Ready for The Series

Cowbells, mohawks, bad math equations...these things all await the Phillies in St. Petersburg. The Rays' fan base is mostly Johnny Come-Lately's. Their stadium is a mess. But the team has made history. The Rays have 37 more wins this year than they had last year. That is the biggest increase, from one year to the next, in modern baseball history.

World Series note of the day #1- Phillies 25th man So Taguchi is the only player on either team to record a base hit in the World Series.

Both teams are not required to set their rosters till Wednesday morning. There has been some speculation that catcher Lou Marson would make the World Series roster for the Phils, so that back up catcher Chris Coste could be used as a designated hitter against lefties, and that would cut the risk of leaving the Phillies in a stuck position if starting catcher Carlos Ruiz were to become injured during a game. MLB rules state if your DH plays the field, the team loses their DH, and the pitcher must bat, or be pinch hit for. That same speculation has So Taguchi as the potential player to be trimmed off the roster.

World Series note of the day #2- Phils pitcher Jamie Moyer attended the championship parade that followed the 1980 World Series, when the Phillies won the only title in team history.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has announced that his starting pitching rotation will not be altered for the World Series. Expect Cole Hamels to start game 1, Brett Myers to start game 2, Jamie Moyer will start game 3, and Joe Blanton would get game 4. That follows in order for the remaining games...Hamels for 5, Myers for 6, Moyer for 7. Personally, I don't like that at all. Moyer has been awful this post season, and if I could make the call, Moyer would not get another start, let alone TWO more starts, the second being in the 7th and final game. A fine way to expell Moyer from the rotation this series would be to have the three other starters going on short rest. Sure, Cole Hamels has expressed some reservations about going on three days rest, rather than four. But couldn't he do it just once, with the greatest prize baseball on the line?! Using Brett Myers, a guy who thrives under pressure and has proven successful making starts on short rest, in game 1 could allow him to pitch games 4 and 7 also. Hamels starting game 2 and coming back on three days rest, would have him slated for game 5. Joe Blanton could then start games 3 and 6. I simply trust three starts from Myers more than I trust two starts from Moyer. And if needed, for the sake of babying Hamels and giving Cole his usual rest between starts, maybe Moyer starts game 4 or 5 only. Again, I believe the less starts Moyer makes, the better off the Phillies will be.

If Moyer was skipped as a starter, having the lefty, Moyer, out of the bullpen, then allows the Phils to trim "Jay" Happ from the roster to make room for Lou Marson. This would leave World Series veteran So Taguchi available for pinch hitting ineptitude.

Don't get it twisted...I am very happy for Jamie Moyer to be reaching the World Series for the first time in his 22-year career. I just think it's crucial for the manager to recognize when his players are spent, exhausted and not valuable to the team. This is the World Series. There is NO ROOM for kind gestures toward the loveable, gentle veteran. There is NO ROOM for "owing the guy who got you there a start". That is garbage at this stage. Moyer could certainly still help the team win, but I just don't see him as having the best chances to do so.

Many people have declared Cole Hamels the best Phillies pitcher in a generation. He's also likely the best home grown pitcher in two or three generations. In comparison to that last great Phillies lefty from a generation ago, Steve Carlton, in the 1980 championship season, Colbert looks just as good or better.

Carlton in the 1980 post season- 4 games started, 3-0 record, 27 1/3 innings pitched, 7 earned runs, 23 strike outs, 2.32 ERA.
Hamels so far in the 2008 post season- 3 games started, 3-0 record, 22 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 22 strike outs, 1.23 ERA.

I leave you with this Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia note. While the best two teams in baseball are from these two locations, the worst two hockey teams are from the same places. The Flyers and the Lightning are the last two winless teams in the NHL this season.

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly. On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne. The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska. In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be. He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line. And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line. He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage. Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August. Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH. Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve

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