NLDS Game 3: Phillies (1-1) at Cardinals (1-1)
Posted by Michael Baumann, Tue, October 04, 2011 04:00 PM | Comments: 101
2011 Gameday, Analysis, Posts
Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) at St. Louis Cardinals (1-1)
Jaime Garcia, LHP vs. Cole Hamels, LHP
Time: 5:07 p.m., Busch Stadium
TV: TBS
Weather: Cloudy, 50
Media: Twitter and Facebook
Not that we’re recommending letting the Cardinals out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but both the Phillies (in Game 1) and Cards (in Game 2) spotted their opponents a 3-0 first-inning lead and came back to win. Just because something has happened a couple times in the past doesn’t make it likely to happen in the future.
That’s the message tonight for the Phillies, who face 25-year-old lefty Jaime Garcia. Garcia, in case you haven’t heard, is 2-1 with a career 1.20 ERA in six appearances and 30 innings pitched against the Phillies. Don’t get me wrong–Garcia is an excellent pitcher whose 143 ERA+ in 163 innings last year would have gotten him some serious Rookie of the Year love in any season that didn’t involve Jason Heyward and Buster Posey. But for all the fear that Garcia’s induced over recent days, it’s not time to shut down the carnival and unpack your Flyers gear just yet: remember, it’s still only 30 innings.
Besides, Cole Hamels is on the mound tonight.
While the Cardinals are lucky to be tied and coming home, remember that the Phillies, with Roy Halladay slated to pitch a potential Game 5 at home, would be at a great advantage with a split in St. Louis. Remember, also, that while the Cardinals got 13 hits off of Cliff Lee and Friends on Sunday, many of them were bleeders and bloopers (or note the Redbirds’ .542 BABIP or Cliff Lee’s 1.03 FIP in Game 2, for those of you to whom those numbers make more sense).
The Phillies will make one lineup change from Game 2, inserting John Mayberry for Raul Ibanez. Mayberry has a .953 OPS this season against lefties, and Ibanez has a .585 OPS against lefties, so platooning them is pretty self-evidently a smart move. The Rollins-Utley-Pence-Howard-Victorino top five will remain, which has the advantage of getting Pence’s hot bat further up in the lineup, getting Chase Utley (on balance, the team’s best on-base guy) more plate appearances, and following up each of the team’s big left-handed bats (Utley and Howard) with a guy who absolutely murders lefties (Pence and Victorino).
This isn’t quite a must-win game for the Phillies, but much hangs in the balance. You might want to wear gloves for this one to avoid biting your fingernails off completely.
Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, Pence RF, Howard 1B, Victorino CF, Mayberry Jr. LF, Polanco 3B, Ruiz C, Hamels P
Your gameday beer: Negra Modelo
Jaime Garcia is from Mexico. Cole Hamels is from San Diego, which is as physically close as you can get to Mexico without going through customs. Negra Modelo is from Mexico. ‘Nuff said.
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Ok guys, we got a game with the Cardinals tonight. And that only means one thing. Bad news for the Cardinals!
Posted: 04:48 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 2542 Chuck A.
Yeah man!!
Posted: 05:07 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuULcVaMTf0
Posted: 05:08 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Manny
At this rate, Garcia will be in the game for a longggg time. Hopefully we can figure him out when our guys see him for a second and third time.
Posted: 05:37 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
the way to beat garcia is to work him and get rid of him. you don’t beat him, you beat the bullpen. problem is, the shadows are wreaking havoc on hitters and garcia is firing strikes.
Posted: 05:38 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
garcia firing nothing but strikes while hamels seems to be nibbling. he needs to throw more strikes . but he does look good
Posted: 05:47 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
if cole doesn’t start throwing up some quicker innings, I’m afraid we might see vance worley on the mound in the 6th inning
Posted: 06:03 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Hamels is pitching scared. He’s afraid to make a mistake.
Posted: 06:05 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
The only way Tony Larussa could have a worse hairpiece would be if it had a chin strap and price tag on it,.
Posted: 06:06 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Ok, here’s our inning. Let’s make it happen;
Posted: 06:10 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
woah! I’m usually a fan of larger strike zones but that called 3rd on howard was not a strike
Posted: 06:12 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Or maybe not
Looks like another free hand jobs in the dugout game. All of the Phillies hitters seem to be in a hurry to get back there.
Posted: 06:14 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Manny
It’s the hitters. Howard at least is taking some pitches, but everybody else seems like they’re in a mad rush to swing the freaking bat. No patience whatsoever.
Posted: 06:15 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
well honestly, garcia is throwing everything right down the middle. he’s right there every time. right in the zone. not much up or down or in or out from him
Posted: 06:16 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
an out on one pitch! that’s what i’m talking about. more of that please
Posted: 06:19 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 1951 Brooks
Cole is throwing a ton of pitches and the Phils are not making Garcia work at all. Need runs, everything is better with runs…
Posted: 06:27 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Craig
This is excruciating
Posted: 06:29 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 2542 Chuck A.
That ball off the bat of Ruiz was the hardest hit ball all day.
Posted: 06:33 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
This is the most stressed out I’ve been all year.
I’ve always said that the best Philadelphia fans are when the team plays like crap all game, and then comes back to win. Because then you get to scream and curse all game, and then the teams wins. I have that feeling about this game.
