NEW YORK — Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels made a case that he hasn’t quit. New York’s CC Sabathia made a case that he’s fine starting again on short rest.
If the World Series goes to a seventh game, there will be drama in NYC, with both managers ripe for second- guessing because of how they’ve used their pitchers.
Hamels has been under fire since his latest horrible effort Saturday in Game 3, after which he said he wished the season was over. Those comments cast him as selfish and, worse, soft. Hamels issued an apology, then had a dust-up with good friend Brett Myers on Monday, misunderstanding Myers’ sarcasm. The two patched things up Tuesday. Hamels wants the ball again in Game 7 and told manager Charlie Manuel as much.
Given how he has performed in the playoffs — 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA — it’s hard to see Hamels getting another chance.
It’s more likely Manuel would start J.A. Happ and make Game 7 an all-hands- on-deck affair. Let Happ start and have Hamels, Chad Durbin or Chan Ho Park warming up in the first inning if he gets in trouble.
Somehow, the Phillies would need to quilt together seven innings to get to Scott Eyre, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge. Cliff Lee could throw a few pitches. Really, anybody but Hamels would be a good choice.
There’s no mystery with the Yankees. Sabathia gets the call. It would be his third start in nine days. Doesn’t matter that he’s 6-feet-7, 310 pounds — that’s a taxing workload. Sabathia insisted Tuesday that he went away from his fastball in his last game as an adjustment to the hitters, not to a tired arm.
“I feel really good. I will be ready,” he said.
Everything about a Game 7 is different. The pressure, the stress, the stakes. It will come down to the pitchers. The winner gets rings, the loser gets served on a grill to talk-show callers.
Back to work.
In case you wondered if the Rockies are driven to return to the playoffs, Tuesday provided strong evidence. Several players worked out at Coors Field. None want attention, but I will say this: Todd Helton’s dedication is inspiring. He’s fighting age like a two-strike slider, fouling it off repeatedly.
Footnotes.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is human. He was late arriving to the clubhouse Tuesday because he got stuck in traffic. . . . Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard needs to snap out of his slump since it’s unlikely the Yankees will let Chase Utley (five home runs) beat them again. Howard and the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira, the league’s RBI leaders, have driven in a combined three runs in the Series. . . . Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino (right index finger) will start tonight. Gripping the bat, however, could be a problem. . . . The return to Yankee Stadium benefits the Yankees, allowing them to DH Hideki Matsui. . . . Mary J. Blige will sing the national anthem tonight.
