Phillies do in Broxton again, overcome 7-run deficit

Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton must have nightmares about facing the Phillies. The man who regularly implodes against the Phillies in the NLCS was at it again, this time giving up a game-winning double to Carlos Ruiz in the bottom of the 9th to cap off a 10-9 Phillies win that saw them erase a 7-run deficit in the final two innings.

To call it an incredible comeback would be underselling it. According to Fangraphs.com, when Jamey Caroll singled for the Dodgers in the top of the 8th to make the score 9-2, the Phillies had a 0.4% chance of winning the game. From that point forward, however, the Phillie offense exploded, batting around in the 8th inning and picking up 4 runs before plating 4 more runners in the 9th without recording an out. Even more remarkably, all 8 runs were scored without a single home run.

You can hardly be blamed for turning off this one early but hopefully you find a way to watch a replay of the game. Despite not having their two best hitters in the lineup, the Phillies continue to find ways to get things done as they have now won 16 of their last 20 and remain just two games behind the Braves. Hopefully the magic from Thursday night carries over and helps them roll right through the Mets this weekend.
REUTERS/Tim Shaffer

The Phillies are going back to the World Series!

(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

The Phillies are the TWO TIME National League Champions! I can get used to this!

Riding a four homer barrage, the Phillies dropped the Dodgers in Game Five of the NLCS, 10-4, to give them a 4-1 series win and clinch a return trip to the World Series. This game was never in doubt, with the offense jumping out early and the bullpen backing up a middling start by Cole Hamels with several good innings.

The offensive hero for the night was Jayson Werth, who belted two homers and had 4 RBI on the night. Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino also added homers with the Flyin' Hawaiian adding 3 RBI to the mix. The Phillies once again showed that any hitter in their lineup can beat you, from J-Roll at the top to Mr. Choochtober, Carlos Ruiz, at the bottom.

Now the Phillies have to wait for their opponent, although it will very likely be the Yankees, who hold a 3-1 lead in the ALCS. The Yankees will be a tougher matchup than the Rays were last year, but with the resiliency the Phillies have shown, few can doubt they have what it takes to win another title.

Here is the schedule for the World Series. Remember that the AL has home field advantage because they won the All Star Game:

Game One: Wednesday, October 28th: NL @ AL
Game Two: Thursday, October 29th: NL @ AL
Game Three: Saturday, October 31st: AL @ NL
Game Four: Sunday, November 1st: AL @ NL
Game Five: Monday, November 2nd: AL @ NL
Game Six: Wednesday, November 4th: NL @ AL
Game Seven: Thursday, November 5th: NL @ AL

Anyway we can worry all about the World Series later since we have another week until it starts, it's time to celebrate! Let's celebrate the Phillies and their never-say-die attitude and their all-around greatness. It's hard to go to the World Series in back-to-back seasons but they made it look easy, rolling through the NL once again.

All it takes now is four more wins until they are repeat World F'n Champions!

Jimmy Rollins delivers for the Phillies

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

What can you say about the World Champs? They never quit. No matter the deficit, no matter the mountain they have to climb, you can never count the Phillies out of a game.

On Monday night, trailing by one run with two runners on and two outs, Jimmy Rollins created another magical memory with his bat, lacing a line drive deep into the outfield to win the game for the Phillies. The win gives the Phillies a huge 3-1 lead in the NLCS over the Dodgers.

With Game 5 coming Wednesday, the Phillies are just one game away from a return to the World Series. With Cole Hamels taking the mound against Vicente Padilla of the Dodgers, you have to like the Phillies chances. Even if Hamels continues to pitch poorly, you have to think the Phillies will find a way to get to Padilla after he shut them down last time.

So there you have it. The Phillies have given us another moment that we will all remember. Rollins' hit goes right along with Matt Stairs' and Shane Victorino's homers last year, Ryan Howard's heroics this season and all of the big hits Carlos Ruiz has had over the last few years. The Phillies have proven time and time again they are a team of destiny, a team that you can't count out until the final out. What a team, and what a magical October this is already turning out to be.

SimpLee amazing: Phillies cruise to 2-1 series lead

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

It didn't take long for Philly fans to wash the disgusting taste from the Eagles loss out of our mouths. The Phillies, led by an early inning offensive outburst and a dominating performance by Cliff Lee, defeated the Dodgers 11-0 in Game 3 of the NLCS to give the Phillies a 2-1 series lead.

