Not even 90 minutes after the Phillies left Citizens Bank Park for the exclamation point to their parade, they cut ties with two players.

The 2009 options on outfielder So Taguchi and reliever Tom Gordon were declined. Both can file for free agency.

As a born and bred Philadelphian, I am speechless.

I was six-years-old in 1983, so I don't remember those Sixers.

I'm pretty certain I'll remember these Phillies.

Time for a much-needed break. See you at the parade.

In his pre/mid-game press conference, Phils manager Charlie Manuel is going to have Ryan Madson take over for Cole Hamels.

Madson has established himself as a dominant setup man in the last month. Since the postseason began, he's 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 10 games.

"Madson will start the game for us," Manuel said of Game 5, which will begin with the Phillies hitting in the bottom of the sixth. "We've got (J.C.) Romero and (Brad) Lidge, (Chad) Durbin and (Scott) Eyre - that's how we play it."

So we're somewhere in hour 38 of this lovely suspended World Series Game 5.
"
When play resumes, will they trot out and wipe the dust off some has-been pop star to sing the National Anthem, or will they move right on to the "buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks?

Will their be an embarrassing amount of empty blue seats? My guess is more than a few hundred fans didn't think to hold onto their ticket stubs the other night (even though - HELLO PEOPLE! - that had big-time memorabilia written all over it).

How about the umpiring crew? Has their collective order of glases/contact lenses arrived yet from Lens Crafters?

So many questions, so much time to ponder....

Oh, right - the game.

When play resumes, this is how it's going to go: Grant Balfour is on the mound for Tampa, with the scored tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 6th.

Cole Hamels is due up for the Phils.

Charlie Manuel will pinch hit for Hamels. When the pinch hitter (Geoff Jenkins seems a good bet as Balfour is a righty) is announced, Joe Maddon will then decide whether he'll counter by bringing in a lefty.

He may stick with Balfour. Why? Lefty-killer Jayson Werth is due up third in the inning.

Of course, Maddon could burn the pen and use a lefty to face Jenkins and Jimmy Rollins, and then bring in a righty to face Werth... but then two more lefties, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, are due up.

On the other side, if Maddon brings in a lefty to counter Jenkins, Manuel could then pull Jenkins back and send a righty up instead (yes, So Taguchi).

Fun stuff, huh?

My guess is Balfour stays in, Maddon takes his chances against Jenkins, who hasn't hit a whole lot recently. He'll save one of his three lefties for Utley-Howard... and then turn to a righty to take on Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz.

Then again, if Manuel has the inclination that Maddon will leave Balfour in, should be take his chances and send Stairs, and not Jenkins, up to bat?

Mind games. Hey, what else are you going to do with 44 hours to kill?

Here's the official word from MLB:

GAME FIVE OF THE 2008 WORLD SERIES POSTPONED

PHILADELPHIA – Game Five of the 2008 World Series will not resume tonight due to inclement weather. Game Five is now tentatively scheduled to resume on Wednesday evening at 8:37 p.m. (ET), weather permitting.

Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said: “While obviously we want to finish Game Five as soon as possible, the forecast for today does not allow for us to continue the game this evening. We are closely monitoring tomorrow’s forecast and will continue to monitor the weather on an hourly basis. We will advise fans as soon as we are able to make any final decisions with respect to tomorrow’s schedule.”


-------------------------------

What's not in the above press release: the contingency plan for how the Series will move forward.

Here's what you should expect: if Game 5 can be finished Wednesday and the Rays win, Game 6 will be played Thursday, and, if necessary, Game 7 will be played Friday.

There will be no off-day. When MLB and Fox changed the TV scheduling a few years back of the World Series, they made sure no World Series games would be played on Friday, a historically bad night to draw television ratings. Saturdays aren't much better.

Thursday, on the other hand, is a very popular night for TV viewers. MLB is not nixing a chance to play on Thursday.

If, by some strange circumstance, MLB did decide to use Thursday as a travel day if the Rays win Game 5 Wednesday, here's the bonus for the Phils --- a World Series game played on Saturday would be played on Cole Hamels' regular day.

If Game 7 is on Saturday night, Hamels would start in full rest.

This blog is being suspended.... suspended in disbelief.

No parade today or tomorrow.

No more Cole.

No rain delay when a monsoon took over Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies held a 2-1 lead.

As a lifelong Philadelphian, I've seen my share of title hopes flushed down the toilet in very odd ways - fog bowl, choking incidents, barfing incidents, Mitch Williams incidents.

But what happened Monday night at Citizens Bank Park (which you can read all about in the wonderful stories at delcotimes.com/sports ), was unacceptable.

I was going to post a video of Dr. Evil (I wanted to liken the decision makers here to his collection of "frikkin' idiots.") but my computer is not cooperating.

It, too, is suspended in disbelief I guess.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. B.J. Upton, CF
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Evan Longoria, 3B
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Rocco Baldelli, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, C
9. Scott Kazmir, P


PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're a Phillies fan, today probably feels like Christmas Day. Or at least Christmas eve.

Nothing has happened yet, but there's a lot of anticipation for what everyone believes is going to happen.... tonight.

On that note, there's a song that been in my head all day. In high school and college, the Smashing Pumpkins were all the rage. Since we're almost at Halloween, what better of a band to quote.

Here's one of there songs, "Tonight, Tonight," which has some pretty appropriate lyrics for what's going on in Philly today...


TONIGHT, TONIGHT
by Smashing Pumpkins

Time... is never time at all
You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth
And our lives are forever changed
We will never be the same
The more you change the less you feel

Believe... believe in me, believe
Believe that life can change
That you're not stuck in vain
We're not the same, we're different tonight
Tonight, so bright
Tonight.... tonight

And you know you're never sure
But you're sure you could be right,
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade in your city by the lake
The place where you were born

Believe... believe in me, believe
Believe in the resolute urgency of now
And if you believe there's not a chance tonight
Tonight, so bright
Tonight

Well crucify the insincere tonight
Well make things right, well feel it all tonight, tonight
Well find a way to offer up the night, tonight
The indescribable moments of your life, tonight
The impossible is possible tonight, tonight
Believe in me as I believe in you.... tonight

Brett Myers shared a funny story following Sunday night's 10-2 victory over the Rays, a game that moved the Phillies one win away from a World Championship.

(Funny saying "Phillies" and "World Championship" in the same sentence, huh?)

"I went out to throw a bullpen today," Myers said. "And I heard one of the greatest things I've heard in a long time.

"It's 4:15 in the afternoon. The Eagles are playing across the street. There's 2 minutes left. And I'm hearing Phillies chants. And that's weird. I'm used to hearing Eagles chants all these years (in this park). So to hear that, it gave me chills. It told me, 'These people are ready to go.'"

If the Phillies win tonight, the debate is over.

Philadelphia will be a baseball town. The team that ends 25 years of misery (and it's not a done deal just yet) will rule the city.

I'm not going to say this World Series is over yet, but after Ryan Howard just unloaded on a three-run moonshot to left, my "Phils in 5" prediction looks like a pretty good bet.

It's only the top of the 5th, but it's 5-1 Phils. Other than a solo home run to Carl Crawford, Joe Blanton has looked superb.

A four-run lead with a team that can see the finish line - and a team that has a strong bullpen - would appear to have a good chance of holding up.

If that's the case, the Phils are up 3-1 in the series with Cole Hamels on the mound Monday. The ball in the ace's hands with a chance to clinch a World Championship?

Let's just say this: the way the things at the moment, I wouldn't make any plans for Halloween. A Friday holiday sounds as good as any day for a certain team to have a certain celebration (it starts with a "P") down Broad Street.

Uh oh - Eric Hinske just hit a home run to Camden. 5-2.

As Jimmy Rollins likes to say, nothing comes easy in Philly...

But wait. Joe Blanton - yes, JOE BLANTON - has answered back with a solo shot of his own. Wow.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Ben Zobrist, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Andy Sonnanstine, P (2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two postseason starts)



PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Joe Blanton, P (1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two postseason starts)

The marathon that was Saturday night (Sunday morning) at Citizens Bank Park is over. I think.

But here we are. Back at the bank, 12 hours after arriving home from a long, strange trip at the park for Game 3.

The wild way the game played out - the Phils cough up 4-1 lead, only to rally back to score a run in the ninth without a hit that rolled any further than 40 feet - overshadowed a bigger story. The Phils are in excellent position to capture the franchise's second World Championship this week.

