Phillies head to Denver with a fight on their hands

Bruised and battered, the Phillies took the fight to the last out, but fell 5-4 to Colorado, who couterpunched their way to a split in Philadelphia.

Beerleaguer: If not for the work of guys like Scott Eyre and Antonio Bastardo, bailing the Phillies out of certain doom, the Rockies would have had the Phillies dead and buried this afternoon. Starting from the beginning, Cole Hamels, who left the stadium immediately after his day was done to tend to his wife, Heidi, who went into labor, the reigning World Series MVP fell short of the bar set by Cliff Lee 24 hours earlier. His final line: 5 innings, 4 runs, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks. There were a few highlights, but a hanging breaking ball to Yorvit Torrealba when he had him set up for something off-speed was hardly one of them.

Nevertheless, it wasn't their only shortfall this afternoon. Aaron Cook delivered for Colorado and kept the Phillies off the board for the first five innings, flashing exactly one look - a sinker - to work out of jams, including a pair of key twin killings after the lead-off batter reached base. Overall, I thought the Phils had an OK approach, but they just couldn't string it together, and when it looked like they were about to explode for more runs in the sixth, Carlos Ruiz shatters his bat and hits into a rally-murdering double play. It was that kind of afternoon for the hometown nine.

The question tonight and into tomorrow will be who starts Game 3 after Charlie Manuel used both Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ in relief. Happ was smoked in the leg on a line drive and left with what is reportedly being called a contusion. X-Rays were reportedly ruled negative. Early word from John Finger over at Comcast is we'll either see Kentucky Joe, who only made 19 pitches, or Pedro Martinez Saturday night in Denver.

The Phils had a shot to steal it with a rally in the 9th, but Shane Victorino lined one right at Clint Barmes to end it. Wish it could have been a win, so we could talk about how the LOOGYs saved the day, but a solid afternoon by the Wild Card-winning Rockies spoiled the fun for a record-setting crowd down at the yard.

Comments

[NEPP]

Pedro or Country Joe?

I guess Pedro with the bright lights on him.

[denny b.]

4 of the 5 starters appeared in today's game (3 pitched and 1 pinch-ran).

Somebody needs to ask Timmy Kurkjian when the last time that happened, in ONE playoff game (that wasn't a final game of series).

If Pedro gets beat and either Blanton or Happ look sluggish in Game 4, Cholly will have some esplainin' to do. ESPECIALLY, when you were UP 1-0 in the series.

I have to give Bastardo credit. He looked downright filthy and a good MLB hitter, looked completely overmatched. Throwing a kid in there, who had barely even PITCHED (at any level of baseball) since June, was either ballsy or insane, but it worked out.

I still like the Rockies to win this series. Hope like hell I am wrong, but the Phils are just grasping at straws with their pitching staff now. The Rocks staff isn't great, but at least there is some order there.

I do think though, the Rocks have to win it in Denver. If it gets back to Philly, no way the city (and Lee) lets the Phils lose Game 5.

[bashir]

i know kevin timochenko loves the fighting Phils too

[Greg V]

Eyre, Bastardo, and Madson are exempt from ridicule. And it actually became a decent game the last half. But it was a depressing outing from Hamels that spoiled the fun from yesterday. Someone needs to tell him next time to knock up his wife a few months earlier!

[Spitz]

denny b: "I still like the Rockies to win this series. Hope like hell I am wrong, but the Phils are just grasping at straws with their pitching staff now. The Rocks staff isn't great, but at least there is some order there."

So who is starting for the Rox for Game 4 Denny?

[doubleh]

I'd much rather use Blanton, I think, because he's been so steady this year. Don't you think he's earned it?

Of course, if I had my druthers, it would be Happ all the way. Lefties, even newbies like Bastardo (aside from Hamels, natch) kill the Rox.

UC's strength has never been managing a pitching staff, that much is true. Last year it was easy for him because it was all plug and play. If we somehow do happen to get to the NLCS it's only going to get worse when facing La Russa or Torre, who are much better at that stuff than UC. Ugh, did anyone watch that game last night? 4 hours of pitching changes. Brutal.

