{"id":413,"date":"2009-10-31T19:55:01","date_gmt":"2009-10-31T23:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=413"},"modified":"2009-11-01T19:13:22","modified_gmt":"2009-11-01T23:13:22","slug":"not-a-live-blog-world-series-game-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=413","title":{"rendered":"World Series, Game 3 (NOT a Live Blog)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, I did a live blog for Game 2, and the Phillies lost a game they could have won, so I am not <\/em>doing a live blog tonight.\u00a0 But, I may (or may not) check in from time to time with comments on the game.\u00a0 So, let us start now, about 15 minutes from game time.<\/p>\n

7:43:<\/strong>\u00a0 If you had offered me a deal when the Series started that the Phillies would split the first two in Yankee Stadium, I would have jumped at it, knowing just how good the Phils are at home and trusting in that.\u00a0 However, the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’m pretty jumpy about this Series right now.\u00a0 With CC looming tomorrow (against Joe Blanton), if Cole doesn’t come through tonight and get the Phils a 2-1 lead, we could be facing an elimination game as early as Monday night.\u00a0 I’ve said from the beginning that we cannot <\/em>go back to Yankee Stadium needing both games, which means that the Phils need, at least, 2 out of 3 here at home this weekend…or else.\u00a0 And, as I said, tomorrow’s game has a pretty big pitching advantage for the Yankees, so tonight has become HUGE.\u00a0 Yes, I’m very nervous.\u00a0 That poor towel might be in for some trouble tonight.<\/p>\n

7:47:<\/strong>\u00a0 In another superstitious move, I decided to change my game beer.\u00a0 Last night I was enjoying a Samuel Adams Blackberry Wheat, but tonight I just went out to find something different.\u00a0 And, in a stroke of fortune, I found one of my all-time favorite beers (which is somewhat tough to find), Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout.\u00a0 So, that was fortuitous.\u00a0 And, I played tennis today and had SIX balls that hit the tape and rolled over, so I have been incredibly lucky, on multiple levels today.\u00a0 Let’s hope that it continues with the Phillies and let’s hope that I haven’t used it all up on stupid things like tennis and beer.<\/p>\n

7:49:<\/strong>\u00a0 Quick note on the weather.\u00a0 There are three options, and I haven’t decided what would be the best for the Phils.\u00a0\u00a0OPTION ONE:<\/u>\u00a0 The game is played, without delay, and just goes off as normal.\u00a0 That would keep the rotations in place, and just have this game\u00a0(and the rest of the Series) go as we’ve all been trying to figure it would go.\u00a0 OPTION TWO:<\/u>\u00a0 The game never starts and is rained out tonight.\u00a0 This seems pretty unlikely because the rain doesn’t look bad, and the forecast is for it to clear up.\u00a0 However, it’s worth talking about because it would have major effects on the rotations–and would present the managers with some interesting choices.\u00a0 I think it’s obvious that the Phils would just throw Cole tomorrow.\u00a0 I think<\/em> Girardi would throw Pettitte and just let CC go on normal rest in Game Four, which would be Monday.\u00a0 But, he might consider bringing him back, then throwing Pettitte in Game Five, and then Burnett in Game Six, on normal rest.\u00a0 Joe Buck just said it would benefit the Phillies, but I disagree, I think it would benefit the Yankees, so let’s hope we get this game in.\u00a0 OPTION THREE:<\/u>\u00a0 The game starts, but there is a significant delay in one of the early innings.\u00a0 This would mean that this game becomes, all of a sudden, a bullpen game.\u00a0 Even though the Phillies bullpen has been MUCH maligned in this series, but I think this option is a big help for the Phils because of one guy–JA Happ.\u00a0 If there is a long rain delay in, say, the third inning and the starters have to hang them up, then the Phils just give the ball to JA and sit back and let him go as if he were the starter.\u00a0 BUT…the Yanks don’t have a guy like that.\u00a0 They would have to piece together innings from a MUCH-struggling bullpen of guys like Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain.\u00a0 And, the threat of a delay always seems to benefit the home team because it’s about a 50-50 chance that the delay happens between <\/em>innings, which means that the home team gets an extra inning out of its starter.\u00a0 So, let’s root for three shutout innings from Hamels and then a 90-minute rain delay before the bottom of the third.<\/p>\n

7:56:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is a bit of some awesome deja vu, actually.\u00a0 Does anyone remember Game Three of the World Series last year?\u00a0 It was on a Saturday night in late October, and there was about an hour rain delay before the game started.\u00a0 Then, it cleared up and they played an INCREDIBLY thrilling game, finishing with a Carlos Ruiz swinging bunt, walkoff hit, which spurred on a Phils home sweep and a Game Five\u00a0celebration.\u00a0 I see it happening again…well, some of it, maybe…<\/p>\n