They have a 2-1 series lead, which is a pretty big deal when Cole Hamels is on tap to pitch tomorrow (Monday).

If Joe Blanton gives the Phils a quality start and the bats get hot (they're still 2-for-33 with runners in scoring position), they can go into tomorrow's game with their ace on the mound in a possible World Series-clinching game.

You really would have to like your chances there...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the scoop from the Daily Times, Sunday edition, with stories that may or may not have made your paper (due to deadline issues/last night's last start):

Carlos Ruiz earns redemption in a wild, marathon night at the ball yard.

Here's a smattering of what the victorious Phils were saying postgame in the wee hours of the morning.

Jamie Moyer waited 22 years for Saturday night, and then delivered for the Phils.

E-Commish: This Bud's a dud.

You want more on the commish? We've got more on the commish's night in South Philly.

One other complaint on the commish's agenda: the Phils aren't happy that a popular pregame tradition has landed on the cutting room floor.

Hey look - it's Albert Pujols. He was at the Bank to collect an award... but it wasn't the NL MVP, which he may have to wrestle Ryan Howard for in another two weeks.

You want pictures? We've got pictures from last night's win.

If you still haven't arrived at the ballpark, don't rush out of the house.

According to a club official, Game 3 of the World Series Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park won't start, at the earliest, until 9:45 p.m.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Gabe Gross, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Matt Garza, P


PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Jamie Moyer, P

A couple of notes: the majority of both team's hottest hitters are at the bottom of their respective lineups.

Shane Victorino leads the Phils in World Series batting average, hitting .500; Carlos Ruiz is right on his heels at .400. Jason Bartlett leads Tampa, at .667 while Akinori Iwamura (.429) and Dioner Navarro (.333) aren't far behind.

Rays cleanup hitter and likely A.L. Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria is hitless... as are the two longest-tenured members of the Phillies, Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell. Here's a bold pregame prediction: one of those three guys isn't just collecting a hit today, but hitting a home run.




(more pregame blogging in the posts below)

I came across a very interesting story late last night on ESPN.com, something that admittedly, something I didn't realize (along with the rest of the regular beat/Philadelphia writers).

The Phillies weren't very happy that MLB and FOX cut out the long tradition of announcing the entire rosters from both teams before Game 1 of the World Series. Kudos to ESPN.com's Amy Nelson on this story.

I'll try to find out more about this today, and will see if the Phils efforts will pay off in having both teams rosters announced tonight in the first World Series game at Citizens Bank Park.

All I can say is MLB and FOX need to get their respective heads out of their behinds: in their convoluted world, the Backstreet Boys (whose popularity ran out last century) are allowed to sing a 14-minute version of the national anthem, but Jamie Moyer can't hear his name announced before Game 1.

If MLB and FOX are so concerned about "timing," perhaps they should have first pitch at 8:07 and not 8:37.... any baseball fan under the age of 15 simply can't expect to be able to stay up past midnight on a school night.... and, for the love of God, veterans like Jamie Moyer deserve to hear their name over the P.A. system.

I'm glancing out from my couch at a very wet backyard, and the rain looks as persistent as Tampa Bay's offense against Boston. It doesn't stop.

But according to the good folks at weather.com, we're in luck -- sometime between 6 and 7 p.m. tonight, a couple hours before the first pitch, this wet stuff is supposed to stop.

Thus, the Phils will host the first World Series game in Philadelphia tonight since Oct 21, 1993, when Curt Schilling fired a five-hit, complete-game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 5.

Schilling is at home, likely hosting a radio talk show or blogging on 38pitches.com

The Phils will rely on another accomplished vet tonight - Jamie Moyer.

If I collected a dollar each time I've heard someone - fans, talk show hosts, media members - say "Jamie Moyer is finished" or "Jamie Moyer can't pitch again in this postseason," I'd be a VERY rich man.

Like rich enough to quit the glamorous life of getting two hours of sleep to board a 7 am plane in order to make a afternoon workout in another city.

But, honestly, I don't get it. I understand Philadelphians are fickle, but they're usually not forgetful.

Jamie Moyer did win 16 games this year and sport a sub-4.00 ERA, right? You can't possibly argue that, other than Cole Hamels, no starting pitcher on this team has been more consistent.

It was just three weeks ago that he tossed a gem to help the Phils clinch the NL East title, right?

But no.... let's all bury Jamie Moyer for one shaky-but-not-terrible outing in Milwaukee and one shellacking against a Dodgers team that has historically owned him.

Call me crazy, but I'll stick with the guy who has kept baffling hitters in his 2 1/2 years with the Phils, who has extended a possible Hall of Fame-worthy career into his mid 40s (Moyer turns 46 in less than a month).

Jamie Moyer has waited his whole life, and 22 baseball seasons, for a night like tonight. If the rains stays away - and it should, or I will flood weather.com with hate email - the old man will come through to keep the Phils in the game.

Of course, they should probably score some runs - maybe a hit with a runner in scoring position - if they hope to take a 2-1 series lead.

It's really a wonder how the Phillies are going back home tied 1-1 in the 2008 World Series.

Well, maybe not. Cole Hamels was brilliant in Game 1 and Chase Utley hit a timely home run.

After two games, the Phils are a dreadful 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position.

They tied a World Series record by going 0-for-13 in Game 1. The Phils upped that number to 0-for-19 before Shane Victorino beat out an infield single with a runner on second.

But that play didn't generate a run and the slump continued. At the end of a long, unproductive night at Tropicana Field (a house of horrors for the Phils offense), Charlie Manuel's team finished a putrid 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

"I myself had two golden opportunities… and I didn’t come up with at least putting the ball in play,” Greg Dobbs said. “That to me, for myself personally, is unacceptable.”

“We’ve done this before, we know we can work our way out of it,” Jimmy Rollins said. “It’s just a matter of one guy getting a hit and then it will roll down hill from there.”

Perhaps a change of venue - the next three games will be played at the cozy confines of Citizens Bank Park - will wake up the Phils bats.

PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Greg Dobbs, DH
8. Pedro Feliz, 3B
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Brett Myers is pitching.

RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Cliff Floyd, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Rocco Baldelli, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS


James Shields is pitching

As you probably saw (and suffered through), the Backstreet Boys sang the National Anthem before Game 1 of the World Series at Tropicana Field.

(We'll spare you posting a photo of that unfortunate incident.)

The Los Lonely Boys are singing in Tampa today.


The Phillies announced their National Anthem rotation this afternoon. Taylor Swift in Game 3. I'd say the Phillies won this competition.

(The entire press release is below.)




MUSICAL PERFORMERS SET FOR GAMES THREE AND FOUR OF 2008 WORLD SERIES
Taylor Swift, Patti LaBelle and Military Personnel to Perform at Citizens Bank Park
Tim McGraw to Deliver Game Three Ball with Member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Multi-platinum country artist Taylor Swift will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Three of the 2008 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Two-time Grammy award winning R&B and soul singer/songwriter Patti LaBelle will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Four of the 2008 World Series. Military personnel from the Philadelphia area will perform God Bless America in the seventh inning of both Games.
A local member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball, will deliver the first game ball to the mound at Games Three and Four. At Game Three, the Boys & Girls Club member will be accompanied to the mound by Grammy award winning artist, Tim McGraw. McGraw was invited by the Phillies and Major League Baseball as a symbolic gesture to honor his late father, Tug McGraw. Tug pitched the Phillies to a World Series win in 1980 and was the last pitcher to close a World Series win for the team. Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift first sang the National Anthem for a professional sports event at the age of 10 for her hometown team, the Reading Phillies. She made her debut on the Billboard country charts with her debut single “Tim McGraw” which peaked at #6 on the charts in 2006. Following “Tim McGraw” were “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn” and “Should’ve Said No,” all of which were top hits on the Billboard’s country and pop charts. Her self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift,” sold over 3 million copies as she became the first female solo artist in country music to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut CD. On November 11, 2008, Taylor will release her sophomore studio album “Fearless”.
A native of Philadelphia, Patti LaBelle has had a career in contemporary music that has spanned over 40 years. She has released 30 albums which have produced 35 singles on the American R&B Top 100 Chart with 26 reaching the Top 40 and 12 reaching Top 10. Two of her singles, “Lady Marmalade” and “On My Own”, a duet with Michael McDonald, became #1 singles on the American Hot 100 Singles chart. Her most recent album, “The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle,” debuted at #1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart. In
addition to being a successful singer, LaBelle is also an author with four best-sellers, actress, activist and entrepreneur with her own brand of clothing, jewelry, perfume and makeup.
The 2008 World Series will be televised nationally by FOX Sports and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International in 13 languages to 229 countries and territories around the world. ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio will provide national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and MLB Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the game on the Internet.