Lee was his usual dominating self, shutting out the Dodgers in his 8 innings of work. He amassed 10 strikeouts on the night while giving up only 3 hits and never allowed the Dodgers to even be a threat to score a run. Lee, who perhaps could be the greatest midseason acquisition in Phillies history, continues to step into the hole vacated by Cole Hamels as the team ace.

Offensively, the Phillies made an effort to not waste another good pitching outing like they did in Game 2, scoring 6 runs in the first two innings. Leading the way were Ryan Howard, who had a triple and 3 RBI, Jayson Werth, who had a 2-run shot, and Shane Victorino, who tacked on a 3-run homer in the 9th inning just for good measure. It was the type of offensive explosion we have come to expect from the Phillies, when they are on, they score their runs in bunches. If only they could have had a few of those hits yesterday.

The Phillies have to feel pretty good about themselves after this one. While any time Lee pitches the team should expect a win, the Phillies can hang their hat on the fact that they are one bad inning in Game 2 from having a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Dodgers. With the series continuing tomorrow in Philadelphia with Joe Blanton taking the mound against ex-Phillie Randy Wolf, the Phillies have a chance to put a stranglehold on this series. If they continue to hit the way they did tonight, nobody is going to stop them from being World Champs again.

Thank goodness for Cliff Lee and the Phillies. I almost forgot about how bad the Eagles were today. Almost.

Utley, bullpen waste Pedro's brilliance, allow Dodgers to even series

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Talk about wasted opportunities. Through 7 innings in Game 2 of the NLCS, the Phillies were cruising with a 1-0 lead, riding Pedro Martinez's brilliant 2-hit shutout performance. Then, the Phillies turned to their bullpen and everything went downhill from there.

Why the Phillies chose to take Pedro out after only 87 pitches will remain a mystery, but Charlie Manuel turned the game over to Chan Ho Park in the top of the 8th inning. Park subsequently gave up a pair of singles but then forced Russell Martin to hit a double play grounder to Pedro Feliz. Feliz made the throw to second baseman Chase Utley for one out, then Utley did the unthinkable, wildly throwing the ball past first baseman Ryan Howard. The error allowed the Dodgers to tie up the game and gave them new life. From there, the Phillies used four more pitchers in the inning and eventually J.A. Happ walked in the game winning run for the Dodgers.

It's hard not to place the entire blame for this game on Utley. A double play in that situation wouldn't have guaranteed that the Phillies get out of the 8th without giving up a run, but it would have gotten them one out from ending the rally. What makes that play particularly disappointing was that it was Chase Utley that made an error for the second day in a row. If the most reliable Phillie is letting the team down, what chance do they have of getting past the Dodgers?

There is plenty of other blame to be spread around today, though. The bullpen once again couldn't close things out. Charlie Manuel also has plenty of explaining to do as to why he pulled Pedro Martinez. You can't let the bats off the hook, either. Except for the homer by Ryan Howard, where was the Phillie offense? They couldn't get more than one run off of Vicente Padilla?

While this is as tough a loss as you are going to see, Phillies fans need to look at the big picture. The Phillies did split the first two games in L.A., something the team would take every time. While the opportunity to really command the series went out the window, the series is shifting back to Philly for three games and the Phillies do have Cliff Lee taking the mound in Game 3. All hope is nowhere near lost.

It was just one game, folks. One brutally disappointing game, but it's just one game. There's still plenty of series left to play.

Phillies edge Dodgers to strike first in the NLCS

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

We can all exhale now. In a game that had everyone on the edge of their seat throughout, the Phillies narrowly beat the Dodgers, 8-6, in Game 1 of the NLCS. It was a game filled with momentum swings and could have gone either way until the final pitch.

The game was really about two innings for the Phillies offensively: the 5th and the 8th. The Phillies scored 5 runs in the 5th inning when Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw suddenly forgot how to throw a strike, leading him to walk several batters while also giving up a 3-run homer to Mr. Choochtober, Carlos Ruiz, and a 2-run double to Ryan Howard. The big 5th inning forced Kershaw out of the game and allowed the Dodgers to turn to their bullpen, which is one of their biggest strengths.

The Dodger pen held the Phillies until the 8th, when Raul Ibanez struck. Lefthander George Sherill, whose main purpose is to get the lefty-heavy heart of the Phillie order out, walked a pair of batters before giving up a 3-run homer to Ibanez which allowed the Phillies to stretch their lead out.

