World Series Game 1 Preview

8:00 PM ET from Tropicana Field

215 Sportsguy-

Outcome: The day this city has been waiting for for 15 years is upon us.  Game time is only a few hours away.  Cole Hamels once again takes the mound for the Phils as Scott Kazmir gets the ball for the Rays.  Cole is 3-0 in this here postseason and look for him to continue his dominace as he takes the Phils deep into the game and keep the hot bats of Rays offguard.  Cole is one of the few pitchers who continually gets better against batters as he faces them two and three times around during the course of the game.  The stats prove it over the course of the regular season and I see no reason as to why that would change now.

A lot of folks are bringing up the added rest as a possible downfall for the Phils, but this team is as gritty as they get and look for them to come out swinging.  I foresee the Flyin’ Hawaiian Shane Victorino and Pat ‘The Bat’ Burrell to get the juices pumping early and spark the bats of the rest of the lineup.

Charlie Manuel is keeping it quiet as to who will be the DH for this game, but to be honest, I really dont care, whoever he plugs in will most certainly get the job done.  Whether it be the best PH in the majors in Greg Dobbs, the savvy Canuck Matt Stairs or the grizzled vet in Chris Coste, look for all to be swinging for the fences.  Let’s get an early one in Tampa guys.  GO PHILS!

Final: PHI 7   TB 3
Player of the Game: Cole Hamels – 7.2 IP, 5 Hs, 2 ER, 8 Ks

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: FINALLY, we are on gameday of Game 1 of the World Series.  After a week off, the Phightins start the World Series tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays.  A lot has been said leading up to the start of this series regarding the long layoff and how it will negatively affect the Phils, and it could.  But I just don’t see that happening tonight.  I think the Phils are a big stage team and are primed for this opportunity.

Cole Hamels takes the mound for the Phils facing off against another young ace Scott Kazmir.  This is obviously the first time both of these teams have faced either pitcher this year, so look for the pitchers to have the early advantage, and the beginning innings to be quick and strike out filled.  Look for the offenses to pick it up a little more into the 2nd and more so the 3rd time through the lineups.

I see the Phils bats striking the big blow first but the Rays will battle and keep it close. Then, what the Phillies really hope the entire series comes down too, the battle of the bullpens to begin.  The Phils have a decisive advantage in this department, one of their biggest going into the series, and look for that to be displayed in Game 1.  The Phillies pen goes an inning and two thirds of no hit ball as the Phillies take game one and home field advantage in game one.

Final: PHI  4    TB  2
Player of the Game: Jimmy Rollins – 2 for 3, BB, 2B, 2 RBI, RS

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 Game 4 Preview

8:22 PM ET from Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine

215 Sportsguy-

Outcome: To be honest, Blanton scares me, but I cant decipher if its more or less then Jamie Moyer.  I knew deep down Moyer would be throwing meatballs across the plate and that’s what scares me about Blanton.  He sucked during the regular season after we acquired him (Eaton-esque) and his only really good game came in the NLCS.  PLEASE FOR LOVE OF GOD continue to pitch well Joey.  I think the Phils are revving to go on all cylinders after last night’s small tussle in the infield after the Kuroda/Victorino incident.  God I would of loved Vic to JACK UP Hiroki.

Anyway look for the Phils to have Lowe’s number after facing him in Game 1 and to be hot in the batters box and flying around the base paths.  I also see the Dodgers getting to Blanton a bit and the scoring to be high and often.  Maybe Ryan Howard will actually do something with the bat tonight as well.  Phils win, Phils win.

Final: PHI 7   LA 4
Player of the Game: Jimmy Rollins – 3 for 4, 3 Rs, 2 SBs, 1 RBI

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: After the intensity level was kicked up a few notches last night, we turn right around and get back on the field tonight for Game 4.  Joe Blanton gets the nod against Dodger ace Derek Lowe coming back on 3 days rest.

Lowe baffled the Phils hitters minus one inning in game 1, but that inning was all Phils needed as Lowe was pinned with the loss.  Look for the Phils bats to be a little more successful this time around, as a shoot-out will break out tonight.

Look for the scoreboard to start firing up in the middle to late innings as the 2 pitchers will come out throwing strikes trying not to fire up things like last night, for fear of ejections and suspensions, and then try to challenge the hitters the second time around, unsuccessfully. The Phils pen will out-duel the Dodgers and send the Phillies to a 3-1 series lead on a 10-7 Phillies victory.

Final: PHI 10   LA 7
Player of the Game: Jayson Werth – 4 for 6, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs

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.

Chicks Dig the Long Ball

Last night in raucous South Philly, your Phightin’s put up barely enough of a fight to eek out a Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Ace Cole Hamels settled into his usual dominate outing after a shaky first couple of batters and Chase Utley and Pat Burrell provided all of the offense with more home runs as the Phillies took a 1-0 series lead over LA.  Game 2 is set for this afternoon with the first pitch being tossed at 4:35pm.

