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Three down, eight to go!
The early read on the Phillies/Dodgers National League Championship Series battle has the “experts” saying that the Dodgers are the better team and should go on to represent the National League in the World Series.
Did I miss something? The Phillies had the second best record in the league, while the Dodgers, who had the seventh best record, only made the playoffs because the rules say that someone from the NL West has to be involved in the postseason.
Yes, the Dodgers swept the Chicago Cubs, who had the best record in the National League, but everyone beats the Cubs in the postseason! They have 100 years of futility! Ryan Dempster walked seven batters in game one, and each Chicago infielder committed an error in game two.
I’m not impressed.
Yes, the Dodgers have Manny Ramirez, who hit .500 against the Cubs, and has hit at least .300 in five different postseasons coming into this year. But, he was just 2-for-14 in the Dodgers’ four games at Citizens Bank Park in August. Plus, it’s easy to pitch around one slugger, as we saw the Brewers do with Ryan Howard, and it took four games for Pat Burrell to make them pay for it.Still not impressed.
Yes, Joe Torre manages the Dodgers. Uh-oh! I don’t know about you, but knowing that Joe Torre is in the opposing dugout scares the bejeezus out of me. Joe Torre has four World Series rings as a manager.
Then again, he did oversee the biggest playoff collapse in history, when his Yankees surrendered a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox in 2004. Still, as much as I love Charlie Manuel, the idea of seeing Fox showing a split screen of Joe Torre and Charlie Manuel worries me.
Other than the managers, I would take the Phillies in any other category.
We start, as always, with pitching. I don’t know if you noticed, but the Phillies’ starters gave up just five runs in four games, and effectively shut down the Brewers’ top sluggers, Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. And even better, the weakness of the Phillies’ starters, which is surrendering home runs, is the weakness of the Dodgers’ hitters, who clubbed just 137 homers all season.
Amazingly, the Phillies are suddenly one of the better pitching teams in the league, especially since trading for Joe Blanton in July.
The one team that could compare to the Phillies, however, is the Dodgers, especially in the bullpen, as the Phillies and L.A. had the top two relief crews in the National League. As good as the Dodgers’ pitchers have been, their staff is very right-handed, which plays into the Phillies’ strength on offense. Because of the right-handed pitchers, the Phillies won’t have to split up Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the lineup, and they’ll be able to use their top pinch hitters—Greg Dobbs, Geoff Jenkins and Matt Stairs—in any situation.
Speaking of offense, the Phillies scored 99 more runs than Los Angeles, and smacked 77 more homers this year. At any point in time, the Phillies can score runs in bunches, while the Dodgers have been plagued by long droughts on the scoreboard.
There is no debate over which team has the better offense, as the Phillies have sluggers at nearly every position on the diamond, while the Dodgers have just Manny Ramirez keeping opposing managers up at night.
Don’t get me wrong, I think this is going to be a tough battle, but I’m not as impressed that Los Angeles swept the Cubs as everyone else is. On the hill, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton are better than what the Dodgers can throw at the Phillies. At closer, Brad Lidge is better than Jonathan Broxton. On offense, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino are better than Manny Ramirez and company.
Don’t look now, but I’m predicting that the Phillies are headed to the World Series.
Prediction: Phillies in 6.
***
Like the “On the Edge” column? Hear more of my opinions about Philadelphia sports every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on WBCB 1490 AM during the Coffee with Kahuna show, where, this week, we will talk about the sad state of Philadelphia Eagles football after back-to-back losses, and the Phillies’ National League Championship Series battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Did I miss something? The Phillies had the second best record in the league, while the Dodgers, who had the seventh best record, only made the playoffs because the rules say that someone from the NL West has to be involved in the postseason.
Yes, the Dodgers swept the Chicago Cubs, who had the best record in the National League, but everyone beats the Cubs in the postseason! They have 100 years of futility! Ryan Dempster walked seven batters in game one, and each Chicago infielder committed an error in game two.
I’m not impressed.
Yes, the Dodgers have Manny Ramirez, who hit .500 against the Cubs, and has hit at least .300 in five different postseasons coming into this year. But, he was just 2-for-14 in the Dodgers’ four games at Citizens Bank Park in August. Plus, it’s easy to pitch around one slugger, as we saw the Brewers do with Ryan Howard, and it took four games for Pat Burrell to make them pay for it.Still not impressed.
Yes, Joe Torre manages the Dodgers. Uh-oh! I don’t know about you, but knowing that Joe Torre is in the opposing dugout scares the bejeezus out of me. Joe Torre has four World Series rings as a manager.
