The Daily Fives For October 20th, 2010 From The Sports Mac

Top Five Stories From Yesterday

 

1.  The Rangers take a commanding lead in the American League Championship Series after another impressive offensive performance at Yankee Stadium.

2.  The Giants take the lead in the National League Championship Series behind a strong pitching performance from Matt Cain, and some timely hitting by the lineup.

3.  The NFL announces that starting with this week’s games that players will be suspended for any violent hits committed on the field.

4.  Three out of four road teams win games in the National Hockey League, including Boston in Washington and Carolina in San Jose.

5.  Mike Quade has the interim tag lifted and singed a two-year deal to remain manager of the Chicago Cubs.

 

Top Five Games From Yesterday

 

1.  Giants 3, Phillies 0: San Francisco gets seven strong innings from Matt Cain and manufactured three runs to take the lead in the National League Championship Series.

2.  Flames 1, Predators 0, overtime: Rene Bourque scored the only goal of the game two minutes into the extra session to give Calgary the victory.

3.  Bruins 3, Capitals 1: Boston scored twice in the first period and then added one in the third to get a good road win at Washington

4.  Hurricanes 5, Sharks 2: Carolina gets its first win on North American soil as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and added two more in the third to cruise to the win.

5.  Wild 6, Canucks 2: Minnesota blitzed Vancouver for all six of their goals in the first two periods in an easy home victory.

 

Top Five Performances From Yesterday

 

1.  Matt Cain, Giants SP: Zero runs on two hits with five K’s in seven IP in San Francisco’s 3-0 NLCS Game 2 win over Philadelphia.

2.  Miikka Kiprusoff, Flames G: 34 saves and the shutout in Calgary’s 1-0 overtime win in Nashville.

3.  Bengie Molina, Rangers C: 3-for-4 with a HR and three RBI in Texas’ 10-3 ALCS Game 4 win over New York.

4.  Tim Thomas, Bruins G: 35 saves on 36 shots in Boston’s 3-1 win in Washington.

5.  Josh Hamilton, Rangers CF: 2-for-5 with two HRs and two RBI in Texas’ 10-3 ALCS Game 4 win over New York.

 

Five Performances That Weren’t So Good From Yesterday

 

1.  Sergio Mitre, Yankees RP: Three runs on three hits in one IP in New York’s 10-3 ALCS Game 4 loss to Texas.

2.  Joe Thornton, Sharks C: Had a minus-3 in San Jose’s 5-2 loss to Carolina.

3.  Raul Ibanez, Phillies LF: 0-for-4 with two K’s in Philadelphia’s 3-0 NLCS Game 3 loss to San Francisco.

4.  A.J. Burnett, Yankees SP: Five runs on six hits in six IP in New York’s 10-3 ALCS Game 4 loss to Texas.

5.  Roberto Luongo, Canucks G: Just 12 saves on 18 shots in Vancouver’s 6-2 loss to Minnesota.

 

Top Five Events To Follow Today

 

1.  ALCS Game 5: Rangers (3) at Yankees (1), 4:00 PM, TBS: Texas looks to advance to its first World Series in franchise history; (Wilson (TEX) vs. Sabathia (NYY))

2.  NHL: Ducks (2-3-1) at Blue Jackets (2-2-0), 7:00 PM: Anaheim, after a shaky start, hopes to continue its good run of form in Columbus.

3.  NLCS Game 4: Phillies (1) at Giants (2), 8:00 PM, FOX: San Francisco tries to take command of the series; (Blanton (PHI) vs. Bumgarner (SF))

4.  NHL: Canucks (2-3-1) at Blackhawks (4-2-1), 9:00 PM: Two of the powers in the Western Conference face off for the first time this season.

5.  NHL: Hurricanes (3-2-0) at Kings (3-1-0), 10:30 PM: Carolina looks to win its second in a row one night after beating the Sharks in San Jose.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies-Giants NLCS: Phillies Need To Sit Raul Ibanez in Game 4

Many experts are saying that the Phillies are in trouble in the NLCS against the Giants. Personally, I disagree.

If the Flyers taught the city of Philadelphia anything, it’s not over ’til it’s over. 

Many experts are also saying that the Phillies need to make a change in Game 4, and I agree with them; the Phillies do need to make a change, just not the change most experts are saying.

The experts are saying the Phillies should start Roy Halladay on three days rest instead of Joe Blanton.

As you probably saw in the article I wrote about A.J. Burnett, starting Halladay on three days rest would be the worst thing the Phillies could do. If they start Halladay, then that means Oswalt and Hamels have to go on three days rest too. 

