ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (5:44 PM)

Baseball Tonight analyst Fernando Vina will stop by at 6 p.m. ET to chat World Series!

Buzzmaster

  (6:09 PM)

Fernando is here!

Evan (Phoenix)

Who has the edge in pitching tonight - Hamels or Kazmir?

Fernando Vina

  (6:11 PM)

By far you have to go with Hamels. He's undefeated in the postseason. To me, he's the best pitcher in the postseason, with the combination of his fastball, changeup.

Shane (Knoxville)

Although it is unlikely, if the Rays somehow beat Hamels and the Phillies tonight I would say that they would be the favorites to win the series when it goes back to St. Pete

Fernando Vina

  (6:12 PM)

Yeah, I would. I would. Because they're going to be going back home and I definitely like the way they matchup going home with Myers and Moyer. You'd rather face them on the road. The way the Rays have been going at home, I would say that's true. You get Shields back home and Garza back home.

Chris (MD)

what's the key to tonight's game?

Fernando Vina

  (6:13 PM)

I think the key for the Phillies, is for Hamels to continue to do what he's done all postseason. To stay with their pitchers gameplan and script - through a lot of changeups and breaking balls.

Fernando Vina

  (6:13 PM)

For the Phillies hitters to jump on the Rays early, that could be a big momentum swing in this type of game.

Fernando Vina

  (6:14 PM)

For the Rays, obviously, you have to have a huge start from Kazmir. He's had some elbow issues - you wonder if this cold weather will hurt him. Hit his spots, which Sonnanstine and Garza were unable to do in Philadelphia. From the offensive side, they'll have to make a huge adjustment at the plate. Maybe get up in the box and really stay back on the ball. They're jumping at the changeup and breaking ball. That's not going to go well when you're facing Hamels.

James (Chicago)

Do you think the weather played a role in Game 3 at all??

Fernando Vina

  (6:16 PM)

It could have. But the bottom line is that both teams had to endure it. When you're in this type of atmosphere and this type of moment, all of that gets thrown out the window. As a player, this is what you play for. All of that stuff is pretty much history. Both teams and all of the players involved know what's at stake. It means so much and it's what both teams have worked for since the middle of February.

Matt (IN)

If the Phils close this one out, do you think we can look at game 3 as the real turning point? Rays had fallen behind but battled back and had some momentum, then that crazy wild pitch/throwing error resulted in a bases loaded 50 foot grounder that they couldn't make a play on.

Fernando Vina

  (6:17 PM)

Oh yeah. For sure. Like you said, the Rays kept grinding and tied the game up. In the 9th, very uncharacteristically, they made some errors. You can't make errors and give the other team extra outs. That Game 3 was huge. That was a turning point because of them losing and the way they lost.

evan (orlando)

Who has the bullpen pitching edge tonight?

Fernando Vina

  (6:18 PM)

I think you have to give that edge to the Phillies. Because Brad Lidge hasn't pitched in a few days. He's fresh. The Phillies can definitely go out and let him pitch a couple of innings for sure. That all of a sudden turns the game into a 7 inning game. With Hamels on the hill, if he can get you 5 or 6 then use Madson, Durbin, etc. to patch up one inning for you and turn to Lidge for two knowing he's fresh, that's a huge edge.

al - dc

MVP so far?

Fernando Vina

  (6:20 PM)

Right now? Before Hamels pitches? That's a tough one. I would still say its Hamels because of how dominating he was. In Game 1 on the road and give the home field back to the Phillies.

roland

DO YOU THINK THE RAYS CAN PULL OFF A RED SOX TYPE OF COME BACK AND WIN THE SERIES?

Fernando Vina

  (6:22 PM)

Yeah, you can never count out the Rays, because of what they've shown all year long - a lot of heart, a lot of fire. They never give up. I think all year long everybody questioned them when they had different challenges in front of them. They continued to get through all of the challenges. With that said, if they can dig deep and Kazmir can get them a good game and their lineup can make some adjustments against a guy like Hamels. From the Rays standpoint, they just have to worry about one inning at a time. If they can get back home, their odds of winning get much higher. Huge, pitch by pitch, inning by inning. You can never count this team out because of Joe Maddon.

Gary (Phoenix)

do you think Howard has finally turned things around?

Fernando Vina

  (6:24 PM)

Yes. Because if you remember in last night's game, Ryan Howard hit a breaking ball over the left field fence for a home run and from a hitters standpoint, I was a lefty, when you're able to hit a curveball the opposite way with that kind of power, as a hitter you know you're locked in. So, he has gotten rid of his timing that was off. For me, that swing, that HR has cured his swing. Now he's turned the field around. He was having troubles hitting the ball. Look for him to do some damage for however long it lasts.

Craig (Toronto)

hav eyou ever seen another 3-4 hitter go hitless?

Fernando Vina

  (6:26 PM)

Yeah, it happens. I was a part of the Cardinals playoff teams in the early 2000s. It's a 7 game series, but the speed of these games and the way these at bats go is so fast, the opponent has a great scouting report on you and they're able to go out and perform the way they're supposed to. When a pitcher is able to go out and do exactly what he wants to against certain hitters, you see things like this happen. You have to give the Phillies scouting department credit, the pitching coaches. And these Rays hitters are young guys. When you're in this type of moments, it's pressure packed and everything's going so quickly.

Fred (Atlanta)

how wil this season be remembered for the Rays?

Fernando Vina

  (6:28 PM)

It will be remembered as a huge success for an organization that's never done what they've done. The turn around. Yo win the AL East. To win the ALCS. To get to the World Series is huge for this ball club and this city.

Fernando Vina

  (6:28 PM)

It will be remembered as a tremendous year for this ball club.

Fernando Vina

  (6:29 PM)

Enjoy the game tonight. It will be a lot of fun to watch. I will be all over it and enjoying it. Thanks for the questions.