NLDS Game Four

Phillies vs. Rockies

6:07 PM (EST) at Coors Field

The Phillies acquired Cliff Lee for the sole purpose of being the rotational ace. Tonight, they look for him to fulfill that position.

Cliff will once again in a Game 1 rematch look to take down Colorado’s main man RHP Ubaldo Jimenez.

Lee looked masterful in that game, as he really didn’t see much trouble beyond the first inning. The same could be said for Jimenez up until the fifth inning, when the Phils finally got to him in the tune of five runs over two innings. Every starting Phillie 1-9 got a hit that game, including Cliff Lee who then stole second.

The Rockies will be looking for revenge on what they consider a questionable Game 3, when the Phillies scored the go-ahead run off a Chase Utley single. Not only did the ball hit Utley, but he appeared to be out at first although he was called safe (conveniently they forget about Matt Stairs’ extremely wide strike zone when the Phils had runners on 2nd and 3rd). Jim Tracy did not blame the call for the team’s loss in his post-game interview.

Tracy also will make some lineup changes, removing the struggling Brad Hawpe for LF Seth Smith. Also, Garrett Atkins will bat 5th bumping Yorvit Torrealba to 6th.

Once again the new Phillies crusher (and thus probably future Met) Carlos Gonzalez will lead off. Gonzalez is a decent (sarcasm) 8 for 13 in the series so far.

Fun Phact – Ubaldo Jimenez had the highest average speed for a fastball in 2008 (94.9 MPH).

I'm not really sure what the hell this is, but I believe it accurately describes the Rockies' franchise completely.

Phillies:
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
RF Jayson Werth
LF Raul Ibanez
3B Pedro Feliz
C Carlos Ruiz
LHP J.A. Happ

Rockies:
LF Carlos Gonzalez
CF Dexter Fowler
1B Todd Helton
SS Troy Tulowitzki
C Yorvit Torrealba
3B Garrett Atkins
RF Ryan Spilborghs
2B Clint Barmes
RHP Jason Hammel

NLDS Game Three

Phillies vs. Rockies

10:07 PM (EST) at Coors Field

Goodbye mid-20 degrees, hello low-40 degree weather. Any improvement is positive improvement right?

Far from what Charlie Manuel likes to call hittin’ season, the Phils will continue NLDS tonight after a postponement from Saturday night. MLB put their heads together and decided on a 8:07 PM local start time. You go Bud Selig and gang, great work.

Jason Hammel will still make his scheduled start tonight for the Rockies.

Charlie however will switch it up for the Phillies, now opting Jay Happ over the original Pedro Martinez. You have to figure a mixture of the warmer weather and also the way that Happ dominated the Rockies earlier this season factored into his decision. Happ shut out the Rockies on August 5th in Philadelphia, going the complete nine innings and only allowing four hits. He struck out 10, his highest of the season.

NLDS Game Three

Phillies vs. Rockies

9:37 PM at Coors Field

It's gonna be a throwdown

Did anyone even watch the World Series last year? Wait…don’t answer that. But I mean COME ON, nobody remembers the Elmer Fudd hats? I remember freezing my ass off in CBP parking lot that’s for damn sure.

So why does a forecast that predicts 30 degree weather and up to an inch of snow favor the Rockies? Are they used to this or something? “Rocktober” baseball is well, somewhat new for them, and last time I checked it doesn’t snow during the summer (yes even in Denver).

There is a man however who knows a thing or two about cold, October, playoff baseball. He’s not a Rockie. His name’s Pedro Martinez. Ok, ok, so there’s never been a playoff game below 38 degrees. But Boston gets real cold in October, and one things for sure the man can handle the pressure.

Jason Hammel (10-8, 4.33 ERA) was left off the Rays postseason roster last year. Hammel’s game log is rather, well, kinda…..it’s just not good. He hasn’t thrown a shutout start since May 3rd, where he went only six innings. Don’t get me wrong, one or two earned runs is going to keep the Rockies in the game, but Hammel can serve up some long balls especially in a place like Coors Field.

