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11.01.2009

I Like Johnny Damon

He doesn't have his mountain beard anymore, but Johnny Damon's double steal in Sunday night's top of the ninth was not only the coolest heads-up play I've ever seen, it was probably the reason Brad Lidge fell apart and allowed the deciding three runs.

For those who missed it, it was two down in the ninth, the Phils had tied the game in the eighth on Pedro Feliz's two out home run off Joba Chamberlain, and Lidge had easily dispatched Matsui and Jeter. Up came Damon. He battled for nine pitches until finally lining a single to left. He soon took off for second, and with a shift on for Teixeira, Damon slid in safely, popped up to see no one covering third, and took off again. Because of the shift, 3B Feliz took the throw from the catcher and found himself on the first-base side of second base, unable to chase down Damon. Damon stole two bases on one play. 

It was a lightning-quick realization and decision on Damon's part. On the TV side, Tim McCarver pointed out (yes, I'm actually giving McCarver props) that Damon reaching third, even with two outs, changed the game because Lidge might be more reluctant to throw his diving slider. Indeed -- he plunked Teixeira with a fastball, threw a fastball for called strike one to A-Rod, then grooved a second fastball, which A-Rod lined into the corner. Posada's killing blow, a single to left-center, also came on a fastball.

The biggest question for the rest of the Series, other than can the Phils make a remarkable comeback, is this: If Philly has a small lead in the ninth inning in any of the next three games, will Charlie Manuel hand the ball to Brad Lidge? Discuss.