Just heard that the Phillies have set up their rotation for the first three games of the National League division series against the Milwaukee Brewers: Cole Hamels will pitch Game 1 on Wednesday, Brett Myers will pitch Game 2 on Thursday and Jamie Moyer will pitch Game 3 on Saturday.
This isn't a surprise.
Hamels is their best pitcher, so they will pitch him Game 1. Myers dominated the Brewers earlier this month. And because the Brewers struggle against righthanded pitching, they probably didn't want the Brewers to face back-to-back lefthanders. The Phillies think they have a handle on Myers' recent pitching woes, but we'll know for sure Thursday. And Moyer goes Saturday in Game 3 in Milwaukee.
So what happens after that?
I think it depends on the situation. If the Phillies lead the best-of-five series, 2-1, you might see Joe Blanton on Sunday. If the Brewers lead, 2-1, the Phillies have to decide if they want to pitch Hamels on short rest or stick wtih Blanton and bring back Hamels at full strength for Game 5.
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Don't know much about Milwaukee? Here's a taste.
Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 3:27 PM
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61 comments
Bottom line, Phillies need to score some more runs for Hamels, preferably early AND we must to win Game 1. Lose Game 1 and it puts too much pressure on Myers, etc...
To me, Game 1 is the key for the Phillies/the Series.
Hamels will be on full rest for Game 5 if necessary. It would be Game 4 that would be short rest for him. Actually for Game 5, Hamels would have an extra days rest - as Game 5 would be on October 7th.
You can't expect the Phils to sweep. That would be too easy and the Phils never do anything without melodrama. I'm hoping for a four game series with the Phils winning three. About ESPN: They still do have their favorite team in the playoffs--the Red Sox. If the Sox lose, they may not even want to broadcast the rest of the playoffs. Poor babies.....
OK, Brett had two ineffective starts after cowboying up and pitching a shutout against the Brewers...on short rest. He'll be well-rested and raring to go for his matchup with CC in Game 2. We should see a great pitcher's duel that night.
Thanks a lot, Zo! Now I can't get the Laverne & Shirley theme out of my head! LOL!
remyy......I think Moyer should pitch games 1, 2 AND 3!. If any pitcher in the game can go on no rest, it would be Jamie! And he WAS playing toss in the dugout during Sunday's game, so he should be ready. LOL!
Wally.....I wish I had rosary beads! I was hoping everyone else did! LOL!
Let's hope Hamels learned something about keeping his emotions in check from the second game of the Mets double header.
i think the Phils will be fine... They may sweep depending on what happens in GM2. The short rest could start to catch up to CC and Myers will be ok... I expect Phils in 3 or 4...
I think it will be easy to tell if Myers has his stuff early, if not Charlie needs to use the hook. No matter how bad Myers reacts to it.
Great, this is the game that I have tickets to. I get to see the headcase pitch, lucky me.
moyer should pitch game one, he has been the real ace on this staff.
Won't be making a big wager on Game 2 . . .
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Did you hear the moron Tim McCarver trying to jinx Brad Lidge on his 40 for 40 streak? McCarver is so jealous that his Muts won't be in it. That yang-yaw accent just kills me. On he went.. He repeated it 10x times..."Brad Lidge going for his 41st save." Get a life Tim.. we don't want you or your pathetic yang-yang hee-haw in Philly.
As for the rotation, Come on Brett... Lights Out Time!
The Brewers will not be able to mount much of an attack, unless they start Sabathia on 2-days rest. I have sabermetrically-inclined blog where I've calculated the odds of all the series, and the Phillies have a very good chance to take the series: http://sabermetrati.blogspot.com
Kendrick isn;t even on the roster - that would be pretty thin.
Thanks guys. FLGATOR, I don't know that 120 pitches would get Sabathia out of the game. If the Brewers need him in there, he's staying in there. They have shown that they have no problem riding him hard. No reason to think they're going to ease up now in the playoffs. Our only chance to get him out is to hit him and knock him out of the game (figuratively, not literally Mike).......As far as the 'ace' situation, Bobby is right. Now is the time you give your team what they need, period. If we are down 1-2, Cole has got to step up and take the ball. At that point, no consideration can be given to the next series, next season, or even the next game. If that situation arises, all that matters is a game 4 win, and Hamels should be the one who wants to get it for us.
Norma, I think Charlie and Rich are having the concerns over the same two pitchers. About a month ago I accused Charlie of using a bag of chicken bones to decide who got the next start. Maybe you could lend them your Rosaries for some guidance.