9:01:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, apparently, we have a 9:15 scheduled first pitch.\u00a0 That means that there will be a 78-minute rain delay, when it’s all said and done.\u00a0 Couple that with Andy Pettitte on the mound, and all I can say is thank god the only thing we have to wake up for tomorrow is the 1:00 Eagles-Giants game because this one might go late into the night.\u00a0 I expect a lot of offense, and don’t tell me I didn’t warn you about Andy Pettitte as soon as runners get on base.\u00a0 He slows down to a complete SNAIL’S PACE with his 972 pickoff attempts and twice as many stepoffs…ugh.\u00a0 He’s painful to watch, but hopefully there are a LOT of baserunners against him.<\/p>\n

9:04:<\/strong>\u00a0 National anthem, everyone rise…COME ON, STAND UP, EVEN YOU PEOPLE AT HOME!\u00a0<\/p>\n

9:05:\u00a0 <\/strong>Yes, on this Halloween night, I feel like a little kid.\u00a0 There is something about baseball that makes us all a little child-like.\u00a0 I get embarrasingly excited and nervous for these games.<\/p>\n

9:11:<\/strong>\u00a0 I really hate Andy Pettitte.\u00a0 No, really.\u00a0 All these over-the-top attacks on anyone even perceived of using performance-enhancing drugs (and, I am not stating an opinion on whether or not the attacks are warranted), yet for SOME UNKNOWN REASON, Andy Pettitte gets a pass?!?\u00a0 Why?!?\u00a0 I’m not saying, by any means,\u00a0that he shouldn’t be allowed to pitch any more.\u00a0 I’m not even saying that baseball fans shouldn’t root for him any more.\u00a0 But, the minute we stroke the broad brush against Manny or Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire, that brush ABSOLUTELY hits Andy Pettitte, and everyone seems to forget that.\u00a0 He is a cheater<\/em>.\u00a0 Plain as day; he cheated.\u00a0 I don’t care if he claims to only have done it twice, to recover from injuries or if he “came clean” (AFTER he was outed in the Mitchell Report, let’s not forget), the guy is a cheater.\u00a0 Again, I’m not ready to demonize everyone who used PEDs in that era.\u00a0 All I’m asking for is consistency in how we treat these guys.\u00a0 And, Pettitte seems to miss all the criticism that befalls the Bonds, McGwires, and Ramirezs of the world.<\/p>\n

9:19:<\/strong>\u00a0 Great start against Jeter for Hamels.\u00a0 You know what?\u00a0 I’m already, in just over two games, sick of Derek Jeter bitching and moaning about balls and strikes.\u00a0 Come on, Derek, you’re the ultimate professional, ACT LIKE IT.<\/p>\n

9:22:<\/strong>\u00a0 Wow, a quick 1-2-3 first for Hamels.\u00a0 There are two things that we need to watch tonight with Cole–and both looked good in inning number one.\u00a0 First, and I’ve said this before on the blog, it seems to me that the big difference between the Hamels of This Year and the Hamels of Last Year is that last year, when he got ahead, he put batters away.\u00a0 This year, he just hasn’t, for whatever reason, been able to get hitters out when he has them buried in the count.\u00a0 You saw that against Andre Ethier in the Dodgers series.\u00a0 He had Ethier 0-2, then he fouled off like 4 or 5 pitches, before hitting a long home run on a hanging curve.\u00a0 It looked the same against Damon in the first, but he did a good job against Tex to end the inning.\u00a0 The other thing is simply getting ahead.\u00a0 He HAS to command that fastball.\u00a0 I know all the talk is about how he now\u00a0a “2-pitch pitcher,” I think that’s kind of crap.\u00a0 I think the problem is that he hasn’t been able to command the fastball and, therefore, hasn’t been pitching ahead of hitters, which makes the curveball much less effective.\u00a0 Plus Orel Hershiser always said that “you need command of one pitch to compete, two to win, and three to dominate.\u00a0 Well, I’ll take “win”–we probably don’t need dominate with this offense at home.”<\/p>\n

9:43:<\/strong>\u00a0 Now, trust me I’m not tooting my own horn here, but what did I say in the opening about the “pace” of any Andy Pettite game.\u00a0 That inning took twenty-one minutes and there were only FOUR HITTERS!\u00a0 That’s absurd.\u00a0 But, the good thing is that the Phillies have, maybe, the best first-base coach in the history of baseball, and Davey Lopes is RIGHT ON Pettitte’s move.\u00a0 Rollins knew exactly <\/em>what Pettitte was going to do, and then he got two great jumps on him.\u00a0 So, Pettitte’s great balk, sorry I mean move to first, might be a bit negated by the incredible preparation and natural baserunning skills of Davey Lopes over at first.<\/p>\n

9:51:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another strong inning for Hamels, as we’re still scoreless after an inning and a half.\u00a0 Again, good signs for Cole in that he seems to have really good command of his fastball and is, therefore, getting ahead of hitters.\u00a0 And, he didn’t mess around with Cano and finished him off quickly after getting ahead.\u00a0 Good signs so far.<\/p>\n

