The Phillies lost the series when Manuel named Blanton the Game 4 starter. Stupid.
Cole, your comments after Game 3 were far from innocuous...
http://www.faniq.com/article/Brett-Myers-and-Cole-Hamels-nearly-fight-after-Game-5--1860526?ref=fromTS
"I can't wait for it to end," Hamels said, referring to his wildly inconsistent 2009 season. "It's been mentally draining ... It's one of those things, a year in, you just can't wait for a fresh start."
Terrible, Cole.
As for pitching Lee on 3 days rest, OK, so say we did that, and win game 4, who goes game 5? Would still have to be Blanton or Happ, with probably the same results... Seeing how Lee pitched last night it was the right call to give him the extra day.
Only thing I question with Charlie is putting the shift on when Lidge was pitching, everyone knows with Lidge on the mound getting to 2nd is automatic, been that way for 2 years, he got very lucky last year to get all those saves, this year his luck ran out and those guys on 2nd started scoring.
For the former, by having Lee start Game 4, you've him for the start of Game 7 (if that did so happen) Not only has Lee been the most dominant pitcher in the Playoffs, but he was obviously in the Yank's heads, too. By having him start Game 5 negated the Phillies' staff of their one true weapon in the rotation for the return to the Bronx. I cannot be alone here, but does anyone believe anyone outside of Lee fares well in that bandbox against that lineup? Most importantly, it's the World Series. This is where three days rest happens. If by chance Lee would've lost Game 4, oh well...no one would've questioned the call. Cholo got too fancy, and unless they win this thing (for which I hope), it will be a specter in his managerial career.
For the latter, the shift killed Lidge, and you've to credit Damon for his head's up play. It ended up taking away Lidge's best pitch (he wasn't going to chance his slider on going awry, and cost them the game.
I don't know all the ins and out of Baseball like all the stats and stuff like that but I know when i am watching exciting games,and last night's game was an exciting game.
I haven't been this glued to a baseball game since the I listened to the 2004 world series on the radio.
DocWho, Game 5 was pedestrian in contrast to how epic Game 4 was. The pendulum swing from the bottom-of-the-eighth to the top-of-the-ninth was really something, and A-Rod managed to do some revisionist history.
I don't know all the ins and out of Baseball like all the stats and stuff like that but I know when i am watching exciting games,and last night's game was an exciting game.
The "stat" people can ruin the game for you. Just know what you like and go with that.
...hahahaha.

It can also add an interesting morsel to the overall narrative of baseball.