Phour Wins Away

PHILLIES WIN NATIONAL LEAGUE!!!

Wow. Folks, for the second time in my life my favorite baseball team is officially the best team in the National League (I do not include 1983 since I was just about two years old). The Phillies punched their ticket to the World Series. I have been in love this team for a while now and today I could not be happier. But there is still business to take care of and that means focusing on the World Series, whether it be against the Tampa Bay Rays or the Boston Red Sox, who are entering their game five tonight in the ALCS with the Rays up 3-1.

Today is a deserved day of celebration though.

Cole Hamels, despite my concerns earlier, was terrific in his third start of the 2008 post season. Hamels went seven full innings and only allowed a solo home run by Manny Ramirez to put a number besides 0 on the scoreboard for the Dodgers. Hamels issued only three walks and struck out five before handing the game off to Ryan Madson in the eighth inning. Hamels was given some early run support when Jimmy Rollins hit a lead off home run off of Chad Billingsley.

The Phillies did enough on their own offensively to win but Rafael Furcal's three errors in the fifth inning helped the Phillies score two runs and open up a 5-0 lead. I could not help but feel bad for Furcal, but of course I was elated. Three errors in the fifth inning by one player? Two of those errors were on the same play. Furcal failed to play a ground ball and wound up kicking it towards the stands on the third base side. With Utley running home after the kicked ball Furcal tracked down the ball and attempted to throw Utley out at home, but the throw was errant, scoring Utley. Ryan Howard advanced to third base on the first error and was held there because of a lucky bounce of the errant throw off of the backstop. Howard would score when Carlos Ruiz hit a ball to Furcal and Furcal made another poor throw to first, sending the ball bouncing away from James Loney. Pat Burrell could have scored on an erratic throw home but remained at third base.

With a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning was there ever a doubt that the Phillies and Hamels would win that game?

While the offense actually provided run support for Hamels the pitching of the Phillies in decisive game was outstanding. For starters where did the fastball from Madson come from? Was Madson hiding that ability all year or was Madson so fired up he couldn't help but throw that major heat. Of course Brad Lidge came in to close the game out. In a non save situation Lidge was the man you wanted to see out there anyway. He was brought here to solidify the ninth innings of games and that is exactly what he did. After a lead off hit by Loney, Lidge got the next three batters to fly out, culminating with Nomar Garciaparra popping up in foul territory. Ruiz caught the ball for the clinching out and the Phillies are on their way to the World Series.

Hamels was named NLCS MVP and it would be hard to argue that. With two ace-like starts in the NLCS it was clear that Hamels was the best player in the series. Sure, Shane Victorino may have been the guy behind many key moments in the series, but it was the cool and steady Hamels that set the pace for the Phillies. In game one he dug a 2-0 hole to the Dodgers at home but never panicked and knew his team would rally behind him. He stayed in long enough to earn the victory after Utley and Burrell connected for home runs in the sixth inning. In three playoff starts Hamels has given up three runs and six walks while striking out 22 batters in 22 innings of work.


Congratulations to the Dodgers for a hard fought series. This was a tough one but the Phillies had some breaks go their way when it really counted and, let's face it, the Phillies were just the better team. I am a big fan of Joe Torre and appreciate the way he treats the game. Torre made a trip in to the Phillies clubhouse after the game last night and spoke briefly with Charlie Manuel and offered his congratulations and some words of advice. Manuel's response? He was thankful and told Torre that he was Manuel's idol.

Now it is a much deserved and needed week off. Manuel will move on to his mother's funeral. Victorino's family is actually holding off on any memorial services for Shane's grandmother until the post season is over. Hopefully the Phillies can send Victorino off with a championship.

Much more on this and the World Series as we move forward. For now we watch the ALCS and scout the opposition. Will the Rays finish off the Red Sox tonight? Or will the Red Sox make a run to extend the series. I like the Red Sox tonight but like the Rays to win this series.

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Stairs Way to Heaven

NOTE: I swear I wrote this before checking my Google Reader and finding that Todd Zolecki used the same headline.

Matt Stairs has just penned his name into the lore of Phillies baseball and the hearts of their fans forever. He made his own path to Philadelphia heaven in the city of angels.

One win away from the World Series is where the Phillies now find themselves after last night's game four of the National League Championship Series. If you went to bed early frustrated with the Phillies I don't blame you necessarily, although you should know that a Phillies game is never over until the final out is recorded. The Phillies turned an abysmal loss in which Ryan Howard handed the Dodgers a 5-3 lead into one for the ages with a dramatic come from behind victory. Philadelphia won 7-5.

