This give a whole new meaning to Red October, the sequel.

When you gaze out there at those opponents Thursday night when the Phillies open the NLCS, those opponents will look familiar.

The Phils and Dodgers will repeat their epic battle in last year’s NLCS.
We all know how that one ended. Can you say Matt Stairs? (What do you think is the over/under on how many times TBS shows a clip of that majestic home run disappearing into the L.A. night?).

But Thursday night will have an even more familiar look for Phils’ fans.

That’s because it is expected that Dodgers’ Manager Joe Torre today will confirm that an old friend will be on the mound for L.A.

Left-hander Randy Wolf is expected to get the nod to start the series for the Dodgers. He likely will be opposed by new daddy Cole Hamels.

Does this mean the “Wolf Pack,” that die-hard group that used to sit in the upper reaches of Veterans Stadium when Wolf toiled for the Phils, will show up, complete with wolf masks, in ultra-cool L.A.?

And Wolf will not be the only familiar face to Phils fans. At some point in the series, we can expect to see another former Phil on the mound for the Dodgers. That would be Vincente Padilla.

And one final thought as we count down to the opening pitch.

Bravo to Major League Baseball for not further punishing Phils’ fans with any more ridiculous starting times.

All games of the seven-game NLCS are set for 8:07 p.m., except Friday, which will create one of the great Friday afternoon Happy Hours in recent memory with a 4:07 first pitch.

Of course, the people in L.A. might not be nearly as enthused about those times. Remember, an 8:07 start time for us means a first pitch just as people are leaving the office on the Left Coast at 5:07.

Hey, they’re used to having their starting times at odd times for the convenience of East Coast TV viewers. But at least everything out there occurs earlier, not later.

I have no complaint with the times. Even the idea of the one late afternoon contest. It will satisfy those traditionalists (like myself) who like the idea of playoff and World Series games being played in the daylight.

Of course, I have an added incentive to be pleased by those starting times. In this business, we call it a deadline. We should be able to make our deadline, and still get the result of the game into our entire press run.

Unless, of course, the Phils and Dodgers decide to play a thousand innings.

Remember, baseball is the one sport contested without a clock.

Let the games begin.