NLCS rotation is set
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NLCS rotation is set
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
No surprises here. Charlie Manuel said Roy Halladay will start Game 1 and he will be followed by Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton.
"We wanted to set it up the way we had it," Manuel said. "The first three guys, if it goes seven games, can pitch two games. We figure on the fourth day that Joe would fit in that slot."
So the matchups will be as so:
Game 1: Roy Halladay vs. Tim Lincecum
Game 2: Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez
Game 3: Cole Hamels vs. Matt Cain
Game 4: Joe Blanton vs. Madison Bumgarner
I asked Manuel if he was set in stone on Blanton, regardless of where the series is at.
"I'm a day to day guy," Manuel said. "But at the same time, we have a plan. Rich and I felt that Blanton goes in the four slot for us."
I wonder, though, if the Phillies are down 2-1 or 3-0 whether Blanton actually starts Game 4. If Halladay were to go in Game 4, it would require everyone else to pitch on short rest for the remainder of the series.
Comments (32)
Big Joe is likely going to be rusty, been inactive for quite a while. Hope he hasn't lost ground that he made up in August and September. Seems like he needs lots of work to get sharp and stay sharp. Still, he should be good for 6 innings against the less-than-fearsome Giant's attack. I like the overall rotation, I feel like game 3 is pivotal in 7 game series (yeah, I know, they are ALL critical) and I like the new snarling Cole going after them in spacious Candlestick, no, ATT park. Firin' bb's!
Watch for big things from Raul this weekend. He's been right on most pitchers, hit into some bad luck, but I think he's ready. Along with Chase Chooch and Shane, of course.— Eephus- Charlie must not like statistics, I thought Hamels didn't do well in SF and Oswalt did? Agree with Blanton at 4, who else would go here? Not Worley.— djw26
- Oh no Joe Blanton going to give up a quick 3 to 4 runs in game 4. He probaly give them up at the bottom of the 1st or 2nd.— Jayjayhithard
- Although it WON'T be Phils down 2-1 or 3-0, and the 3 Amigos have a lot of innings in them this year, I firmly believe they can go on short rest for the NLCS against the Giant lineup. Wouldn't want them to have to do short rest against the Evil Empire...that wouldnt be easy.— Clem
- If Halladay goes in Game 4, Oswalt and Hamels would only have to go on short rest if Blanton didn't pitch Game 5, right?— Echo
- Blanton will give up five runs, and then hit two dingers to lead the Phils to victory.— smel4727
- I'm a Phillies fan for life but I'm considering putting $100 on the Giants to win the NLCS against the Phillies. If I place the bet, and the Phils win, I lose my $100 but the Phillies go on to the Series. If i place the bet and the Phillies lose, I'm bummed but i will make a $200 profit. If i DON'T place the bet (like I'm sure most Phillies fans won't) and the Phillies lose, I will be completed bummed plus i won't have that extra $200 in my pocket to use on enough drinks to soothe the pain— sedale
- Doesn't matter who pitches, the Phils have never seen Bumgarner before and he's a 20 year old lefty. The Phils hitting is pretty ugly against young pitchers they've never seen. Expect 13 Ks from Bumgarner. Not saying the Giants will win, just that it will be frustrating watching the game...— phasor
- Like the concept. Don't burn out H20 in the NLCS. People are to caught up in the series during the year which ended in a push. This is now and these are our PHILLIES??— hrlevine
- On one hand, I would've liked Hamels in game 2. On the other hand, why tinker with success? If it gets to 7 w. Cole at home, I'm OK with that. I also think Chollie & Dubee are thinking about regular rest if it goes 7 - pitching Roy in game 5 puts him in position to pitch game 1 of a WS, in which case I'd be betting on him going 1,4 & 7 - esp. if it is against C.Lee.I could care less about anyone's betting strategy or motivation— Ed3
- If the Phillies are down 3-0 in games, they're gonna have more to worry about than whether to pitch Blanton.....Something tells me these players are fixed on the goal (WS trophy) and won't deviate from it...lesser teams could easily be distracted and worrying about the next opponent and the next round, not these guys. They might just win it in 4 and Blanton might just pitch the clincher.....whoulda thunk it?— Mark1npt
joe will be great for 5 innings. the second somebody gets on in the sixth he gets yanked and we'll be fine. if the phils are down 0-3 than they're done anyway. why prolong it? if it's 1-2 then maybe you stick in RH. but then they gotta move up cole and RO, so who's left for game 7? the phils gotta go up at least 2-1— Evilvet- I like the rotation including Big Joe 1n the 4th. I think the key to the series is playing small ball and plating single runs here and there. Let the Phils do bunting practice especially Raul and Chooch to avoid dp's and advance a runner into scoring position. Play hit-and-run with Polanco or let Victorino steal. You can't always play for the big inning. Also bunts expose weaknesses in the other team's defense. The Phils are not going to get too many crooked numbers against the Giants.— Al Lefer
bring em on.— Mr. Underhill- Have no problem with Blanton starting game #4, the pivotal game will be the opening game, Halladay will pitch well but we HAVE to score some runs, all there is to it, just sayin!...— DJ
About this blog
The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
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