[J. Weitzel]

Howard, Ibanez, a couple of other guys are taking their hacks.

[Zach Morris]

Everybody, don't worry. Myers says he felt good today.

[timr]

I am just baffled at the decision to use Happ and Blanton. Everybody knew coming into this series that the Phils' bullpen was a weakness, and their starting pitching a strength.

Now Charlie has turned their strength into a weakness, as the starting pitching situation has been thrown into chaos.

Maybe it helped keep the game close, but bottom line is they still lost, and now you've got a bunch of far-from-ideal scenarios as to who starts the next game, when it could have been so much easier.

[The truth]

It's Miss Myers I'm worried about

[Iceman]

Sometimes, a loss is just a loss. Credit the offense for stringing some hits together to make a comeback but Hamels put them in a hole after giving up a bomb to a pathetic hitter. Torrealba just kills us and unfortunately it seems we only see him in important games.

The formula to win this year is simple: ride the two aces to victory. If this is a sample of what Hamels has to offer for the rest of October (assuming they win a game in the snow), chances to repeat will be remote.

As far as winning a game in Denver, with the Rockies are throwing at us there is no reason the offense shouldn't be able to put up the runs to win AT LEAST one of those games. But count me among those who will be strongly questioning Cholly's decision to start Pedro if that's the road he decides to go down. You've got Happ who already has a CGS against a team who can't hit lefties well, and you've got Blanton who has been a QS machine this year. You have two great choices to start a pivotal game 5, so there is NO REASON to go with the gut and pick a guy who is a complete wild card.

I feel pretty confident in taking 1 out of 2 in the snow, but if they lose game 3 because Cholly rolls Pedro out there I will be FURIOUS.

[king myno]

Charlie played this like Game 7 of the NLCS. It was Game 2 of the NLDS. Using Blanton and Happ, especially if Happ is hurt, will go down as an all-time bonehead play if we lose this series.

[Iceman]

Yikes. Missing 'pitching' up there and it is a pivotal game 3, not 5. This edit brought to you by Yuengling

[GBrettfan]

I'm thinking the Phils have enough fight in them to split the series in CO. Win Game 3, I hope.

[Phillies Red]

Hammel may not be a slouch, but I like the Phillies' chances against him on Saturday, whoever starts for the Phightin's. If the Phils can take that game, that leaves either an already used Marquis or a short rest and already beaten Jimenez. I like their chances their too.

The Phillies, for all their issues, are facing a team that has similar starting pitching problems. The weather throws a wrench into everyone's plans, but it looks to me like the Phils are still in a good position in this series.

[MG]

Iceman - Agreed. Yorvit hadn't homered since May and had a whopping 2 HRs all year. For a team that has power through out the lineup, it hurts to give one up to a mediocre-hitter like Yorvit.

As for Hamels, it is a real shame that the really poor curveball he threw all day was to Yorvit. Hamels curveball actually looked great today and he was consistently getting good 12-6 action on it.

Problem is that he hung an absolute meatball to Yorvit who really didn't even have to swing with everything to put it out.

Hamels has given up 25 HRs this year now and I would bet a good dollar that at least 6-7 of those are on curveballs and are completely disproportionate to respect to the amount of HRs he gives up on fastballs/changeups.

Hamels can clearly dominate with a decent curveball but it was clear that they were looking changeup early and often in some obvous offspeed counts today. Instead, Hamels throw in a couple of curveballs to mix things up and keep them honest.

Hamels clearly can be a good/very good starter but that curveball is a still a "skunkworks" project that needs further refinement. He leaves it hang way too often and it gets absolutely crushed when it does. Without that true complementary offspeed pitch to his changeup, he will be a good starter but not a Cy Young pitcher in his career.

[MG]

Hate to do it but it was too tempting to not take the Rockies today at +145. Phils were 1-8 coming into today during a game start by Hamels and now they are 1-9 this year.

Maybe it was the impending labor of his wife, angle of sunlight, Hamel's 1/2 vampire blood - who knows.

What is know is this - 'Day' Hamels is a mediocre pitcher at best and this year he has sucked in his 10 GS putting up an ERA near 5.50.

