Seriously, how does he not start David Price in the restart on Wednesday? How does he not use his best available pitcher, who is rested and used to starting and, hence, can go all four innings? Because we’ve used these guys all year in these situations? Nice job, skip. Enjoy the winter.
The final numbers for the Rays bullpen in the restart - three innings, two runs, a loss. Charlie Manuel and the Phillies even insisted on using their bullpen like they have all year and, predictably, Ryan Madson gave up a home run to temporarily tie the game.
Casey Stengel is rolling in his grave. He would have started Price and would have won the game.
Also, this is for my buddy John Reger, who gleefully sent me an email today with the subject: Hey Tim McCarver. That’s because I noted that Brad Lidge was due to blow a big game in the World Series, just like three years ago. Well, I watched Mr. Lidge on Wednesday. And until Maddon, the genius that he is, sent Eric Hinske to the plate, Lidge was in a lot of trouble. And looked it on the mound. Again, nice move by Maddon. You have the tying run on first, why not send up a Billy Beane special who can only do three things - walk, strikeout or hit a homer. You want contact there, not three half-assed swings at Lidge’s slider. What the hell were you thinking? I can’t wait until Tampa Bay trades for Jack Cust at Maddon’s insistence so he can send him up in similar situations.
And as an aside, one of the reasons the Rays made the World Series is that Maddon was willing to buck convention and use Price as his closer when it became obvious that Dan Wheeler couldn’t do the job. The problem with the Game 5 restart is that they weren’t going to need a closer if the Phillies retook the lead.
And yes, I’m extremely bitter that I lost the $10 I won from the Wanker on the American League Championship Series on a double-or-nothing bet on the World Series. Very bitter.