Even if they lose Game 4, I would rather have the big three rested than have them pitch on three days. Pitching them on three days rest means the series is likely over.

However, I do think the Phillies need to make a change to the lineup in Game 4. That change is simple: insert Ben Francisco into the lineup in left field and bench Raul Ibanez. 

I understand Ibanez makes a huge amount of money (it’s a terrible contract and the Phillies are stuck with him), but the reality is Ibanez is absolutely killing the Phillies right now. He is 0-for-15 at the plate, with strikeouts in half of his at-bats, and he has hit into a double play (so he actually has made more than 15 outs); he also dropped a fly ball in Game 1 that had he caught, the Phillies would have won. 

I know it was a tough catch, but he was under it and should have made the play; any good fielding left fielder catches that ball.

See, that’s the problem: Ibanez is in the lineup for his bat, and if the bat isn’t hitting, then he shouldn’t be in the lineup. 

Francisco is faster and better defensively, and he can not do any worse at the plate. Even if Francisco goes 0-for-4, his defense still makes him a better start than Ibanez.

I have long been a fan of Francisco and a detractor of Ibanez. I have said since day one that Ibanez’s contract was ridiculous and that Francisco could put up the same numbers as Ibanez if given the playing time.

I will make it clear that I don’t like Raul Ibanez as a ballplayer. 

I think his hitting is average and he can’t field. As a Phillies fan, I dislike him because the $13-14 million a season he is making will be the main reason the Phillies lose Jayson Werth in the offseason.

If they had not signed Ibanez to that ridiculous deal, they could platoon Dominic Brown and Francisco in left field and the two combined would make about $1 million and probably give you equal or more production at the plate and better defense than Ibanez.

The nice part of this argument is Charlie Manuel can sit Ibanez down without making it look like he has lost faith in Raul.

See, the Giants are pitching lefty Madison Bumgarner in Game 4 this evening, and Manuel often sat Ibanez in favor of Francisco when a lefty was on the mound. This way, Manuel can hide behind the fact that he is making the move simply to get a right handed bat in the lineup and that it is not because he lost faith in Ibanez.

Thus, he can sit him down without making Ibanez look bad. He has a built in excuse already provided by the left handed pitching matchup. 

Gregg Doyel of CBS Sportsline wrote a great article about how Manuel may have already phoned it in on the Phillies because Charlie said that it was getting kind of late to be making moves. To that I say, Charlie, you are paid to manage the Phillies, and any manager can see a guy who is a below average fielder and is 0-for-15 at the plate shouldn’t be in the lineup. 

Look at Bruce Bochy, who sat down Andre Torres in favor of Aaron Rowand; Torres was only 0-for-8 in two games, and the series was tied. Good managers recognize when changes need to be made and have the guts to make them.

The next 24 hours will tell us a lot about Charlie Manuel’s ability to manage this team. If he sits Ibanez down, then the Phillies might still have a chance in this series.

If Charlie sticks with Ibanez, then his stubbornness may just cost the Phillies their chance at a third straight World Series appearance.

Here’s hoping Charlie does the right thing for the team and the city. Playing Ben Francisco tonight is really a no brainer.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Jimmy Rollins: Is He Holding Back the National League’s Best Team?

People always tend to point fingers at different players when a team begins to struggle.  But who should take the blame for the Phillies‘ recent struggles in the NLCS? 

Jimmy Rollins is always a fan favorite in Philadelphia, but he could be the odd piece to the puzzle right now.  With several injuries to his lower body, including the nagging hamstring injury suffered late in the season, J-Roll is out of his game. 

While Rollins had the key hit Game 2 of the NLCS, roping a three-run double off the top of the out-of-town scoreboard in right field.  However aside from that hit, Rollins has really struggled in the series with only three hits. 

The hamstring injury may not be what is holding back the former MVP, but rather his confidence in his leg.  Rollins is not quite at 100 percent yet, but is not in a condition where he can’t play.  On the field, he seems nervous to try to push his hamstring to any extent.

The biggest example of this showed in the ninth inning of Game 3.

After lining a ball of the wall in right, Rollins quickly scampered back to first base after the ball was quickly thrown back in by outfielder Nate Schierholtz.  At 100 percent, Rollins would have easily stretched the hit into a double.

But it did not stop there.

On the game-ending double-play ball, Rollins loafed it into second base, not even making an attempt to break up the double play.  Was it laziness, lack of confidence in the bottom of the lineup or his hesitance to push his hamstring to the limit? 

In my opinion it was his hesitance.  Players, however, cannot be hesitant in the postseason.  This is where you go all out and lay it all on the line because there are no second chances.

