Kevin says…

Charlie says…

Phillies in 6

For the Phillies to win here are my three “Dodge Keys to the Game”…

1. Starting pitching. The Phillies will open up the series with last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels. Hamels has had a bumpy 2009 campaign but you wouldn’t know that by his two appearances against the Dodgers. The California kid pitched 16 innings against the NL West champs this year and allowed just one earned run (two runs total). Hamels loves pitching in California, especially Los Angeles, and after a rough outing in game two of the NLDS and the birth of his first child, Hamels figures to be calm, cool, and collected for his game one start.

After Hamels the Phillies have a number of quality pitchers, including a pair of former American League Cy Young Award winners. I am not saying that Pedro Martinez is the same Pedro we say ten years ago, but he brings a world of baseball smarts and nobody is as much of a gamer as he is in big game situations. Now, he is a question mark for the Phillies but the there is a high reward factor on the risky pitcher. Cliff Lee has already pitched very well in his first playoff action and I would take the combination of Joe Blanton and JA Happ over any pitcher the Dodgers will trot to the mound after Clayton Kershaw.

2. Offense. The Dodgers have a very good offense with Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier headlining what Los Angeles has to offer. But the Phillies have one of the deepest starting lineups with Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth. And do not look past Carlos Ruiz, who has made a name for himself in October this season and last.

Howard and Werth were incredible in the NLDS and no player has broken out this season like Werth, a former Dodger cast away. Throw in the simple fact that no team in baseball plays all 27 outs like the Phillies and there should be no reason that the Phillies are kept off the scoreboard easily.

3. Manager Charlie Manuel. You can say all you want about Dodgers manager Joe Torre but the fact is that in last year’s NLCS it was the Phillies skipper who out managed the former Yankee manager. Yes, the Dodgers have more weapons on their bench this year, including one of my personal favorites in Jim Thome, but Manuel has a way of not over reacting to any situation. His baseball mind has taken over the mindset in this franchise and the players, who love playing for him, have taken his approach to heart. It is not a coincidence that Manuel’s team has won three straight division titles and one World Series title.
And this year’s team appears to be better than last year’s team.

Go ahead Charlie, just try to convince the people that your Dodgers will advance to their first World Series since 1988.

Pressure is what happens when you’re trying to figure out the name of the guy sitting next to you who you’ve clearly seen on television before.

Pressure is when you’re trying to figure out a way through the mob of tourists hounding Christina Aguilera so you won’t miss your lunch reservations.

This is the city of the stars, and unlike fans in Philly who feel their players are entitled to them, we here are entitled to our star players. They understand the support and excel in it. Think Kobe Byrant and Manny Ramirez. Joe Torre knows the fans won’t turn on him if he decides to pull the starting pitcher early even with the lead (Randy Wolf in Game 1). In Philly, he would be pelted with snowballs out of town for even considering it.

And it is that mutual respect between the fans and the team that has fostered such success and will continue to do so against the Phillies. Our relievers have the best winning percentage in the National League (.617). Both Hong-Chih Koh and Ronald Belisario have not allowed a run in the NLDS and if they can quiet the Cardinal’s big hitters, what makes you think we’re worried about the Phillies?

“Torre can mix and match to face lefties and righties in the middle innings and still have not one but two All-Star closers to call on to get him the final six outs.”

Speaking of Torre, see the 4 rings on his hand? He didn’t exactly buy them from Tiffany & Co on Rodeo Drive. Those are 4 World Series championship rings you’re looking at. Still think we’re sweating about the Phillies here?

Oh, wait, what’s that? You have someone called Cole Hammels? He’s 5-2 against the Dodgers? That’s ok, by tonight most fans in the city of brotherly love will be cursing the name Clayton Kershaw. He’s given up 3 runs in only 3 of his 17 home starts and a total of 22 runs.

So in short, its about 2pm with 3 more hours til the first pitch and I’m sitting at LA Live across from Staples Center drinking a Captain & Coke worried about whether I’ll make my dinner reservations tonight. The game will just be an appetizer. Game on!