Letters: How Phils lost the Series

Philadelphia Daily News

WHEN the Phils got Cliff Lee from the Indians, he picked up the whole staff and the team looked like a juggernaut for two weeks.

Then Charlie went into his loyalty act, which kills all good managers. He was determined to keep sending Brad Lidge to the mound to get him ready for the postseason.

Everyone in baseball except Charlie knew this wasn't the same Lidge. Every time a starter pitched a game good enough to win, Lidge came in and lost it. That didn't deter Charlie.

The starters began to lose faith in the closers, and their game suffered. We all knew Lidge was going to falter in a crucial game, and Charlie made that possible. First the goofy shift that left third base uncovered. Then they said Lidge couldn't throw his sinker with a man on third. So he should have been taken out.

But Charlie said, "Brad Lidge is my closer," and the game blew up. If they had won that game, the Series would have been tied 3-3.

Another blunder was ignoring J.A. Happ, the second best pitcher on the staff the last quarter of the season. The final blunder was starting Joe Blanton, always the fourth or fifth pitcher on any staff.

My rotation would've been Lee, Happ, Hamels, Martinez. We could've won both games in New York and had the Yankees nervous and unsure. We would've survived Howard's slump. Instead, two admitted steroid users were prancing around the baseball diamond saying, "We did it!"

Did what? Use drugs? The Phillies were a better team and should have won this Series.

Mark Conte, Navarre, Fla.

To the Phillies management:

Get out the checkbook and sign Mr. Cliff Lee. Do not let him test free agency after the 2010 season. Wrap it up now, and the Yankees won't have a chance.

Ed Eaise

Audubon, N.J.

Comments

Posted 08:43 AM, 11/09/2009

longshanks

The Phillies were not the better team, they didn't win 130 games this season like the Yankees did. Get over it fella, they lost. They came close and had a great season. No doubt they'll be back. Time to stop whining.

Posted 10:09 AM, 11/09/2009

daffydux

Yankees were the best team in baseball in 2009. They will continue to be the best team in baseball because the owners spend .End of story.

Posted 12:18 PM, 11/09/2009

GalRand

Salary cap and bouncing steroid using players out period would do wonders!!!!

Posted 01:53 PM, 11/09/2009

Sir Digby

The Yankees didn't win 130 games...

Posted 02:45 PM, 11/09/2009

kingofpoker

NEVER-NEVER-NEVER EVEN READ OR TRY TO UNDERSTAND longshanks posts- its never right or makes any sense. He just likes to write bull. He whines like a baby........

Posted 04:33 PM, 11/09/2009

bluehaha

Had the Yankees "nervous"? What game was this guy watching??

Posted 04:34 PM, 11/09/2009

bluehaha

yes, we know, 103 NOT 130. But if the Phils had a reliable closer, they would probably have had 103 wins too.

Posted 05:40 PM, 11/09/2009

IrishBrendan

How 'bout them YANKEES!!!!!!

Posted 11:23 PM, 11/09/2009

nylady2

The Yankees won hands down, give it up. The Phillies were the better team last year, as in past tense. Their bull pen could not hold up. Accept it. Your dynasty is over before it began. The Yankees speak for themselves.

Posted 09:38 AM, 11/10/2009

markconte

nylady2, Damon and Matsui are leaving the Yankees and at least two starting pitchers are leaving baseball. Also, steriod users are ineligible for the Hall of Fame. They call them cheaters. Ask Mark McQuire. The home runs McQuire ans Sosa mean nothing today. Get it?