While logging on to ESPN.com to find some stats, I came across this story - which could be a boon to the Phils chances of collecting their first World Championship since 1980.

Why?

A rain-out Saturday would mean Cole Hamels would pitch in Game 4, not Game 5. The earlier you can send Hamels back out there, the better your odds are for winning a game.

So imagine this scenario: the Phils split the next two games, tonight and Sunday. Hamels, who will pitch Monday on four days' rest either way, could put the Phils up 3-1 if Game 4 is Monday.

Then Brett Myers is handed the ball in Philly, where he thrives off the home crowd. And you have to imagine the home crowd will be buzzing just a tad in anticipation of a World Championship-clinching victory, right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD

Hamels added another chapter to a memorable playoff run Wednesday night.

He wasn't dominant, but he utilized his crazy-good changeup in unison with his sneaky-fast heater to keep Tampa off balance in Game 1. Hamels got beat a few times - Crawford's HR, Iwamura's double and even Upton's smash (which Feliz stabbed for a double play) - but the 24-year-old left-hander made a 3-0 lead stand up.

Hamels has four wins in four postseason starts, moving him one victory away from trying the all-time record for wins in a postseason.

But Game 1 is history. Honestly, they had to win Game 1 if they hope to win the series.

Consequently, Tampa has to win Game 2. The matchup: James Shields (9-2 with a 2.59 ERA at Tropicana Field this year) vs. Brett Myers (3-8 with a 6.21 ERA away from Citizens Bank Park).

Those numbers would appear to favor the Rays. But don't doubt Myers' thirst to up the Phils series lead to 2-0 before the arrive in Philadelphia early Friday morning.

The headache-inducing cowbells could motivate Myers to pick up where Hamels left off and silence the Rays. Meanwhile, Ryan Howard hasn't homered yet in the postseason, and as good as "Big Game" James Shields has been, he's not bulletproof.

Shields allowed 24 home runs in the regular season - only 10 American League pitchers gave up more.

So here we are.... it took a while, I just had a viewing for my computer, which apparently couldn't make it through the whole season (it IS a long season).

But after an awkward moving-on period, I've got a brand-spanking new machine just in time for Game 1. Like three hours before game-time, just-in-time.

Chris Coste is your DH. Here are the lineups.


PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, DH
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Cole Hamels is pitching, of course.


RAYS

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Willy Aybar, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Ben Zobrist, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Scott Kazmir is pitching.

Okay, time to take a deep breath. About two hours and 50 minutes to go as I type this. A shot out to Staples and the kindly cab driver, Norm, who did a fine job getting me to and from the Trop and Staples.

A lot's been written about this field. Here's the view from the pressbox as they piece it together for tomorrow night.

I forgot how easy it is to take a pic with my phone and email it to myself.



(It ain't Wrigley.... or CPB... or pretty)

Oh, that's right - the Mets traded Scott Kazmir, selected two picks before Cole Hamels in the 2002 draft, for Victor Zambrano. Can a Mets fan actually watch Game 1 of the World Series? Doubtful.

As expected, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon tabbed Kazmir to start Game 1 of the World Series opposite Cole Hamels, a battle of lefties. Kaz and Cole, both high school pitchers when they were drafted by the Mets and Phillies, have kept tabs on each other.


"We've actually been compared by Baseball America and a couple of other things I was reading as I came up through the minors," said Kazmir, who went 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA this season and led the American League in with 239 strikeouts in '07. "Seems like we were pretty much in every single league going through the ranks.

"I got to see quite a bit of him and kind of follow his career a little bit, just because of another left-hander any you just see what he's doing and see what's working for him, maybe you can use to your own game. And I've seen a lot of him. He's a great pitcher."

Said Hamels:

"We were always compared... through that, you get to know a guy, not on a personal level, but on a level of respect," Hamels said. "He's a tremendous pitcher... he's a good guy and he has a competitive spirit that is one of the best.

"Being able to pitch against him will be a great opportunity, because being compared at such at early age and finally being able to compete against each other at this sort of stage makes things a little bit better."

Since we know how much Philadelphians like the underdog mentality, we wasted little time passing along this little nugget -- the Tampa Bay Rays, who had the worst record in baseball last season, are the favorites to win the World Series.

We don't condone gambling, but here's the latest from Vegas.

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One more quick observation before getting back to working on the World Series preview edition (which will appear in Wednesday's paper):

David Price could be a difference-maker in this series.

I'm sure you watched him man-handle the Red Sox in the last two innings of last night's ALCS Game 7. That was no fluke -- Price wasn't the No.1 overall pick in the 2007 draft for no reason.

He throws consistently in the mid-90s (he was hitting 95 and 96 last night pretty regularly). And he's left-handed.

This is not good news if he continues to come out of the bullpen to face the likes of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

Phils skipper Charlie Manuel said the team's rotation will remain the same for the World Series as it has been throughout the playoffs:

Game 1: Cole Hamels

Game 2: Brett Myers

Game 3: Jamie Moyer

Game 4: Joe Blanton



Also, the Phillies will need a DH for the first two games (to be played at either AL Park - Fenway or Tropicana). You can scratch one guy off the possible DH list, though:

"Not at all," Manuel said when asked if Ryan Howard, who has made 20 errors, was a possibility to take the DH spot. "He's playing first base."

Back when the Phillies hired him a year ago, they probably had no idea he would become this valuable of a commodity for October baseball.

Don't get me wrong - they hire professional scouts to do their jobs for a reason, but the team has to be extremely pleased with the happy coincidence that is having Chuck LaMar on their side.

LaMar, the Phillies World Series "Insider," worked as the Tampa Bay Rays general manager for the franchise's first 10 seasons. Many of the players who are currently battling the Red Sox were drafted and developed under LaMar's watch.

In anticipation of a possible Phils-Rays World Series, I caught up with LaMar before the Phils final game in L.A. LaMar has been in Boston all week, scouting the ALCS.

Here's the story on the Phillies "Insider" from Thursday's Daily Times sports section.

Since I was up at 4:15 a.m. and then spend half the day on a plane, I didn't plan on doing any blogging today. (Need to recharge the batteries/sleep).

But I came across this excellent photo taken by Jed Jacobsohn of Getty Images.

The last time Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run, we were in Milwaukee for Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The Phils advaced to the NLCS later that day.

Rollins led off tonight's game at Dodger Stadium with a home run. With Cole Hamels on the mound, we all know how this one is going to end.

Honorary National League president Bill Giles will be handing the league championship trophy to the Phillies in another 90 minutes or so.

The Phillies, for just the sixth time in the 126 years of the franchise's existence, are headed to the World Series (barring a disastrous finish, although again, with Hamels on the mound and a 4-0 lead in the 5th, you have to like their chances).

As for that parade I was talking about... the Phillies' charter flight back home is expected to touch ground at Philadelphia International between 6 and 7 a.m. So if you're into stayin' up all night getting rowdy and greeting the team, there's a little heads-up from yours truly.

The Dodgers are in must-win mode. Here is the lineup they're trotting out tonight against Cole Hamels:

1. Rafael Furcal, SS
2. Andre Ethier, RF
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. Russell Martin, C
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Casey Blake, 3B
7. Matt Kemp, CF
8. Blake DeWitt, 2B
9. Chad Billingsley, P


Here's the Phils lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

Since they'd like to close this thing out before heading back home tonight, I wouldn't be surprised if the Phils completely stay away from Ramirez. He's hitting .500 (11-for-22) this postseason with three home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs.

While the Dodgers haven't played great this series, Manny has certainly been Manny - one of the best all-time playoff performers - and the Phils simply can't let him beat them tonight and give L.A any life.

The Phillies can collect their first National League pennant since Mitch Williams struck out Bill Pecota on Oct. 13, 1993 when they take on the Dodgers in L.A. tonight.

Cole Hamels is the man on the spot, and appears to be raring to go.