If the Phils make another deep playoff run and for whatever chance Hamel's starts another day game, I will bet against the Phils again most likely especially if the Phils are favorites.

[J. Weitzel]

If Bastardo doesn't pitch to another batter this series and the Phillies lose, I bet it's enough to secure a spot in next season's bullpen, barring a horrid spring. That's how quickly this stuff works.

[Mr J]

That crowd was a disgrace. Instead of waiting for the Phils to start something, they should have been waving the towels and making noise on their own. That would have rattled Cook and hurt his control. The group behind home plate looked absolutely bored. They paid a lot for those seats and spent the day sitting on their hands.

Games 2 & 3 will be played in freezing weather and our Phils are not a cold weather team. Like Clout says, Interesting!

[RSB]

Yeah, Myers, who cares how you feel. Go ask Tulowitski's forearm how it feels. Or how everyone else feels after watching you pitch.

[NEPP]

Forecast for Denver on Sat:

High - 34
Low - 28

70% chance of snow showers.

That is freaking ridiculous.

[RSB]

Great - something else to blame if the Phillies don't win.

[MG]

JW - Bastardo will be one of several guys likely getting a close look. Bullpen (and the bench to a much lesser degree) are the two areas where Amaro is going to have to act this offseason.

The only "definites" next year in the pen at this point are Romero, Lidge, and Madson and that is largely because of the money tied up in them for next season.

Question #1 this offseason is going to be is whether Lidge will be the automatic closer going into next season (I think he will be) and do the Phils bring in another potential contingency in case Lidge flames out (I doubt it).

One thing that might not be such a bad idea is to start to inject some youth into this team because they really were a veteran team with a lot of geezers down the stretch.

[doubleh]

Crowds have very little effect on the outcome of a game. Just look at LA, for example. Dodgers fans pretty much stink and yet they still win games.

Marlins win games all the time and they usually play for crickets.

The fans that sit behind home plate are business people and are often there through work. Most either a) aren't really that big of fans and are just there for the free beer/seats/to be seen or b) have a certain code to live up to because their work owns the seats. It's all gone corporate in most stadiums now, dontchaknow?

[NEPP]

Twitter Update:

ToddZolecki: Pedro, on possibly starting Game 3: "I've been around long enough to know that it's my turn."

[RSB]

So have we, Pedro.

[NEPP]

Who knows what we'll be getting from Romero. He'll essentially be 18 months removed from meaningful pitching coming off major surgery.

[MG]

Mr J - What about the 6th inning when the Phils rallied? The crowd was incredibly loud and on their feet to start that inning.

As for the fans behind home plate, they were largely middle-aged white guys who probably make a really healthy buck and aren't exactly your most passionate/knowledgeable baseball fans. It is a spectacle and they have the cash/connections to be there.

[MG]

NEPP - At $4M next year, the Phils will be counting on him to be their primary lefty reliever again. Good or bad.

[RSB]

I wonder if Clayton Kershaw would exchange a few MPH off his fastball for the ability to grow a beard.

[NEPP]

Yeah, I know that MG...it'll be interesting if he bounces back though.

[MG]

Baseball needs more playoff facial hair. Love seeing some of the ridiculous beards in hockey on the eventual Stanley Cup teams. 5 weeks to become a lumberjack lookalike.

[doubleh]

I think if the Phils are capable of winning a game in 45mph winds and torrential downpour, they can play through a little snow.

Still, gotta question what MLB was thinking pushing back to November because of the stupid WBC. Between Boston and Colorado, things could get really messy this postseason.

[GBrettfan]

How do others feel about the Phils' chances in CO, in the snow, with unnamed starters, etc, etc?

[RSB]

GBrett: I think they split and lose Game 5 back here.

[doubleh]

RSB: With Lee on the mound? Not a chance. If it goes 5, the Phils win. I just hope it goes 5.

[GBrettfan]

According to my mom's boyfriend (my current company, hailing from CO), it's already snowing in CO and will snow again tomorrow. I would think if there's snow already on the ground, and it's still snowing, maybe the game will be postponed? Or maybe the snowplows will be at work in the outfield!

