Inside Pitch

Gone fishin'

Just a quick word to let you know Inside Pitch will most likely be dark for the next week as I catch up on some R&R after the World Series.  After giving you a 4:30 a.m. Web-only recap of the rain-delayed Game Three and risking some limbs through the post-Game Five chaos of Center City Philly, I could probably use some!

But don't go too far away: We'll still have regular posts here during the offseason, particularly as news warrants from the trade/free agent market and from the Bisons. The Herd still has lots to do in the next few months (Mets-based coaching staff, logo, uniforms, new ballpark name). It's shaping up to be one of the busiest offseasons for the team in recent memory.

---Mike Harrington

Chaos in Philly

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies will be saluted down Broad Street with a ticker-tape parade on Friday, followed by a rally at Citizens Bank Park. And adjacent Lincoln Financial Field will be philled for the Phils as well. More than 100,000 free tickets to the two stadiums were snapped up Thursday in 90 minutes.

Here's hoping the Philly police do a better job keeping order than they did Wednesday night. What I saw in downtown Philly after Game Five was absolutely disgraceful. Cabs couldn't get near The Bank due to drunken mobs. I found one at a nearby hotel and he could get no closer than three blocks away from my hotel because of the crush of people, leaving me no choice but to hoof it. Broken glass was everywhere underfoot.

I saw bonfires, cars tipped over. Street planters, newspaper boxes and bus shelters tipped over. Store windows broken everywhere. As I was walking by an FYE video store, the windows were smashed and broke further just as I was moving by. A female officer came at me, billy club in hand, yelling "DID YOU JUST COME OUT OF THAT WINDOW? DID YOU JUST COME OUT OF THAT WINDOW?"

Let's just say a World Series press pass never came in so handy. I've never seen anything like that in my 10+ years of covering the Series. Yes, it's been a long time for Phillyfan. That's no excuse. From my 21st-floor room, you could hear sirens, screaming people, firecrackers and helicopters overhead for most of the night.

If the Phillies win another World Series soon (not a ridiculous thought), I hope they win it on the road. Wonder what kind of chaos there will be today.

---Mike Harrington

Ful-Philled at last

PHILADELPHIA -- It's been a long time in these parts, 25 years for the city and 28 for the Phillies. But the 4-3 win Wednesday over Tampa Bay finally clinched a World Series for Philadelphia. It was, as MVP Cole Hamels put it, "the most unique game in baseball history." OK, there might be some exaggeration there but he at least can make a case!

For 3 1/2-inning drama, this was pretty riveting. The Phils scored in the 6th, the Rays tied it in the 7th and the Phils went ahead in the bottom of the seventh. J.C. Romero shut the door in the 8th and Brad Lidge saved it yet again in the 9th. Gee, think baseball might notice how nice it is for its deciding game to end at 10 p.m. instead of 1 a.m?

The Phils didn't hit much in this series (.201 in RSP situations for one thing) but they had the better starters and better bullpen. The Rays did not play well and looked oddly like the team that came into the series on a long rest, which is what the Phillies did.

So what did you think of the 3 1/2-inning game. Pretty dramatic? Pretty silly? I know you Mets fans out there aren't real happy but give it up to the Phils in the comments section.

---Mike Harrington

Game 5 1/2 live: Phils look to finish clinch

PHILADELPHIA -- We've set the stage in our post a couple hours ago. Now that the Obama infomercial is over (couldn't he have done that another night?), it's time to see if the Phillies can snap this 2-2 tie and send the City of Brotherly Love into a frenzy with their first World Series title since 1980 and just their second in 126 seasons. We're starting in the bottom of the sixth. Live updates to come here.

---Mike Harrington

The celebration continues: It was one wet clubhouse after Lidge gave up a single in the ninth but struck out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske for the final out. He finishes 48 for 48, the Phillies get a 4-3 win that clinches their first title since '80.

Three outs to go: Price pitches a hitless eighth with one walk and Lidge is on.

