Philadelphia Phillies Roy Halladay's NLDS No-Hitter Tops Cliff Lee—and Himself

Yesterday afternoon, as Roy Halladay was preparing for yesterday's NLDS opener, Cliff Lee was putting the finishing touches on another brilliant postseason pitching performance. 

Lee dominated the AL's most potent offense, striking out 10 Tampa Bay Rays batters while holding them to one run to give the Texas Rangers their first playoff win in 14 years. 

Just one year earlier, of course, the unflappable lefty dazzled the baseball world with a spectacular postseason performance that took the Phillies to the brink of a second straight championship. And, like Halladay this year, Lee was making his first foray beyond the regular season. 

The fact that Halladay would be making his postseason debut immediately after Lee tossed yet  another October gem is surely a bit of irony. As Phillies fans will attest, despite never playing on the same team, the two ace hurlers will likely be forever intertwined. 

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro assured as much when he simultaneously swung two blockbuster deals last winter. The first brought Halladay and considerable exuberance to town by way of the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The second deal sent Lee to the Seattle Mariners and shockwaves throughout Philly. Neither players nor fans had envisioned that acquiring Halladay would mean parting ways with the city's newly embraced sports hero. 

Although everyone was thrilled to welcome Halladay, a great deal of debate ensued since last December about the wisdom in trading Lee. Amaro's mid-summer acquisition of another ace, Roy Oswalt, has quieted the rumblings, but clearly the Lee trade placed pressure on Halladay to perform at or even exceed the same high level of performance. 

To say that Halladay has responded well to the challenge is an understatement. He started the season pitching like he might never lose. 

After he did prove, in fact, to be human, the big right-hander hurled Major League Baseball's 20th perfect game. He dominated the Florida Marlins from start to finish. 

Halladay's 10-7 record and 2.19 ERA landed him on his seventh All-Star squad. He proceeded to improve his record to 21-10 with a sparkling 2.44 ERA. 

His incredible 7.30 strikeouts to walk ratio almost doubled that of any other National League hurler. The only pitcher in baseball to top that mark was- you guessed it— Cliff Lee with an almost impossible 10.28 ratio. 

And, to add a bold exclamation point to his likely Cy Young regular season, Halladay threw a masterful 2-hit shutout to clinch the NL Eastern Division title. 

Despite his season-long brilliance, some whispers of doubt were spoken about Halladay as the Phillies prepared for their NLDS opener against the Reds. 

Some wondered whether Halladay would be nervous on the big stage after 12 seasons of packing his locker contents after 162 games?

Would the NL's top offense be able to handle him like they did in the regular season?

Could he pitch as well in the playoffs as he did in the regular season after logging more than 250 innings of work?

Others questioned whether he could possibly reach the bar that was set so high by Lee in 2009?

And, as if that was not enough, Lee extended that postseason mastery in the hours leading up to last evening's opening pitch. 

Halladay responded to all of it the way he always does. There he was at 5:07 last night, toeing the rubber with that same stoic look wrought with intense determination. 

And, it just got better from there. 

As even non-baseball fans know by now, Halladay carved out a place in history by firing the second no-hitter in Major League Baseball's 104-year postseason run— and his second of the year. 

He was masterful from start to finish. 

The few extra days of rest earned by his clinching victory, along with the playoff atmosphere adrenaline, had his fastball popping into the glove of Carlos Ruiz at 94 mph. 

He had command of all four pitches that he claims in his arsenal, as well as some that he seems to invent along the way.  His pitches were diving in every direction, including a split finger change-up that hitters could not touch as it appeared to intensify gravity. 

After he applied the final strokes to his masterpiece for the ages, a pregnant pause ensued. Would the Phillies take the queue from their  workmanlike and stoic ace and simply exchange courteous handshakes— or celebrate the right way?

After making a brilliant play on a tapper to record the final out, Ruiz answered the question by rushing toward Halladay, who then broke into a huge smile. Phillies players followed suit and mobbed the historic battery-mates in the center of the infield.

What a day, what a debut. 

A perfect game...an All-Star berth...21 wins...a division clinching shutout...a likely Cy Young Award...and now a postseason no-hitter. 

Roy Halladay somehow topped the bar set by Cliff Lee. Along the way, he also somehow even topped himself. 

Manuel Shrugs Off Criticism, Continues to Push the Right Buttons

Being a major league baseball manager can sometimes be a treacherous job. This is especially true when you are manager in a more discerning, passionate city like Philadelphia. Charlie Manuel does not seem any worse for the wear, continuing to follow his instincts, shrug off the criticism and ultimately push the right buttons.

