Amaro, Phillies Smart Handling Business, But Dodgers’ Bungles Prove Costly
October 20, 2009 by Jonathan Mathis
Filed under Fan News
On another bone-chilling night, in the last of the ninth inning, the Phillies still preserved the biggest hit. A shot on a night that dictated the Dodgers‘ season.
If there’s a veteran the Phillies can depend on, Jimmy Rollins is the name to single out.
The unexpected heroics turned a tense moment into another celebration in the stands, with only a game remaining before the Phillies make their second consecutive appearance to the biggest stage.
The late heroics Monday night smeared the Dodgers’ favorable outcome. It seemed to be a sure victory for Los Angeles until momentum shifted, confidence plunged, and body language appeared sluggish. But it was mostly momentum and the well-experienced veterans handling desperation and crucial moments in the game.
It is important to have a clutch hitter in the lineup, especially a veteran stepping up in moments when a critical shot into the gap is needed. Jimmy Rollins laced a two-run, scoring double off hard-throwing closer Jonathan Broxton, to put a stranglehold on the Dodgers.
Meanwhile, Rollins gave the Phillies cushion, and secured belief in a team aiming for their second straight title. A dramatic 5-4 victory over the lowly Dodgers describes fortitude of defending champions.
Besides characterizing champs, it identifies the shrewdest club in baseball. Last night illustrated and unleashed the true colors of the Dodgers’ postseason failures, just as it delivered facts about the Phillies.
I’m not saying the Dodgers are unintelligent, but it is moderate admitting that general manager Ned Colletti has failed the organization in his fourth season serving as team executive. Although he was unsuccessful during the trade deadline, owner Frank McCourt is loyal to the so-called genius when he desperately acquired Manny Ramirez.
Of course, it made Colletti seem as if he was the cleverest general manager in baseball. Back then, Ramirez was portrayed as the purist slugger in the game, before getting humiliated for shamefully storing a fertility drug that produced artificial testosterones, which banned the inglorious juicer for 50 games.
Perhaps the Mannywood campaign is a great marketing product, but the bad thing is, the Dodgers have a no-good fraud that hasn’t done much.
Fans are too naïve to garner the truth and take advantage of the discount seating in the Mannywood section.
But instead of the long negotiating that took forever during the offseason, McCourt and Colletti should’ve tried adding veteran pitching to strengthen the paltry rotation. In the midst of their offseason shopping, the Dodgers were more comfortable appeasing and compromising with the manipulator Scott Boras and his deceptive client Ramirez.
Granted, Colletti made relevant transitions and upgrades, with his midseason acquisitions in the past two seasons, which included Casey Blake, Greg Maddux, George Sherrill, Jon Garland, Vicente Padilla, and Jim Thome. From the list, he had sense enough to acquire four pitchers, but, still, none are strikeout pitchers.
So that’s why the Phillies are lasting longer in the postseason, and could incredibly win it back-to-back. Between the Yankees and Philadelphia, they won the offseason or midseason sweepstakes, overwhelming us with their assertive pursuits to build a noteworthy franchise leading into October.
Right now, it seems the rookie leads. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro is the smartest in baseball, outsmarting other executives who’re afraid to spend valuable profit.
He doesn’t mind granting enormous investments to players, and expects a lot from the well-experienced club.
Before the trade deadline, Los Angeles had ample chance to acquire the best pitcher in the postseason, Cliff Lee. Imagine if he was available to shut down the Phillies with a wicked breaking ball, or if he had a 0.72 ERA with more hard-throwing strikeouts than any pitcher, currently.
Simply, the Dodgers missed out during the deadline, when they were listening to offers and considering acquiring the greatest pitcher in the game today, Roy Halladay, but allowed the offer to vanish without attempting to negotiate and deal some of their young prospects to reinforce unreliable pitching.
But the big-name ace they can utilize right now is Lee or Pedro Martinez. Fact is, the Dodgers need a strikeout pitcher to stay alive with opponents, all having indomitable aces who control momentum. Truth is, Amaro accomplished good results in his first year, a savviest sequence that average general managers cannot master as a rookie.
