It is not the Mets or Yankees and their mounds of money, nor the Red Sox and their boisterous nation. It is not the Angels and their perfection of execution nor the Cubs and their abundance of talent. It is not the Dodgers and Manny-mania nor the Brewers and their C.C. Ride. It is not the Tampa Bay Rays and their worst to first very good young team. “We” are the 2008 champions of MLB Baseball, the “World” Champions of the game!! “We” are the Phillies which is not just purely defined as the core baseball team. “We” represents the players, coaches and front office, the ticket takers, concessionaires and announcers……….. the writers, sports talk hosts and security guards…….. the janitors, traffic cops and police. “We” are the fans both those who are life long die hards like myself and yes even those who have jumped onto the bandwagon with the success of a winner! “We”, baseball world, the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Baseball Champions!!!!!

The players of this team will live forever in our area as being recognized for their championship efforts. Charlie Manuel will be forever the man who led us to our second “World” title in history, J-Roll, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Hamels, Lidge, Moyer and the other members of this team will be forever heroes in this city regardless of where they might go in their remaining careers! Pat Gillick will be forever remembered as the GM who put us over the top! By becoming champions these boys have become immortal and lodged in the memories of “Phillies” young and old forever in time!

Pedro Feliz is forever the guy who got the winning hit! Geoff Jenkins is forever the guy who led off the sixth with a double! Pat Burrell is forever the guy who got the key double to stage the winning run! Brad Lidge is forever perfect as was this team when leading after eight innings! God Bless the Phillies………all of us, we are the “Phreakin” Champions!!!!!

As a long standing Phillie fan I have seen my share of disappointment, comes with the territory when you cheer for the losingest franchise in pro sports history………..but for this year and this off-season there is no sadness in “Phillie-vile” because …………one more time baseball world……………… “We”, the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 “World” Champions of baseball…………..sounds so sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh by the way if you didn’t figure it out…………. Phillies won game five by a four to three count!

The NLCS kicks off tommorrow with Cole Hamels taking the hill for the Fightins against the Dodgers Derek Lowe. The NLCS is a seven game series and the format is 2-3-2 in regards to home field advantage. If the series goes seven games the Phillies will have four games in their home ball park. The way the schedule lays out it would appear that Hamels would only be enabled to pitch two games since doing otherwise would require pitching on three days rest and he has never done that before. That being the case the depth of the Phillies staff will come into play.

The two teams split this season in the eight games played but Dodger shortstop and leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal did not play in any of the games. Furcal brings added punch to the Dodger offense as he is the ignitor much in the manner Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino are for the Phillies. I doubt that either team will allow either Manny Ramirez or Ryan Howard to beat them, that is, it is highly doubtful either slugger will be given any pitches within the zone therefore both must be very patient and hit the mistakes!

I like the auxiliary bats to the core slugger in the Phillies lineup more than those of the Dodger blue. Rollins, Victorino, Greg Dobbs, and Chase Utley all will swing left handed against a predominantly right handed Dodger staff, L.A. has only two lefties in the bullpen so left on left matchups against Howard and the like will be very limited by Joe Torre. Right handed hitters Pat Burrell and Jayson Werth have had big roles this season and must also come thru. Offense from Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz is a bonus as they provide most impact by defensive play. Geoff Jenkins and Matt Stairs could have big impacts as left handed pinch hitters since the Dodgers are limited from the southpaw side on the mound.

 The Dodgers counter with Casey Blake, Matt Kemp, Jeff Kent, Furcal, Russell Martin and Nomar all swinging right handed and are lighter on lefthanded hitters with first baseman James Loney and Andre Ethier being the lone core starters swinging from the left side. Juan Pierre is available as well.
like the depth of the Phillies starting pitching when compared to the Dodgers. Brett Myers is a key to the series as he needs to pitch late into games for the team to succeed. Joe Blanton will get a start in the series and must pitch like he did in the NLDS. Jamie Moyer and Hamels will need to continue to excel. The bullpen is an advantage to the Phillies, the Dodgers have a good pen but the Phils have a closer who is perfect thus far in Brad Lidge and he shows no account of not continuing that streak.

