What was Charlie Manuel thinking? (coach, playoff, Red Sox, Mets)

[aardvarks]

Originally Posted by Upton

Some of you criticizing Manuel's starting pitching choice, would have had a whole different take had the Phillies won last night. Then you'd be saying what a great move it was...the series is tied and Lee is going in a pivotal 5th game.

Fact: Lee had never before pitched on 3 days rest.

I mean hindsight is 20/20 and all that but, IMO, Manuel made the proper choice. You need more than one reliable starter to win a WS anyway..something the Phillies apparently don't have.

Not hindsight:

I don't like the term "must win" that the talking heads have thrown around every game of this series. So I'll refrain from using it here, But I will say the Phils better take game 3, or they will likely be down 3-1 after game 4.

I wrote that b4 game #3, after hearing Uncle Charlie said he was starting Blanton in game #4,

nothing against Blanton but he's a league average starter, going against Sabathia, that's not to say he couldn't win just that he probably wouldn't.
I figured Blanton would go 6 and give up 3-4 runs, likely not going to be good enough.

I predicted the Yanks would win in 6, but for argument sake, If the Phils force a game #7, you know the Yanks will use CC, who pitches for the Phils?

I've seen enough of Hamels already this October to assume he'd likely get lit up and I think they should give the kid Happ a try.

Thoughts?

[CHIP72]

I like the Phillies' chances against Sabathia in Game 7, though the pitching matchup would favor the Yankees. The Phils will probably start Cole Hamels but he will be kept on a short leash. If he runs into trouble early, the Phillies will probably turn to J.A. Happ or perhaps even Joe Blanton (who would be pitching on 3 days rest and probably could give them 3-4 innings if necessary).

[jp03]

Originally Posted by CHIP72

I like the Phillies' chances against Sabathia in Game 7, though the pitching matchup would favor the Yankees. The Phils will probably start Cole Hamels but he will be kept on a short leash. If he runs into trouble early, the Phillies will probably turn to J.A. Happ or perhaps even Joe Blanton (who would be pitching on 3 days rest and probably could give them 3-4 innings if necessary).

Hmmm. I hope you are right but....how exactly does this scenerio make their chances promising?

[dspguy]

If it goes to Game 7, the biggest question is whether Sabathia still has anything left in the tank.

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by aardvarks

Not hindsight:

I don't like the term "must win" that the talking heads have thrown around every game of this series. So I'll refrain from using it here, But I will say the Phils better take game 3, or they will likely be down 3-1 after game 4.

I wrote that b4 game #3, after hearing Uncle Charlie said he was starting Blanton in game #4,

nothing against Blanton but he's a league average starter, going against Sabathia, that's not to say he couldn't win just that he probably wouldn't.
I figured Blanton would go 6 and give up 3-4 runs, likely not going to be good enough.

I predicted the Yanks would win in 6, but for argument sake, If the Phils force a game #7, you know the Yanks will use CC, who pitches for the Phils?

I've seen enough of Hamels already this October to assume he'd likely get lit up and I think they should give the kid Happ a try.

Thoughts?

I think you're right.Happ might be a better idea but I expect the Yanks to finish it tonight in 6!

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by Lancet71

I think you're right.Happ might be a better idea but I expect the Yanks to finish it tonight in 6!

Its going 7....the well-rested old goat will beat the tired old goat!

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Its going 7....the well-rested old goat will beat the tired old goat!

Never underestimate Pettitte.He is a workhorse that wants to win this more then anyone else.I think he will be lights out tonight.Sorry haters but with the Yankee crowd plus the competitiveness of Andy;it's not going to go to a 7th game.You might as well start congratulating us on #27 now!

[jp03]

Originally Posted by Lancet71

Never underestimate Pettitte.He is a workhorse that wants to win this more then anyone else.I think he will be lights out tonight.Sorry haters but with the Yankee crowd plus the competitiveness of Andy;it's not going to go to a 7th game.You might as well start congratulating us on #27 now!

You may win it ..but they'll be no congrats for the best team money can buy.

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by jp03

You may win it ..but they'll be no congrats for the best team money can buy.

If my outfield was different then maybe you could make that comment or if my middle relievers weren't almost all homegrown. Of course there are no congrats,because you're a whiner.If a team spent 300 million that wouldn't guarantee a title.The fact is that we played the best and our salaries from last year went down and next year they will go down again. Maybe one day you can pull your head out of the pillow and wipe away the tears and give credit where it is due. Until that time, go back to hiding in your basement or you can lie to everyone and say that you are thankful that baseball is over because you were just waiting to concentrate on football anyway.

[jp03]

Originally Posted by Lancet71

If my outfield was different then maybe you could make that comment or if my middle relievers weren't almost all homegrown. Of course there are no congrats,because you're a whiner.If a team spent 300 million that wouldn't guarantee a title.The fact is that we played the best and our salaries from last year went down and next year they will go down again. Maybe one day you can pull your head out of the pillow and wipe away the tears and give credit where it is due. Until that time, go back to hiding in your basement or you can lie to everyone and say that you are thankful that baseball is over because you were just waiting to concentrate on football anyway.

Do you own this team? Wow....odd ("my outfield was different ")

Is this George Steinbrenner?