Mid-8th: The Rays are in a pickle now as the Phillies are three outs away. They're down, 4-3, after an Upton DP ball erased Crawford's leadoff single. And you know Brad Lidge is coming in for the ninth, looking to go a combined 48-for-48 on the season. David Price in to pitch the 8th for Tampa Bay

End-7th: The Phillies go back in front, 4-3, on Feliz's RBI single. Burrell led off with a long double to deep center that he admired too much (should have been on third). Bruntlett pinch-ran for him and went to third on Victorino's groundout. Feliz then made the Rays 0 for 2 in infield-in situations tonight with his single to the left of second base.  Now that they have the lead, let's see if the Phillies go to Brad Lidge at some point in the eighth rather than waiting until the ninth.

Top-7th: There goes Hamels' win. Baldelli smokes a high fastball from Madson deep into the stands in left to tie the game at 3-3.  The Rays had the go-ahead run nailed at the plate as Bartlett was caught trying to score from second on Iwamura's single to behind the bag. Nice fake throw by Utley before he fired home.  We've been playing 27 minutes and it's time for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Bizarre.

Bot-6th: The Rays take the field. Yes, the visitors. And they got crushed with boos. Geoff Jenkins pinch-hits for Cole Hamels and takes a ball at 8:40 with the temp at a frosty 34 degrees. In six minutes, the Phillies have the run to break the tie. Jenkins doubled deep to right-center on a 3-2 pitch, went to third on a Rollins sacrifice and scored on Werth's single, a looper hit behind second base to short center field that Iwamura couldn't corral with his back to the plate. Perfectly placed ball with the infield in. An easy play with them at regular depth. J.P. Howell gets the Rays out of the inning, retiring Howard with Werth at second. Joe Maddon got us all by using Howell instead of David Price.

Ryan Madson on to pitch for the Phils. Just remembered: If the Rays don't tie it up Hamels could get his record fifth win.

8:28 p.m.: No national anthem tonight. But a local petty officer were was scheduled for Monday just started us off with "God Bless America". We'll have the normal "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the seventh-inning stretch -- or just six outs from now! Gotta give it up to the fans here and probably to the Phillies' ticket office.

The place is packed. Some people wondered if there'd be 10,000 empty seats since many people come in from out of town. Nope. They apparently got the stubs needed for re-admission into hands of people that can use them. There's a buzz and energy in the place like it's a normal Series game. The white towels are waving like crazy.

Game 5 1/2 setup

PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Madson will be the pitcher for the Phillies when they take the field in the top of the seventh inning tonight. Manager Charlie Manuel just made that announcement but has still not said who will pinch hit for Cole Hamels when the game begins in the bottom of the sixth.

The score is tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Hamels' spot will be the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the sixth for the Phillies. Reliever Grant Balfour, who got the last three outs of the fifth, will likely pitch the sixth as well for the Rays. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are scheduled to bat fourth and fifth, respectively, for the Phillies and the thinking is that Tampa manager Joe Maddon will go with lefty David Price at that point. No. 6 hitter Dioner Navarro will be the first Tampa Bay hitter in the top of the seventh against Madson.

It's going to be all hands on deck in both bullpens. Both managers have indicated that potential Game Six and Seven starters won't be used. That means James Shields and Matt Garza for Tampa won't pitch and Brett Myers will be held out for the Phillies. Philadelphia hasn't tipped its Game Seven hand yet, be it Jamie Moyer or Joe Blanton. Hamels won't start Game Seven; he's never pitched on three days rest and Manuel said he has concern about his ace's finger after it was struck by a pitch while he was trying to bunt Monday night.

The current linescore is 2-5-0 for Tampa Bay and 2-4-1 for Philadelphia. Here's a recap of the lineups and how they've done in this game so far:

Tampa Bay                              Philadelphia

Iwamura, 2b (1-3)                    Rollins, ss (0-2, BB)

Crawford, lf (0-3)                     Werth, rf  (1-1, 1 R, 2 BB)

Upton, cf (1-3, 1 R)                  Utley, 2b (0-2, 1 R, HBP)

Pena, 1b (2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI)      Howard, 1b (0-2, BB)

Longoria, 3b (1-3, 1 RBI)       Burrell, lf (0-1, 2 BBs)

Navarro, c (0-1, BB)                 Victorino, cf (1-3, 2 RBIs)

Baldelli, rf (0-1, BB)                 Feliz, 3b (1-3)

Bartlett, ss (0-2)                      Ruiz, c (1-3)

Balfour, p (0-0)                         Pinch-hitter for Hamels

---Mike Harrington

Phillies Phans believe

PHILADELPHIA -- We're on the scene at Citizens Bank Park for Game 5 1/2 of the World Series. (I know -- hardy-har-har). But seriously, nearly five hours before the first pitch a ton of fans piling into the parking lots getting ready for what they hope will be the first championship celebration for the Phils since 1980. (OK, some of them are probably getting here for the Sixers' 6 p.m. opener against the Raptors next door at the Wachovia Center but go with me on this one).