Talk about a back and forth game. This was it. The Phillies jumped on Derek Lowe and his short rest early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Chase Utley, who has been playing very well in this series, hit a double down the right field line to score Jimmy Rollins and advance Jayson Werth to third. Ryan Howard grounded out but drove home Werth and moved Utley to third. Things were looking good. Giving Joe Blanton a two run lead to start the game would be huge.

Blanton allowed a run in the first inning, cued by a slug bunt hit by Rafael Furcal over the head of Greg Dobbs. But Blanton only allowed the lone run in the first inning and pitched effectively through five innings. Los Angeles was able to score three times off of Blanton who was showing signs of fatigue in the fifth inning. Leaving the game down 3-2 may have been demoralizing for Blanton but the Phillies scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game when Ryan Howard scored on a wild pitch. When the Dodgers came up in the sixth inning is when the insanity started.

Chad Durbin came in to relieve Blanton and promptly let the Dodgers retake the lead on a lead off home run by Casey Blake, who was pushed by his teammates to take a curtain call. Durbin then gave up a double to Juan Pierre and then a walk to pinch hitting Matt Kemp. With nobody out and two on Charlie Manuel called on Scott Eyre to try and wiggle his way out of Durbin's mess. But the mess was just beginning.

Rafael Furcal put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners but was safe when Howard picked up the ball and threw wide, glancing off of Chase Utley's glove into right field. Pierre scored and Kemp and Furcal each advanced a base to put two men in scoring position with nobody out. I admit I was yelling "Ryan Howard just threw the game away! He just threw the game away!" Premature obviously. I let my emotions get the best of me. I calmed down a bit and said if the Phillies could get out of that inning without any more damage then they had plenty of time to come back. Genius, right?

Andre Ethier lined out to Howard for the first out. Manny Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out in hopes of a double play. Ryan Madson then came in and got the much needed double play when Russell Martin lined to second base where Chase Utley made the play of the game, diving to tag second base to double off Furcal at second. That was the defensive play of the series so far.

After a solid seventh inning from both teams the fireworks were about to start in the eight inning. With the score finding the Dodgers in front with a 5-3, the Phillies were looking to get something going with what was likely to be the meat of the lineup's last try. Howard lead off the inning with a single up the middle in to center field. Shift that. Pat Burrell popped up, failing to advance Howard. Then the villain came to the plate.

Shane Victorino, full of emotions from his grandmother passing and the incident from the previous night, tied the game with a two run home run that lined just over the wall in right field and into the Phillies dugout. All of a sudden the Phillies were breathing a sigh of relief. The game was tied late and who knew what would happen next.

Pedro Feliz lined out sending Carlos Ruiz out to try and extend the inning. Ruiz did just that, sending a single in to left field and setting up Stairs for the most dramatic home run of his career. Stairs, a veteran of the game, showed great patience at the plate in drawing a 3-1 count. Stairs then let loose on the next pitch and drilled one to deep right field midway up the seats in the right field section. It was a moon shot. No question about it. This one will be remembered by Phillies fans for a long time. It was majestic.

With that the Phillies had an improbable 7-5 lead in the eight inning. From there it was all about getting the game to Brad Lidge. J.C. Romero did just that, retiring the first two batters he faced when he got Ethier to ground in to a double play. Now batting, Manny Ramirez.

Rather than have Romero go after Ramirez Charlie Manuel brought in his closer for a four out save opportunity. With a two run lead it did not matter what Ramirez did, and Lidge almost got him but Ramirez made Lidge look like nothing with a double into right center. With Russell Martin up you had to feel good that Lidge would get the third out of the eighth. He did with a strike out but the ball got away from Ruiz and Martin (and Ramirez) each advanced a base. Now all of a sudden the Dodgers had runners at the corner with two outs. But Lidge had no fear. He knows Ruiz makes the stop much more often than not. No need to sweat with a two run lead. Lidge then got James Loney to pop out to left field.

The ninth inning was just played as a formality as Lidge finished the deal with a perfect ninth inning. The Phillies had just stolen a game from the Dodgers and with it a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

I mean it when I say that this was probably the best baseball game I have ever seen, at least the best Phillies game I have ever seen. Tuesday is a well deserved day off for both teams, but the Phillies have the advantage on Wednesday when they send Cole Hamels to the mound likely against Chad Billingsley.

One win away from the World Series

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Please, No Moyer!