At 44, Amaro imprinted a stout legacy, bringing aboard unfamiliar faces but enough talent to keep the Phillies crisp.
Immediately, it was good to overhaul and keep potentiality of winning multiple titles intact, signing free agent pitcher Chan Ho Park, who has thrown effectively against the Dodgers, and left fielder Raul Ibanez, who started off the season by seeing the ball well.
Above all, Amaro ensured emphasis of building a future around the growing legend Cole Hamels and streaky hitter Ryan Howard, whose home runs are hotter than a Philly cheese steak, giving each of them multi-year contracts. I must say, $5 foot-longs at Subway are worth eating as long as it is legal for enhancing the performance level.
Aside from Howard’s enhanced diet, Amaro assembled depth when he pulled off the blockbuster deal of the year, which should earn him Manager of the Year. Somehow prices weren’t steep, keeping all pitching prospects at home, while stealing and landing left-hander Lee, who was acquired for nothing from Cleveland.
The upgrading has proved worthy. When the Phillies spent 141 days in first place, including 126 consecutive days since late May. And now has extended their dominant postseason streak, topping each opponent without facing legitimate challenges for unhittable pitching, as the Dodgers aren’t perennial contenders.
It’s hard not having a dependable ace to bail you out. But for the Phillies it’s a fairly easier task, only because management was smarter.
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Dodgers-Phillies: Jimmy Rollins Gives Phillies 3-1 Series Lead
October 20, 2009 by Adam Bernacchio
Filed under Fan News
Closer Jonathan Broxton was called upon to get four outs Monday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Broxton was only able to record three.
Jimmy Rollins’ double off of Broxton with two-on and two-out in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Philadelphia Phillies a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Dodgers on Monday night and sent the 46,157 fans who packed Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy.
The Phillies now lead their best-of-seven series, 3-1.
The Phillies are a unique bunch because their superstars are their gamers. Their superstars are their gritty, dirt-dogs, who not only do the little things to win, but get the big hits when the moment is presented.
That is very rare in baseball.
The New York Yankees had that in the mid-90’s, the Boston Red Sox have it now with Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedrioia, and the Phillies certainly have it now with Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley.
As soon as Rollins stepped into the batter’s box, you just had that feeling that he was going to come through. But the reality is—Rollins should have never had that chance to begin with.
With one out and nobody on, Charlie Manuel called on Matt Stairs to pinch-hit for Pedro Feliz. It’s amazing how one moment can scar a franchise for life.
Stairs is clearly in the Dodgers’ heads. He is the reason the Dodgers went out and got Jim Thome. Stairs’ home run off of Broxton in Game Four of last year’s NLCS has turned him into Ted Williams in the Dodgers’ eyes.
Why Broxton, one of the best closers in the game, is pitching around Stairs with nobody on base is beyond me. I understand Stairs can tie the game with one swing of the bat and he beat you last year with a home run, but last year is last year and if you are supposed to be a top-five closer, you shouldn’t fear anyone—period.
Stairs was a .194 hitter during the season for a reason.
Worst case scenario for the Dodgers is that Stairs hits a home run and the game is tied. Now, you have a runner on base and with one swing of the bat, you can lose the game.
Then things start to unravel for Broxton and the Dodgers.
Broxton then plunks Carlos Ruiz and the crowd really got into it. The fans at Citizens Bank Park really make it hard for an opposing pitcher. They are right on top of him.
Broxton got Greg Dobbs to pop out to third and that is when Rollins came to the plate. Like I said earlier, as soon as Rollins came to the plate, you just had a feeling he was going to do something.
On a 1-1 pitch, Rollins took a 99 mph fastball and ripped it into the right-center field gap. The ball rolled to the wall. Eric Bruntlet, who was running for Stairs, and Ruiz scored, and just like that, the Dodgers had their hearts ripped out from their chests.
This was just a crushing loss for the Dodgers. They had done everything to win this game.
