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 Tommy from NY
please – hope phillies blow save
Posted: 11:29 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Is Scott Eyre not avaliable?
Posted: 11:29 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Park fan
Should have kept Park… Madison looks horrible… -_-
Posted: 11:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 chuckS
did anyone else think that brad lidge would be better then madson in the post season
Posted: 11:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
its like Madson has no control.
Posted: 11:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
I would say he’s pitching like crap tonite. comeon madson, settle down.
Posted: 11:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Trying to calm down, trying to breath…Mad Dog is not making it easier.
Posted: 11:30 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
Damn, good thing we got some insurance runs. Who’s left out there, Blanton & Eyre?
Madson didn’t look good the other night either.
Posted: 11:31 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
ok. one out. try to breathe…
Posted: 11:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Mad Dog you can do this. I believe.
Posted: 11:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
waving towels……let’s go phillies!!! C’mon Mad Dog!!! You can do it!
Posted: 11:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
madson has got to get furcal and ethier…before the power guys come up.
Posted: 11:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Eyre is ready to go. I just hope Charlie doesn’t wait too long.
Posted: 11:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GrammarPolice
Tommy from NY, please take your bad English and negativity somewhere else.
Posted: 11:35 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
seeing Lidge up in the pen this years gives you an idea of how the opponents must have felt last year…..one big knot in your stomach!
Posted: 11:36 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
Waiving good luck towel…. Please bring Scott in….
Posted: 11:36 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 maddog
Madson is pitching like he did when he first started in the pen. What’s wrong with him.
Posted: 11:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
The Phillies have to play all 27 innings because their pen forces them to. I am convinced of this.
Posted: 11:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Pooomie
can’t stinkin’ stand this stress/anxiety
Posted: 11:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
ok…2 outs. let’s go phils…get either now.
Posted: 11:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Madson is DEFINATELY looking like Lidge now. 2 runs. Can they get out this with a 2 run lead? The other question is, can they actually get a save in the 9th against this lineup this year?
Posted: 11:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
Tommy from NY has zero life and needs to get one. He spends his times on Phillies boards trying to talk smack. Seriously? thats what you do with your time? Youre pathetic.
Posted: 11:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Does Charlie not have access to the same info I do and that Ethier is absolutely awful vs lefties? 194 vs lefties, 302 vs righties.
Posted: 11:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Pooomie
so true Ed
Posted: 11:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
enough already. u cannot walk this guy madson…damn. throw strikes.
Posted: 11:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
This is what I was afraid of with this bullpen.
Posted: 11:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Terri
I can’t take this
Posted: 11:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
this just dos not look pretty. we have to go into the 9th with at least a two run lead. The dodgers are dangerous in the 9th and get a lot of walk offs.
Posted: 11:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
great. just friggin great. Madson is killing us.
Posted: 11:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
LA says: “I really don’t understand Charlie not going to Scott Eyre there.”
Posted: 11:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 fitz
PLEASE DON”T BLOW THIS GAME
Posted: 11:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
Ughhhh……
Posted: 11:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
chollie needs to do something, no?
Posted: 11:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Why are the playing a song from Rocky in LA? Do these morons know that Rocky was set in Philadelphia? DUH.
Posted: 11:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
I forgot how much I cannot stand the MANNY MANNY MANNY shit from last year.
Anyone remember his 50 game suspension, too? I do.
Posted: 11:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Holding my breath..
Posted: 11:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
YES. FINALLY.
Posted: 11:43 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
WHEW!!!
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
Ok boys lets get lidge some insurance.
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Breathe.
And now this means we get to do it all over again B9.
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
you guys glad he didn’t walk him and put the tying run at second?
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
finally. we can all breathe again (barely). this stress is unfrigginbelievable.
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
That was painful
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
Thank you Pete!
Posted: 11:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
I’m..uh…sorry I might not have responded…I was just left catatonic by that sequence of events. Oh my God, man, I’m close to hyperventilating. Wow.
Posted: 11:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
ok….good….now all we need are about seven more runs to make us all comfortable.
Posted: 11:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
I still find it completely funny that those IDIOTS play a song from Rocky which was based in Philadelphia when they are playing the Philadelphia Phillies.
Posted: 11:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
tonite’s MVP is definitely Chooch. Besides his homer to start it off, he’s keeping the staff on track – as best as anyone can.
Anyone agree with that nomination?
Posted: 11:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
What is wrong with Maddog. We should be up 8-1 in this game. The Rollins and Utley boot and then Madson comes in and looks horrible. The offense keeps giving us runs and we keep giving them back.
Posted: 11:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Okay, I have faith in Lidge. He won’t have to face Manny, so that’s something. Lidge exorcises some of his demons in the bottom of the 9th. I am sure of it.
Does Madson not have the guts for situations like that, or does he just half-ass it until he absolutely cannot afford to do so anymore?
Broxton unhittable at Dodger Stadium? How soon they forget.
Posted: 11:47 PM on October 15, 2009