No sooner had the Phillies won the NLDS series clincher against the Rockies in dramatic fashion, than did Manuel find himself answering questions about his managerial decisions and moves. Inquiring minds wanted to know why he went to Scott Eyre rather than Brad Lidge to start the ninth, or why he did not pull Ryan Madson in favor of Antonio Bastardo to face lefty Jason Giambi, or why he pinch hit Greg Dobbs for Ben Francisco? And, on and on- you get the idea.

Manuel had answers for all, and answers that made sense. The fact that his team was still celebrating one of the most dramatic wins in franchise history did not offer any grace or immunity. It is an occupation that can experience exhilarating highs, such as yesterday. But it is also a life in a public fish bowl, and as Manuel experienced yesterday, one that is subject to scrutiny even in the best of times.

Of course, these inquisitors would have taken the opposite position had he made the moves they suggested. If he had sent Lidge out to start the 9th, and he had run into trouble, Manuel would be answering questions about why he puts loyalty above results or why he didn't go with a lefty? If he had replaced Madson with Bastardo and the moment was too big for a wide-eyed rookie, he would have been squarely on the firing line. And, if Huston Street mowed down Francisco, he would have been criticized for not using one of his left-handed pinch hitters.

The bottom line is almost anything that does not go right could very well be scrutinized, and like yesterday, even some things that do. This is not lost on Manuel, and even though he sometimes can mildly bristle at such criticism, he has chosen to let the chips fall where they may. He simply refuses to manage scared of the outcome or the court of public opinion.

This courage and quality is recognized by his players. And, they reciprocate by reflecting the same tough minded and confident approach out on the field, in whatever situation they encounter. They do not question the manager, but rather simply resolve to execute on whatever they are asked to do in the best way possible.

As they have throughout the series, Charlie's moves worked out again yesterday. And, importantly, the very character that enabled the team to beat the odds and rally for a dramatic win, starts with the senior statesman with the "41" on his jersey.

Rocky Mountain High for the Phillies

A 7 1/2 inning pitchers duel ended in wild fashion with the Phillies showing tremendous resiliency to ultimately prevail in Game 4 of the NLDS . After leading the entire game behind another masterpiece by Cliff Lee, the Phillies found themselves suddenly behind heading into the ninth inning. The reigning World Series Champions were not about to let this game get away, though, and dug deep to counter the Rockies with an exciting rally to win the game and the series.

Lee and Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez battled on the mound for most of the game and the Phillies held a slim 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th inning.The Rockies used a little luck and a fluke play to get something going off of Cliff Lee. They followed through with a couple jubilant hits off reliever Ryan Madson to rally for 3 runs and jump to a 4-2 lead.

The Phillies responded with some dramatic hitting in the 9th off of all-star closer Huston Street to themselves rally for 3 runs with two outs to forge ahead 5-4. And, Brad Lidge came on to secure the win by striking out Rockies clean-up hitter Troy Tulowitzki and gain his second save in two days.

The Phillies 9th inning rally was one for the ages, and reminiscent of the 1980 NL Championship Series clincher in terms of drama. Ryan Howard crushed a dramatic double to deep right to drive in the tying runs with two outs, and then Jayson Werth lined a single to right-center to plate Howard. Moments earlier, it had looked like the Phillies would suffer a disappointing defeat and be forced to return home for a Game 5, but this is a team of tenacious players that always believe they can get it done.

Before the late game offensive explosion and excitement, Lee and Jimenez mostly took turns putting zero's on the scoreboard. Lee followed up his brilliant effort in Game 1 with a similar performance in Game 4, keeping the Rockies off balance and off the board with an array of pitches on the edges of the strike zone. Once again, he mixed his 92-93 mph fastball with a biting cutter, diving change-up and sharp slider.

On the other side, Jimenez was firing 96-99 mph fastballs along with a big hook and a nasty splitter to make things difficult for Phillies hitters. He kept them at bay except for two solo homers over 7 innings and 126 pitches. In the first inning, Shane Victorino turned on a 99 mph fastball and hit a line shot into the forrest behind the right-centerfield fence to make it 1-0. In the sixth inning, Jayson Werth put a picture perfect swing on a slider out over the plate and drove it 400 feet into Phillies bullpen in right-center.

The Rockies scratched out a run in the bottom of the 6th inning. Lee appeared to be squeezed a little by home plate umpire Ron Kulpa in walking Todd Helton. Tulowitzki followed with a double to left-center and Helton slid into home head first just ahead of the tag.

With the Phillies still holding a 2-1 lead and Lee still throwing well, the real drama began in the home 8th. Red hot Carlos Gonzalez flied out to left, but Dexter Fowler worked a walk. Lee jammed Helton and he muscled a bouncer to Chase Utley. Fowler arrived about the same time as the ball, hurdled over Utley and got into the line of sight of Jimmy Rollins on Utley's flip. The ball ticked off of Rollins glove for an error and what looked to be a possible inning ending double play turned into both runners being safe.

