Postponed Game Bodes Well for Phillies

Posted by Jason Bintliff, Sun, October 11, 2009 09:02 AM

Alright, so we had to wait one more day to watch the Phillies take on the Rockies in game three. It’s not like we haven’t waited before. As matter of fact, it was our waiting that really set the precedent for the major league, when it came to moving around playoff games to better suit the weather.

Let’s face it, 29 degrees with snow on the ground is not baseball weather, it’s barely late season football weather. However, when baseball decided to expand it’s league to markets like Denver, this is what you get. The reverse of the weather quandary was seen in places like Miami in mid-July. To combat this problem, many teams in cold(or hot) weather cities, such as Milwaukee and Seattle(as well as Houston and Arizona) decided to build domes for their ballparks. The folks in the Mile-High city must have never envisioned their team in the postseason, or else the brain-trust of the Rockies also would have added a dome to their park as well.

In the end, the Phillies were the team that made out best by this postponement. First off, game-time temperatures tonight is expected to be 41 degrees as opposed to 29. Still, not quite the ideal weather for a ball game, but much more comfortable. The high temperature today should allow the snow to melt, although field conditions will most likely still be wet.

The second advantage it gives to the Phillies is the Phillies get one more day to adjust to the thin-air of the city on a mountain. It may sound trivial, but there is a reason the Rockies, historically, have been so good at home. Same with the Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche. An extra day to adjust to the air up there will do the Phightin’s some good. It also gives them time to adjust to the stark change in temperature.

Third, and probably the most important advantage the postponing gave the Phillies, was it gave them the ability to set their rotation how they wanted to finish the series. Pedro Martinez was originally scheduled to get the ball for last nights game, now the rookie, J.A. Happ gets the ball. This allows the Phil’s to go with another lefty against a line-up who tends to struggle against them.

Martinez is still available of course, but, if the Phillies win tonight’s game, it’s likely that Joe Blanton or Cliff Lee will get the start in game four on Monday night. On Monday, Lee will be on his regular rest and is probably the best option, whether the Phillies are up a game or down a game. The only down-side to starting Lee is that he then would not be available until game three of the the NLCS if the Phillies happen to make it that far. But let’s not worry about that now, we’ve got to win this series first.

And with the game being postponed last night, the commissioner Bud Selig just gave us a better chance at doing so.

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57 Responses to “Postponed Game Bodes Well for Phillies”

  1. joedad Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:55 am

    I recall there being a big snowstorm between the NLCS and the World Series in 2007. The Rockies swept the NL series so they missed the weekong snowstorm. Imagine delaying the World Series a week or 2 because of a snowstorm.

  2. PhreeholdDave Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Actually, its going to be as warm in Denver, CO as it is in Philadelphia. It’s not an extreme cold-weather spot.

  3. Manny Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 11:27 am

    It would be great to win this in 4, with Happ and Lee. And then hopefully Cole could start against the Dodgers, who he already dominated, Heavy B following him, and then Lee/Happ. Should work out well. Of course, the priority is to beat the Rockie and we gotta go after them with everything we got. But finishing this series in 4 could turn out to be very important in an eventual NLCS.

  4. Jason Bintliff Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Phreeholddave…
    Actually, you’re correct, it’s not an extreme cold weather spot, however, it’s location which is inland(scientifically continental) and the fact that it is in the mountains makes it prone to more extreme swings in weather patterns, such as snow or falling temperatures in months like April and October. In Philadelphia, the location is scientifically coastal, although it is not directly on the coast,it is close enough where the Ocean temperature still has an effect on the regions weather. Because of this, Philadelphia is more likely to stay in a moderate temperature range in months like April and October. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but when you are in a city where the months of April and October can be prone to heavy snow, you should consider a dome rather than an open air park. How many Blizzards have occurred in Philly as compared to Denver in April or October in, say, the last 20 years?

  5. Mazinman Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    I agree with Manny. Its very important to win these next two games so we can start with Hamels against the Dodgers.

    Our rotation if we win in 4:

    Hamels
    Happ
    Lee
    Blanton/Martinez

    Our rotation if we win in 5:

    Blanton/Martinez
    Happ
    Lee
    Hamels

    It would be very much to our benefit to go with that first rotation

  6. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    It’s nearly 2pm and we still have 8 more hrs to go before game time? Amazing. I’m glad we’ll get a chance to send Happ/Lee in games 3/4, but these delays may hurt both teams….

