The only certainty in the Phillies’ rotation is that Cliff Lee will pitch Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday. Everything else remains to be seen.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said before a team workout on Friday at Citizens Bank Park that he, pitching coach Rich Dubee, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and others will discuss their rotation and 25-man roster in meetings over the weekend. He said on Sunday they were still talking.
But he also announced that Lee would start Game 1 on Wednesday against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, although he would not commit to left-hander Cole Hamels in Game 2. Manuel could be tipping his hand there. He might want to start right-hander Pedro Martinez in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Martinez certainly has experience there.
In a perfect world, Hamels gets the call, but he is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three postseason starts. He has allowed 20 hits, 11 runs, two walks and six home runs in 14 1/3 innings. He has struck out 12, and opponents have hit .328 against him.
“I look at Hamels, and I still feel like he’s got the game in him,” Manuel said. “Baseball is a funny game. I say that all the time. He’s very capable of throwing a good game. He was getting hit around a little bit the other night and he didn’t have the command that he usually has, but at the same time, he’s the guy. He’s very capable of throwing a shutout every time he goes out there.”
Hamels is 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees.
“Cole’s got to step back and just understand it’s about making pitches,” Dubee said after the Phillies clinched the National League Championship Series on Wednesday. “I think he’s put a lot of pressure on himself. He’s getting caught up in more emotions than focusing on what he needs to do.”
Lee has never pitched on short rest in his career, but that could happen depending how the World Series unfolds.
If the Phillies win their first couple of games, it seems less likely they bring Lee back on short rest — something Lee has never tried before. If Philadelphia drops its first couple of games, it might try to run Lee out there as much as possible.
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