Norma, I missed out on NLDS tickets, but like you I got NLCS Game 3, Sec. 301, baby. bski: Congrats on your convincing sarcasm. MikeP fell for it, hook, line & sinker. As for the Hamels question, Citizen Rohrshach, you must have gotten your days mixed up, right? As others have noted, Hamels will be well-rested by Game 5, so the real question is does he start Game 4 on 3 days rest. My initial reaction is of course we do, and certainly if we're down 1-2. I posted recently that Cole should take a lesson in being an 'ace' from what Johan Santana did this past week for the Mutts. Well, we can add CC to that faculty. Cole should not wait to be asked. He should make it clear to Charlie right now that he wants the ball. "If they need me, I'll consider it" does not work. It's time for heroes to step up.
bski, He'll eventually go back and re-read and get it. Regulars here know you are a Phils fan. pjlay -- good luck with being in LA and being a Phils fan. I spent 8 yrs out of the area and it was pure hell when it came to the games live time.
Phils need to work deep counts against CC in game 2, make him throw 120 pitches by the end of six innings and crush that horseblank bullpen the brewers have! I need a Phils win badly...my Gators and Iggles went down so i need some good news..
bski....You are sooooo funny! LOL!
I'm going to be on pins and needles (does anybody say that anymore?) during the first two games! I still don't consider Hamels our ace. We better get decent offense behind him! And Myers facing Sabathia could go either way. Brett might rise to the challange. Or it could get completely in his head, that he's facing one of the best pitchers in the game. Everyone get out your rosary beads!
Mike, you're WAY OFF! That post was a tongue in cheek continuation of the back and forth Wally and I were having about ESPN and all the coverage they are giving to the failures of the Yankees and Mets at the expense of all the playoff teams who deserve the attention. In the future I guess I'll have to add a disclaimer to all my sardonic posts so that I'm not misunderstood.
Imagine all the sad, sappy, last season in the house stories ESPN won't be able to bash over our heads about 'The House That Ruth Built' & 'Remember them Amazin Mets'.
Wahoo! A friend of mine was picked in the *lottery* for NLCS tics! And he's taking ME!!!!!! Game three, Oct. 12, I think. Deep right field, sec. 305, by the foul pole. Look for me on TV. LOL!
Hey when it comes to start times of the games, LA vs Cubs are a shoe-in for prime time coverage. It doesn't matter because at some point they will have to deal with us, then you'll see start times around 8:30pm.
I am a Philadelphian consulting in Orange County CA and I can tell you baseball is so exciting here. There are so many people at the sports bars hanging on every pitch for lots of different teams. I am the only guy from Philly here but they still put the Phillies and Penn State on for me. Having been with the Phillies since the 50s, it is hard for me to believe the headlines in the sports pages these days. Go Phillies! Go Nittany Lions!
I am a Philadelphian consulting in Orange County CA and I can tell you baseball is so exciting here. There are so many people at the sports bars hanging on every pitch for lots of different teams. I am the only guy from Philly here but they still put the Phillies and Penn State on for me. Having been with the Phillies since the 50s, it is hard for me to believe the headlines in the sports pages these days. Go Phillies! Go Nittany Lions!
I am a Philadelphian consulting in Orange County CA and I can tell you baseball is so exciting here. There are so many people at the sports bars hanging on every pitch for lots of different teams. I am the only guy from Philly here but they still put the Phillies and Penn State on for me. Having been with the Phillies since the 50s, it is hard for me to believe the headlines in the sports pages these days. Go Phillies! Go Nittany Lions!
I am a Philadelphian consulting in Orange County CA and I can tell you baseball is so exciting here. There are so many people at the sports bars hanging on every pitch for lots of different teams. I am the only guy from Philly here but they still put the Phillies and Penn State on for me. Having been with the Phillies since the 50s, it is hard for me to believe the headlines in the sports pages these days. Go Phillies! Go Nittany Lions!
bski is a loser Mets fan. Can't wait until you come down to a Phillies game next year so I can laugh in your face. What a sore loser. Nobody cares about NY anymore. The only thing NY is known for today is choking and creating the next Great Depression. Half of Wall Street is going to end up in jail. What a pathetic end for what was a great city. Now it's not the center of anything.
The Phillies do well on the road. I would have considered starting Meyers the first away game to lessen the preasure. I'm a little concerned that he'll unravel if he starts poorly or struggles and starts getting booed.