    - I used to laugh at the WWF, WWE, WBNA,NASCAR, Areana FB,etc, etc… But fans from other sports are now probably laughing at MLB. and their fans….

    -All-Star Game decides HF for WS?

    -Team with the best record gets to decide with playoff scedule they want. Why does MLB make the one-game playoff winner enter “pay” for making the playoff (Rockies 2007 run withstanding)

    -Making the Twins play the next day was an absolute joke…

    -So was the missed call. MLB is the only sport with no replays (expt on hrs) of the 4 major sports… Even the NBA reviews questionable ‘3s.

    -If the umps get that call right the Twins score at least 1 run and probably a couple more as the Twin probably relax a little after grabbing the lead…

    -A potential game 5 in the Phils may be played the next day after a possible nite game?

    -The Phils/Rocks still don’t know what time Game 4 will be tomm. But if you look on the ML scoreboard on any site for Monday; both The Yanks an the Sox starts times for a potential game 4 has already been posted….. What?

    -MLB is a joke

  7. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    like 7 hours away . . . :D

  8. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    it’s a shame we don’t have a pinch runner.

  9. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Papelbon blows a 2 run save!

  10. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    we might get the late game after all :)

  11. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    Wow Keith, The Red Sox get swept? …And another beast is gone!

    ….. Jigga, Jigga.. Fake i.d., Fake i.d….

  12. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    Angels sweep the Redsoxs!

  13. Mort Eskin Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Go Phils. Go Go Go

  14. Mazinman Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Wasn’t it supposed to be the Phillies the team with the closer issues?

  15. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Remember when a certain Mets closer said that he would never come back to Philadelphia? He said once was enough?…

    How does it fell now b*tch?…. No matter how far we go this year, you still don’t have a ring…. Now take your country a*ss back to the pig farm…..

  16. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    It’s 20 degress in Denver now with the wind chill…. And it’s only 2pm over there. Well done Bud Sleazy….Well done….. What’s up with those unis?? It looks like a bleeping 70’s disco out there…..

  17. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    haha yeah the Broncos uniforms are hideous.

  18. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    …only 5 more hours to gooooooooooo…………………….. You’re getting sleepy…………..Very sleepy……….

    Bud Sleazy’s plan is working……………

    The goal is to make us so tried that by time the game starts we won’t notice the favorable calls the home team is going to get to try to make-up for us being able to pitch Happ/Lee…

  19. mikeB Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    The weather source I just checked said it is 36 degrees with a real feel temperature of 44 in Denver and mostly cloudy with little wind at 3:19 PM, MST. High of 49 degrees forecasted for tomorrow.

  20. Terri Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    If the Phillies are the only game tomorrow it will be at 6:07. If yankees lose, they will play at 4:07. Tuesday’s game will be at 8:07

  21. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    wake up Harry, go Phillies!

  22. joedad Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    The Rockies stadium has a nice view of the Rockies so I think a dome would not be a good idea. They need a retractable roof similar to Milwaukee.

  23. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    No dome…. Just more humidors….. Humidors is the answer to everything….

  24. joedad Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    How about Wagner (not surprising) and Papelbon blowing the game in Boston a day after Joe Nathan blew a 2 run lead? It doesn’t happen ofter but shows that closing games is difficult. Even the best blow big games.

    I find it amazing that the Phils are slight favorites to win the game with a rookie starter pitching for them on the road. Oddsmakers must love the lefties against the Rockies.

  25. Mort Eskin Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    I was thrilled to see the two macho relievers for Boston lose the game –namely Billy Wagner and Jonathan Papelbon. Their “tough-guy” stares and big shot talk amounted to nothing but an early trip home for the Boston Nation, which I am sick and tired of hearing about. Good riddance. Now, because of the greed and ineptitude of Bud Selig, the Phightins have to play in frigid weather late into the night.

  26. chucks Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    Does anyone else feel that however wins this game tonight will when the whole series?

  27. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    Franklin, Nathan, and Papelbon all blowing saves. We were so close of having Street blow one too. If only we had a pinch runner who could’ve pinch ran instead of Lee and then steal second and score on Rollins’ single, but oh well let’s win tonight! :D

  28. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    less than 4 hours away . . .

