{"id":1085,"date":"2010-10-20T10:08:26","date_gmt":"2010-10-20T14:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=1085"},"modified":"2010-10-21T10:15:43","modified_gmt":"2010-10-21T14:15:43","slug":"live-blog-nlcs-game-4-phillies-at-giants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=1085","title":{"rendered":"Live Blog: NLCS Game 4, Phillies at Giants"},"content":{"rendered":"

9:53 AM:\u00a0 <\/strong>The Phils are now\u00a03-0 this postseason when we do a live blog and 1-2 when we don’t, so you know what that means.\u00a0 You can’t say we didn’t do our part.\u00a0 And\u00a0we’re starting over 10 hours before game time, so that can only help, right?\u00a0 I’ll have my lucky shirt on, too.\u00a0 I’m still debating whether to go with the mask on or off on my Chooch bobble-head, but I’m leaning towards off.<\/p>\n

11:03: <\/strong>Extra-base hits have been really hard to come by, but Howard and Werth start off the 8th with back-to-back doubles to tie it!\u00a0 Really impressive to do that off those good relievers.\u00a0 Now we need to get Werth over and get him in.\u00a0 But Rollins pops it up.\u00a0 All these years later, and he still does that WAY too often.<\/p>\n

Let’s get the Blanton talk out of the way right now.\u00a0 As everyone knows, if the Phils had gone with Halladay on short rest tonight, they would’ve had to also throw Oswalt and Hamels on short rest.\u00a0 The bottom line is, Hamels on short rest is not something they’re willing to consider, so throwing Halladay today makes no sense.\u00a0 Why won’t they throw Hamels on short rest?\u00a0 I’m not sure.\u00a0 Dubee’s reasoning was, “He’s never done it before”, which is not really a valid reason at this point.\u00a0 We’ve been hearing that since the ’08 playoffs.\u00a0 I understand the logic in not wanting him to make his first ever short-rest start in the playoffs, but why not have him throw on short-rest once or twice during the regular season to see how he handles it?\u00a0 Either the Phils’ brass really doesn’t think he can handle it, or he’s told them he doesn’t think he can (wouldn’t put it past him, unfortunately).<\/p>\n

Anyway, all that is a moot point for this postseason.\u00a0 Again, if they’re not willing to throw Hamels on short rest, Blanton is the right pick for Game 4.<\/p>\n

10:06 AM:\u00a0 <\/strong>Everyone agrees that the term “must-win” is over-used in sports, then they go ahead and use it anyway.\u00a0 This is not <\/em>a must-win.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong, it’s hugely critical, but do you really think the Phillies can’t possibly win three straight games with the pitchers they have coming?\u00a0 If Halladay could manage a win tomorrow (obviously not far-fetched), then they’d be coming home, with momentum, needing to win just two in a row behind Oswalt and Hamels.\u00a0 Anyone who thinks that’s an impossible scenario is crazy.\u00a0 Is it likely <\/em>that they’d win those three in a row?\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 That’s why tonight is so important.<\/p>\n

11:21\u00a0AM:\u00a0 <\/strong>[Bry, jumping in]\u00a0 You’re right, Doogan, in that the term “must-win is wholly over-used.\u00a0 The only must-wins are elimination games.\u00a0 That being said, being down 2-1 is no fun for the fans.<\/p>\n

A lot of thoughts at the start of the series have changed and many have not.\u00a0 At the beginning, it was hard for some people to imagine the Giants winning this series at all.\u00a0 That thought is clearly out the window now because they are very much in the series and, though I haven’t checked with Vegas, I would probably handicap this series right now as a pick ’em.\u00a0 So, it’s very much up in the air.<\/p>\n

I, however (and maybe because of my fatalistic Philadelphianism), gave the Giants a puncher’s chance, at the very least.\u00a0 But, when this series started, I honestly couldn’t imagine a scenario where the Giants would win this series without winning Game Four.\u00a0 That belief has not really changed that much now.\u00a0 If the Phils can win tonight (against a rookie pitcher), they are down to a best-of-three series, with homefield advantage, with all three of the big guys due to pitch, on full rest.\u00a0 So, even with two frustrating losses in this series, the Phils are one win away from regaining the status of “prevailing favorite” again.\u00a0 So, all is not lost.\u00a0 Keep the faith.<\/p>\n

