Dan Nava's first at-bat

There was tons of excitement in Boston on Saturday, despite the rain. It began in the second inning off Philadelphia Phillies starter Joe Blanton. JD Drew led off the inning with a solo homerun on the first pitch. Adrian Beltre, Jason Varitek, and Darnell McDonald followed with singles to load the bases. Up came just promoted left fielder Daniel Nava, who was making his Major League debut.

On the first pitch he saw from Blanton, Nava deposited it deep into the Red Sox bullpen for a grand slam (reliever Manny Delcarmen made a nice leaping grab to keep it from going into the seats). Nava became the fourth player to hit a grand slam in his first at-bat (first since Kevin Kouzmanoff in 2006 who is the only other player to do it on the first pitch seen).

Nava was not a prospect coming out of high school, after junior college, or his senior year at Santa Clara (he was an equipment manager at Santa Clara before junior college). He went undrafted and was cut by an independent league team. He took a year off but played independent league ball, which after an MVP award, the Red Sox signed him in 2008. (For more on his story, check out http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100612&content_id=11104724&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb).

Oddly enough, the Phillies scored first on a two-run double by backup catcher Brian Schneider (who collected three of the Phillies seven hits). With expected starter Dice-K Matsuzaka sent to the DL just minutes before start time, the Red Sox had to use the bullpen for the entire game. However they are the only runs the Phillies scored while the Red Sox won 10-2, with Blanton going just four innings while allowing nine runs on 13 hits.

Carlos Santana

In Cleveland, top prospect Carlos Santana hit his first Major League homerun, a solo shot in the fifth inning off Washington Nationals starter JD Martin (a former Indians draft pick). Santana went 2-for-4 in his second game and also caught a great game. Indians starter Fausto Carmona allowed just one run on three hits in a complete game win. Carmona struck out seven and did not walk a batter. The lone run was scored on a Ryan Zimmerman eighth inning solo homerun.

In Colorado, both the Rockies and visiting Toronto Blue Jays received stellar starting pitching performances. Brandon Morrow of the Blue Jays allowed one run on a Carlos Gonzalez sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. He went six innings and allowed five hits and struck out six. That was all the runs Rockies starter Jason Hammel needed. He pitched eight shutout innings and allowed three hits while striking out six.

In Detroit, the Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates battled into extra innings. The Pirates received solid starting pitching from Paul Maholm as he allowed just one run on eight hits in six innings. Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman was also solid as he allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings. However Ryan Doumit’s two-out error cost the Pirates two runs and the lead in the seventh inning. With the 3-2 lead, the Tigers brought in fireballer Joel Zumaya.

Carlos Guillen is mobbed by teammates

With one out, rookie Jose Tabata hit a double, stole third, and scored on Neil Walker’s RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. The game would stay tied until the tenth when the Tigers Carlos Guillen hit the third pitch thrown by Brendan Donnelly into the right field seats for a walk-off homerun.
In Tampa, the Rays Carlos Pena homered for the sixth straight game (a franchise record) as the Rays held on to beat the Florida Marlins 6-5. Carl Crawford and Sean Rodriguez also homered off Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco. The Marlins mounted a comeback but Rays closer Rafael Soriano pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Tags:

Carlos Guillen, Carlos Santana, Daniel Nava, Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Zimmerman, Toronto Blue Jays

Brad Lidge

With spring training coming to an end and teams making cuts to finalize their roster, a few teams are dealing with the injury bug. The defending National League champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, were pretty sure that closer Brad Lidge and lefty specialist JC Romero would not be ready for Opening Day. Romero has been said to be further behind Lidge in his recovery. However Lidge has just received a cortisone shot in his surgically repaired right elbow. This sets him back to at least mid-April. Lidge says it is no big deal because his elbow usually hurts in the spring. Anytime a player receives a cortisone shot there is concern and it seems to be worse that he received the shot in March rather than in August or September. It seems the elbow will continue to be a problem for Lidge throughout the season which is not good news for someone who struggled mightily in 2009.

Joe Blanton

The Phillies had just 12 healthy pitchers left in camp this week when veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer was named the fifth starter and Kyle Kendrick was moving to the bullpen. The move seemed to bolster their bullpen with key pitchers out (Lidge & Romero) and two unknowns (David Herndon, a Rule V pick, and left-hander Antonio Bastardo) set to fill key roles. There has also been concern with the way new acquisitions Danys Baez and Jose Contreras have pitched this spring.

Then came another blow. Starter Joe Blanton strained his oblique in a bullpen session on Wednesday, which could keep him out 6 weeks. The logical move would be to have Kendrick slot into Blanton’s spot in the rotation (which the Phillies have announced). Problem is, the bullpen (which is the team’s biggest question mark) has another hole. I think the Phillies will seriously miss Clay Condrey and his ability to pitch early or late in games and could pitch multiple innings. Word is that Drew Carpenter (a starter in Triple-A Lehigh Valley) will take Kendrick’s spot in the bullpen. I would like to see hard-throwing right-hander Scott Mathieson take the open spot in the bullpen. Expect to see the starting pitchers to take on a heavier workload early in the season.

Daniel Murphy

The NY Mets have already been dealt blows with two key offensive and defensive players set to start the season on the DL (shortstop Jose Reyes and centerfielder Carlos Beltran). Now they will be without starting first baseman Daniel Murphy. Murphy hurt his knee and could miss 2-5 weeks. Mike Jacobs, who was fighting just to make the team, is now slated to take over at first base while Murphy is out. The Mets have adamantly stated that they will not promote top prospect Ike Davis. The Mets pitching staff figures to struggle, but early in the season, the Mets lineup figures to struggle to score runs.

The Mets are also hoping to have closer Francisco Rodriguez back for Opening Day. With an emergency back home in Venezuela, K-Rod has left the team and the hope is that he returns when the season starts. Mets fans are hoping he is back when the season starts.