 Dodger Manager Joe Torre has many rings to his credit and is an advantage to the Dodgers but Phils skipper Charlie Manuel knows his personnel very well and was very good in strategic moves against the Brewers in the NLDS.

 Overall my heart tells me Phillies in Four! My baseball mind tells me a slightly different story with the key to the series not being any player on the field. I truly feel that Phillie fans in the home park can sway ballgames with their perception and reactions to the game. That being said I see this series going at least six games, more likely seven but a win for the Fightins on the home turf and the fans having an impact on the deciding game.

Unfortunately I will not be able to see most of the series as I have a work assignment in China for the week! I will check as much as I can on the internet and be pulling for the Fightins from afar, sure hope my prediction comes true and we advance to the big show, the 2008 World Series!

Cole Hamels pitched magnficently in his second chance at the playoffs unlike last season when nerves got the best of him.  Hamels pitches eight shutout innings striking out nine brewers.  The Phillies gave Hamels a lead in the third inning as Carlos Ruiz led off with a singleand advanced to second on a sacrfice bunt by Hamels.  Hamels reached first base himself as Milwaukee second baseman Ricky Weeks erred by dropping the throw from third baseman Bill Hall while covering first base.  Chase Utley then smoked a double over the head of Brewer center fielder Mike Cameron to score both Ruiz and Hamels.  Consecutive walks were then issued to Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino to score a third run.

Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo did not pitch bad and kept the Brewers in the game thru four.  The Milwaukee bullpen did an excellent job after Gallardo as they did not allow the Phillies to score another run. 

Brad Lidge came on to pitch the ninth inning and struck out the side albeit he struggled. Ryan Braun knocked in Ray Durham with a double with one out.  Lidge then struck out Prince Fielder and walked J.J. Hardy, both Braun and Hardy advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch.  Lidge then struck out Corey Hart to close the game.  Lidge ended up striking out the side.  42 saves in 42 tries!  80 and 0 when leading after eight!

Chatter

Skipper Charlie Manuel most surely will be second guessed for taking Hamels out after eight as Lidge struggled with the ninth.  Hamels had thrown less than 100 pitches and was dominating the Brewers.  Lidge needed over 30 pitches to get thru the ninth.  Ryan Howard was walked three times and would have been four but he got impatient and swung at a high pitch.  It seems the Brewers have decided that he will not be the man to beat them in this series.  Getting the first win is key as in the previous 26 NL series that were five game sets the team winning the first one has prevailed in the series 23 times.  Brett Myers goes at it tommorrow against C.C. Sabbathia,  I feel a very good outing coming on from Mr. Myers, we just need to get him some runs to work with!  

Phillies kept lefty J.A. Happ on the playoff roster along with both left hand hitting outfielders Geoff Jenkins and Matt Stairs.  Pitcher Rudy Seanez was kept off the roster, the Fightins are going with 11 pitchers and 14 position players at least for this series.   The win was the first post season victory for the Phillies since 1993 when they won game five of the World Series.   Cole Hamels was working on six days rest, if he can pitch like this with that type of rest maybe the team should invest in a six man rotation next season!

Rookie J.A. Happ took the starting assignment on the hilll for the Fightins and his teammates staked him to a four run lead before he even threw a pitch!  Ryan Howard continued his torrid hitting as he singled to knock in a run, Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz also singled to collect RBI’s, Ruiz had a key two out two run stroke.

Happ pitched six solid shutout innings for the Fightins allowing only three hits.  Geoff Jenkins pinch hit for him in the seventh.  Happ’s performance was much more than expected as the young lefty came up big to fill the fifth starter’s hole, it most likely will earn him another shot next week!

