NLCS Gameday: Phillies at Dodgers, Game 1
Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, October 15, 2009 07:30 PM | Comments: 597
Gameday 2009, Posts
Philadelphia Phillies 
at Los Angeles Dodgers
Cole Hamels, LHP vs. Clayton Kershaw, LHP
Time: 8:07 p.m at Dodger Stadium
Weather: Clear, 69
TV: TBS
Twitter: Phillies Nation
The National League Championship Series begins tonight. For the second consecutive year and the fifth time overall (tied for the MLB record) the Phillies and the Dodgers are the last remaining teams in the senior circuit.
Cole Hamels, fresh off paternity leave, will take to
the hill tonight for the Phillies. His last game was certainly not his best postseason performance. In an abbreviated start against the Rockies last week, he allowed four runs on four hits in five innings. On the other hand, he was lights out against the Dodgers during the regular season with a complete game shutout at Chavez Ravine. Dodger hitters are .228/.261/. 368 lifetime with 31 hits and 29 strikeouts in 136 combined at bats.
The matchup on paper favors Cole; after that though, the bullpen numbers are not as favorable – particularly for Scott Eyre and more recently Brad Lidge. One could surmise that the longer Cole pitches, the better chance the Phillies have.
On the flip side, we have Clayton Kershaw – another young gun. Don’t let his 8-8 record (0-2 against the Phils) this season fool you, his 2.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 7 homers in 171 games are the numbers to focus on tonight. This lefty is stingy with his fastball and nasty curve. He has a tendency to work the outside corner against lefties at the plate. We know this guy has good stuff but the question remains – can the 21-year old handle the pressure of the postseason and the Phillies lineup?
Tonight’s Lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C), Hamels (P).
Your Gameday Beer – Kenzinger
Tonight the Philadelphia Brewery brings you Kenzinger, named after the lovely corner of the city known as Kensington. The beer evokes many of the same feelings as the 19125. Its retro facade hides a classic beer taste – yet it won’t go down without a strong bitter bite. Have some perogies alongside it for dinner, then sit back and enjoy some NLCS for dessert. – By Brian
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 Andrew
Off to watch the game at a friends house. Hopefully when I get back I can post some glowing thoughts about Cole Hamels. this is the beginning of the title defense. Go phils.
Posted: 07:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mostone
I saw there were tix available at the box office in LA today. What a disgrace.
Posted: 07:47 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 John Snowden
mostone … i totally agree …but thats what you get when you lets nihilists become baseball fans. (yah lebowski ve donse beleise in nasing.)
Posted: 07:51 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Let’s go Cole. Beating Kershaw in game 1 would be a huge blow to the Dodgers.
Posted: 07:53 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 John Snowden
I like how the Phillies and Dodgers and playing tonight and NOT the yankees, nor is TBS even broadcasting the yankees. Any yet, almost the entire pregame show was spent talking about the yankees. Good grief, I know I should be used to it, but come on, not even the same network! … or DAY?!
Posted: 07:53 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 John Snowden
alright … let’s think optimistically and chug a beer for every Ryan Howard A. stolen base & B. triple. …any thoughts/new rules?
Posted: 07:59 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 John Snowden
chip caray looks like a younger darker haired joe buck …with even less personality.
Posted: 08:01 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Great patience by the lead off hitter.
Plenty of room and empty seats behind the plate.
Posted: 08:08 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
These announcers are already annoying. Jimmy Rollins pops up, and they make it sound like they won the series.
Posted: 08:09 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Victorino is such a friggin tard on the bases anymore its ridiculous.
Posted: 08:13 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike G.
Jesus h christ what a dumbass
Posted: 08:13 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
That was pathetic base running all around by Vic.
Posted: 08:13 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
the thing that makes me mad is that we knew he was throwing over because we could see that he didn’t get a sign
Posted: 08:14 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
I think Vic probably should have waited on first with Utleys at bat, and tagged up.