Other teams with major injuries are the Houston Astros, with first baseman Lance Berkman to miss part of April and ace Roy Oswalt who is battling a back injury; the Texas Rangers with second baseman Ian Kinsler to miss part of April and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia still dealing with a shoulder injury and muscle spasms; the Seattle Mariners and newly acquired Cliff Lee who is dealing with another abdominal injury and a suspension when he returns; the Florida Marlins and outfielder Cody Ross who is a major contributor; and the Detroit Tigers who have lost key relievers Bobby Seay and Zach Miner for some time ad position players Clete Thomas, Carlos Guillen, Gerald Laird, and Ryan Raburn are dealing with injuries that could prove nagging throughout the season.

Tags:

Antonio Bastardo, Bobby Seay, Brad Lidge, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Guillen, Clete Thomas, Cliff Lee, Cody Ross, Daniel Murphy, Danys Baez, David Herndon, Detroit Tigers, Drew Carpenter, Florida Marlins, Gerald Laird, Houston Astros, Ian Kinsler, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, JC Romero, Joe Blanton, Jose Contreras, Jose Reyes, Kyle Kendrick, Lance Berkman, Mike Jacobs, NY Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Oswalt, Ryan Raburn, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Zach Miner

The Philadelphia Phillies rotation has been stellar so far this spring. They have the best spring training ERA (3.36). Everyone expected newly acquired Roy Halladay to be good. He is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in two starts (10 innings). He has allowed six hits and one run while striking out 14 and walking two. His early morning routine (arriving around 5:30-6:00 am) has rubbed off on right-hander Kyle Kendrick, who is competing for the fifth starter’s spot. Kendrick now routinely arrives at camp before Halladay and the work has showed. In 3 games (9 innings), he has given up four hits while not allowing a run or a walk. He has also struck out two. It is hard to tell about Kendrick’s competition, veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer, because he has only pitched in “B” games. “B” games are at 10 am and usually minor leaguers play in them or a team’s regulars that need at-bats (there really are no rules). Moyer had pitched well (six scoreless innings in two games) until his last start when he faced the Toronto Blue Jays, who had about seven regulars in their “B” game lineup. He gave up five runs and eight hits in three innings. It is hard to judge the competition because Kendrick is facing a team’s regular starting lineup (he faced the NY Yankees twice and the Baltimore Orioles once), while Moyer is not.

Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels has rebounded so far from 2009. He admitted that he did not do much to get ready for the 2009 season (besides make all of those public appearances), but he has worked much harder coming into 2010. In three starts (10.2 innings), he has just a 1.69 ERA. He has allowed five hits (two homeruns) while walking three and striking out nine. The homeruns allowed is a concern because Citizens Bank Park is a homerun haven and he tends to give up the longball. After struggling last season, Hamels realized that he needed more than just a fastball and his excellent changeup. He needed to strengthen his curveball and he wanted to develop a cutter. Against the Detroit Tigers yesterday, he threw 54 pitches, 10 cutters (six for strikes) and 9 curveballs (five for strikes). He threw his changeup just eight times.

“You can plant a seed in a hitter’s mind and give him more to think about,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “Of course, everybody knows he has a fastball and changeup. Now, all of a sudden, you have to respect the curveball and respect the cutter.” Teammates and the coaches also see a different Hamels, one that is more focused.

JA Happ, coming off a stellar rookie season, has arrived in spring training treating it like last year-like he had to win a job. Happ has not disappointed. In two starts (6.1 innings), he has allowed just three hits and no runs. He walked two and struck out five.

Joe Blanton

Joe Blanton struggled in his first spring training game, but has settled in since. He pitched today against the Yankees giving up two runs in five innings. Prior to today’s start, he was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in six innings. He had allowed eight hits while striking out two.

If the Phillies rotation continues their dominance into the regular season, they will be on top of the National League East for the entire season.

Tags:

Cole Hamels, JA Happ, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, Kyle Kendrick, National League East, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay

Justin Verlander

Can the SF Giants or Detroit Tigers afford to go to an arbitration hearing with Tim Lincecum and Justin Verlander? If the two teams do, they will break the bank. Then they will have to go through it all over again next year. Why not sign the two aces to extensions to avoid what comes with an arbitration hearing? Verlander, the Tigers ace and American League strikeout leader, has said that the Tigers have not approached him about a long-term deal so he is prepared for an arbitration hearing where he is requesting $9.5 million but the Tigers have only offered $6.9 million. The Tigers are said to want to reach a one-year agreement to avoid arbitration before discussing a long-term deal, which would be a similar strategy they used with first baseman Miguel Cabrera. If the case reaches arbitration, Verlander may win, considering Boston’s closer Jonathon Papelbon signed a one-year deal worth $9.35 million. If no long-term deal is reached, Verlander will become a free agent in two years and he will go to the highest bidder (think Yankees or Red Sox).

Tim Lincecum

Lincecum’s case is intriguing and he will most likely win if it goes to a hearing. Lincecum is special, just as Ryan Howard’s case was special when he was awarded the most lucrative arbitration contract ($10 million) because no one has put up the numbers he has so far in his career. Lincecum is special because he has won back-to-back CY Young awards in the National League in just his first three years. Lincecum made just $650,000 in 2009 and is asking for $13 million, while the Giants are offering $8 million. In his two CY Young seasons, Lincecum is 33-12 with a 2.55 ERA overall in those two years. He is 40-17 with a 2.90 ERA overall in his career. Why wouldn’t the Giants want to lock Lincecum up to a long-term deal? Both sides would want to avoid arbitration because the hearing will just be a bashing of both sides (think Lincecum’s drug arrest and how Lincecum is the face of the franchise). Lincecum has three more years of arbitration before he becomes a free agent. By the end of his arbitration years, Lincecum could be making around $20 million a year. It would be beneficial for both sides to sign an extension and then Giants could keep one of the game’s best pitchers in San Francisco.

A few teams have done this with their aces, as the Seattle Mariners locked up Felix Hernandez for five years and the Florida Marlins locked up Josh Johnson for four years. Both young aces are the faces for the future of their respective organizations. The Philadelphia Phillies also locked up two players, starting pitcher Joe Blanton and centerfielder Shane Victorino for three years each. The deal for the Flying’ Hawaiian makes sense because he is an integral part of the Phillies offense and defense. The Blanton extension is a little confusing because he is only a number four starter and really only pitches well in the second half. Blanton is going to be receiving a lot of money when the Phillies could have just kept left-handed starter Cliff Lee.