But I can tell you from years of living in CO, what everyone says there about the weather: "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes." The weather patterns can change pretty quickly due to the mountains. It can be 30 degrees and snowing one day, then reach 60 the next day. Putting the game off could result in beautiful weather there. Or the front could blow out of there early, weather could change and be fine Saturday.

But right now, it does look like an adventure. The important thing is, do the Phils show up with more determination and effectiveness than the Rockies?

[GBrettfan]

A split would be great, RSB. And I think HH is right, more of a chance to win back in Philly. Surely the crowd would be loud as can be by then.

[GBrettfan]

I just realized how dumb my comment sounded. A split would not only be great, but necessary in order to continue, I realize.

Anyone think the Phils can win 2 out there? Best out of 3 now, a regular-sized series, something done all the time, and Phils are a good road team.

[gjs]

We can't wait 5 or 6 innings for the offense to get going.

It puts way too much pressure on our starters to be perfect. And, it dampens the enthusiasm in the home crowd.

Going to Denver. It would be nice to get an early offensive start and take their fans out of it.

But with highs in the 30s, cold bats will take on a whole new meaning.

[ozark]

The relievers pitched great. The started pitched so-so in relief. What does that tell you?

[RSB]

So Lee is an automatic victory all of a sudden? Was anyone feeling that way on Tuesday?

[joe]

i don't get y'all being upset with charlie for using happ and blanton. i thought it was brilliant. barring the freak injury, both of them should be ready to go on saturday, even starting-like.

it also shows how deeply buried lidge is in his bullpen.

[doubleh]

RSB: With the way the Rox hit lefties, I was confident before he pitched yesterday and remain so. Watching them against Bastardo didn't change my feelings.

[RSB]

doubleh: how about watching them against Hamels?

Lee's still a hell of a good option in a Game 5. But he's definitely not money in the bank. He could look very different from one start to the next down the stretch.

[Spitz]

RSB, if you were to rank the playoff teams 1 through 8, where would the Phillies fall?

[doubleh]

RSB: Hamels has been bad all year and already had bad numbers against the Rox, Lee didn't.

God, on top of this game, the Flyers and Pens are playing and it's making me really grumpy. I'm quite PO'd right now.

[Marc H]

Just got back from the game....

Cole was horrible...Giving up hit to the opposing pitcher and having him score in what turned out to be a 1 run game is unforgivable, H ecame up really small in a big game.

[denny b.]

"So who is starting for the Rox for Game 4 Denny?"

2009 NL All-Star Jason Marquis. That's who.

The Rocks have their starters and bullpen lined up. The Phils look like they are just making it up as they go along, drawing straws on who pitches that day.

SOME of this, Cholly had no control over. Injuries to Romero, Park, Eyre and Myers had everything in flux for weeks. Lidge's deal has had a HUGE negative influence on a bunch of guys this year.

But what Chuckles and Dubee (he doesn't get off the hook on this deal either) pulled today, when you WERE UP 1-0 in the series, with the ONE HUGE ADVANTAGE you had (the starting pitching) over Colorado, was pure stupidity. Now your starting rotation is just as out-of-whack as your bullpen, with nobody sure who will start Game 3 or Game 4.

You are pinch-running your Game 1 and Game 5 starter, because you didn't keep enough position players on your roster (and besides Francisco, might have the slowest bench in playoff history). You are pitching a kid, who had hardly pitched ANYWHERE at ANY level, since June, in a bases loaded spot in Game 2 of the playoffs (thank goodness it worked out and AB looked strong). If you tie the game today, you go into extra innings with NO positon players left on your bench for extra innings (and the pitchers spot would have been up at worst 4th in the 10th inning).

Uncle Cholly....you gotta love him.

[Lwolf]

Interesting how some of you equate people with good jobs as being unable to be a "passionate" fan. I guess you have to be a poor ditch digger to properly root for the team.

Phils take two in Denver.

[pnw duder]

The game today was a fun game to watch! Some great match-ups. I loved watching Giambi K with the bases full.
I can't wait for Pedro to start Game 3... Kendrick?

