NLDS Game One Thread, Brewers at Phillies
by WholeCamels
on Oct 1, 2008 1:00 PM EDT
Milwaukee Brewers @ Philadelphia Phillies
The Brewers return to the site of their September Shaming looking to exorcise the demons of 26 years of consistent mediocrity, and the Phillies look to overcome the disappointment of last year's blink-and-you-missed-it NLDS sweep-o-rama at the hands of the Colorado Rockies.
Of course most of the pressure in this game -- and the series as a whole -- is on the Phillies. Pretty much every "expert" has picked the Phillies to win this series, and winning Game One today is of extreme importance. Imagine going into Game Two against CC Sabathia, facing the very real possibility of going down 0-2 and heading out to Milwaukee needing to sweep. Yeah, I don't like that either.
Cole Hamels goes for the Phillies today. Hopefully he's wearing an appropriate undershirt, unlike last year. The real X-Factor in this game is Yovani Gallardo, making just his second start since coming back from knee surgery this spring. He dominated a weak Pirates lineup last week in a four inning tune-up start. Hopefully the Phillies can knock him around a bit, get him out of the game early, and feast on the Brewers messy bullpen.
Let's go!
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Man, I’d totally forgotten about Undershirt-gate. Anyway, GO PHILS!
by taco pal on Oct 1, 2008 1:06 PM EDT 0 recs
a few notes
—>J.A. Happ made the playoff roster, as had been widely reported. Rudy Seanez did not. Seanez and Lou Marson will be with the team through at least the NLDS.
—>Pat Burrell took batting practice with the team earlier today and reportedly looked okay. Charlie Manuel said this morning that he has made out two lineups, one with Pat and one without. If Burrell can’t go, Matt Stairs will start in right and Jayson Werth shifts to left.
—>It’s obvious that a ton is riding on Cole Hamels today. He’s come up slightly small in probably the two biggest starts of his career to date: NLDS ‘07 Game One (the undershirt game), and the start against Santana at Shea last month. But he’s also dominated a lot of good lineups. The Brewers are a vastly more dangerous team against lefties, which is unfortunate; Prince Fielder is the only lefty bat in their lineup. Hamels will have to be at his best.
—>It sounds like Yovani Gallardo has an upper limit of around 100 pitches, but this is more implied than explicitly stated by Dale Sveum.
I got some of this from Rich Hoffman’s chat earlier today, which is worth a look.
by dajafi on Oct 1, 2008 1:10 PM EDT 0 recs
Ironically, Fielder has had more success off Hamels than any other Brewer. Of course, no one’s really faced him a whole lot.
Cameron: 0 for 2, 1 BB, 1 K
Hall: 1 for 6, 2 K
Braun: 1 for 7, 1 2B, 2 K
Fielder: 3 for 6, 2 HR, 1 BB
Hardy: 2 for 5, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Hart: 1 for 6, 2 K
Weeks: 2 for 5, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
Kendall: 2 for 6, 1 2B, 1 K
by taco pal on
Oct 1, 2008 1:34 PM EDT
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Burrell
I missed it – what happened to Burrell yesterday?
by David S. Cohen on
Oct 1, 2008 1:47 PM EDT
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Let's Go Phillies!!!!
I can not wait! I’ll stop by here and leave some comments from time to time during the game. I’ll also be watching on my blog as well (open thread being published at 2pm).
Go Phills!!!
Kevin
by kevinmc on Oct 1, 2008 1:28 PM EDT 0 recs
Much more nervous this year than last. Last year I was just happy to be there; this year I want to win.
by WholeCamels on Oct 1, 2008 2:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Yes
Rollins, ss
Werth, rf
Utley, 2b
Howard, 1b
Burrell, lf
Victorino, cf
Feliz, 3b
Ruiz, c
Hamels, p
Kevin
by kevinmc on
Oct 1, 2008 2:26 PM EDT
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Weather is looking kinda threatening right now. Hopefully this game can be delayed 30 minutes so I have time to get home from work to watch it in its entirety.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 1, 2008 2:37 PM EDT 0 recs
It’s not really possible for Utley or Howard to have a worse series than they did last year, so I am optimistic.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 1, 2008 2:58 PM EDT 0 recs
anything is possible… i think you mean it’s not very probable…
but yes i second your feeling
by foos05 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:00 PM EDT
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One out. 26 to go until Cole completes his perfect game. wooo!
by FuquaManuel on Oct 1, 2008 3:09 PM EDT 0 recs
3 up, 3 down - 2ks
cole looks uber sharp, the crowd seems into it, and the brewers dugout is already moping. i like it.
by char6587 on Oct 1, 2008 3:12 PM EDT 0 recs
Oh my God, I want to go home so badly so I can see this on TV, it’s killing me.
