Staff Blog
Game Five Preview and Last Call Rounds
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The Pitchers: Cole Hamels (1-0, 2.57, 8Ks) has put the Phillies on his back twice already, and again he’s got the spotlight. The Phillies’ youngest pitcher is also their best, and if the Dodgers can beat Hamels they’ll know they can get hits on anyone else the Good Guys can offer. That said, I picked him to be the MVP this series and only give up two runs total. I’m not backing off now.
He’ll face Dodgers’ righty Chad Billingsley (0-1, 27.00, 5Ks). Billingsley was 7th in the league with 3.14 ERA during the regular season, but got crushed in game two. Odds are, the Phillies will see a version more like the regular season version, partly because he’s really good, partly he’s pitching at home (much better splits), and partly because the I’m seriously doubting that the Phils are going to get three more hits out of their starting pitcher.
The Players: After Matt Stairs put the team on his back last game I think it’s pretty safe to say that no one really knows who is going to come up big, that said, this wouldn’t be a bad game for Ryan Howard to remember he’s RYAN HOWARD. For the Dodgers, if the Phillies aren’t going to pitch to Manny whoever is behind him (Russell Martin thus far) is going to have to have himself a ball game.
The Race: If the Phillies lose they come home, if the Dodgers lose they go home – which sounds like a difference about semantics, but isn’t.
Lets hope the Phils can block it out, but the Andre’s on ice, the League Champion Hats are printed and the Warren Giles Trophy is in the building.
The Links:
- Enrico has been documenting what dbags dodger fans are
- Crashburn Alley, as usual, is getting their hands dirty in the numbers and is worth keeping an eye on throughout the playoffs
- Jason Weitzel and his readers look at Victorino’s place in Playoff history
- Tim Malcolm sees big things for Hollywood
- BS&S is due some credit
- Meech knows when he doesn’t need extra commentary
8:22. Get Hype.
