What was Charlie Thinking?

What was Charlie Manuel thinking last night when he handed the ball to two rookies in a pressure situation against a division rival?  I understand that the back-end of his bullpen has been used quite a bit this season, but the Phillies had off on Monday, so everyone should have been rested.  Overused or not, in a 2-0 game — especially one against a team hot on your heels in the division — you need to call upon your go-to guys.  It’s not a time to see if a rookie can handle a pressure situation, and it’s certainly not a time to allow pitchers to get in work.

Whether it was intentional or not, Manuel’s use of the bullpen last night conveyed that the outcome of the game didn’t matter to him.  Instead of trying to keep things close by calling upon the guys who have gotten the job done all year, he opted for untested players in unfamiliar roles.  While it’s unfair to say that these moves cost the Phillies the game, it’s certainly easier to come back when you’re trailing 2-0 than it is when you’re down 8-2.