Managing the 10-day championship

How many games will Chase Utley play?

Shea got out to such a blistering start on Monday that some predicted he'll win the championship based solely on that!

After one day!

In a regular matchup, that wouldn't be such an outrageous prediction. Right, Chris? But, in the championship? Hogwash. Because it's not your normal seven-day title match. The season gets extended into an extra week.


In the past, it's been a full two weeks. This year, however, it's just 10 days. So while extended, only halfway.

Will Shea or Mike be more affected by the 10-day championship? Hard to gauge. A quick scan of rosters and I see five everyday starters from Shea's team who could get days off down the stretch due to clinching. When I look at Mike's, I also see five.

"We don't look at the two-week final as any kind of positive or negative," Mike said. "We are a confident group and will take this one game at a time. The only problem we have is that it will take us an extra week to celebrate."

Shea, however, had different feelings.

"I think I'll benefit from the two-week matchup," Shea said. "Mike had to pull out all the stops to survive the semifinals. As long as my boys decide to stay healthy, we'll be in the driver's seat."

That, and as long as they keep hitting like they did Monday.