Then again, he did oversee the biggest playoff collapse in history, when his Yankees surrendered a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox in 2004. Still, as much as I love Charlie Manuel, the idea of seeing Fox showing a split screen of Joe Torre and Charlie Manuel worries me.
Other than the managers, I would take the Phillies in any other category.
We start, as always, with pitching. I don’t know if you noticed, but the Phillies’ starters gave up just five runs in four games, and effectively shut down the Brewers’ top sluggers, Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. And even better, the weakness of the Phillies’ starters, which is surrendering home runs, is the weakness of the Dodgers’ hitters, who clubbed just 137 homers all season.
Amazingly, the Phillies are suddenly one of the better pitching teams in the league, especially since trading for Joe Blanton in July.
The one team that could compare to the Phillies, however, is the Dodgers, especially in the bullpen, as the Phillies and L.A. had the top two relief crews in the National League. As good as the Dodgers’ pitchers have been, their staff is very right-handed, which plays into the Phillies’ strength on offense. Because of the right-handed pitchers, the Phillies won’t have to split up Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the lineup, and they’ll be able to use their top pinch hitters—Greg Dobbs, Geoff Jenkins and Matt Stairs—in any situation.
Speaking of offense, the Phillies scored 99 more runs than Los Angeles, and smacked 77 more homers this year. At any point in time, the Phillies can score runs in bunches, while the Dodgers have been plagued by long droughts on the scoreboard.
There is no debate over which team has the better offense, as the Phillies have sluggers at nearly every position on the diamond, while the Dodgers have just Manny Ramirez keeping opposing managers up at night.
Don’t get me wrong, I think this is going to be a tough battle, but I’m not as impressed that Los Angeles swept the Cubs as everyone else is. On the hill, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton are better than what the Dodgers can throw at the Phillies. At closer, Brad Lidge is better than Jonathan Broxton. On offense, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino are better than Manny Ramirez and company.
Don’t look now, but I’m predicting that the Phillies are headed to the World Series.
Prediction: Phillies in 6.
***
Like the “On the Edge” column? Hear more of my opinions about Philadelphia sports every Friday at 3:30 p.m. on WBCB 1490 AM during the Coffee with Kahuna show, where, this week, we will talk about the sad state of Philadelphia Eagles football after back-to-back losses, and the Phillies’ National League Championship Series battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
posted by Matthew Fleishman, Yardley News Editor at
11:29 AM
12 Comments:
Way to not even mention Rafael Furcal. Your objectivity is overwhelming.
Do you mean the guy who has played just seven games since May, getting hits in only 3 of them? He's also yet to show any speed, getting caught stealing in his only attempt.
I am terribly sorry that omitting him from my column has brought my objectivity into question!
Um, three of those seven games played were in the NLDS. Four runs scored, four hits in 12 AB, .467 OBP. Your manager even took notice of him. But he didn't steal a base against the Cubs, so yeah, I see your point.
Please don't call this a column. That's an insult to actual columnists.
Yes, his 3-hit game in game 2's blowout win over the Cubs skews those numbers...
Can't you hecklers go back to talking about how awesome the Mets are? Oh wait, that's six months of being wrong.
It's just like saying that Pat Burrell had a great series against the Brewers. He had a great game 4 and drew a few walks the rest of the series.
It's nothing like Burrell, actually. Furcal scored at least one run in every game and reached base at least two times in every game. Let's also not forget he has more playoff experience than probably every player on the Phillies combined.
Us "hecklers" will admit we were wrong about the Mets when you admit that Eli Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. 20 INTs this year, right?
It turns out Mr Anonymous was correct. Rafael Furcal is playing a big role in this series...
That wasn't the point, you moron. How great a postseason was Chase Utley having going into the series? You mentioned him, right?
Keep waving those pom-poms, though. When it's all said and done, you and I both know it will be 24 years without a pro sports title.
And since you're so into numbers, just remember that the Phillies have lost more games than ANY team in the history of baseball.
Who just homered for the Dodgers? Oh, that's right ... Rafael Furcal.
Quite an outing for Jamie Moyer. Didn't he pitch against the Dodgers when they played in Brooklyn?
By the way, tonight's game against the Browns is why I am going to wait until the end of the season to apologize for predicting a bad season out of Eli Manning. Three picks against the lowly Browns...
Those "lowly" Browns have one less win than the Eagles. Just being a realist.
For those scoring at home, Rafael Furcal had as many errors as hits in the NLCS...I guess my objectivity was dead on. I accept your apology.
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