Staff Blog
Game One Preview
The Playoffs will start with a Mitch Williams opening day
pitch. At first I was against it, but
now it kinda resonates: the Phillies are about to shut the door on decades of heartbreak, the culture of losing, and the ridiculous haircuts (fine,
maybe not the ridiculous haircuts)
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The Pitchers: When I wrote THIS PROFILE on Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09) I ended with two main questions. The first was can he stay healthy – and for an entire year now he has. The second was can he, the youngest player on the Phils postseason roster, lead the Phillies, the oldest team in the playoffs, to the Promised Land. Tonight would be a good place to prove that he can, and that he’s more than best second starter in the bigs.
He’ll face Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 1.88) who has a live arm and great stuff. He reminds Wietzel of Ubaldo Jimenez, who shut down the Phillies is last year’s NLDS. I’m a little more positive. He reminds me of Ubaldo Jimenez, who had an ERA of 4 and a WHIP of 1.4+.
The Players: In a much publicized move, Brewers’ first basemen Prince Fielder gave up meat at the beginning of the season. Fortunately, there is no meat in ice cream. His power has dropped, his weight has not and his defense has worsened.
For the Good Guys, the news isn’t Reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins, would-be MVP Ryan Howard, or will-be MVP Chase Utleyl, it’s Pat Burrell and his injured something. Burrell left the batting cage hurting and might be out. The big left fielder trailed off in the second half, but having a righthander bat with power in the middle of the lineup keeps teams honest.
The Race: The Phillies won 92 games to get this one home game. Use it, fellas.
