NLCS Gameday: Phillies vs. Giants, Game 3
Posted by Pat Gallen, Tue, October 19, 2010 02:29 PM | Comments: 206
2010 Gameday, Posts
Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) at San Francisco Giants (1-1)
Cole Hamels (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Matt Cain (0-0, 0.00)
Time: 4:19, AT&T Park
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 67
TV: FOX
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Charlie Manuel called this a “swing game” yesterday. Does the momentum shift from neutral to red after today? It’ll be up to Cole Hamels to do so. You know how good he’s been this season and into the playoffs, but this road challenge will be slightly different than Cincinnati. Bigger stage, bigger consequences should he come up with a sub-par outing. But if he doesn’t – if Cole Hamels is rock solid like he has been – the Phillies will be looking mighty fine heading into Game 3.
The good news is, the Phillies are 6-2 in Hamels’ eight starts against the Giants in his career. Here is what Hamels said yesterday:
“Postseason is where it’s at. It’s the ultimate time to really show what kind of player you are, what kind of pitcher you are,” Hamels said. “These are the types of games and types of moments when you set foot in spring training it’s the ultimate goal for the whole team to go out and enjoy.”
Our Cole Hamels said this, a complete turn around from a year ago when he just wanted it all to end after a terrible 2009. He’s poised and ready to go.
Matt Cain has had terrible results against the Phillies during his career, posting an 0-3 record with an ERA above six. Some people will say you can’t point to previous numbers, that this is a different “season.” I say bull. Cain will see a Phillies squad that has stayed relatively the same over the past four seasons.
Step up, Raul. It’s your turn to flip the switch and come up with a big time hit. Raul’s bat has slowed considerably as the season has progressed, but he’ll have to find a little pocket of energy to get through this slump. Ibanez is 0 for his last 11 and hasn’t had a hit since Game 2 of the Reds series on October 8. It’s been a long time coming. Step up, Raul.
Game 2 Lineup: Victorino CF, Utley 2B, Polanco 3B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Rollins SS, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Hamels P
Your gameday beer: Anchor Steam Old Foghorn Ale
Old Foghorn is based on traditional English barley wines. Because of the high original gravity, the yeast is unable to ferment all of the sugars. As a result, barley wine is high in alcohol, and is slightly sweet, due to the residual sugars. Old Foghorn also has a pleasant hop bitterness, due to the large quantity of hops used during brewing. I always enjoy that slight, slight bitterness with ales like that. And although I’m not a huge barleywine fan, Anchor Steam rarely produces a beer that sucks. Enjoy this San Franciscan treat while the Phils pummel the boys of the city
- PG
Posts: 0 Lefty
Ouch, that one hurt. I won’t stop believing, but one thing worries me about tomorrow.
We typically don’t fair too well against pitchers we haven’t seen before, and we’ve never faced Bumgarner.
Posted: 07:56 PM on October 19, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from waldorf
3 hits?????????
3
only 3
Bumgarner has never faced the phillies. He is a leftie. Makes too much sense to start fransisco over Ibanez.
I am off the Utley bandwagon too. He is a good reg season fielder. In the playoffs not so much.
You pitch Blanton tomorrow and go on reg rest.
Its looking kinda grim. Need big Joe to win.
3 hits?
Posted: 07:57 PM on October 19, 2010
Posts: 0 Kate
I won’t say I’m not worried, but we’re not pitching against elimination tomorrow. Pitching Halladay tomorrow isn’t even on Charlie’s mind right now, I guarantee you guys. He’s looking ahead to Games 5, 6, and 7. I’ve been saying since we found out we were playing the Giants this series is going at least six games.
I’m an Utley fan, but he was a complete joke today. He looked like a Reds player in the playoffs.
As we’re not facing elimination tomorrow, I would not have a problem with benching Raul Ibanez. It’d be different if he was making consistent contact and just sending them right at fielders, but he looks lost. A damn shame, considering what he’s done for us this year, but I hope Charlie considers giving Raul a break and sending Francisco in.
I would also like to see someone other than Gload being first in line for pinch-hitting. Since there’s no way Blanton goes past seven tomorrow, Charlie will PROBABLY have a chance to send up two pinch-hitters. Put Mike Sweeney or Dom Brown in there.
In conclusion… Worrisome. But it’s not time to press the panic button yet.
Don’t stop beliePHing.
Posted: 08:23 PM on October 19, 2010
Posts: 0 Jeff of Nova
The hitting is absolutely dispicable. If they do not fix it ASAP, it is all over, like Andrew said
3 hits?
I am so sick of hearing everything this team did in 08 and 09 as far as hitting, lets get 10 going
Posted: 08:25 PM on October 19, 2010
Posts: 0 Jeff of Nova
Also none of this is to take away from San Francisco, but We have more experience and better hitting and better pitching.
We have given the worst thing that could have been given and that is hope to the Giants. They look confident and will definitely be wanting to finish this at home!
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 19, 2010
Posts: 0 JAY-AKA-PHILLYBOY
Manuel, Dubee and Halladay talk about pitching Blanton in Game 4 over Halladay on short rest: http://bit.ly/buzD0J
Posted: 08:57 PM on October 19, 2010