Links: Articles feature Phils before they were Phils

Under-the-radar features on the NL pennant winners.

-- Runners Gazette Magazine sits down with Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, playoff hero and former track star who set Hawaii’s 100-meter record in 1999 and was once considered one of the top high school track stars in the country. [Link]

-- Wayne Graczyk, Japan Times columnist and Japanese baseball’s ambassador to the online Western world, recalls the career of Charlie Manuel, whose Japanese career started as a player with the Yakult Swallows in 1976. Graczyk recalls Manuel’s many ups and downs, the good being three-straight post-season appearances, being named Pacific League MVP in 1979 and hitting 48 homers in 1980. The bad, of course, was the vicious, jaw-shattering fastball he took in ’79. [Link]

-- The guys at the Reading Phillies look back at all the players and coaches from the 2008 pennant winners who passed through Baseballtown. The detailed report lists everything from development years to rehab assignments to winter tour stops. [Link]

Programming note: Tune into “The Voice” 830-AM this morning at 11:00 a.m. as I discuss the World Series on “Feedback” with Mike Faust.

Reading Eagle note: Writer Mike Urban is looking for Berks County residents who are making the trip to Tampa for an upcoming feature. If you’re interested in being interviewed, drop me an email.

Comments

[J. Weitzel]

Mike is also looking for Berks residents with tickets for the games in Philly. Let me know.

[Doc]

Is it possible that Charlie's locution is the way it is because of the fastball to the jaw? [I kid because I love!]

[Lake Fred]

I enjoyed the Japanese article on Cholly. From there I read his Wikipedia profile. He won AAA Manager of the Year titles and won AAA championships. He may be a better manager than we think! The gut goes on.

[king myno]

do we have to wait until 7 PM tomorrow for the DH announcement? i want to nitpick/complain now!

[Andy]

myno - I think it's fair to extend the Bush doctrine. You are allowed to whine pre-emptively. Pick a target (Coste? Gnome? So?) and have at it.

As long as you strictly follow the lead post of the thread, anything is allowed.

[GM-Carson]

It's still just sinking in, and probably won't completely until 1st pitch tomorrow, that the Phils are in the World Series. This is a dream come true, and I plan on loving every second of it.

[mike cunningham]

@Thon -- Yesterday @CJ posted this from Jayson Stark regarding pitchers in the post season on 3 days rest:

From Jayson Stark:

"Finally, let this be a warning to all talk-show hosts who call for a manager to start a pitcher on short rest this time of year: Over the past 10 postseasons, we've had 50 games in which a team started a pitcher on short rest. Those clubs are now 11-39 in those games."

I'll take the four man rotation.

[Philsin5]

Can Phillies fans embrace optimism?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122454899046252401.html

[kbless]

Philsin5- I am certainly having a hard time wrapping my brain around it myself

[doubleh]

Did you read the story on the Phils in today's Inky: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20081021_Phillies_know_to_stay_loose.html

"Get the rubber duck out of your butt."

Never heard that one before. Leave it to Chase.

[AWH the RBP]

From the previous thread:

""" Give Hamels three starts.

I'm having trouble understanding why people aren't pushing the idea of giving Hamels 3 starts here (1, 4,7). There'd be three rest days between each start and it seems to be an acceptible risk given the alternatives.. or..does somebody have info on Hamels starts after short rest that I don't know about?

Posted by: Dickie Thon | Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 08:45 AM

Dickie T,

Hamels personally doesn't like going on short rest, so I guess Cholly doesn't want to upset him and run the risk of future harm.

Posted by: Dave P | Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 09:08 AM """

Dickie T, one of the writers on either si.com or espn.com had a stat you would find interesting:

In the last 50 starts by a pitcher going on three days rest in the postseason, his team is 11 - 39.

Yes, that's 11 - 39!

Normal rest for all the starters is the way to go.

Trust the Gut!!!

[AWH the RBP]

damn, someone comes into my office to distract me and cunningham beats me to it.

[CJ]

Why Can't Us???

[Rex]

Is anyone else bummed that Myers won't get to hit in this series? Kind of a shame I wanted to see if he'd keep it rolling. :)

[Lake Fred]

In one of those long extra inning games, when Cholly looks down his bench for a PH, he'll see So and Brett as his last warm bodies and he'll say, "Brett, grab a bat."

[J. Weitzel]

New Thread

[Lake Fred]

...then, he'll turn to So and say, "Get the rubber duck out of your butt."

[lekh tizdayen]

Rex: I thought about that too, given that he'll be only pitching in Tampa. It'd be great to give him another shot to swing the bat, but I'll take two complete game shutouts and Myers not getting tired running the bases over a good laugh and a better story. It's better that Moyer doesn't have to face the DH in his first (and hopefully only) start anyway. My guess is that if Myers gets two starts, one is a gem and the other is a dud, in true Myers fashion.

[Chris]

Love the respect for R-Phils, best AA team there is.