Phils at Risk of Self-Sabotage

'Hollywood' Hamels sat in the dugout, hair moussed, hat off, looking cool. 1 inning under his belt and sat poised for his close-up. He had whipped the Yankees in the 1st, punctuated by a strikeout to Mark Teixeira to end the inning. This was Hamels' moment, a Hollywood moment. Just like against Tampa Bay a year ago, he was the knight in shining armor riding through the brightest spotlight in his sport with armor so thick a bullet couldn't penetrate it, let alone a baseball. That was how it appeared, anyway, to the TV cameras, when Tim McCarver reminded the viewing audience that this was just the 1st inning, that Hamels appeared a little too cocksure. Too bad Hamels wasn't listening to the broadcast.

Across the field in the visitor's dugout, they were tuning Hamels' self-aggrandizing out and cooking up new ways to slice and dice the southpaw. True to their pedigree and reputation, the Yankees chewed up and spit out last year's hero turned this year's goat. It was heir apparent approaching Game 3, to those of us who watched him pitch all season and in the playoffs, that in order for the Phils to win with Hamels on the mound, they'd need to score 7 -- or more. Hamels' postseason ERA, larger than Texas entering his game 3 debacle for the now trailing Phils, is fast approaching the kind of astronomical numbers normally reserved for the Yankees' payroll.

It's safe to say that if the Phils make it to a game 7 and Hamels is truly expected to pitch, as Charlie Manuel declared Saturday, then the Yankees may as well start celebrating now. If the Phillies remove their own best chance at winning this series, Cliff Lee, for a Game 4 start, which means he is to appear 1, not 2 times during the remainder of the series, then the Phillies are going to face a long, cold winter of regret.

In Game 1 of the NLCS, Hamels surrendered a HR to lodge his team in an early deficit. The Phils retaliated in the 5th with a 5-spot, to take a commanding lead. However, Hamels quickly returned the favor, allowing 3 runs in the bottom of the inning and the Phils lead was cut to 1, the opponent back in the game. I turned to my Philly compadres in the stands beside me and noted, "I don't want to see Cole Hamels pitch again this postseason." Lucky for the Yankees, I'm not managing the team.

Charlie Manuel is clearly a dazzling baseball man. He has utilized his troubled band of bullpenners this season with surgical precision and soaring success. He can be faulted, for certain, but not more than he deserves to be praised. One hopes, therefore, that he will come to his senses by the morning. The Phils can ill afford to put Joe Blanton in a must-win situation in Game 4. Sure, up 2-games-to-1 with 2 to play in succession at home, you could consider it. However, Blanton, so reliable for a long stretch throughout the regular season, has not had a successful start since Sept. 22nd. His postseason ERA is 4.66 and he has allowed 15 runs in 21 1/3 innings in his past 5 outings. The choice between that and the risk of pitching Cliff Lee on 1 day rest less than ideal is a no-brainer in a must-win situation, which Game 4 now is for the Phillies.

Manuel, Amaro Jr., even Pat Gillick must see to it that Lee is given the ball Sunday night. He is your ace, your '09 dominator. He has managed to outdo what Cole Hamels did in '08's postseason, and we need him now more than ever. It's all well and good to hold him out on full-rest for Game 5, but if that day arrives with the Phils in a 3-1 hole, then who cares? Furthermore, if Game 6 and 7 are to be played in Yankee stadium without Cliff Lee pitching, then the Phils are toast.

The Phillies got exactly what they should have expected from Hamels. It's what he gave them all disappointing season long. It's what he showed them in round 1 and 2 of the playoffs, when he was pounded by Colorado, then the Dodgers. Hamels has compiled a 1-2 record with a 7.58 ERA during the '09 playoffs. Shame on the Phillies for expecting him to magically resume '08's accomplishments against the menacing Yankees' storied professionalism and excellence.

While Ryan Howard finished the night 0-for-his-last-8 with 7 strikeouts, Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz, respective heroes of the '09 postseason, did their best to remind their teammates that they can play with these Yankees. They can beat anybody. This team not only believes that, they have proven it. However, the Phils are going to need to go for broke in order to accomplish it this time. This isn't the Dodgers or Tampa Bay. This won't be the 5 game breeze Rollins called for on TV, the opposition insured that by taking the upper hand 2-games-to-1 Saturday night. However, if Cliff Lee can even things in Game 4, then there is fight left in these Phils, at home and on the road, that can lead their path to championship victory once again.

However, between Cole Hamels incessant need to surrender the hefty leads his team builds for him this postseason and Charlie Manuel's choice to sit Lee for Blanton in Game 4, the Phils are cutting their own throat against the Yankees.

Charlie, there's still time. No one will fault you for throwing Lee out a day early and losing Game 4. It would be giving it your best shot. However, holding him back and eliminating your own best option is something that could live in infamy forever if Blanton doesn't come out and dominate the Yankees like Cliff Lee already has. It would be throwing this year's postseason goat, 'Hollywood' Hamels, out 2 x in the final 5, while leaving racehorse Lee in the stables and locking the door. The Yankees couldn't script it any better for them. It's time to grab the reigns and turn the horse around, before it's too late.