Attention Jamie Moyer! The playoffs have started. Will you be attending this year?

Moyer has pitched two games this year in the playoffs and has not pitched past the fourth inning. His second outing was worst than his lone appearance in the NLDS against the Brewers, as he allowed five runs to the Dodgers in the first inning. After giving up a lead off home run in the second inning, after the Phillies had gotten one run back in the top of the second, Charlie Manuel made the switch and brought in Clay Condrey, starting a long night for the bullpen.

The Dodgers won game three of the National League Championship Series 7-2 on a night when tempers would flare.

The good news to come from Moyer's short night was that the bullpen was very good, only allowing one run in seven innings of work. Unfortunately the Phillies continued their struggling against Hiroki Kuroda. Jimmy Rollins continues to be non-existent in the lead off spot, going 0-4 last night with two strike outs. Shane Victorino, who would be a player of interest later in the game was also sub par with an 0-4 night. The struggles at the top of the order limited the effectiveness of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard who combined for three hits and the only runs of the night for the Phillies.

The night started off ominously as the Dodgers pounded Moyer for five runs in the first inning. Rafael Furcal lead off the bottom of the first for the Dodgers with a single. Andre Ethier followed that up with a single, bring Manny Ramirez to the plate with two men on. Ramirez notched a single that scored Furcal, getting the Dodgers on the board early 1-0 with two men on and nobody out.

The inning continued when Russell Martin was hit in the knees. Now, Martin was upset and so were the rest of his teammates because the Dodgers felt Brett Myers was throwing at Ramirez in game two.

If you were smart enough you would know that wasn't the case. If Myers wanted to throw at somebody, he would have hit you. Case in point, Chase Utley lead the league in being hit by a pitch. Did the Phillies ever retaliate? Not once. The Phillies do not have a history of ever throwing at anybody under Manuel. That is just flat out the truth! Myers was quick to point out that he was trying to pitch inside (the only way to get Ramirez out) and the ball got away from him. That should have been the end of the debate. But the Dodgers were not satisfied. So when Moyer hit Martin the Dodgers felt the Phillies were going after their hitters again, or at least Martin did. While the Dodgers went on to score four more times in the inning they were not happy with having a five run lead.

In the third inning Hiroki Kuroda and Martin, who at that point was upset about another pitching coming high and inside on him (and grounding into a double play) waited for their spot for retaliation. Shane Victorino would be their mark. When the opportunity came Kuroda threw his pitch up and in on Victorino, going over the head of the ducking Victorino. Give Victorino credit. He could have charge the mound for the head hunting, but he restrained himself and vehemently gestured to Kuroda that if he wanted to throw at Victorino to throw at his ribs. Stay away from the head.

The Dodgers were totally at fault for this whole incident. The Phillies never threw at Ramirez. The Phillies never threw at Martin. None of those pitches were intentional. But the Dodgers, who were down 0-2 needed something to spark their team and that is the way they wanted to handle things. Fine. Cry babies.

Russell Martin after the game said "...we didn't throw at his head. We threw it over his head." Only because Victorino ducked.

Victorino said after the game "Someone was bound to get hit. The situation called for it. Just don't throw at my head." He added later "I think it's over. I'll squash it."

Hopefully for the sake of the game this non sense is over. I would expect nothing less from a pair of teams managed by Charlie Manuel and Joe Torre. I admit though I would love to hear what Larry Bowa and Davey Lopes had to say to each other when the benches cleared.

Let's move forward to game four. Joe Blanton will take the mound for the Phillies, who need to slow down the Dodgers momentum from last night. Blanton was fantastic in game four against the Brewers but the Dodgers are not the Brewers. Derek Lowe is going to start for the Dodgers on short rest. Lowe pitched brilliantly against the Phillies through five innings in game one but gave up three runs on two home runs in the sixth inning. The Phillies won that game 3-2.

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NLCS Preview

It's time to officially start the coverage of the National League Championship Series between the National League East Division champion Philadelphia Phillies and the National League West Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers. We are not talking about politics when it comes to red states and blue states now folks. Pennsylvania is red for the Phillies and California is blue for the Dodgers this week.

Regular Season Records
Dodgers 84-78
Phillies 92-70

How They Got Here
The Phillies advanced to the NLCS by defeating the wild card Milwaukee Brewers in four games in the NLDS. Pitching from the Phillies was superb while the offense showed small amounts of explosiveness. Struggling at the plate and in key situations all series long the Phillies relied on the pitching of Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton to carry the team. The bullpen did their part as well, filling in when needed to get to ace closer Brad Lidge in the final inning three times. The starters were fantastic in the series and although Moyer was uncharacteristically off he only only allowed the Brewers to score twice.

