Rocktober is Over

I’ve seen that look before- the one covering the Rockies fans’ faces after the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, ending their season. Maybe it was the 2002 NFC Championship Game versus Tampa Bay. Maybe Dale Hunter ending the 1998 Flyers season. To be alive entering the building- and oh so dead leaving it.

So the only team with any hope of derailing the New York Yankees continues to the next round. I’m surprisingly confident- Philadelphians know for a fact that Randy Wolf and Vincente Padilla can be had- and those two characters figure to make like four starts here.

Ultimately, this series victory further validates Charlie Manuel. Any fool can probably win this thing once via superior talent or luck. And I am the first guy to ding Charlie as an in-game strategist.

But this series, he and his approach shined. The hallmark of this organization under Charlie has been 27-outs, 162-games. They never quit- always give the A-level effort. Buried behind the Mets, a gut punch last night during the Rockies own three run eighth inning rally… doesn’t matter. The Phillies pick themselves up- and generate good at-bats, get good speed on the bases, pressure, more pressure, until one of their big RBI bats crunches one.

But, in addition this time, Charlie did a great job with the pitching. He has zero trusted bullpen options and no clear solutions as to the game three starter. But he got the pitchers with the best chance to succeed in the game again and again. Colorado can’t hit left-handed starting pitching- well, here is lefty after lefty. No closer? Well, defer to what we can do… get Madson in the game in the most crucial situations regardless of inning, get Eyre to faces bunches of left-handed hitting, mix and match Happ and Blanton from the rotation or long-relief to get the next six outs, spot Lidge where he only need to get one out and not three on a back-to-back night.

Not all the moves worked- the Phillies surely have real ‘pen issues- but a lot did because guys were brought in to pitch in situations they arguably could handle. Eyre might not be a ninth inning candidate- but he is sort of a candidate to get a couple of lefties out- so he is in position to succeed getting left-handed hitting out in the ninth, right?

So good job Charlie.

(ed. note- a more cheery Game 7 ending versus Washington)

The Sporting Life Is Worthwhile

Sunday was obviously one of those days that really makes me glad I give so much time and effort following professional sport. Gosh, was I ever rewarded as yesterday? Is there anything more wholesome than being parked with your youngest brother, on the third floor of the ancestral family home, being forced fed bad middle relief until 2:30 in the morning? My forehead literally hurts from disgusted and frantic rubbing. And then, Nelson-like victory!

But first, off to the Linc to watch the Philadelphia Eagles half-interestedly dismantle a hapless Tampa Bay outfit. And this victory was despite playing pretty bored and stupid. Again, particularly over the Philadelphia offense, hangs this sense of preseason game eight or so- the constant breaking in of new weapons (McNabb and Maclin), experimenting with old (Westbrook was back- sort of, at times), sharply calling a halt to proceedings to run odd “wildcat plays” (this experiment is simply not working). Heck, even Kolb got in for a play to hand it off for some reason- causing the Eagles to burn a timeout when Vick didn’t re-enter promptly enough. Or something like that. MLB Trotter showed up, played some- then shuffled off to deeper parts of the roster.

On defense, Philadelphia just looks so bored and commits rashes of penalties. Frankly, everyone the Eagles play- outside of New Orleans- seems simply horrid. Coach Andy seems to want to use this games in some sort of giant bloodying exercises for all new the offensive performers.

Of course, then the four plus hour NLDS marathon with Colorado. You have to sort of watch just to see who Charlie will pitch next. It is weird, you find yourself arguing vociferously for inanities like “Bastardo now!”- and no would be shocked if Randy Lerch surfaced as a situational lefty. After Charlie’s machinations failed in Game 2, he seemingly pressed more of the right buttons in Game 3.

Every move is fraught with the worst perils. Introducing Blanton early means guys like Scott Eyre need to move past comfortable situational roles. Removing Eyre short of said full inning means burning Madson early than wanted. And of course, the whole axis of decisions moving closer and closer to the closer: Brad “Rockets Red Glare” Lidge.

Still, we’re alive- and the Rockies face trouble- needing to beat Lee or Hamels back in Philadelphia- and whipping quality starting LHP is not their thing. So: Don’t worry Red Sox fans! The Phillies will take care of those Yankees for you yet!

NLDS Woes

The most frustrating thing about the Phillies 5-4 loss to Colorado in Game 2 was the way every potentially suspect part of the Phillies was magnified in one shot: Howard’s throwing, Charlie’s in game managing, the bullpen.

Charlie’s decision to have both suspected Game 3 starters pitch out of the bullpen (both Blanton & Happ) has drawn a lot of controversy.

First, Bill Conlin:

Will Terrible Thursday be remembered by Phillies fans as a pitching version of 1977's Black Friday?

The question hangs like a cloud of frozen breath in a walk-in freezer after an excruciating, 5-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies. It will be answered this weekend in a Denver ballpark where the fans will turn blue long before those mountains on a chilling Coors can.

Between them, starter Cole Hamels and manager Charlie Manuel might have blown up the jury-rigged pitching staff in Game 2 of a National League Division Series that appeared so signed, sealed and all but delivered after Wednesday's sandblasted, 5-1 victory over the resilient Rockies.

Conversely, Sam Donnellon:

Manuel's not scared. He's a pragmatist. As he noted yesterday, he's been piecing together his bullpen from the first game of the season, forced by a suspension, injuries and ineffectiveness into trial and error, trial and error, trial and error.

I tend to come down with the latter. Charlie had his chance for a kill shot right there- and he took it. Didn’t work. But Game 2 in a five game series is not too late to start moving the switches in earnest. Heck, if the Phillies manage to win the series now, pretty much no matter what machinations are required, Hamels can start Game 1 of a subsequent series and Lee is generally available. So Charlie didn't burn long term surplus starting pitching.

Burning excess short term starting pitching would be a problem if Charlie actually gave up something tangible… but I don’t know if he did. The Phillies both entered and exited the second game needing to get fifteen innings (or so) out of Blanton, Happ and Pedro in Colorado. I’m pretty sure nothing that happened to change the Phillies ability to do that. Less than twenty pitches is not going to affect either of those guys to pitch an effective four to six innings over the weekend.

Maybe Pedro is now forced to start- but of the three, I’d rather him start than relieve- so what is the big deal? Sure, it is going to be cold in Colorado- but he is going to have to pitch and get nine to fifteen outs some time with this bullpen. At worst, Pedro is moved up to start game three rather than either game four or some ill-defined future relief stint. A small trade to take a shot to end the series.