What was Charlie Manuel thinking? (pitchers, playoffs, pitcher, win)

[Lancet71]

I don't know about you,but in a 7 game series I want my best pitcher in as many games as possible.I said it before about the game 4 matchup and i'll say it again.If you pitched Cliff Lee in Game 4,and for arguments sake lets say it goes to 7;then you can pitch him again.I realize he has never pitched on 3 days rest,but what are they waiting for? Would you rather have a guy that shut down my Yanks in Game 1 or Joe Blanton? I guess that's why they are down 3 games to 1 now and have to win 3 straight to win the series. I hope Cliff Lee gets enough rest in the offseason because the postseason is when your supposed to dig deep and thats why Sabathia and Burnett are both going after 3 days rest. I guess Cliff Lee joining the Phils was just to get them to the playoffs because they sure as hell aren't utilizing him properly!!!Congrats to the Phils.The managing of the team will send you home as World Series losers!!!

[bjive]

I kinda agree with you on this.Tough to say though.Managers are put in difficult situations but that why they are paid the big bucks.The guy goes out and gets shelled in the 1st inning due to a tired arm and you know the manager is going to catch hell.
I do however remember Hershiser pitching against the A's in the WS in 90,I think that year.Seems like he pitched 3 or 4 games.If memory serves correct he pretty much shut them down.

[bjive]

Had to refresh my mind on the net.
Hershiser pitched in the 88 NLCS Starting games 1 and 3,got the save in game 4 and then pitched a complete game shutout in game 7.
That's earning a paycheck.
Then pitched game 2 and 5 in the WS

[twista6002]

It's not like Blanton got rocked. How many balls were hit hard?

[waltlantz]

Yea, Blanton was good. But our bats STINK and the shift was a bonehead move.

[lititzman2003]

Blanton didn't have good ball movement or location from the start. Park and Madson kept the Yankees batters off balance with their fastballs. You would think Lidge got the memo about covering third base when the shift is on. Damon taking two bases on that play was inexcusable and embarrassing. When the Series ends the Phillies are going to have to take a long, hard look at their pitching staff .

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by waltlantz

Yea, Blanton was good. But our bats STINK and the shift was a bonehead move.

Yeah, what the hell was up with that Teixeira shift? And nobody covering third?

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by twista6002

It's not like Blanton got rocked. How many balls were hit hard?

It doesn't matter what the outcome was.It matters what happened in game 1 and which pitcher gave you a better chance in the series to tie it up.

[pokrplr]

Originally Posted by Lancet71

It doesn't matter what the outcome was.It matters what happened in game 1 and which pitcher gave you a better chance in the series to tie it up.

Letting Lee get the complete game was a bonehead move! Up 6-0, do you really have NO faith in the bullpen??

[filihok]

Originally Posted by bjive

Had to refresh my mind on the net.
Hershiser pitched in the 88 NLCS Starting games 1 and 3,got the save in game 4 and then pitched a complete game shutout in game 7.
That's earning a paycheck.
Then pitched game 2 and 5 in the WS

Then two years later he was nowhere near the same pitcher ever again. A pitchers arm can only take so much.

If you want to argue that that isn't Manuel's problem since Lee is a free agent...go for it.

Originally Posted by pokrplr

Letting Lee get the complete game was a bonehead move! Up 6-0, do you really have NO faith in the bullpen??

You see what the bullpen did yesterday. Just sayin'

2009 World Series - NYY vs. PHI - Baseball-Reference.com

Also, after Lee had pitched 7 innings the score was 2 - 0.

Definitely leave him in at that point

4 - 0 after Phillies half of the 9th

This is debatable. If you take him out, maybe he has a chance to come back on 3 days' rest. But, Manuel didn't say anything about Lee being too tired to pitch on 3 days rest. Just that he has never done it, and wasn't going to do it.

I would have asked Lee if he wanted to go on 3 days. Because he's your best chance to win.