It’s official: Josh Beckett will start Game Six for the Marlins on three days’ rest, with Carl Pavanoscheduled to do the same if the Fish can’t put the Yankees away tonight. I strongly disagree with this decision. It’s a move you make when you’re down 3-2, not up 3-2. It’s a decision you make when the difference between your best pitcher and the rest of the staff so large that going with anyone else in Game Six almost guarantees a Game Seven. Neither of those apply here. The Marlins need to win just one game to be champions, and they don’t get style points for winning in six. The Marlins have at least one pitcher available, in Mark Redman, who was arguably their #3 starter during the season. They certainly have Dontrelle Willis available for at least a few innings, and Willis was lights-out for a good part of 2003 and has been tough on Yankee lefties in this series. Frankly, outside of Game Five starter Brad Penny and Beckett (assuming you hold him back), the Marlins have nine pitchers who can give them at least a couple of innings, and some of those are the better pitchers on the staff. It’s Pavano’s throw day, so even he can give the team a couple of innings. Deciding that you’d rather start someone–two pitchers, actually–on short rest rather than use those guys is an inexplicable vote of no confidence.