Tags:

Detroit Tigers, Felix Hernandez, Florida Marlins, Joe Blanton, Josh Johnson, Justin Verlander, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, SF Giants, Shane Victorino, Tim Lincecum

Ryan Madson

Coming off their first World Series title in 20 years, the Philadelphia Phillies entered 2009 with virtually the same team as in 2008 (except for the addition of Raul Ibanez in left field). However getting to the World Series was a lot tougher in 2009. Injuries decimated the bullpen as everyone except setup man Ryan Madson spent time on the DL and Madson was hardly lights out (5-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 79 games and converted 10 of 16 saves). No one expected closer Brad Lidge to be perfect again, but he was hardly automatic in 2009 as he blew 11 saves in 42 opportunities. Lefty JC Romero missed the first 50 games due to a performance-enhancing drug suspension, but returned and injured his elbow. It seemed like every week someone was going on the DL and a new body was being called up from the minors.

Ace Cole Hamels was hardly an ace and was inconsistent all season (10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in 32 starts with 24 homeruns allowed and more hits than innings pitched). A slimmer Brett Myers hurt his hip and missed a portion of the season. Joe Blanton had his typical average first half (6-4 with a 4.44 ERA with 19 homeruns allowed) and good second half (6-4 with a 3.62 ERA and 11 homeruns allowed). Chan Ho Park struggled in the starting role (but thrived as a reliever), opening the door for lefty JA Happ’s outstanding rookie season (12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 starts). The struggles in the rotation led to the acquisition of CY Young winner Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians (and outfielder Ben Francisco), though the Phillies were linked to Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (but the price seemed to be too high). Lee dominated in his time with the Phillies, even into the playoffs (7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts and 10 BB/ 74 K but in the playoffs, Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 starts with 2 complete games and 6 BB/ 33 K). They also added free agent veteran Pedro Martinez, who also added a boost to the rotation (5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 9 starts)

The offense was typical for the Phillies, even with leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins’ lackluster season. Centerfielder Shane Victorino and rightfielder Jayson Werth had career years. First baseman Ryan Howard sizzled again when the summer heated up (.305 with 23 homeruns and 74 RBIs in the second half).

The 2009 Phillies made it back to the World Series, the first time since the 1995-1996 Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately the offense sputtered and the pitching just could not hold down the NY Yankees. Heading into the offseason, the Phillies had some holes to fill and question marks that needed to be answered. Members of the World Champion team that had major supporting roles were free agents like Matt Stairs, Eric Bruntlett, Myers, and Scott Eyre. Lidge, Romero, Ibanez, and Jamie Moyer had offseason surgery, with Lidge and Romero questionable for spring training and Moyer having complications. With a payroll set to bulge due to arbitration cases for Victorino, Blanton, and catcher Carlos Ruiz, GM Ruben Amaro was hoping to stay within a set amount. Here’s the Phillies wish list:

1. 

   Placido Polanco signing

   A third baseman: Despite his solid season, Pedro Feliz was a free agent and not expected to be re-signed due to his struggles in the playoffs (.167 in 54 at-bats with just 4 RBIs and 11 Ks). Ruben Amaro quickly signed former Phillie Placido Polanco, who was coming off a Gold Glove season with the Detroit Tigers at second base. Polanco hasn’t played third since 2005 but is a hard working veteran who will be excellent batting in the 2 hole (where he is the game’s best) in front of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez.

2. A backup catcher: Starter Carlos Ruiz has been a postseason hero for the Phillies the last two years. Late in 2009, the Phillies cut ties with backup Chris Coste (a fan favorite) and added veteran Paul Bako. However with Bako a free agent, the Phillies decided to go after a local free agent. Brian Schneider, who spent the last two years with the NY Mets, signed on to backup Ruiz. Schneider has been known to be a great defensive catcher though he tends to struggle with the bat.
3. Bullpen help: This is a major need as there are quite a few question marks with the health of the arms returning. The biggest hole is to add a left-hander to complement JC Romero and management hoped to re-sign Scott Eyre, but both sides are far apart. The Phillies seem fine with going to young lefties Sergio Escalona and Antonio Bastardo (who was on the postseason roster but was rarely used) in 2010. Rumors have the Phillies signing a mystery reliever with Danys Baez and Mike MacDougal being the leading candidates.
4. Adding another starter: Despite Kyle Kendrick’s resurgence at the end of 2009, the Phillies are looking to add a starter to compete with Kendrick, veteran Jamie Moyer, and Drew Carpenter. However the Phillies made a blockbuster deal to land Roy Halladay (who they coveted in July) but traded away Cliff Lee and top prospect Kyle Drabek. So yes the Phillies added a workhorse in Halladay, but still may need another starter.

Tags:

Brad Lidge, Brian Schneider, Carlos Ruiz, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, JA Happ, Joe Blanton, Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies, Placido Polanco, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson

Yankees 7, Phillies 4: Game 4 was a game with a full rage of emotions. For the Phillies, the fans were fired up at the start, but were quickly quieted by the Yankees early offense. Late in the game, the Yankees were shocked by the homeruns hit by the Phillies to tie the game. Phillies fans and players who were back into the game were thrown for a loop when the game quickly slipped from their fingertips.

Things didn’t start out well for the Phillies Joe Blanton. He gave up a leadoff infield hit to Derek Jeter and a double to Johnny Damon. Mark Teixeira then ripped a ground ball down the first base line, but Ryan Howard gloved it to get Teixeira out at first. However, Jeter scored on the play. Blanton then hit Alex Rodriguez, in which umpires issued warnings to both teams. Jorge Posada followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. The Phillies got to CC Sabathia in the bottom of the first. A bloop hustle double by Shane Victorino followed by a wall-banger double for Chase Utley, cut the Yankees lead to 2-1. Yet Sabathia limited the damage by striking out both Howard and Raul Ibanez. Sabathia never seemed comfortable all night, constantly shaking off pitches and stepping off the mound. Howard singled to lead off the fourth inning and then stole second. With two outs, Howard was still standing on second base with Pedro Feliz up to bat (who was hitting under .100 against left-handed pitching since the end of August. Feliz singled to left and Damon came up throwing to the plate (which was actually a strong throw) to try and get Howard. Howard crashed into Posada, jarring the ball loose, and was ruled safe to tie the game at 2-2, though replays showed he never touched the plate. This score didn’t last long, as Blanton gave the run back in the top of the fifth, when Jeter softly singled through shortstop, scoring Nick Swisher (who walked to leadoff the inning) from second base. The Yankees scored another run on a base hit by Damon when Melky Cabrera ran through his third base coach’s stop sign.

