We are just six hours from the first pitch of the second half of the fifth game of the 2008 World Series, and my emotions are traveling through unchartered waters right now.

The only way to describe the last 2 days is like sitting through an extended intermission between overtimes in an NHL playoff game. Going into these final 21 outs of the game, it's almost at the point where you feel like the next run wins. Really, this game could be over by 9:30 tonight. Baseball games have a natural build up as the game goes on, but this is rediculous! We're being thrust into the most crucial part of the game right away, and every pitch is another live and die moment.

So from a strategic point of view, what are the Phillies' next moves? With a righthander on the mound for the Rays, Charlie Manuel will send a lefty to the plate to pinch-hit for Cole Hamels. My guess is that Geoff Jenkins goes to the plate and stays there regardless of whether the Rays bring in a lefty to replace Grant Balfour. You don't want to waste Greg Dobbs or Matt Stairs against a lefty that they can't hit, especially when you can save them for later in the game and force a pitching change. More importantly, you don't want So Taguchi anywhere near a bat or a glove in this game, and Eric Bruntlett needs to be saved for replacing Pat Burrell in the field about 15 or 20 minutes into the evening.

On the mound, I would start with J.C. Romero against the Rays' 6-7-8 hitters. Then bring in Ryan Madson in the 8th. I want no part of Madson starting a game, regardless of what inning the scoreboard says it is, and I certainly don't want Chad Durbin working us into a jam with his wildness and inconsistency.

Prediction: No predictions! I'm going back for more tonight and I'm not jinxing anything!

On a side note, tonight is a new day, so beer sales will not be stopped after the 7th inning. That means whenever the game ends, a lot of people are going to have beers in their hands to celebrate with or to throw at Bud Selig. (Not that I am condoning either of those.)