World Series Game 2 Preview

8:00 PM ET from Tropicana Field

215 Sportsguy-

Outcome: So my Cole prediction for last game was pretty close.  I said “7.2 IP, 5 Hs, 2 ER, 8 Ks”.  His ending stat line was: 7.0 IP, 5 Hs, 2 ER, and 5 Ks.  Damn good call if I do say so myself.

Now onto tonights game.  Brett Myers against James Shields.  How bad did Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard look last night.  Well I’m pretty happy that JRoll will be turned around at the plate and batting leftie for the most part.  He looked terrible on the right side last night.  Ryan should see some better pitches as well from the rightie, Shields.

Brett Myers takes the hill for his first ever World Series appearance as that seems to be the theme between these two young ball clubs.  Myers will be juiced beyond belief for tonight’s game and  I bet he coems out a little TOO juiced and gives up some early hits, only to settle in and cruise through six solid (notice I didnt say strong) innings.  As long as we can get him some support we should be able to hold on a for 2 – 0 series lead heading back to the Illa.  I see this being a high scoring affair and the Phils able to outlast the streaky Rays. 

GO PHILS!

Final: PHI 8   TB 5
Player of the Game: Chase Utley – 3 for 4, SB, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs

Phils Quiet the Cowbells

Phils Win! Phils Win!

What a game indeed.  Chase Utleys bomb in the first inning proved to be the mighty blow that Tampa Bay just could not overcome and seemed to shut up those annoying ass cowbells for a minute.  Cole Hamels once again pitched a gem of a game and moves closer to making his mark on baseball postseason history.  Oh, he’s just now 4-0, with a 1.55 ERA, with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings. That makes him only the 10th starting pitcher in history to win four games in one postseason, joining: Josh Beckett, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Jack Morris,  John Smoltz,  Orel Hershiser, Dave Stewart, David Wells and Burt Hooton.

Also, if Hamels gets another start in Game 5, he will have a chance to tie the all-time record for most wins in a single postseason, held by Randy Johnson (2001) and Francisco Rodriguez (2002). NOTE: all of K-Rod’s wins, and one of Johnson’s, came in relief. So Hamels is now in position to become the first starting pitcher ever to win five times in one postseason.

Carl Crawford and Akinori Iwamura were the only Rays that seemed to shake Cole as Crawford went deep on a breaking ball that hung out over the plate a little too long and Aki went 3 for 4 as well as driving in the Rays second run. The Phils had multiple opportunities to pad their lead but failed to do so, going 0-11 with runners on base and leaving nine men stranded.

Cole gave way to the best bullpen in the 8th.  Ryan Madson came in throwing straight HEAT for a perfect 8th leading the way for Mr. Perfect himself, Brad Lidge.  Lidge once again did his thang, throwing another perfect 9th while striking out two.

The Phils will try to make it two in a row at Trop tonight as Brett Myers pitches against James Shields in Game 2.

Manuel Yet to Name DH

The Philadelphia Phillies get to name a designated hitter for the first two games of the World Series, and manager Charlie Manuel is giving us the silent treatment.

The Phils appear to be leaning toward catcher Chris Coste and outfielder Matt Stairs as their DH choices for Games 1 and 2 respectively.

Manuel declined to reveal which hitters will get the nod at DH for Games 1 and 2 during a Tuesday press conference at Tropicana Field.

The Starting Rotations

World Series Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Cole Hamels (PHI) vs Scott Kazmir (TB)
Game 2: Brett Myers (PHI) vs James Shields (TB)
Game 3: Matt Garza (TB) vs Jamie Moyer (PHI)
Game 4: Andy Sonnanstine (TB) vs Joe Blanton (PHI)

Swing and a Miss

Boston CF Coco Crisp was hit on the right hip by Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields, prompting a bench-clearing brawl in the second inning of the Red Sox’s 7-1 win Thursday night.

Crisp pulled a fakey by walking gingerly for a second then charged the mound, ducked a wild right by Shields before throwing a few punches that barely made contact with Shields before being tackled to the ground by catcher Dioner Navarro.

The Rays DH Jonny Gomes charged the mound from the dugout, jumped on Navarro and Crisp, and threw a few punches that hit Crisp while he was on the ground.

Crisp, Shields and Gomes were all ejected.  Expect major league baseball to be handing out suspensions today.