I hope Pedro Martinez doesn’t take four or five batters to get into a rhythm when he takes the mound tonight in frigid Denver for the Phils game three battle with the Rockies.
Martinez had pitched very well at times, but he’s taken a few batters to get in sync. He’s grooved some fastballs down the middle and leadoff hitters have taken advantage of it. The Phils can’t afford that tonight.
I’m also concerned about who Charlie Manuel goes to out of the bullpen. Martinez will in all likelihood have trouble going more than five or six innings. They have to get a good performance out of the pen tonight, which means keeping the ball down.
Of course the weather is likely to be a factor in the game. The weather folks who you can never trust, are predicting snow flurries and the tempature to be in the low thirties.
Martinez will probably have to throw more pitches to warm up and also have to make it a point to stay warm and loose if that’s possible in the circumstances.
I want to see the Phils’ bats start pounding the baseball. Getting men on base and having the heart of their lineup begin pounding the baseball will do the trick.
Producing runs early and building a lead will take the pressure off of Charlie, Pedro, the bullpen and Phillies watching on the tube.