Utley homered off of Sabathia in the bottom of the seventh, his third homerun of the World Series and third off of Sabathia. This ended Sabathia’s evening and brought on the Yankees bullpen. With a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees went to Joba Chamberlain to setup for closer Mariano Rivera. After blowing away both Jayson Werth and Ibanez on 96 mph fastballs, Joba tried to throw a 95 mph fastball by the now hot-hitting Feliz, who quickly deposited the pitch into the left field seats to tie the game at 4-4. Feliz ended the inning with 3 hits, after only having six hits in 42 postseason at-bats this year. The jubilation and expectations of another comeback victory at Citizens Bank Park quickly came to an end in the top of the ninth as the Phillies pitching yet again couldn’t keep the Yankees scoreless after the offense tied the game. This time it was Brad Lidge, who hadn’t pitched yet in the World Series and hadn’t pitched in a game since Game 5 of the NLCS. After getting two quick outs, Damon got another hit, stole second, and then third because no one went to cover the third base bag as Ruiz threw to second and Feliz was shifted to second base with Teixeira at the plate. This play proved to be costly (and will forever be remembered) as Lidge hit Teixeira and A-Rod followed with a RBI double to retake the lead. Posada followed with a 2-run single to give the Yankees a commanding 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Chamberlain was seen in the dugout hugging Posada and A-Rod, thanking them for saving him and giving the Yankees the lead back.

The electric crowd at Citizens Bank Park turned to moans and groans as the inning was disastrous. Lidge got fastball happy after getting the two quick outs in the ninth, going away from his signature pitch (the slider) which had worked against Hideki Matsui and Jeter. When all was said and done, it took 30 pitches for Lidge to hobble through the 9th. Now the Phillies were down with Rivera coming in to close out the game instead of the game being tied and facing Phil Coke. Rivera quickly dispatched the Phillies hitters, throwing just 8 pitched to finish them off.

The Yankees need one more win to celebrate their 27th World Series title. The Phillies, who were so good the last 2 years in the postseason at home (11-1), have now lost 2 straight at home. To stave off elimination and send the series back to NY, the Phillies will send ace Cliff Lee to the mound to hopefully dominate the Yankees lineup as he did in Game 1. The Phillies will also need to hit Yankees starter AJ Burnett or a great performance by Lee may be negated.

Tags:

Alex Rodriguez, Brad Lidge, CC Sabathia, Chase Utley, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Blanton, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira, Pedro Feliz, Phillies, World Series Game 4, Yankees

Another World Series in Philadelphia Phillies means rain in the forecast. Unlike last year, at least the temperatures are warm and not freezing. Game 3 was still set to begin on-time, despite the darkening clouds and rain incoming on the radar. As many of the Phillies players’ stated, the real World Series begins now, meaning the Philly fans are going to be electric, like nothing the Yankees have ever seen. Game 3 pits the Yankees Andy Pettitte against the Phillies Cole Hamels. Pettitte is hoping to increase his all-time postseason wins to 17, which would continue to put him in first place in that category. However, Pettitte isn’t averaging more than seven innings in a postseason start, so that means manager Joe Girardi will need to use more than closer Mariano Rivera out of the bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Pettitte approaches the Phillies lineup with the two switch-hitters at the top (Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino) and the lefties after them (Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez). I suspect Howard will not see many fastballs. Hamels was last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, though in 2009, he has not been very consistent. The Phillies need Hamels to pitch like he did in 2008 for them to be successful in Game 3. Hamels will need to keep the Yankees hitters adjusting and off-balance all night to be successful. The key to this game will be Pettitte versus the Phillies running attack and the Phillies Jayson Werth. Werth has one of the best batting averages against left-handed pitching over the last two years.

The Phillies have announced their Game 4 starter as Joe Blanton and the Yankees are leaning towards the three-man rotation, meaning Game 1 starter CC Sabathia would pitch in Game 4. Blanton had been the Phillies most consistent starter throughout the 2009 season. Blanton pitched mostly out of the bullpen so far this postseason, though he made the Game 4 start in the NLCS against the Dodgers. Many of the Yankee hitters are familiar with Blanton from his days with the Oakland A’s. Sabathia was good in his first start of the World Series, but was out-pitched by his former teammate. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts his game plan and how the Phillies hitters adjust to him. A key to Game 4 is how long Blanton goes in the game. It could be a game that is determined by the bullpens. Another key will be Carlos Ruiz. It will be Blanton’s first go-round against the Yankees in the playoffs and he’ll need to rely on Ruiz. Ruiz will also need to be big at the plate to turn the lineup over to the speed and power.

Game 5, and the final World Series game in Philly, has the Phillies sending Game 1 starter Cliff Lee probably up against Yankees Game 2 starter AJ Burnett. Will Burnett be just as dominant as he was in Game 2 or will his wild side re-emerge? The Phillies hitters need to adjust and jump on the fastball early in the count. How will the Yankees hitters react to seeing Lee a second time? A key will be Yankees catcher Jose Molina. He will need to keep Burnett’s emotions in check and to keep everything in the dirt in front of him. Molina will also need to produce at the plate or he may be the first move Girardi makes in terms of pinch-hitting. However, Girardi could go with Jorge Posada as the catcher to get more offense, but it would be sacrificing defense and stability with Burnett.

It will be interesting to see if Girardi gets Hideki Matsui some playing time in the outfield with the 3 games in Philly. He has been one of the Yankees best hitters of late (3-for-6 in the World Series so far) and I find it hard to believe that Girardi would only get him 3 at-bats as a pinch-hitter in the 3 games. We will find out how good of a manager Girardi really is as he’ll have to manage pinch-hitters and game situations, along with double-switches.