On the mound for the Phillies, Cole Hamels was once again a far cry from the ace he was last season. Hamels lasted only 5 and a third innings and gave up 4 runs on 8 hits. The Phillies used 6 other pitchers, most of whom had success. The lone exception was Ryan Madson, who continues to have a poor postseason. Brad Lidge, on the other hand, got the final three outs in the 9th despite walking a batter and giving up a single. It may never be pretty for Lidge again but he is at least getting the job done.

The Phillies have now taken home field advantage from the Dodgers. With a quick turnaround to Game 2 tomorrow, the Phillies have a chance to ride the momentum they got from tonight's win to a commanding early lead. The pitching matchup has to favor the Phillies, with Pedro Martinez taking on Vicente Padilla. You have to like Pedro's chances against the former Phillie washout.

1 win down, 3 more to go until a return trip to the World Series. BEAT LA again!

Phillies vs. Dodgers: NLCS rematch breakdown

So, we're doing this again, huh? While I was tempted to simply re-post my NLCS breakdown from last year, I figured I should take another look at these two teams and see how they compare this time around. The Phillies have proven again and again that they can win any game, no matter how great the deficit or how much of an underdog people think they are. Do they have it in them to get past the Dodgers and back into the World Series? Here is my position-by-position breakdown of the two teams:

Starting Pitching:
Phillies: Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, Randy Wolf

The Game One matchup is set, with Cole Hamels facing off against Clayton Kershaw. After that, both teams are keeping it close to the vest as to who they plan to send to the mound. If Cliff Lee continues to dominate and Hamels bounces back, the Phillies will have a big advantage at starting pitcher. The Dodgers do feature a pair of lefty starters that could give the Phillies trouble in Kershaw and Randy Wolf, but they really don't have an ace or a stopper on the level of a Lee or Hamels. What the Dodgers do have is depth, as they could send Chad Billingsley, Vicente Padilla or Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to start a game. While none of those names are particularly scary, each is capable of giving the team a few solid innings. It's a mystery which right handed pitcher the Phillies will use in this series, although I would bet money that you are going to see Pedro Martinez at some point. J.A. Happ is less likely to get a start because the Dodger lineup is much more balanced than the Rockie lineup. Edge: Phillies

Bullpen:
Phillies: Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, Scott Eyre, Brett Myers
Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton, George Sherill, Hong-Chih Kuo

Last year, this was a major advantage for the Phillies. This year, not so much. The Dodgers have a weak starting rotation that doesn't go deep into games by design because their bullpen is so dominant. Not only do they have one of the best closers in the game in Jonathan Broxton, but the Dodgers also have a pair of lefties in George Sherill and Hong-Chih Kuo that are going to giving the middle of the Phillies order fits. Even if Brad Lidge is truly back to form, the Phillies bullpen still has more question marks than solid options. Ryan Madson didn't look great in his last outing against the Rockies but I do like that Charlie Manuel is using him in the most crucial parts of the game. There is a possibility that Chan Ho Park will be healthy enough to pitch in the NLCS which will give the Phils a major boost. Edge: Dodgers

Catcher:
Phillies Carlos Ruiz
Dodgers: Russell Martin

While Russell Martin is nowhere near as good as he was last season, he's still one of the best hitting catchers in the game. Carlos Ruiz is Mr. Clutch, however, and he calls a great game behind the plate. Last year, I gave the Dodgers the edge at catcher but Chooch has passed Martin by with his playoff performances. Edge: Phillies

Infield:
Phillies: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz
Dodgers: James Loney, Ronnie Belliard, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake

I stand by my assertion that the Phillies have the best infield in the game offensively and an argument can be made that it is the best defensively as well. With Ryan Howard making clutch hits and Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Feliz making for an incredibly solid left side of the infield, the Dodgers simply can't match up with the Phillies here. While they are all reliable at the plate, none of the Dodger infielders hit .300 or had 20 homers, so they just don't match up with the Phillies. Edge: Phillies

Outfield:
Phillies: Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth
Dodgers: Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier

The Phillies have the three All-Stars but the Dodgers still have the edge here. While Manny hasn't quite been Manny this year, he still one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. Matt Kemp is also a star in the making and the NLCS could be his breakout party. Don't underestimate Andre Ethier, ether, as he hit .500 and had a pair of homers against the Cardinals in the NLDS. The Phillies have a few studs in their own right in the outfield but they aren't relied upon to be the heavy hitters like the Dodgers outfielders are. Edge: Dodgers

