Posted: Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3:02 PM | 13 comments |
 
options
 
Colorado Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy said minutes ago there was a "good chance" that Ubaldo Jimenez will be their Game 1 starter against the Phillies in the NLDS, our Jim Salisbury reports from Los Angeles. 

Jimenez is 15-12 with a 3.47 earned run average, and has not faced the Phillies this season.
 
Tracy also said that that status of starter Jorge De La Rosa, who suffered a groin injury last night, was still undetermined. 
 
The Phils have yet to name their Wednesday starter, but the Phillies Zone’s educated guess is that it will be Cole Hamels. 
 
As far as J.A. Happ, the guess is that he will be available in the bullpen for games 1 and 2, and if he is not burned there, would start a potential game 4. Just speculation at this point, though, based on reporting. What would your playoff rotation look like, and how would you use Happ?
Posted by Andy Martino @ 3:02 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:31 PM, 10/04/2009
    hamels (thats gotta be why they gave him only 3 innings the other night, right?), lee, blanton, and happ. i agree they should use happ in the pen the first 2 games, if necessary.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:39 PM, 10/04/2009
    would not happen and i dont expect it would, but the move is to throw happ in game 2 based on his performance this year v. col and his unbelieveable consistency this year...
    the_big_guy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:40 PM, 10/04/2009
    Gotta go with Lee in Game 1. He has the extra day' rest. And Cole gets Game 2 with his precious 4 days rest in between starts.
    UncleEddie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:28 PM, 10/04/2009
    How far will the Phillies go now that they 'rested ' some of thier starters to get wins and home field adventage
    wes
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:26 PM, 10/04/2009
    Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Pedro.. got to keep Happ in the bullpen just in case Lee or Hamels struggle early in their games. If we lose the first two games, then bump Pedro in before Blanton, I rather have Pedro's demeanor on the mound in a series-ending game over Blanton. I love what Happ has done this season as a starter but, we need him as an insurance in case any of our other 4 starters crash and burn early. This is the post season, we can afford to give 4 runs up in 5 innings.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:30 PM, 10/04/2009
    I think Hamels has earned Game 1. True big game pitchers don't come along that often. Use him as much as they can. King Cole, Lee, Blanton and Happ then bring on the Cardinals and home field advantage!
    phillyjeffsr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:28 PM, 10/04/2009
    What kind of respect is it making the defending champions play both games in the middle of the afternoon?
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:22 AM, 10/05/2009
    I like the idea of Happ getting a start if not burned in the first couple games. But I fail to see why your suggestion, or prediction is game 4. I'm inclined to go lefty left lefty and utilize the strength in the particular matchup.
    KBland
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:46 AM, 10/05/2009
    I think Charlie may start Happ in game 3 depending on outcome of first two.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 AM, 10/05/2009
    Hamels has to start game one over Lee. Both have struggle lately, but Hamels has playoff experience. This is going to be Lee's first.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:35 AM, 10/05/2009
    ReclinerGM has a good preview post up comparing the Phils and Rox in 10 different areas... http://www.reclinergm.com/2009-nlds-preview-phillies-vs-rockies/
    psalveso
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:07 AM, 10/05/2009
    How soon we forget last year-HAMELS all the way for game one. Lee hasn't exactly been sharp his last couple outings. HAMELS/LEE/BLANTON/HAPP/HAMELS
    bobmc


13 comments
About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Latest Phillies Videos