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

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular ...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign.  En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more.  Read ahead for that interview.  -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good.  You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day.  I would say that's the biggest difference.  But I...

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Prospect Brody Colvin

Recently, right-handed pitcher Brody Colvin was promoted from Class A Advanced Clearwater to Double-A Reading. Prior to the 2012 season, Colvin, who turns 22-years-old on Tuesday, was ranked as PhilliesNation's 6th best prospect . This season, following some ups and downs, it's unclear where Colvin will rank next preseason. Earlier this year, Colvin, a Louisiana native, was removed from Clearwater's starting rotation and moved to the bullpen to relax and improve his mental approach. He did so and returned to starting after a brief time. Through his first two outings with the R-Phils, the 7th round draft choice from 2009 posted a 1-0 record while allowing five earned runs in 11 innings (4.09 ERA). In his last start on Saturday, however, Colvin allowed eight earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched in a loss to New Britain. In a recent interview with Brody, he spoke about the transition moving to the Eastern League, his brief bullpen stint, physical concerns from last season...