[Lwolf]

Jason Marquis does not exactly have me shaking in my boots as a Phils fan.

[MG]

joe - Using Blanton was fine. Leaving him in to start a 2nd inning and bringing in Happ were calls that were easy to second-guess.

As for Lidge, yeah it showed how deep he is buried and rightly so. There is no reason why Lidge should have appeared in the game today late. Cholly deserves some real credit for realizing that Lidge is largely a back-end bullpen piece who should only appear only in limited circumstances.

Even liked the move today to go with Bastardo over Myers. Instead of relying upon Myers "veteran presence", Cholly made a gutsy call and went with the pitcher who likely has better stuff than what Myers had today which wasn't a whole lot.

This series (and the rest of the playoffs) are going to take creative bullpen strategy from Cholly and while Cholly was thinking out of the box today it was probably not the wisest strategy in the end. He threw his chips into the table to try to win today and lost.

[Spitz]

Denny, that's the same Jason Marquis that pitched yesteday, right? In a game that was basically out of hand for the Rox (or certainly more out of hand that today's game was for the Phils).

[RSB]

Spitz: I'd rank the Phils somewhere in the middle. Definitely below teams like the Yankees and Angels, but above the Twins and Cardinals. If they get past the Rockies, which I doubt, then I strongly believe they'd win the NLCS as well, but would probably have no prayer in the World Series.

The Cards' bullpen is probably in even worse shape than the Phillies...no way LaRussa gives Wainwright that much rope in this game if this weren't so.

[Old Phan]

A loss today does not mean the series is over. It means they lost today. I'm expecting a split in Denver.

[Iceman]

RSB- I understand that you have predicting doom in the playoffs for at least a month now. But what other than blind pessimism has you believing that the Phils would lose a game 5 at home with Lee, who has dominated the Rockies twice now, starting the game?

If the Phils win a game in the snow, it would be an absolute choke-job to come home with your ace on the mound and lay an egg. I haven't known this team to choke much in the past two seasons- I don't see why that would start in a game 5 at home.

[Marc H]

I'm a pessimist; I donlt think the series is coming back here. The cold will take way the Phils most sole weapon---the homerun ball.

[doubleh]

denny b, you must be a blast at parties. I can see you now with the lamp shade on your head.

I appreciate the honesty of many posters here like you, RSB and others, but sometimes, the pessimism (and I know, you will counter with realism) is even a bit much for a negative person like me.

[RSB]

Iceman: Of course they could win that game. They'd probably be favored to. I prefer to be pleasantly surprised. It's not pessimism, it's self-protection. The Phillies are eminently capable of disappointing anyone and everyone who *expects* them to win. Optimism would seem to be the element one ought to associate with blindness.

And really, would it be 'choking' if they didn't win in such a scenario? They're playing an excellent team, not the Pirates or Nationals. Home field and pitching matchups don't guarantee a thing.

[GBrettfan]

Did folks see this in Andy Martino's blog earlier from today or maybe yesterday?

"An interesting moment in Charlie Manuel’s pregame presser came when he was asked about Chase Utley. Utley was obviously tired in September, as he is every season. Manuel said that the way to avoid that was to acquire an better backup infielder. Um, sorry Eric Bruntlett, but that doesn’t sound good for you."

A direct quote from Charlie follows.

[Old Phan]

The homerun is a big weapon, but it is far from the Phils sole weapon.

[GBrettfan]

Well, we knew it would be tough to repeat. Tough even to get to the WS. But the Phils aren't down yet.

Didn't I see stats yesterday that the winner of Game 1 has almost always taken the NLDS?

[doubleh]

Cards imploding...bases loaded B9.

[RSB]

EPIC collapse for St. Louis. Oh my.

[Old Phan]

Franklin just blew the game in LA.

[rhyno182]

epic fail by the cards, glad we have not suffered that kind of loss in the postseason... so far

[RSB]

with considerable help from his left fielder...

[rhyno182]

Holiday helped blow it, too

[Old Phan]

Wow. That was ugly.

[Lwolf]

I knew Ryan Franklin would eventually remember that he is, indeed, Ryan Franklin.

