“Ass Hammered” – Say What Matt

Just watch and listen folks.  Hopefully he was in the moment and didnt realize the context of what he was saying.

From the Corner of Broad and Spruce

The Celebratory Riots.  Enjoy the footage.

Phils Win, Phils Win

BEAUTIFUL!  Let me tell you people, the streets were rockin’ last night.   YouTube footage to come later, on my roommates camera.

JRoll got them rollin’ with a lead off jack and Cole Hamels pitched his third gem of the playoffs and the Phils beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 to win the NL championship series 4 games to 1 for its first pennant since the coveted ’93 team.  Manny Ramirez was the lone bright spot for the Dodgers as he provided the only run on a solo shot off Cole in the 6th frame.  Rafael Furcal was pathetic as he was responsible for all three of LA’s errors which proved costly.

Bring on the Rays!

NLCS Game 5 Preview

8:22 PM ET from Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine

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Outcome: Tonights the night.  Cole vs Chad.  Easy mark in my mind.  Billingsley will get crushed in the biggest game of his life, whereas his counterpart, Cole Hamels will shine bright in the spotlight.  I see Cole going 7, possibly 8 strong innings and controlling the game.  He has something to prove, and its the fact he is the best young lefty in the game today.

Ryan Howard finally gets his bat going and at the most opportune time, heading into the World Series.  Phils jump on Billingsley early and cruise to a 7-2 win.  GO PHIGHTINS.

Final: PHI 7   LA 2
Player of the Game: Ryan Howard – 2 for 4, 1 HR, 2 RBIs

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: Tonight our Phightin’s look to clinch their first NL Pennant since the memorable ’93 team.  It couldn’t look more promising then tonight, with the Dodgers reeling after Monday’s loss plus Phillie ace Cole Hamels scheduled to start.  I truly think the Phillies see the prize and will take care of business tonight, clinching a World Series berth.

Look for the Phillies bats to be fully awakened after Monday night and jump all over starter Chad Billingsley, just as in Game 2.   King Cole will be on point for 7 solid innings, giving up a Manny blast and really no further damage.  The offense will give Hamels plenty of breathing room, and the Phils will cruise to a Game 5 win and the promised land to boot.

Final: PHI 8   LA 1
Player of the Game: Cole Hamels – 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 Ks

Torre Gives Dodgers Day Off

Joe Torre gave his team a break from practice on Tuesday in hopes of rejuvenating their playoff lives for Game 5 against the Phils Wednesday night.

The Dodgers blew a 5-3 lead before losing 7-5 on Monday and now trail the Phightins 3-1 in the NLCS.

Manuel Won’t Miss Any Time to Attend Services for His Mother

Phils skipper and fearless leader Charlie Manuel will not miss any NLCS games to attend the funeral of his mother, June, who passed away before Game 2 on Friday.  She was 87.

The team announced Saturday that Manuel would leave after Wednesday’s Game 5 in LA and will take a private plane to Roanoke, Va., for the services. The viewing will be Thursday with the funeral Friday morning.

Manuel is scheduled to return to Philadelphia by 5 p.m. Friday for Game 6, if necessary.

Phils One Win Away

A classic game last night moves the Phillies within one win of the World Series.  After an amazing night, a game that saw lead changes, countless opportunities for both teams to blow the game open in the early innings, some more long balls, and ho hum another Brad Lidge save, the Phillies pulled out a 7-5 win in Los Angeles to take a 3-1 series lead.  Cole Hamels is scheduled to take the mound in Game 5 on Wednesday.

After jumping out to an quick 2-0 lead following Chase Utley and Ryan Howard RBIs, the Dodgers took a 5-3 lead in the 5th inning as Manny Ramirez continued to make it look easy.   But then the Phils bats stole the show. In seemingly an instant, playoff MVP Shane Victorino, booed continually from the moment he took batting practice, lined a laser into the Phillies bullpen tying the game at 5, giving the Phillies new life, all while setting the Phillies record for RBIs in a league Championship Series.

After a Carlos Ruiz hit (a two out single), 40 year-old Matt Stairs hit a straight bomb to right field.  The Phillies dugout exploded with the 7-5 lead.  Brad Lidge came out of the bullpen with 2 outs in the 8th and recorded the final 4 outs, 46 of 46 for the season and playoffs, and the Phillies are one more win away from the Series.

NLCS Heats Up!

Well the NLCS actually became a series last night as the Phigtin’s fell in Tinseltown to the L.A. Dodgers 7-2 in a very emotional contest not too mention the few hit batters as well as some messages sent.

The Dodgers jumped all over the Professor Jamie Moyer in the first few and the veteran failed to make it out of the second giving up 6 ER in 1 1/3 innings.  The crushing blow coming off the bat of rookie Blake DeWitt smashing a 2-2, 2-out pitch down the right field line opening the flood gates on a 6 run first.  The Phils got one of the runs right back as Pedro Feliz singled in Ryan Howard, but the momentum was quickly killed as Rafael Furcal hit a home run to left field the very next inning.

Things than became real interesting in the 3rd inning, after both Phillies all-star Chase Utley had a Hiroki Kuroda throw a fastball up around the face in the top of the first, Jamie Moyer plunked Dodger all-start catcher Russell Martin in the knee in the bottom of the frame.  Then things got real heated in the top of the third when Kuroda threw a fastball over the head of Phil’s centerfielder Shane Victorino.  Shane immediately made it known he was more then unappreciative of the throwing at his head as he jawed with Kuroda after grounding out to end the inningwhich prompted the benches to clear and words to be exchanged and the series was officially on.

Following the game Russell Martin explained rather wise-a$$ed, “We didn’t throw at his head, we threw it over his head.” Hey Russ, Where do you get off? You talk about you don’t want to hurt people, hopefully, that little comment will indeed get someone hurt, someone in Dodger blue.  Look for the hit batters to continue, and the high and tight pitching to become common place the rest of the series.  Hopefully, that comment, said with the little douche smirk on your face, has lit the fire under the Phillies and we come out with more intensity now that fuel has been poured on the fire, that is, the NLCS.

NLCS Game 2 Preview

4:35 PM ET from Citizens Bank Park

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Outcome: Manny Ramirez is still on fire but so is Brett Myers of late.  With Manny only sporting a career .158 (3 for 19) average against Myers, I think Brett can keep him in check.  Hopefully the right hand heavy lineup of the Dodgers has a tough time with Brett today and he can work some solid innings.  I see Jimmy and Chase getting their bats going again after an awesome game last night.  I think that’s exactly what Chase needed to break out of his mini slump there.  Look for Chase, Shane Vic and Jimmy to have a great day and be extremely active on the base paths.  I also foresee some Jayson Werth surprise action.

Final: LA 3   PHI 6
Player of the Game: Jayson Werth – 2 for 3, HR, 2 Rs, 2 RBI, BB

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: Well if the Phillies were not fired up enough for this afternoon’s NLCS game 2, word that manager Charlie Manuel’s mother has passed away, has to put their motivation over the top.  The Phillies can not let down skipper Manuel’s mother’s honor and be defeated this afternoon and I predict that the Phightin’s will come out bats a blazing.  Look for the the Phils to jump on Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley early and often as today’s game will feature much more offense then yesterday.

Final: LA 4   PHI 7
Player of the Game: Ryan Howard – 2 for 3, HR, 3RBI, 1R

Joe Torre Befuddled

Joe Torre in his dugout during the 9th inning.  What happened Joe?