Tags:

AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Carlos Ruiz, CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Hideki Matsui, Jayson Werth, Joe Blanton, Joe Girardi, Jose Molina, Phillies, World Series, Yankees

The 2009 World Series is truly a matchup of the two best teams in baseball. There is trash-talking, with each city’s media taking things to the extreme and trying to get the players involved. One NY newspaper depicted Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino in a cheerleading skirt and called the Phillies the “Frillies”. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins predicted the Phillies would win in 5 games. Both teams expect hostile crowds while on the road and Rollins loves to silence opposing teams’ home crowds. Plus he used to being hated in NY.

Both team’s ballparks are susceptible to the homerun as they were ranked in the top two in homeruns in Major League Baseball. Both team’s lineups are the two most-prolific homerun-hitting clubs in MLB. And as Nike stated in a 90’s ad, “chicks dig the long ball”. It’s not surprising that both teams sometimes live and die by the long ball. Both teams looked beatable in their respective league championship series, but both overcame their bullpen obstacles to win and advance. Both teams are led by their RBI machines: Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees and Ryan Howard of the Phillies. A-Rod has stripped the label of “postseason choke artist” and become the Yankees best postseason offensive threat. This will be A-Rod’s first World Series appearance. Howard has continued his usual late season hot streak into the postseason, earning NLCS MVP. Both tied the MLB postseason record for consecutive games with an RBI. It will be interesting to see how the managers elect to pitch to these two sluggers.

Both teams have a few questions marks in their lineups. The Phillies Chase Utley has a 25 straight postseason games of reaching base streak, which ties a ML record. Though he has been on base, he really has not been hitting (.211 against the Dodgers). The Phillies need more than just Victorino, Howard, and catcher Carlos Ruiz to produce. Rollins will need to be the fire-starter and put pressure on the pitchers and Jorge Posada behind the plate for the Phillies to be successful. Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher of the Yankees have been struggling throughout this postseason and some have talked about benching Swisher. The Yankees are relying on Swisher becoming the clutch hitter he has been all season long and Tex to be the power-hitting, RBI machine he was all season.

Both teams have question marks in the bullpen. Ryan Madson, the setup man for the Phillies has been inconsistent all season and has mostly struggled this postseason. Closer Brad Lidge seems to have found his 2008 self. Chad Durbin has been lights-out coming in to get out of jams and if his sinker is working, double-play balls will be common. Everyone else is either hurting or coming back from an injury (Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park, and Brett Myers) or inexperienced (Antonio Bastardo, Happ). Yes the Yankees have postseason sensation Mariano Rivera as their closer, but he has been far from dominant in the last year or so. Getting to Mo has been a challenge and manager Joe Girardi has been using him for more than an inning lately. I think that the young bullpen pitchers have struggled lately mainly due to overuse throughout the regular season. Look at box scores and some pitched almost every day (like Phil Coke and his 72 games). Alfredo Aceves ended up with 10 wins, mainly out of the bullpen. Dave Robertson was in the top 5 in the AL in strikeouts per nine innings (12.98) and has been dominant. Phil Hughes has been struggling though he has been the 8th inning setup man for most of the second-half. Since Girardi seems to have lost some confidence in his bullpen, Brian Bruney has been added to the roster and could regain his role of setup man if he dominates.

The pitching staffs are evenly matched. Both have seasoned playoff veterans in Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez. Both managers have decisions to make regarding their Game 4 starters.

Game 1: Cliff Lee @ CC Sabathia
This may be the best pitching matchup that the World Series has had in a long time. They are the last two American League CY Young award winners. They were teammates with the Cleveland Indians up until last July. Lee and his Indians opened up new Yankee Stadium this year against Sabathia and his Yankees, winning 10-2. Sabathia has pitched better than ever in this year’s postseason, rather than in year’s past and is earning every penny the Yankees are paying him. Lee has made other teams look silly for not pulling the trigger and adding him to their pitching staff. Lee has been dominant in his first experience in the postseason.

Game 2: Pedro Martinez @ AJ Burnett
Pedro is sure to hear “who’s your daddy?” throughout this game at Yankee Stadium. He was not well-liked in his Red Sox/Mets days when playing at Yankee Stadium, so it should be no different being with the Phillies. Pedro dominated the Dodgers in his lone playoff game this season for the Phillies (though the bullpen blew his win), and manager Charlie Manuel is hoping for Pedro’s continued playoff success. Burnett is known to be wild but can keep the damage to a minimum if he keeps his emotions in check. Burnett got lit up by the Phillies in back in May, but that was a long time ago. Manager Joe Girardi is hoping for an ALCS Game 2 type outing (6.1 IP, 2 R, 2BB, 1 HBP) from Burnett rather than ALCS Game 5 types outing (6+ IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP).

Game 3: Cole Hamels vs. Andy Pettitte

Pettitte is the seasoned playoff veteran and he continued his playoff dominance against the LA Angels in the ALCS, winning the deciding Game 6. That win was Pettitte’s 16th career postseason victory. Hamels was last year’s NLCS & World Series MVP. He has not been close to the same pitcher so far this year. The Phillies will need the 2009 version of Hamels to regain his 2008 form.

Game 4: Joe Blanton/JA Happ vs. Sabathia/Chad Gaudin/Joba Chamberlain
This is where the debate begins. Happ made his first start of 2009 at new Yankee Stadium back in May and dominated (though Brad Lidge blew the game). Blanton has been the most consistent starter for the Phillies and the backbone of the rotation. Both will be available out of the bullpen for the first two games and whoever pitched the least will probably get the Game 4 nod. Girardi has used the 3 –man rotation throughout this year’s playoffs, though Sabathia has been the only one to pitch on short rest. With only one guaranteed off-day (2 total) and inclement weather looming, can Girardi afford a 3-man rotation? Can all 3 pitch on 3 days rest? Gaudin only made one playoff appearance so far this postseason (1 inning) and Chamberlain has struggled out of the bullpen lately. Neither is stretched out for a long starting stint. Depending on the first three games of the series may dictate how Girardi chooses the Game 4 & 5 starters.

