Why Cliff Lee Should Start Game One

By Steve Lienert
The Phanatic

Charlie Manuel is one loyal guy.

More so than most, he stands behind his players and supports them through thick and thin.

That's why he's going to have a hard time walking up to Roy Halladay and telling him Cliff Lee will be the Phillies Game 1 starter to open the NLDS.

The fact of the matter is that not only has Lee been the best pitcher the Phillies have had since the All-Star break, Halladay hasn't quite been the same since that game in Chicago where it looked like he was going to die.

Sure, he won his next four decisions but Halladay is 3-4 since August 16th, including losses to Arizona and St. Louis -- the two teams most likely to be the Phillies' NLDS opponents.

Contrastingly, Lee's 3-0 loss against the Nationals three days ago was his first since July 25th. During that span he defeated the Brewers, D'backs, Braves and Giants, allowing a combined four runs to go with two shutouts.

Let's agree that the Phillies, once the varsity team starts playing again, will snap out of this offensive (no pun intended) funk and advance to the NLCS.

With Lee starting the first game, Halladay would start Game 2 and Cole Hamels would get the pill in Game 3. That breaks up the two lefties and takes the possibility of using a fourth starter in the first round out of the picture, which is a good thing since neither Roy Oswalt nor Vance Worley has been consistent enough recently to be trusted.

It also sets up Halladay to pitch in the doomsday scenario of a necessary fifth game. (Lee would, of course, pitch in Game 4.)

If the Phillies would sweep, Halladay and Lee would both have plenty of time to be tabbed as the Game 1 starter of the NLCS.

If they close it out in four, a well-rested Halladay would clearly pitch Game 1 of the NLCS. The Phillies may even be able to squeeze three starts out of him if the need (due to injury or something extraordinary) arises.

If it goes five, Hamels, or even Oswalt, could start Game 1.

At that point, the problem for the Phillies wouldn't be which pitcher starts Game 1 of the NLCS, it would be ensuring there is a Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park at all.

Either way, though, it's kinda of like deciding whether you're going to drive the Bentley or the Porsche when you wake up in the morning; it ain't a bad problem to have.

But it's a problem Manuel faces soon. And we all know Halladay will be on the hill for Game 1.

Sometimes people are loyal to a fault.