For the first time since 1993, the Phillies own a substantial lead in the NL East this late into September. The question is not "if" but a matter of "when" they will clinch the division, their third straight NL East title.
If all goes to plan they could clinch as early as Thursday, but in all likelihood the Phillies will be celebrating on the field of Miller Park in Milwaukee and in the locker room, the same location where they clinched a spot in last year's National League Championship Series. If you are like me you want the Phillies to wrap up the division as early as possible, but you would not mind them losing a game or two this week in exchange for clinching their crown at Citizens Bank Park next week.
Whatever the case may be, it is crunch time for the Phillies and there are some things to really start thinking about. Starting today we are going to review some of the questions facing the Phillies. Today we start with the four man rotation.
FOUR MAN ROTATION
When the Phillies start the playoffs the starting pitching will appear to be superior to the rotation that was fielded in the previous two playoff seasons. Who is your game one starter, Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels? Who is your fourth pitcher, JA Happ or Pedro Martinez? Joe Blanton is a somewhat unanimous pick for the team's third starter by fans.
Hamels was last year's NLCS and World Series MVP so it would be tough to argue handing Hamels the ball in game one. Charlie Manuel has a way of staying loyal to the guys who bought home the title last year, and if Hamels continues to pitch the way he has then it would be hard to argue against Hamels in any game one situation.
Not that you can go wrong with a guy like Lee in game one either. Lee though will be pitching in his first career playoff game and there is no questioning the importance of experience in the playoffs. If I had to decide today what I would do, I would go with Hamels in game one and Lee in game two.
As I said, Blanton is pretty much a lock for a game three, and it's a good fit for him. With Lee and Blanton in the middle you would expect the bullpen to get some rest in those games as both starters can eat up innings.
then the question is who do you start in game four. JA Happ and Pedro Martinez both have some medical questions surrounding them right now, though both would deny that. As much as Happ has played an important role on the team this season, I find it hard to not start Martinez in a game four.
So, for the record, if I had to set up the four man starting rotation for the NLDS, regardless of who the Phillies would play, here is my order:
Original Story:
http://macho-row.blogspot.com/2009/09...
If all goes to plan they could clinch as early as Thursday, but in all likelihood the Phillies will be celebrating on the field of Miller Park in Milwaukee and in the locker room, the same location where they clinched a spot in last year's National League Championship Series. If you are like me you want the Phillies to wrap up the division as early as possible, but you would not mind them losing a game or two this week in exchange for clinching their crown at Citizens Bank Park next week.
Whatever the case may be, it is crunch time for the Phillies and there are some things to really start thinking about. Starting today we are going to review some of the questions facing the Phillies. Today we start with the four man rotation.
FOUR MAN ROTATION
When the Phillies start the playoffs the starting pitching will appear to be superior to the rotation that was fielded in the previous two playoff seasons. Who is your game one starter, Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels? Who is your fourth pitcher, JA Happ or Pedro Martinez? Joe Blanton is a somewhat unanimous pick for the team's third starter by fans.
Hamels was last year's NLCS and World Series MVP so it would be tough to argue handing Hamels the ball in game one. Charlie Manuel has a way of staying loyal to the guys who bought home the title last year, and if Hamels continues to pitch the way he has then it would be hard to argue against Hamels in any game one situation.
Not that you can go wrong with a guy like Lee in game one either. Lee though will be pitching in his first career playoff game and there is no questioning the importance of experience in the playoffs. If I had to decide today what I would do, I would go with Hamels in game one and Lee in game two.
As I said, Blanton is pretty much a lock for a game three, and it's a good fit for him. With Lee and Blanton in the middle you would expect the bullpen to get some rest in those games as both starters can eat up innings.
then the question is who do you start in game four. JA Happ and Pedro Martinez both have some medical questions surrounding them right now, though both would deny that. As much as Happ has played an important role on the team this season, I find it hard to not start Martinez in a game four.
So, for the record, if I had to set up the four man starting rotation for the NLDS, regardless of who the Phillies would play, here is my order:
- Cole Hamels
- Cliff Lee
- Joe Blanton
- Pedro Martinez
Original Story:
http://macho-row.blogspot.com/2009/09...
