Inside the Phillies: Phillies aces make quick work of opposition

The Phillies aces all throw a variety of fastballs that allow them to rank among the best in the game.

They also throw fast ball games, an ability that is appreciated by all with the possible exception of the people selling hot dogs and beer at the ballpark.

In the first two weeks of the season, the Phillies have returned us to a wonderful era when two-hour games were common, commercial breaks were brief, and three-hour marathons occurred only when a game went extra innings.

Through their first 13 games this season, the Phillies' longest game was 2 hours, 56 minutes and the shortest was Thursday night, when Cliff Lee finished what he started in 2 hours, 6 minutes. Four of the team's first 13 games lasted 2:30 or less.

It was only the second time in the last 30 years that the Phillies went through the first 13 games without playing at least one game longer than three hours. The only other year the Phillies went that deep into the season without playing a three-hour game was in 1985. That team went 22 games before enduring a marathon longer than three hours.

A year ago after 13 games, the Phillies had already played eight three-hour-plus games. Entering Saturday's games, 24 of the other 29 teams had already played at least four three-hour-plus games and 27 had played at least three. Two teams – Colorado and Detroit – had played nine three-hour-plus games.

"We haven't played a three-hour game yet?" Shane Victorino said before Friday's series opener against the Florida Marlins. "I didn't know that. That's a nice stat. Hopefully we can keep that going and scoring runs and winning."

The reason for the abbreviated games is obvious.

"It's absolutely about having the kind of pitching staff we have," Victorino said. "You like having guys who get the ball and go. I would probably say that Cliff is the quickest of all of them, but every one of those guys is boom, boom, boom, and if you blink you're going to miss something."

Victorino confessed that Lee, Roy Halladay, and Roy Oswalt work so quickly that he has to make sure he's in position and ready to field the ball at all times.

"Sometimes you'll look into a corner to watch a guy get a ball and you have to get back because those guys get on the mound and go," Victorino said. "I've caught myself going, 'Oh geez, I better be ready.' It's good though, because as a defense it keeps you in a rhythm. I'd much rather have it that way than somebody who works slow."

Everybody loves fast games, but not everybody loves talking about them for fear they will jinx the process. There's no faster way to incur the wrath of baseball writers than mentioning the rapid pace of a baseball game. In fact, my baseball writer's card may be revoked Monday if any of my colleagues stumble upon this story.

Players also are reluctant to mention the pace of games. They may enjoy a gem like Lee pitched the other night against the Washington Nationals, but they would not dare say a thing about it during the game.

First baseman Ryan Howard, in fact, was hesitant to talk about the subject as he prepared for Friday night's game against Florida.

"Nooooooo," he said when approached at his locker Friday. "Are you kidding? I swear, I will hunt you down if this game goes long. I'm going to have to hunt you down."

Visions of Howard walking toward me with a 35-ounce Marucci maple are still running through my head. Wonder if I'll land in the ivy that covers the center-field wall at Citizens Bank Park? If I'm fortunate I'll clear the wall and land at the front of the long line at Tony Luke's.

"On defense, you want a guy with good tempo who wants to keep the game going," Howard said. "When you have two guys like Lee and [Washington's] Jordan Zimmerman mowing guys down, I think games like that they're good and exciting. It's all about tempo because on defense you don't want to be standing out there all day. Our pitchers have pretty good tempo. They're all good about getting the ball and working."

Howard said players on the field are like the writers in the press box. When a game is moving fast, it is taboo to make mention of it.

"No, no, no," he said, answering the question before it was completed. "I know what you're going to ask and, no, we don't mention it."

Manager Charlie Manuel also appreciates a fast game.

"I think it's good," Manuel said. "I think it creates a better interest in the game for the fans, and I liked it as a player. The quicker the game is and if you win, it seems like you have more time to enjoy it. I think all fast games are good, but when you play fast games and win, it's good for the spirit of your team.

"We got guys who get the ball and throw the ball, and that keeps you alive and alert. When the game drags out and every pitcher is going 3-2, that's when you start standing around and you're apt to make mistakes."

Fast games are just another reason it's good to have four aces.