Fans From Both Sides Recap Game 3

Joe G. gave Swisher a game off; Swisher came back with two crucial extra base hits.

Joe G. pulled Andy early. Andy wasn’t great tonight, but he was gutsy enough that I was willing to send him back out there. He also collected the first World Series RBI by a Yankee pitcher since Jim Bouton in 1964- part of a game changing 5th inning in which the wheel came off for Cole Hamels (who pitched a great game- Victorino had caught the lazy flies by Pettitte and Jeter it could have been a very different game).

Joe G. showed uncommon trust for his set-up men, sticking with Joba against Chase Utley with 2 out. His confidence was rewarded when Joba got Utley, allowing Joe to double switch Matsui, who promptly homered. Joe then stuck with Marte against the righties Werth and Ibanez.

My only complaint is about how Joe handled Hughes. I like bringing him in with a safe lead in the 9th inning even though he gave up the homer to Ruiz. I think you have to give Hughes 1 more batter in that situation. One more batter would not be the tying run, and instead you deny yourself the chance to use Mo for 2 tomorrow (though he did only throw 5 pitches). I like what Joe Buck reported Hughes said, “I was worrying too much about scouting reports and got away from my strength.”

1) Tonight was Cole Hamels’ season in a nutshell. He pitched great for three innings yet couldn’t get out of the fifth thanks to a combination of bad luck and not being able to put hitters away on two strike counts. Alex Rodriguez’s home run, which followed a Mark Texeira walk in which he came back from a 1-2 count (with help from the home plate ump), was the shortest a home run could be at CBP (and needed the aid of instant replay). Nick Swisher’s double was just fair. Andy Pettitte’s RBI single was a true bloop. Derek Jeter’s single could have been caught by Shane Victorino. Only Johnny Damon’s double was hit hard. Yet Cole gives up 5 earned in 4.3 innings.

2) The Phillies’ offensive lefties were no-shows tonight. On the other hand (literally), the righties were dominant. If the lefties could have put anything on the board tonight, the game would have been much closer.

3) Charlie Manuel’s managing when the game was still tight was awful. Pinch-hitting Eric Bruntlett in the sixth with a man on first, down by only 2, and Pettitte over 100 pitches was inexcusable. Ben Francisco was the obvious choice. If not him, any right-handed hitter in the stands would be better than Bruntlett. Then, in the top of the seventh, with Chad Durbin struggling, Manuel had no one warming in the bullpen and was forced to let Durbin close out the inning. Of course, Durbin gave up a run putting the game that much further out of reach. The Bruntlett pinch hit appearance and Durbin full inning were turning points.