Phils Confident Despite Daunting Deficit
October 21, 2010
by Tom Krasovic
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
SAN FRANCISCO — Shaken but not overly stirred, the Philadelphia Phillies cited three reasons why they expect to still win the National League Championship Series that, after San Francisco’s 6-5 thriller Wednesday, favors the Giants three games to one.
Philly players talked liked pitchers Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels — the team’s so-called “H2O” trio of aces — will wash away the club’s recent troubles and bring a third consecutive NL pennant.
“We’ve got great people that can shut people down,” Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.
“We’re going to take it back to Philly,” said reliever Ryan Madson.
Saying that it’s time for “men” to prevail, center fielder Shane Victorino suggested the win-or-go-home context will extract the best from the Phils.
“We like it,” Victorino said. “I love this. I look at this as a positive.”
Listening to this stuff, West Coast Bias checked to make sure he was in the right clubhouse, but these Phillies players own one more World Series ring than I do.
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Pitching Reigns in October, and Giants Have More of It Than Anybody
October 21, 2010
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
SAN FRANCISCO — So the San Francisco Giants need the greatness of Tim Lincecum‘s arm on Thursday night at AT&T Park to reach the World Series before the morning fog rolls across McCovey Cove. Oh, and the Philadelphia Phillies need the greatness of Roy Halladay‘s arm to give them the chance to add two or three more games to their season that is hanging by one of the hairs on the Phillie Phanatic.
It’s always about pitching in October, particularly when one game — like this game — can decide so much.
We’re taking about Lincecum with two Cy Young Awards in his recent past matched against Halladay, the owner of a perfect game during the regular season and a no-hitter in the playoffs.
Let that sink in.
In fact, soon after the Giants‘ 6-5 thrilling win over the Phillies on Wednesday gave them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval thought about the latest pitching showdown for the ages during the postseason, and then he eased into a smile nearly as wide as his jumbo-sized body.
“We come tomorrow prepared no matter what the situation is going to happen,” Sandoval said. “We come here to play, play hard, have some fun. And it’s an important game for us, important game for them, too, but we try to fight every inning, every pitch.”
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Seven Thoughts: Cody Ross in Phillies’ Heads, L.T. and the Jets, Phillies Fans
October 20, 2010
by Tom Krasovic
Filed under: Giants, Padres, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
Cody Ross, the early MVP of the National League Championship Series, is creating intrigue even among Phillies‘ hitters.
Hitters try to spy clues that help their pitching teammates. After the Giants won Game 3, one of Philly’s core hitters reviewed Ross’ RBI hit off the shin-high fastball from Cole Hamels. Then he watched it again. And again and again. Another Phillies hitter, Jimmy Rollins, said of Ross: “He’s been big for them, but we’ll find a way to get him out.”
o. If Ross anticipates offspeed pitches next, he could blast the Phillies again.
The Phillies can’t keep throwing Ross low inside fastballs, can they? Said Rollins: “That’s the ball he’s been hitting, down and coming toward his back foot. He’s been finding a way to get the head there.” Said Dodgers scout Ken Bracey: “Cody Ross is getting too many fastballs, and he’s not missing them. Things like that happen.”
o. I doubt the Padres would’ve claimed Ross.
The Giants admit they claimed Ross in August largely because they feared the Padres would claim him as a replacement to injured center fielder Tony Gwynn Jr. Two points: 1.) In July, the Padres decided against pursuing Ross because they viewed him as an insignificant upgrade on Scott Hairston (a call that, frankly, was way off the mark); 2.) the Padres liked Chris Denorfia as a replacement to Gwynn. “He’s having a hell of a postseason,” Padres GM Jed Hoyer told me Sunday, after declining to say whether he entered a claim on Ross.
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Giants Won’t Be Bullied by Phillies
October 20, 2010
by Tom Krasovic
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
SAN FRANCISCO — Finally, a California team is standing up to the Broad Street Bullies.
The Philadelphia Phillies are finding the San Francisco Giants a tougher bunch than the wimpy Los Angeles Dodgers of the last two National League Championship Series.
Tuesday, when the best-of-seven match moved to California, the Phillies weren’t able to kick sand into the face of this NL West champion.
Not with Giants pitcher Matt Cain buzzing inside fastballs.
Not with Giants cleanup man Pat Burrell, the former Phillies slugger, getting into the head of former teammate Cole Hamels.
Not with Phillies killer Cody Ross — the Rocky Balboa of the West — landing another uppercut to Philly’s jaw.
And there was this: a peppy crowd cheering throughout the 3-0 victory, the Giants’ first NLCS game at their ballpark since 2002.
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California Corps Leads Phillies as NLCS Moves to West Coast
October 19, 2010
by Tom Krasovic
Filed under: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Phillies, Rockies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
SAN FRANCISCO — Without the Golden State, where would the Philadelphia Phillies be today?
Likely, somewhere other than California and not playing in yet another National League Championship Series.
When the knotted NLCS moved here for Monday’s workout as prelude to Tuesday’s Game 3, another happy October homecoming awaited Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Ryan Madson. Californians all drafted and developed by the Phils, they’ve played major roles in Philly’s franchise-record runs of four NL East-winning seasons and three NLCS visits.
“Where would we be without those guys?” said Phillies scout Jim Fregosi Jr, who lives in Southern California. He laughed. “We’d be in trouble.”
Rollins, Utley and Hamels have combined for nine All-Star selections. Rollins was MVP of the NL in 2007, Philly’s breakthrough year that gained the club its first NL East title in 14 years. Two Octobers ago, Hamels, the left-handed pitcher who will face the San Francisco Giants in Game 3, merely led Philadelphia to its first World Series title since 1980 and the city’s first sports championship since 1983. Last October, Utley hit five home runs against the Yankees, a World Series record for an NL player. Madson, like Hamels, is a vital contributor unfazed by Philly’s home ballpark that’s a hitter’s delight.
“I’d like to see another club with a group of Californians as good as ours,” Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth told West Coast Bias, and I had no snappy reply.
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Juan Uribe’s Injury Could Thrust Rowand, Sandoval Into Game 3 Lineup
October 19, 2010
by Tom Krasovic
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
SAN FRANCISCO — Aaron Rowand talked like a guy who wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the starting lineup Tuesday, when the Giants will face the Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
“I’m ready to play,” Rowand said Monday, after he and Giants players took batting practice at San Francisco’s ballpark .”As far as my swing, I’ve been feeling good for awhile now. It’s about going out there relaxed and executing a plan.”
One of the team’s better hitters, Giants shortstop Juan Uribe, who sat out Game 2 because of a wrist injury suffered in Game 1 on Saturday, did not take practice on the field Monday. If the Giants know whether Uribe has recovered, they kept that a secret.
“We’re still awaiting the results of tests on his wrist,” Giants spokesman Jim Moorehead told FanHouse early Monday evening.
If Uribe cannot play, the Giants will go with Edgar Renteria at shortstop and Pablo Sandoval at third base, manager Bruce Bochy said. Uribe also is able to play third base.
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Phillies Set Rotation for NLCS, Joe Blanton Slated for Game 4 Start
October 14, 2010
by Josh Alper
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs
Charlie Manuel announced his choices for the Phillies rotation on Wednesday and there aren’t many surprises to report.
Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels are set to throw the first three games of the series, just as they did in the ALDS, and they are penciled in for the last three games if they’re necessary. Joe Blanton will likely get the nod in the fourth game of the NLCS, although Manuel left open the possibility of throwing Halladay out there on short rest if the first three games don’t go as hoped for the Phillies.
As you might expect, there are some Phillies fans fretting about what Blanton’s return to the rotation might mean to the team’s chances of nabbing a third straight National League pennant. Much like the Yankee fans ready to throw themselves into the East River because of A.J. Burnett, these fans are overinflating the importance of one start.
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Scouting the NLCS: Four Key Matchups for Phillies vs. Giants
October 14, 2010
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series, Advanced Scouting
Most people aren’t giving the Giants more than a puncher’s chance against the Phillies in the NLCS, and the reality is that their pitching is going to have to be truly dominant for them to win. Both in the bullpen and the starting rotation, the Giants will have to utilize their strength in every game.
The only problem is that aside from just having the great offense, Philadelphia also owns a dominant pitching staff. And that pitching battle is likely going to be what decides this series. Let’s examine some matchups that could prove crucial in deciding the outcome of this intriguing showdown.
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It’s Pitching, Pitching, Pitching as Phillies, Giants Prepare for NLCS
October 12, 2010
Filed under: Giants, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, National League Championship Series
PHILADELPHIA — The Giants were still soaked in beer and champagne when the inevitable questions came about what lay ahead. The Phillies were assembled for the first time since learning who their NLCS opponent was going to be when the focus shifted to what is expected to be an epic Game 1.
Roy Halladay vs. Tim Lincecum.
That’s the best pitcher in the majors against a guy who has won each of the past two Cy Young Awards in the National League.
“I could foresee a helluva game,” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who wouldn’t actually announce officially that Halladay was starting Saturday’s Game 1. “I guess the pitcher that pitches the best is the one that’s going to win it. Halladay is definitely capable of winning and Lincecum is capable of pitching good too.”
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California Connection Puts Finishing Touches on Philadelphia Sweep
October 11, 2010
by Tom Krasovic
Filed under: Phillies, Reds, MLB Playoffs, National League Division Series
CINCINNATI — On behalf of California, West Coast Bias expects payment from the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans. Cash or check is acceptable, which I’ll forward to San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo High and UCLA’s baseball program.
The Phils surfed past the Reds 2-0 Sunday, thanks to the two Southern Californians whose smooth work also sent Philadelphia to its third consecutive National League Championship Series.
San Diego dude Cole Hamels threw a shutout, which decided Game 3 of the Division Series and wrapped up the Phillies‘ first postseason sweep in franchise history.
Hushing a sellout crowd, which hooted at him whenever his name was announced, Chase Utley socked a solo home run in the fifth to give Phillies fans reason to chant U-C-L-A.
“Tough dudes,” Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth had said of the Californians on Saturday.