Phightins

Joe West has been consistently bad for years. The only reason he gets to be on the World Series crew is because he has been around forever (the amount of time he has been around is just mind boggling, considering how awful he is). If you were to ask me to name the three worst umpires in baseball off the top of my head, he would without a doubt be the first to pop into my head (along with CB Bucknor and Laz Diaz). Pretty much every Major League team has at least one Joe West horror story. I am just hoping that tonight is a rare Joe West umpired game where he does not become one of the story lines.

My biggest concern for tonight is that Joe West is the home plate umpire.

I would agree normally, but I am still not convinced that this is the case with Cole Hamels. He has been a Major League pitcher for three and a half seasons now. He has been strictly fastball-changeup for far longer than that. The scouting report and tape has always been there. I find it hard to believe that as sudden and sharp of a drop-off as he had this year has to do with the league catching up to him. It does not take Major League hitters over two years to figure a guy out, especially when they only feature a fastball and a changeup. He just suddenly went from World Series MVP and a guy who had consistently been putting up ace-caliber numbers to a guy who was as inconsistent as any MLB starter. It just so happened to occur the season after he shattered his personal innings pitched mark, and pitched deep into October and thus lost a month of his offseason. This is a guy who is as picky as they come. If he doesn't have exactly as much rest as he feels he needs, or if he doesn't have his chiropractor, or if he is not pitching in an environment that he likes, he pouts and lets it get to his head. That's why I tend to believe his rough season was due to things changing for him and his inability to react. I am obviously hoping that as he gets older, he will realize that he needs to be able to deal with this stuff and not let it get to his head. But as I said earlier, I am very happy that he will be working on more secondary pitches this winter, I think it makes him all the more dangerous. But I do not think that is why he struggled this season.

I am all for him developing a solid third pitch, but I don't think that is why he has struggled. He has always been strictly a fastball change pitcher. That got him a first round draft selection, nearly a free pass through the minor leagues, and a World Series MVP. Did he just forget how to pitch last winter, or forget what got him to where he is today? I doubt it, he has just been bad at adjusting to the league as they adjust to him, as many young pitchers are. But he is a rare guy who can do incredible things with just two pitches. I am convinced that all of his problems are between the ears, and recently, location issues with the fastball. Mechanically he has been off a bit this year, which some are blaming on his crazy innings spike last year (about 75 more innings than he had ever pitched before, including postseason) and his short winter combined with the sudden media frenzy around him and endorsement deals (in general, a lack of a good offseason conditioning program). But apparently he is going to work on a cutter and/or a slider this offseason. I personally just want him to chill out and stay away from the media circus and just focus on baseball.

Promising start, but that went down the [expletive]ter pretty quickly. At least nobody is there to see it.

Who knows. I will say that I think many Phillies fans are overreacting big time about him. I have seen quite a few people on the internet/talk radio who want him traded in the offseason. Most pitchers do not hit their prime until their late 20's at the earliest. Cole is 25. There is no denying his talent, and once he figures the game out mentally, he will be a 20 game winner and a Cy Young candidate. As for the here and now, should this go to game 7 I will be incredibly nervous with him on the mound, but I just think he is who Charlie is leaning towards.

After hearing Charlie talk today, I am willing to bet anything that Cole Hamels pitches game 7 should it get there.

One of the Phillies beat writers tweeted this. Kind of interesting haha.

Excited for this.

The more I am thinking about it, the more I actually wouldn't mind if Lee just started the game. He said he does not get sore after starts and barely has to ice his arm. Those are typically the kinds of guys who can pitch effectively on short rest. Two days rest is daunting but for game 7 of the World Series? I am actually thinking I'd let him start, and then go to Blanton should he get into trouble. I dunno, have to get there first. I love the matchup in game 6 but we have to win that before we even think about game 7.

Apparently Pettitte was gassed after his last outing. Hopefully the Phillies can get to him early tomorrow.

Happ is a disaster waiting to happen against the Yankees IMO. The only pitch he has confidence in is his fastball. He doesn't go to the secondary pitches at all. Against that lineup, with the DH, I don't think he can survive as a one and a half pitch pitcher (I say one and a half because he does throw a decent changeup when he wants to, he just rarely has confidence in it). Lee on the other hand has about five pitches in his arsenal and he can throw them all for strikes whenever he wants to. Happ's command has been incredibly spotty in the postseason, and he has gotten rocked every time he has taken the mound. Personally, I'd go with Blanton if it was up to me, and then the second he runs into any trouble I'd put Lee in.

Our good friend Matthew has unfortunately been banned, so he will not be replying.

I doubt he'd start but he'd definitely be available in relief.

Blah. Getting nervous. No matter what happens tonight, couldn't be happier to be a Phillies fan.

Haha that's true I guess. Some guys get a bit careless with the pitch outs on intentional walks and might just be better off doing that haha.

Alright, after having some time to cool down and think about this, I am not ready to throw in the towel yet. Obviously, we have a major uphill battle ahead, but I actually think the pitching matchups for games 5 and 6 are in the Phillies favor. Cliff Lee will pitch tonight on regular rest, and as everybody knows he has been dynamite lately. AJ Burnett was nearly unhittable in game 2, but he kind of strikes me as a right handed Cole Hamels. Electric stuff, but a major head case. He needs all of his conditions to be perfect in order to succeed, and he can be rattled easily. He prefers pitching at Yankee Stadium than the road, which is understandable, but also makes me feel a bit better about the Phils chances tonight. Burnett will be on short rest too, which will hopefully play into that "conditions" thing. For a potential game 6, it looks like it will be Pedro Martinez on 5 days rest vs. Andy Pettitte on 3 days rest, another matchup which I like. It looked like the Phillies were getting good looks at Pettitte in game 3, and were this close to delivering the knockout blow in the 2nd inning. Pedro pitched well enough to win in game 2 but did not get any run support. So, win those two and get it to game 7 where all the pressure will be on the Yankees, and who knows what will happen. This is probably a pipe dream, but it's a reason to remain optimistic I guess. Phillies probably need a miracle, but I am not giving up hope.

I just really don't want to see the Yankees wrap it up in our yard. Don't want that to sound like I'm conceding the series, because I am not, but that is just a starting point. Win tomorrow, don't let them celebrate on our field, and get this thing back to NY where anything can happen.

Have to keep the faith.

Well I am glad you are manlier than all of us, then. I do not take losses well, much less (arguably) the worst loss in the history of Philadelphia sports.

No, this loss is going to take a while to get over. You are talking lightly about it, you really have no idea. I don't even know if there is an NBA equivalent I can give. Just imagine the Lakers losing in the finals in one of the worst ways imaginable, and you might have an idea. So if I have really offended you here tonight, I apologize, but my OTR rep is not at the front of my mind right about now.

If we were to post this stuff after a Lakers loss we'd be banned. Just sayin'. And thanks Slaven.

Well, no matter what happens, I hope that Phillies fans are able to appreciate what this team did this year. Best time to be a Phillies fan ever. Love this team.

Cool

There is not one Phillies fan on here who you could call a fake. We have all been through thick and thin with this group for years and years, and we all just had our hearts ripped out. But I am glad you enjoyed that, kudos.