The Phillies added a run in the eighth as Braves second basemen Kelly Johnson had a brain cramp on a dead double play ball with runners on first and third as he forgot the outs, looked home and was then forced to go to first.  He was obviously very embarrassed afterwards! 

Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless seventh with little trouble but after getting two outs in the eighth ran into some trouble as two runners reached base.  Skipper Manuel went to the pen once more bringing lefty J.C. Romero in and he got Brian McCann on a pop out to end the inning with no damage done.    Matt Stairs hit a pinch hit home run in the ninth inning, his first as a Phillie, to lead off the inning.   Clay Condrey pitched the ninth to close out the game and gave up a run.  Final count: Phillies 6, Braves 1

 Chatter

Right, wrong or indifferent it is undeniable that skipper Charlie Manuel has been the calm throughout all occassions this season.  When the Fightins were down by four earlier in August Charlie remained confident that his team would prevail, in fact was almost “chatty” during his after game press conference which is a task he does not seem to enjoy.  He displays the kind of confidence that makes guys want to play for him,  talk shows and fans can question all they want in game moves but this guy is a proven winner and in my mind is a keeper.  He is very much like Coach Andy Reid of the Eagles in his calm and somewhat “in your face” media nature of display that it is his way or the highway!   If the Phillies make the playoffs he deserves alot of credit and it is not despite of him as some might say!   Bobby Cox has managed forever in Atlanta with that positive attitude approach and as we know has been very successful.

The Mets lost my favorite hot dog Fernando Tatis for the season when he dislocated his shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield.  I do not wish injury or hurt to anyone so hope that he recovers quickly and is back to “skipping” on the plate when he scores next season!

Shane Victorino must truly love playing in Atlanta.  He had three hits last night and followed that up with another three hits tonight.  In the previous six games at Atlanta Victorino has had multi hit games in four of them!  He gave us a scare in his third at bat when the ball hit his thumb while attempting to bunt, he did not come out of the game but did seem to favor it in his swing in the fourth at bat.

The Phillies have fared relatively well whenever they have been featured on Fox TV’s regional telecasts as today’s game was. Jimmy Rollins started the game off right for the Fightins as he led off with a single and scored on a double to right by Chase Utley. Jayson Werth scored Utley with a single and then scored himself as Shane Victorino knocked him in with a single. The Phillies added two more in the second as Ryan Howard plated both Rollins and Utley with a single. Both Rollins and Utley had collected thier second hits of the game to lead off the inning.

The Brewers scored two runs in the fourth as Jason Kendall was credited with a two out two RBI double that Pat Burrell misplayed. Cole Hamels was upset with the misplay and put his arm up in disgust, the young fella has to learn it is not a smart thing to show up a teammate on a mistake ! Just an inning before Burrell made an excellent play on a ball hit off the wall by Prince Fielder holding Fielder to a single, this allowed for Fielder to be doubled up when the next batter grounded into a double play. Hamels needed to pick up his mate the way Burrell had done for him on that play. It comes with experience.

Jimmy Rollins got the two runs back for Hamels with a two run home run in the Phillies sixth. Hamels pitched 6 and 1/3 innings of strong baseball to earn his 13th win of the season. The closing firm of Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge finished the game for the Phillies to put the team within 2 games of a tie for the wild card playoff spot!

J-Roll had three hits in this one, when he is on base and Mr. Howard is hot like he is this team is very tough. Why anyone would want to trade Ryan Howard is beyond me, especially when he gets in streaks like he is in now. Even what some perceive to be a subpar season for him he is still leading the league in home runs and RBI’s !!