The Phillies won the season series in NY 2-1, though Lidge was not lights-out (2 blown saves and a loss). The Yankees are trying for their 27th World Series title (these reason Girardi wears number 27 on his jersey) and the Phillies are trying for their 2nd consecutive. Both teams have played loose throughout the postseason. On paper, the Yankees would be the choice to win, but the Dodgers on paper looked like the team to be in the World Series. It’s time to throw out all the stats and watch the two teams play ball. It should be exciting.

Tags:

AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Brad Lidge, Brian Bruney, CC Sabathia, Chad Durbin, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Dave Robertson, JA Happ, Jimmy Rollins, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Blanton, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, NY Yankees, Pedro Martinez, Phil Hughes, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Shane Victorino, World Series

Phillies 11, Dodgers 0 (Game 3): The Dodgers arrived in Philadelphia and knew they would have to deal with the weather and hostile crowds. They also had to deal with the buzz saw that is Cliff Lee. The Phillies received another dominant pitching performance from Lee (8IP, 3H, 0BB, 10K). The Phillies also got outstanding offensive performances from everyone up and down the lineup and it came early an often. The Phillies jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning, highlighted by a Ryan Howard 2-run triple and a Jayson Werth 2-run homer. In the 2nd, the Philadelphia Phillies jumped out to a 6-0 lead, knocking Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda out of the game. Despite the overall solid bullpen performance from the Dodgers, Lee was virtually unhittable for the entire Dodgers lineup, except for Manny Ramirez. Carlos Ruiz continued his hot-hitting against the Dodgers, collecting 2 hits, an RBI, and 2 runs scored. The exclamation point to the game came in the bottom of the 8th when Shane Victorino blasted a 3-run homer to right field on an inside fastball.

Angels 5, Yankees 4 in 11 innings (Game 3): The Yankees and Angels yet again battled into extra innings. Against Angels starter Jered Weaver, the Yankees got 3 solo homeruns from Derek Jeter (whose HR led off the game), Alex Rodriguez, and Johnny Damon. The Angels battled back against starter Andy Pettitte, getting a solo homerun from Howie Kendrick and a 2-run homerun from Vladimir Guerrero (his first RBIs of the ALCS). After Pettitte was lifted for Joba Chamberlain in the 7th, the Angels offense went to work and finally scored a run to take the lead at 4-3 on a Kendrick triple and a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Maicer Izturis. This lead was short-lived as Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen gave up a solo homerun to Jorge Posada to tie the game in the 8th. This could have been worse, but pinch-runner Brett Gardner was thrown out trying to steal second while Posada was batting. The game then became a battle of the bullpens. In the bottom of the 11th, newly inserted catcher Jeff Mathis led off the inning with a double off of Phil Hughes. The Angels then loaded the bases against Mariano Rivera, but could not get a run across with the heart of the order up. In the bottom of the 11th after Dave Robertson got two quick outs, manger Joe Girardi decided to go to Alfredo Aceves to face Kendrick. Kendrick singled and Mathis followed with another double off the left field wall, scoring Kendrick from first base to win the game. Mathis is a career .200 hitter and only had 8 doubles all season, but now has 3 doubles in the ALCS. The Angels needed the win in LA to get back in the series and they celebrated on the field accordingly. The Angels will send lefty Scott Kazmir to the mound in Game 4 against the Yankees CC Sabathia on 3-days rest.

Phillies 5, Dodgers 4 (Game 4): The Phillies capped the night of postseason games by providing more late-inning drama. Phillies starter Joe Blanton was cruising along through the Dodgers order with an early 2-0 lead thanks to a Ryan Howard first inning 2-run blast. However in the 4th, Blanton struggled giving up three hits and two walks, with 2-out RBIs from James Loney and Russell Martin. Meanwhile Los Angeles Dodgers starter Randy Wolf pitched well after the 2-run first inning. Matt Kemp belted a solo homerun to dead center on an elevated 2-0 pitch to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. Casey Blake delivered another 2-out RBI in the next inning to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. Blake had been 1-for-25 against Blanton in his career. The Phillies finally started to get to Wolf in the 6th, ending his night. Shane Victorino tripled, Chase Utley hit an RBI single, and Howard walked. Ronald Belisario came in and got Jayson Werth to ground into a force out, and Hong-Chih Kuo got Raul Ibanez to line out to left field to end the inning. The 4-3 lead for the Dodgers held up until the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, closer Jonathon Broxton walked pinch-hitter Matt Stairs and hit Carlos Ruiz. After getting pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs to line out, Jimmy Rollins came up and ripped a 99 mph fastball into the right-center field gap, driving in the tying and winning runs. All of this sent both the Phillies players and their fans into a frenzy. In Game 5 and the possible clincher for the Phillies, they will send Cole Hamels to the mound hoping to rebound from his Game 1 loss. The Dodgers will counter with former Phillies Vicente Padilla, who stifled the Phillies in Game 2.

Tags:

ALCS, Andy Pettitte, Cliff Lee, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Jered Weaver, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Blanton, Jonathon Broxton, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, NLCS, NY Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Randy Wolf, Ryan Howard

This is a rematch of last year’s championship series. Will it come down to a rematch of Dodgers closer Jonathon Broxton versus Phillies pinch-hitter Matt Stairs? If Phillies closer Brad Lidge can stay on track, the Phillies will be in good shape. The Dodgers are seeking redemption after losing last year in the NLCS. The Dodgers also have home-field advantage with home games in Games 1, 2, 6, and 7.