Randy Wolf pitched very well for 5.1 innings, they got some good clutch hitting from James Loney and Casey Blake, and Hong-Chih Kuo pitched really well in relief.
But at the end of the day, Broxton couldn’t get the job done. Now, the Dodgers’ season is on life support.
I think Tuesday’s day off actually helps the Dodgers. I think if they would have come back and played today, they would have been crushed in Game Five.
The day off will allow the Dodgers to catch their breath a little bit and give them a chance to regroup.
I expect the Dodgers to play well in Game Five, but I don’t see them coming out of Philadelphia with a win.
Hero for Game Four—Jimmy Rollins
Goat for Game Four—Jonathan Broxton
Series MVP—Ryan Howard
Game Five is Wednesday at 8:07 PM EST at Citizens Bank Park. 
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Dodgers On The Ropes For Game Four
October 19, 2009 by Richard Marsh
Filed under Fan News
Trying to recover from last night’s thrashing, the Los Angeles Dodgers try to even the NLCS tonight with former Philadelphia starting pitcher Randy Wolf. Wolf was with the Phillies during the time that they were starting to become respectable during the mid- nineties.
Wolf started the first game ever to be played at Citizens Bank Park back in 2004. He has always pitched well in his former home park and as a visitor, he sports a 1-0 record with 17 strikeouts with a 2.25 ERA in two games pitched.
The Phillies will counter with Joe Blanton who was picked up at the trade deadline in 2008 in the same fashion Cliff Lee was picked up this year. Blanton has seen postseason action as a Phillie last year as well as this season.
Blanton was used in the bullpen during the Colorado series, but with this being a best of seven contest it was expected that he would get a start. Joe had a very good and quite consistent year pitching for the World Champions. He went 12-8 in 31 starts and posted an ERA of 4.05. Having the run support which most Phillie pitchers have had this year, Blanton was able to pitch late into most games he started.
The Dodgers will have to put last night’s game behind them and try to forget not only the 11 runs the Phillies put on the board, but also the zero runs the Dodger hitters were able to produce.
The Phillies can beat you with the long ball everyday if given the opportunity. They are also getting great production from their six, seven, and eight hitters in the lineup.
For the Dodgers to even the series, Randy Wolf must find a way to quiet the Phillies hot bats and must find some of their own. Ethier, Kemp, Loney, and even Manny Ramirez have been relatively quiet in the first three games and these guys have to come alive or the Dodgers will have played their last game at Dodger Stadium this year.
With Cole Hamels and then possibly Pedro Martinez and Cliff Lee again looming on the horizon tonight is certainly a must win game for the Dodgers. On the other hand, the Phillies are confident they won’t be needing to go back to LA. The only way they want to see the west coast this postseason is if the Angels can come back from a 2-0 deficit against the Yankees.
Not publicly of course, but privately to a man the Phillies want to play the Yankees in the World Series. It means less travel and an opportunity to defend their world title against, who many fell is the best team in baseball.
Prediction: So far so good. I am 3-0 in this series and tonight I see the Dodgers rebounding from last night’s disaster and tying this series up at two games a piece. LA in a close one 6-4.
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Cliff Lee Amazingly Unhittable, Dodgers No Match For Phillies
October 19, 2009 by Jonathan Mathis
Filed under Fan News
The population in Philly is thinking “Brotherly Lee”, rather than Brotherly Love, according to a sign a fan held up proudly. On a bone-chilling night, fans welcomed home the Philadelphia Phillies, believing for a second consecutive season that they can sustain back-to-back glory. It’s a town that doesn’t quit believing, and currently a town louder than people wearing blue in Mannywood.
For decades, the Phillies were humiliated, but was the first major franchise to celebrate, relieving dismay with a thrilling victory last season. In a hapless town, where winning titles never happened, the franchise accomplished a delightful deed.
But other franchises in Philly haven’t been very successful reaching a pinnacle like the Phillies, who were the fortunate ones, capable of ending horrid droughts in an infatuated sports town.
