The Phillies are down 2-1 with CC
Sabathia awaiting them in Game 4 on Sunday night. Sounds pretty
ominous, right? Not if you're Charlie Manuel. He still plans on
sticking with Joe Blanton.
The Yankees are no-doubt licking their chops to face Blanton, who hasn't appeared in a game since October 19. Here's just a sampling of a few Yankees' past success against Blanton:
Derek Jeter: 4-for-12 (.333) with one walk, one home run and three RBI
Alex Rodriguez: 4-for-7 (.571) with three walks, two home runs and five RBI
Mark Teixeira: 9-for-27 (.333) with one home run, three home runs and seven RBI
The big question this morning is "Why not Lee?" He has a 0.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 30/3 K/BB ratio in four starts this postseason, including a masterful performance in Game 1.
While it's true that Lee has never started on three day's rest, the fallout of Manuel's decision is wide-reaching. Even if the Phillies win Game 5 with Lee on the hill, they will be forced to start Pedro Martinez in Game 6 and most likely Cole Hamels in a possible Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. After Hamels' comments following Saturday's loss, that can't be encouraging for Phillies fans. Meanwhile, Joe Girardi has his ace lined up for a possible Game 7, if it gets that far.
Giving Lee three starts give the Phillies their best -- and perhaps only -- chance to win.
The Yankees are no-doubt licking their chops to face Blanton, who hasn't appeared in a game since October 19. Here's just a sampling of a few Yankees' past success against Blanton:
Derek Jeter: 4-for-12 (.333) with one walk, one home run and three RBI
Alex Rodriguez: 4-for-7 (.571) with three walks, two home runs and five RBI
Mark Teixeira: 9-for-27 (.333) with one home run, three home runs and seven RBI
The big question this morning is "Why not Lee?" He has a 0.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 30/3 K/BB ratio in four starts this postseason, including a masterful performance in Game 1.
While it's true that Lee has never started on three day's rest, the fallout of Manuel's decision is wide-reaching. Even if the Phillies win Game 5 with Lee on the hill, they will be forced to start Pedro Martinez in Game 6 and most likely Cole Hamels in a possible Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. After Hamels' comments following Saturday's loss, that can't be encouraging for Phillies fans. Meanwhile, Joe Girardi has his ace lined up for a possible Game 7, if it gets that far.
Giving Lee three starts give the Phillies their best -- and perhaps only -- chance to win.
Lets face it gang. I don't care how many big hitters they have. If it weren't for Lee, this team would not have made it to the PLAY-OFFS period. Lets see if they can beat CC twice in the same series. I don't think so. Sorry Philly, you still have the Eagles.
I agree that Lee should pitch game 4. If Philly trails by 2 games, there is no way they will recover. Lee gets paid to pitch so let him pitch. to make it a series.
I'm also thinking that Lee should be starting today's game. He's never pitched on 3 days rest before...OK! The worst case scenario is that he's sub-par, and the Yankees smack him around and win. That still puts him in a position to start game 7 with full rest (assuming that the Phillies get that far), in a potential "make or break" duel with CC. The best case scenario is that he proves he can pitch on 3 days rest and tosses another gem, in which case, he's STILL available for game 7! By the way, I'm a die-hard Yankees fan (when I was growing up in Brooklyn, I would go to Yankee Stadium on Sunday while my Catholic friends went to THEIR church), so I'm really, you know, just feeling this one out and trying to be objective.
Philly should start Lee in game 4, no doubt about it. Doesn't matter that he has never pitched on 3 days rest, he is the clear ace of the staff so now is the time for him to get it done! If he can't go deep in the game, so be it, they got Happ waiting in the pen. I'm just saying Philly needs to put their top guy in like the Yanks are doing. I think Philly has the edge in the bullpen, depthwise. Yankees have no middle relievers.
Lee don't need no stinking 3 days rest! This is the stinking world series! How come you gringo managers always want 3 stinking days rest!?
charlie does not have a clue how to handle pitchers; however the only way to win the series is to beat the yankees with CC on three days rest as we did last year when he was with the Brewers, lee pitches game six and wins easily and then we get to game seven and then we have a decent shot. Not easy but the best chance to win four of seven.
Hey steveking........they have to make it to game 6 for Lee to pitch....if they lose tonight their won't be a game 6......the Phillys are DONE!
I think they should start Blanton, and if he gets in trouble put LEE in there. Blanton can go 4 innings with minor damage and then LEE can shut it down and pitch maybe 4 innings and be ready for game 7. Go Phillies.
Put Lee in there? What and waste a your best pitcher to try to salvage a game? Earth to Charlie!!! Play for TODAY. The Phils cannot go down 3-1. Enough Said.