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Jayson Stark

  (1:05 PM)

Just an announcement before we get going: I'm at the Phillies' off-day workout in Philly today, so I only have a half-hour to chat. In other words . . . let's get going!

Mark (Conshohocken, PA)

Jason - Will Cole Hamels need to get his mojo back in order to beat the yanks with a 1-2 punch of himself and Lee?

Jayson Stark

  (1:07 PM)

I think the Phillies' best shot to beat the Yankees is for Hamels, Cliff Lee and J.A. Happ to start five times out of seven games if it goes that long. So they need that guy to figure it out. But the way he pitched the other night, and the way he talked afterward, tells you something: He doesn't have anywhere near the faith in himself he had last year this time.

Johnny Hazeltine (Las Vegas)

Does a Derek Lowe for Carlos Lee deal makes sense? What about a Jair Jurrjens for Matt Kemp? Am I just fishing in an empty pond?

Jayson Stark

  (1:09 PM)

Not sure what pond your fishing pole is cast in, but neither of those deals are happening. Carlos Lee has a complete no-trade clause and no intention of waving it, from what I've heard. And the Dodgers view Matt Kemp as the centerpiece of their future. So the concepts aren't bad here. It's only the details I'd quibble with.

Tom (San Francisco, CA)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Yankees haven't advanced yet.

Eric (DC)

You never, never, never put the tying runner on base if you are the home team. That was very poor managing last night

Jayson Stark

  (1:12 PM)

You're making an excellent point. I'm taking all Phillies-Yankees questions in the vein of: "If they meet . . . " But let's dispense with the attitude that that's inevitable, all right? The Angels, as they proved last night, are not going to be easy to dispense with.

Jayson Stark

  (1:14 PM)

Sorry, for some reason had a 2-minute tape delay on that previous answer posting. Now . . . about that intentional walk to ARod: I hate that move. I know Mike Scioscia doesn't like that match-up -- Fuentes against ARod. But that's the kind of move a manager makes so he doesn't get second-guessed afterward if ARod homers. The odds are HEAVILY against that. Ask any mathematician. And it tells you a lot about what Scioscia thinks of his closer.

gary (socal)

Why would a manager take out his *1 pitcher with 2 outs and replace him with the number 6 guy on the staff?

Jayson Stark

  (1:17 PM)

I wasn't a big fan of that move, either. If he was going to take Lackey out, why did he let him pitch to Johnny Damon? For me, John Lackey is about as reliable in a big spot as any pitcher on that staff. And any time they go to their bullpen, they're going to the least reliable part of that staff. So as much as I admire Mike Scioscia -- and he was my manager-of-the-year pick -- I didn't like either of those moves last night.

JeffG (NY)

What will happen in this off season in regards to changes to instant replay and will that kill the sport?

Jayson Stark

  (1:18 PM)

First off, unless there's some disastrously bad call that affects the outcome of the World Series, I don't get the impression that Bud Selig has any appetite whatsoever for more replay. But I bet the GMs do some lobbying for it at their meetings next month. And I'm in favor of a one-challenge-per-night system for fair/foul, trap/catch and calls on the bases. I would put very few limits on replay if it were me. But I think there wouldn't be any support for using it on calls at first base.

John (Philly)

How are the phillies going to use the DH in the WS? Does Raul DH and Francisco play left in all AL games?

Jayson Stark

  (1:20 PM)

They haven't thought that through. But I just left Charlie Manuel's press conference. And he sounded like he was thinking about Ibanez as his DH and Francisco as his LF against lefthanders. Against righthanders, I'd bet on Matt Stairs or possibly Greg Dobbs, depending on the matchup, with Ibanez back in left field.

Harry (Babylon)

World Series or not - are the Phillies a sleeper in the John Lackey sweepstakes?

Jayson Stark

  (1:22 PM)

I don't see that at all. Lackey is going to look for a deal north of A.J. Burnett's, and I don't see how the Phillies can go there, since they'll be within two years of the end of their current deals with Cliff Lee, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, among others. If they were going to offer those kinds of dollars, they'd make that offer to Lee.

Ryan (Wilmington)

We hear about the Yankees 3 man rotation all the time, but I was wondering with the way Cliff Lee is pitching should the Phillies consider doing this themselves

Jayson Stark

  (1:25 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:26 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:26 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:26 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:26 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:27 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:27 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:27 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:27 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Jayson Stark

  (1:27 PM)

I just left Charlie's press conference. And he said he'd consider that. But I'd bet against it. The Phillies' starting-pitching depth is, theoretically, the best thing they have going for them on that end of the game. So I would bet against Lee on short rest unless they're in a desperate situation.

Mike (Ohio)

Is this going to be too much time off for the Phillies?

Jayson Stark

  (1:29 PM)

They dealt with the same thing last year. And yes, they won the World Series. But they didn't hit at all those first two games, especially with runners in scoring position. Nevertheless, if the Yankees have to use up Pettitte and Sabathia just to get in particularly if they get rained out tomorrow, and they have to start the World Series with Burnett and Gaudin in Games 1-2, I think the Phillies would take that. Don't you?

Jim (Delran, NJ)

Is this the most underrated defending champion playing in the World Series ever? We know the consensus amongst the experts will favor the Yankees or Angels

Jayson Stark

  (1:32 PM)

Hmmm. Ever? That's an interesting question. I'm not real sure whether the 1922 Giants were underrated or overrated, to be honest. But you're right that very few people will pick the Phillies to win this World Series. Maybe it will give them a little edge or greater sense of purpose. But in honesty, their response ought to be: So what? If they win again, is there a better way to answer those doubts than that?

Jayson Stark

  (1:33 PM)

I hate to exit on you guys now. But I'm having real problems with the chat module today for some reason. And I have a workout to cover. So we'll try this again down the road. Thanks for stopping by!