NOT trying to tell anhyone what to do, or not do, but....

[Stifler's Mom]

....it doesn't seem anyone is actually thinking thru what they are betting on when this game resumes. I see alot of guys taking what basically amounts to a blind stab at Tampa just because they're drawing relatively high dog odds. Why?

Think about it...

#1. PHI gets one more full at bat than does TB from the restart, to whenever they finish, weather it be 9 innings, extra innnings, or whatever. That right there is worth quite a bit on the price, wouldn't you think?

#2. I assume PHI will come for the 3 innings with Madson & Lidge. Why on earth would you want to blindly fade that combo right now? Madson obviously didn't pitch last night, and Lidge hasn't pitched since practically forever, so looking for 2 innings from both of those guys isn't really expecting that much, meaning they could even go thru the 10th if necessary. I'm pretty sure Manuel pulls out all the stops to end this thing tonight in PHI....which to me means he goes with his best 2 relievers as long as they are able.

#3. TB would presumably go with David Price. I know I would. No doubt he's a talent, and capable of shutting PHI down for a while, but the guy's not gonna go 4 innings, is he? Then I suppose it would be on to the parade of fools (wheeler, etc) that PHI pounded all over the yard at the end of game 4. Do you want your money on those asswhackers?

#4. PHI is at the 9 spot in the lineup....so a pinch hitter, then the top of the order. This means whoever is pitching for TB has to go thru the top of the PHI order twice for sure, and probably the big sluggers (Howard, etc) twice as well, if PHI can muster any baserunners at all in the 4 innings they will hit.

TB on the other hand is starting with the 6, 7 and 8 guys when they hit in the 7th.....and therefore PHI only needs to go thru the best part of the TB lineup once.

To me there's damn good reason PHI is still a nice sized fave, despite Hamels obviously no longer being a factor. I actually think the odds are too low for PHI, and if i didn't have a series play on them at +125, i would be getting down at -160 for them to take it tonight....just as I would have at -170 last night.

Just something to think about for those who may be undecided.....

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Great points...I had thought only about point #1...Philly essentially getting a free inning...

[V3r1f13d]

Becuase I'm pissed off...that's why :)

No but really, it's a complete underdog play. I took into consideration everything you said before I played it. Philly has this one in the bag. The people are happy, baseball is happy, umps did their job, mission accomplished. Let baseball try to milk the public some more and let's take it back to TB so they can make some more money off TV, tickets, and whatever else they can sell.

Do I have any other reasoning like the 3 and 4 batters are comming out of a slump? Price? Hell no...

This whole WS was a script, I'm just playing it how I would write it.

And there it is...

[Stifler's Mom]

Apparently they won't play tonight either.

Since Selig just does as he pleases it seems, why not just move the remainder of this game back to TB and finish out any and all of the rest of the series there to avoid the bad weather he in PA? (Geez, who would have predicted ****ty weather in Pennsylvania at the end of October? LOL)

Obviously fairness to the Phillies isn't at the top of his list of priorities anyway

One good thing for PHI fans though, I suppose this delay gives PHI a chance to bring back Hamels in a possible game 7, should one be necessary? I assume they would go with finish game 5 tomorrow (hopefully), and games 6 and 7 FRI and SAT if necessary.

Or maybe they will just make the 2 teams play the same day they have to fly to Tampa with no off day, lol

[bookiekilla]

great points stif...I have a dime already riding on the series play on Philly at +130, and I'm still considering taking them tonight...I know its not too smart to do that, but IMO the price is justified tonight. I might end up just laying off tonight...but IMO tonight the right play is Phi or no play..atleast thats the way I look at it..

[Franchise]

One point on #3, Tampa probably will stick with Balfour and friends for atleast an inning since the pitcher's spot is due up fourth in the 7th for Tampa.

I agree that Philly has value but in a 3-4 inning game anything can happen and expecting the smart, obvious move and having either manager actually do it is a completely different thing.

[Stifler's Mom]

You might be right, but i'd almost rather use Price and let him bat than let some of those TB relievers face the top of the PHI lineup after what they did to em in game 4.

The longer this delay goes, i think it evens things out a little, although the extra at bat and what should be a bullpen edge for PHI if they go with Madson right away, then Lidge, still remain.....

They'll probably get it in tonight. It's cold and dreary around these parts (i'm about an hour and half driving time outside of Philly), but not really raining anymore....