It refreshes memories of the surreal finish a year ago, when the gifted left-hander Cole Hamels promptly emerged as a legend and was named Most Valuable Player for sensational effort on the mound. But more importantly, he led the Phillies to the most fascinating victory in franchise history, seesawing to their first championship since 1980.
So far, in the postseason, the pitching has what it takes to pummel the Dodgers for the second consecutive season, dismantling rapturous dreams of a Yankees-Dodgers World Series, Torre-Steinbrenner showdown.
Instead the world is possibly awaiting a Yankees-Phillies showdown, two franchises showcasing brilliant pitching mechanics. No doubt, most weren’t highly favoring the Phillies, and overlooked the powerful-arm and superb breaking ball thrower.
You ignored the reigning Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, who menacingly threw at the man in blue, gradually forestalling the Dodgers of advancing to the biggest stage. The Phillies are no match against the hitless team, now struggling to produce runs. A frenzied crowd will continuous erupt in Philly, if the sterling rotation tramples the fragile Dodgers’ lineup.
Problem is the Dodgers aren’t getting enough out of their paltry rotation. Blame it on skipper Joe Torre, whose choices are anything but wise. Leaving Clayton Kershaw in the Game One for a long time, allowed the sensational ace to surrender runs. It might have been preventable if Torre summoned for a steady reliever.
It takes a blunder in one game to change the complexion of the series, and one game was enough to improvise momentum. Perhaps, Torre sacrificed a befitting rotation, juggling around pitchers, such as Hiroki Kuroda, who surrendered hits as the game turned into a horrific nightmare.
What is Torre thinking?
Sorry, but the intelligent team here appears to be the Phillies, knowing what type of pitches to throw at the Dodgers. It’s indeed a privilege to have a dominant ace, backing up Hamels and veteran Pedro Martinez. An experienced ace, with a wicked breaking ball, is an essential offering to the Phillies shaky bullpen. You never know where closer Brad Lidge’s state of mind is, and J.A Happ has a history of walking batters.
But Lee, a starter all of us slept on lasted eight innings, without allowing runs and walks. For the time being, refer to him as “Mr. October”, after becoming the first pitcher lasting eight innings without giving up runs and walks, while striking out 10.
It’s greatly impossible compiling hits against Lee, who merely has surrendered two runs in 24 1/3 postseason innings. It’s no better way to describe it, as his remarkable pitching, by far, is the best seen this postseason.
Before the trade deadline, rumors surfaced that the Phillies were set to make a trade with Toronto for ace Roy Halladay, but failed to agree on a deal. After all, the Phillies were smart enough to fortify their weaknesses, and surprisingly acquired Lee.
If they’d failed to acquire the ace, where would they be now? This season alone, he has boosted up their assurance and solidified the rotation. For much of the season, Lee has done exactly what he brought to our attention last night, dominating in the postseason with an unthinkable O.74 ERA. With brilliant command and location, it’s hard to envision anyone compiling hits on Lee, who continues smashing the strike zone.
He’s unhittable, he’s unstoppable, and he’s undeniable.
He highlighted a Phillies 11-0 rout, as well as slugger Ryan Howard, who became the first player to drive in a run in seven straight games in a single postseason, producing a two-run, triple in the first-inning. And former Dodger, Jayson Werth evoked damage by lacing a two-run shot over the center-field wall. From there, the Dodgers never looked back, amid Lee’s wonderful outing that dictated the Dodgers season.
Instead of Thinking Blue, Thinking Red is logical.
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Dodgers-Phillies: NLCS Blowout Win Shouldn’t Lull Philly to World Series Dreams
October 19, 2009 by scott eisenlohr
Filed under Fan News
First off let me give kudos to Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee—who pitched an eight-inning shutout in an 11-0 whitewash of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday during Game 3 of the National League Championship Series in Philadelphia.
Lee allowed three hits, struck out 10, and walked none. His 10 strikeouts tied a Phillies playoff record, joining Curt Schlling and Steve Carlton.
He was ahead of hitters and kept play moving, using an array of pitches with such a fast-pace not seen since Carlton.
