Rays vs Phils

[declansharbor]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The rays bullpen is probably better in every position but the big one, closer. They really dont have any one guy who can shut the other team down (they actually do and they finally used him) but the situational guys that have are better than Phillys. Price may be a big factor in the later innings facing Utley and Howard as Tampa's top lefty power pitcher in the pen. The bottom of the Phils lineup can be really dreadful with Feliz,Ruiz and whoever mans rightfield. The Phils bench is not a strength and Blanton is really the weak link of the starters. Moyer was horrible against LA but he was terrible against them all year. I expect the Rays to tee off of fat joe. There is really no reason not to use Hamels in games 1 and 4 especially with and all the rest and off days. As a matter of fact if they dont i cant see them winning the series and if they lose tonight it will be a big hole to climb out of with Myers, Moyer and Blanton up the next three.

I agree with the Hamels assessment and would really like to see Chuckle's wheel him back to the hill on Sunday, esp with the day off on friday. You are right, if they were to lose tonight, an uneasy feeling would surely ensue because of the 2nd-4th pitchers...Not sure of what Blanton's record against this year's Rays is, imnot even sure if he has faced them.

I disagree about the bullpen. You would be hard-pressed to find a pitcher throwing better at the moment than Ryan Madson. He has really stepped it up as of late and his pitches are clicking on all cylinders.. We also have a wildcard in J A Happ, who people dont know much about. He has a strong arm adn will eventually move up into the rotation next year. JC Romero has been suspect down teh stretch and will need to step his $hit up so that he can face the lefty's of TB (Im thinking he's capable of it)...I just pray to the Man Above that Chuckles doesnt run Durbin out to the mound. Everytime that guy pitches I have heart palpitations...Im too young to die of a heart attack, and in this situation(WS) he might just bring me to the brink. (Kevin Finnerty style, Soprano's reference)..Chuckles has to think long and hard before making these decisions and hopefully Dicky Doobee can calm the starters down with a trip to the mound if necessary. All of this, of course, is on the grand stage, and every move will be criticized (right or wrong) under the large microscope.

Will be an interesting series to say the least. The time is finally upon us, and it is now time to crack open my first Straub Light of the night...