Bench:
Phillies: Ben Francisco, Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs
Dodgers: Juan Pierre, Jim Thome, Orlando Hudson

The Dodgers bench is loaded. They have defensive replacements that can still swing the stick in Juan Pierre and Orlando Hudson and a dangerous pinch hitter in Jim Thome. The Phillies also have their own version of Thome in Matt Stairs, but after Stairs and Francisco it falls way off. If the Phillies have to send up Greg Dobbs in a key situation late in the game, they are in trouble. Edge: Dodgers

Manager:
Phillies: Charlie Manuel
Dodgers: Joe Torre

Last year, I said Joe Torre had a huge advantage because of all of his experience with the Yankees. Charlie Manuel has proved to be the better manager right now, however, with how he manages his bullpen and his bench to get the most out of them. Charlie always seems to be making the right calls and pushing the correct buttons, so until he makes a big mistake, he has to be considered one of the elite managers in the game. Edge: Phillies

My prediction:
The Phillies have the overall edge by these categories, 4-3. While the bullpen could still be a major issue, I still like the Phillies in six. I just think their offense is too good to be held back by the Dodgers weak starting pitching, so they will get early leads and never look back. The Dodgers will likely steal a few in the late innings but the Phillies starting pitchers will win a few games on their own.

It's a great time to be a Phillie fan, there is nothing like being right on the doorstep of another World Series. While the Dodgers will be a formidable opponent, you have to like the Phillies chances to BEAT LA!

Phillies vs. Dodgers: NLCS Schedule

The rematch is on! The Phillies and Dodgers will meet in the NLCS for the second year in a row, although this time the Dodgers have the home field advantage. Here is the schedule for the NLCS, with times and probable pitchers listed for some games:

Game 1: Thursday, October 15th: Phillies (Hamels) @ Dodgers (Kershaw), 8:07 pm

Game 2: Friday, October 16th: Phillies @ Dodgers, 4:37 pm

Game 3: Sunday, October 18th: Dodgers @ Phillies, 8:07 pm

Game 4: Monday, October 19th: Dodgers @ Phillies, 8:07 pm

Game 5: Wednesday, October 21st: Dodgers @ Phillies, 8:07 pm

Game 6: Friday, October 23rd: Phillies @ Dodgers, 8:07 pm

Game 7: Saturday, October 24th: Phillies @ Dodgers, 8:07 pm

Dodgers acquire Thome, Garland for postseason run

In a late August splash, the team with the best record in the National League acquired a slugger we are all familiar with in Philadelphia: Jim Thome. Thome, who is a shell of his former self, was traded from the White Sox to the Dodgers on the final day that players can be added and still be eligible for the postseason roster. Thome, who was tradable because he cleared waivers, is basically just an all-or-nothing, strike out-or-home run hitter now, slugging 23 homers with the Sox while batting .249 with 116 strikeouts in 345 at bats.

While the Dodgers have now added some pop to their lineup, the odd thing about the trade is the fact that Thome really has no position. Thome has played only 4 games at 1st base in the last four years with Chicago, basically making him exclusively a DH. His defense is atrocious at 1st base and the Dodgers already have James Loney at that position, so where is he supposed to play? Perhaps Thome is now the Dodgers version of Matt Stairs, a lefty power bat that will swing for the fences once every game.

The Dodgers also added former Diamondback Jon Garland on Monday. Garland is hardly a difference-maker, with his 8-11 record and 4.29 ERA, but he figures to give the Dodgers some rotation depth.

While neither Thome or Garland are significant enough additions to swing the entire National League, things just got a little tougher for the Phillies in their quest to return to the World Series. While the Phils are still the best team overall in the NL, the Dodgers did everything in their power on Monday to try to close the gap. Time will tell if it was enough.

Victorino, Stairs give Phillies commanding 3-1 series lead

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

The Phillies are one win away from the World Series. For most of Game 4 it didn't seem like that would be the case.

After jumping out to an early lead in Game 4, the Dodgers chipped away until the Phillies found themselves trailing 5-3 entering the top of the 8th. The game then quickly turned in the Phillies favor as they hit a pair a 2-run homers, one by Shane Victorino and the other by Matt Stairs, to give themselves a 7-5 lead, which the bullpen held onto to give the Phillies a huge 3-1 series lead.