Last night was heady stuff for Phillies fans. Highlighted by a Ryan Howard triple and Jayson Werth home run, the Phillies posted four runs in the first. They put Dodgers’ starter Hiroki Kuroda out of the game with two more runs in the second.
Shane Victorino’s three run blast in the eighth was icing on the cake.
Chad Durbin finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
With the win, the Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tonight’s game at 8:07 EST pits former Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.23 ERA) against Joe Blanton (12-8, 4.05 ERA).
Wolf—who was the starting pitcher for the Phillies when the team opened Citizen’s Bank Park in 2004—won’t let emotion get the best of him, as reported on the Dodger’s team Web site:
“I have a lot of memories here, a lot of good memories here,” Wolf said. “I always enjoyed pitching here. The fans were always really great to me. But I think it’s a lot of fun just being in a playoff game, an NLCS game against my former team. The fact that it’s a rematch from last year makes it exciting. But the main thing is when the game starts, it’s a game, and it all starts over. I’ve got to pitch my game and all that stuff that’s a memory, you’ve got to block that out.”
Wolf has a lot going for him. His soft stuff could thwart the Phillies left handed bats. Ryan Howard lifetime against Wolf is 1-9 with four strike outs.
I tried to remember a team that responded from a championship series beat down as my mind immediately went to the 1993 NLDS pitting the Atlanta Braves against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies won the first game 4-3, then lost big 14-3 (I remember Fred McGriff hitting an upper deck homer at the old Veterans Stadium in that game), and Atlanta took a 2-1 series lead with a 9-4 win in Game Three.
The Phillies came back to win Games Five and Six, by scores of 4-3 and 6-3, respectively.
While watching last night’s broadcast on TBS, the cameras panned Ryan Howard in the dugout with his head on his bat, eyes closed and deep in thought.
The announcers said that after talking to Howard, he said he was trying to forget his last at-bat. It could have been a three-run home run, a strikeout, or pop up with men on base.
I think all baseball players are like that, as well as managers, in terms of forgetting the last game.
A Phillies win tonight would put a chokehold on the series for the Fightin’ Phils.
But, two well pitched Dodger wins against a suspect Phillies bullpen would give the boys in blue a 3-2 lead heading back to Los Angeles.
Even if that happens, I am not concerned.
In Game Seven, a rested Cliff Lee will emerge from the visitors’ dugout and take control of the deciding game.
It ain’t gonna be easy.
This series is far from over.
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Ryan Howard is a Post Season Beast
October 19, 2009 by Bill Mckillop
Filed under Fan News
Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies is just a Beast in the post-season plain and simple. Howard with only 24 post-season games in his career has 22 RBIs and fivehHome runs at the heart of a tough Phillies Lineup. I think Howard who is more known for his regular season stats is starting to get recognized for his ability to perform in the playoffs. Ryan Howard has hit an average of 49.5 home runs over the past four regular seasons for the Phillies.
Ryan Continues to improve every year as he gains a little more October playoff seasoning. In 2007 vs. the Rockies he hit only 250 with seven strikeouts in three games and the Phillies were swept by Colorado. In 2008 he hit 269 with three home runs and 11 walks with nine RBIs as the Phillies went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. In 2009 he is hitting 385 with 12 RBIs and driven in at least one run in each of the seven games. I think the Phillies go where Howard takes them and its fun to watch this new October superstar perform with the whole world watching.
Ryan Howard does not win every game himself as the Phillies have a very deep and effective lineup with some really good starting pitching. I don’t think it can be denied that Howard is the engine that gets the Phillies train moving. The funny thing as you watch him in each post season seems to be is he is getting better and more comfortable each year. If Howard express can keep performing and improving he will have a league championship MVP in his future. The Phillies are still the Champs and Mr. Howard is doing everything he can to defend the title.
The Phillies are currently up two games to one over the Dodgers in the best of seven series.
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Dodgers-Phillies: Phillies’ Offense, Cliff Lee Dismantle Dodgers
October 19, 2009 by Adam Bernacchio
Filed under Fan News
Kuroda was torched last night for six runs in one-and-a-third innings, as the Phillies beat the Dodgers 11-0 to take a 2-1 advantage in their best-of-seven series.