Wilson Valdez did an excellent job of filling in for the injured Rollins throughout the majority of the season.  The table below shows a comparison of the stats for the two shortstops.

 

	Jimmy Rollins	Wilson Valdez
BA	.243	.258
OBP	.320	.306
2B	16	16
3B	3	3
HR	8	4
RBI	35	41
SB	17	7
Runner on 3rd, Less than 2 Outs RBI	55%	45%
Errors	4	0

 

Both have very similar numbers.  Valdez has played more games this year than Rollins and has no errors.  Rollins, on the other hand, has four on the season.

Both have the same number of doubles and triples.  Valdez’s only downfall is hitting into double plays.  Valdez grounded into 20 double plays on the year, while Rollins only did so four times. 

So what should Charlie do?

In his opinion, Rollins has to be on the field because of his leadership and his overall presence.  In my opinion, Valdez almost has to start at shortstop tonight.  Manuel has already switched up the lineup from the NLDS to the NLCS to have the best possible batter/pitcher matchups throughout the lineup. 

Throwing Valdez into the equation gives you speed, a sure-handed fielder and a potential run producer at the plate.  It also gives you a player who is playing at 100 percent. 

It will be interesting to see what Manuel decides to do with the Phillies in need of a win to bring the series back to Philadelphia.  The team needs a change to spark some offense and produce runs.  The starting pitchers are keeping them in the games and giving them a chance to win, but the offense is not getting the job done.

Valdez could be that missing piece to the puzzle to get the team going.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

NLCS Game 3: Praising Cain? Giants Starter Stymies Phills’ Bats in 3-0 Win

San Francisco Giants starter Matt Cain got the better of his matchup with the Phillies  Cole Hamels, spearheading his team to a 3-0 victory.  The Giants rode Cain’s terrific effort and more clutch hitting from the red-hot Cody “Babe” Ross to grab a 2-1 lead in the NLCS.

After the NLCS pairing was set, there was much punditry about how the Giants were the only team in the National League—and perhaps all of baseball—who could match up with the Phillies’ Big Three. 

After three games, these three points are clearly taking shape:

The Giants’ Big Three have matched up well with the Phillies’ vaunted H20 and most importantly have overmatched the Phillies supposedly high-powered offense.

While the top three starters are a close match for one another, this series may well be decided on the matchup of the #4 starters in Game Four tomorrow night—veteran Joe Blanton of the Phils versus rookie phenom Madison Bumgarner of the Giants.

The Phillies need to either cool off Cody Ross or have a hitter or two resemble the batting stroke of the amazing Babe Ross.

Matt Cain seemed to have the Phillies off-balance all game as he yielded just two hits in seven innings of work.  The big right-hander did walk three and plunk two others but the Phillies never seemed to have him on the ropes.

The Phillies offense—which showed some signs of life in Game Two—did not manage to connect for any extra base hits.  In the four innings that the Phillies did advance a runner into scoring position, Cain was able to get the needed strikeout (Raul Ibanez in the fourth) or groundouts (Chase Utley in the third and fifth; Shane Victorino in the seventh) to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Cole Hamels was pitching well but without any offensive support, or much defense for that matter.  Hamels was perfect through three innings, but had the misfortune of facing Ross with runners on first and third and two outs in the fourth.

Ross put the Giants on the board with a sharp single to leftfield that scored Renteria, who had led off the inning with a single.  Aubrey Huff then hit a grounder that just eluded second baseman Utley’s outstretched mitt to plate Pat Burrell.  It was clearly a hit, but a play that Utley often makes.

The Giants scored an insurance run in the fifth, although their 2-0 lead must have looked like 12-0 the way the Phillies were laboring at the plate.  Erstwhile Phillie, Aaron Rowand—seeing his first action of the NLCS—laced a double to lead off the inning.  After striking out Cain and retiring Renteria, Hamels induced Freddy Sanchez to hit a one-hopper that somehow fooled the normally reliable Utley.  The ball bounced off Chase’s right arm and into rightfield, allowing Rowand to score.

 

If 2-0 seemed like 12-0, 3-0 must have resembled a three touchdown lead.  The Phillies were sent down 1-2-3 by reliever Javier Lopez in the eighth, and Jimmy Rollins almost took closer Brian Wilson over the wall in the ninth but had to settle for a long single.  To typify the futility of the two-time defending NL champions on an otherwise beautiful day in San Francisco, Raul Ibanez followed Rollins’ near-homer with a game-ending 4-6-3 double play ball.

