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 Brian of CO
I finally agree with the announcers. The Ump should NOT allow this to happen if the player is not ready.
Posted: 10:35 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike Soo
this is absurd, the TBS commentators are right-on with the call that this delay in the game is ridiculous
Posted: 10:36 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
Throw a damn strike Happ
Posted: 10:36 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike Soo
Marsh deserved that
Posted: 10:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Happ has to stand out there on the mound for 3 min. What is this shit?
Posted: 10:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Well we will see how Happ finishes, but he is stressing a little. It looks like the Post season might be getting to him, but not sure just yet.
Posted: 10:37 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
YES!
Posted: 10:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ron darling
insult my announcing again and ill slap u up
Posted: 10:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
great job durbin and happ!!!! i crapped my depends
Posted: 10:38 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Rocky
Happ-y now
Posted: 10:39 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason B
Way to go, Happ. That should shut these jackasses up for a while.
Posted: 10:39 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Well no harm no foul, but we do need a few more runs.
Posted: 10:39 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Well this took longer than it should have to type because my hands are shaking slightly. Oh my, gutsy JA. Still have the lead.
Posted: 10:39 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Well done J.A. Well done. I would let Happ hit here, and then let him face Either who can not hit lefties.
Posted: 10:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
i had about 6 mini-heart attacks during that last at bat…so fortunate that Happ pulled it out.
i’m looking at Happ’s eyes, and he doesn’t look very comfortable at all in that situation – anybody else see that, or am I crazy? it’s almost like a deer in the headlights look…
Posted: 10:40 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
is happ going to hit? or is chan ho park coming in? or who’s next?
Posted: 10:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Rocky
it’a a lot of pressure
Posted: 10:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 charlie
If we lose this it is sqarely on HAMELS. He cannot make a quality pitch when it counts . He cannot hold a lead of 5-1. HE IS NOT PRIME TIME. He needs a shrink because he is a gopher machine. Speaking of chokes, Jroll is giving us no offense Hoe about some f=ing defense on the double play.
Posted: 10:41 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
It’s wonderful that the Dodgers can trot out Thome, Hudson and Pierre as pinch hitters and we counter with Dobbs, Cairo and Bruntlett.
Posted: 10:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Harry Kalas
Only three more inngs of this craziness!…… Charlie you are really making begin to turn on you dude…. I know the E wasn’t his fault. But he had a chance to help stop the bleeding…. Now Cole is gone and Happ is in??
Posted: 10:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
@AC, I saw what you meant. That happens to a lot of guys, though, he’ll be okay.
So now who pitches the 7th? Bastardo?
Posted: 10:42 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Rocky
cole got rattled (read: pissed) about the f’d up d-p gone wrong…it made him snap and he was tired…
Posted: 10:43 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
James …. Look on the back of any great players card and you will see its common to have a year like J roll has had. I dont think its over for him.
Posted: 10:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
I can’t believe that TBS just encouraged people to skip out of work lol
Posted: 10:44 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Pooomie
good job j-roll!
Posted: 10:45 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 fitz
J-Roll with the single :D
Posted: 10:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
Charlie Hamels isn’t prime time? wow how quickly we forget
Ed r. what’s wrong with dobbs, and didn’t you forget about someone named Matt Stairs?
Posted: 10:46 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
maybe you just go with Bastardo to face Eithier, then bring in Park to finish the inning
Posted: 10:47 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Redemption time, Chase. Come on, Phans, have faith.
Posted: 10:47 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Well at least that was only 1. Redeem yourself guys.
Posted: 10:47 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Pooomie
think positive, the Phils can do it! let’s go Phils!
Posted: 10:48 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
cole hamels i meant to say…lol
Posted: 10:48 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
that was a bad call.
Posted: 10:49 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 cas
Anyone else out there have the awful feeling that we are done scorinig and they aren’t? And TBS, for some reason, loves it?
Posted: 10:50 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Rachel Friter
I wish i knew who was warming up
Posted: 10:51 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
It’s shutdown time for our bullpen
Posted: 10:51 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Pooomie
did you see tthat guy on the commercial “touch of gray” looked like someone sprayed that fake snow on his head, fluffy flaky white hair
Posted: 10:51 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 jt
bastardo to face eithier then park or another righty to face manny and kemp.
Posted: 10:52 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Louisiana - the other LA
@cas: Yes. And yes.
Posted: 10:52 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
madson perhaps?
Posted: 10:53 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tommy from NY
My Kuo pitch scoreless inning – strike out utley :)
Posted: 10:53 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 fitz
worst broadcasting trio ever – Joe Morgan should make a guest appearance to top it off
Posted: 10:54 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Well I have been very critical of Hamels, and while the homers are on Hamels for not being able to settle down, its hard to pin everything on him IF the Dodgers come back. Remember the error. If they got out of that with the double play, who knows what the score would be now. You never know. Never know if Manny would have used his steroids to hit the homer to lead off next, and even if he had, it would be 5-2 now, but because of the error, its 5-4. IF the Phillies lose this its on the error. I think Hamels pitch OK. I would say great, like usual against the Dodgers, I would say horrible.
Posted: 10:54 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 msarg29
Jeez guys, they just referred to Utley as the most gritty, hard working player in baseball history. That’s some pretty big praise.
Posted: 10:55 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Tommy from NY
think negative , the dodgers can come back to win. let’s go dodgers!
Posted: 10:55 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
I don’t like second guessing Charlie, but this seemed like the perfect time for Chan Ho vs. Bastardo.
Posted: 10:56 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
I would almost rather not have that pitch tracker thing, and just be able to judge myself if its a ball or strike…
Posted: 10:56 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
gird your loins people or grid your lions
Posted: 10:56 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Oh Christ.
Posted: 10:56 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 fitz
hate Ethier so much
Posted: 10:57 PM on October 15, 2009