[doubleh]

Just goes to show you that just because you get saves in the regular season doesn't mean you'll be OK come postseason. Look at it this way: at least we KNOW Lidge is crap. Can you imagine if we didn't and be pitched in a close game and blew it?

[Old Phan]

hh, absolutely right.

[clout]

Weitzel: Bastardo gets out one guy, a 38-year-old lefty hitting .201 on the season, and he's a lock for the team next year?

I realize the hype about Bastardo on this blog went beyond hilarious months ago, but shouldn't you wait until he pitches a bit more, say a full inning, before declaring him the next Santana?

[Jack]

If Romero isn't healthy to start the season, I would definitely expect him to be in the bullpen next year. Clout, JW said he'd have a spot in the pen, not be the next Santana. Eyre is retiring and Romero is hurt. Who would you have as a lefty out of the pen to start next year? Jack Taschner?

I know you have a lot invested here in Bastardo being a failure, but do you really think he's not a viable lefty bullpen guy?

[philsphan]

If Eyre retires at the end of the season they will need another lefty to complement Romero. Unless they sign a free agent its going to be either Escalona or Bastardo. I don't think either is a lock, but I think it will be a spring training battle between they too. Maybe they will throw a retread like Taschner into the mix. But Bastardo made the 25 man roster over Escalona so I think he has the advantage over that spot right now.

[GBrettfan]

Eyre recently said if the Phillies will sign him, he'd like to play another year now, actually.

Saw this on Zolecki's twitter:
Rollins, on hitting the road: "We look forward to the challenge of always going to someone else’s home and take their hearts from them."

I like the fierce attitude. Hope it's backed up on the field.

[Jack]

In Clout's warped mind, JW saying Bastardo may have secured a bullpen spot next spring for a team without an established lefty reliever means he declared him the next Johan Santana. Amazing.

[GBrettfan]

Stinks for the Cards. How do we feel about a rematch in the NLCS this year?

[Wade]

Fortunately the Phils are a great road team.

I think it's dangerous, though, hitching the playoff wagon to Pedro. The guy is running on the fumes of an empty career tank. He'll last 4 innings.

In my opinion our game 3 starter got whacked on the leg today. Strange.

[Mike Schatz]

Hamels is sooo overrated. I'm sorry,i'll take the heat. It was a good season for the Phils but all good things have to come to and end sooner or later.ughhh

[doubleh]

Tonight is an example of why I want to face the Cards in the NLCS (if we get there).

[clout]

Jack: I never said Bastardo would be a failure. I said the hype that you and many other posters here have been spouting about him is hilarious. How does that equal me predicting he'll be a failure?

All I ever said is that I don't consider him among the Phils top 5 pitching prospects (last spring) when posters here were saying he's the next Santana.

Oh and by the way Jack, did you notice that Belliard, the player you said couldn't help the Phils, had a key hit in the Dodgers winning rally tonight? How did Cairo do today?

[Jack]

Clout: All I ever said about Bastardo was that he would be a good bullpen guy. I'm not sure how that's ridiculous hype, but ok.

What I do find ridiculous is how you warped JW's words to make it seem like he was predicting Bastardo would be an ace next year, when all he said was he would likely make the bullpen. Consider Eyre may retire and Romero is hurt, how in the world is that a ridiculous statement? Please inform us as to who you think the Phillies lefties in the pen should be to start next season.

And Belliard has been starting at 2nd for the Dodgers. We didn't need a 2B. The front office and Manuel clearly wanted a bench guy who could play SS, and they didn't think Belliard could do it. He definitely could have helped, and would be better than Cairo, but I guarantee you they didn't like him potentially playing SS. That's why they didn't get him. I'm not saying he wouldn't have helped, I would've liked to add him, but I'm just telling you why they didn't get him.

[denny b.]

I have never been the biggest of Bastardo backers, but I thought he looked great today.

He threw 4 NASTY pitches to a veteran major league hitter. The "Bino" looked like he had no shot of touching AB. He was thrown into a VERY difficult spot by his manager, and looked like it was no big deal.

The Phils have some interesting bullpen options brewing for 2010 and Bastardo, no matter what he does in the post-season, will certainly be one of them in Clearwater. Especially with Romero likely out until June.