I've gotten some emails from longtime Phils fans during the last week and I know they're pretty hyped for this one. So I took a walk through the parking lot before I came inside. Plaques in honor of old Veterans Stadium are in various spots, marking the bases and home plate where the Phillies used to play and the goalposts where the Eagles used to roam. So I snapped this picture of perhaps the most famous spot in Philadelphia baseball history (click for bigger view).

It's the spot where the pitching rubber was, where Tug McGraw unleashed that famous fastball that struck out Willie Wilson in the ninth inning of Game Six to give the Phils that lone title over Kansas City 28 years ago (right). Tim McGraw, the country music star who is the late Tug's son, spread some of his father's ashes on the mound before he delivered a ceremonial first pitch here Saturday night. So Tug might be alongside Brad Lidge if it comes down to one final pitch for the Phils tonight.

We'll have more on the specifics of setting the stage for Game Five in a little while.

---Mike Harrington

It's official: Game on

PHILADELPHIA -- MLB has officially announced what's obvious here: The resumption of Game Five will go on tonight at 8:37. It's still cloudy and cold but dry. This is going to be one bizarre scene. Gotta believe the ratings on FOX will spike pretty good just from the curiosity factor, especially since people know they'll almost certainly see the finish at a decent hour.

---Mike Harrington

Rain helps Rays knock out Hamels

PHILADELPHIA -- Both managers spoke to the media this afternoon via conference call about the postponed resumption of Game Five. Phils skipper Charlie Manuel made it clear that ace Cole Hamels would not be coming back to pitch the top of the seventh inning. Hamels' spot in the order comes first when the game restarts Wednesday night at 8:37 and Manuel said he would use a pinch-hitter.

"Getting him out is important," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Hamels. ""I think us coming back like we did [to tie the game at 2-2] and sitting on it for a day or two possibly could weigh in our favor a little bit. I'm not sure yet."

Both managers said they would pick up the games with their bullpens but were not specific. Grant Balfour is currently in the game for the Rays although lefty David Price has to be looming with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard scheduled to bat fourth and fifth in the sixth inning.

Maddon said he's holding back starters James Shields and Matt Garza for potential Games Six and Seven. Manuel would be doing likewise with Brett Myers and Joe Blanton. MLB opted not to have a travel day if we return to St. Petersburg, and that prevents Hamels from starting Game Seven on full rest if it had been played Saturday night. Still, you'd think he'd have a couple of Randy Johnston-style innings of relief in him if we're still playing Friday.

---Mike Harrington

The game is off

PHILADELPHIA -- There is not going to be any baseball tonight. The resumption of Game Five has been postponed until Wednesday night at 8:37. Remember, Wednesday (the originally scheduled Game Six) was the night Barack Obama had bought air time so we can't start before 8:30. Great.

Sound decision though not to play today. It's pouring here, the wind is howling and they're talking about snow in the suburbs. If you couldn't play last night, you can't play tonight either. It's supposed to be very cold tomorrow but the rain/snow chance is down quite a bit by 8:30.

---Mike Harrington

Still raining

PHILADELPHIA -- Skies are dark and the rain is falling this morning in Philadelphia. The word last night was that it would be tough to resume the suspended fifth game of the World Series tonight. So there's one weather forecast at least that might be coming through as advertised.

No official word yet and I would imagine we're still a few hours away from MLB making any kind of decision.

Logistics get tougher and tougher as this thing lingers on. If the Rays win and everyone has to pile back to St. Petersburg, travel becomes tougher for all involved. Tampa Bay certainly has the emotional edge on its side with the game tied at 2-2 and Phillies ace Cole Hamels certainly unable to come back and pick up his start.

---Mike Harrington