This series is evenly matched. Both teams are very good defensively, though the Dodgers give up some defense when Ronnie Belliard is in the lineup over Orlando Hudson at second base. Both teams can pitch. The Phillies starting rotation has been its strong suit since acquiring Cliff Lee. The Dodgers rotation had been a question mark, though against the Cardinals, they were impressive (except for Randy Wolf). The Phillies bullpen has been a weakness all season though collectively pitched well in the NLDS. They need to get Ryan Madson back on track, while keeping Lidge steady. The Philadelphia Phillies have decided to go with 11 pitchers in the NLCS, so as to add an extra hitter off the bench. The Phillies added Chan Ho Park (who has been out with an injury) and lost Brett Myers and Kyle Kendrick. They will also have Joe Blanton and JA Happ available out of the bullpen for Games 1 & 2. The Dodgers bullpen has been one of the best in the league. Add in starter Chad Billingsley and it makes them better. The Dodgers starters need only go 6 innings with the backend reliever combination of Hong-Chih Kuo, George Sherrill, and Broxton. Both teams hit. The Dodgers have speed and power, with Rafael Furcal and Matt Kemp at the top followed by Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier, and James Loney. The Phillies also have speed and power, with Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino at the top followed by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez (who is heating up at the right time). The Phillies need Rollins to snap out of his season long slump that he has carried into the postseason. Both teams have veterans off the bench: the Dodgers have Mark Loretta (NLDS Game 2 hero), Jim Thome, and Juan Pierre, and the Phillies have Stairs, Gregg Dobbs, Eric Bruntlett (just added to the NLCS roster), and Miguel Cairo. Both teams have experienced managers: the Dodgers have Joe Torre and all his experience with the NY Yankees and the Phillies have Charlie Manuel and his 2008 World Series ring. This is a series I see taking seven games to crown a National League Champion.

Game 1: Cole Hamels @ Clayton Kershaw
Hamels has been dominant against the Dodgers in his career (4GS, 2-0, 1.50 ERA) and at Dodger Stadium (16 GS, 3-4, 1.83 ERA). However, the Dodgers have hit left-handed pitchers better than right-handers this year. Kershaw has been dominant at home this year (2 GS, 1-0, 1.12 ERA), though he hasn’t had success against the Phillies in his career (4 GS, 0-3, 6.64 ERA). Kershaw will need to be dominant against the lefty heavy Phillies lineup.
Game 2: Pedro Martinez @ Vicente Padilla
Pedro hasn’t pitched since September 30th and that was only a 4 inning outing. The coaches indicate that Pedro looked good in his bullpens and that he could throw anywhere from 70-100 pitches Friday night. Pedro wasn’t so confident, at least in his comments: “I threw on the side and in the bullpen, but that’s not enough,” he said. My two innings of BP were a little bit erratic, wild a little bit.” So he doesn’t think he was sharp. Padilla was sharp in his Game 2 NLDS start against the Cardinals, going seven shutout innings. In his ten previous regular season starts, Padilla didn’t go more than 6 innings. This should be an interesting game between 2 veterans with something to prove.
Game 3: Cliff Lee vs. Huroki Kuroda
Lee was masterful in his first two career playoff starts (both in the NLDS against the Rockies). Kuroda has been out since September 28th with a neck injury. If the weather is cold in Philly, this could hinder Kuroda’s effectiveness. Torre seemed confident in Kuroda’s outings in hot Arizona in an instructional league game.
Game 4: Joe Blanton/JA Happ vs. Randy Wolf
This start comes down to who doesn’t get used as much out of the bullpen for the Phillies. Happ only pitched once against the Dodgers in 2009 and that was 2/3 of an inning in relief. Blanton made one start against the Dodgers in 2009, pitching six innings and giving up just one run on five hits. Wolf, who pitched well in the second half for the Los Angeles Dodgers but struggled in the NLDS against the Cardinals, is familiar with pitching in hostile Philly. Wolf hasn’t faired well against the Phillies this year, at least against the right-handed hitters and at Dodger Stadium. The left-handed hitting Phillies have yet to score a run against him, with just one hit and nine strikeouts. Wolf won his start at Citizens Bank Park, going 6 innings while giving up just one run on three hits and striking out eight.
Key Matchups:
Jayson Werth vs. the Dodgers lefty relievers: Werth had 14 HR in 2009 against left-handed pitching with a .302 batting average. He also walked more than he struck out (37 BB/ 33 K). He will be key hitting between lefties Howard and Ibanez. Sherrill faced right-handed hitters in 17.2 innings with a 1.02 ERA, allowing 15 hits and 2 runs. He walked 9 and struck out 10. Kuo faced right-handed hitters in 20.1 innings allowing 16 hits and 7 runs with a 3.02 ERA. He walked 7 and struck out 16.
Clayton Kershaw vs. the Phillies left-handed hitters (Utley, Howard, Ibanez): Versus lefties this season, Kershaw has 41.1 innings pitched, giving up 24 hits and 10 runs (1 HR), with 11 BB and 72 K. Utley hit .288 against lefties with 11 HR, 14 doubles, and 33 RBIs. He also had 35 walks and only struck out 37 times. Howard only hit .207, with 6 HR, 13 doubles, and 33 RBIs. He walked 25 times, but struck out 83 times. Ibanez hit .285 with 13 HR, 10 doubles, and 40 RBIs. He walked 16 times and struck out 41 times. It will be key for Kershaw (and the other left-handed pitchers) to neutralize these Philly lefties in order to advance to the World Series. These Philly left-handed hitters will need to produce in order for the Phillies to advance.

Tags:

Clayton Kershaw, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Huroki Kuroda, JA Happ, Jayson Werth, Joe Blanton, LA Dodgers, NLCS, Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies, Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla

The Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies are very similar. They were the top two power clubs in the National League. The Rockies had four players with at least 20 homers (Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart, Clint Barmes, and Brad Hawpe) and the Phillies have four players with at least 30 homers (Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, and Chase Utley). They both have strong starting pitching.

The Phillies have been carried by Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, JA Happ, and late season additions Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez. The Rockies have been carried by Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, Jorge De La Rosa, and Jason Hammel.

The Rockies don’t have any big names in their rotations, but these five get the job done and keep the high-powered Rockies offense in the game. The rotation has five guys with 10 or more wins. Both teams have World Series experience. In 2007, the Rockies and Phillies faced off in the NLDS and the Rockies swept on their way to the World Series.

Last year, the Phillies won it all. This year, the Phillies hope to redeem themselves on their way to repeating. During the season, the Phillies held a 4-2 edge, winning 2 out of 3 home and away. Both Lee and Happ dominated at home for the Phillies.