With Lee having thrown 117 pitches and righty Tulowitzki coming up, Charlie Manuel opted to bring in Madson on a double switch, with Ben Francisco replacing Ibanez in left. Tulowitzki, of course, then hit a sinking liner towards Francisco, who made a spectacular diving catch to momentarily save the day. But, pinch hitter Jason Giambi dumped a soft flare into shallow left off the trademark sending home Fowler with the tying run. Playoff nemesis Yorvit Torrealba followed with a double to deep center and the Rockies found themselves suddenly leading 4-2 accompanied by the roar of the raucous crowd.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy, who made so many trips to the field over the series he could have been mistaken for a tenth player, tapped Street to close out the come from behind victory. He quickly struck out pinch hitter Greg Dobbs and jumped ahead of Rollins. J Roll showed great discipline staying off outside sinkers and grounded a single up the middle. After Victorino bounced into a force out, Utley came to the plate and worked a walk by staying off some tough pitches that tailed off the plate.

Street was now forced to face MVP candidate Howard with the tying runs on base. On a 2-1 count, Howard reached across the plate to get a sinker tailing down and away and cranked a ball to the right field fence. Watching the ball, Victorino missed third base, but went back to tag and scored just in front of a sliding Utley to knot the game at 4-4. With Howard on second, Werth served a 2-2 pitch to right center to send home the go ahead run.

Manuel brought in Scott Eyre, who injured his ankle a day earlier, to pitch the 9th knowing that tough lefties Gonzalez and Helton were coming up. After quick out, Gonzalez flared his 10th hit of the series to left. Fowler hit a soft liner to Rollins, before Helton lofted a single to center. At this point, Manuel came out of the dugout and motioned in Brad Lidge, who earned the save in Game 3. Lidge fed a steady diet of sliders to clean-up hitter Tulowitzki, and got him to wave weakly at a 2008 vintage hard diving pitch to strike him out to end the threat. Wow! What a game- an "Instant Classic" as coined by Eyre after the game!

The Phillies flowed onto the field to joyously celebrate a terrific, series clinching victory. The team moves onto to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, a rematch from a year ago. They do so with the confidence of knowing they are never out of a game and might just have the 2008 version Lidge back in the fold. And, importantly, the Phillies once again showed the tremendous heart and mental toughness that can fuel a championship run.

Phils Prevail in Gut Check Game 3

Last night's (and this morning's) pivotal NLDS Game 3 was played in temperatures closer to the "frozen tundra" conditions of NFL lore rather than typical baseball weather. While this is good for chronicling the rich history of the NFL and at least manageable in the game of football, baseball is a game of finesse and even touch that is affected in more subtle ways. With temperatures in the 20's, falling behind early and many tense moments throughout the game, the Phillies stayed focused and persevered to victory in the coldest game in post season history.

The Phillies demonstrated a mental toughness, similar to that displayed in last year's less than optimal World Series weather, to fight through the frigid conditions and tense game situations to prevail 6-5 in Game 3. This is a quality that is often overlooked on a team filled with talented, charismatic players, but once again they proved that this is an important part of their success. Look no further than their remarkable season end runs to win the first two of three consecutive NL East crowns, their World Series play a year ago in the wet and cold, and last night's body of work.

Of course, players have to execute on the field, but surely some of this tough minded approach starts with their manager. Charlie Manuel shrugs off adversity, infuses confidence in his players and refuses to play scared. Once again, he demonstrated that prominently in the way he managed throughout the game. As he has done all series long, he went against conventional wisdom to make some bold moves, following his gut and not worrying about criticism that could come his way. And, importantly, his moves paid off handsomely.

No sooner than a few minutes after the TBS announcers had indicated that the weather conditions would make the long ball difficult, Chase Utley staked the Phillies to 1-0 lead in the first inning with a 400 foot home run to right-center. Unfortunately, starter J.A. Happ struggled all night with his command and quickly encountered trouble in the bottom half of the first. He allowed 4 hits and escaped with only 2 runs being scored when Ryan Spilborghs lined out hard to center.

The Rockies extended the lead to 3-1 when Garret Atkins cracked a two out double in front of the 415 sign in center to score Todd Helton, who had walked. Happ continued to throw a great deal of pitches, and could not seam to get strike calls on the inside corner or low in the zone. Home plate umpire Jerry Meals appeared to have a moving strike zone all night, yet another condition for pitchers and hitters alike to fight through on this bone chilling night.

