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Buy tickets online- Phil Sheridan: Phils find their 'inner Manny'
- Phillies beat Dodgers in Game 1
- Hamels turns in ace of mound performance
- Struggling Utley finds his swing
- Phils fans swinging for a celebration
- With homer, Burrell's crazy ride continues
- Sounds and sights of opening night
- Lowe knows why: It was that flat sinker
- Ramirez just misses a mammoth home run
- Ruiz contributes at plate, too
- Fearless in 8th, Madson sets up the save
- Phils hope for another Matthews
- Subject to mood swings
- Myers acting like a changed man
- Myers, Billingsley: Game 2 foes
- Philly will be left in ruins
- Phils hope for another Matthews
- Batter-by-Batter
- Teams not betting on brawling
- AL Playoffs
- Mets' Burgos jailed in crash that killed 2
- Box score
- Todd Zolecki: The Phillies Zone
- More on the Phillies
- Buy Phillies jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and more
- Purchase Phillies playoff photos reprints
Photos: 2008 Phillies - Championship wallpaper
- Relive the memories: Coverage of the World Series run
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Phillies Notes
Phils hope for another Matthews
The Phillies hope there is a little Gary Matthews in Ryan Howard or Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins (or anyone else, for that matter) in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Contact staff writer Todd Zolecki at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com.
Matthews hit .429 with three home runs and eight RBIs for the Phillies in their NLCS victory over the Dodgers in 1983. He was named series MVP.
The Phils had Matthews and former centerfielder Garry Maddox throw out ceremonial first pitches before Game 1 last night at Citizens Bank Park.
"They had beaten us 11 out of 12 games," said Matthews, who now is a Phillies broadcaster. "They felt they had the upper hand. But in series like this, you never can tell. It was so loud [at Veterans Stadium]. I remember, 'Beat LA! Beat LA!' "
Babe Ruth he's not
Righthander Brett Myers brought his bat to his pregame news conference yesterday because after Game 2 of the National League division series against the Milwaukee Brewers, reporters asked him mostly about his at-bat against CC Sabathia."I figured you guys wanted to talk about my hitting," he joked.
Everybody loves Bo
Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa received a nice ovation from Phillies fans during pregame introductions.Bowa, of course, played, coached and managed the Phillies. He said if the Dodgers cannot beat the Phils, he would like his old team to win the World Series.
"I told our guys if they thought Chicago was bad, they're in for a rude awakening, because it's not even close," Bowa said Wednesday, comparing Phillies fans to Cubs fans.
Feliz gets the nod
The Phillies have not hit Dodgers righthander Derek Lowe particularly well, but manager Charlie Manuel started the righthanded-hitting Pedro Feliz at third base instead of the lefthanded-hitting Greg Dobbs.He had his reasons.
First, Manuel wanted his best defense on the field for starter Cole Hamels.
"He throws a lot of change-ups, and he likes to keep the ball close to the righthanded hitters, and so therefore defense definitely comes into play," Manuel said.
Interestingly, Dobbs was 0 for 9 with three strikeouts in his career against Lowe. Feliz was 5 for 23 (.217) with two homers, two RBIs, two walks and seven strikeouts.
"Dobbs might play tomorrow," Manuel said. "I like Dobbs' bat. He's been a big asset to our team."
Ruiz gets the nod, too
Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz started 96 games this season, while Chris Coste started 69. (Lou Marson started the final game of the regular season.) But Manuel started Ruiz in 14 of the final 19 games of the regular season along with the four games in the NL division series against Milwaukee and Game 1 last night.Manuel has made it clear he favors Ruiz over Coste.
"As long as we keep playing good, as long as we win, that's why Chooch has been getting to play," Manuel said. "That's the only reason that Coste hasn't been getting to play quite a bit. And I like Ruiz, too, a little bit better because of his defense. And he throws a little better. Outside of that, Coste definitely has a better bat."
Ruiz hit just .071 (1 for 14) with one walk and one strikeout in the Brewers series. He also went hitless in his last 16 at-bats in the regular season to put him in an .033 slump (1 for 30). Coste hit just .094 (3 for 32) with two RBIs in his last 13 games of the regular season.
But for the season, Coste hit .263 with nine homers and 36 RBIs, while Ruiz hit .219 with four homers and 31 RBIs.
No roster changes
The Phillies made no changes to their 25-man roster from the division series to the NLCS.That meant that righthander Rudy Seanez, who went 5-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 42 appearances, remained active and lefthander J.A. Happ remained the long man.
"I like Happ on the roster because of the fact that he can give us . . . innings at the start of the game if something happens and it gets out of control," Manuel said. "And I'd say the biggest thing is if we have a tie game and it goes extra innings, he's the guy on the club that can give us that."
Are you experienced?
Eight Phillies have appeared previously in a league championship series: Joe Blanton (2006), Eric Bruntlett (2004-05), Scott Eyre (2002), Feliz (2002), Brad Lidge (2004-05), Jamie Moyer (2001), J.C. Romero (2002) and So Taguchi (2004-06).
Surgery for Gordon
Righthander Tom Gordon, who has not pitched since July because of an elbow injury, is expected to have surgery. The Phillies have a $4.5 million club option, with a $1 million buyout, on Gordon in 2009.
Great taste
During pregame introductions for the Dodgers, the Phanatic reclined on his four-wheeler and read The Inquirer's NLCS preview section. He reportedly found it a good read.
Contact staff writer Todd Zolecki at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com.
Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/phillieszone.