So what does all of this mean?  The Giants, to borrow tennis parlance, held serve in a game that was probably more important to them than to the Phils.  Now, skipper Charlie Manuel will apparently take Joe Blanton (9-6, 4.82) out of storage to oppose the 21 year-old Bumgarner (7-6, 3.00), who won the NLDS clincher in Atlanta.

 

If the Phillies win Game Four, they tie the series at 2-2, and have their ace Roy Halladay for one more game in San Francisco before heading back home.

 

If the Giants win, they take a 3-1 lead with their ace Tim Lincecum pitching at home with a chance to shock the baseball world and win the series in five.

No matter what Blanton gives them in Game Four, Phillies Nation is praying that their offense–whether carried by Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth  or their own version of Babe Ross–finally shows up.

 

GOLD NOTES

Two notes on Matt Cain.  Although he just turned 26, he is the longest-tenured Giant.  He also entered the game with an 0-3 career record, and a high ERA versus the Phillies. So much for that precursor.

Barry Bonds got a huge ovation when he was introduced (in uniform) before the game.  AT&T Park may be the only ballpark in America that Bonds would not have been booed off the field.

The last time the Phils were blanked in a postseason game was Game 5 of the 1983 World Series when Scott McGregor started for the Orioles.

For my money, the singing of both the national anthem and God Bless America (seventh inning stretch) were as lame and ineffective as the Fightins’ bats.

Despite a great flyover and a majestic U.S. flag, someone named Ben Gibbard, from some indie band called Death Cab For Cutie, sleepsang his way through the national anthem, while Zooey Deschanel gave us a flaccid, brutal God Bless America.

A tough night for Phillies and music fans. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies Might Have Already Sealed Their Own Fate

I don’t think I’m going to surprise or shock anyone when I say the Phillies’ offensive production has been pathetic during the postseason. It’s pretty clear to anyone paying attention.

But just to rub salt in the wound with stats, chew on the fact that the Phils have hit only .194 three games into the NLCS and have just seven hits overall, including only one extra-base hit, in 44 at-bats with runners in scoring position during the postseason.

The lone extra-base hit was Jimmy Rollins’ three-run double after an ill-advised decision by San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy to walk the bases loaded in Game 2.

So other than the opportunity that was basically bottle-fed to them, the Phillies’ offense has come up short much more often than not.

The slow start has caused them to fall into a 2-1 deficit to the Giants after getting shut out Tuesday night.

Must Read: Top Postseason Moments in Phillies History

 

Cole Hamels started the game and gave up three runs, but two of those runs were a direct result of Chase Utley’s inability to play the ball and, overall, pitched well enough for the team to win.

At the end of the day, it rests squarely on the eight other guys to make some plays moving forward in this series.

But, if history tells us anything, it could already be too late.

From 1986-2009, one team in the NLCS has had a 2-1 advantage 19 times with exceptions coming in 1994, ’95, ’98, ’99, and 2007.

In those 19 series, the team falling behind has only one four times. One of those teams was actually the 1993 Phillies who went on to win the series 4-2.

Then there was the World Series and Joe Carter and #*%(!.

Deep breath. And we’re back.

History tells us the Phils have about a 21 percent chance of coming back in this series. But if they can’t even get their team batting average that high, 21 percent might be a bit generous.

Manager Charlie Manuel is showing faith in his offense by sticking with Joe Blanton for Game 4 rather than going with Roy Halladay on short rest, but that could prove costly. It’s hard to imagine the Phils bats get moving this late, but they’ve done crazier things.

This team has kept things very interesting all year long, so nothing they do in the rest of this series would surprise me in the least.

We can all just hope they do what they do best, which is make an entire city hold its breath and come to the edge of giving up hope, only to watch the Phils kick things into gear and start rolling.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

2010 NLCS: Should The Philadelphia Phillies Start Roy Halladay In Game 4?

Should Charlie Manuel and the Philadelphia Phillies start Joe Blanton or Roy Halladay in Game 4 of the NLCS? 

After the San Francisco Giants won Game 4, the Phillies are in danger of losing the series in San Francisco.   

The Giants will most likely stick to their scheduled starter, Madison Bumgarner.  

San Francisco could now possibly have Tim Lincecum pitching at home in Game 5 with the chance to advance to the 2010 World Series. 

Both pros and cons accompany either decision, but most Philadelphia fans will certainly be calling for Roy Halladay to start Game 4.  

Here are some reasons why Joe Blanton should start and some reasons why Charlie Manuel should start Roy Halladay.  

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NLCS Reports Cards: Phillies Fall Behind in a Giant Way

After three games into the 2010 NLCS, we have already seen as many confusing turn of events as one could’ve imagined.

