Phillies' Game 4 Starter A Secret

Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel might already have a preference for his starter for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, but so far during his team's playoff run, another preference has taken priority: Manuel likes to wait until the last second to announce his team's pitching plans.

As a result, Philadelphia's pitching rotation after Game 3 (Cliff Lee) remains a mystery. The two likeliest choices, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ, are both available to pitch out of the bullpen in the interim. Delaying the announcement of his Game 4 starter allows Manuel to use either in relief, if necessary, and adjust on the fly. Happ pitched one-third of an inning in Game 1 and despite also working to one batter in Game 2, could still be considered to start Game 4.

"I think how we use him [between now and Game 4] will dictate one of those guys starting," Manuel said.

Sherrill Hit Hard

Since coming to the Dodgers in a July 30 trade with Baltimore, George Sherrill, an all-star with the Orioles, had actually gotten better. In 27 2/3 regular season innings with Los Angeles, Sherrill faced 111 batters and gave up two earned runs. That added up to a 0.65 ERA, and a reputation as one of the game's most unhittable left-handers.

Because of Sherrill's track record, the Dodgers were stunned even a day later by what happened in Game 1 of the NLCS. Sherrill started the eighth inning, in a one-run game, with two walks. Then Raúl Ibáñez blasted a three-run homer to right, giving Sherrill more earned runs on one pitch than he accrued in the previous 2 1/2 months.

"I think that was a shock for everybody, especially the walks, which really hasn't been something that he has done a lot of," Manager Joe Torre said. "You know, that was a blow."

Angels Go to Saunders

During the American League Division Series, left-hander Joe Saunders was the Los Angeles Angels' fourth starter, which meant he never took the mound, as the Angels swept the Boston Red Sox in three.

For the ALCS, the Angels moved Saunders, a product of West Springfield High and Virginia Tech, up to Saturday night's Game 2 at Yankee Stadium, believing the combination of his left-handedness and his power sinker gave them their best chance at stopping the Yankees' powerful offense.

"I thought his stuff would match up well in this park," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's important, I think, to do as much as you can to keep [the Yankees] in the ballpark in this stadium. And I think Joe has the ability, when he's throwing the ball well with his sinker, to do that."

In early August, Saunders didn't look like a pitcher who would be a postseason factor. An ugly loss to Texas on Aug. 7 left him with a 5.33 ERA, and the Angels soon disclosed that Saunders had been pitching with shoulder soreness for most of the year.

The Angels shut him down for nearly three weeks, and he returned "with a vengeance," according to Scioscia.

Saunders referenced his Washington area upbringing as evidence he isn't bothered by the sort of wintry weather predicted for Saturday's start. "I'm used to it," he said. "For me, it's just another bad day, but a great day to play baseball."