1:47 PM:\u00a0 <\/strong>Maybe the key to turning around this series is Chase Utley.\u00a0 What a rough postseason he’s had, getting it started with two throwing errors in Game 1 of the LDS.\u00a0 He has just one single in this series, and he cost the Phils a run last night in what should’ve been ruled an error but was called a single.\u00a0 He also couldn’t come up with a ball to his left that was a legitimate single, but was a ball that Utley often comes up with, and he might’ve been able to get Huff at 1st to save another run.\u00a0 Knowing how intense he is, and how much this all means to him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get things going tonight, with the bat and the glove.\u00a0 Chase Utley is not the type of guy that buckles in the face of adversity.\u00a0 The Phils need him to spark the offense.<\/p>\n

3:20 PM:\u00a0 <\/strong>[Bry again]\u00a0 Another key, I think, is the bottom of the order.\u00a0 That is where, it seemed, that the Phils had the greatest advantage.\u00a0 The depth of the lineup was so much stronger for the Phils than the Giants.\u00a0 But, so far, the bottom of the Giants order has highly outperformed their Philly counterparts.\u00a0 A lot of this falls on Raul Ibanez, who, when he is on, has to be one of the best #7 hitters in the game, but right now, he looks lost.\u00a0 With a still shaky J-Roll at #6 and Ibanez at #7, the Phils order, all of a sudden, looks more shallow than the puddle of a lineup that the Giants throw out there every night.<\/p>\n

5:21: <\/strong>Well, just found out that Ben Francisco is in the lineup for Ibanez, so I guess it’s up to Francisco and company to come through at the bottom of the order.\u00a0 Oh, and for the record (and for reasons I don’t have time to elaborate on), the more\u00a0I think about it, the more\u00a0I agree with the Blanton decision tonight.<\/p>\n

5:45: <\/strong>Yeah Bry, it looks like Charlie shares your concerns about the bottom of the order.\u00a0 I think putting Francisco in is a pretty good decision.\u00a0 He hit lefties really well this year (even though he’s barely played over the\u00a0last couple months) and he gives some added range in the big AT&T Park outfield and some added speed on the base paths.<\/p>\n

7:06:\u00a0 <\/strong>Less than an hour now until the first pitch.\u00a0 The first inning could be crucial.\u00a0 In the top half, the Phils have a chance to put an early run or two on the board, which would immediately relax them and help put the abysmal offensive performance of Game 3 behind them.\u00a0 The bottom half is key because Blanton has really struggled in the first inning this year, and considering he hasn’t pitched in 3 weeks, that is even more of a concern than usual.<\/p>\n

8:00:\u00a0<\/strong>Wow, terrible called strike 3 on Victorino to start the game.\u00a0 That ball really looked inside.\u00a0 A walk would’ve been really nice there.<\/p>\n

8:06: <\/strong>No runs for the Phils, but at least Bumgarner didn’t look great, hitting Polanco and walking Victorino (even if the ump didn’t think so).\u00a0 Of course walks and HBP’s are not what we need.\u00a0 We need HITS and RUNS.<\/p>\n

8:17: <\/strong>Not the start we needed, as Posey lines an RBI single.\u00a0 Blanton bounced three pitches in front of the plate, two for wild pitches.\u00a0 I think <\/em>they were change-ups, but hard to tell considering they only went 59 feet.\u00a0 Posey’s single came on a curveball, which McCarver somehow thought was a cut fastball?\u00a0 Anyway, the Giants seize momentum right away here, and the Phils hitters have to resist the temptation to start pressing.<\/p>\n

8:27: <\/strong>Well, the Phils hit two balls hard in the 2nd, but Werth’s liner to right-center was caught and Jimmy is picked off to end the inning.\u00a0 Good to see Jimmy has the confidence to run, but it looked like he was having a lot of trouble figuring out Bumgarner’s motion.\u00a0 He was jumping back to first on a lot of his pitches.\u00a0 He argued after the pick-off that it was a balk.\u00a0 I have no idea if it was or not, but I do know that was a great play by Renteria to make that catch and tag at second.<\/p>\n

