The Decision That Will Cost Philadelphia the World Series

"WHO'S YOUR DADDY! CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP"

"WHO'S YOUR DADDY! CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP"

"WHO'S YOUR DADDY! CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP"

I can already hear the jeers ringing throughout New Yankee Stadium tomorrow as future Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez takes the mound for Game 6 of the World Series and tries to keep the Philadelphia Phillies alive.

Pedro survived the Bronx in Game 2, allowing three earned runs over six innings. Survived.  Not thrived. He still allowed two homers and visibly reacted to the crowd's chants, smirking as he walked off the field.

That game -- a loss -- may have been Pedro's best-case scenario. Now, he runs the gauntlet again. It's a scary proposition for a guy who's consistently struggled to solve the Yankees in postseason play.

The strangest thing about Pedro's situation was that it was entirely preventable.

All Charlie Manuel had to do was start Cliff Lee for Game 4 instead of Game 5.

Baseball pundits and online betting experts alike tell us Lee "had to" pitch Game 5 instead for fear of breaking his routine, starting him on short rest. Funny, though, that the supposedly delicate Lee, who just "couldn't" start Game 4, is the same stone-faced guy who told media he's simply "available" for Game 7 after pitching Game 5.

We all knew Lee looked unhittable entering his second World Series start and a strong effort in Game 4 from him could've evened the series at two games apiece. Let's also remember that, as much as people said he'd be starting on three days rest, it was three games rest. An off day on the schedule meant Lee actually had four days between starts.

If Lee had started Game 4 (against C.C. Sabathia -- over whom Lee earned the win in Game 1) -- that would've allowed Pedro Martinez to start Game 5 at home.

Pedro's ERA at Citizen's Bank Park in the 2009 regular season: 1.88. His road ERA: 5.66, and that doesn't even take the "Who's your daddy" factor into account. Even if Pedro didn't bring his A-Game, he wouldn't have needed it against A.J. Burnett. Any sportsbook oddsmaker could've told you that Burnett never pitches well on the road, especially against hostile crowd's like Philadelphia's. Everyone saw last night's implosion coming.

Theoretically, then, the Phillies could (should?) be up 3-2 right now with two shots to beat the New York Yankees.

It's a damn shame for Yankee haters out there. Whoever made the Game 4 starter call -- Charlie Manuel? Cliff Lee? -- likely cost the Phillies the World Series.