Besides the solo home run, Rockies pitcher Jason Hammel was cruising until the 4th inning. Shane Victorino lead off with a walk and Utley lined a single to right. Ryan Howard roped a single to right-center, plating one run and sending Utley to third. Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez then showed great discipline to work walks, forcing in the tying run. With the bases loaded and still no outs, Pedro Feliz bounced to Hammel for a home to first double play. Carlos Ruiz picked him up, though, sending a single to left after a tough, 8-pitch at bat to make it 4-3.

With Happ having already thrown 76 pitches and showing no signs of getting locked in, Manuel opted to pinch hit for him after Ruiz in hope of putting some more runs on the board. Joe Blanton took the mound in his place, and surrendered a game tying home run to red hot Carlos Gonzalez.

Ruiz struck again in the 6th, singling up the middle to score Ibanez and give the Phillies a 5-4 lead. The Rockies mounted a rally in the 7th inning when Gonzalez ripped a double to center to lead off the frame. After Dexter Fowler bunted, pitcher Scott Eyre rolled his ankle and fell to the frozen turf, allowing everyone to be safe and sending him to the training room.

At this point, Manuel made the gutsy move of calling on Ryan Madson with the heart of the Rockies order coming up, rather than keep him for a save situation that might never occur if things blew up in the 7th. Madson proceeded to strike out Todd Helton on high heat. After blowing a couple similar pitches past Troy Tulowitzki, he left a cutter in the middle of the plate that was driven to left for a sacrifice fly. Madson then struck out pesky Yorvin Torrealba to end the threat.

The Phillies threatened with one out in the 8th with an Ibanez walk and Feliz double. Rafael Betancourt was able to strike out Ruiz and pinch hitter Matt Stairs, getting the benefit of several strike calls that appeared to be well off the plate.

After Chad Durbin threw an excellent 1-2-3 8th inning, closer Huston Street was called upon to face the Phillies in the 9th. Jimmy Rollins singled to center and Victorino bunted him over to second. Utley then bounced a swinging bunt, bolted from the box and was called safe when a close throw appeared to pull Helton off the bag. Replays appeared to show the ball ticking off Utley's leg, which would have made it a foul ball, but umpires did not see it. Howard then proceeded to jack a sacrifice fly to deep center to give the Phillies a 6-5 lead.

Manuel summoned Brad Lidge to close the pressure packed game. He quickly got Brad Hawpe to ground out, but then walked Gonzalez after fighting back from a 3-0 count and several foul balls on 3-2. Gonzalez stole second before Jason Giambi fouled out. Lidge pitched very carefully to Helton, who hit .325 during the regular season, and eventually walked him. With the crowd looking for a late winning rally like the Rockies have been delivering throughout the second half of the season, Lidge was able to get Tulowitzki to pop out to shallow left to preserve the victory.

It was a tough game in tough conditions, truly the gut check type of game that champions need to win. The Phillies, from Manuel through the entire team finishing with Lidge, they proved up for the challenge. Now its back to Cliff Lee in Game 4 today as they attempt to advance to play the Dodgers in the NLCS.

I'm Just Saying......

A weekly collection of random thoughts and observations for you to consider.

• Watching Billy Wagner and Josh Johnson fire fastballs in the high 90's makes me wonder if some healthy pitchers will opt for Tommy John surgery in the future to add a couple mph?
• The Phillies have the best talent and chemistry in baseball, so if they play to their potential, repeat may be the November word of the month.
• The Sporting News just ranked Philadelphia the #2 sports city behind its Pennsylvania cousin, Pittsburgh. Housing both the NFL and NHL champions from a year ago is great, but there is no better sports city than Philadelphia. The city can boast the following: 1)the Phillies, Eagles and Flyers all had attendance more than 100% of capacity; 2)all four teams made the playoffs; and 3)the Phillies were World Series Champions.
• Jared Allen is on track for NFC Defensive Player of the Year.
• The Packers and their fans already have November 1st marked with a thick red circle for Brett Favre's return, and the outcome will likely be very different than last Monday night.
• The Twins have run themselves out of the NLDS with its amateurish baserunning and an apparently visually impaired umpire.
• Although TBS may not be stored in your favorite channel list, having them broadcast the NLDS means we don't have to hear Tim McCarver spend two innings explaining the finer points of baseball such as the use of the cross over step in stealing bases or methods of forming a pocket in a catcher's mitt.
• Considering the frigid weather conditions in Colorado and the elongated post season schedule, it makes you wonder about the possibilities for the Minnesota Twins new Stadium slated to open next season. Target Stadium will be a great improvement over the Metrodome from mid-May through mid-September, but could make for some miserable conditions before and after.
• Although he was a good stat guy, hearing Bobby Abreu being labeled as a leader with the Angels makes you wonder if it is the same guy who played for the Phillies.
• Josh McDaniels looked like he was going to crash and burn before the regular season even started, now he is the leading candidate for Coach of the Year.
• Perhaps Tony LaRussa should consider a new salon?

