Of Torre’s timing, a big blast and MVP vote-counting

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While you take a deep breath in the middle of the Phillies’ apparent march to a red October, I thought I might bring up a few salient points. Argue if you like.

-- I thought wheatgrass CLEARED the mind: Joe Torre’s timing on pitching changes, and maybe his baseball luck, has been off in this series.

-- Jon Broxton has a very big arm but seems to lack that deep belief in self so obvious in the great closers like Mariano Rivera, Frankie Rodriguez and even Takashi Saito.

-- Matt Stairs’ possible pennant-grabbing bomb off Broxton was a 24 Hour Fitness special: a Stair Climber. That one is still going, like a Stairway to Heaven.

-- Manny Being Manny has now morphed into Manny Being Ridiculous. Is this guy even conscious? Seems like he’s on base every time.

-- Half season or not, if this guy’s not the National League MVP, Katherine Harris (pictured here from 2002) counted the votes from Florida.

-- How can re-signing Ramirez NOT be Priority One when the Dodgers’ don’t have a legit CLEANUP hitter, never mind a No. 3 if the McCourts channel Jack Benny and Manny leaves?

-- Russ Martin cleanup? Cleanup on what, Aisle One? Say it ain’t so Joe. Russ Martin? Martin Scorsese would be a better option.

-- I like Russ Martin; who doesn’t? But after an 0 for 5 that was as ugly as any you’ll ever see, if he takes one more hittable first-pitch fastball with runners in scoring position from here to Whittier, I’m going to personally repossess his father’s saxophone.

-- Game 4 Snapshot: Did any team left in the playoffs have a better right-handed bench than Kemp, Kent and Nomar?

-- Juan Pierre, bless his earnest little heart, out of the mix, then right back in. What does Torre do for Game 5? A non-issue. Phils’ starter Cole Hamels is left-handed. So Kemp plays.

-- Finally, the Fox announcers went to the Hanging Chad, describing Chad Billingsley as ‘timid’ for his no-brushback failure to have his teammates’ backs in Game 2. Wednesday night for young Chad, a chance to re-cast his vote ... and a shot at redemption.

-- Ted Green

Ted Green is a former sportswriter for the L.A. Times and National Sports Daily. He is currently Senior Sports Producer for KTLA Prime News.

Photo, top left: Matt Stairs rounds the bases last night. Credit: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

Photo, top right: Manny Ramirez after singling last night. Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Inset: Then-Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in 2002. Credit: Luis M. Alvarez / For The Times