"Going out there in the big game, you want to be that guy that can dictate it.
And I think if you have the mind-set and the talent to do so, then you should be able to go out there and have success," Hamels said. "And I think that's something I have the confidence that I can go out there and do it. I know I have the talent to do it.

"It's just a matter of time and getting that opportunity to do it.
I've had the opportunity this year and I've been able to not only come through but hopefully put us into more situations where I can do it again, and again, and again."

The first again starts in seven hours. If he wins tonight, Hamels will likely find himself back on the mound in the Phillies next game, too - Game 1 of the World Series a week from tonight.

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Over in the ALCS, Tampa Bay has outscored Boston 87-4 in the last three games. Okay, not quite... but the Rays have been rolling over the Red Sox and that series, too, looks just about finished.

And don't be too quick to assume the Rays are a better matchup than the Sox for the Phils in the Series. Tampa has won 13 of their 24 games against the Sox this year, and beat them for the AL East title.

Boston's World Series titles are in the past - the Rays are obviously the better team right now.

Phillies fans can't erase their last World Series memory.

It may have been 15 years ago, but the home run from that certain Toronto slugger off that wild Philadelphia closer still hurts like it happened yesterday.

Well here's a healthy heaping of good news: Phils faithful are going to have an opportunity to cloud their brains with new memories of a Philadelphia Fall Classic.

Shane "The October Homerin' Hawaiian" Victorino continued his playoff magic with a game-tying, bullpen-reaching home run and Matt Stairs alugged a titanic blast later in a four-run eighth inning that delivered the Phils a 7-5 win and moved the losingest franchise in the history of the sport one win away from their first World Series appearance in 15 years.

While they are still one win away - don't plan your World Series parties just yet - how can you not feel pretty good about their chances?

They have three cracks at finishing off the Dodgers and their best opportunity comes first. Following a random day off Tuesday, the Phils will send Cole Hamels and his 1.20 ERA to the hill for Game 5.

My prediction was Phils in 6. Can I change it to Phils in 5?

On a day when the Phils did a lot of things to help hand the game to the Dodgers, they still prevailed. I'm no sports psychologist, but I'm guessing this loss cuts a deep wound in the home team's clubhouse.

Joe Blanton lost a lead in the fifth.

Chad Durbin served up a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. In the same inning, Ryan Howard collected error No.20 on the season to plate another Dodgers run.

But the Phils played powerball against a tough L.A. pen, capped by late-season pickup Matt Stairs hitting the first home run Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton has allowed since May.

The fellas on press row have just been handed a memo. It reads: "MEDIA ADVISORY: DODGERS WORKOUT TOMORROW CANCELLED; PHILLIES WORKOUT TIMING TO REMAIN THE SAME."

That's right, the Dodgers have already called it a season.

If the all-important momentum stays with Cole Hamels and the Phils in two days, L.A. can cancel their trip to Philadelphia, too and clean out their lockers before the weekend.

According to manager Charlie Manuel, the Phils are getting their wallets hit for Sunday night's third inning, bench-clearing shoutfest with the Dodgers.


-First base coach Davey Lopes - fined a $1,000.

-Center fielder Shane Victorino - fined $2,500.

-Reliever J.C. Romero - fined $1,000.

"I haven't heard their thoughts about fining those guys, or what they did to get fined that," Manuel said. "I guess when they looked at the films and replays and things, they took into consideration who was doing the talking and that sort of thing. I guess some of them had to be restrained and things like that."

The Phillies didn't have any suspensions. Still, Manuel is not sure the punishment fit the crime. (Here's the AP story on all the fines -- the Dodgers didn't go unpunished, either.)

"I thought it was pretty tough. That's coming down pretty hard for what happened," Manuel said. "I think it is making a little more out of it than what it was. That's what I think."

Well, at least we've got a series.

Which Phillies fans and Phillies beat writers alike would probably be happier with a sweep, for different reasons (a day off every now and then would be nice, people).

But the Phils weren't going to oblige. Jamie Moyer simply can't beat the Dodgers.

After yielding six runs in 1 1/3 innings, Moyer's lifetime ERA against Los Angeles swelled to 5.95.

The Phils better hope they can win this series in five or six games, otherwise they're going to face a dilemma: do they pitch Jamie Moyer in Game 7?

I think they would. Here's one tidbit from manager Charlie Manuel's postgame press conference on Moyer:

"He's been consistent all year long for us. He's won 17 games and he's one of the reasons why we're playing here."

The Phils also may want to avoid getting to a Game 6 though, too. Since the Dodgers are going with a three-man rotation (as I mentioned here in the blog before the series started), Hiroki Kuroda would make his next start in Game 6.

I wouldn't feel too confident in the Phillies chances with Kuroda on the mound. While Moyer was roughed up, Kuroda silenced the visiting team's bats, setting the tone for the game by retiring 13 in a row from the second to the seventh inning.

In three starts this year against the Phils, Kuroda is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA. Kuroda has held the Phillies to a .141 batting average (9-for-64) with four extra base hits (no home runs).

All of this (avoiding Games 6 and 7) obviously puts a premium on winning the next two games. The Phils would have to like their chances in Game 5, when Cole Hamels and his 1.20 playoff ERA take the hill.

With that logic, the most important game comes tonight, when Joe Blanton takes the hill opposite Dodgers ace Derek Lowe.

My apologies for going out on a limb and having faith in Moyer to avoid another clunker.

Moyer got clunked. His final line was demon-ish. 2 IP, 6 R, 6H, 6 ER.

But I did say the Phils would win this thing in six games. Don't fret yet, Phils fans - although Moyer would be your Game 7 starter, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers are more than capable of winning two more games before that would become necessary.

Here are the lineups for tonight's Game 3:

PHILLIES

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Jayson Werth, RF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Jamie Moyer, P


DODGERS

1. Rafael Furcal, SS
2. Andre Ethier, RF
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. Russell Martin, C
5. Nomar Garciaparra, 1B
6. Casey Blake, 3B
7. Matt Kemp, CF
8. Blake DeWitt, 2B
9. Hiroki Kuroda, P


The only major change in either lineup is Joe Torre's decision to start Nomar Garciaparra over James Loney at first place. Honestly, I'm not surprised.

Despite Loney's production in the series (he's 3-for-7 with two walks), the right-handed Garciaparra doesn't matchup better against the left-handed Loney against Moyer.... he also has a pretty good history of hitting against the ageless Phils pitcher.

In his career, Garciaparra is hitting .417 (15-for-36) off Moyer with one home run and five RBIs.

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Manny Ramirez also fares fairly well against Moyer -- he's hit .340 (18-for-53) with 10 home runs and 20 RBIs).

But I have a feeling the Phillies are winning Game 3, despite those numbers and despite the desperation of the Dodgers, who need to win this thing to stay in the series.

Why does my gut tell me it's a Phillies win? There's a reason Jamie Moyer had 16 wins and a 3.71 ERA this year - he doesn't toss back to back bad outings in a row.

Last week he struggled with command and was done in Milwaukee after four innings. I think he's too good and too smart to not pitch 6 solid today.

Also, as you may have read below, Hiroki Kuroda has owned the Phils' bats this year (he's given up 2 runs on 4 hits in 13 innings... and the Phils are hitting .095 off him).

But he was a complete mystery the first time they saw him. The second time, I'll give Kuroda credit.

But I think the Phils left-handed heavy lineup will benefit from seeing him a third time.

The Dodgers have a Hall of Fame, 250-game winner in Greg Maddux.

They also have a playoff vet who's pitched his share of must-win games in Derek Lowe.

But the guy L.A. is handing the ball to today may have the best shot at keeping the Dodgers alive. Although he's only made one career playoff start, Hiroki Kuroda has shut down the Phls twice already this season.

In each of his two starts, he's held the Phils to two hits and one earned run. The Phils are batting a robust .095 against him this year.

Still, Jayson Werth believe the offensive-stacked Phils can bunk the widely-held theory that good pitching beats good hitting.

"I’ve said that since last year when I got here - I’ve never seen a team hit good pitching better than this team," Werth said Saturday. "I think that starts at the top of the lineup with jimmy and it just continues down the order

"I don’t think it matters who’s pitching, we’re going to have to beat him. If we want to do what we want to do around here, you’re going to have to go through some pretty good pitchers, so this guy is probably on that list."

