The Phillies have yet to announce their playoff roster, but by process of elimination we have a pretty good idea who is on it. Obviously, the only players who are candidates are the ones who still had lockers in the club house yesterday. J.A. Happ was one of them, and he told me earlier today that he was told a couple days ago by Rich Dubee that he will be on the roster as a long relief pitcher. Happ was pretty pumped up. Greg Golson was not in the clubhouse. He is likely down in Florida in the instructional leagues. There was some speculation that the Phillies would keep Golson around for his speed and base-running ability, but by keeping him the Phillies essentially would have had to forfeit a pinch-hitter, since Golson is still extremely raw at the plate (he went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts this September).

Happ's inclusion would seem to indicate that one of the relievers that has been on the team all season will not be on the initial roster. Seanez told reporters he knew it was a possibility that he might not be on the team. He hasn't heard one way or another yet. But he said he was OK with whatever the coaching staff decided was best for the team. Even if he isn't on the roster, he'll likely travel with the team in case of injury. And the Phillies can change their roster prior to the next round if they make it. So not being included on the NLDS 25-man wouldn't end Seanez's hopes of pitching in the postseason this year.

Right now, here is a pretty good bet as to the identity of the roster:

Starting pitchers (4): LHP Cole Hamels, RHP Brett Myers, LHP Jamie Moyer, RHP Joe Blanton

Analysis: This is set in stone. Charlie Manuel was asked during his press conference whether Hamels could start Game 4 on short rest. He pretty much said the Phillies will have options for a fourth game. But I think Joe Blanton is a more likely possibility, unless the Phillies are facing an elimination game.

Relievers (7): RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Chad Durbin, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Ryan Madson, RHP Clay Condrey, LHP J.A. Happ, LHP Scott Eyre.

Analysis: The Brewers are a right-handed dominant team at the plate, so the Phillies obviously would love to keep as many right-handed arms as possible. But Prince Fielder is a big lefty bat, which means it is likely that Eyre or Romero will be called upon to get him out at some point. Happ hasn't had great success as a reliever, but he fills a couple of roles. First of all, he is another lefty arm who can be called upon if the situation mandates. His biggest role, however, will be to pick up some innings of a starter falters. Given a couple of shaky starts by Brett Myers, that could be important.

Regulars (8): SS Jimmy Rollins, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, LF Pat Burrell, CF Shane Victorino, RF Jayson Werth, 3B Pedro Feliz, C Carlos Ruiz.

Analysis: No surprises here.

Bench (6): LH Matt Stairs, LH Greg Dobbs, LH Geoff Jenkins, RH Chris Coste, RH Eric Bruntlett, RH So Taguchi

Analysis: It's hard to see the Phillies keeping eight relievers, which means Taguchi is likely in. The Brewers are keeping 12 pitchers, but it's hard to see the Phillies doing that. Last season, they kept just 10. Taguchi has struggled this season, but he is a right-handed bat and it'd be tough for the Phillies to go with just two righties off the bench. Taguchi is also experienced in the postseason, and he can be used as a defensive replacement/pinch runner. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who think Golson should have been kept around. But the Phillies went with the more complete player.

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Manuel said he opted to pitch Myers in game two and Moyer in game three because of the home/away situation. Myers has performed much better at CBP this season than on the road (See the older blog posts for a complete breakdown). Moyer, meanwhile, has been much better on the road. Manuel said he trusts the veteran Moyer in what is sure to be a loud environment in the domed Miller Park.

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Shane Victorino wouldn't answer questions about his right shin, which was badly bruised in a collision with Jimmy Rollins on Saturday. But Victorino said he is ready to go, and Manuel said he was planning on having him start in center field.

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The Phillies are working out right now. Just batting practice and some running. One other thing: the Phils are keeping catcher Lou Marson around to travel with the team and catch bullpen sessions. Needless to say, he's pretty excited about being along for the ride.

Lefthander J.A. Happ will be on the Phillies' playoff roster for the National League Division Series against Milwaukee.

Happ confirmed that he was told a few days ago. He will serve in a long relief role.

Speedy outfielder Greg Golson is not on the playoff roster. He does not have a locker in the Phillies' clubhouse.

The deadline to finalize the rosters for the series is Wednesday at 10 a.m. Game 1 begins at 3 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.

More to come.

As I type, the Phillies' clubhouse is about five minutes away from opening to the media, so that will be our first chance to gauge the atmosphere of the Local Nine 26 hours away from the NLDS opener against the Brewers.

Some Phillies-related news to pass along. . .

Major League Baseball has chosen Phillies closer Brad Lidge as their National League Comeback Player of the Year, another accolade for the righthander after a regular season in which he went 41-for-41 in save opportunities. Indians starter Cliff Lee was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

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Once things settle down here in a couple of hours I'll check in with a lengthier blog post complete with what Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo had to say about facing the Phillies in just his fifth start of the season.

A word of warning: I was listening to sports radio on my drive down to the ballpark and I came away with the impression that people are grossly underestimating the capability of Gallardo. This isn't just some 22-year-old kid getting thrown into the fire. He had some dominant outings last season, including one against the Phillies, and last year was being hailed as a future Cy Young Award winner. He missed most of this season, but it had nothing to do with his right pitching arm: he had knee surgery on his left knee in spring training and on his right knee in May.

This is a lot more difficult of a match-up than people might think on paper.

Anyway, check back later for more Playoff Goodness.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers are going to throw young righty Yovani Gallardo against Cole Hamels in Game One on Wednesday. A very interesting move. Stuff wise, this guy is probably the second-best pitcher on the staff. He went 9-5 last season with a 3.67 ERA in 20 starts. The Mexican-born 22-year-old was considered one of the top young pitchers in the game, but he has made just four starts this season. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in spring training, then aggravated the injury early this season. He made his first start since May on Sept. 25, allowing one run on three hits in four innings before leaving after 67 pitches.

The move has a couple of benefits for the Brewers. First of all, the Phillies haven't seen Gallardo at all this season. They faced him once last season, when he held them to one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 3. But Gallardo has pitched just one game since May, and he has never pitched in the playoffs before.

C.C. Sabathia will start game two. It is unclear who will start Game Three.

To read our earlier posts about the Phillies' rotation, click here and scroll down. 

The rotation is set.

The Phillies have set their rotation and are expected to announce it at some point in the near future. As expected - and detailed in the post below - Brett Myers will pitch Game Two on Thursday and Jamie Moyer will pitch Game Three on Saturday.

Earlier in the week I threw out the idea of having Moyer pitch Game 1, but it wouldn't have worked logistically. You definitely want Hamels throwing Game Five if necesarry, and to do that you need him to pitch in either Game 1 or Game 2. Pitching Myers Game Two keeps him an option for Game Five in case something happens to Hamels.

Perhaps more importantly, you'd rather have Myers pitching at home than on the road, since he has been drastically better at Citizens Bank Park this season:

Myers home: 7-5, 3.01 ERA in 14 starts
Myers away: 3-8, 6.21 ERA in 16 starts

Moyer, meanwhile, has been much better away than home.

Moyer home: 6-4, 4.61 ERA in 16 starts
Moyer away: 10-3, 2.92 ERA in 17 starts

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I hope to hear something out of Milwaukee today about the Brewers' pitching rotation. The more I think about it, the more I wouldn't be surprised if they threw the youngster Gallardo in Game 1. Suppan was rocked at CBP, so it would make sense to save him for at home, where he pitched better against the Phils. Bush has allowed 29 home runs this season, not good for homer-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Gallardo struck out seven in four innings in his first appearance in over three months Sept. 25. Sure, he's young. But the Phillies also haven't seen him before, which would work in the Brewers' advantage.

Will be very interesting to see what they do.

Two big questions I've been bombarded with:

What's the deal with the playoff roster?

Who's going to pitch?

Here are the answers as best I have them right now:

1) Playoff roster: The Phillies don't have to finalize their playoff roster until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, but manager Charlie Manuel said yesterday the squad was essentially set. There isn't a whole lot of intrigue. The two biggest questions involve a couple of September call-ups. First, are the Phillies considering keeping speedy outfield prospect Greg Golson over veteran So Taguchi? Second, will they keep lefthander J.A. Happ around in case Brett Myers, who has struggled his past two outings, or any other starter gets knocked out of the game early? This is purely an educated guess, but I'm going to say no on both counts. As much as Taguchi has struggled this season, he is a veteran, professional hitter who is much more capable of putting together a quality late-game at-bat than Golson is. Sure, Golson's speed for a crucial late-game situation where stealing a base is an absolute necessity would be great to had, but you have to factor in the odds of needing that speed versus the odds of needing a right-handed bat late in a game. I like Golson a lot, but anybody who has watched his at-bats this year knows he just isn't ready to hit major league pitching: he's 0-for-6 with four strikeouts in six plate appearances. I'm not saying the Phillies SHOULD leave him off - Frankly, I'm not sure what I would do - but I think this is what they are probably thinking. And I think yesterday's game, when So Taguchi went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Golson appeared to mis-play a ball in center field, will be in their minds.

Now, Happ's situation is somewhat different in that he has given the Phillies a good taste of what he can accomplish at the major league level. But the result could be the same as Golson: while it would be a nice luxury to have him on the roster, there simply might not be room. From my vantage point, there are two ways they could work Happ into the 25 is: leave one of their front-of-the-bullpen relievers, Clay Condrey or Rudy Seanez, at home, or go with only five bench players. I just don't see either one happening. Happ isn't a reliever, which he has proven this season. And everybody remembers what happened last year in the playoffs when the Phils used a starter in relief (Kyle Lohse, Rockies home run, end of ballgame). Seanez has been solid since returning from the disabled list in August - he's allowed four runs in 10 2/3 innings since - and Condrey has a 2.73 ERA in 26 appearances since the All-Star Break.

2) Pitching match-ups: Neither team has announced their pitching rotation for the playoffs. There probably isn't much benefit in doing so before the last possible moment. Why let the other guy factor your rotation into his? All we know from the Phillies' stand-point is that Cole Hamels will be pitching on Wednesday. More on Hamels later. We can use a little deductive reasoning to pare down the options the Brewers have for Game One. C.C. Sabathia is out for Wednesday. I'd guess that the Brewers would throw him Thursday in Game Two. It would be his fourth straight start on three days rest, but he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down (complete game Sunday). If the Brewers start him Thursday, he'd be available for a potential Game Five on normal rest. So who will start Game One? High Cheese is predicting it will be Jeff Suppan, who is essentially a younger, right-handed, poor-man's version of Jamie Moyer. OK, so that makes him nothing like Jamie Moyer. But the 33-year-old has been around awhile -- 14 seasons -- and has started nine postseason games in his career, going 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA. The Phillies shelled him in Game Two of their Doubleheader against the Brewers a couple weeks ago, scoring six runs in 3 2/3 innings. But he pitched well against them in April, allowing one run in seven innings. Most of the Phillies have decent career numbers off Suppan, including Pat Burrell, who has hit three home runs off of him.

Another option is Dave Bush, who pitched three innings in relief on Saturday. Bush has a 3.33 ERA in his last five appearances. Opponents are hitting just .198 against him during that time. Against the Phillies on Sept. 14, he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of a 7-3 Phillies win. Earlier this season in Milwaukee he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings of a 5-4 Brewers win. Lefthander Manny Parra could be an option if the Brewers want to throw lefties at the Phillies, but keep in mind the Phils knocked him out of the game after 1 1/3 innings the last time they faced him.

Here's our prediction for the match-ups:

Wednesday (Game 1, 3 p.m.) - LHP Cole Hamels vs. RHP Jeff Suppan

Thursday (Game 2, 6 p.m.)  - RHP Brett Myers vs. LHP C.C. Sabathia

Saturday (Game 3, 6:30 p.m.) - LHP Jamie Moyer at RHP Yovani Gallardo

Sunday (Game 4*, TBA) -  RHP Joe Blanton at RHP Dave Bush

Tuesday (Game 5*, TBA) - LHP Cole Hamels vs. LHP C.C. Sabathia

Myers would be on seven days rest on Thursday, Moyer would be on six days rest on Saturday. Again, this is just a premature guesstimation. I'm pretty confident the Phillies will go Hamels-Myers-Moyer-Blanton. The Brewers, however, could go any of a number of ways.

 3) Gavin vs. Garcia: Speaking of pitching match-ups, we here at High Cheese couldn't help but notice the two starters scheduled for tonight's important (if you are a White Sock) game between Chicago and Detroit. Yep, it's Freddy Garcia vs. Gavin Floyd. I'm probably rehashing a story you just don't want to hear again, but last season the Phillies acquired Garcia in exchange for Floyd. Now, one can keep the other from going to the playoffs.

A few odds and ends from the clubhouse before the game. . .

1) The Phillies were concerned about Shane Victorino yesterday, but the center fielder was in good spirits today and isn't in danger of missing any playoff games because of a bruised shin. Manager Charlie Manuel said today that he expects Victorino to be ready to go. Trainer Scott Sheridan said they X-Rayed the injury, which occurred when he and Jimmy Rollins collided in shallow center field during the eighth inning of the Phillies' division-clinching win over the Nationals Saturday. But the X-Rays were negative, and Victorino should be good to go.

2) As expected, Cole Hamels will start game one of the playoffs Wednesday. Beyond that, however, the Phillies are still undecided.

3) The Phillies will likely keep 11 pitchers on the playoff roster, which Manuel said is essentially set. Still, we probably won't know the identity of the squad until Monday or Tuesday.

4) The Phillies strength today? Their bench. Here's the starting line-up:

1. So Taguchi, LF

2. Eric Bruntlett, SS

3. Tadahito Iguchi, 2B

4. Geoff Jenkins, RF

5. Chris Coste, 1B

6. Mike Cervenak, 3B

7. Greg Golson, CF

8. Lou Marson, C

9. Kyle Kendrick, RHP

Charlie Manuel doesn't always have a way with words, but he is a smart man, and month and a half ago he said seemed strangely prophetic as the celebration at Citizens Bank Park unfolded. It was in the middle of the whole Jimmy Rollins fiasco, when the MVP short stop took Philadelphia fans task for their whimsical nature. The Phillies were in Los Angeles at the time, leaving a bunch of media types - particularly those who have been in the city for awhile - to wonder how the remarks might tarnish the legacy Rollins has built here. Manuel shrugged it off.

"You win," he said, "they'll forgive."

As the champagne spray mixed with a light mist and coated everything that dared peek its head out of the home dugout after last night's 4-3 NL East-clinching victory over the Nationals, it was interesting to watch a number of story lines complete their full circles.

Rollins, who was booed steadily for a week after his remarks, was cheered wildly as he grasped a portable microphone and thanked the fans. Without a doubt, the only thing most Philadelphians will remember from this point forward is the short stop's dramatic diving stop of a Ryan Zimmerman ground ball with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the night, which kicked into motion a division-clinching double play that gave Brad Lidge his most improbable - and his most important - save of the season.

There was Ryan Howard, maligned for much of the season, booed often as he struggled through a horrendous first half, being greeted with chants of M-V-P as he roamed the first base line wearing goggles and grasping a bottle of champagne.

And, finally, perhaps most significant of all, there was Charlie Manuel.

So overcome by the aftermath of the Phillies' second division title, the manager retreated to his office while players and front office staff partied in the haze of alcohol and precipitation. The couple thousand fans who remained behind to celebrate took notice. A chant started behind the home dugout, and quickly spread throughout the lower bowl of the stadium.

We want Charlie!

We want Charlie!

We want Charlie!