8:40: <\/strong>Ruiz strikes out on a pitch that was in the same spot as the one that Victorino was called out on.\u00a0 Guess the Phillie right-handers will have to swing at these inside pitches.\u00a0 That’s not going to help struggling hitters.<\/p>\n

8:49: <\/strong>Time to get the bullpen up, Charlie.\u00a0 Posey doubles in Huff, and only two nice plays by Rollins have prevent four straight hits to start this 3rd inning.\u00a0 Kendrick needs to be up and throwing immediately.<\/p>\n

8:53: <\/strong>I guess I shouldn’t bother paying attention to McCarver’s arguments, but he’s not the only who’s said that the Phillies should’ve started Halladay tonight and Blanton tomorrow.\u00a0 That makes no sense.\u00a0 I know that Halladay is our best pitcher, he’s the Cy Young winner, and he pitched a no-hitter last week, BUT he was our third-best pitcher for the last two months of the season.\u00a0 So, how does it make sense to pitch Halladay on short rest twice<\/em> and not throw Hamels again at all?\u00a0 Even factoring in the Halladay no-hitter, Hamels has given up less runs in the postseason than Halladay.\u00a0 It just makes no sense, and I’m officialy done talking about this Game 4\/Blanton\/Halladay thing.\u00a0 Now, EVERYBODY HITS!!!<\/p>\n

9:06: <\/strong>A nice opportunity goes by the wayside.\u00a0 2 on\u00a0with one out, but they can’t get a key hit.\u00a0 Werth hit one hard again, but right at Ross in right.\u00a0 Frustrating!<\/p>\n

9:09: <\/strong>Utley makes a play very similar to one that he didn’t make last night that allowed a run to score.\u00a0 That has to feel good.\u00a0 My Chooch bobble-head now has his mask on.\u00a0 Good things are coming. Really.<\/p>\n

9:18: <\/strong>Yes, Chooch, yes!\u00a0 The first two batters on here in the 5th, and the Phils have something going.\u00a0 Blanton will come up to bunt.\u00a0 It is HUGELY important that we get at least one run out of this inning.<\/p>\n

9:25 PM: <\/strong>We got the one run we had to have, but it’s still somehow disappointing?\u00a0 Chooch is thrown out at the plate, and Victorino makes a base-running mistake by not going to second, and so he doesn’t score on the Utley single.\u00a0 Bumgarner is very suddenly gone from the game.\u00a0 Good things and bad things happening here.\u00a0 I’m fine with sending Ruiz, but that mistake by Victorino is hard to stomach when you consider how hard runs have been to get.\u00a0 Of course, credit goes to him for that big hit.<\/p>\n

9:31: <\/strong>There it is, boys! Hits! And Runs!!!\u00a0 Casilla makes a mistake and Polanco puts it where they can’t catch it, in the left-center gap, and the Phils take a 3-2 lead.\u00a0 Now they have the sacks packed with J-Roll up.\u00a0 Last time Jimmy batted with them loaded was that big double in Game 2.<\/p>\n

9:38: <\/strong>Alright, let’s get a good inning from Joe here and keep this going.<\/p>\n

9:53: <\/strong>Well, Blanton gives one back, but Contreras comes on to K Posey and end the inning.\u00a0 Contreras has been throwing the ball great, but I’m not sure why they brought him in there.\u00a0 He’s due up 3rd this inning, so I assume he’s done.\u00a0 That leaves the 6th and 7th innings to piece together before we can get this to Madson and Lidge.\u00a0 Translation:\u00a0 more runs could very possibly be needed.<\/p>\n

10:03: <\/strong>Alright, so Durbin is coming in\u00a0and he’ll face at least Burrell, Ross, and Sandoval.\u00a0 After that the Giants will go to a pinch-hitter.\u00a0 That will most likely be Uribe, but if it’s a lefty, we’ll probably see Romero come on for that hitter and Torres.\u00a0 When the top of the order comes back up, I guess it will be Madson, even if it’s the 7th inning.\u00a0 This will take some real strategizing by Charlie and Dubee if this stays a 1-run game.<\/p>\n