If you’re a mediocre pitcher and make mediocre pitches, the Phillies will crush you. It’s as simple as that. The Phillies’ offense is too good to be shut down by a guy who was throwing Double A stuff last night.
Kuroda had no zip on his ball as the Phillies smacked him around all over the field. Ryan Howard got the scoring started early with a two-run triple in the first. Believe it or not, Howard actually had four triples during the regular season, so this wasn’t that big of a shock.
If Howard’s triple didn’t shock Kuroda, then the next batter did. Jayson Werth, who is having his national coming out party, blasted a two-run HR over the centerfield fence to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead.
Things didn’t get better for Kuroda in the second as Carlos Ruiz started off with a double; and he came around to score on a Jimmy Rollins double of his own.
After that, Kuroda was lifted and the game was essentially over.
Why was this game over at that point? The game was over because Cliff Lee just dominated the Dodgers’ lineup.
Lee allowed just three hits, struckout 10, and didn’t allow a run in eight incredible innings of work. In three postseason season starts, Lee has allowed two earned runs and has struckout 20 in 24.1 innings of work.
So much for not having “post-season experience.”
Having “post-season experience” is one of the most overrated things in sports. It has no bearing on the outcome of the game that is played that day.
I can give you a countless number of players who have had years upon years of experience in the postseason, who have failed; and I can give you a countless number of players who have had zero postseason experience, who have dominated.
It’s all about the performance of today– not five years ago. And today, Lee is performing at a very high level.
How dominant was Lee yesterday against the Dodgers? He only faced 26 batters and only three times did batters have a 2-0 or 3-1 count.
As a batter, you can’t be aggressive if you are constantly behind in the count.
Now, if you are the Dodgers, you really have to ask yourself if you want to bring back Kuroda if there is a Game Six? Torre’s only other option would be Chad Billingsley.
Billingsley allowed two runs on two hits in three-and-a-third innings of work last night. He only threw 57 pitches, so if Torre wants to bring him back for Game Six, he should be plenty rested.
The Dodgers will have Randy Wolf going tonight. I actually think Wolf will pitch well.Very rarely does a team get blown out two games in a row in the postseason.
If he doesn’t, the Dodgers might not make it back to play in L.A.
Hero for Game Three – Cliff Lee
Goat for Game Three – Hiroki Kuroda
Series MVP – Ryan Howard
Game Four is tonight at 8:07 ET.
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Phillies’ Cliff Lee, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard Have a Blast in NLCS Game Three
October 19, 2009 by Gabriel Taylor
Filed under Fan News
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee continued to enjoy his maiden voyage in the National League and the Phillies‘ bats provided him ample run support in leading the defending World Series champions to an 11-0 Game Three victory and a 2-1 edge over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
Lee pitched eight scoreless innings and was aided by Jayson Werth’s two-run homer and a three-run blast from Shane Victorino. Six Phillies had extra-base hits including Ryan Howard’s two-RBI triple in the first inning and Jimmy Rollins’ first RBI of the postseason on an RBI-double in the second inning.
Lee’s first foray in playoff baseball has been a huge success as the Phillies have won all three of Lee’s postseason starts. He has a 0.74 postseason ERA and has pitched into the eighth inning of each of his starts.
The 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner is also having fun batting in the National League. He even joined the offensive party, scoring on Victorino’s home run after reaching first base with a single in the eighth inning.
The lefthander’s breathtaking performances have taken center stage but no one should cast aside the Phillies’ offensive tour de force.
Center fielder Shane Victorino, second baseman Chase Utley, first baseman Ryan Howard, and right fielder Jayson Werth, Nos. 2-5 in the Phillies lineup, launched another assault on the Dodgers after scoring eight runs in the series opener before relenting in 2-1 Game Two loss.
Howard, the NL’s RBI leader, leads all postseason batters with 12 RBI and has an RBI in every postseason game. After striking out 186 times in 160 regular season games, Howard only has five strikeouts in the postseason, none in the last two games.