But for the Philadelphia Phillies, being down two to one in the series is a by-product of their own design in many ways.

This is not to say the Phillies are playing bad necessarily, rather, just making some key errors that favor the competition.

Let’s take a look at how the Phillies have graded through three crucial games in the NLCS, since at this point, it becomes ever so important to really tighten any loose bolts.

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Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants: Game 3 Live Blog

Good afternoon baseball fans, and welcome to Game 3 of the NLCS.

Baseball superfan Evan Adrian here, guiding you through this pivotal matchup between the Phillies and the Giants in San Francisco.

Philadelphia will send Cole Hamels to the mound, fresh off his complete-game shutout of the Cincinnati Reds. Matt Cain will toe the rubber for San Francisco.

He lasted 6.2 innings against the Braves, giving up just one unearned run.

We could be in for a real pitcher’s duel here today. Keep it locked here for up-to-the-minute updates and analysis.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

NLCS 2010: Phillies-Giants Game 3 Has a Chance To Be a Shootout

The star-studded staffs of the Giants and the Phillies have been largely dominant in the series so far, despite Roy Halladay‘s ho-hum performance in Game 1; but Game 3 has the potential to become an offensive shootout even though a pair of elite pitchers are involved. 

Matt Cain (13-11, 3.14 ERA in the regular season) has to face a veteran Philadelphia lineup that is looking to reverse a growing trend of stranding runners on base. The Phillies can find solace in the fact that opposing hitters are batting, an unusually high, .267 with RISP and two outs against Cain (compared with fellow teammate Tim Lincecum’s .228 in similar situations) and that he has the propensity to give up home runs, a specialty of the power-laden Phillies lineup.

In his only start against Philadelphia this year, the Giants right-hander gave up a three-run homer to Jimmy Rollins that was set up by a Mike Fontenot error three plays prior. Cain would give up five runs (two earned) on the day en route to an 8-2 Phillies’ drubbing at Citizens Bank Park August 18th. 

Though the circumstances may be a bit different this time around for Cain, the Phillies offense has too much firepower to stay quiet for another game. The Giants’ right-hander is prone to the occasional pounding (he gave up six or more runs three times this season) and the middle infielders of the Phillies seem to have his number.

Rollins and Chase Utley have hit .600 and .467, respectively, over their careers against Cain, and the Phillies’ shortstop has had five of his six hits go for extra bases, including the aforementioned blast from earlier this year. 

On the flip side, Cole Hamels has been lights-out this postseason, as he looks to return to form since a rough performance last October

Hamels, though, has been historically sub-par against the Giants, especially at AT&T Park where he sports a 6.12 career ERA.

This year, the former World Series MVP, has been roughed up both times he has faced San Francisco, squeaking out a no-decision in their first meeting (he went 6 IP, 4 ER, but SF went 5 for 21 with RISP) and losing in their most recent matchup after giving up five runs in five innings pitched.

The scorching-hot Cody Ross murders Hamels with four home runs in his 30 at-bats against the lefty, and Buster Posey hit him hard in their first meeting with two doubles and two RBIs in the Giants’ 5-2 win.

Hamels’ penchant for giving up the long ball bodes well for a Giants’ offense that hit the sixth-most home runs in the National League and with 26 homers allowed on the season, the Phillies’ left-hander was tied for seventh in the NL, just in front of the WPIB (Worst Pitcher In Baseball) Zach Dukes. 

Game 3 will no doubt be a must-watch affair, whether the offensive fireworks are set off in this NLDS mathcup looks to fall on the shoulders of the game’s starting pitchers.  

 

Jesse Paguaga is a regular contributor to Baseball Digest. He writes as an intern on the Bleacher Report website. Jesse writes for Gotham Baseball, along with Gotham Hoops and Gotham Gridiron. He can be reached at Paguaga@usc.edu and can be found on Facebook and on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/@jpags77

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

2010 NLCS: 5 Keys for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3

Due to timely hitting and a dominating pitching performance by Roy Oswalt, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-1 in Game 2 of the 2010 NLCS.  

Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies now need to focus on how to defeat the Giants in San Francisco in Game 3.   

Matt Cain will get the start for the home team, as he will try and lead the Giants to a 2-1 series lead. 

With the series tied 1-1, Game 3 may determine the winner of the series.  The losing team will face some daunting questions.  

If the Phillies lose, will Roy Halladay get the start in Game 4?  If the Giants lose, will Tim Lincecum get the start in Game 4? 

If the San Francisco Giants can defeat another member of “H2O”, the series may take a turn for the worst for the Phillies.  

Here are five keys for victory for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the NLCS.  

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