With the Phillies offense looking pathetic through 5 innings, it was the flying Hawaiian sparking a rally yet again in the bottom of the 6th as he busted his hump down the line on a seemingly routine ground-out.  But Victorino’s hustle forced Furcal to rush his throw which went out of the glove and over the head of first basemen James Loney and Victorino took second on the error.

The very next pitch, Utley ripped a two run blast into the right field seats and the Bank was shaking.  Two batters later, “Bait” as we learned is what one Patrick Burrell is affectionately referred to by his teammates, we think its pretty explanatory what “Bait” is referring too, hit his 3rd home run in 2 games staking the Phillies to their first lead of the series.

Hamels and Ryan Madsen did the rest of the work setting the stage for another Lidge save, as he worked a 1-2-3 9th inning, and the Phillies improved their record to 80-0 when leading after 8 innings.  

Phils Take 2-0 Series Lead

Brett Myers allowed two runs and two hits in seven strong innings, pulling the Phils within one win of the NL Championship Series. Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero worked the eighth, and Brad Lidge cruised in the ninth to pick up his second save of the young postseason.

Pitching on three days’ rest for the fourth consecutive start, Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitcher CC Sabathia had his worst outing since joining the Brewers in a trade with Cleveland on July 7 allowing five earned runs on six hits in three and 2/3 innings.

Brett Myers was also a nuisance in the batters box as he took it to Sabathia with a pesky at-bat drawing a walk and dominated the rest of the Brewers from the mound.  Philadelphia beat Milwaukee 5-2 on Thursday night behind Shane Victorino’s first career grand slam for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NL divisonial playoff series.

Some Quick Facts:

• The Phillies went up 2-0 in a postseason series for the first time since the 1980 World Series vs. the Royals, the only time they’ve been up 2-0 in the postseason.
• Shane Victorino, who had a bases-loaded walk in Game 1, hit the Phillies’ first postseason grand slam Thursday, his second career postseason homer overall. It was the second grand slam allowed by the Brewers in the playoffs (Don Baylor 1982).
• Victorino also became the first player in postseason history to have a homer, a double and two steals in a single game on Thursday.

Phillies Dazzle the Crowd

This team continues to give the Philadelphia fans every penny worth of action.  So Friday we lose the series opener against the Braves in an ugly 8-2 game.  This set the stage for two of the better comebacks in recent memory.  Saturday, Phillies ace Cole Hamels took the mound and had an early 3-0 lead and looked to be in the drivers seat.  Cole then let up a 9 run, 5th inning to give the Braves what seemed to be an insurmountable 9-3 lead.

Well the Phillies obviously don’t know the meaning of the word quit, because that, they did not.  They stormed back, torching the Braves for 7 runs in the next inning to take back the lead and cruise home to victory.

Brian McCann got 'Jacked Up'

So Sunday, the Phils could not get their bats going early and found themselves down 5-0 after the top half of the 4th.  Only to come out guns ablazin’ in the bottom half of the inning to rally and tie the game at 5.  The Phils would score again in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings to take another come from behind victory from the Braves and 2 out of 3 for the series.

‘So’ Sweet

Their it was, all laid out right in front of them, waiting to be grabbed.  A win against their fierce rival, and first place to boot, if only they had someone to notch the final three outs.

There’s nothing better then beating the Mets in New York to take the lead in the NL East.  Oh wait there is.  It’s when you do it by scoring 6 runs in the top of the 9th after being down 5-2 for the latter part of the game.  And in New York.  In front of their fans.  At the hands of Jimmy Rollins to take the lead (after So Taguchi of course).

Let me set the stage in case you missed one of the best endings to a Phillies game I have ever seen in my life.  Its the top of 9th, 5-2 Mets, and apparently Billy Wagner is unavailable for the game, so the Mets bring in Joe Smith to try and close out the victory for the Mets to take sole position of the NL East.  Then: Werth single, Dobbs single, Victorino single.

Next a high bouncing grounder by Carlos Ruiz up the middle that Jose Reyes misplays and misses the base as he trys to field the ball and go to second on his own.  Shane Vic chugged his ass to second and just beat him out, which was later ruled an error on Reyes due to his indecisiveness.  Pinch-hitter So Taguchi doubles down the line to right field knocking in Jayson Werth and Greg Dobbs to tie the game at 5.  Next up the reigning NL MVP James Rollins.  Rollins doubled down the line right past David Wright to knock in Carlos Ruiz and So Taguchi to take the lead, much to the shagrin of a STUNNED METS CROWD. One that was actually quite thin due the hundreds of fans who had already left thinking the game was in the bag.  5 runs, 0 outs. 7-5 Phillies. Amazing.

Shane Victorino got … Co – ‘Jacked Up’

The Phils won another one last night on some timely hitting by Chase Utley, god he’s incredible.

The highlight of the night however came in the 8th inning courtesy of the Flyin’ Hawaiian and Co-Jack. Shane Victorino struck out swinging, but the ball got past D-Backs catcher Chris Snyder, and Shane took off for first , where his helmet met Conor Jackson’s face, and CoJack’s arm clotheslined Vic and sent the Hawaiian, well, you get the point.

This isn’t the greatest clip, but take a peak.

Apparently Shane does this in video games as well.

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.