[clout]

Jack: And Bastardo may get hit by a bus.

You have no clue if Eyre will retire or Romero still be hurt. And if they're not, do you still think Bastardo's 4-pitch showing against .201-hitting Giambi is enough to make him a lock for the bullpen?

[Jack]

Clout: I think the guy who was quoted all year as saying he was likely to retire has a better chance of, you know, retiring than Bastardo will be hit by a bus. But maybe I'm crazy.

If they're both back and fully capable, then yeah, they're better options than Bastardo. But chances are one or both won't be there to start the year. In which case, Bastardo likely will. I don't really think I'm going out on a limb there. And neither was JW.

[clout]

Jack: Except that Eyre said he'll come back if the Phils want him. See above.

[Jack]

Clout: Yeah, I've never seen that until the post above, and have still never seen a source for it, but ok.

Still, if one of them isn't there, who would you put above Bastardo? Escalona? Taschner? I'm waiting.

[loctastic]

I'm giving this loss to Heidi.

[Scott]

Here's some good news: Sunday's starting time: 10:07 pm

[Spitz]

Loctastic, its well known that Cole doesn't pitch well during day games when his wife goes into labor.

[GBrettfan]

Crap, you want me to find the source? I read it a few weeks ago and was surprised since he had been saying he planned to retire. I'll see if I can dig it up.

[Scott]

I also saw the quote from Eyre recently.

[TTI]

How about we wait and see if Pedro pitches in Game 3, and if he pitches- how he does, before we start declaring it a horrible mistake or acting (like RSB) in some stupid snarky manner about it.

Pedro had been here, done that before. He can be a very crafty pitcher and is as capable of piecing together a 7 inning, gem as he is of getting lit up.

The Rockies are a good team and they were hot coming into this series. Nobody thought the Phillies were going to roll and no one thought the Rox would roll over and die.

What the Phillies did today was establish to the Rockies that they are like Floyd Mayweather Jr. in boxing. It won't be pretty, but you can bet damn sure it's going to go the full 12 rounds and you better be ready to play. Most teams would've folded it up when there 1A pitcher gets tagged for a few runs and went on the road. The Phillies scored 3, and then in the 9th had the tying run on second.

Win or lose the Rockies are going to have to be ready for a 9 inning fight every time out. In those circumstances I like the Phillies chances.

[Klaus]

To look on the bright side, the offense again racked up a sizable number of hits (11). So they aren't dormant, which is good.

Eyre threw well and Madson was dominant--two good signs.

And, we battled against a pretty good closer.

Hamels wasn't sharp, and we lost as a result. I think our starters can do better in the days ahead, which gives me some confidence that we can win 2 of the next 3 (because we will hit well enough). Rank defeatism is uncalled-for

Also, I don't see the weather as factoring to anyone's advantage, Rockies or Phils. This isn't some sort of NFL situation, with a warm-weather dome team playing the winter-hardened Packers, or what not. The Rox are as used to the bitter cold as the Phils, which is to say, not at all.

Finally, Bastardo's left arm is rendered of solid gold, hand-crafted by Pygamalion himself. So scouts say.

[Scott]

"I've been there," he said. "For this club, what I'm lacking right now, I might give them at the end. Experience. A cold-blooded person that doesn't matter how big the game is. I'm going to stand right there. And if anybody fails, they can always count on the old goat to go out there and kind of stand up. I might do that." - Pedro Martinez, after his first start for the Phillies.

[J. Weitzel]

Jack's take on the Bastardo comment is along the lines of my thinking. Second lefty due to injury and retirement.

[MG]

One thing that a really safe bet - the Phils won't give into next season with a relative unknown quantity (Bastardo) as their only lefty reliever in the pen. This won't be Matt Smith redux 2007.

[MG]

If expect is named the Game 3 starter, I only expect to hear 100% confidence exuding from Pedro's mouth.

Whether or not he delivers is usually a mixed story but there wasn't a single time all the years I lived in Boston that Pedro didn't suffer from a lack on confidence about pitching an important game in the postseason.