The Phillies were 2nd in the league in steals with the Majors’ highest success rate, led by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Werth. However, their on-base percentages are not good. The Rockies had 8 walk-off hits and won 17 games in their final at-bat. They have a different hero every night and do not rely on one single player to dominate or produce.

A key matchup late in the game would be: Rockies lefty reliever Franklin Morales vs. Phillies lefty slugger Ryan Howard. Morales has a power fastball with a good breaking ball and Howard is relied on so heavily in the lefty-dominated Phillies lineup. Howard is 0-for-3 with 2 Ks in his career against Morales.

Rockies Strengths:
*Veteran leadership: Todd Helton and Jason Giambi provide leadership to the young guys on an everyday basis. Helton has been in Colorado for his entire career and is a consummate professional. Giambi, who struggled in his return to Oakland, came over in a late season deal and has been rejuvenated as a pinch-hitter in Colorado.

*Closers: The Rockies have two choices when it comes down to closing out games. Both Huston Street and Morales are capable of finishing the deal. Street, who came over in the off-season deal for Matt Holliday, has been great (35 saves, 2 blown saves). Morales, who took over as closer when Street was on the DL, also has been lights out. The Rockies are 83-1 when leading after 8 innings.

*Speed & versatility: The Rockies have speed with centerfielder Dexter Fowler leading off and a combination of Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Spilborghs, and Seth Smith in left field. If the speed gets on in front of sluggers Helton, Hawpe, and Tulowitzki, the Phillies could be in trouble. They have about 5 guys who can get the job done in the outfield (Hawpe, Fowler, Gonzalez, Smith, & Spilborghs), along with 2 third baseman (Garrett Akins & Ian Stewart) and 2 catchers (Chris Iannetta & Yorvit Torrealba). Any one of these guys can be a difference maker in a game.

*Power: As I mentioned above, the Rockies have sluggers. With the series being played in hitter and homer friendly parks (Citizens Bank Park & Coors Field), this series could be a slugfest.

Rockies Weaknesses:
*Inconsistencies on offense: The Rockies offense has been up and down all year. They scored a ton of runs against the Brewers in the last week of the season, but followed that up by only scoring 7 runs in three games against the Dodgers.

*Inabilities to hit left-handed pitching: This has led to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel contemplating starting 3 straight lefties against the Rockies (Lee, Hamels, and Happ). Helton has the highest average against lefties (.311), with the nest best average being Tulowitzki’s .269. The Rockies lineup can be as lefty heavy as the Phillies.

*The rotation: I mentioned above that the Rockies rotation has been one of its strongest parts. It has also been a question mark. Cook has only made 2 starts since coming off of the DL. He says he feels good and the 2 starts showed how dominant he can be. There has been talk about Marquis again not making the playoff roster because of his second-half struggles.

Jimenez has been a workhorse, but how will the bright lights and pressure of pitching in Philly affect him? De La Rosa was injured in his last start and his health is up in the air. He won 16 games, but may have been the most inconsistent of them all. The latest news has him NOT on the NLDS roster due to that groin injury

Rockies Key Players:
*Seth Smith: From the left side of the plate, Smith has been clutch since coming up late in 2007. He has a .472 pinch-hitting batting average. 30 of his 54 RBIs this season have come in the 7th inning or later.
*Ryan Spilborghs: From the right side of the plate, Spilborghs has a .347 batting average in 2009 against the Phillies.

Phillies Strengths:
*Defense: The Phillies defense has the second fewest errors in MLB. With Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley up the middle in the infield, Shane Victorino (1 error) in center, and Carlos Ruiz (3 errors) behind the plate, the middle of the playing field is covered. Ryan Howard has worked hard at his defense and Pedro Feliz is a magnet at third.

Raul Ibanez (2 errors) and Jayson Werth are solid, with Werth having an outstanding arm (11 outfield assists). The Phillies will not hurt themselves by putting extra men on base by committing errors.

*The rotation (1-4): Manager Charlie Manuel hasn’t decided on the rotation yet, but he has named Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels as Game one and two starters respectively. If Manuel decides to take advantage of the Rockies inability to hit lefties, JA Happ would be the logical choice for Game three. If not, Joe Blanton, who has been a workhorse all year, would start Game three (or possibly Game four). Pedro Martinez, a late season acquisition who has been great when healthy, is also an option. As of late though, the rotation has struggled, especially Lee and Hamels.

*Offense: As I mentioned, the Phillies have sluggers and can put up huge offensive numbers. However, they tend to live and die by the homerun ball. If they can be consistent, it could be a slugfest.
*Experience: Except for Ibanez in the starting lineup, the rest of the Phillies were a part of the World Series winning team. The experience of playing in the pressure-packed atmosphere should help in calming any nerves.

Phillies Weaknesses:*Bullpen: This is their biggest glaring weakness. The questions include: Who will close? Who is healthy? Who is the lefty? Who makes the roster? Manuel had auditions all weekend in Philly to see what he had and what each pitcher had to offer. Both Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge are probably the 2 choices to close games, though neither has been “lights out”. Madson had 10 saves, with 6 blown saves, and Lidge, who didn’t blow a save all of 2008, blew 11 saves with an ERA over 7. The Phillies are 79-10 when leading after 8 innings.

*Pedro’s health (and everyone else’s): Pedro could be a huge asset if healthy. He has tons of playoff experience and could either start, be the long reliever, or maybe even close.
*The bull’s eye: The Phillies won the World Series last year and everyone all year wanted a piece of them. This postseason will be no different. Will the Phillies falter under the pressure of trying to repeat or will they succeed?
Phillies Key Player:

*Carlos Ruiz: Ruiz is the rock behind the Phillies pitching staff. Last year, Ruiz got hot offensively during the playoffs. He could put extra pressure on the Rockies pitching staff if he can hit in the number 8 hole. His defense behind the plate can be game-changing, especially when Lidge comes in burying the slider into the ground.

Tags:

Aaron Cook, Cole Hamels, Colorado Rockies, Ian Stewart, JA Happ, Jason Marquis, Jayson Werth, Joe Blanton, Jorge De La Rosa, Philadelphia Phillies, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez