Phightins

Personally, I am thrilled that there is not a Yankees/Red Sox ALCS (although I'd have preferred it if the Yankees were the team to get eliminated first).

Looks like it will be Cole Hamels vs. Randy Wolf in game 1. Former Phillies "can't miss lefty" versus the current. Should be interesting. As for game 2, I'd assume Kershaw will pitch for the Dodgers, and it's probably between Pedro Martinez and Joe Blanton for the Phillies. With the uncertainty of Eyre's health I would assume that Happ goes to the pen for this series.

Yeah baseball is so unpredictable. On paper the Dodgers rotation is weaker than it was last year, but impossible to predict how things will go.

Lol how is their pitching better this time around? Not trying to sound like a biased Phillies fan, but the Dodgers pitching was way better last year. Bullpen is still dynamite though.

Discuss.

That is as awesome a game as I have seen since the Matt Stairs game. [expletive] yeah!!!

Also (and this goes for every series, particularly this one though), the TBS coverage has been absolutely terrible. I NEVER thought I would say this, but I cannot wait until Fox gets the games back and I can hear Joe Buck and Tim McCarver do a game again. I honestly thought those two were as bad as it got as far as a play by play/color commentator duo, but then I got the pleasure of listening to Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson this series. Chip Caray might be even worse. Soooooo so bad.

The umpiring was absolutely brutal on both ends (and the worst blown call against the Rockies actually wasn't the Utley thing, but they missed a clear balk from Madson). However it was very bad on both ends so I do not feel the least bit guilty. Don't forget the obvious strike 3 on Garrett Atkins in the first that was called a ball, and eventually cost the Phillies a run. Happ got squeezed so badly, but as the game went on I guess it evened out. That strike zone was very very difficult for the pitchers, on both sides. But I was so [expletive]ing nervous for Lidge for that exact reason. That strike zone was as tight of one as I have seen perhaps all season, I did not expect Lidge to get out of that alive. But seriously, what has been with the horrible umpiring all around Major League Baseball this October?

It sounds like Joe Blanton may close for the Phillies.

Wow....what a day for Boston sports. I feel for you ECN. And I cannot stand Belichick, but he was definitely looking for McDaniels.

Oh [expletive], where did the Lakers go?

Atlanta Hawks 9 Charlotte Bobcats 6 Chicago Bulls 6 Dallas Mavericks 8 Denver Nuggets 7 Detroit Pistons 5 Golden State Warriors 6 Houston Rockets 9 Indiana Pacers 6 Los Angeles Clippers 5 Los Angeles Lakers 2 (-1) Memphis Grizzlies 6 Miami Heat 6 Milwaukee Bucks 9 Minnesota Timberwolves 6 New Jersey Nets 7 New Orleans Hornets 7 New York Knicks 6 Oklahoma City Thunder 6 Orlando Magic 6 Philadelphia Sixers 10 +1) Phoenix Suns 3 Portland Trailblazers 6 Sacramento Kings 16 San Antonio Spurs 6 Toronto Raptors 6 Utah Jazz 6

Atlanta Hawks 9 Charlotte Bobcats 6 Chicago Bulls 6 Dallas Mavericks 7 Denver Nuggets 7 Detroit Pistons 5 Golden State Warriors 6 Houston Rockets 8 (+1) Indiana Pacers 6 Los Angeles Clippers 5 Los Angeles Lakers 6 (-1) Memphis Grizzlies 6 Miami Heat 6 Milwaukee Bucks 9 Minnesota Timberwolves 6 New Jersey Nets 7 New Orleans Hornets 7 New York Knicks 6 Oklahoma City Thunder 6 Orlando Magic 6 Philadelphia Sixers 8(+1) Phoenix Suns 3 Portland Trailblazers 6 Sacramento Kings 16 San Antonio Spurs 6 Toronto Raptors 6 Utah Jazz 6

Haha Sammy got booed so much at the open practice yesterday (with Matt leading the way).

In all seriousness, I am wondering if the Phillies will make an offer for Papelbon this offseason. ECN, is it a given that he will be dealt and Bard will take over next year?

This is why baseball is so awesome. It looked so obvious that the Cardinals would run over the Dodgers (as I predicted too), but exactly the opposite happened.

It is a pretty big deal. It would have ended the game and tied the series. Of course, Franklin didn't have to implode after that either, but the fact is the game should have been over.

Happ is now pitching game 3, and I'd assume Lee will go in game 4 on regular rest.

Matt was at the game tonight, so perhaps he can give us a report later.

Wow, shocker. He will not be fined or suspended.

Pedro in game 3...

I love how you are always quick to point out when he does something. How about Evgeni Malkin getting a sucker punch or 2 in during every scrum and then skating away as fast as he could? He has clearly learned a thing or two from Sidney Crosby. Biting is never acceptable, but that team had it coming. Also, there is absolutely no proof yet that he bit him at all. Lets wait and see what the NHL has to say about it (although since Hartnell wears orange and black and a Penguin is making an accusation about him, that will be enough for a 5 game suspension itself. Campbell will not even need to look at video).

Did I say say anything about any particular play in the game? I said CB Bucknor is a moron and the worst umpire in Major League Baseball. Care to prove me wrong?

CB Bucknor is an idiot. I seriously do not know A. how he has a job, or more importantly B. why he is allowed anywhere near a postseason game.

How on earth did CB Bucknor get picked to be a postseason ump? He is a favorite of Phillies fans everywhere.