9:56:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another bomb by Jayson Werth, 1-0 Phillies.\u00a0 The man crush just gets stronger and stronger.\u00a0 It’s a good thing for Ina that she is such a good cook…<\/p>\n

10:11:<\/strong>\u00a0 A couple thoughts on the 3-run Phillies 2nd.\u00a0 One, what the hell was A-Rod doing on the bunt play?\u00a0 Now, I haven’t played much baseball on the left side of the infield (oh, wait…), but that is ABSOLUTELY the thirdbaseman’s ball.\u00a0 Where was he?\u00a0 Two, Victorino had a horrible at-bat with the bases loaded and one out, but he got bailed out by an equally terrible pitch by Pettitte on 0-2, allowing him to hit a deep sac fly for the third run.\u00a0 And, three, Pettitte looks nasty against the left-handers in this lineup.\u00a0 Utley, Howard, and Ibanez have looked totally overmatched tonight.\u00a0 Fortunately, Werth just MURDERS lefties and the first two guys in the lineup are switch-hitters who are very comfortable from the right-side.<\/p>\n

10:13:<\/strong>\u00a0 Another long inning in the dugout for Cole Hamels, and he spent most of it on the bases, so we’ll see if it affects him at all.<\/p>\n

10:25:<\/strong>\u00a0 Says a lot about the person (and maybe the team) that Melky Cabrera is more interested in sticking it to the fans in centerfield than he is in, well, playing centerfield.\u00a0 Good for you, Melky, you got the last laugh on the Philly fans in “faking” throwing them a souvenir.\u00a0 Ya, you win, tough guy.\u00a0 But, honestly, I think it’s awesome because the fans are, at least, a little bit in his head.\u00a0 The Rays, last year, were clearly <\/em>affected by the fans.\u00a0 As were the Dodgers in both years and the Brewers last year.\u00a0 Maybe the Yankees are too.\u00a0 Keep at it, Philly fans…<\/p>\n

10:34:<\/strong>\u00a0 Okay, well, we’re going to replay on a possible A-Rod home run.\u00a0 I think (and this is not a biased judgment) that if they overturn this then instant replay is broken.\u00a0 It is not obvious <\/em>that it is a home run.<\/p>\n

10:35:<\/strong>\u00a0 BS!\u00a0 Yes, probably 90% chance that’s a homer, but that’s NOT <\/em>the point of instant replay.\u00a0 It HAS to be 100%!\u00a0 BS!<\/p>\n

11:09:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, a three-run Yankees fifth chases Hamels after just 4.1.\u00a0 Yet another disappointing start for last season’s postseason hero.\u00a0 I still have faith in this offense in this park, especially if we can get to the Yankees middle relief.\u00a0 Remember, they are thinking of using Pettitte on short rest, so Girardi might be a little quicker to go to the ‘pen.\u00a0 But, it has to happen soon.<\/p>\n

11:44:<\/strong>\u00a0 For the record, base open, 2 outs, I agree with not walking A-Rod.\u00a0 Get the out.<\/p>\n

11:55:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, the Phils are into the Yankees bullpen.\u00a0 6 innings for Pettitte, which means we can expect to see him again in Game 6 on three days’ rest.\u00a0 Now, the Phillies have to get to guys like Chamberlain in the 7th and probably Hughes in the 8th.\u00a0 And, expect to see Marte or Coke against the LHs.<\/p>\n

12:32:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, it has looked pretty bleak for a while now, but the beauty of baseball is that the team has to get 27 outs.\u00a0 So, there’s always hope.\u00a0 Gotta get 4 runs before 3 outs, with the bottom of the order due up.\u00a0 Personally, I think Girardi is making a mistake by not sending out Rivera.\u00a0 I think the big goal for the Yanks is that they have <\/em>to avoid turning the lineup over.\u00a0 So, if Hughes is ineffective, and the Phils get a couple baserunners for Rollins and Vic, who knows?\u00a0 If I were Girardi, I throw Rivera out there and go home with a 2-1 lead.\u00a0 Period.\u00a0 Why take a chance–for rest?\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 In NOVEMBER?!?\u00a0 Probably won’t matter, but still.<\/p>\n

12:49:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yankees win 8-5, despite another blast by Chooch in the 9th.\u00a0 They did have to use Rivera, which is a little solace, I guess.\u00a0 All in all, this is a strange feeling.\u00a0 For the first time in the past two postseasons, the Phillies trail in a series.\u00a0 It’s not <\/em>going to be a good night’s sleep for this guy.\u00a0 AND…the Phils have to beat CC Sabathia tomorrow or face a 3-1 deficit.\u00a0 Scary.\u00a0 So, to try and recap this game, I’ve got a couple of thoughts:<\/p>\n