Chase Utley continued to lack any presence at the plate and his two RBI double in game one was a gift from a misplayed ball by Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron. Ryan Howard came on late in the series to get some hits but Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth were able to pick up some of the slack with their own at-bats.

Playing the role of underdogs the Dodgers swept the Chicago Cubs in three games in dominating fashion. Taking advantage of Cubs errors in game one the Dodgers set the tone early for another dismal Cubs playoff series. The Dodgers got dominant pitching from Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley, and Hiroki Kuroda. Offensively the Dodgers were offensive to the Cubs.

Manny Ramierez brought his "Manny Being Manny" act to Los Angeles in a trade earlier this year and Ramierez has provided the spark the Dodgers needed into the post season. Ramierez hit .500 in the NLDS against the Cubs, adding a pair of homeruns and driving in three crucial RBIs at key moments. James Loney added six RBIs of his own in the series and Russell Martin added five.

Regular Season Matchups
It doesn't get too much more even than what the Phillies and Dodgers did to each other this season. The Dodgers struck first by sweeping the Phillies in a four game set in Los Angeles. A week later the Phillies returned the favor, sweeping the Dodgers in a four game set at Citizens Bank Park.

the Dodgers put together a better batting average than the Phillies in those eight games, but this is the playoffs. We can throw away all of those stats from earlier this year!

Storylines
This is a great series as far as storylines go. The main stream media will pick up the Manny Ramierez storylines in hopes of seeing him take the Dodgers to the World Series for a possible match up with the Red Sox, but if you look closer there are some other key stories of intrigue to digest.

Larry Bowa
Former Phillies manager, and the predecessor to Charlie Manuel, Larry Bowa is now the Dodgers' third base coach. Bowa, a Phillies Wall of Famer, helped lead the Phillies to becoming a legitimate contender in the division and an annual player in the wild card chase. While Bowa's teams never made the final push during the Scott Rolen years it ws Bowa who was routinely criticized by some fans, some media and many players for the short comings of the team. Bowa ultimately was fired and Manuel was selected to replace him. Bowa went on to become a third base coach under Joe Torre with the New York Yankees, and followed Torre to the Dodgers.

You know Bowa would love to stick it to his former employer, but I am sure there must be a part in Bowa's heart that hopes to see the Phillies win again. One thing is for sure; Bowa hates wearing that helmet on the field.

The Phillies have a former Dodger player as well. Davey Lopes. The Phillies first base coach was directly involved in "Black Friday" in 1977, a play that also directly involved Bowa.

Phillies-Dodgers Playoff History
There was a time when the Dodgers were in the same division as the Phillies. But that was when the Dodgers were playing in Brooklyn. Despite the Whiz Kids beating out those Brooklyn Dodgers for a National League pennant the two organizations have faced each other a number of times before in the NLCS. If you have been reading this blog regularly you may have seen (or possibly even read!) my NLCS Phlashback series, chronicling the 1977 and 1978 NLCS. They also faced each other in the 1983 NLCS.


Pitching Probables
Game One
Cole Hamels vs. Derek Lowe

Cole Hamels is the ace of the staff in Philadelphia, there is no disputing that. In game one of the NLDS he was masterful, shutting down the free swinging Brewers over eight innings before handing the game over to Brad Lidge. Hamels is 1-0 against the Dodgers lifetime with an ERA of 2.57. Earlier this season Hamels pitched seven innings giving up five hits and two runs in Los Angeles. His only two walks in the game were both intentional walks to Ramierez and Garciaparra.

While this is not exactly the Derek Lowe who helped guide the Red Sox to a World Series championship a few years ago, he is no pushover. After allowing two early runs to the Cubs in game one he shut them down and let the Dodgers rally to win. The Phillies will need to score on Lowe more than one inning a game.

Game Two
Brett Myers vs. Chad Billingsley

If Myers pitches the way he did against the Brewers with CC Sabatia on the mound, it would be hard to go against him in this game. Myers pitched well against the Dodgers this season, including a strong seven inning outing at Citizens Bank Park on August 25. While Myers did give up nine hits in the game he was able to keep the Dodgers off the scoreboard en route to a win.

Billingsley took the loss in that particular outing. When Billingsley pitched down the stretch for the Dodgers though he won five of his last six games to close out the season.