The two heroes of Game 4, Victorino and Stairs, couldn't be more opposite. Victorino, an everyday player, is a little guy who has come up big for the Phillies again and again in the playoffs as his 11 RBIs attest to. Victorino has been far and away the Phillies MVP so far in the playoffs. The 40 years old Stairs, a bench player, is a huge slugger who stepped to the plate for only the 3rd time of the entire playoffs and absolutely crushed a Jonathan Broxton pitch deep into the Los Angeles night. Credit Pat Gillick with having the foresight to pick up a hitter like Stairs near the August 31st trade deadline. He guessed correctly that the Phils would need a big left-handed bat at some point in the playoffs.

Credit for the win should also be given to the Phils bullpen who recovered after Chad Durbin gave up a pair of runs to shut the Dodgers down in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. This bullpen is unbeatable with a lead and it's so comforting to know that if the team has a lead near the end of the game, they will win every time. It's definitely a different feeling then we are used to having in recent Phillies history and even going all the way back to the last time they made the World Series when Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams was in the closer role.

The Phillies now have a huge, but not insurmountable, 3-1 series lead. They are in a great position considering they have their best pitcher, Cole Hamels, taking the mound on Wednesday night in Los Angeles with a trip to the World Series on the line. Should Hamels falter, the Phillies would then still have two more opportunities to clinch the series back in Philly.

Of course, sometimes the 4th win in a series is the most difficult one to get. With the way this Phillies team is playing with a new hero stepping up every night, it seems like nothing can slow them down.

Myers' bat carries Phillies to 2-0 series lead

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

To win a World Series, teams need unlikely heroes to step up and make big plays. The Phillies had the most unlikely of heroes in Game Two when their pitcher led the team to an 8-5 victory over the Dodgers with his performance at the plate.

Of course, had that pitcher had a better night on the mound, the Phils wouldn't have needed him to come through at the plate like he did. Brett Myers started the game for the Phillies and gave up 5 runs in 5 innings of work, including a 3-run homer by Manny Ramirez. With the bat, Myers had as many RBIs as Manny, driving in 3 runs and scoring twice on 3 hits. Myers did his damage in three consecutive innings as he singled home a run in the second, singled in two more in the 3rd and added another single in the 4th.

This is the second time this postseason that Myers has been a hero at the plate. Against the Brewers in Game Two of the NLDS, Myers was able to have two quality at-bats against C.C. Sabathia where he worked the count and forced Sabathia to throw a ton of pitches. He earned a walk in that game that helped the Phillies beat the Brewers ace.

To put Myers' night in a little more perspective, Myers now has 3 RBIs in the playoffs which is triple the number of RBIs that Ryan Howard has been able to accumulate in 6 postseason games. Howard had 146 RBIs in the regular season but has only one so far in the playoffs.

Myers' hits were just part of a pair of big innings for the Phils, who batted around and scored 4 runs in both the 2nd and 3rd innings. Even more remarkable was the fact that, after scoring all of their runs on long balls in Game One, the Phillies scored 8 runs in Game Two without hitting a single home run.

Shane Victorino was the other hero of the night as he drove in 4 runs on a single and a triple and made a spectacular catch in the 7th inning to help prevent the Dodgers from getting back into the game. Victorino has been the Phillies best hitter in the playoffs so far, hitting .304 and driving in 9 runs. His performance has made up for the way Howard and Jimmy Rollins have been swinging the bat. Both have struggled to get going so far.

The Phillies are now riding high after taking the first two games against the Dodgers and they now travel to L.A. for the next three games of the series. For the season, both teams have won every game they have played at home so it will be up to the Phils to try to break that trend. They will be fine if they can win at least one of the games in L.A. and come back home with a 3-2 series lead. Of course, it would be more ideal if they can take care of the Dodgers as quickly as possible and wait for the winner of the ALCS, which gets under way tonight.

The Phils should revel in their victory that was brought to them by an unlikely source, but they need to start figuring out how to get Howard going at the plate. If Howard can start hitting like he did for the final month of the season, the Phillies won't need any other unlikely heroes to step forward. You have to believe it's only a matter of time before Howard crushes a few and the Phillies ride him into the World Series.

Manny who? Utley, Burrell power Phillies past Dodgers in Game One

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

With all the hype surrounding Manny Ramirez and all the amazing things he can do, I think people seem to forget he's just one man. He's a special player, but he can't win games all by himself. He did help the Dodgers get out to an early lead in Game One by doubling home a run in the first inning, but that was his only impact on the game.

The Phillies lack one superstar that carries the team, instead they feature a number of guys who are a threat to hit the ball out of the park at any time. Tonight, facing a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the 6th, it was Chase Utley and Pat Burrell's chance to shine. Utley hit a 2-run homer that tied the game and Burrell followed with the game winning homer two batters later. Those two swings of the bat were all the Phillies needed to carry them over the Dodgers, 3-2, and to take a 1-0 series lead in the NLCS.

Of course, solid pitching also carried the day for the Phillies. Cole Hamels looked shaky at times and consistently allowed runners to get on base, but he still only allowed 2 runs to cross the plate and he still managed to get the big strikeouts when he needed them. After Burrell gave the Phillies the lead late in the game, the bullpen took over and did what it always does: protect a lead. Ryan Madsen needed only 10 pitches to zoom through the 8th and Brad Lidge remained perfect on the season with his first postseason save.

The Phils have taken an important first step in winning Game One. Not only have they protected their home field advantage, they have also taken the momentum away from the Dodgers. The Dodgers had been riding high following their sweep of the Cubs but with one game all of that momentum and good feelings have been erased. It's a quick turnaround to Game Two, so the Dodgers are going to have to quickly forget about this loss if they want to remain in the series.

For the Phillies, now is a great time to pounce and build a 2 game lead. They shouldn't get too excited about winning one game, they are supposed to win every time Cole Hamels pitches. Now it will be up to Brett Myers to be the Brett Myers from the second half of the season for the Phillies to take command of this series. With the 4:35 start time tomorrow, I have a feeling most Philadelphia businesses will be shutting down early. Let's hope the Phils give us something worth going home early for.

Phillies vs. Dodgers: NLCS Breakdown

The Phillies are 4 wins away from the World Series for the first time since 1993. They have gotten this far with a deep lineup, good starting pitching when they needed it and the best bullpen in the league. The question now is if that's enough to get past Manny and the Dodgers. Here's my breakdown of the two teams position-by-position:

Starting Pitching:
Phillies: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton
Dodgers: Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda

The Dodgers have a major advantage when Derek Lowe takes the mound. He has a ton of postseason experience and he will be poised and calm even if he gives up a few runs. He also keeps the ball low in the zone so he could neutralize the Phillies big power advantage. Billingsley has been great this year but Kuroda isn't someone the Phils should fear. Unfortunately, I would rather have those three pitchers than who the Phillies will send to the mound. Cole Hamels is dominant, but the Phils never know what they are going to get out of the other three. Myers has been either really good or really bad the entire season, Moyer is coming off a terrible start against the Brewers and Blanton has been more miss than hit this season. The Phillies have to win every game that Hamels starts and hope that the right Myers shows up or they have no chance in this series. Edge: Dodgers

Bullpen:
Phillies: Brad Lidge, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madsen, Chad Durbin
Dodgers: Hong-Chih Kuo, Jonathan Broxton, Joe Beimel, Cory Wade

The Dodgers took Takishi Saito, their supposed closer, off their playoff roster and replaced him with Hong-Chih Kuo. Broxton closed games in the series with the Cubs, but the Dodgers don't have one dominant guy, instead they have a deep bullpen and they can turn to any number of guys when they need to get the big outs. Despite the Dodgers depth, I would still take Brad Lidge and a perfect 9th inning every time. Madsen has been an excellent bridge to Lidge and Romero and Eyre can get the lefties out. Edge: Phillies

Catcher:
Phillies: Carlos Ruiz
Dodgers: Russell Martin

Anyone who thinks the Phillies have an advantage here is either out of their mind or a total homer. Martin is an up-and-coming superstar and Ruiz is just a decent catcher. Edge: Dodgers

Infield:
Phillies: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz
Dodgers: James Loney, Blake DeWitt, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake

I was going to break the infield down position by position, but the Phillies would win at every spot anyway. The Phillies infield may be the best offensive infield in the league while the Dodgers have some decent hitters, but nothing that brings the power and speed the Phils have. Furcal's return to the lineup has been crucial for the Dodgers attack and Loney had a great series against the Cubs, but I would take the Phillies 3 All-Star infield any day. Edge: Phillies