Chatter

Since the game friday night was rained out there will be a doubleheader tommorow to make it up. It will be the same setup as last week with a day/night format. Joe Blanton will take the ball in the first game and Brett Myers will go in the second. Myers will be working on three days rest for the first time this year and like teammate Jamie Moyer did not hesitate to accept the assignment. He was even spotted in the bullpen during thursday nights game after pitching on Wednesday and stated he could go a inning then! Gotta love the guys desire to help the team in whatever way he can! The Brewers could have opted to play on Monday, an off day for both teams but given choice decided they would rather face Myers on short rest. Geoff Jenkins is off the disabled list and eligible to play but not sure what his status is in regards to effectiveness.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and mlbtraderumors.com both have rumblings of the Phillies being interested in outfielder Mark Kotsay of the Braves.  Atlanta has put Kotsay on waivers and will listen to offers.  Kotsay is a free agent next year so there is no obligation to a contract beyond this season.  He is a very good left handed bat and has been hot lately.  Speculation is that the Phillies could use him to replace injured Geoff Jenkins on the roster.  The Red Sox also are apparently very interested in Kotsay as J.D. Drew may be going on the disabled list soon.

Colorado has placed relief pitcher Brian Fuentes on waivers with the same concept in mind.  Fuentes is a free agent for the 2009 season and the Rockies are willing to deal him now but since he is a Type A free agent they would want value higher than the two first round draft picks they will get in return if they keep him for the balance of the season but then lose him to free agency over the winter.  Some team will most likely claim Fuentes to at a minimum block others from geting him.  The Mets would look awfully tough if they were able to obtain him at this point. 

In order for a player to be eligible for the post season he must be on the roster prior to August 31 so Sunday is another cutoff day if contenders want to add punch to the playoff roster. 

Kotsay might be had for a mid level type prospect but obviously Atlanta will hold out for the best deal, not sure if the Phils would dangle Olympian Jason Donald at the Braves but he might be a fit for them at second base next season as Kelly Johnson has been a disapointment at that position for them this year.

The Phillies offense came out of its shell for a second consecutive game as the Fightins pounded the L.A. Dodgers 9 to 2 in a nationally televised game to go up two games in this four game series.  Pat Burrell blasted his 30th home run of the season in the first inning plating three runs.  Burrell hit the ball off the left field foul pole to spot starter Cole Hamels with an early lead.    Hamels went seven strong innings giving up five hits and two runs.  He was touched for the two runs in the third inning as Russell Martin hit a two run home run.

The Phillies busted the game open in the fifth and sixth innings scoring three runs in each frame.  In the fifth Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp lost a fly ball hit by Pat Burrell in the high Philadelphia sky and the ball fell untouched for a double!  Jimmy Rollins scored on the play, Ryan Howard then smoked a double to center field to knock in two more runs.  In the sixth Burrell again figured in the scoring mix as he singled to knock in Hamels.  Shane Victorino then singled to knock in Burrell and Chase Utley.   Scott Eyre and Rudy Seanez finished out the game on the mound for the Phillies to book the win.

Chatter

Geoff Jenkins was placed on the fifteen day disabled list with a hip sprain.  Andy Tracy was recalled from Triple A to take Jenkins roster spot.  Tracy has previous major league experience as he played for the Montreal Expos and Colorado Rockies.  Tracy is a veteran player and is 35 years of age.  His primary position is first base but will serve as a left handed bat off the bench for the Fightins.  Pat Burrell had five RBI’s in the game matching his career high.  This has been a season of offensive spurts for the Fightins and hopefully this is a spurt that lasts thru the playoffs!  Sometimes playing better teams actually makes you play better yourselves and the Fightins certainly are in the midst of a challenging run with two left with the Dodgers, then two with the Mets and four with the Cubbies.  The last two games the hitters have been much more aggressive early in the count and have been successful, they are dead red fast ball hitters and if opposing pitchers try to use the heat to get ahead in the count this team can make you pay! 

Kyle Kendrick came into this game against the Dodgers having struggled in his last two starts.  Kendrick started out poorly in this one as well as he gave up a first inning home run to Andre Ethier.  Kendrick fell behind in the count to the first six batters he faced.  The key to this young pitcher though is his bulldog mentality and ability to battle thru “situations”.   Kendrick used that moxy and  settled down to give the Phillies 5 and 2/3 innings of three hit ball leaving the contest with a 3-1 lead.