Last year, he had to wait until the end of the Phillies' improbable playoff run just to learn if he would get another year as a major league manager. Ridiculed by many as too slow, too dim-witted, too American-League to lead a team like the Phillies to a World Series, the masses were suddenly chanting his name.

Manuel obliged. Summoned by some Phillies staffers, he ambled down the tunnel and up the steps and out onto the field. He doffed his cap as the fans roared.

You win, they'll forgive.

They'll forgive an up-and-down season plagued by maddening inconsistency. They'll forgive a loquacious short stop, and a once-struggling first baseman, and an old-school manager. They'll forgive  a slow start, and some critical late-season losses.

But forgiveness in Philadelphia is not eternal, and when the Phillies open the postseason on Wednesday against either Milwaukee or Los Angeles, the memory of a night like Saturday will dissipate into the crisp autumn air.

Charlie knows this, and so he left the crowd with a promise.

"Believe me," he said. "We're going to go farther in the playoffs than we did last year."

It was a familiar refrain.

"We're not done yet," second baseman Chase Utley said.

"Who cares about last year?" starter Brett Myers said.

Come Monday, when the radio waves start crackling and Joe from the Northeast takes a break from his job, a lot of people will care about last year. Three-and-out will not suffice this time around. Perhaps as evidence, the celebration was a bit more muted this year. It was more about personal significane this time around, featuring players like Geoff Jenkins, who had gone his first 10 big league seasons without tasting the playoffs, and Scott Eyre, who was shipped away from one National League contender and had the good fortune to land with another.

Eyre, the left-handed reliever the Phillies had sought all season, sat silently on the bench in the home dugout and watched the early stages of the celebration unfold. For a brief moment, he put his elbows on his knees and his forehead in his hands and closes his eyes.

"Considering where I was two months ago. . .," he said, and his voice trailed off.

Considering where the Phillies were as a team, mired in a dog fight with the Mets, 3.5 games behind at one point, it all made for good theatre.

The Phillies and their fans are well aware the team has not won a World Series in nearly three decades.

But as Manuel slipped past the television cameras and retreated back to the clubhouse, you were left with the wise words of an old skipper.

You win, they'll forgive.

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Some odds and ends: Noticably absent from the post-game party was  Shane Victorino, who collided with Rollins in shallow center field on a pop fly that Rollins ended up corralling for the first out of the eighth inning. Victorino got up limping, but finished the inning and in the bottom half of the frame legged out an infield single that led to a pivotal insurance run. But after the game, as his teammates partied, he quietly slipped behind the plastic covering at his locker and gathered his belongings. Manuel described the injury as a bruised shin.

"I'm concerned about him," Manuel said.

Victorino won't play tomorrow, the same for Cole Hamels, the likely game one starter. Chase Utley and most of the other regulars will likely get a day off. Manuel said Ryan Howard might play, given that he is two home runs shy of 50 and nursing the longest consecutive games streak in the majors. Howard is also one strikeout shy of 200. But that seems like an afterthought given his brilliant September.

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Kyle Kendrick, who was disappointed to be left off the playoff roster, will start Sunday.

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If the Mets win and Brewers lose, the Phillies host Los Angeles. If the Brewers win and Mets lose, the Phillies host Milwaukee. If both win or both lose, the Mets and Brewers will play a one-game play-off on Monday for the right to face the Phillies.

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That's all for now. No paper tomorrow, so this is all you are going to get from the Daily News.

Still amazed at the way this one ended. I can't think of a more dramatic way for a game to end with the winning team on defense.

Enjoy it.

For a night.

It seemed appropriate: crowd roaring, towels waving, that familiar siren signaling his entrance.

Brad Lidge trotted out to the mound and did what he has all season.

This time, it wasn't just a game that was saved, but a regular season campaign, which came to a stirring end yesterday with a 4-3 victory that capped off the Phillies second straight National League East title.

There is still another game to play, but in the grand scheme of things, it is meaningless. Cole Hamels will be ready for the divisional playoffs, which begin Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park and will feature either the Dodgers or the Brewers.

More to come. I'm heading down to the clubhouse.