If you're a die-hard Phillies fan, you're probably as perplexed as everyone in the press box this afternoon.

Brett Myers, who had about as many hits in the regular season as Kevin Kolb, has been reborn into Ty Cobb in the postseason. He has two hits and three RBIs today, the second pushing the Phils ahead 8-2.

(He's since given three of those runs back with a Manny three-run shot in the fourth.)

But scratch those earlier comparisons to Ricky Vaughn. Perhaps Brett's a little Ricky, a little Willie Mays Hays and a dash of Pedro Cerrano.

Myers is 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a critical, game-changing walk in two playoff games (and were still only in the fourth inning of his second game).

Myers, with three, has more postseason RBIs than regular season major league RBIs leader Ryan Howard (he has one).

Myers was 4-for-58 (.069) in the regular season with one RBI. He's already surpassed his RBI total and is one hit away from equaling his hit total... in 28 fewer games.

Myers, who jokingly brought his bat to a pregame press conference Thursday, may want to consider making it a regular fixture to his pregame routine.

I'm happy to report that Brett Myers and Charlie Sheen's character in "Major League" are actually the same guy.

I wondered for a while if Ricky "The Wild Thing" Vaughn could make a comeback after the flops that followed the original 1989 film. But he's been reincarnated in the form of Myers.

The Phillies right-hander doesn't just share Vaughn's personality. He showed off his unpredictability when he fired a fastball behind Manny Ramirez.

This came one batter after knocking Russell Martin down with another high-and-inside heater.

Despite a pair of heart-pulsing pitches, Myers retired the Dodgers in order, 1-2-3 in the first, including Ks on both Martin and Manny.

The fans approved of both his wildness and effectiveness. Wild Thing, you make their heart sing.

Charlie Manuel's pregame press conference Friday was cancelled.

According to MLB officials, his mother, June Manuel, has passed away.

Here is what Charlie told MLB.com about his mom on Mother's Day, 2005:

"I can't imagine a better person in the world than my mother," Manuel said. "I hope everybody's mom is like mine. She's been very special to me, and I've been very lucky to have a mother like her."

Just arrived to the park. Here's the Phillies lineup against Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Jayson Werth, RF
7. Greg Dobbs, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Brett Myers, P

Although Phils skipper Charlie Manuel, hinted he was thinking of playing Dobbs in Game 2 in his pregame press conference Thursday, I'm a little surprised he stuck with that considering this: Dobbs is 0-for-3 against Billinsgley while Pedro Feliz is 4-for-12 (.333) with a home run and two RBIs against the hard-throwing Dodgers right-hander.

But Charlie is a candidate for NL Manager of the Year and I'm sitting up in the press box, so I'll give the big guy the benefit of the doubt.

The later start times (8:22 instead of 7:05) makes it pretty tough to blog during the game with deadline approaching. Throughout the series, I'll try to write some postgame thoughts to make up for it.

There was obviously a lot to take away from the Phils 3-2 win:

- Chase Utley's power stroke made an appearance.

- Ryan Madson retired Manny in a big spot.

-Cole Hamels rebounded from a nearly disastrous first inning to pitch another quality playoff start.


But the one thing that struck me was Pat Burrell. In a way, he's the Brett Myers of the Phillies offense: when he's going bad, he's going baaaaaaad. But when he's going good, he's as good as anyone.

Honestly, when Burrell is swinging as well as he's capable of, look up and down the Phillies lineup and tell me who's better.

On June 16, Burrell was hitting .289 with 18 home runs and 47 RBIs in 70 games. That's a pretty solid first 2 1/2 months of the season.

But like Myers, Burrell has always struggled with consistency. He went cold in the season's final 3 1/2 months, hitting .221 after June 16.

So here's my reaction after seeing Burrell put the Phils in front with a solo home run in the sixth: maybe he's beginning another hot stretch at the perfect time for his team.

The Phils are three wins away from advancing to the World Series. If Pat's bat is heating up - don't forget he hit two home runs in the Phils NLDS-clinching game Sunday - those wins migth come a bit easier.

Perhaps this is why the Phillies are still playing while 28 other teams are at home - they have a lot of weapons, and when one guy isn't hitting, another is... when Ryan Howard hasn't homered in five playoff games this year, Burrell has three.

Perhaps I'm rambling. It was 1:45 in the morning.

But I have an inkling that Burrell's bat is waking up and there may be more home runs to come in the next week (or longer).

The Phillies had the perfect opportunity to utilize the "Barry Bonds treatment" the first time Manny Ramirez stepped to the plate at Citizens Bank Park.

With one out and Andre Ethier standing on second after a double, the dangerous Dodgers slugger was due up.

One out, base empty. Walk him, right? Set up a double play.... take your chances with Russell Martin.

Nope. The Phillies, who have handled Manny well throughout the season, challenged the Major League Baseball's all-time postseason home run leader. He nearly added to those power totals.

Ramirez smashed a Cole Hamels' offering about as far as you can send a ball without it leaving the park - above the 409' sign in center - to knock in Ethier with a double.

Cole Hamels reboudned, not allowing another hit in the inning, but the score still read 1-0 Dodgers before the Phils had their first at-bat.

Game changer? Too early to tell.

While you have to take your chances with your best (Hamels) against theirs (Manny), I think I would have walked Manny and hoped for a clean, 6-4-3 double play.

DODGERS

1. Rafael Furcal, SS
2. Andre Ethier, RF
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. Russell Martin, C
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Matt Kemp, CF
7. Casey Blake, 3B
8. Blake DeWitt, 2B
9. Derek Lowe, P


PHILLIES

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Jayson Werth, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

It's not much of a story since there aren't any changes (the only conceivable switch would have involved swapping out lefty J.A. Happ for righty Rudy Seanez in the bullpen), but here's the roster for the best-of-seven series with the Dodgers:

Pitchers (11): right-handers Joe Blanton, Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers and left-handers Scott Eyre, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer and J.C. Romero.

Infielders (6): Eric Bruntlett, Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Outfielders (6): Pat Burrell, Geoff Jenkins, Matt Stairs, So Taguchi, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.

Catchers (2): Chris Coste and Carlos Ruiz.

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As I write this, there is approximately nine hours and eight minutes until game time. That being said, there has already been a ton of talked and written about.

I picked the Phils in six, but made that prediction under the assumption that Brett Myers will be the ace-like Brett Myers, not the train wreck-like Brett Myers.

I'lm sticking my a point I made way back about this team - they key is Myers. If he's a top of the rotation starter, he complements Cole Hamels and gives this team a real shot at winning the whole thing.

If he blows up, the team very well could, too.

Of course tonight is important too, although Game 1 in a best-of-seven isn't as crucial as it is in a best-of five.

I'm assuming Hamels is dominant again. If he isn't, though, the Dodgers could suck the life out of Philly as they did in Chicago in the first game of the NLDS.

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As I just mentioned, a lot has been written about the Phils-Dodgers series, including:

-here's how the two teams match up, position by position.



- a look at the roles the two longest-tenured Phils have had in the team's turnaround.

- a recap of the eight games between the two teams in the regular season.

-Delco Times predictions on the NLCS

-Jack McCaffery, who picked a Phils sweep, by the way, columnizes on why Phils followers should continue to dig the long ball approach.

-More Jack, this time, ala Kurt Russell/Herb Brooks in "Miracle," saying the "this is your time" to the Phils.

-Former long-time Phils player/coach/manager and current Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa recalls Black Friday (and Davey Lopes tells him to quit crying).

-Manny will be being Manny again - with a father figure trying to stop him in the opposing dugout.

-a look back to 30 years ago, when the Phils and Dodgers playoff rivalry continued for the second straight season.

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Lastly, here's a look at the all-time playoff series results of the Phils and Dodgers.


PLAYOFF HISTORY – Today marks the 15th playoff series the Phillies have played in the 126 years of the franchise’s existence. Four of those series have come against the Dodgers.

Overall playoff series record: Dodgers lead 2-1



‘BLACK’ EYE OPENER – 1977
DODGERS IN FOUR

If Phillies faithful are hungry for a title now, imagine being a bleeding-red fan 32 years ago when the franchise broke through for its second postseason appearance in 27 years and fourth in 95 years.