Greg Maddux made his 2008 debut for the Dodgers having been recently reacquired by LA from the San Diego Padres.  Maddux held the Phillies at bay thru the first three frames but in the fourth Pat Burrell worked Maddux for a 10 pitch at bat earning a walk.  Ryan Howard then blasted his 34th home run of the season over the left field wall scoring Burrell ahead of him.  The Phillies scored thier third run in the fifth off Maddux as Greg Dobbs led off with a bunt single,  Jayson Werth followed with a line single to right field and Dobbs scored on a single up the middle by Chris Coste. 

Kendrick started the sixth inning and got two outs before the next two hitters reached.  Charlie Manuel went to the pen and brought in Chad Durbin who was able to end the inning with no runs scoring.  The Fightins busted loose in the home sixth as Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino singled, Burrell reached third on Victorino’s hit.  Jayson Werth then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Burrell.  Greg Dobbs followed with his second single of the game and then Chris Coste sent Maddux to the showers as he smoked a three run home run to left field!  I don’t know why Coste was in the minors and/or independent ball so long as this man can flat out hit!

Chase Utley hit his 31st home run of the season in the seventh inning to make the score 8 to 1.  Ryan Madson came in to pitch the eighth setting the Dodgers down in order.  Scott Eyre pitched the ninth for the Phillies to close out the game.  The Mets shut out Houston behind Johan Santana so the Phillies remained 2 and 1/2 games behind in the N.L. Eastern Division race.

Chatter

Geoff Jenkins started the game in right field but pulled up lame after legging out an infield hit and was replaced by Werth.  Jenkins will get an MRI tommorrow for a possible quad strain or hip flexor issue.  Dobbs once again got the start at third base as Charlie played the hot hand, wise move the way the team has been struggling offensively.  Chris Coste matched his career high for RBI’s in a game with four.  Jimmy Rollins continued to struggle at the plate and fans continued to let him know about it.  Rollins at one point was riding a 3 for 38 streak.  Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports speculates the FIghtins might entertain moving Ryan Howard in the offseason if Matt Holliday could be obtained.  He thinks in that scenario that Pat Burrell would be resigned to play first base……..food for thought but personally I would want Howard to be a Phillie for a long long time!

Similiar to a Spring Training game the wind created havoc on pop ups and fly balls in the first game of the nine game home stand.  Joe Blanton started on the hill for the Phillies but was gone after five as he gave up four runs on eight hits.  Blanton would have been touched for more had not the wind blown a few balls back that on an ordinary night would have been deep into the stands!  Willie Harris did touch Blanton for a first inning homer as he belted it to right field, the one place where the wind was not blowing in.

Washington scored the second run in the fourth and two in the fifth keyed by a triple by Ryan Zimmerman.  The Phillies scored one in the second on a sacrifice fly by Greg Dobbs.  Dobbs reached base again in the fifth as Harris botched a fly ball to left caught in the wind swirl!  Shane Victorino scored on that play,  Victorino had tripled to lead off the inning.  Dobbs scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins who hit for Blanton to make the count 4-3 Nats after five innings of play.

Chad Durbin pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings for the Fightins.  In the bottom of the seventh  Shane Victorino once again was in the middle of an offensive “make things happen” as he reached on a fielders choice and then went first to third on a flare single behind short stop by Greg Dobbs, few guys have that kind of speed or guts to make that running play!  Chris Coste then poked a sacrifice fly to right field to score Victorino and tie the game.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth for the Phillies setting up late game heroics.  Jayson Werth hit his 17th home run in the Phillies eighth right into the teeth of the wind to give the Fightins the lead.  Werth absolutely crushed a hanging curve ball off of Steven Shell and it still only made it two rows in over the left field wall!  Werth is some kinda strong to have hit it thru the swirl!

Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 31st save.  Lidge struck out two of the three batters he faced.  The Fightins kept their record perfect when leading after eight innings and are now 56 and 0 when that scenario occurs!

