Strategery

Kind of interesting strategy tonight.

who will be the Phillies first pinch hitter? I'm thinking Greg Dobbs, their best lefthanded bat. Will Maddon allow the right hander Balfour pitch to him and then Rollins (switch), & Werth (r) before bringing in a lefty to pitch to Utley and Howard?

Or will Maddon burn a lefty first (not Price)?

with the Rays pitcher up fourth in the next innning, i don't think they will bring price in till after they get their ups in the top of the 7th. They are still too high in the order for a double switch in the bottom of the 6th, the most likely candidate being Baldelli i would guess, but he will be up in the 7th. It will be important for the Phils to set them down in order in the 7th but by then they could do a double switch.

Knowing Price will be pitching in the later innings and not in the 6th makes me think Dobbs will be the call at that point. I checked some stats and Stairs has 2 strikeouts and a sac fly against Balfour this year so don't think i will be him.

If Burrell gets up in the 6th it means they've scored so I think Bruntlett probably comes in as a defensive substitution in the 7th.

who will pitch the 7th for the Phils? I hope it is Eyre. Durbin was shaky against them earlier. Ideally, they get out of the inning and can pitch Madson in the 8th and Lidge in 9th. i would hold Romero in reserve for any needed tough outs  - like Pena. If

this short game sucks, but it is kind of interesting strategy-wise.

BTW, my brother is  going to the game - again - tonight. 6 rows back in leftfield. He's been up in Philly all day on business. says it is misting rain right now and that there were patches of snow in Doylestown this morning.