Yeah, well I guess a sweep isn't the way Philadelphia sports phans are used to operating, so most of us should still feel okay. The Phillies are still in control of this series against the Dodgers.
For anyone who might be REALLY bummed after that loss...allow me to toss out something positive for you to hold onto tightly as you wait for game 4. The Phillies bullpen has pitched 12 2/3 innings in this series and has given up only 1 earned run. That is a 0.73 ERA. In the postseason, the Phils bullpen's ERA is 2.03.
And in case that actually gave you a boost, let me bring you back down by stating my feelings that Charlie Manuel is making a mistake by not using Cole Hamels in game 4 of this series, on 3 days rest. Using Hamels on Monday would allow Cole to pitch a potential game 7 of the NLCS, on Saturday. Phormer Beast, Jamie Moyer, is no longer an option to start again, versus the Dodgers. Moyer's spot would be up in the rotation for game 7. Joe Blanton is slated to start game 4 on Monday...and he'd have his usual 4 days rest if Charlie Manuel made the smart move to skip Moyer for a potential game 7.
Statement to ponder...2/3 of the lineup is weak and needs to get rolling. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz are 7 for 57 in this series combined. That would be a .123 batting avg. Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz and Pat Burrell are a combined 10 for 28 (.357 avg.). Utley alone has been on base 8 out of 13 plate appearances.
For anyone who might be REALLY bummed after that loss...allow me to toss out something positive for you to hold onto tightly as you wait for game 4. The Phillies bullpen has pitched 12 2/3 innings in this series and has given up only 1 earned run. That is a 0.73 ERA. In the postseason, the Phils bullpen's ERA is 2.03.
And in case that actually gave you a boost, let me bring you back down by stating my feelings that Charlie Manuel is making a mistake by not using Cole Hamels in game 4 of this series, on 3 days rest. Using Hamels on Monday would allow Cole to pitch a potential game 7 of the NLCS, on Saturday. Phormer Beast, Jamie Moyer, is no longer an option to start again, versus the Dodgers. Moyer's spot would be up in the rotation for game 7. Joe Blanton is slated to start game 4 on Monday...and he'd have his usual 4 days rest if Charlie Manuel made the smart move to skip Moyer for a potential game 7.
Statement to ponder...2/3 of the lineup is weak and needs to get rolling. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz are 7 for 57 in this series combined. That would be a .123 batting avg. Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz and Pat Burrell are a combined 10 for 28 (.357 avg.). Utley alone has been on base 8 out of 13 plate appearances.
Comments
They are going to win this series, they just don't want to make it too easy on us Phillies Phans....Nik Nasty