Game Three
Jamie Moyer vs. Hiroki Kuroda

Moyer will without a doubt be ready for his second postseason outing and it will come in the pivotal game three when the series moves back to Los Angeles. After starting slow against the Brewers Moyer seemed to find his groove that he typically does find. Unfortunately for the Phillies it may have been too late in game three against the Brewers. Moyer recieved no help from his offense in that game but Moyer did keep the Phillies in the game.

Moyer is a savvy veteran. He will be ready to do what he needs to do against the Dodgers in game three. If the Dodgers can hold off on some of Moyer's pitches though he could get into some trouble.

Taking the mound for the Dodgers will be Hiroki Kuroda, who stiffled the Phillies in two games this year. In thirteen innings against the Phillies Kuroda allowed only two runs (one in each game). He also only issued two walks in that same work load. The Phillies will need to find a way to strike against Kuroda and get him out of the game as quickly as possible.

Schedule
Every game of the NLCS will be broadcast on Fox. TBS will be airing every game in the American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. Thursday night the NLCS will get centerfield, er center stage, all to itself as the ALCS starts up Friday night. Here is the schedule for the NLCS as it stands right now...

Game 1 - October 9 8:22pm (Phillies)
Game 2 - October 10 4:35pm (Phillies)
Game 3 - October 12 8:22pm (Dodgers)
Game 4 - October 13 8:22pm (Dodgers)
Game 5 - October 15 8:22pm (Dodgers)
Game 6 - October 17 8:22pm (Phillies)
Game 7 - October 18 8:22pm (Phillies)

By the way, why in the world would the NLCS start at 4:15pm on Friday (1:15pm on the all important west coast) when the NLCS actually has a west coast team and the ALCS has two teams on the east coast? Must be the whole "fair and balanced" system being employed.

On the Record
I correctly predicted that the Phillies would get past the Brewers in four games in my NLDS Preview. Let's see if I can keep the luck going in the NLCS. I will say that the Phillies win this series in six games.

Just eight wins away.

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Hawaiian Punch KO's Brewers

Question: Which current Phillies player has the most career post season homeruns?

Answer: It is actually a tie with two homeruns. So Taguchi and Shane Victorino.

Yesterday Victorino added his second career post season homerun in grand fashion, hitting a grand slam in the second inning off of CC Sabathia. Amazingly the grand slam was not even the most memorable at bat in the inning! Check out earlier when Brett Myers steps to the plate with two outs and Pedro Feliz on base. Typically when the pitcher comes to bat with two outs you figure that the inning is over, but Myers had other ideas in his head. Sabathia got ahead of Myers with an 0-2 count but Myers stuck with it and battled back to a full count by fouling off pitches and staying patient and laying off balls. It was incredible! Myers forced his counterpart to throw nine pitches and he drew a base on balls. The Phillies were in the head of Sabathia.

Jimmy Rollins walked on the next four pitches, bringing up Victorino with the bases jacked and two outs. Then this happened...



After that the Phillies were on cruise control. Brett Myers had struggled in the first inning but escaped with only one run on the scoreboard. After the second inning you knew that Myers was going to be in control the rest of the way. Myers went seven strong innings, and the bullpen did the rest as the Phillies went on to win 5-2. Myers allowed both runs but it didn't matter. Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero combined for a score-free eighth inning and Brad Lidge finished it off with a solid 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Let's talk about Myers some more.

Everybody knows the Myers story by now. He was the closer last year and with the addition of Lidge Myers was vocal about his move back to the starting rotation. Myers was adamant that he wanted to stay in the bullpen and at first it appeared that he was not prepared, whatever the reasons may be, to be back as a starter this year. He had been named the opening day starter in a move to try and force him to focus on starting. It didn't work. After a number of mediocre at best outings Myers was sent to triple A ball in Lehigh to retool himself. When the time came for his return to the big leagues it was obvious that he was ready. Everything was going fine until recently when bad habits returned against the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves. Questions were everywhere heading into his first post season start of his career yesterday.

In the first inning everybody wearing Phillies red must have been like me as I yelled at the tv in a futile attempt to motivate Myers. He had gotten into serious trouble with the bases loaded and one out. He had already walked in a run as well. Cue Rich Dubee.

Whatever Dubee said may have worked. Either that or Corey Hart can't walk the walk and talk the talk. Hart had proclaimed the Brewers were going to kick the Phillies' butt in their playoff rally before heading to Philadlphia. Hart proceeded to swing at the first pitch from Myers and grounded into an inning ending double play. Later we would know that that may have been the real key play of the game.