Werth, who hit a career-high 36 home runs and was selected to his first All-Star team this season, has three home runs in the playoffs, tied with the New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez for the postseason lead.
Victorino has also hit two postseason home runs and along with Utley has reached base in every game, providing Howard with plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.
Their postseason batting averages are astounding: Victorino, .345; Utley, .346; and Howard, .386.
But Philadelphia’s starters have been just as effective as its hitters. Cole Hamels won Game One and Pedro Martinez pitched seven shutout innings before being lifted in Game Two. Los Angeles has only scored one run in the last two games and has only scored in four of the 27 innings played thus far.
The Dodgers pack a similarly heavy punch, but the team’s bullpen, considered one of the team’s many strengths, will be stretched after starter Hiroki Kuroda gave up six runs was lifted in the second inning. Los Angeles has to find a way to neutralize the aggressive hitting of Philadelphia’s sluggers.
The Phillies are on fire and the Dodgers need strong pitching outings and more run support from its hitters to tie the series and send it back to Los Angeles for a Game Six.
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Philadelphia-Los Angeles, Game Three: Cliff, That Showing Was Just Love-Lee
October 19, 2009 by Flattish Poe
Filed under Fan News
By the end of the fifth inning with the Phillies up by eight, I was thinking, this game can’t be over fast enough . But after the eighth, when the home team added three more to the score, the Dodgers were thinking the same thing.
The signs said it all.
“City of BrotherLEE Love”
“UnbeLEEvable”
“We BeLEEve”
But like Bill Engvall says, “Here’s my sign…”
“You compLEEte me.”
By the time Cliff Lee came out to bat in the eighth, he had pitched so effectiveLEE that he could have flipped the fans the bird and not fallen from grace. In the postgame Lee was humble, mentioning that Manny seemed to give him a little trouble…
Manny who?
Lee put the kibosh to LA’s plans to score like a custom-made chastity belt. He closed a chapter on LA with double digit K’s, no free passes, and only three hits over eight innings. At 114 pitches, I think he earned the right to watch the last three outs from the bench.
And let’s hear it for Chad Durbin. If he keeps this up, I’ll have to change his nickname from “Disturbin’ Durbin” to “The Durbinator.” Before you know it, he’s gonna want a part in an action movie and an Austrian accent.
The key to the game was getting to Hiroki Kuroda early. The Phils had the Dodger bullpen stirring by the time Jayson Werth slugged a two-run dinger in the first to put the game one winner ahead by four. Then the lineup hit for the cycle in the first eight batters and Kuroda was gone by the second. I thought only I could make someone flee a room that fast.
If there was any doubt about a Phil’s recovery from the game two disaster, read my last blog. I knew the Phillies I’d seen all season would bounce back, and they did—with major contributions. The players pooled their resources like a midwest potluck.
Ryan Howard set a major league record with an RBI in seven consecutive postseason games and Carlos Ruiz is finally getting the league respect he deserves. I’ve even heard Ruiz called the quarterback of this team.
After the Sunday Eagles loss to the Raiders, I’ll bet Andy Reid has him on his radar too. But the biggest complement for the Panamanian was to group him with Yadier Molina as one of the two best catchers in the league.
Welcome to the show, Chooch.
Pedro Feliz even broke his series hitless streak with a ball that bounced off the wall. With one swing he earned himself a multiple base hit and checks in the columns for an H, an R, and an RBI. Now that’s efficiency.
And Shane Victorino was on fire. Unfortunately the TBS production team chose him for something they called the Inside Track . That’s picking one player to wear a microphone. Little did they know Shane doesn’t speak in complete sentences—he doesn’t even speak in complete syllables.
But it doesn’t matter. As the top Phillies batter, he was 2 for 3 with a home run, two walks, three RBI, and a stolen base. Whew, I’d hate to see what happens when you feed that guy sugar.
At one point it looked like Chad Billingsley would lay a hurt on the Phightin’s. From the last third of the second inning all the way through the fourth, it appeared as though we’d had our fun. But when he gave up two more runs in the fifth, Joe Torre pulled from the pen again.
