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.

Howard Connects

Howard tied (79) and then BROKE the all time mark for most RBI before the All-Star break by a Phillie last night when he blasted a towering shot (25th) to deep right field to put the Phillies back on top for good and collect his league leading 80th run batted in.

Howard drove an 0-2 pitch from Kyle McClellan into the right-field seats in the bottom of the 8th, rallying the Phillies after they blew a 2-0 lead. Pedro Feliz added a solo shot to left off Chris Perez that put an emphatic end to Philadelphia’s four-game losing streak.

Phillies Predictions

Record/Standings
Steve – 91-71, 1st place NL East
Brian – 96-66, 1st place NL East, this is our YEAR
Chris – 89-73, 2nd place NL East, 2 GB NY Mets, no playoffs

Primetime Pitchers
Cole Hamels
Steve – 19-4 2.97 ERA, 219 Strikeouts
Brian – 19-8 2.75 ERA, 207 K’s
Chris – 21-5 3.33 ERA, 234 K’s will lead the National League in Strikes and W’s, will have 12 wins at the all-star break and will be NL Starter, will be the only Phils starter come September that is able to pitch more then 5 innings per start.

Brett Myers
Steve – 17-6 3.43 ERA 203 Strikeouts
Brian – 18-7 3.23 ERA 186 K’s
Chris – 5-3 2.18 ERA 43 Saves 115 K’s.  Myers will start the regular season 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA and on a cold blistery night in Denver in late April, Myers will pop his groin and be forced to goto the 60 day DL. 

Some Bold Predictions
Steve

• Pat Burrell sets career highs in HR and RBI. Burrell finally is putting in the work to turnaround his career. He got a taste of winning and worked hard all off-season to improve his game. Throw in the contract year and the fact that the Phils lineup should provide ample opportunity and Burrell continues where he left off the second half of last season.
• Chase Utley wins the National League MVP. Not too bold since he was on pace last year to win it before he got hurt, but having 3 straight Phillies win MVP’s would be insane. I think he will hit around .340 and lead the National League in Batting Avg. (How could ownership not go out and add a front line starter next off season with 3/4 of the infield yielding the last 3 MVP’s. C.C. Sabathia anyone? I had to make that last part very bold since the beginning was weak)
• The Phillies lead the league in scoring. They score over 900 runs and have Howard lead the NL in HR, Rollins in scoring, and Utley in Avg.
• They have 4 players hit more then 30 HRs (Utley, Feliz, Howard, Burrell). They have two players over 40 Stolen Bases (Victorino and Rollins).
• The Phillies are AT LEAST 4 games over .500 by the end of April.
• Charlie Manuel successfully completes over 35 double switches.

Brian

• Johan throws at J Roll’s face.  J Roll ducks out of the way just in time but takes the ball off the back of the helmet.  He rises and points his bat at Johan and utters, ” You filthy piece of NY Shit.” Johan retaliates by signalling with his arms in Jimmy’s direction, “Bring it on.”  This in turn sparks a bench clearing brawl at Citizens Bank Park, which spills over into the stands and Phils fans start a serious melee on all Mets fans in attendance.  It will go down as the biggest fight in US sports history as every Met fan there (besides women and children) are brutally beaten.  204 victims, 3 dead. 

Chris

• With Myers on the DL for 2 months, during that time the Phillies will go from starting the season 15-5 in their first 20 games into a complete tail spin through May and June. The injury to Myers will be just the beginning of the crumbling of the pitching staff. Kyle Kendrick has a stint on the DL, the replacement team of Kris Benson, and the Durbins Chad and JD, will not work. Tom Gordon’s arm will finally fall off, and one Brad Lidge will have to under go season ending knee surgery in the beginning of May.
• Leading to bold prediction number 2. Brett Myers will come off the DL and back to the Pen. Once again out of necessity, Bretty Myers will have 50+ appearances out of the bullpen ass the closer converting 43 of them into saves to lead the NL in that category as the Phils will go on a torrid 2nd half tear only to fall 2 games short of the Mets as Myers will blow the save on the second to last day of the season to the lowly Nationals.
• Geoff Jenkins will have more HR’s then Pat Burrell.
• Jayson Werth will have more HR’s then Pat Burrell.
• Shane Victorino will have more HR’s then Pat Burrell.
• Jimmy Rollins will lead the NL in doubles, triples, SB’s, and Runs scored, and will come in 2nd in the NL MVP voting to Alfonso Soriano of the NL Central winning Cubs.
• Carlos Ruiz will NOT get any better at speaking English.
• Adam Eaton will go 15-11 pitch 180 innings and will have a respectable 3.99 ERA.

Phils Sign Pedro Feliz

According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Phillies and Pedro Feliz have agreed to a two-year deal.

According to our skipper:

“We got better,” Manuel said. “He’s a good defensive player. He’s got power. He’ll hit probably sixth, seventh, somewhere in there. I think putting him down in our lineup will help him. He was called on to hit in the middle of the lineup in San Francisco. A couple years ago, he might’ve been pressing to do too much because they had Barry Bonds there.”

Personally I like the signing and it will give us more depth at the hot corner which has been shaky for the past few years.  Most likely the starter, Feliz will probably be platooned with Greg Dobbs at third.  Hopefully this means the end of Wes Helms, thank god.