GAME 1 – After getting swept by the Reds in 1976, the Phils won their first playoff game since 1915 when Bake McBride, Larry Bowa and Mike Schmidt all singled in the ninth inning to turn a 5-5 tie in a 7-5 win at Dodger Stadium
GAME 2 – The Dodgers evened up the series thanks to a complete game by Don Sutton and a grand slam by Dusty Baker in a 7-1 win.
GAME 3 – The decisive third game swung the balance of the series and has still never been forgotten in South Philadelphia.
On Friday, Oct. 7 – affectionately knows as Black Friday – the Phillies watched a 5-3 lead disappear in disastrous fashion in the top of the ninth. With two outs and no one on base, Vic Davalillo, Manny Mota, Davey Lopes and Bill Russell put together four straight hits off Gene Garber to push across three runs and give L.A. an eventual 6-5 win.
Lopes’ infield single – replays appear to indicate he was out – and manager Danny Ozark’s decision to not use a defensive replacement for Greg Luzinski in left field are still debated to this day.
GAME 4 – Tommy John outdueled Steve Carlton through steady rain and Baker homered for the second time in the series to lead the Dodgers to a 4-1 victory and send them to their third straight World Series.


WE MEET AGAIN – 1978
DODGERS IN FOUR

After reaching the playoffs two times in the first 94 years of existence, the Phils made it three straight in 1978 – but still couldn’t move beyond the National League Championship Series.

GAME 1 - Larry Christenson was hamered for six runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings as the Phils dropped a 9-5 defeat at Veterans Stadium.
GAME 2 – Tommy John continued his postseason mastery over the Phils, firing a four-hit shutout while Davey Lopes went 3-for-4 with a home run in a 4-0 Dodgers win.
GAME 3 –The Phils staved off elimination at Dodgers Stadium. Steve Carlton hit a three-run home run and an RBI single while also pitching a complete game in a 9-4 victory.
GAME 4 – Despite the heroics of Bake McBride, the Phillies could not force a Game 5. McBride hit a pinch-hit, game-tying home run in the seventh but Bill Russell sent the Phils home for the second straight season with a two-out, game-ending RBI single in the 10th.



THREE TIMES A CHARM – 1983
PHILS IN FOUR

The Phils, now a collection of playoff-proven veterans, finally dodged their Los Angeles hurdle.

GAME 1 – Mike Schmidt’s first-inning home run was the only offense Steve Carlton needed at Dodger Stadium. Lefty blanked the Dodgers for 7 2/3 innings and Al Holland shut the door for the final 1 1/3 innings to deliver a 1-0 win.
GAME 2 – Gary “Sarge” Matthews’ solo home run in the second inning was all the Phils could muster off Fernando Valenzuela. The Dodgers lefty pitched eight strong innings while Phillie-killer Bill Russell collected a pair of hits and Pedro Guerrero knocked in a pair of runs in a 4-1 win.
GAME 3 – Sarge kept his bat toasty as the series moved to the Vet. Matthews went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs as the Phils rolled to a 7-2 victory.
GAME 4 – Matthews homered for the third straight game – rounding out his NLCS MVP resume – with a three-run shot in the first inning that proved to be enough for Carlton. Lefty held the visitors to one run in six strong as the Phils exorcised their Dodger demons.

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I had to add one more item to the blog after seeing the column written by L.A. Times hack/blowhard T.J. Simers.

He really mailed in his column today, deciding to write about the incredibly original topic of Philadelphia fans. I'm shocked - shocked - there's no mention of Santa Claus.

Here's an excerpt of his column, followed by a quick rebuttal.

Simers:

It's an angry place, all right, everything old here in Philadelphia, crumbling and in ruin. Even the city's main attraction has a crack in it.

So the prevailing opinion around here is you have to be an obstinate pug to make it in Philly, the football team tough, the hockey team a bunch of bullies and the Phillies rugged competitors like Larry Bowa.

This is supposed to make Philly an intimidating place to play, Bowa telling the media Wednesday that if the Dodgers thought Chicago was bad, "they're going to be in for a rude awakening" playing here.

"It was like a West Coast crowd in Chicago," said Bowa, the Philly in him unable to keep himself from slapping Dodgers fans, and apparently discounting the manner in which Nancy Bea Hefley can whip a Dodgers crowd into a frenzy.

But if a Philly crowd is so intimidating, as Bowa suggests, why do the Phillies lose here so often? A year ago, the Phillies became the first pro sports franchise in North American history to lose 10,000 games.

Philly has always been more bark than championship bite, so why should the Dodgers give a hoot about folks who paint their faces and then have to drive home looking like sad clowns?

The Dodgers have the better team, a destiny date in Boston, and while that might make the folks in Philly miserable, they don't know how to act any differently here.


- Painted faces? Yo dude, the Raiders used to play in L.A. and still compete (although they're not competitive, of course) in CA. They dress like it's Halloween eight Sundays each year.

- "If a Philly crowd is so intimidating... why do the Phillies lose here so often?" Um... last time I checked, the team's management assembles the roster, not the fan base. But I might have to doublecheck that, perhaps the fans are responsible for the team's losing history.

-last but certainly not least: the only "angry" person in Philadelphia yesterday was T.J. In a sweet bit of irony, Simers was the only person ranting and raving at Citizens Bank Park - and making a scene - when he became visibly offended in Bowa's defense of Philly fans and swipe at west coast fans.

Simers sniped at Bowa for a good minute, and got scolded by the press conference's moderator for not following the protocol of waiting for the microphone - let alone, his turn - to ask a question.

Weird, I thought Southern California was too laid back to have uptight columnists with anger issues.

Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee said following Tuesday's workout that his starting pitchers will line up the same way against the Dodgers as they did against the Brewers:

Game 1 - Cole Hamels
Game 2 - Brett Myers
Game 3 - Jamie Moyer
Game 4 - Joe Blanton

If everyone stays on regular rest and the series goes to Game 7, Jamie Moyer will be the guy.


As for the Dodgers, I caught a radio interview with Larry Bowa on the way to the park. The former Phils shortstop/manager said L.A. is leaning to going with a three-man rotation, with all right-handers. Here's an educated guess how that would play out:

Game 1 - Derek Lowe
Game 2 - Chad Billingsley
Game 3 - Hiroki Kuroda

Bowa said a three-man rotation would work, given the three off-days during the series.

It would also give the Dodgers three lefties in the pen: Hong-Chih Kuo, Joe Beimel and rookie Clayton Kershaw.

With Boston's walk-off won over the Angels Monday night, the World Series contenders has been trimmed down to four: the Phils, Dodgers, Rays and Red Sox.

Here's the Phils schedule (note that Friday's Game 2 is the only matinee on the bill):


Gm 1 LAD @ PHI Thu Oct. 9 8:22 PM FOX
Gm 2 LAD @ PHI Fri Oct. 10 4:35 PM FOX
Gm 3 PHI @ LAD Sun Oct. 12 8:22 PM FOX
Gm 4 PHI @ LAD Mon Oct. 13 8:22 PM FOX
Gm 5* PHI @ LAD Wed Oct. 15 8:22 PM FOX
Gm 6* LAD @ PHI Fri Oct. 17 8:22 PM FOX
Gm 7* LAD @ PHI Sat Oct. 18 8:22 PM FOX

(all times Eastern Standard)

* -- if necessary

As I predicted - through the sheer thought that the law of averages had to come around - this series was due for home runs. The Phillies have supplied them.

First Rollins, leading off the game by battling Jeff Suppan to a 3-2 count before launching one to the right field bleachers, quieting the annoying ThunderSticks in Miller Park.

Then Shane Victorino's bloop double and an intentional walk to Ryan Howard paves the way for a three-run bomb from Pat Burrell. Two pitches later, Jayson Werth drills a dinger all the way to Green Bay.

This thing appears over folks... even for those of you who have to think negatively with this franchise... it's over.

We're at 5-0 in the fourth. Overshadowed by his longball-hitting teammates, Joe Blanton is dealing. The big righty has allowed one baserunner - a first-inning single.

He's retired 10 batters since while working on a one-hit shutout.

Unless Brad Lidge blows up - which is at least a distinct possibility, although not with a five-run cushion - get ready to read a lot about Joe Torre, Larry Bowa, Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers.

So here the Phillies are, with another chance to clinch, on that opportunity rests on the right shoulder of Joe Blanton.

He's certainly not exactly Cy Young or even Cy Blanton (he played for the Phils 56 years ago). But he's not exactly Kyle Abbott or Bruce Ruffin either.

