Philly vs. LA
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Philly vs. LA
Todd Zolecki
OK, enough jibber jabber.
The Phillies and Dodgers open the National League Championship Series tonight with Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park. The Los Angeles Times' T.J. Simers called Philly ... Angryville! Oh, snap! I don't know how we'll ever recover from that one. Of course, we went Philly vs. LA, too.
But this is about baseball, isn't it?
It's Manny Ramirez vs. Ryan Howard.
It's Derek Lowe vs. Cole Hamels.
It's Joe Torre vs. Charlie Manuel.
It's remembering Black Friday.
I pick the Phillies to win in 7 because I think the Phillies are better than people think, and I think most of the LA love has to do with everybody in the world wanting Manny to return to Boston in the World Series. Let's be honest, almost everybody in the country wants to see a Dodgers/Red Sox World Series. Next would be Phillies/Red Sox. Then it's Dodgers/Rays and then it's Phillies/Rays.
But I have a feeling if the Phillies and Rays made the World Series, nobody around here would mind too much, right?
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The Phillies have announced their NLCS roster will be the same as their NLDS roster against the Brewers:
- Pitchers (11): righthanders Joe Blanton, Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers and lefthanders 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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Instead of walking together forever if the Phillies win the World Series, Pat Gillick is walking away forever. Gillick has found a few gems since he replaced Ed Wade in 2005. Jayson Werth is one of them. Gillick also said the Phillies transformed from an offense-only team to a team that can lean on its pitching.
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You want match ups? Oh, we've got match ups.
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Speaking of jibber jabber ... John Gonzalez, Bob Ford and Phil Sheridan chat about Game 1.
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Where is the mmmmmm ... Hall of Fame?
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers9-2008oct09,1,5516438.column If this does not piss anyone off I don't know what does.— Beef69- You have to post my last post??? We can't let this LA writer get off!!!!!!!!!— Beef69
- EAST COAST BEATS WEST COAST ANY DAY! GO PHILS!!!!!— KarenA
- Beef...here is the link to the article I think you might be referring to: http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-simers9-2008oct09,0,791234.column....If not, we should hammer this writer as well.— bski
- I am a great believer in team chemistry and Gillick's moves picking up Blanton and making Eaton out of sight and out of mind hav e been key. He picked up Blanton on 7/17 and Myers made his first start 7/23 coming back from the minors. The two have hit it off from your press reports. Both pitched well for the most part since then. And both will be keys to winning the NLCS. Also removing Eaton from the team by sending him out in Aug., then not using him at all in Sept. and finally sending him home when the regular season ended was key to cleaning up the clubhouse. Your can't have your 3rd or 4th highest paid and least productive player walking around getting in the way.— Dull
- The day is finally here. Time to see if we have what it takes. I've really been missing baseball these last three days. All the talk just makes me more anxious. I can't wait to see us settle it on the field. GO PHILS!— bski
- Beef, I was right, it IS the same article. What is up with that writer? Really low blow.— bski
- bski, Yeah same article. I am having everyone I know email this guy. His email is t.j.simers@latimes.com— Beef69
- Really sounds like he is the bitter one.— Beef69
- They need to put this article up in the locker room. Calling a 16 game winner a 100 yr old softball pitcher!!!!!— Beef69
- TJ Simers is a hack/idiot. I live in LA. I haven't even read the column 'cause I knew what he'd say. He writes these every time an LA team plays a playoff or big game against another team/city. He thinks he's funny. He just tries to get people ticked off and uses their e-mails in another column. Sending him anything is just 'feeding the beast.' Best to just igore him.— schaff24
- Schaff24, thanks for the info on Simers.......Beef, I'm just as insulted by that article as you are, but I would hope that the Phils don't need ANY motivation at this point.....For my part, I'm staying away from all negativity through these playoffs. I think we need to give the Phils all the positive energy we can muster. They have earned it, IMO.— bski
- bski, I agree. Positive energy has paid off for us. I/we need to keep it up.— Beef69
- Yes. Agree with the positive energy. I'll be at game 3 to root 'em on to a 3-0 series lead!!!— schaff24
Lame LA writers. Hey USAToday did a position-by-position comparison of teh Phils and Dodgers: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/playoffs/2008-10-08-nlcs-preview_N.htm .. Pretty interesting. Go Phils!— bobby
