It is time for the Phillies to start their World Series title defense.\u00a0 And, it starts today.\u00a0 Playoff baseball is fantastic, and if you didn’t remember how great it was, all you needed was to watch that game last night.\u00a0 I texted Doogan after it ended and said something like “Not that I’m prone to hyperbole, but that may have been the best baseball game I have ever seen.”\u00a0 But, there is more today, and more for the rest of the month.\u00a0 So, let’s get to a quick preview of today’s action.<\/p>\n
NLDS, Game 1:\u00a0 Rockies at Phillies, Ubaldo Jimenez vs Cliff Lee<\/strong> Keys for the Rockies<\/u>:<\/p>\n Keys for the Phillies<\/u>:<\/p>\n The Final Word<\/u>:\u00a0 ALDS, Game 1:\u00a0 Twins at Yankees, Duensing vs. Sabathia<\/strong> Keys for the Twins<\/u>:<\/p>\n Keys for the Yankees<\/u>:<\/p>\n The Final Word<\/u>: NLDS, Game 1:\u00a0 Cardinals at Dodgers, Carpenter vs. Wolf<\/strong> Keys for the Cardinals<\/u>:<\/p>\n Keys for the Dodgers<\/u>:<\/p>\n The Final Word<\/u>: It is time for the Phillies to start their World Series title defense.\u00a0 And, it starts today.\u00a0 Playoff baseball is fantastic, and if you didn’t remember how great it was, all you needed was to watch that game last night.\u00a0 … Continue reading
\nApparently, there is a 35-mile per hour wind blowing straight out–mostly to rightfield.\u00a0 The Phils have the experience, but don’t forget that the Rockies won the NL pennant just two years ago.\u00a0 It’s hard to believe that this is a matchup between the past two NL pennant winners, but it is.\u00a0 (Random note:\u00a0 I like the Lee choice in Game 1 because I think that, if need be, I would have more confidence in him on three days rest in Game 4 than I would Hamels.\u00a0 And, that way, Hamels can be available on full rest for Game 5.)<\/p>\n\n
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\nI think that the Phils will win Game 1 behind Cliff Lee.\u00a0 They may even knock Jimenez out in the first two or three innings, which would be very important, not only for today’s game, but also for tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\nI have heard talk that this may be the biggest underdog in the history of the MLB playoffs.\u00a0 I am not ready to go that far, but clearly the Bronx Bombers would be heavy, heavy<\/em> favorites in this series even if their opponents hadn’t just won an emotional 12-inning game, 1,500 miles away, 21 hours before today’s first pitch.<\/p>\n\n
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\nObviously, you have to think that the Yankees will win this game.\u00a0 However, baseball always seems to be very bizarre.\u00a0 I’m not “picking” the Twins because, well, I’m not an idiot.\u00a0 But, I am saying that if they can get 5+ innings from Duensing and someone can close the game (be it a tired Nathan or someone else), they can shock the world today.<\/p>\n
\nIt is strange that the worst team (by record) in the NL playoffs is the overwhelmingly popular pick to win the NL pennant, while the best team (by record) is basically an afterthought.\u00a0 Yes, the Cardinals have an incredible 1-2 punch in the rotation and the lineup, but when it comes to the full team, the Dodgers are clearly the deeper team.<\/p>\n\n
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\nObviously, Carpenter is a more accomplished and flat-out better pitcher than Wolf.\u00a0 And, neither team is exactly “peaking” here in October.\u00a0 The Carpenter-Wainwright and Pujols-Holliday combinations are brutal, but if the Dodgers can neutralize the middle of the Cards order (not exactly an easy thing to do), will St. Louis be able to generate any runs?\u00a0 Either way,\u00a0 you have to pick the better pitcher, even against a deeper lineup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"