Charlie Manuel Watch Thread - 2010 Edition

[89Hen]

Looks like there's a decent chance of steady rain tonight. How does MLB handle a reschedule this late in the year? Would they play two on Thursday?

Just glancing at the schedule, the Phils have just about every Thursday but the first one open in September, but the Giants are the complete opposite, having the first Thursday off and playing all the rest. So, it doesn't look like there's a compatible time or geographic intersection after Thursday.

Is it at all possible that they won't reschedule unless necessary?

[93henfan]

Looks like there's a decent chance of steady rain tonight. How does MLB handle a reschedule this late in the year? Would they play two on Thursday?

Just glancing at the schedule, the Phils have just about every Thursday but the first one open in September, but the Giants are the complete opposite, having the first Thursday off and playing all the rest. So, it doesn't look like there's a compatible time or geographic intersection after Thursday.

Is it at all possible that they won't reschedule unless necessary?

You just made the purists cringe. How could you maintain the integrity of the record books if they skipped a game? How could you let a team enter the playoffs 1/162nd more rested than the rest of the teams?

But seriously, no, MLB doesn't skip even meaningless games. It'll get played somehow.

[89Hen]

Is it at all possible that they won't reschedule unless necessary?

You just made the purists cringe. How could you maintain the integrity of the record books if they skipped a game? How could you let a team enter the playoffs 1/162nd more rested than the rest of the teams?

But seriously, no, MLB doesn't skip even meaningless games. It'll get played somehow.

I think I'm actually correct on this one. I just looked at last year's standings to see if everyone played 162 games and as it turns out, the Cubs and Pirates played 161 each. I'm guessing they had a rainout that wasn't played.

Chicago 83-78
Pittsburgh 62-99

[93henfan]

You just made the purists cringe. How could you maintain the integrity of the record books if they skipped a game? How could you let a team enter the playoffs 1/162nd more rested than the rest of the teams?

But seriously, no, MLB doesn't skip even meaningless games. It'll get played somehow.

I think I'm actually correct on this one. I just looked at last year's standings to see if everyone played 162 games and as it turns out, the Cubs and Pirates played 161 each. I'm guessing they had a rainout that wasn't played.

Chicago 83-78
Pittsburgh 62-99

Maybe so. I don't really know the rules on it. Where's Gannonfan when you need him?

EDIT: Yeah, I guess the game was rained out twice (second time on Oct 1), so they gave refunds.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... p&c_id=chc

[Ivytalk]

You just made the purists cringe. How could you maintain the integrity of the record books if they skipped a game? How could you let a team enter the playoffs 1/162nd more rested than the rest of the teams?

But seriously, no, MLB doesn't skip even meaningless games. It'll get played somehow.

I think I'm actually correct on this one. I just looked at last year's standings to see if everyone played 162 games and as it turns out, the Cubs and Pirates played 161 each. I'm guessing they had a rainout that wasn't played.

Chicago 83-78
Pittsburgh 62-99

Happens almost every year. If the teams suck and the game has no impact on the playoffs, MLB will let a rainout slide. Cubs-Pirates both out of the running last year.

[93henfan]

One of ESPN.com's sponsors just confirmed what we always suspected:

<click on photo to enlarge>

[Ivytalk]

One of ESPN.com's sponsors just confirmed what we always suspected:

<click on photo to enlarge>

Brilliant!

CHOOOOOOCH!

[bluehenbillk]

First off, I think they'll play tonight. If not, it'll be a day-night DH tomorrow unless SF is coming back east again before the year is over.

[93henfan]

First off, I think they'll play tonight. If not, it'll be a day-night DH tomorrow unless SF is coming back east again before the year is over.

The first line of storms is clearing out, but there's a second line that stretches from Harrisburg all the way to Nashville, TN. Hopefully it makes its way east of the area in time to play.

[BlueHen86]

Is it at all possible that they won't reschedule unless necessary?

You just made the purists cringe. How could you maintain the integrity of the record books if they skipped a game? How could you let a team enter the playoffs 1/162nd more rested than the rest of the teams?

But seriously, no, MLB doesn't skip even meaningless games. It'll get played somehow.

They will play it if the schedule allows, but this late in the year it may not (both teams may not have same day off, or if they do they are on oppposite coasts). In that case they will play it after the season, but only if it impacts the playoffs.

[bluehenbillk]

Oh the money I could've made in Vegas, what are the odds Chooch and Ibanez hit triples in the same game???

[93henfan]

Fun game to watch last night, aside from the initial sinking feeling of Blanton giving up yet another first inning run. Does Blanton lead the league in highest first inning ERA?

Anyway, it was one of those "everybody hits - woo hoo" kind of nights. Boy did Domonic Brown ever wallop the ball in his pinch hit appearance?

I just heard on CSN-Philly that Howard is shooting for a return on Monday night to start the Astros series.

[Ivytalk]

Tuesday night's Astros game is "Chooch Bobble-head Night"!

[93henfan]

Nice of the Natinals to cool down the Braves a bit this afternoon.