Happ to Start Postponed Game 3 for Phillies

The inclement weather has already impacted the NLDS without a pitch being thrown. With the schedule pushed back a day due to cold and snowy conditions, Charlie Manuel has decided to forego Pedro Martinez in favor of J.A. Happ to start Game 3 against the Rockies. The move had been speculated as a possibility and Manuel confirmed it late yesterday afternoon.

The decision does not reflect a lack of confidence in Martinez, but rather previous seasonal results and trends. Happ tossed a gem against the Rockies in early August, registering a 4-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts. Additionally, the Rockies are less effective against left-handed pitching with greater reliance on lefty hitters. Happ has also overcome a knee contusion that he suffered in Game 2 and indicates that he feels fine.

Martinez could not have been more gracious in accepting the change. He supported the decision, indicating that it was the most reasonable thing to do, and hopes to get called upon in a relief role if needed.

Manuel also announced that Cliff Lee will get the nod as the Game 4 starter on Monday. Cole Hamels could get the assignment if the series goes 5 games, but Manuel has yet to make that determination. Depending on who he calls on out of the bullpen over the next two days, he could also tap Martinez or Joe Blanton. The current pitching decisions along with the ongoing flexibility are reflective of Manuel's courage to make bold moves rather than be constrained by fear of criticism.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy has decided to stick with right-hander Jason Hammel. In two games against the Phillies this season, Hammel was 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA, allowing a .359 batting average.

Although it will be cold tonight, the Phillies hope to heat things up with their bats. It is encouraging that Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino swung the bats well in the first two games of the series. All the team's scoring has occurred in the fifth inning or later, though, so they hope to put some runs on the board early to give Happ some cushion.

The weather still may be somewhat of a factor due to the evening start and temperatures projected to be 38 degrees at game time. There is a good chance that the temperature will drop below the previous post season record low of 35 degrees during the game. These are surely not ideal weather conditions for any game, but especially for the pivotal third game of the NLDS.

It's Official- Game 3 Postponed Until Sunday

Major League Baseball did the sensible thing and cancelled tonight's game between the Phillies and Rockies. The postponement means that game 4 will be played on Monday, eliminating the travel day. As things stand now, if necessary, a deciding game 5 would be played in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The temperature in Denver was 18 degrees with snow falling at the time of the decision, so making the call early to cancel was the right thing to do. The forecast for tomorrow calls for snow to end through the early morning and warm up to a high of 52 degrees, but will drop back into the 40's by game time tomorrow night.

The decision could very well alter Charlie Manuel's pitching plans. He hinted at it yesterday, and may choose to go with J.A. Happ on Sunday evening, followed by Cliff Lee on Monday and Cole Hamels on Tuesday if the series goes to five games. This does not reflect a lack of confidence in Martinez, but rather the reduced effectiveness of the Rockies against left-handed pitching. A more subtle factor is the notion that Martinez's breaking ball may have less bite in the thin mountain air of Denver; whereas, Happ relies more on spotting fastballs.

All reports suggest that Happ has shaken off the bruised knee that caused Manuel to pull him from Thursday's game. Manuel has also suggested that the other possible starting candidate, Joe Blanton, would be very valuable working out of the pen.

It is good that Bud Selig does not want to repeat the mistakes he made in last year's World Series when the Phillies and Rays played through pouring rain into the wee hours of the morning. No one wants players to go out in weather conditions that could compromise play and interject more chance into the outcome. Lets hope that, in deed, the temperature warms up and precipitation subsides tomorrow in Denver as currently predicted.

OK With Charlie's NLDS Pitching Moves

A great deal of controversy and criticism has erupted from Charlie Manuel's pitching decisions over the past few days. There was first some mild surprise expressed over the playoff roster pitcher selection. Next, many questioned the decision to start a somewhat struggling Cliff Lee over last season's post season hero Cole Hamels in game 1 of the NLDS. Then things heated up further as Manuel used three starting pitchers in game 2, and to add fuel to the fire, one of them left the game with an injury.

For me personally, I am OK with all these decisions. Manuel knows his players, understands the match-ups, possesses experience with the physiological aspects of pitching and has a method to the seeming madness. He also recognizes the team's current vulnerabilities and has the courage to be creative in his approach rather than use the safe, tried and true cookie cutter approach favored by most critics.

