By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
Forget San Francisco. What have they ever done right? The city applauds a steroid fiend the way an inner city would hail a drug pusher. Sad, really.
The Phillies have the perfect formula to truly make this a three-game series after a win tonight.
Say hello to Blan Francisco. yes, Joe Blanton and Ben Francisco will make themselves known tonight. Blanton, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 29, has not lost since late July. He’s recovered from his earlier ailments and been a true horse and innings eater. Expect the same tonight.
For his part, Francisco hasn’t gotten much work either, but he has to give more than Raul Ibanez was. Charlie Manuel is rarely wrong when he goes by his instincts. I’d expect a Francisco treat in the form of a Ben HR and a typical Kentucky Joe outing. Remember, he was a key member of the 2008 WFC rotation.
As rare as it may seem, good old Uncle Charlie’s instincts failed him tonight.
Did you do your research on Joe Blanton before writing this article? He’s nothing special and absolutely nothing to brag about.
The post season is a whole different ball game. If Blanton’s last outing was on Sept. 29, that is cause for concern. Those same instincts that told Uncle Charlie to go with Blanton are the same instincts that told him to go with Oswalt in the bottom of the ninth. Come on now, are all Phillies fans as short sighted as you are?
I hope you enjoyed your San Francisco treat tonight.