NLCS Preview: Phillies vs. Dodgers, Game 1, Thursday 10/14, 7:07 CT
by Al Yellon on Oct 15, 2009 3:00 PM CDT
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PrintLast year's Cubs would have loved this series.
Between the Phillies and Dodgers, five lefthanded starters (Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, Cliff Lee, Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf) are likely to start the majority of games in the NLCS, which begins tonight in Los Angeles -- and that's not to mention the solid lefthanded relievers both teams have (George Sherrill, Hong-Chih Kuo, and ex-Cub Scott Eyre -- who now has a blog; who knew?).
Meanwhile, the two teams involved are heavily laden with lefthanded power hitters (Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, James Loney and Andre Ethier). Will anyone score runs in this series?
Seriously, as we learned this season, handedness among hitters is overrated. Both teams have good hitters -- and the Dodgers have plenty of good right-handed hitters, too -- and it really shouldn't matter what side of the plate you hit from, as long as you can hit. Both teams scored a ton of runs during the regular season: the Phillies led the league with 820 runs scored (still fewer than the 855 the Cubs scored in 2008) and the Dodgers were fourth with 780. The Dodgers had better all-around pitching, leading the league in ERA (3.41) and fewest runs allowed (611). The Phillies' overall pitching was more pedestrian; their 4.16 ERA was a distant sixth behind the Cubs' 3.84.
However, as we have learned to our bitter disappointment the last two years, it doesn't matter what you do in the regular season; the playoffs are a "what have you done for me lately" dance. One of the keys for the Phillies in their series with the Rockies is that they got 2008-level performance out of Brad Lidge, who had a horrific regular season but nailed down two games in the division series despite a bit of shaky pitching -- that had to do wonders for his confidence. The acquisition of Cliff Lee made the Phillies' rotation as good as the Dodgers', and Lee posted a 1.10 ERA in two NLDS starts. LA also has an outstanding closer in Jonathan Broxton, and the acquisition of Sherrill from Baltimore solidified their setup relief.
These teams are pretty evenly matched. The NLCS hasn't gone seven games since that yawner of a seven-gamer between the Cardinals and Mets in 2006, but I say this one goes seven, and the Dodgers go to the World Series.
Phillies at Dodgers, 7 pm CDT. TV: TBS. Announcers: Chip Caray and Ron Darling.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA and Phillies site The Good Phight.
Once again, no overflows scheduled today. If you need one, post it in the FanShot section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Which means your comment should have simply been...
“Fist”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Line drive, base hit!! Caught out there...
Huh?
Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?
by BleedsbluinMI on Oct 15, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry, Al. It's gonna be the Phillies who go to the WS
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
We shall indeed and next year it's going to be us, I hope
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
How would you react?
I think I’d cry inconsolably for days, if the tension build-up from the postseason doesn’t kill me before.
I honestly don't know.
This hope has been within me for so long, when it finally gets fulfilled… who knows?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I think I feel a little bit scared of that final out...
I just don’t know what will happen then.
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
The Skies will open up
and the 7 white horses will come charging through….
"What we have here is a failure to communicate" - Strother Martin as "Captain"
Götterdämmerung?
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
More likely Sleipnir... Unicorns are mythical...
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Don't you guys know there is no crying in baseball?
Oh hec, I cry when I hear Wayne Messmer do the Nat’l Anthem. I’d be blubbering all over the place.
"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
Are you sure?
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Phillies in 5 or 6
The Dodgers would need Manny to have the kind of series he used to have for a chance. Only the Phillies bullpen can derail their return trip to the WS.
I’m pulling for the Angels in the AL, like about 98% of the population.
Scott Bora$ is satan.
by Canadian Cubs Fan on Oct 15, 2009 4:17 PM CDT reply actions
Dodgers in 6
if it goes to a game 7 the Phillies will win because Hamels and Pedro can come out of the pen instead of that joke Madson-Lidge duo.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
I just think the Phillies grind through ABs too much for the Dodgers.
Phillies in 6.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
Anyone here?
Looks like it’s just me and Vin..
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Hmm... that's a pretty high bar you set there, my friend...
Hey – speaking of a pretty high bar…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
yep - I would imagine she's turned quite a few men upside down in her career...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
yep - I heard he was back home the whole time, negotiating with FOX for his life story rights
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
oh, and here's equal time for you, Em...
psst… he went to Harvard!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
No cable here, so I miss out on the great Chippo...
Instead, I have to “suffer” listening to Vin Scully… mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Phillies in 7.
I like the personnel on the Phillies more, it would hurt Mets fans a lot, and LAD fans are rubbish.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Oct 15, 2009 7:26 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Please. Stop. Geico. Ads.
Thank you, that is all.
Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?
While they're at it...
… enough of the freakin’ Blackberry ads, too.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Agree with both of you.
Can’t stand either advertising slogan.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 15, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions
After all those Geico ads...
… does anyone use them for insurance?
"People shouldn’t bust your chops just because you’re a Sox fan on a Cub board — but I know it happens. FWIW, I think sites like this are more interesting when fans of other teams join in the conversation." by Shanghai Badger on Mar 13, 2009
Nice dress
Chicago
Cubs
We are the better CC.
by Zy Toro Young on Oct 15, 2009 8:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
wow - never figured you for a necrophiliac... ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Very strange hand
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Thinking n driving to Minny here...
I think most of the 8 teams that made the playoffs have a surplus of home-grown talent:
Twins
Phils
Dodgers
Angels
Cards
Rox
I think I’m going to look at some numbers behind that over the years. Hmmmmmm.
Dan
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Oct 15, 2009 9:02 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
mlbtraderumors.com reporting...
That via Jon Heyman (via twitter) that Rudy Jaramillo may be joining the Cubs!!!!!????!!!!
even if hitting coaches are quacks...
TAKE THAT CARDINALS
"hey
by jesus christos on Oct 15, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions
If this is true that would be great...
He is widely considered the best hitting coach in the game.
This is a good game.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Oct 15, 2009 10:36 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I just got back to see the line score
Is Manual channeling Lou ? 4 pitchers in a row that only throw to one batter ? So Eyre, Pedro & Lidge left ?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Oct 15, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes. And it’s working. So far. Sort of.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Oct 15, 2009 10:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Guten Morgen, How was the game?
I see the Philllies are leading in the 9th
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Phillies win.
Philadelphia 8, LA Dodgers 6.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 15, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I caught the last out on the audio stream - A good game?
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Sure wish I knew.
very busy at work tonight, I couldn’t keep track at all.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 15, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Exciting. Just about every position player on both teams I’d take. Such string line-ups 1-8.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Oct 15, 2009 11:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'll listen to it from the archive at work.
Not good for really following the game, but that’s the way it is…
If the Phillies win again tonight/tomorrow, then things will be very very difficult for L.A.
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
For all the bullpen problems Philly supposedly has, Brad Lidge is 3/3 in saves thus far.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Oct 15, 2009 11:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
And we *know* all about how important a good closer is.
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
"Dodger Stadium Transporation Center"???
Just listening to the post-game show on KABC via gameday audio and every now and then they break away to some other guy who gives a traffic report from the Dodger Stadium Transportation Center, aka the freakin’ parking lot!!!
This totally cracks me up. The guy just said "yeah, it’s pretty bad out here tonight. We still have over 6000 cars backed up in the parking lot. All the exits are just overflowing with cars tonight. " blah blah blah. I swear the only thing that could have made it any funnier is if he was beating his chest as he gave the report so he’d sound like he was in a traffic copter.
Only in LA…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
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