In which scenario does he pitch on 3 days rest 3 times in a row? This would just be one time. And in the regular season starters never pitch on 3 days rest unless it’s the equivalent of a playoff game, so it’s really the only way to find out. You might not think that Game 7 is harder to win on the road than Game 6, but many actual MLB managers do.
I have quite honestly never before in my life heard someone say that Game 7 is harder to win on the road than Game 6. I would also point out that Ron Washington’s a very smart man and probably knows as well as anyone that the Yankees will be just as hard to beat in a Game 6 as a Game 7. On top of that, the fact remains that without a weather postponement you are starting Lee on short rest,** which he has never done before**. It’s nuts to risk him being tired in Game 6 if you need him the following day anyway.
From the perspective of the team down 3-2 you have to win both games no matter what. Lee must pitch either game. If you start him on short rest and he gets bombed you’ll look like the dumbest manager ever; if he wins, you’re going into Game 7 with an inferior starter you had to use anyway.
If he pitched game 4 against the Rays he would have to pitch on 3 days rest 3 times in a row to do 1-4-7. Lee also struggled a bit down the stretch and pitched better when given long periods of rest. I’ll acknowledge that is rare but there are a lot of pitchers with at least some experience pitching on 3 days rest even if they aren’t in a pennant race. I’m not opposed to 4 man rotations, but again this is probably not an ideal time to test it out. Especially for as silly a reason like thinking game 7’s are inherently harder for road teams then game 6 with no evidence to back it up.
1-4-7 was never an option. Game 1 would then be on 2 days rest.
If he would have pitched game 4 in the DS, he could have pitched game 1.
Game 1 of the ALCS would have been on four days’ rest then (Oct. 10, Oct. 15).
But that’s not what’s happening. As it is, I think the only scenario that calls for Cliff Lee to pitch on short rest, once, would be if the Rangers hold a 3-2 advantage going in to Game 6. That allows the possibility of finishing off the Yankees and having Lee ready to go again, on normal rest, in Game 1 of the World Series.
You are right. Silly inordinate amount of off-days. The point generally remains though. Unless you are willing to pitch him games 1,4, and 7 of the world series, which would require him to pitch on 3 days rest 3 times in 4 starts, he is only going to pitch twice in both series. I don’t think it matters terribly much which games he pitches, so why not let him have his normal rest.
I believe that’s it’s a common belief, probably highlighted by the fact that the home team has won every Game 7 in the World Series since the Pirates of '79.
Tonight it begins. Round 2, Championship series.
Phillies try to be the first 3 time NL champions since the Cards won 3 straight in 1942-1944. Giants need to hit a little off a great staff while their staff continues to shutdown the opposition. I predict Phillies in 5 or outside shot of Giants in 7.
Yanks try to add to their already long resume of success. Rangers need to beat CC tonight (he does poorly on long rest usually) and win Lee’s two starts and get lucky in one more. I predict Yanks in 5 or outside shot of Rangers in 7.
Rangers got CJ Wilson throwing game 1, right? Rangers in 6.
The Giants just don’t have the offense to keep up with Philly, and they won’t even win Lincecum’s start because of Halliday. Philly sweeps.
I think that Game 1 of the Yankees-Rangers looks good for the Yankees. While the Yanks have struggled recently vs. left-handers, for the whole season they actually have a better team batting average, on base percentage and runs per 9 innings versus lefties.
Additionally, they’ve faced C.J Wilson 3 times this year, including 1 month and 2 months ago. Good hitting teams seem to do better as they become more familiar with a pitcher. The Rangers have only faced C.C. once in the last 2 years (in April 2010).
Prediction: Yanks 6, Rangers 1
As for Game 1 of the NL series, it’s really a crapshoot. If Lincecum and Halladay are both on, they can spin 9 shutout innings each. I figure that Halladay pitched so well last time that he is due to give up a run or 2. Neither team has faced the opposing pitcher since April.
Prediction: Giants 2, Phillies 0
Those are three-outcome separations. If those are the endpoints of realistic possibilities, Phils/Yanks in 6 or 7 should be more likely than either extremity.
Here’s a factoid for you: Just in the last three seasons the Phillies have won more playoff series than they had in the entire history of the franchise up until 2007.
If the upsets happen, I am saying it will take a full 7, I think the favorites are more likely to wrap things up in 5.
Cool stat, I never get tired of reminding my friends that are Phillies fans that they are the first team in history of all of pro sports to reach 10,000 losses. They always thank me for it of course. 
Heh, after decades I picked a helluva year to finally give up Rangers season tics. Oh well, off to stake my place on the couch. You guys enjoy the games.
Well, i was enjoying that game until the top of the 8th.
Fuck the Yankees.
Come on Texas!
Seriously. Can somebody else win something now & then? Can’t we get the enjoyment of seeing the Yankees humiliated in Game 1; do we have to put up with the freaking miracle comeback?
YANKS!
After Young’s very tough at bat, the Josh Hamilton one was almost Anti-Climatic.
Hey that is postseason save #42 for #42. Cool.
Woo-hoo!
Icing on the cake for the comeback was having Shrub in attendance.
One more nail in the coffin of baseball enjoyment for 2010.