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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:52 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2008

World Series: Maddon faces criticism for pitching choices

By Bill Shaikin
Los Angeles Times

PHILADELPHIA — Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon left the World Series amid a hail of criticism for two curious managing decisions in the finale, a 4-3 loss Wednesday night to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The suspended game resumed in the sixth inning, with the score tied at 2. With right-hander Grant Balfour already in the game for the Rays, Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel used left-handed Geoff Jenkins as a pinch-hitter.

Jenkins doubled and scored. Maddon did not use left-hander J.P. Howell, even though he was warming up and Jenkins was 3 for 23 off left-handers this season. Manuel could have countered with right-handed So Taguchi, but he was 3 for 33 as a pinch-hitter.

After the Rays tied the score in the top of the seventh, Maddon let Howell pitch to right-handed Pat Burrell leading off the bottom of the inning, with right-hander Chad Bradford warming up.

Burrell doubled, and pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett scored the winning run. Burrell hit .279 off left-handers and .238 off right-handers this season.

"I really had it mapped out the exact way that it occurred," Maddon said. "They did not cooperate with their offense."

Maddon said he liked the matchup of Balfour against Jenkins and did not want to burn one of his left-handers for one batter, since the score was tied and the game could have extended into extra innings. He also said he liked Howell against Burrell and wanted Bradford for the following batters.

"All that stuff worked," Maddon said. "They just got two runs, which was the non-popular thing that they did."

Pat Gillick, the Phillies' general manager, heads into retirement winning a championship on the 50-year anniversary of winning another. In 1958, Gillick pitched for the USC team that won the College World Series.

Gillick and the Phillies will receive gaudy championship rings. For the 1958 Trojans, he said, there were no rings.

"I've got a plaque at home," he said.

The Rays resumed the suspended game at the No. 6 spot in the lineup, meaning catcher Dioner Navarro would be their first batter.

"I'm excited," Navarro said. "I never thought I would lead off in a big league game."

The rainy days in Philadelphia revived talk about holding the World Series at a warm-weather neutral site. Maddon and Manuel each said he considered that idea ridiculous.

"I think each town should be rewarded, the home team fan base," Maddon said.

The Phillies' Brett Myers used Tuesday's rain day to visit a local shooting range. He said he is not concerned about what any fan might think.

"Most people like shooting guns," he said. "Most people like to hunt. I do it in a controlled area, you know. I don't walk around with a gun. It's always in the trunk, or something like that, when I'm headed that way."

Renee and Chris Ryan welcomed twin boys into the world on Monday, in the middle of the World Series. The Phillies' season-ticket holders named their sons Cole and Chase, as in Cole Hamels and Chase Utley.

"Their last name is Ryan," the proud father told the Philadelphia Daily News, "so we have the Phillies' infield well represented."