Great opening frame from Cole.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 1, 2008 3:13 PM EDT 0 recs
Fuqua – how are you following… mlb.com is frozen @ 1-1 to Hill
by foos05 on Oct 1, 2008 3:13 PM EDT 0 recs
ESPN working for me
Great first inning from Cole, keep it up, man.
by WholeCamels on Oct 1, 2008 3:14 PM EDT 0 recs
thanks… for some reason when i go to the scoreboard on espn.com, it still thinks that it’s tuesday and the sox and twins are on tonight… lovely
by foos05 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:17 PM EDT
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brauny looked silly up there. the strikeout pitch to him was n—-asty
by char6587 on Oct 1, 2008 3:14 PM EDT 0 recs
Okay, I have determined that this mlb.com stuff is too stressful, thus I will wait 15 minutes until I go home to watch this.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 1, 2008 3:15 PM EDT 0 recs
gallardo’s breaking stuff is looking very good. nice little sliding play by ricky weeks. 1 out
by char6587 on Oct 1, 2008 3:16 PM EDT 0 recs
Two hard-hit balls. A bit unlucky, but if they keep it up, we’ll be alright.
by PhillyFriar on Oct 1, 2008 3:19 PM EDT 0 recs
isn’t he known for being a bit wild… and probably on a frim pitch/innings count today?
by foos05 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:21 PM EDT
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well if that’s the case… nothin like makin him work so we can get to their god awful bullpen
by foos05 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:22 PM EDT
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if anyones wondering, coles not wearing an undershirt today.
by char6587 on Oct 1, 2008 3:22 PM EDT 0 recs
That’s a relief. But maybe this year the controversy will center on his underpants!
by taco pal on
Oct 1, 2008 3:24 PM EDT
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Yahoo has pitching matchups up for Games 3-5 (Moyer vs. Suppan, Hamels vs. Bush, Myers vs. Sabathia). Have those been announced already or are they just guessing?
by taco pal on Oct 1, 2008 3:22 PM EDT 0 recs
Definitely a guess. Cole’s not going on 3 days rest unless absolutely necessary — and maybe not even then.
by PhillyFriar on
Oct 1, 2008 3:23 PM EDT
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David Aldridge is a surprisingly fat guy. You can never tell when he’s on camera.
by dajafi on Oct 1, 2008 3:24 PM EDT 0 recs
Two fast innings for Cole. Good stuff.
That curveball from Gallardo in the first was dirty. He is ace-calibur if healthy.
by Walcott on Oct 1, 2008 3:25 PM EDT 0 recs
Storm imminent. Wind GUSTING straight out to right field right now.
by taco pal on Oct 1, 2008 3:28 PM EDT 0 recs
how close are the pitches to howard? mlb.com shows them 5 to 6 " outside
by foos05 on Oct 1, 2008 3:28 PM EDT 0 recs
they were definitely pitching around him. howard walks. pat swings at the first pitch. double play
by char6587 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:29 PM EDT
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Never mind. It means “brave, dashing.” Like “gallant” I guess.
by taco pal on
Oct 1, 2008 3:31 PM EDT
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Shane running here? I doubt it, between his injury and Kendall’s CS rate.
by dajafi on Oct 1, 2008 3:31 PM EDT 0 recs
i think part of the game plan was to pressure Gallardo on the basepaths
by foos05 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:32 PM EDT
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TBS guys just said Gallardo has a good move, too.
Don’t give them outs, I say. Make Gallardo earn every one.
by PhillyFriar on
Oct 1, 2008 3:32 PM EDT
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Dunno if it’s nerves or what, but he’s really wild this inning.
by dajafi on Oct 1, 2008 3:32 PM EDT 0 recs
Gallardo’s literally dancing between the raindrops right now. A couple of hard hit balls (Rollins, Utley, Feliz) and some general wildness bode well for us. Still, we should have taken advantage already.
by PhillyFriar on
Oct 1, 2008 3:34 PM EDT
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for those of us at work, how bad is it raining there?
by WholeCamels on Oct 1, 2008 3:34 PM EDT 0 recs
Is anyone watching on TV? On radio, Larry Andersen is just all over Dana DeMuth’s ball/strike calls, even more than he usually does.
by taco pal on Oct 1, 2008 3:34 PM EDT 0 recs
I’m watching. It’s a low zone and he’s been a little erratic, but nothing terrible thus far. Except maybe the one strike to Howard, but it didn’t wind up mattering.
by PhillyFriar on
Oct 1, 2008 3:36 PM EDT
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TBS guys havent said anything about the ball/strike calls. I thought the third pitch to pedro was a little questionable, but nothing notable I don’t think..
by char6587 on
Oct 1, 2008 3:36 PM EDT
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Man it seems like Cole is dealing and between Gallardo being all over the place and the hard hit balls, it would seem like a good setup for some of those to fall in for us and have a good day… i don’t want rain screwing this up
by foos05 on Oct 1, 2008 3:36 PM EDT 0 recs
At this rate, we’ll get into their bullpen by the ninth!
by taco pal on
Oct 1, 2008 3:38 PM EDT
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Much as I hate the guy, Smoltz is a pretty good TV analyst—nice explanation for the lay person of why Hamels is tough.
Strikeout of the leadoff guy in the 3rd.
by dajafi on Oct 1, 2008 3:37 PM EDT 0 recs
Just talking about how the changeup looks like the FB out of the glove—exact same motion, so hitters’ timing is off.
Kendall flies out.
by dajafi on
Oct 1, 2008 3:38 PM EDT
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anyone following on espn, you should really check out mlb.com’s gameday feature… this is the fist time i’ve used it and it’s awesome
by foos05 on Oct 1, 2008 3:37 PM EDT 0 recs
The weather is gonna mess this up for Hamels. In West Philly it’s raining so hard that on the walk home I was completely drenched.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 1, 2008 3:38 PM EDT 0 recs