Skip to main content

Phillies Going Back to Cali

The Phillies are ready for a rematch of last year's league championship series. The Dodgers are ready for revenge for last year's league championship series. The roles will be reversed a bit, with the Dodgers holding the home field advantage this time around.

These two teams have more history in the post season. In 1977 and 1978 the Dodgers knocked the Phillies out of the post season, when the LCS was a best of 5 series...both times in 4 games. In 1983, the Phillies beat the Dodgers on the way to the World Series. With 2008's LCS win by the Phillies, Los Angeles and Philadelphia are all tied up with series in October.

Head to head in 7 games during the 2009 regular season, the Dodgers won 4 games, while the Phillies won 3.

To advance, the Phillies will need Cole Hamels to return to 2008 form. Hamels is expected to start game 1 in LA. Hamels went 2-0 in the LCS last year, allowing just 3 earned runs in 14 innings, en route to being named Most Valuable Player for the series. Hamels went 4-0 in 5 starts last October with a 1.80 ERA.

The Phillies hope that the world has witnessed the reemergence of closer Brad Lidge. With a newly added pitch, a cut fastball that Lidge introduced during the final week of the regular season, and his slider apparently back to being as sharp as it was last year, Lidge has strung together five consecutive scoreless outings and notched two saves in the division series against Colorado. Lidge blew two saves in LA, when the Phillies played there in June. He spoke last week about the postseason being a clean slate. Brad is hoping to keep that slate clean.

Games times for the series look like this...game 1 on Thursday is scheduled for 8:07pm EST, game 2 on Friday is at 4:07pm EST. All remaining games are slated to start at 8:07pm EST. Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) in Philadelphia will be played on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.


Check back here daily for steady postseason coverage. And don't forget PhoulBallz Phillies Wednesdays brought to you by The Shore Sports Report. Simulcast on Fox Sports 1310am and WOBM 1160 in New Jersey, The Shore Sports Report with Joe & Mike is on every weekday from 3-6pm. I should be on today around 3:20pm. Check it out over the air waves, or online with their live stream HERE.

------------------------------

You should follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!


BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

OBC said…
Brad is back! Let's go, Phillies!

Popular posts from this blog

Watch Out For the Bat Boy

Stop ice grillin' the Phillies players, bat boy. I am watching YOU. I don't know what is on your mind, bat boy, but don't even think about doing something slick. You might wear the Phillies' uniform, but it is clear that you are a Yankees fan. It's all over your pale little "I wanna grow up to be like the Robert De Niro character in The Fan " face. The World Champs should be cautious around this kid. He could be dangerous. ------------------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

Hypocrites!

Seriously? Because David Ortiz was on the list ? Need I remind you all...? This guy was also on the list. Very smooth, Yankees fans. ------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...