS IN A WHILE THAT WILL MOTIVATE THEM EVEN MORE.WE'VE GOT TO MOTIVATE OUR GUYS,NOT JUST IN HERE BUT AT THE PARK, THE MALL THE STREETS,LET EM KNOW WE'RE FOR EM.ITS THE TIME AND VENUE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...REPEAT WORLD CHAMPS.2009 AND WE MAKE HISTORY !!AND A STRONG STATEMENT AROUND HERE AND THE COUNTRY..LETS GO PHIGHTIN'S BRING IT HOME!— t_darb_56
- WELL THE BLOGGERS HERE ARE READY....PHILLIES NEED TO FOCUS ON THE TASK,GET STRONG PITCHING,THE HITS WILL COME.YANKS AIN'T THE TEAMS OF YESTER YEAR.THESE GUYS ARE HUNGRY TOO.SINCE THEY HAVEN'T WON THE WS IN A WHILE THAT WILL MOTIVATE THEM EVEN MORE.WE'VE GOT TO MOTIVATE OUR GUYS,NOT JUST IN HERE BUT AT THE PARK, THE MALL THE STREETS,LET EM KNOW WE'RE FOR EM.ITS THE TIME AND VENUE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...REPEAT WORLD CHAMPS.2009 AND WE MAKE HISTORY !!AND A STRONG STATEMENT AROUND HERE AND THE COUNTRY..LETS GO PHIGHTIN'S BRING IT HOME!— t_darb_56
- Do you think that if the Phils win their second championship in a row, against the almighty Yankees, they might get a little respect as a legitimate great team? Probably not. Remember the A's. Phils in 6!— jburd641
- Lee...no problem....Hamels....no problem.....Pedro.....Yankees are his Daddy....no problem— jyak
- ZERO....Yankees in 4....GO YANKEES!!— jyak
