Spectral Observations

The Phillies of Philadelphia nearly had their storybook ending this last Monday. Boasting a 3-1 series lead over the AL Fairytale Tampa Bay Rays, the Phillies had the Rays exactly where they wanted them. At home, and with the best pitcher on either team starting in Cole Hamels. For those of you unfamiliar with MLB rules and regulations, if a game cannot be played due to weather and it is the 5th inning or later, the game ends with the current score. Suspicion was rising in game 5 of the World Series when Mother Nature did the inevitable and began to dump in Philly. Hamels was throwing a gem, and carried a 2-1 lead into the 6th inning when the Rays began their brief run. Upton scored from first after a blooping single from Carlos Pena. Once Hamels got out of the inning, the game was called due to the weather.

After the game, many Phillies fans became quite vocal on their opinions on making Hamels pitch through that last inning where the Rays were able to tie the game. Fact of the matter is the Phillies are still in very good shape. They get a day and a half break to quash all the momentum the Rays worked to build, and are actually in a semi-favorable position once the game resumes. Hamels will likely be stripped of his pitching duties, being due to bat once the game resumes. The Phillies will likely pinch hit, and turn the ball over to their bullpen that has been stellar all series long. Being they have a shot of closing the series out, and the fact Brad Lidge hasn’t pitched in what seems like a decade, they can count on him going 2 innings if needed. I have no idea how the reasoning behind the complaining that’s surfaced from some of the Philly fans is warranted. To me, the rain delay helped more than it hurt. There is no why you can hypothetically say that Hamels would not have given up the tying run in better weather, and that he shouldn’t have been subjected to that last inning.

I’d love to hear thoughts from both sides of the argument, and am looking forward to the conclusion of game 5 (and possibly the season) Wednesday evening.