Outfield:
Phillies: Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth
Dodgers: Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier

The Dodgers have the best player in the series in Manny. He has always been a monster against the Phillies so I would expect he will get intentionally walked at a steady clip. Kemp is a star in the making and Ethier is no slouch either as they round out the L.A. outfield. For the Phils, Burrell finally woke up at the end of the Brewers series and they are going to need a lot more from him. Werth has been steady and Victorino has a knack for getting the big hits. Still, Manny changes the entire complexion of a game every time he steps to the plate. Edge: Dodgers

Bench:
Phillies: Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs, Eric Bruntlett
Dodgers: Juan Pierre, Jeff Kent, Nomar

Besides Greg Dobbs, the Phillies don't have anyone coming off the bench that scares the other team. Stairs is a professional hitter but he's hardly an impact bat. The Dodgers bench is ancient but they all have a wealth of experience and can make a big play from time to time. Neither team expects too much from it's bench, so this isn't a key part of the series. Edge: Dodgers

Manager:
Phillies: Charlie Manuel
Dodgers: Joe Torre

Let's see, the winner of a number of World Series' against a guy who goes with his gut. Charlie has been more right than not lately and Torre is incredibly overrated, but I would still rather have the guy who's been here before. Edge: Dodgers

My prediction:
The Dodgers win this breakdown by a score of 5-2, although several of the spots can go either way. Most experts agree that the Dodgers have the advantage heading into the series, but I predict that the Phillies win in 7 games. The Phils bats will find a way to get a few runs on the board and the starting pitching will hold up just enough to allow the bullpen to close things down in the later innings. My pick is coming from a Phillies homer, but I really think this team will get it done.

There's nothing left to do now but wait and see. After years of suffering, let's hope the Phils can get back to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. Beat LA!! Beat LA!!

Phillies vs. Dodgers NLCS Schedule Announced, times included

With the Brewers out of the way, it's time for the Phillies to focus on the Dodgers. The schedule for the NLCS was released today, and with the finish of the Red Sox series, times have now been announced. Probable pitchers are also listed below:

Game 1, Thursday, October 9th: Dodgers (Lowe, 14-11) @ Phillies (Hamels, 14-10), 8:22 pm

Game 2, Friday, October 10th: Dodgers (Billingsley, 16-10) @ Phillies (Myers, 10-13), 4:35 pm

Game 3: Sunday, October 12th: Phillies (Moyer, 16-7) @ Dodgers (Kuroda, 9-10), 8:22 pm

Game 4: Monday, October 13th: Phillies @ Dodgers, 8:22 pm

Game 5: Wednesday, October 15th: Phillies @ Dodgers, 8:22 pm

Game 6: Friday, October 17th: Dodgers @ Phillies, 8:22 pm

Game 7: Saturday, October 18th: Dodgers @ Phillies, 8:22 pm

Bring on the Dodgers! Phillies on to the NLCS

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The Phillies did something today that they hadn't done in 15 years: win a playoff series. For the first time since their magical run in 1993, the Phillies beat the Brewers and advanced to the NLCS with a 3-1 series win. The Phillies will now take on the Dodgers who are fresh off their sweep of the Chicago Cubs.

Sunday's series clinching 6-2 win featured lots of homers and great pitching by the Phils. All 6 of the Phillies runs came off homers as Pat Burrell hit two bombs and Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth each hit one. Rollins' homer was a leadoff shot and Burrell added a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning as the Phils jumped out to an early lead.

With the offense taken care of early, Joe Blanton cruised. Blanton dominated the Brewers, giving up 5 hits in 6 innings and striking out 7 batters. He gave up one run to Prince Fielder but was otherwise unhittable. The homer by Fielder was the only extra-base hit the Phils gave up the whole game.

Now it's on to the NLCS and the Dodgers. The Phillies will have the home field advantage for the series, meaning it will start in Philly sometime in the middle of next week. The Dodgers and Phillies split their season series 4-4 with each team winning all of their games at home, so having the extra game in Philadelphia is crucial. It should be a good series, but I have to give the early advantage to the Phillies. The Phillies pitching nearly matches up with the Dodgers staff and their offense, despite Manny, is better than the Dodgers'.

Anyway, we'll worry about the Dodgers later. Now is the time to celebrate!!