Blanton hasn't lost a game since joining the Phils in July, so you can rest your worries on that fact. But he's also allowed four runs or more in nine of his last 21 starts this year... which means he'll probably need the Phils offense to come alive if he homes to keep that unbeaten streak intact.

You want a prediction? Fine.

I'm a little stunned there has only been one home run in a series that features Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Pat Burrell, J.J. Hardy and Chase Utley - none of whom have left the ballyard yet in the NLDS.

That has to change, right?

So I say the Phils bats perk up with a chance to clinch on the line again (they can't go down meekly for the second straight day with an NLCS trip on the line, can they). But the Brew Crew is going to hit, too.

How bout an 8-7 Phils win with another Brad Lidge tightrope walk in the ninth? Sounds about right...

Then I won't have to cancel that cheap flight I booked to L.A. last night.

First things first - the Charlie Manuel and Co. can stil put this series away Sunday.

It's not ideal, but it's necessary following Saturday's slugfest. Kidding... the Phils couldn't enter a slugfest if they tried right now.

The power-happy Phillies have one home run in this series, and it's from the smallest guy in the dugout, Shane Victorino. As Jimmy Rollins said before the series started, everything anybody did in the regular season doesn't matter anymore.

So when CC Sabathia hits the free agent market and Ryan Howard enters another arbitration hearing, their powerful second halves are all well and good... but if they want to get paid like Derek Jeter or Johan Santana, they can't hurt their cases by delivering in October.

Howard had two hits tonight, so perhaps he shouldn't be to blame - although it should be fair to mention that Ryan's power surge may be over. He only went more than three games without a home run once in September.

He hasn't homered in a week (four games).

Pat Burrell, who like CC, will be looking to cash in on the free agent market in another month, is still looking for his first hit of the series. He's 0-for-8, and going back to last year's three-game series against Colorado, he's 2-for-19 with one RBI.

Joe Blanton takes the hill tomorrow, and no matter what the Phils get from the right-hander, they'll need to support him with some runs - something they've failed to do for their first three starters of the series.

In Game 1, they lucked out when Mike Cameron took a bad step on Utley's eventual two-run double (Utley, like Burrell and Howard, is due for some run production). In Game 2, four of their five runs came on one hit (Victorino's grand slam).

In Game 3, lots of opportunities, not much to show for them. In the ninth inning alone the Phils opened the frame with three straight singles... but scored one run.

"We've got to hit... we're supposed to hit and when we don't, yeah, I'm concerned," skipper Charlie Manuel said. "You don't have time to go into slumps or play bad (in the playoffs)... In order for us to get to the World Series, we've got to hit."

The Phillies have to hit if they still hope to reach the NLCS, too.

There's no cheering in the pressbox, but with a long last two weeks of baseball in the rearview mirror - and, very likely, another long two weeks ahead - it really wouldn't hurt any baseball writer's feelings if the Phils win today.

Of course, this means they'll lose. Like CC Sabathia before him, Jamie Moyer has to be due for a stinker, right? The ageless wonder is 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA in his last 21 starts.

In my mind, he's one of the most underrated players in baseball this year. I guess he's not flashy, and flashy sells and garners highlights on TV.

But you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone in the game more prepared. Although I think he's due for a loss, Moyer seems to shine in bigger games.

Here is today's story on the 45-year-old lefty.


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News of the day: We've got a lineup change. Two days after placing Shane Victorino to the second spot and Jayson Werth to the sixth slow - a move that paid dividends - the two outfielders have been flip-flopped again.

Here is today's Phils lineup, which is going up against Conestoga's Dave Bush:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Jamie Moyer, P


Just a quick follow on Vic and Werth - neither hit Bush well. They're a combined 2-for-15 off the right-hander.

But the three middle-of-the-order cogs, who have struggled so far in this series, could very well break out on Bush. Utley, Howard and Burrell are a combined 14-for-26 (.538) with six home runs and 10 RBIs.

The Phils-Brews NLDS has changed venues - we've arrived in Milwaukee, where Miller Park is closing... literally, it's closing.

The convertible ballpark was open for batting practice... and this being Wisconsin in October, it's a tad cool. So cool, that one hitter was witnessing shaking his hands after taking a cut in the batting cage.

But the roof will be shut tomorrow, and again Sunday (if necessary). I'm guessing we won't need to be here on Sunday. Not just because the Phils are a determined team with a veteran pitcher, but because when we were here earlier this year, it was the shortest trip of the season - a 36-hour, two-game stay that began with night game and ended with an afternoon affair the next day.

So I'm taking that as a sign Milwaukee doesn't like us Philly folk.


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News of the day: Jamie Moyer prepares for his third clincher in 13 months.

The 45-year-old Phils lefty clinched each of the Phils division-title winning games in September. Now it's October, and the Phils can clinch the NLDS and move into the NLCS with a victory Saturday.

Moyer, the oldest player in baseball, has never played in the World Series in his two-plus decades in the game. Is he thinking of making it to that stage? Heck no.

"The World Series would be great to get to. I would enjoy it and I think every one of my teammates would as well," Moyer said. "But if we lose focus and start thinking about the World Series when we're not even out of the first series here, it can make things very difficult."

There's a reason for Moyer's success, people - he's a smart man.

More Moyer in your Saturday Daily Times...

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It looks like we might get those In-and-Out burgers after all.... the Dodgers have taken a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Cubs (I'm writing this in the event that you, like me, have been in a Phillies-only tunnel vision and haven't seen an inning of the other NL series).

While the Dodgers are the hot team, you'd surely like your chances if you're the Phils matching up against the Dodgers. With all due respect to Derek Lowe, there is no Rich Harden or Carlos Zambrano in that rotation (AKA a strikeout pitcher who can shut down the Phils offense in any given game).


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And now for a music interlude...

While driving in from Chicago (where I flew in from Philly), I tuned into a Milwaukee radio station that was playing a Bob Marley tune. After the song was over, the dee-jay made the comment that he was surprised that was in the rotation, since he believed Marley music was more for the summer season.

Perhaps he should shelve Marley for another reason - it's the walk-up music Thursday night's big bat/Brewer killer Shane Victorino uses at the Bank.

Inside Miller Park kudos to the guy piping in the music, as Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" just played. That's a lot better than hearing Coldplay whining three times a day at the Bank.

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Back to baseball --- if there is a Game 4 on Sunday, it will be the first game of the day, at 1 p.m. (EST).

Which means it will be at the same time as the game featuring the football team in town, I believe.

Vic homers off CC.

Myers flashes his ace-like stuff again?

So what else would a record crowd of 46,208 people in South Philadelphia want to see, besides a win?

How about the perfect, non-heart-attack version of Brad Lidge.

No problem.

Following back to back scary, bite-your-rally towel outings from Lidge in the last week, he sent the Brews down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth.

Deadline writers thank you for that, Brad.

Phils win, 5-2.

Up 2-0. On to Milwaukee...

Shane Victorino's power display - wait, I'm sorry - Big Vic's power display has helped knock CC Sabathia from the game.

But what about the game's other starting pitcher, Phillies riddle Brett Myers?

He's looked pretty good since a shaky first inning. How good?

After a 1-2-3 double play in the first helped him eke his way out of a bases loaded, one-out jam, Myers has retired 15 of the last 16 batters. (I'm writing this in the bottom of the sixth... so he may keep it going).

Of Brett can get back on a hot streak - and Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer continue to be rocks - look out. But, hey, it's only Game 2 of the NLDS... we've got a long way to go, folks.

At 7:31 p.m. Thursday night, we decided the retire the Lil' Shane nickname.

Why?

Big C just intentionally walked the Flyin' Hawaiian to face Chase Utley.

Yes, you read that right - Sabathia decided he'd rather face Utley than Big Shane.

Big Vic 3, CC-light 0.

Brett Myers vs. CC Sabathia. Who knew?

The light-hitting Myers - and we do mean light-hitting - worked a foul count off Big C. He fouled off three pitches.

After the second foul ball, he trotted back to the dugout for a bat adjustment. The fans were on their feet,louder than they were when the team clinched the division title Saturday.

And then Brett pulled off the unthinkable.... he worked a walk, keeping the inning alive.

He awoke the crowd and clearly shaked Sabathia, who threw four straight balls to Rollins following the Myers walk.