It would take two more pitchers giving up another three runs before the game was stopped, halting the Phillie offensive like bad breath on a blind date.
Well, with a 2-1 series lead, Joe Blanton has his work cut out for him. Pedro Martinez showed what a veteran postseason pitcher can do, Cliff Lee showed what a first-time postseason pitcher can do, and now Blanton needs to show what a second-time postseason pitcher can do.
And I need to think of a new sign. Unfortunately, “You compJOEte me,” doesn’t quite sound right.
Back to the drawing board.
Go Phils!
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Phillies-Dodgers: 10 Game Three NLCS Notes
October 18, 2009 by DMtShooter Five Tool Tool
Filed under Fan News
10) Hideki Kuroda’s star-crossed year (Opening Day pitcher, DL’d for months afterward, intermittently dominant and maddening) might have ended tonight, because it’s hard to see how Joe Torre trusts him with any more innings this year. He had nothing, and you have to think that the Dodger manager has other options.
9) You’d never know from this postseason that Ryan Howard isn’t the best first baseman in baseball, mostly because left-handed pitchers either haven’t worked to him, or haven’t thrown him strikes.
He’s fielded his position well, legged out a triple like a runaway beer truck, and set a new MLB record with RBI in seven straight games. They’ve been playing baseball for a real long time, so setting that kind of record is kinda meaningful.
If Howard can keep up this hot streak for another couple of weeks, this marvelously flawed team could win it all again, and maybe make Philly a baseball town. (Well, OK, no. But it’ll narrow the margin a bit more.)
8) I like that they’ve got first base mic’ed up, and that we learn that Shane Victorino is as chatty as a little kid when he gets there. His parting “Good Luck” to first baseman James Loney had all the sincerity of what people say at the poker table.
7) Chooch Ruiz did it again tonight, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. He’s now hitting .625 for the series, and ended the game tonight with a nice leaning grab of a ball that was in the stands. The sweetest heroes are the ones you don’t expect.
6) It was, I have to admit, kind of fun to see Chad Billingsley get smacked around as well tonight, on the off chance that Dodger Fan wanted to think that this was just a matter of picking the wrong starter. The Dodgers‘ rotation really isn’t the team’s strength.
5) The worrisome thing about games like this one is that it feels like you’re going to need these runs tomorrow…but honestly, that’s not how baseball works. When you pound a team into submission, and draw seven walks and hit multiple big run homers, that’s more likely to show up again in a series than not. And it also doesn’t hurt that no one on the Dodgers has really hit in the first three games of the series.
4) No one will remember this later, but I thought that Shane Victorino’s first inning stolen base was huge. Had shortstop Rafael Furcal caught the ball further back and applied the tag correctly, maybe the umpire calls the play the other way, and Kuroda suddenly has two outs and no one on.
Instead, he wound up giving the Howard triple and the Werth homer, and with Lee looking sharp early and often, the four runs were all that were needed.
3) Did you catch Philly Fan serenading ManRam with “You Took Sterr – Oids!” during his at-bats? Moments like that make me proud of my home town, really. Especially since I’m pretty sure that he’s the only Dodger that Philly Fan really dislikes. According to the box score, the Bank was filled to 104.8 percent of capacity tonight. Hard to do, Harry.
2) At some point in this series, either Furcal or Jimmy Rollins will actually be worthy of being the leadoff hitter for either of these teams. Considering the struggles both had with the wood this year, maybe I’m waiting in vain, but it’s not like they both didn’t end the year hot.
1) Philly Fan’s Man Crush on Cliff Lee can’t be measured; that’s what happens when you go eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. Note that manager Charlie Manuel let him hit in the bottom of the eighth even though he wasn’t going to let him pitch the ninth, and Lee responded to the ovation with a base hit and a run scored.
This, on top of his earlier playoff heroism against the Rockies, and the man even stole a base earlier in October.
He works fast, he throws strikes, he can do no wrong. At least, not until he starts again. It’s a tough town.
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