I'm very surpised that any of the post season games will be on television. What a waste, right? With both New York teams out of it, nobody will be watching. I'm sure they would get higher ratings by broadcasting a test pattern instead. I figured there would be a last minute switch to radio coverage exclusively.
Citizen Rorshach,
Game 1 is on Wednesday, and game 5 is on Tuesday. So that's plenty of rest. The real question is if we're down 1-2 on Sunday, do we pitch Cole on 3 days rest in order to get to game 5.
Yea not a big surprise here as you have all stated. If it does go to game 5 you have to throw Hamels, for starters its not a guarantee that Kendrick and Happ are even going to make the postseason roster. You cant bring 6 starters into the playoffs leaving your bullpen empty. Regardless, Cole is the ACE right? Well if he is our ace then he will pitch game 5 no questions asked because thats what aces do in the playoffs. Hey CC is pitching game one after pitching a complete game yesterday now he is an "Ace" regardless of what he does in game 1.
A side note, not sure if you guys realize (as Karen said) those are pretty big franchises playing their last games in historic stadium(s) (really only one is historic) Not to mention the fact that both teams have monstrous payrolls and neither are making the playoffs both teams stood up there and rolled over, not heart on either squad.
Wally 24 - Amen. You are 100% correct and I LIVE in NYC (as a proud Philadelphia sports fan) and it's amazing how when their teams are out of the baseball playoffs that the rest of the world ignores us.
Who do you think Zolecki is rooting for?
If this series goes 5 games and Hamels doesnt pitch twice, there is something seriously wrong in Philly.
ESPN is still in business? They can't be, with the Noo Yawkuz "outta here!" LET'S GO, PHILLIES! (Just win the last game in October.)
Citizen, is Hamels all the way. The Phillies will use four starters most likely. The 5th game will be Tuesday, so he'll have plenty of rest. Anyway, Kendrick won't be in the playoff roster and it's also a strong possibility Happ won't be included either.
Norma,6200. And Scotter, I think most of us have a suggestion on where you can put that broom, watch out for splinters...LOL.
the brooms are ready, as the Phillies will be swept again, book it danno
mrjetsondc: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ahem. Sorry. That was funny.
Karen, Lets hope it happens once again and Moyer is pitching for the 3rd win of the series'
Push comes to shove and the series goes to a Game 5...do we start Kendrick? Happ? Or ask Hamels to take one for the team and go out there again? I'd just worry that we'd get thin by that point.
bski, It's that kind of out right bias that keeps me from watching ESPN on a regular basis. Their 5 analyst panel picked New York and Fla to finish ahead of us this year.
Plus you have both "storied" stadiums closing this year which adds to NY's melodrama
ESPN is terrible. I'm surprised they haven't put on 24 hours of the Yankees. ESPN cannot stand the fact that the Phillies got into the post season.
I agree Wally...having Moyer pitch the 3rd game is excellent strategy. He's the pitcher I'd want when the series is on the line. He's proven he can handle the pressure of these types of games (ie Saturday's game)
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Maybe he can throw a fastball this time.
Smart move starting Moyer in the 1st away game in Milwaukee. I'm worried about Hamels and Myers these first two games but if they step up and perform the way we know they can we'll win.
Wally, It's no different than last week. After the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs, espn went on and on about it. What dose it mean. What about the off season. What can we expect next year. You'd swear the entire team was killed in a plane crash or something......About the Phils, you're right on about Myers, Bobby. Hamels should get the job done in game 1, which means that Myers' start will be the key to how the rest the series lays out, especially considering he will be facing Sabathia.
Sorry Jeffrey loas my head!
I love how Gavin Floyd is pitching against Freddy Garcia today for a potential spot in the playoffs. Very ironic?! Almost as good as Helms getting the winning run for the Marlins yesterday.
shhhh... no yelling, please.
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ITS 10 MIN.S TO 3PM AND ESPN IS STILL CARRYING ON ABOUT THE METS LOSS AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO NEXT! NOT MUCH TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER TEAMS WHO WON BUT THEN THEY AREN'T FROM NEW YORK.
jimmy.....Short term memory loss. 6200 or 6220?
Yup, no surprise here. The real key here, of course, is Brett Myers. All other factors being equal, I think it's on Myers to determine how far this team can go in the playoffs. A strong Meyers equals possible short series wins and a very good chance of making it to the WS. A weak Myers means playing from behind and using up the bullpen, which then jeopardizes other games. Come on, Brett. Be the pitcher you were in July and August!
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