I tried to do some cold weather research and here’s what I got. Strikeouts up, walks up, home runs down (Sounds great for Pedro). Take it or leave it. Matt “The Canadian who will put your ball on the third deck in any weather” Stairs was quoted saying that the cold makes you a more patient hitter. Then again, he also said this. Once again, take it or leave it.

There really is no prediction you can make. Neither team is used to this and with some of the hitters you have on both teams, I don’t see a snowflake or two keeping a 400 foot ball in play. The Rockies’ fans better be prepared though (and I don’t mean bundled up), because this definitely isn’t the Phillies of ’07. These are the World Champs.

Fun Phact: Clapping in gloves doesn’t make nearly as much noise as clapping bare handed. HA! Advantage Phillies! (Statement pending on distribution of ThunderSticks).

Rocktoburrrrrr may bring on the Elmer Fudd hats

Pedro Martinez has been named the starting pitcher for Game 3 Saturday night.

Martinez gets the nod over Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ, each of whom pitched in relief in Game 2.

Pedro finished 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts for the Phillies. He is 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 10 career appearances versus the Rockies

NLDS Game Two

Phillies vs. Rockies

2:37 PM at Citizens Bank Park

Would you like a second helping? Yes please

Cole Hamels is a World Series MVP. The Phillies know that. The Rockies know that. The fans know that. He knows that.

Baseball is a mental game of confidence as much as it is skill, and the Phillies right now look to have the advantage in both areas. After taking a 1-0 series lead, the opportunity to take the second game lies in great hands.

The Rockies will counter with pitcher Aaron Cook (11-6, 4.16 ERA). In his only start against the Phillies he lost after giving up three runs through five innings. The Phils hit him pretty hard and will be looking for the long ball after being deprived in Game One.

Cole Hamels comes into this game as iffy as Lee did yesterday being that he’s had his ups and downs in his past couple starts. As Philadelphia currently begins to tailgate in anticipation for the REAL Cole Hamels, we can only hope he strives to match and better last years performance.

Fun Phact - The Phillies still haven’t lost a home postseason game in the past two seasons.

Recent news has surfaced that Charlie Manuel is sending all starters not named Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee to the bullpen.

Which ones will be used is still unknown. You have to figure that rookie Happ will be the first to come out, having the most bullpen experience. Also, Joe Blanton is likely the Game 3 starter and looks to be a “just in case” relief pitcher.

Although Pedro Martinez has relief appearance clauses in his contract, the time it takes him to get loose has led to the thought that this would never happen. Well…he’s sitting, watching, and waiting from under Ashburn Alley today as well.

NLDS Game One

Phillies vs. Rockies

2:37 PM at Citizens Bank Park

Cliff Lee (7-4, 3.39 ERA)

The difference between the two is pretty much the deciding factor for the Phillies. Does Cliff Lee want to show up and show off? Or would he rather show himself out of the game in an early exit yet again.

Does Cliff Lee want to be the pitcher that started 5-0 in a most dominant fashion? Or does Cliff Lee want to be the man who’s given up 6+ earned runs in three of his seven appearances since then?

Here’s the good news. Cliff faced the Rockies earlier this year and only allowed a run through seven innings. Here’s the bad news. That was EARLIER this season, and against a guy like Ubaldo Jimenez, one run might be too much.

Jimenez (15-12, 3.47) definitely hasn’t looked brilliant lately, but he’s been pretty damn good. He’s posted two earned or less six times in his last ten games, which makes up for a stumble in San Francisco (2.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER). Fun fact about Jimenez: One allowed homer in his last four starts. Another Fun Fact: ZERO…ZERO starts this year where he’s allowed multiple home runs in a game.

It’s pretty obvious the Phillies will need great pitching and capitalization of small ball opportunities if they want to get the early edge on the series. One things for sure though, playoff baseball is back in Philadelphia, and CBP is gonna be rockin’.

Fun Phact: 2:37 is a TERRIBLE time to start a game as MLB failed to factor in my GHIST 150 midterm at 3:30.