Phils are playing terrible. Cardinals are playing well. The game is tied.
Posted: 06:37 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 2542 Chuck A.
Yeah, this ain’t a whole lot of fun.
Posted: 06:41 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 joey
13 scorless innings … cole over 80 pitches thru 5 innings
Posted: 06:42 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Sticky
Enilhgetinng the world, one helpful article at a time.
Posted: 09:18 AM on October 31, 2011
Posts: 0 deiblk
rdf1b5 phabwrzltjou
Posted: 09:12 AM on November 1, 2011
Posts: 0 igwydd
DKg8Wo prkgxtdllqty
Posted: 12:18 PM on November 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
just realized now that hamels not getting the bunt down last time means we lost a run. ruiz coulda scored from 2nd with two outs on j-rolls hit to center. damn. can’t blow chances like that. its the little things that got this team a ring in 08
Posted: 06:43 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
I am a big ball of anxiety.
Posted: 06:44 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Want to watch but cant anxiety levels high. They should of worked the count on this guy the first time around not swung much. Then second time they can take their swings this way we would of least had his pitch count a little higher.
Posted: 06:52 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff
Howard sucks
Posted: 06:54 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 St Louis Mike
I agree my friend. Go Cardinals!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 07:08 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
if hamels gives up a hit here, i’m blaming the squirrel
Posted: 06:59 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
damn squirrel!!!!
Posted: 07:02 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
I’m so stressed out that the Jimmy Falloon talks to a baby is commercial is annoying me. The commercial with an incredibly unfunny “:comedian” repeating the same joke over and over is actually annoying. Hard to believe.
Posted: 07:00 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 1951 Brooks
Cole’s velocity is spot on, too much work though
Posted: 07:02 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 1951 Brooks
Pretty sure that Cole will not last all that much longer, who comes out after him? Worley?
Posted: 07:04 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
my god my heart can’t take this anymore. i need to stop watching sports all together.
Posted: 07:07 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Ok everybody. Time to change the mojo. Go change your socks/shirt/underwear/ pants. Go into a different room and listen on the radio. Do something. I’m putting on the shirt I wore on Saturday.
Posted: 07:08 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 joey
On how many other teams do they walk the 3rd hitter to get to the clean up hitter in the PLAYOFFS?
I’m not a Howard hater but that speaks volumes…..
Posted: 07:09 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
well. in todays case pence is the one guy you can’t let beat you if you’re the cards. that’s a no brainer. ya gotta go left left there regardless of who’s the lefty.
Posted: 07:10 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
let’s see how this guy pitches with a leadoff man on base..
all right shane’s on second!!!! gotta get him in. get em over get em in here. if shane doesn’t score he, we deserve to lose
Posted: 07:13 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 bostonkate
My heart can’t take this anymore.
The Cards made Cole work for it. Why, why, WHY aren’t the phils doing the same for garcia??
Posted: 07:15 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Ben Sack of Useless Francisco.
Posted: 07:18 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
That’s what I get for being a hater! A BEN FRANCISCO TREAT!
Posted: 07:19 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 bostonkate
AHHHHHHHHHHHH OMG. THANK YOU BEN FRAN!
Posted: 07:20 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
We’re finally getting to Jaime!
Posted: 07:21 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Here’s the comment I was preparing,
“Here’s Ben “Sack of Useless” pinch hitting, because the headless corpse of Tim Williams is unavailable today,”
Posted: 07:21 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
Morris – Are you still with us, man?
Posted: 07:21 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 joey
wow Big Ben ..I am stunned Tony la russa eatsb a big turd
Posted: 07:21 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
why did he walk chooch? didn’t make any sense to me and still doesn’t . guess he just wanted to get cole outta the game but i think cole was done regardless
Posted: 07:22 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
that one swing of the at bat has made ben francisco’s entire stay here in philadelphia worth every horrible shitty ab he’s had up until this point.
Posted: 07:22 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
Obvious cross-post
Posted: 07:22 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 3483 Lefty
Every single postseason there is an unlikely hero!!
Ben Francisco !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 07:23 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 81 PhP54
I hope all of you Francisco haters are happy.
Posted: 07:25 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 81 PhP54
NOW – can the bullpen hold it? We shall see. I hate to say it but they need to be PERFECT this time.
Posted: 07:26 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
I am back. I was busy screaming my head off. I was giving him the Bruntlett treatment. The more you curse him, the better he plays.
Posted: 07:26 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
Go Vanimal.
Posted: 07:28 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Finally, that Ben Francisco/ Cliff Lee trade finally pays off.
Posted: 07:30 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Vanimal is too hype. He is over throwing. Go talk to him.
Posted: 07:32 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Mostone
Still a big ball of anxiety here in West Chester.
Posted: 07:36 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
my bloodpressure is about 570/300
Posted: 07:38 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
looooooong way to go here in this one
Posted: 07:42 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 81 PhP54
You are not alone, dude
Posted: 07:52 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 356 Morris Buttermaker
Sometimes you just gotta believe.
And be on your third pitcher of beer.
Posted: 07:38 PM on October 4, 2011
Posts: 81 PhP54
We’re f*****d
Posted: 08:01 PM on October 4, 2011