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 Terri
oh boy.
Posted: 10:57 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Sorry Charlie but bringing in Bastardo in this situation was flat out dumb. No other words for it.
Posted: 10:57 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
we can only get out of these jams so many times. it just does not look like we are supposed to win tonight. nothing seems to go our way except for that one half inning.
Posted: 10:57 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GrammarPolice
Tommy your English is horrible.
Posted: 10:57 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
thats because our Bullpen is far inferior.
Posted: 10:57 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
can somebody explain to me why they took Happ out after last inning and put in Bastardo instead? I don’t get it.
Posted: 10:58 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Chan Ho Hammy. MF.
Posted: 10:58 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
ok so do we now walk Manny??
Posted: 10:58 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Oh no Chan HO
Posted: 10:58 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
of course it’s dumb after you know the result
Posted: 10:58 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Charlie does not make strong moves. Bastardo, Please. Wasted Happ. This game is not going to turn out well. Now the juice is up.
Posted: 10:59 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Harry Kalas
…a slow, slow death… you know the Phillies are gonna lose…..but how will it end? and does it really matter…..
Posted: 10:59 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
GWfigthtin I agree with you about the pitch tracker thing. the other part of it that annoys me is they track it where the catcher catches the ball. when it was over the plate it might have been a strike but broke a bit last second. its not even that accurate imo.
Posted: 11:00 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
why not Madson against the meat of their order???
Posted: 11:00 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
I meant I would NOT say horrible a few posts ago about how Hamels pitched. but really, besides the 5th inning, the Dodgers have outplayed the Phillies.
Posted: 11:00 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Actually ray, if you read my post from alittle while ago, after Happ got out of the inning I said to leave him in to face either. Because I knew that Charlie would do what he did. Use a PH who would do nothing, then bring in Bastardo to face Eithier which is not smart given his lack of experience and the rest is still happening.
Posted: 11:02 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mg52
Now THAT is how to pitch Manny!
Posted: 11:02 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
chan ho is a two inning guy is probably why brian and madson to close we can only hope it works out that way
Posted: 11:03 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
just because we critize our players doesn’t mean we all don ‘t like them and wouldn’t stand by our past praises …Ut knows he blew it that and Hamels know he needs a more viable arsenal.
Posted: 11:04 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
actually disregard my last post….i miss read the comment that i was responding to
Posted: 11:06 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
criticize is one thing, people are calling the game over is another thing
Posted: 11:06 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
i wish Park could magically impart his two seamer to Hamels
Posted: 11:07 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Come on Chan Ho.
Posted: 11:07 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
did utley blow it or did rollins?
Posted: 11:08 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ron darling
dodgers in 7
Posted: 11:08 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
way to go PARKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Posted: 11:09 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Chan Ho Park is a baller. I don’t know about you, but I’d let him go the 8th as well.
Posted: 11:09 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
Damn, Chan Ho is the man! I missed this guy!
Posted: 11:09 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
wtf throw chase?
Posted: 11:09 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
wheeeew, talk about living on the edge!!!
Posted: 11:10 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
ray- i was responding to what i thought is a troll…i went back a re read their comment and had failed to detect the snark…double doh!
Posted: 11:10 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
So why the HELL can Chan Ho pitch like that out of the bullpen, but suck it up completely as a starter? LOL. I dont get that. If Chan Ho can continue to pitch like that, screw the 2 inning thing, might want to try to 3 inning. Hopefully he can keep pitching like that.
Posted: 11:10 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
having park back and back to being himself would be huge and i do mean huge
Posted: 11:10 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Oh jeez, Chan Ho was filthy. And when Utley non-chalanted that throw to Howard, I thought it was going to get away from him. Oh jeez. Wow. Sorry about my missing composure, Phans.
Posted: 11:11 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ron darling's boyfriend
phillies in 6
Posted: 11:11 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GrammarPolice
Chan Ho’s gonna pitch a perfect inning. You just watch and see.
Posted: 11:11 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Hotdogs…personally I think that blown DP was more Rollins fault. After the botched exchange, even if Utley made a perfect throw the guy was safe.
Posted: 11:11 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
TGFCHP
Posted: 11:12 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
I leave Park in their too…his two seamer looks Linda Blairish
Posted: 11:12 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
it’s cool j reed, i think criticizing is one thing, rollins and utley screwed that play up, but we are winning, that’s all I’m saying.
Posted: 11:13 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Wow Chan Ho looks sharp. He has to pitch the 8th. I was not sure we havn’t seen him in 30 sum days.
Posted: 11:13 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Come on. Rally time, Phils.
Posted: 11:13 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Thunder Lips
Brian of CO: I am enjoying your positivity tonight. It’s infectious (and no, that wasn’t sarcastic).
Posted: 11:14 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
chan ho doing the tug chest beating..lol…cool
Posted: 11:14 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 GrammarPolice
I don’t know about putting in the biggest flyball pitcher in the game against these Phils….
Posted: 11:14 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 Thunder Lips
Howard might steal a bag here
Posted: 11:14 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
ED R…..agreed
Posted: 11:15 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 BS
Alright guys, let’s knock some runs in
Posted: 11:16 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 AC in NJ
we gotta pick at least one insurance run up here…it’s all on the offense if this goes south…
Posted: 11:16 PM on October 15, 2009
Posts: 0 HotDogs
Here we go Phillies!!!! Wave them towels!!!
Let’s Go RAUUUUUUUUL!
Posted: 11:16 PM on October 15, 2009