Comments on: NLCS Preview Part I : The Offense … Excluding Manny

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:01:39 +0000

He’s like 5-0.. and the Phillies are 10-4 in his starts or something… but his ERA is around a 4.00, so he hasn’t been great, but he hasn’t been bad… he’s better than most other teams’ #4 pitchers, and definitely better than what our other options would have been

By: bigmyc

bigmyc — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:59:32 +0000

Blanton has not been terrible. Inconsistent, yes. Terrible, no.

Has he even lost a game in the National League? He hasn’t won many, but he’s here to pitch solidly. If he puts the other teams’ lights out, that’s whatcha call a, “bonus.”

By: Greg F.

Greg F. — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:42:50 +0000

I like this match-up with the right arm heavy Dodgers. I also think it will take six or the full seven to win this, and that’s because of the X factor; time zone travel and the Phils home field advantage. I would not travel Hamels or Meyers to Los Angeles. Send them home to rest and avoid the trip west which is depleting. Send Moyers, Blanton and Happ out for 3-5, and have a rested Hamels/Meyers duo waiting on the team to return. Don’t underestimate how much time zone travel depletes a team. The Phils will feel it for game three, but the Dodgers will have it much worse for games six and seven with body clock way ahead eastern time. West coast teams heading all the way east on short rest have traditionally underperformed.

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:35:09 +0000

Actually Harper, I meant “wreak.” Careless. But I do love how you guys point out my carelessness. Thanks.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:34:10 +0000

Don M~ Fortunately, the “Bums” don’t have a Burrell on their team and I rather take my chances with “other Dodgers…” than have Manny be a killjoy with his bat.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:33:46 +0000

Hamels and Myers should be allowed to attack Manny, and honestly, when Moyer and Blanton are hitting their spots, they should be allowed to attack too. Moyer is pretty aggressive for an old spot pitcher. Blanton can deal when he is on fire. I think if Moyer and Blanton pitch well in their starts the Phillies have the inside track at winning the series. The Phillies destroyed Kershaw in their last meeting with him (only lasted a few innings). Lowe is experienced and tough but not invinceable. Billingsley is very good but hes due for a whooping. Kuroda is due for an ass beating too because hes been good in his starts against them. So you send out Kershaw or Maddux in Gamne 4.

I think this sets up very well for the Phillies. Everyone of these Dodgers starters is beatable assuming they dont perform like they did against Dave Bush. I like their chances here, Im thinking theyre going to get it done and get to the WS.

By: Harper

Harper — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:22:51 +0000

Tim, didn’t you mean wreck the most havoc?

By: LH

LH — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:12:39 +0000

good analysis Tim

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:06:35 +0000

Same way the Brewers pitched around Howard, and then had to tip their cap when Burrell went yard… we would have to make the other-Dodgers beat us..

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:59:35 +0000

If the Phillies can use the same tactic that the Brewers had with Howard (walked seven times) when facing Manny Ramirez, they can avoid a potential disaster that this great hitter presents.

While Hamels (2 hits for 8 ABs) and Myers (3 hits for 19 ABs) had success against Manny Ramirez, it’s a different story elsewhere in the rotation. Pitchers Ramírez faced in the American League , Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton, he had great success against. Moyer, who would seem just the type to struggle with a patient hitter like Ramírez, has surrendered 10 homers to Ramírez among his 18 hits. Joe Blanton has fared worse, knocked around for a .560 average.

Advice to Moyer and Blanton.. don’t give Manny a chance to hit and pitch around him at every opportunity.

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:47:02 +0000

LA Times had an article about how Kershaw will probably get the nod to balance out the LH power from the Phillies ..

By: Griffin

Griffin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:36:39 +0000

Did the Dodgers announce their game 4 starter yet? I hope they go with Maddux instead of the young lefty Kershaw.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:27:52 +0000

I think the Phillies are better than this team and I ultimately expect them to win the Pennant and get to the World Series. It may, and perhaps will, take 6 or 7 games. Like I said before, despite all the complaints and all their percieved weaknesses, they can beat the Dodgers and if the Rays make it to the WS I think they match up really well against them and are primed to put the stops on the Rays’ magical run and recapture the WS crown for the first time since 1980. I dont want to run into the Red Sox again…too much playoff experience there for my comfort.

Well worry about that later though, for now, this is a good year for the Phillies to have a chance at this run. The Angels are gone now, the Cubs are out of the way, Sabathia is out of the way, and things are lining up really great for them if they can get past the Dodgers, a tough and well-managed team with very good pitching. Charlie will have them focused and ready and I think they will win Game 1 behind Hamels’ dominant left arm again. Lowe is very beatable when he doesnt paint the corners.

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:18:49 +0000

A lot of people were saying who picked the Dodgers over the Phillies etc…

I went to espn.com.. and looked up their orignal postseason picks. 18 “experts” in total.

7 picked the Angels, 6 picked the Cubs, 2 picked the RedSox, 2 picked the Dodgers, and 1 picked the Rays to win the World Series

6 of the experts had the Cubs and Angels playing each other in the World Series…

So I don’t care too much who these guys pick, because I would have been wrong on every series except the Phillies too, and the point is that nobody knows how it will turn out.. thats why the games aren’t played on paper

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:16:20 +0000

What about having him go on 60 pitches or something.. and having Blaton take over in like the 4th or 5th to start the inning.. ???

Make sure you guys dont start going crazy about Blanton…. up until Sundat at 1:00… he was “terrbile”

I don’t think they’ll do anything with Hamels on short rest either, but it is possible to pitch him on short-rest.. and you know other teams would do that. and he’d be fully rested in a game #7 in they needed it. or is it better to have him throw game #5 on full rest??

By: MP

MP — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:10:39 +0000

yeah no way cole goes three games or on short rest. it would be foolish for him to do so. he should get the second game on full rest and then rest up until the world series!!!

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:09:25 +0000

I think Blanton earned himself a start in game four. The only way they start Hamels, possibly, is if they’re down 0-3.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:09:07 +0000

the lack of lefty pitchers on their staff provides a huge advantage. I’m sure we will get to it, but if they only have one lefty in the pen, should we split chase and Ryan?

By: Georgie

Georgie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:08:04 +0000

Don, although that would be great, I don’t see Hamels doing that, he’s just not durable enough. He’s literally like half the size of Sabathia (the Beast) and imo doesn’t have the stamina to overuse his arm like that. He has stated himself many times that he keeps close track of his pitch count, and seeing as how he’s already over his career high in innings pitched this year, doubtful we’ll see our ace 3 times.

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:52:28 +0000

What I didn’t think about was the fact that the Phillies will be facing 3 RHP to start the series… and that might be a great thing to get Utley and Howard going! Hamels-Lowe, Myers-Billingsley, Moyer- Kuroda, Blanton-Kershaw..

I’d love to see Hamels step up for Game #4 though on 3 days rest… and then Game #7 would be on full rest… if you could pitch him 3 games out of 7.. that would give us a distinct advantage.. time to help the team Cole