10:12: <\/strong>Well, you can’t pitch much worse than that, Durbin.\u00a0 Thanks, bud.\u00a0 5-4 Giants.\u00a0 And\u00a0now he’s staying in to face the lefty Ishikawa???<\/p>\n

10:26:\u00a0<\/strong>Both teams making some questionable bullpen decisions, as the Giants now bring in Lopez to face Victorino, Utley, Polanco.\u00a0 Bochy is showing a lot of confidence in the left-hander. Hopefully, he’s Durbin-esque.<\/p>\n

10:32: <\/strong>Lopez easily works around a lead-off walk to Victorino.\u00a0 McCarver mentioned it, and I’m not sure why they didn’t put the hit-and-run on there.\u00a0 Seemed like a pretty perfect opportunity, and it could’ve avoided the double play.\u00a0 With the pitcher spot not due up until 7th this inning, Lopez will be able to stay on and face Howard.\u00a0 Bastardo is about to make his postseason debut.\u00a0 Let’s go, Antonio.<\/p>\n

10:37: <\/strong>Again, I have to disagree with Charlie.\u00a0 Why would you ever let Bastardo face Posey?\u00a0 Our least reliable reliever, who is left-handed, against their best hitter, who is right-handed?\u00a0 Sounds like trouble.<\/p>\n

10:39: <\/strong>And….Posey pokes a double to right field.\u00a0 This management of the bullpen has been a mystery to me ever since Blanton was pulled.<\/p>\n

10:52: <\/strong>They really needed a DP ball to get out of that bases loaded jam, and Madson got one from the portly Sandoval.\u00a0 That bails out Rollins who booted a grounder.\u00a0 This game is turning into quite the adventure.\u00a0 Hopefully the Phils can\u00a0embark on an adventure of their own in the 8th.<\/p>\n

11:17: <\/strong>Choo-choo-choo-Chooch!!\u00a0 Guns down Torres for the second out of the 8th.\u00a0 This game has gotten very intense.\u00a0 Here we are, a tie game in the late-inning of the League Championship Series, and a pivotal game, no doubt.\u00a0 I always like the Phillies’ chances in these pressure-packed situations, but I am a little worried about what we have left in the ‘pen.\u00a0 Madson is done\u00a0now, and Lidge will come on for the 9th.\u00a0 After that, all we have left is Kendrick and Romero.\u00a0 Luckily, the Giants don’t have a ton of options left in their pen either, but Brian Wilson is probably ready to go two innings.<\/p>\n

11:27: <\/strong>To my surprise the Phils are going to Oswalt in the 9th.\u00a0 I love it.\u00a0 He’s on his side throwing day anyway, so he can give them an inning, maybe even two?\u00a0 It hasn’t been a particularly\u00a0well-pitched game, a well-played game, a well-managed game, or a well-umpired game, but it may be turning into a classic.<\/p>\n

11:41: <\/strong>OK, not a classic, just a real tough loss for the Fightin’ Phils.\u00a0 The Phils thin bullpen was exposed here, as Durbin and Bastardo were touched for runs.\u00a0 Blanton wasn’t bad, but couldn’t get through the 5th inning.\u00a0 This kid Buster Posey is a great hitter, and he showed it tonight.\u00a0 Now the Phils have forced themselves to do this the hard way.\u00a0 They’ll have to go win three straight to get back to the World Series for the third straight year.\u00a0 I’m looking forward to it.\u00a0 It’s gonna be epic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

9:53 AM:\u00a0 The Phils are now\u00a03-0 this postseason when we do a live blog and 1-2 when we don’t, so you know what that means.\u00a0 You can’t say we didn’t do our part.\u00a0 And\u00a0we’re starting over 10 hours before game … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1068,13],"tags":[177,308,16],"class_list":["post-1085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2010-mlb-playoffs","category-mlb","tag-giants","tag-joe-blanton","tag-phillies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1085"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1132,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1085\/revisions\/1132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}