Over his tenure in Philadelphia, it has become crystal clear that Charlie's baseball acumen, understanding of the human psyche and instincts far exceed his ability to articulate it. He should have earned his "just due" by now leading the team in the greatest era in Phillies history. Besides that, everyone of his decisions make sense.

Choosing Lee as the opening game starter proved to be the right decision by his dominant pitching performance. Lee was surely a worthy choice based on his credentials and the laser-like focus that he brings to the mound. It also made sense purely from the current pitching order and days of rest between starts. And, if the series were to go to 5 games, both Lee and Hamels would be available to pitch.

With JC Romero down with an injury, Scott Eyre fighting elbow pain and the Rockies left-handed leaning line-up, adding Antonio Bastardo as a needed situational lefty makes a world of sense. Bastardo even somewhat resembles Romero, possessing similar pop on his fastball and sharp break on his slider. Manuel would love to have Romero to call upon, but in his absence, why not go to the next best thing? The rookie did not disappoint, either, coming into a two out, bases loaded jam in game 2 and promptly striking out imposing pinch hitter Jason Giambi.

Choosing Kyle Kendrick over Tyler Walker and Clay Condrey was somewhat of a surprise, but it is also understandable. Kendrick pitched well in some big moments down the stretch, can throw multiple innings if needed and his sinker and slider can keep Rockies hitters in the park. Walker faltered in the late going and Condrey is just coming off an extended injury rehabilitation.

The biggest controversy revolved around Manuel's use of Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ as relievers in game 2. Both pitchers were viewed as the leading candidates to start games 3 and 4, and conventional wisdom would preclude disrupting their rest and preparation for those assignments. Of course this was just speculation since Manuel never named his starters, but weather permitting, one of them had to get the nod this weekend.

Again, these decisions make sense to me. Manuel had the comfort of having 5 starting pitchers worthy of taking the ball. It appears that he was leaning towards using future Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez in game 3 anyway, yet limited relief appearances by Blanton and Happ should not compromise them if called upon. They both would have thrown bullpen sessions, so Manuel simply traded adrenaline and intensity for a greater number of sideline pitches. The impact on their arms and respective recovery is the same.

Manuel knows that Blanton possesses a resilient arm and attacks hitters, so it makes perfect sense that he was leaning all along towards using him in a relief role. As he demonstrated on Thursday, his velocity jumps up to the 93-94 range in a short stint with heightened intensity. Happ is the logical choice to pitch game 4 based on his previous success against the Rockies, his season long consistency, his calm and focused approach, and the Rockies vulnerability to left-handed pitchers. And, with limitations from the left side in the bullpen, why not use him situationally in relief in the first couple games?

Pedro gets the call tonight. Although he finished the regular season limited by a neck injury, he has the pitching pedigree and big game credentials to come up big. The frigid weather will be a factor and some are concerned whether it will hurt Martinez's finesse. If he falters, Blanton will be waiting in the wings. If the game is postponed, Manuel might very well opt for Happ, Lee and Hamels as starters over the balance of the series.

Lets give Manuel and the Phillies credit for taking into account the circumstances and being creative towards positioning themselves for success. Importantly, the manager has the full confidence and support of his players. They trust him and even more importantly, they are all focused on winning as a team and willing to take on whatever role is needed to successfully defend their title.

Phils Fall Short in Game 2, Head to Iceland

With optimism and positive energy from a big game 1 victory still energizing a stadium full of fans and an entire city, the Phillies dug themselves a hole that they could not quite escape in game 2. After Wednesday's all around strong opening game performance, visions of 2008 returned with Cole Hamels scheduled to take the mound. With Cliff Lee having dominated the Rockies a day earlier and a similarly imposing left hander with a great post season pedigree on the mound, most expected to see Hamels have similar success in leading the team to a 2-0 series advantage.

The Rockies clearly had other ideas, chipping away to build a 4-0 lead while their own starter Aaron Cook held the Phillies at bay. Execution produced a run in the first inning- good on the part of the Rockies and poor on the part of the Phillies. After lead-off hitter Carlos Gonzalez singled to open the game, he stole second on a botched pick off play. Hamels was slow to deliver the ball to first and then Ryan Howard was slow to get the ball out of his glove. A sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly moved him around the bases with Hamels showing some clear frustration.

With two outs In the 4th, Yorvin Torrealba jacked a hanging curve ball into the left field stands to extend the lead to 3-0. It was a particularly painful blow considering that it came with two outs, Torrealba hit only two homers all year and it was his first since early May.

The Rockies chipped away again with another run in the 5th inning. Cook hit a soft flare that landed just inside the right field line and Gonzalez ripped a double to right center. Dexter Fowler followed with a sacrifice fly. Again, Hamels was clearly frustrated as he walked to the dugout at inning's end.

