Posted: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 11:38 AM | 13 comments |
 

Pregame tidbits, Game 1 edition
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Good morning from the Windy City. A few interesting bits from this morning’s episode of “Quality time with Charlie and Colbert:” 

--Manuel said it was a tough decision to leave Eric Bruntlett off the roster in favor of Miguel Cairo, but it came down to which of the two was more game ready.
 
“Bruntlett, the fact that he was on the team all year long, and the work he put in, and the part he played on our team, that was tough. That was a tough decision. But in the end, I felt like Cairo went to the minor leagues, he had playing time, and he was sharper. He was swinging the bat better, and I felt like he was in a position probably to help us more because of it.”
 
--Manuel said that Pedro Martinez will not be physically in the bullpen today, as will J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton, but he could pitch in relief if needed.
 
--Antonio Bastardo will likely be used against lefties in the middle innings, and ScottEyre and Happ in the late innings. Manuel was fuzzy on whether Eyre (elbow) can pitch on consecutive days.
 
--Manuel on the wind: “You won’t believe this, but I got up this morning and got outside of my house, and a limb blew down about 30 feet from my house. And it was a good sized limb, too. I thought, the wind is going to be blowing today.,,,if the wind is blowing out, its’ definitely going to affect the hitters.”
 
--Hamels was not critical or in any way outwardly unhappy about not getting the Game 1 assignment, but he offered blunt criticism about the two days games this week.
 
“In being the defending champs, I think it’s kind of a little weird that we get both games at 2 o’clock. I don’t think it’s fair. I definitely don’t think it’s fair to the fans, because this is all about the home-field advantage…I understand TV ratings, but I think at the end of the day, most players would rather play when they’re comfortable. That’s kind of what we’re trained at, either 1:00 or 7:00, and I think that’s more fair to us than really the TV ratings. I don’t think we (care) as much for TV ratings.”
 
 
Enjoy Game 1. 
Posted by Andy Martino @ 11:38 AM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:33 PM, 10/07/2009
    Good for Hamels, can't wait to see how much he gets fined...It is ridiculous that the defending champions are relegated to curtain jerkers!
    — beagle29
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:45 PM, 10/07/2009
    THey've had no respect all year from anyone outside Phil or Phil fans at a distance. GO PHILS!
    — oldecityslicker
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:01 PM, 10/07/2009
    Um, pardon my naivite, but just why would Hamels get fined for what he said? I don't see it at all.
    — KBland
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:11 PM, 10/07/2009
    He won't get fined. That's ridiculous.
    — bobby
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:14 PM, 10/07/2009
    Ya gotta love Charlie and his answers. Why would we not believe that a tree limb fell down by his house? And it makes perfect sense that it would then occur to him that it might be a windy day. Sometimes I wonder if he's just pulling our legs with that stuff...
    — bobby
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:23 PM, 10/07/2009
    I know Charlie is loyal to his players but he couldn't in his right mind justify putting Bruntlett on the playoff roster. He's valuble in that he can play a multitude of positions but he's been completely overmatched at the plate all year. He probably couldn't hit .250 in AA.
    — youpeoplehaveissues
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:28 PM, 10/07/2009
    Agreed...you hate to see a postseason roster spot taken by a .160 hitter, I don't care how good his defense is. Bruntlett seems like an OK guy but he had an atrocious season.
    — mikemimbs
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:14 PM, 10/07/2009
    news flash: tree limb falls in chucks yard, story at eleven. in other news hamels fined for comment on gametimes, it will cost him his wifes camaro. in unrealated news, a tree limb fell in my backyard today missed my house by 35 feet but hits my garage.
    — 4u2digest
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:12 PM, 10/07/2009
    Cole: Since when did "fair" enter the equation of Networks + $$$ = MLB?
    — jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:03 PM, 10/07/2009
    What's up with Brett Meyers, I don't see any mention of him anywhere?
    — kellyl404
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:21 AM, 10/08/2009
    I liked it when Joe Simpson ripped Martino and other members of the local media during the game for writing that the move to start Lee in Game 1 was "risky", lol
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:10 AM, 10/08/2009
    Leaving Bruntlett off the roster was the right decision, but I am surprised that Charlie did it. Charlie is loyal to his players - look how long he stuck with Lidge - but in the end he did what was best for the team.. He also should have left Lidge off the roster and included Walker, who has good career numbers against the Rockies, but it would have been a major shocker if he had done that.
    — zwarte piet


13 comments
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