Posted: 08:15 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tommy from NY
It is dodgers time this year – lets go dodgers
Posted: 08:15 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Steven
Mr. walk-off? Holy crap what a dick rider
Posted: 08:15 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
I thought the same thing. He has like 3 walk offs doesnt he? I dont he even ranks in the top 3 of Walks offs, how is he “Mr Walk off”?
Posted: 08:17 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Steven
well he does play for the almighty dodgers…
Posted: 08:18 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
did anyone see them boobs when manny fouled that off near werth woo hoo
Posted: 08:21 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
This is where we need Cole to start improving. He’s had trouble finishing guys off all season.
Posted: 08:22 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Well Manny is known for taking estrogen pills, so whos boobs where you talking about?
Posted: 08:24 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Manny’s boobs ray?
Posted: 08:25 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
lot of pitches but hey no runs we’ll take it
Posted: 08:26 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
96 from Cole? Shiiiiiiiiit, looking good so far
Posted: 08:27 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Don’t waste your money on MLB’s “Postseason TV” — I’ve spent the last 20 minutes fighting with it, and it doesn’t work as advertised.
Posted: 08:27 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Pedro in game 2 is a mistake. Blanton our 2nd best pitcher has not started at all. What a waste Charlie. We owe Pedro nothing. 97.5 Were killing Chip about the TBS crew that did the other series. Saying how bad they were and killing the Phillies. LOL
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
You’re supposed to be able to see multiple views of the game at once, but every time I try to show more than one view, I get a “media error.” And I have a very good high-speed connection.
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
lol no joedad…. unless it’s fouled off that way we won’t see her…white tight shirt… she’s down the right field line when werth was running near the foul pole
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Table
Ethier has hit 6 walkoffs this year and 3 last year. I think he may have hit walkoffs against the Phillies back to back games as well.
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Did I read that correctly, this game was NOT sold out? That is a complete Disgrace. WTF. The Phillies sold out every singe home game of the year, and they cant sell out Game one of the NLCS? Pathetic.
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
Yeah he did, but I attribute those to Lidge more than Ethier
Posted: 08:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Where did you read that the game was not sold out?
Posted: 08:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Not a bad at bat honestly.
Posted: 08:31 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
Dang we have been so close on Utley’s and Howard’s hits
Posted: 08:31 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Table
Pretty sure that the Dodgers led the majors in attendance. Just saying
Posted: 08:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Thanks ray, I’ll keep an eye out
Jeff, shouldn’t you be watching hockey after swearing off the PHils and baseball after the snow out in CO?
Posted: 08:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
mostone (the 2nd post) said it. He/she saw they were still selling tickets in LA at the box office. Not sure if its true. If it is, thats completely pathetic.
Posted: 08:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
wow kershaw being compared to koufax..lol
Posted: 08:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
The game was not sold out, tickets were available via box office. A buddy of mine who is out there for work went and bought two tickets this afternoon at face value.
Posted: 08:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tommy from NY
Manny got no power and always strike out. Guess he need some steroid drugs to hit more homerun.
Posted: 08:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Looking at the stands it doesnt look sold out.
Posted: 08:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Table
ray- Can’t even compare Koufax to Kershaw at 21. Kershaw is far superior.
Posted: 08:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Tracey, I heard the same thing about MLB from some other posters here.
The Phils are just missing this guy’s pitches.
Posted: 08:35 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
Let the TBS blowjobs begin
Posted: 08:35 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mostone
I saw on the Comcast pre-game show that people were walking up to the box office and buying tickets today. It may have sold out by game time.
Posted: 08:36 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 josh
Wow..that was low..Cole doesn’t get that pitch earlier
Posted: 08:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
The MLB mediacenter video and audio had always worked fine for me, so I thought the special post-season multi-view would add something to the game-watching experience. All it added was aggravation. And if a computer professional can’t get it to work, it’s crap.
Posted: 08:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ryan
what else is new josh? i can’t stand these umps
Posted: 08:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Damn, Kershaw is dealing.
Posted: 08:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Table
Ticketing for the NLCS is wierd. initially ony 4,500 tickets were released to the public. Season ticket holders get first dibs, and others need to buy gameday.
Posted: 08:38 PM on October 15, 2009