It seemed that the Phillies still had a run in them as Cook was surely not over powering them. They finally broke through in the bottom of the 6th, rallying for 3 runs, but the promise of a bigger inning ended when Carlos Ruiz bounced into the team's 3rd double play of the day. Shane Victorino and Chase Utley singled to start the inning, before Howard roped a double to right. After Jayson Werth went down swinging, Raul Ibanez lined a single to center to make it 4-3. Pedro Feliz dumped a single to center before Ruiz came to the plate.

An interesting sideline was some managerial decisions by Charlie Manuel. He chose to bring starter Joe Blanton into pitch the 6th and then brought in starter J.A. Happ when Blanton worked into trouble in the 7th. Unfortunately, Happ took a line shot off the shin from the first batter he faced and had to leave the game. The moves created much questioning about Manuel's plans for games 3 and 4 starters as well as the health of Happ.

The Rockies threatened in both the 7th and 8th, loading the bases, but some pressure pitching by Scott Eyre and Antonio Bastardo limited the damage to a single run. In the bottom of the 8th, Werth smashed a solo shot to center that closed the gap to 5-4.

Although they fell behind early, the Phillies battled to the end. They mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth off closer Huston Street. Pinch hitter Matt Stairs fought off pitches to work a walk with one out. After a flyout, Jimmy Rollins also fought off several pitches and kept the game alive by lining a single to right. Victorino hung in himself and sent a humped back liner towards right that looked like it had a chance for a moment before second baseman Clint Barmes stabbed it to end the game.

The large crowd witnessed a great game, but went away disappointed. They had arrived to a party atmosphere with high hopes that the Phillies would build upon their game 1 victory. Now the team must go to Iceland, or Denver, to battle frigid weather and the Rockies in an attempt to regain home field advantage at the least or win the series at best.

Phillies Game 1, A Beautiful Thing

The Phillies victory in game 1 of the NLDS was a beautiful thing. Their 5-1 win over the Rockies was reminiscent of their championship run a year ago and conjured up optimism that the team could make a strong title defense in 2009. The game was played before a highly charged, record crowd at Citizen's Bank Park in less than ideal conditions with strong winds whipping through the stadium all day long.

Cliff Lee, in particular, bolstered confidence by looking like the dominant version displayed over his first five games in a Phillies uniform. He went the distance, and if not for a two out, 9th inning run scoring double by Troy Tulowitzki, he would have tossed a shut out in his first post season performance. The fans, who coaxed the team on with raucous noise and gyrating rally towels, may have actually caused Werth to miss a chance to catch the ball as it got lost in a sea of white terry cloth. Phillies players are surely willing to deal with that occupational hazard in exchange for the energy and inspiration provided by their rabid fans.

Although it took them until the 5th to get on the board, the Phillies got contributions from everyone in their line-up, including Lee. All nine players (and that is all the Phillies used on Wednesday) hit safely, while the 4-5-6 hitters provided the big hits.

Raul Ibanez drove in two with a double and a single. Ryan Howard cracked a pair of hits, including a run scoring double. And, Jayson Werth was 2-3 with a walk. In the 6th, he crushed a towering drive to center that was held up by the gusting wind, but it banged high off the wall for an RBI triple.

Lee erased any concern about being named the game 1 starter over Cole Hamels and his drop in effectiveness down the stretch. He pitched with precision throughout the game, retiring 16 straight at one point.  Lee struck out 5 and walked no one while scattering 6 hits.

Overall, it was a great start for the Phillies in the NLDS. Lee's and Ibanez's return to form, along with the team's overall offensive performance, had fans buzzing about the possibilities for 2009. If the team plays to its potential like in game 1, defending their title is well within their grasp.

Let the Games Begin- Phillies vs Rockies Playoff Preview

The Phillies begin the second phase of their 2009 World Series Championship defense at 2:47 PM tomorrow. They have a difficult task ahead, starting with a little Colorado Rockies deja vu.

It was just two years ago that they finished with a flurry to pass the New York Mets to win the first of three consecutive NL Eastern Division titles. Unfortunately, the Rockies were on an unprecedented season ending hot streak that they rode through the National League playoffs until finally being derailed by the Red Sox in the World Series. That season, the Rockies finished by winning 21 of 22 games, before sweeping the Phillies 3-0 and then the Diamondbacks 4-0.

Although the Rockies did not approach those astounding numbers this season, they did string together the best record (20-11) since September 1st to once again make a late season dash to win the wild card. Overall. they recorded 92 wins, one game less than the 2009 Phillies.

