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 Jacob
anyone think TBS in general has a dodger bias?
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
YEAH!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jacob
CHOOOOOCHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
choooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
HELL YEAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Senor Octobre strikes again.
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH CARLOS FOR PRESIDENT CLUTCH CLUTCH CLUTCH MR OCTOBERRRRRRRRRRRR
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 msarg29
I knew Ruiz was going to drive one.
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
CHOOOOOOOCHHHHH!!!!
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
I can not longer comment on that msarg29, the game went out here, I cant even see it. Oh and SWEET!!!!!!!!!!! CHOOCH!
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Yeah Cooooch
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jacob
Chooch = clutchest (if that’s a word) player in baseball
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
No joke…i was just saying to my daughter…”How sweet would it be if Chooch stroked a 3 run homer here?”
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
No Jacob, TBS does not have a dodgers bias, they have a Philly hatred.
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
God dang, Chooch is good in October.
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
Kershaw has lost it, he’s completely falling apart
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
O baby Rodger Dodger, Phils score off baby Koufax
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
NOW IT STARTS. Hamels walks.
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
That’s the power of Chooch ….Ruiz smurfed that crap out of that
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Maybe the Phillies caught on. 3-0, no outs, walks the pitcher. Nice. Lets keep this going.
Posted: 09:35 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jacob
very true Ed
Posted: 09:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Boy, I hope we get ore runs before they lift Kershaw and go to that very good bullpen.
Posted: 09:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
LOL… TBS guy said Chooch = Secret Weapon
Posted: 09:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
My computer is a little slow, so my comments are going to be slow, but back to J-Roll. Not a good outcome, but not a bad at bat. I would have liked to see him take that last pitch, but thats being knit picky I know it. Either way, get to 3-1 is not bad. But it does look like Victorino let that idiotic baserunning get to his head.
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jacob
SDO – is he still a secret? he was clutch last year and in this year’s nlds too. oh wait, no one else pays attention to the Phils
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
Russ Martin is terrible.
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Kershaw is falling apart.
Posted: 09:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jacob
BS – and it doesn’t help that he is a total a$shole
Posted: 09:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Not that I am complaining at all, but I wonder what this long half inning will do to Hamel’s groove.
Posted: 09:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
BS, if you ask the Dodger Network, Im sorry I mean TBS, he is the best defensive catcher in the league. I wouldnt classify him as horrible, but I think Chooch is a better defensive catcher.
Posted: 09:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Ed R, I hope nothing. I really hope Cole continunes on his tear since that homer.
Posted: 09:43 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
whats up with tbs scorew box
Posted: 09:43 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Good pitchers deal with that, Ed R. The greats are those who can pitch their way out of trouble. Come on, Ryan! I want to see you hit it out!
Posted: 09:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Big Brown!!!!
Posted: 09:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Well, close enough.
Posted: 09:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mostone
Ryno!!!
Posted: 09:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
woohooo!!!
Posted: 09:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
Too bad for us the Dodgers are the superior team with the superior starters and bullpen. Oh drats…just like last year.
Posted: 09:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Looking like Defending Champs.
Posted: 09:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Yeah Pimp Caddy!
Posted: 09:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
guess joe torre isn’t a genius with starting kershaw after all
Posted: 09:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Now THAT is nice. Howard has been quite good this postseason. Nice to see 5-1.
Posted: 09:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
LOL. Torre will be busy tonite on the phone!!!
Posted: 09:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 fitz
Awesome, Kershaw once again proves that he can’t be relied upon to throw strikes. I hope the Phillies repeat. I live in Boston and hate both LA teams even more than than the Yankees.
Posted: 09:47 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 msarg29
Well looks like this one is over.
Posted: 09:47 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie's Babies
Ryan Howard For President
Posted: 09:48 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
I think that’s 7 rbi for howard in the postseason and yet no hr’s, gotta love it
Posted: 09:48 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jamie
I’d like to see Werth get this one a little higher than he did the last time, but with the same authority.
Posted: 09:48 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
enough of the walks and wild pitches comments….the phils had good solid hits!!!
Posted: 09:49 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
fitz, if you are a Red Sox fan, thats sad. Cant you get arrested in Boston for saying you hate any team more than the Yankmees? LOL.
Posted: 09:50 PM on October 15, 2009