Why Isn’t Cliff Lee Starting Tonight

The pressure is squarely on Joe Blanton tonight.

While I was not entirely enthused about the World Series prior to Game 1, I have been pleasantly surprised early on with a fairly entertaining series.  Game 1 provided a superb pitching matchup between Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia.  Game 2 also provided a great pitcher’s duel, with Pedro and AJ Burnett going at it.  Pedro couldn’t resist soaking up his moment in the spotlight in the biggest of stages, smirking as the Yankee faithful chanted “Who’s your daddy” as he exited, and later saying “If I was on the Yankees, I’d probably be like a king over here.”  Burnett, however, was a touch better, leading the Yankees to a win and tying the series.  After waiting out a 90+ minute rain delay last night, the Yankees knocked around ’08 postseason hero Cole Hamels, and rode a decent outing by Andy Pettitte to a 2-1 series lead.

That is where we find ourselves heading into tonight’s Game 4.  After taking Game 1 and control of the series, the Phillies now find themselves in a VERY precarious situation, as a result of the horse-like load Sabathia is capable of handling and how careful the Phillies are being with Cliff Lee.  Sabathia will start tonight on 3 days rest, and likely again in Game 7 on short rest.  He has shown time and time again over the past several seasons that he can handle working on short rest.  However, the Phillies have decided to start Joe Blanton tonight, rather than give the ball back to Cliff Lee who would obviously also be pitching on short rest.  Lee has never pitched on short rest and thus has no track record.  Even so, the Phillies will find themselves in an insurmountable whole if Blanton, who hasn’t pitched since October 19^th (13 days), doesn’t put together a strong outing.

If it isn’t obvious, I’m not sure I agree with Charlie Manuel’s thinking here.  The Yankees need to win 2 of the remaining 4 games in the series and have Sabathia starting 2 of them, along with Burnett and Pettitte who have both pitched serviceably in the Series.  If the Yankees win tonight, the 3-1 whole with two games still to be played in New York is an almost impossibly whole to dig out of.  Not only would the Phillies have to contend with Sabathia twice, they would also have Hamels starting game 7.  Hamels has been less than reliable over the past month.  Sure Lee has never proven he can pitch on 3 days rest, but why not at least give him the chance to outduel Sabathia tonight, give him a chance to be the ace that he is, and give him a chance get his team back in the series.