Oct. 29 -- MADSON WILL "START"

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Moments ago, Charlie Manuel told us that Ryan Madson will pitch the seventh inning. Why Madson? Well, he's the only reliever in the bullpen with extensive experience as a starter. So, he knows the feeling of warming up fresh, without having sat in the bullpen for five or six innings.

We had the rare -- unprecedented, even -- opportunity to ask Manuel and Joe Maddon in-game strategy questions. Predictably, neither took the bait. Manuel wouldn't announce his pinch-hitter to open the bottom of the sixth inning, but I'm thinking it'll be Geoff Jenkins. Maddon said only that Grant Balfour will "start" the sixth, but he wouldn't say that Balfour will actually throw a pitch. Everyone is presuming that rookie lefty David Price will pitch in this game. How soon, we're not sure.

Here's Maddon's quandry: Chase Utley is the fourth hitter due in the sixth. Ideally, you'd want Price to face Utley and then Ryan Howard. But the Rays' pitcher is the fourth hitter due ini the seventh, and more ideally, you'd want Price to face more than two batters before having to pinch-hit for him. Maddon, in fact, said Price is good for about 50 pitches tonight.

Either way, it seems Maddon will have to make the tougher decisions early in the game. That, and the fact that the Phillies are leading the series 3-1, prompted Manuel to say, "I wouldn't trade positions."

Neither would I.

More in a bit.