And then... BOOM... Lil Shane still ain't scared. CC hanged one, Vic banged it for a grand slam. This place is just a bit loud right now, I'm having trouble hearing myself think.

Lil' Shane 2, CC 0.

But it started with arguably the worst hitter in the clubhouse.

Brett Myers has changed the momentum of the game. With his bat.

Who knew?

"What am I supposed to say, I'm scared?"

Those were the words of Shane Victorino on Tuesday, tow days before he was to face Brewers ace CC Sabathia.

OK, Shane - you're right. Victorino turned on a Sabathia fastball and doubled off the third base bag. On the first pitch to Chase Utley, Vic stole third.

Victorino 1, Sabathia 0.

Maybe big CC should be scared of lil' Shane.


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Ah, but Big C got his, too.

After Victorino bugged the big guy in the bottom of the first, the 290-pounder punched out Utley and Ryan Howard.

CC 1, Ut/Howard 0

If the Phils find a way to steal a win from CC Sabathia tonight, the series moves to Milwaukee where the Brewers will face an elimination game.

So who does Brew Crew manager Dale Sveum trust on the mound? None other than 28-year old, Conestoga High School grad Dave Bush.

"Besides CC, he's been our best pitcher," Sveum said. "He has thrown the heck out of the ball and he's pitching with a lot of confidence. It wasn't a very difficult decision to go to him in the three-spot."

Bush is 9-10 with a 4.18 ERA in 31 games this season and 0-0 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts against the Phillies.

But in 18 games since mid-June, Bush has been pretty darn good: 7-3 with a 3.23 ERA (and .209 opponents batting average).

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Here are the lineups the Phils and Brews are trotting out against Sabathia and Brett Myers.

Phils:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Jayson Werth, RF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Myers, P


Brews:

1. Mike Cameron, CF
2. Ray Durham, 2B
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. J.J. Hardy, SS
6. Corey Hart, RF
7. Craig Counsell, 3B
8. Jason Kendall, C
9. Sabathia, P


One stat to keep in mind, so you're not shocked if Rollins takes his buddy CC deep in the first inning: Rollins is 3-for-7 (.429) with a double and triple against the fellow Bay Area native in his career.

By the way, Jimmy: if my math is correct, you can still win 100 games this year (like you predicted earlier this season). Last night's was 93... which I believe means No.100 could come in the Phils second win in the World Series.)

Just wanted to squelch one hot rumor - Cole Hamels will not pitch on three days' rest Sunday.

Not happening. No how. No way.

I asked Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee if it was a possibility and here's what he said:

"No. He’ll pitch Game 5 if we have a Game 5. He hasn’t pitched on three days’ rest all year. And knowing his makeup, that’s probably why he hasn’t pitched on three days’ rest. Because I think he’s try to grunt and groan his way through things," Dubee said. "Jamie pitches on three days and was smart about it, he went softer than soft. Brett was very good about it on three days rest because he didn’t try to tack on velocity and was down in the strike zone.

"Cole is a competitive kid, a super competitive kid… this guy wants to be a perfectionist. When he says he wants to win a Cy Young, pitch a no-hitter, do whatever… those are high goals, those are what motivates this kid.

"To pitch him on three days rest, I’m not sure he would be ready to control his emotions and control his delivery."

Or perhaps with a day game ending close to night on a cloudy day at the ballyard, Lights On Lidge. Or the guy who suddenly resembles a right-handed Mitch Williams.

Cole was finished after 101 pitches. Enter Sandman... er... Lidge. Lidge, of course, was a perfect 41-for-41 in save opps in the regular season.

Lidge nearly sent an Albert Pujols-like scare into the white-towel-waving crowd when MVP candidate Ryan Braun smoked a long fly ball foul to left. Instead, Braun smoked a double to right to end the shutout.

Next up, Prince Fielder.... who stepped to the plate as the game-tying run with gaudy numbers off Lidge in his career (4-for-7, 2 home runs). The Phils closer smoked high, outside cheese past Fielder for the second out.

But Lidge isn't out of this thing. JJ Hardy walks. Wild pitch. Runners on second and third... tying run in scoring position.

No problem. Lidge Ks Corey Hart to end the game.

Apparently Lidge now needs drama. Great, huh?

With the no-hitter in the rear-view mirror, Cole Hamels has continued to master Milwaukee's bats.

In the seventh inning, he needed just five pitches to dispatch the Brew Crew, 1-2-3. Cole has logged 89 pitches. He's about to step to the plate in the bottom of the inning, as I type.

So he's definitely going eight.

Do you send him back out in the ninth, allowing him to complete what's now a complete-game, two-hit shutout? Or do you hand the ball over to reliable Brad Lidge, and possibly give yourself at least the option to go back to Hamels Sunday (which I think is doubtful - Hamels is a every five day-type guy)?

I say Cole's going all nine as long as he's under 110 pitches after the eighth. Why take him out when he's going well and why worry about Game 4 when you could wrap this thing up Saturday?

Cole Hamels has lofty expectations of himself.

Corner him for 15 minutes and ask about career goals, and he'll drop the words "Hall of Fame" and "no-hitter" a few times.

It really felt like Cole was going to check one of those two off his list Wednesday as he mowed down Milwaukee bats. He retired the first 14 batters he faced, five by strikeout.

But then Corey Hart spoiled the fun at Citizens Bank Park, lacing an 0-2 single to right. It ended the no-hitter... and the no-hit pool in the press box.

Some lucky sports editor won the thing, even though this writer had Prince Fielder (Cole's nemesis). The sports editor happens to work for this newspaper, so we won't name-call.

Congrats, Rob.

BOTTOM OF THE 3RD...

During Tuesday's workout day at Citizens Bank Park, Brewers manager Dale Sveum was asked about playing the first two games at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.

Sveum spoke about the power hitters on both clubs, but added that "pitching and defense" wins in the playoffs.

I bet he's thinking that right now.

Rickie Weeks, not known for defense, dropped an easy play on a Cole Hamels sac bunt. After Yovani Gallardo retired the next two batters, Chase Utley smoked a ball to center, a normally sure-handed center fielder Mike Cameron took a bad route to the ball.

Cameron, a former Gold Glove-winner, still nearly caught the ball. But almost doesn't count in the playoffs.

2-0 Phils... and they're still rallying, as Gallardo has shown absolutely no interest in giving Ryan Howard anything to hit today.

Cole Hamels, who struggled with command (while wearing long sleeves) in his playoff debut a year ago, appears to be dialed in. He just got through a 1-2-3 first inning with two strikeouts, the last on red-hot slugger Ryan Braun.

The mood inside the ballpark, though, is surprisingly dull. And now some rumbling thunder to accommodate the ominous clouds.

The Phils bats could use some of that thunder. Yovani Gallardo matches Hamels, setting the Phils down in order, the last out coming on a smoking line drive by Utley snared by Prince Fielder at first.

Pat Burrell's balky back is apparently good to go.

The longest-tenured Phils player, who tweaked his back in his last swing during Tuesday's workout, just finished taking pregame batting practice. He looked fine.

As the Phils finished BP, Charlie Manuel confirmed Burrell would be in the starting lineup.

Here's your Phils starting nine:


1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

Pat Burrell arrived at the ballpark before 8 a.m. this morning to get treatment on his back.

Phils team trainer Scott Sheridan said the left fielder felt "significantly better," but Burrell's fate for today's game against the Brewers won't be determined until after he takes batting practice.

If the Phils deem he's not ready, Matt Stairs will take his place in the lineup (and play right field, moving Jayson Werth to left).

If Burrell can't start, Charlie Manuel said he'd also probably stay away from using the right-handed hitter in a pinch hit spot. The Phils also admitted that Burrell's availability for Thursday's game - when the Phils take on left-hander CC Sabathia - could be more crucial.

Expect a decision sometime before 2 p.m.

The Phils just sent out a text message to change the itinerary for the pregame press conferences.

Added to the list of interviewees, head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan. Doesn't sound like a good sign, regarding Pat Burrell's back, huh?

Maybe, maybe not. Burrell is on the 25-man roster that was just release. (No surprises - Seanez is out, Taguchi and Happ are in). Burrell is in, too.

I can't confirm whispers in the press box that Burrell will be in the starting lineup. But my guess is the Phils are making Sheridan available so he can field everyone's questions all at once, not to announce some series-ending injury for Burrell.