Chatter

Jimmy Rollins was greeted with a mix of boos and cheers in his first at bat but they progressed to more boos in his next two at bats especially the third when he grounded into a double play.  Some even booed him on a line drive out in the bottom of the eighth!  Anyone who feels it is their right to boo a player who is giving their all and/or is not hot dogging is an absolute idiot in my opinion.  Rollins was roundly cheered last season enroute to an MVP season, yes he is struggling this season but he is the same guy and gives the same effort!  Philly fans are passionate but I believe the minority are the ones booing and it gives us all a bad image………… pure lack of class in my opinion.  Rumblings are, according to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, that the Phillies have interest in former Cincinatti catcher David Ross perhaps as a September roster addition.  Carlos Ruiz has struggled all season offensively so adding another dependable catcher may be indeed be a wise addition.

Game two of the Florida series pitted Kyle Kendrick against the Fish.  Kendrick was staked to an early lead in this one as the Fightins scored one in the first and two in the second.  Chase Utley had the initial key blow, a double to plate the first run while an Eric Bruntlett double in the second plated Geoff Jenkins who had reached on an error, Kendrick then knocked in Buntlett to help his own cause.

 Ryan Howard smashed his 32^nd home run of the season in the Phillies third at bat to make the score 4-0.  Kyle Kendrick pitched six shutout innings to hold the lead, the twenty three year old right hander pitched out of a few jams en route to the quality start as he had his sinker working really well and got great defensive support from his infield.  He did walk five batters but the stellar fielding in particular by third basemen Bruntlett and short stop Jimmy Rollins preserved his shut out performance.

 Mike Cervenak got his first major league hit and RBI in the bottom of the sixth as he pinch hit for Kendrick to knock in Eric Bruntlett to make the score 5 zip.  Chad Durbin pitched scoreless seventh and eighth frames after manager Charlie Manuel had purposely given him the night off last evening.  Durbin has been excellent in his role this year but had pitched in five of the last six games for the Fightins, coupled with the Monday off day it gave Durbin a much needed and earned two day rest. 

 Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth inning to complete the shutout.  Madson only needed six pitches to finish the innings, all of the pitches he threw were strikes!  Kyle Kendrick upped his record to 10 and 5.  Since his recall from the minors mid season last year he is 20 and 9!

  Chatter

 The Phillies had minor league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller on hand at the University of Miami to watch former Phil Freddie Garcia work out on Tuesday but it seems unlikely they would have a genuine interest in re-signing him.  It was reported as more of a cover your bases excursion, apparently fifteen teams watched Garcia throw!  A true indication of how thin pitching is when a guy coming off Tommy John surgery gains that sort of attention deep into August just for a workout!   The more realistic candidate as a potential Phillies signing is left handed reliever Scott Eyre who has cleared waivers after being designated by the Cubs.  Eyre has been on the D.L twice this year and has not pitched well this season albeit he has done so each of the past two seasons…….. us lefties never seem to die and Mr. Eyre most likely will get another look somewhere!

  I was somewhat impressed by Les Walrond’s outing.  He showed a low 90’s fastball and a decent curve ball and cutter, his problem was that he started to nibble after striking out the first batter he faced last night and ended up walking the bases full before giving up a jam shot that scored two.  I think he is worth another look, I remember back to the 70’s an at that time journey man pitcher named Dave Stewart that wore a Phillie uniform early in his career and was given up on…….. he went on to be a stud in Oakland!  Not saying that Waldron is of that ilk but lefties that can throw in the nineties are not readily available!  Tom Gordon had his first rehab appearance in Clearwater earlier this week and threw again this evening but was removed with elbow discomfort; hopes were he might rejoin the bullpen before the end of the month but he will come back to Philly to be examined by the team physician and go from there.   Pedro Feliz is scheduled to come off the DL on Saturday but is still battling lower back issues and most likely will not be reactivated on schedule.