Phils-Rays Game 2

Notes on Game 2:

The wish was expressed here a few days ago that Jimmy Rollins would get on base consistently in this series. Well Jimmy produced his second consecutive 0-5 game last night. When a leadoff hitter goes 0-5, you are automatically behind the 8 ball. Now World Series history is replete with good hitters who slumped in the Fall Classic. The Rays have a few of their own. It happens. But in Rollins' case this has happened all too frequently throughout the regular season and playoffs. The usual explanations - overanxious, swinging at bad pitches, bad mechanics - are tiresome. He is not getting the job done. Period.

Of course Rollins is not alone. Last night, Rollins, Utley, Burrell and Werth combined for 1-17. You have to wonder what's going on when your most consistent hitters are Carlos Ruiz and Brett Myers.

Speaking of Myers, he was hardly lights out last night, but he pitched well enough to win. The one silver lining from last night was that Myers showed he can contain the Rays.

Greg Dobbs looked like a deer in the headlights when he struck out in his first two at bats, each time with men in scoring position. He is the team's best contact hitter and you would have wanted no one else to be hitting in those situations. But in fairness, it has to be difficult for Dobbs to find a comfort zone, particularly in his first World Series appearance, when he is getting so few at bats.

In the 4th inning, the Rays had runners at 1st and 3rd with one out and 9th hitter Jason Bartlett at the plate. Manager Joe Maddon called for a suicide squeeze but Bartlett fouled it off. But on the next pitch, the squeeze was on again, this time the safety squeeze. The Phils were caught flat-footed and a very important fourth run scored. This was a very clever managerial move and something I don't think Charlie Manuel would do. A more general criticism I have of Manuel is that he too often plays for a big inning rather than a run or two.