Defense would be another negative to the Brewers in game two. Not so much as in game one, but Mike Cameron had another ball go over his head, resulting in a double for the Phillies. I will give Cameron credit though. He robbed Victorino of a triple, limiting him to a double on the play by playing the ball nicely off of the wall. Maybe that is why he has won those gold gloves.

I expect Cameron will have some better fielding games in his own park.

So you would think I'm happy right? I am. The Phillies are up 2-0 in the NLDS! Do I have concerns? Absolutely.

For the second straight game the Phillies scored in only one inning. Credit given for scoring enough runs to win each of the first two games, but there were so many wasted opportunities in both games in which they could have buried the Brewers and they failed to take advantage. A win is a win is a win though and heading to Milwaukee the Phillies are in prime position to get to the NLCS.

There is no pitcher I would rather have taking the mound in game three than Jamie Moyer. I expect the Brewers to be amped for their first home playoff game since 1982 and I could see that energy sparking them early. Moyer is just the guy to have in that situation to slow things down and take the players out of the game. Am I cautiously scouting the Dodgers right now? You bet. Foolish I would be though to say that this NLDS is over though. One game at a time. Win game three.

Win game three.

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Defense Wins Championships

Game one of the NLDS in 2008 was a ton better than the one in 2007. Cole Hamels was phenomenal and pitched the second best game I have ever seen a Phillies pitcher pitch in the post season. The first was Curt Schilling's masterpiece in game five of the 1993 World Series. Even so, Schilling's performance only beats out Hamels' due to the fact that he threw way more pitches and the team was staving off elimination by the Toronto Blue Jays. Thank goodness for Hamels though because the offense, despite receiving a three run third inning as a gift, did nothing that was inspiring.

It is hard to pick apart a playoff victory because ultimately the only thing that matters is that the Phillies are up 1-0 in a best of five series and that is huge. Facing the much hyped CC Sabathia in game two it was thought that winning the opener was a must, not that every playoff game is a must win. The win also shoves aside some of the ghosts from the 2007 playoffs. Hamels is now over his hump from 2007, and Chase Utley hit a double and drove in a pair of runs to make amends for his poor October last year. As well as Hamels pitched, the Brewers were never really put away in this game.

The real story of this game though was defense. The Brewers defense could be blamed for the entire third inning. With Carlos Ruiz on first base, Hamels put down a bunt that was mishandled. Instead of having one runner on there were now two runners one. A couple batters later Utley came to the plate. Utley drove one to left center that Brewers centerfielder Mike Cameron possibly misjudged but recovered in enough time to make the snow cone catch. The only problem was the ball didn't say in the glove and with two outs bot Ruiz and Hamels were running allowing them to score. Utley wound up on second base instead of getting ready to field at second base. Ryan Howard walked and Pat Burrell drew another walk to load the bases. Shane Victorino then worked a walk with the bases loaded, increasing the score to 3-0.

The Phillies did play some good defense on the other hand though. Howard made a nice play down the first base line. Pedro Feliz knocked a ball down that took away a hit from the Brewers. Utley made a fantastic play on a bunt that kept the Brewers off the bases yet again as he stole the infield hit. Who knows what could have happened had any of those runners reached base?

Other than the third inning the Phillies fell back on some bad habits, such as swinging on the first pitch (Rollins and Burrell both had crucial one pitch at bats resulting in nothing). Two things drive me crazy in baseball:

1. Mets fans
2. Swinging at the first pitch

I will never understand how a batter can make a decision to swing at the first pitch, ESPECIALLY after the batter before you walks! That is just not smart baseball.

Finally there was Brad Lidge. Would I have rather have seen Hamels finish the game? Absolutely. I was saying that I would have left Hamels in and had Lidge warming up just in case. But on the other hand it is hard to be upset about bringing in a closer who has not blown a save all year. I believe that what worries people the most is not his performance, but the fact that he is overdue for a blown save. This is a good problem to have if you ask me. Yes, part of me was hoping that down the stretch that Lidge would blow a save just to get it over with but the fact remains that Lidge is still perfect in save opportunities this year. Did he make it interesting? Sweat was pouring from my face and my eye was twitching. But this is the playoffs. Every pitch is going to be nerve racking.

Game two could be a rough one. Sabathia has been on fire lately and has been having his way with the National League. He has yet to face the Phillies though so let's see how it develops tonight. The big storyline will be whether or not Brett Myers can rebound from his last two outings though. Go get 'em Myers!

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