The most basic numerical analysis suggests that they two teams are closely matched. The Phillies finished first in the league in runs scored with 820, with the Rockies right behind them at 804. Both teams used a similar formula on offense, relying on the long ball to generate runs. The two teams were close in pitching, with the Phillies ending 6th in ERA, two spots higher than the Rockies. And, both clubs play strong defense. The Phils committed the second fewest errors (76) in the league, while the Rockies placed 5th with 87.

The NLDS series, of course, will not be won or lost based on past statistics. In a short 5-game series almost anything can happen, but most of the time it comes down to the match-ups and how each team executes in a pressure packed environment. Looking at the series from that vantage point, here is how I see it breaking down:

Starting Pitching

The Phillies have the clear advantage in terms of starting pitching. The Rockies will not have any known big game pitchers to throw out there, while the Phillies will counter with last year's AL Cy Young winner, last year's NLCS and World Series MVP, a sure fire Hall-of-Famer, last year's World Series game 4 winner and a Rookie-of-the-Year candidate who was their most consistent starter all season.

It will be important for them to capitalize on this by putting runs on the board early and by pitching deep into games to take the pressure off their beleaguered bullpen.

Relief Pitching

The bullpens are fairly comparable with one major exception. The Rockies head into the post season with a definitive closer while this remains the Phillies biggest question mark. Huston Street converted 35 of 37 save opportunities, allowing less than one baserunner per inning, while recording more than 10 strikeouts per 9 innings. The Phillies situation is well chronicled, so it will be key for them to take care of business early and hope that they realize the potential that was so elusive in the regular season.

Offense

The Phillies line-up is more explosive and diverse. Both clubs hit for similar average, but the Phils possess both more power and speed. Both teams are a little stronger from the left side, but the match-ups create very different scenarios. The Phillies can better neutralize the Rockies line-up with three strong left-handed starting pitchers, whereas the Rockies will be relying on right-handers.

Defense

Both teams play solid defense, but again, the Phillies are just a little better. The fan fare created by their long ball prowess tends to attention away from the fact they are a great defensive team. Not only do they avoid errors, but they also make plays that other team's would only hope to do.

Prediction

Although the Rockies have played exceptional baseball in the second half of the season and are once again coming into the post season with momentum, the Phillies simply are the better team. They have the best talent in the league and persevered through a long season for the opportunity to defend their title. They also possess incredible unity and a winning chemistry. This is what they have been playing for all season long, and they will not disappoint.

The Phillies will win the series, 3-1.

Phillies End the Regular Season on a High Note

Yesterday's regular season finale ended on a high note for the Phillies. Back-up catcher and September call-up Paul Hoover lined a ball down the third base line that ticked off the glove of Wes Helms for a single, plating John Mayberry to give the Phils a 7-6, 10th inning victory over the Florida Marlins. Teammates bounded onto the field and happily peppered him after he rounded first base and sent the team into post season in style.

On a day that Charlie Manuel chose to rest all his regulars, except for Jayson Werth and starting pitcher J.A. Happ, the Phillies fought from behind all day. Manuel pulled Happ after two innings and used an array of relievers who may have been auditioning for a playoff roster spot. Although the game had little relevance and the regulars mostly remained on the bench, heading to the post season fresh off a walk-off victory provided somewhat of a psychological lift for the team.

Werth was in the line-up as a gesture of appreciation for his excellent season. He came into the game with a career high 99 RBI, but unfortunately was not able to push the total to the milestone century mark. He missed his last opportunity when he was intentionally walked (to a jeering crowd) with Mayberry on second base to get to Hoover in the tenth.

Despite the mild disappointment, Werth was a large contributor throughout the 2009 season, providing critical right handed pop amongst the team's left handed power hitters. He built upon last year's break out season as he became the full-time right fielder, clubbing 36 home runs to finish 7th in the National League. Werth finished with a .268 batting average, but more indicative of his contribution was his lofty .373 On Base Percentage, which was second highest on the team.

Happ yielded a couple runs in the first, before tossing a scoreless second inning. He also has played a large role in the Phillies NL East title, emerging as a highly dependable and effective starter. Happ ends the season with a 12-4 record, the league's 8th best ERA at 2.93, and consideration for a playoff start against the Colorado Rockies. He remains a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, but may have been passed as the favorite by Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan, who turned in a huge second half to finish 6th in the NL batting race with a .321 average.

Sunday's victory pushed the Phillies overall record to 93-69, one win better than a season ago. This also secured the second best record in the National League behind the Dodgers. Attention now turns to preparing for Wednesday's National League Division Series against the Rockies at Citizen Bank Park, including important decisions about their playoff roster and starting rotation. Overall, the Phillies enjoyed another excellent regular season, but now the excitement rises to another level as they launch into the next phase of their World Series Championship defense.