Dodgers' Wolf finally gets chance to pitch in playoffs

The Phillies drafted Randy Wolf in 1997, the year the Daily News was running comparisons between the Phils and 1962 Mets through the first 4 months of the season. The 1997 Phils were that bad in Terry Francona's first year as manager.

Much has changed since then. Wolf became a solid starter from 1999 to 2005 as the Phillies began to improve. Then, Wolf got hurt. Then, in November 2006, he signed with the Dodgers.

The Phillies finally made the playoffs the next season. Wolf pitched 1 year for the Dodgers before pitching in San Diego and Houston last year. He signed with the Dodgers again in February. He pitched Game 1 against the Cardinals in the NLDS. Now he will pitch in Game 4 vs. the Phils in the NLCS.

"I was extremely happy for those guys," Wolf said of the 2008 Phillies that won the World Series. "Obviously, I'm jealous.

"I got a text message from Mike Lieberthal after this team won the West, saying, 'Man that looks awesome, I'm jealous.' He never got this opportunity.

"There are guys like Clayton Kershaw. This is what he knows. I tell him, 'You're 21, you've had this twice already. You're very spoiled, appreciate it.' "

Wolf was with the Dodgers between playoff appearances in 2006 and 2008. He was starting to wonder if he was the problem.

"I watched them from afar last year," Wolf said. "I saw these guys I played with in 2007 really mature and get a taste of winning."

Wolf is from Canoga Park, Calif., went to Pepperdine in Malibu and now lives in Hollywood. Still, there were those 10 years as a member of the Phillies' organization.

"There's a lot of maybes, but there's no doubt the team that they have now is better than the team I was playing on," Wolf said. "They really did a good job of putting together a balanced team. I think it's fun to be in this situation to play against my former teammates and former team."

If he were still with the Phillies, he would be their longest-tenured player. But he's not. He's back home, pitching against the team that drafted him 12 years ago.

"It's great to have the opportunity to come back to my hometown," Wolf said after his team swept the Cardinals in the NLDS. "Obviously, we've got a bigger task ahead of us." *