There’s been all kinds of speculation and controversy about Charlie Manuel starting #4 starter Joe Blanton instead of his ace, Cliff Lee, on three days rest. Let me put the argument to rest. Starting Blanton handed the World Series to the Yankees last night.

“You’re asking Cliff Lee to do something that he has never did before,” Manuel said. “And you’re also asking him to do it in a very big, important place, and that’s in the World Series. I didn’t have to think very long at all about that.”

You should have thought a little longer, Charlie.

I’m amazed there is any argument about this at all. I don’t care what Jim Caple at ESPN says, Manuel is only thinking about Lee and not about the whole series.

Forget the abysmal fielding and defense against the Damon steal for a second. If Lee had started Game 4, the Phillies would have had a fighting chance against Sabathia. 4 runs against CC is pretty heavy. And Lee not only handled the Yankees in New York, he embarrassed them.

Manuel is approaching Lee’s rest periods as though this is a mid-season series against a NL East rival. Hey Charlie, you’re in the World Series! Apparently, Manuel feels Lee’s arm needs to be saved for golf in the offseason.

You are asking him to compete in a “big, important place”. What more reason do you need to ask him to stretch past his limits? If Lee had pitched last night and won, he’d potentially be available again for Game 7, if necessary. You don’t think the Yankees are going to use CC if they need him again?

Now, instead, Lee is well rested for tonight’s Game 5. And that’s great. The Phillies will probably win tonight, but if you think the 2009 Yankees are going to drop three in a row, with two of those at home, I’ll eat my Red Sox hat. And believe me, I’ll eat it happily, but it ain’t happening.

You can call it second guessing Charlie Manuel after the fact, but I knew and I’m guessing the majority of Phillies fans knew, starting Blanton over Lee was a huge mistake.

The Yankees certainly come across as seeming entitled, and if the Phillies’ manager is running his team this way, they are entitled to win.