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Game 2 preview: Myers vs. Shields
Despite an 0 for 13 night at the plate with runners in scoring position, the Phillies' offense did just enough to back up Cole Hamels' brilliant performance. The 3-2 victory last night puts the Phillies in perfect position, now that the Rays' home-field advantage has been negated.
Tossing seven strong innings, Hamels improved to 4-0 in the playoffs, with a 1.55 ERA, and hopefully has opened the eyes of the front office, who should lock him up in a long-term contract in the offseason.
Looking ahead to tonight's game, this one will not be a pitchers' duel. I like Brett Myers, and I like James Shields for the Rays, but with two hittable pitchers on the mound tonight, I expect both teams' bats to wake up.
I'm expecting Ryan Howard to come up with a few hits, and the Phillies to use Greg Dobbs to help send a more potent lineup out there tonight. I would prefer to see Dobbs as the DH, and Pedro Feliz at third, because after seeing that bases loaded double play that Feliz started, I am convinced that in this situation, the better fielder needs to be out there. However, my guess is that Charlie Manuel will start Dobbs at third and Matt Stairs at DH, with Feliz able to pinch hit for Dobbs when the Rays bring in a lefty.
My main question with tonight's game revolves around the starting pitchers. Here are the home/road splits of two starters:
Pitcher 1 -- Home: 6-4, 4.62 ERA ... Road: 10-3, 2.92 ERA
Pitcher 2 -- Home: 7-5, 3.01 ERA ... Road: 3-8, 6.21 ERA
Which pitcher would be the more logical choice to start game 2 on the road, and which pitcher would be the smarter choice for game 3 at home. Obviously, Pitcher 1 should pitch tonight, while pitcher 2 should pitch at home for game 3. Well, pitcher 1 is Jamie Moyer, and pitcher 2 is Brett Myers.
If Myers is so much better at home, and Moyer is so much better on the road (not including game 3 of the NLCS), why wouldn't they swap the two pitchers, especially considering the Phillies already got their win down in Tampa to shift the home-field advantage in their favor?
Prediction time! My heart says the Phillies win 7-5, but my gut says that Rays win 7-5. I know that's a lame prediction, but I think this one goes to the Rays, and I hope Moyer doesn't put us in a 2-1 deficit after Saturday night.
Tossing seven strong innings, Hamels improved to 4-0 in the playoffs, with a 1.55 ERA, and hopefully has opened the eyes of the front office, who should lock him up in a long-term contract in the offseason.
Looking ahead to tonight's game, this one will not be a pitchers' duel. I like Brett Myers, and I like James Shields for the Rays, but with two hittable pitchers on the mound tonight, I expect both teams' bats to wake up.
I'm expecting Ryan Howard to come up with a few hits, and the Phillies to use Greg Dobbs to help send a more potent lineup out there tonight. I would prefer to see Dobbs as the DH, and Pedro Feliz at third, because after seeing that bases loaded double play that Feliz started, I am convinced that in this situation, the better fielder needs to be out there. However, my guess is that Charlie Manuel will start Dobbs at third and Matt Stairs at DH, with Feliz able to pinch hit for Dobbs when the Rays bring in a lefty.
My main question with tonight's game revolves around the starting pitchers. Here are the home/road splits of two starters:
Pitcher 1 -- Home: 6-4, 4.62 ERA ... Road: 10-3, 2.92 ERA
Pitcher 2 -- Home: 7-5, 3.01 ERA ... Road: 3-8, 6.21 ERA
Which pitcher would be the more logical choice to start game 2 on the road, and which pitcher would be the smarter choice for game 3 at home. Obviously, Pitcher 1 should pitch tonight, while pitcher 2 should pitch at home for game 3. Well, pitcher 1 is Jamie Moyer, and pitcher 2 is Brett Myers.
If Myers is so much better at home, and Moyer is so much better on the road (not including game 3 of the NLCS), why wouldn't they swap the two pitchers, especially considering the Phillies already got their win down in Tampa to shift the home-field advantage in their favor?
Prediction time! My heart says the Phillies win 7-5, but my gut says that Rays win 7-5. I know that's a lame prediction, but I think this one goes to the Rays, and I hope Moyer doesn't put us in a 2-1 deficit after Saturday night.
posted by Matthew Fleishman, Yardley News Editor at
2:44 PM
2 Comments:
Such a shame watching that class act Brett Myers fall flat on his face. I hope his wife ran for cover afterwards.
That's not nice...
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