Odds And Ends: Myers, Stairs, LA Times, History

Some more odds and ends as you prepare for game five:

• Todd Zolecki reports Brett Myers was in the bullpen during the ninth inning of game four, in case he needed to relieve Brad Lidge.

Lidge worked an arduous, one-out eighth. Having Myers ready was a very smart move. He would’ve been my emergency choice, as I even thought about him out there when Lidge started the ninth.

• Jim Salisbury has the final word on the Matt Stairs home run.

Read if you want to revisit that titanic blast.

• Ross Newhan, a fantastic columnist for years and Hall of Famer (and father of major leaguer David Newhan), wrote a special column for the LA Times saying the reason the Dodgers are down 3-1 is because the Phils are … simply … better.

Thank you, Ross. Sure, the Phils have seen a few lucky bounces, but they’ve won because they’ve hit in clutch situations, pitched well enough and managed strategically enough.

• Bleacher Report points out each time the Phils and Dodgers met in the NLCS, the winner lost in the World Series.

Meh. If I’m worried, I’m worried that the Rays boast a bunch of hitters who don’t seem fazed by the bright lights, and a pretty good starting rotation. And the Red Sox can still come back. That said, I’m focused on game five tonight. Don’t bother me with World Series chatter.