Phils-Dodgers Game 5

Notes on Game 5:

Charlie Manuel again opted to start Pedro Feliz instead of Gregg Dobbs against a right-handed pitcher. Feliz played his usual excellent defense but at the plate he left 8 men on base. Yes the Phils won thanks to excellent pitching but at same point those lost runs will come back to haunt you.

Even if Tampa Bay wins tonight the World Series won't start until next Wednesday. That's too long a wait even if does mean Cole Hamels will be well rested and ready to start the Series. It's all about television of course and that's what pays the bills.

In the 7th inning, Hamels walked two men on and was facing Jeff Kent. Charlie Manuel came out to the mound but surprisingly let Hamels keeping pitching. Hamels got Kent looking at a pitch called strike 3 by umpire Mike Winters. But on TV the pitch appeared clearly to be low. The game could have changed dramatically if the call went the other way but human error is still part of the game and that's OK.

The Fox announcers speculated that Manny Ramirez might elicit some interest from the Phillies to replace Pat Burrell. When Manny steps in the batter's box he becomes the 8th Wonder of the World but the Phils would be foolish to even consider it. Ramirez just carries too much baggage. The Phillies have excellent team chemistry which will be severely tested in the post-season as it is with many players on the last year of their contracts. Manny is just too much of a destabilizing agent to risk adding him to the Phils' clubhouse.