Btw, I watched the game on MASN and snapped this pic of the Braves' tremendous fan base:

[GannonFan]

Nice of the Natinals to cool down the Braves a bit this afternoon.


Btw, I watched the game on MASN and snapped this pic of the Braves' tremendous fan base:

It's like the nova fanbase - they end up having a good homefield advantage when their team is actually good, and the eerieness of playing in front of so many empty seats replaces the normal homefield advantage of, well, people and noise.

On the bright side, imagine if the Phils and Braves meet up in the playoffs - with the way that the Phils fans travel, it could end up being a 50/50 split down there.

[93henfan]

Here was a really good article in today's Philly.com explaining Charlie's rationale for the rotation this week:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Rot ... g_run.html

Some questioned why he saved Halladay for tomorrow night against the Nats when he could have pitched tonight against the Giants. Turns out, it sets up Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt for all six games against the Braves in September, with five of the six starts on an extra day's rest.

I recall a Rockies fan stating in the All-Star game thread on here that Charlie couldn't manage his way out of a wet paper sack, or something to that effect. Wanna try again?

From the article, here's how the rotation shakes out in September with days rest in parentheses:

Sept. 4 - MIL - Halladay (4)
Sept. 5 - MIL - Kendrick (4)
Sept. 6 - FLA - Oswalt and Doubleheader spot starter (4)
Sept. 7 - FLA - Blanton (4)
Sept. 8 - FLA - Hamels (4)
Sept. 9 - OFF
Sept. 10 - at NYM - Halladay (5)
Sept. 11 - at NYM - Kendrick (5)
Sept. 12 - at NYM - Oswalt (5)
Sept. 13 - at FLA - Blanton (5)
Sept. 14 - at FLA - Hamels (5)
Sept. 15 - at FLA - Halladay (4)
Sept. 16 - OFF
Sept. 17 - WSH - Oswalt (4)
Sept. 18 - WSH - Kendrick (6)
Sept. 19 - WSH - Blanton (5)
Sept. 20 - ATL - Hamels (5)
Sept. 21 - ATL - Halladay (5)
Sept. 22 - ATL - Oswalt (4)
Sept. 23 - OFF
Sept. 24 - NYM - Blanton (4)
Sept. 25 - NYM - Hamels (4)
Sept. 26 - NYM - Halladay (4)
Sept. 27 - at WSH - Oswalt (4)
Sept. 28 - at WSH - Kendrick (9)
Sept. 29 - at WSH - Blanton (4)
Sept. 30 - OFF
Oct. 1 - at ATL - Halladay (5)
Oct. 2 - at ATL - Hamels (6)
Oct. 3 - at ATL - Oswalt (5)

[Ivytalk]

Crap. Braves lose, but Hamels getting shelled, and another Sanchez is silencing the Phils' bats.

[93henfan]

I didn't feel like starting a separate thread just for this, but since (I think) most of us are Eagles fans, I see where Shawn Andrews signed with the Giants: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/ ... id=5478978

Some of my favorite quotes:

"I've been working hard. Going hard. Not that I never worked hard in my life but this is my last attempt at it. I'm going all out. I'm selling out right now."

The God that I serve is a forgiving God and a God of second chances so why not give a guy a second chance who is passionate about what he does?"

Gee, it's so nice of him start giving a shit now. He must have finally spent all of his rookie signing bonus. I don't root for injuries, but some I find far less heartbreaking than others. It would really be a shame to see old Shawn get hurt or cut.

[93henfan]

One of the "stellar" prospects that Ruben Amaro Jr. got for Cliff Lee apparently is a fan of the blow:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phi ... _bust.html

Tyson Gillies, one of three prospects acquired from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee trade last offseason, was arrested in Clearwater early this morning and charged with felony cocaine possession, the Pinellas County Sheriff Department confirmed...

[Ivytalk]

Nice of the Natinals to cool down the Braves a bit this afternoon.


Btw, I watched the game on MASN and snapped this pic of the Braves' tremendous fan base:

Have a heart, 93, the pic shows that it was the bottom of the 9th by then.

Bet there were at least 500 more peeps in the 5th!

[93henfan]

Halladay lowers his ERA to 2.16 tonight.

[Ivytalk]

Phils hanging in there... still 2.5 games back afer Oswalt's gem yesterday.

[93henfan]

Phils hanging in there... still 2.5 games back afer Oswalt's gem yesterday.

Aside from the occasional hiccup (like Hamels' last start), the three-headed monster rotation is looking like an awesome horse to ride. Now you only have to sweat a single Blanton or Kendrick appearance in between two gunslingers.

The pen is really coming around too. Madson is looking fairly automatic and Lidge, while still giving up some really long fly balls, is at least not blowing games.

2 games up in the wild card.

[89Hen]

2 games up in the wild card.

Starting to look like the more likely route.

[93henfan]

2 games up in the wild card.

Starting to look like the more likely route.

You don't think the Phils can make up 2.5 games on the Braves? They play them six times in September.

The Phils were 7 games back just a few weeks ago.