  29. ray Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    Just got back from the Eagles game. Great time, easy game, like playing an exhibition or college team..lol….anyways i’m excited and ready to go. I don’t care about sleep i’m fired up

  30. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Yup Keith a pinch runner a real one ties the game…. My stomach is churning a mile a minute…. If the Yanks win, we could be back in the NLCS in about 24 hrs. Exciting and scary as hell all at the same time…. It’s like these beast keep going down and the path to a repeat is kinda becoming less of a miracle.. Rockies were wildly considered the stronger contenders going in… If we beat them that’s the Red Sox, Cards, Rockies all gone….Of course the Yanks are no joke and you saw what the Angels did…. And we have to respect the Dodgers….

  31. Bruce Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Hey Ray, don’t you think the rookie quarterback for Tampa Bay, Josh Johnson is special? If he had a team like that other highly praised rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez has, the media would bend over backwards with rave reviews for him.

  32. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    Well the good thing is Happ college experience in Illinois means he dealt with the cold on the mound. Still glad Marquis isn’t pitching.

  33. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    hope pavano exacts some revenge against the Yanks

  34. GWFightinsFan Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    Alright guys…how does everyone think they’ll do tonight?

  35. ray Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    You know bruce, not to jump off topic i know this is a phillies blog so i’ll keep it short. I really hadn’t heard of him much, but he had some nice plays today, he can move around the pocket. and of course he made the usual rookie mistakes. I would agree with you that a first rounder out of new york is going to get a lot of publicity whetherhe deserve it or not. Even in Dallas, look at that fraud down there who was supposedly the next coming of something..lol

  36. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    Josh Johnson has some talent…. The head coach though I don’t get…. They has some PK issues, but the fgs left on the field would’ve made this game a lot less comfortable..

  37. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    anybody else really excited but also scared?

  38. Bill Seeburger Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    I hope the Phils beat the Rockies. Right now the temperature is in the low 30’s. That is no weather in which to play an important baseball game and we can thank Bud Selig for this crap. I hope he comes to Philly so we can boo the heck out of this stiff. He sucks. Worst commissioner in the history of baseball. Get him out !!!

  39. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    keith – ditto. we just never what line-up will show up. Ut has to break out. If he does I’ll feel better.

  40. Fishtown Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    Geez quit crying about the frk’n weather thing and the times do you think anyone really wants to come to Philly even on a sunny day to play….speaking of playing a game like it was against a college team thats funny ….its also what New Orleans said when they smacked the crap out of the Sparrows {eagles}..I’d rather keep this town what it really is a W/S Champion Phillies…as long as the 2 fat idiots like Reid and number 5 are here it will stay the world champs town….oh and lets not see Lidge in the rest of the series and the next one too.

  41. Terri Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    I am very nervous about this game. I just hope there aren’t any delays with the weather and field condition.

    Wow, AROD is finally showing up in the postseason.

  42. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    like an hour away . . .

  43. Keith Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    Twins just can’t keep a lead.

  44. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    rough for the twins

  45. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    they really need morneau in their line-up.

  46. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Fishdude….Your stupidity is really starting to get annoying….. You should really just STFU about the weather issue. Because it’s a valid issue, but for some reason you just don’t get it…..

    -For the rest of us… We’re finally less than an hour away… I’m excited, nervous and optimistic all at the same time…. It looks like Game 4 will be at 8pm est if the Yankees hold on…

  47. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    if there is any time Mauer needs to put the team on his back…

  48. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    I’m sorry. I meant 6pm est if the Yanks win…

  49. ray Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    we know fishtown would like the eagles if they had won a super bowl because he’s a bandwagon jumping loser…loved to know what team he likes….coud it be the cowboys?

  50. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    what’s with the necklaces in MLB

  51. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    though i’m not a football fan, i don’t get how anyone but people from Texas could like the Cowboys…what gives?

  52. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Twins fans may need a shrink after this one…

  53. Harry Kalas Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    Their history….

  54. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    yeah, cause the yanks pitching isn’t as great as the twins are making it out to be. You face justin verlander and can’t string together more than a few hits against Petite.

  55. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    how about that by puntoi

  56. j reed Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    punto…fundemental mistakes by one of the most fundementaly soundl teams in baseball

  57. Dr. Phil Says:
    October 11th, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    Twins fans I’m free tomm….

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