Let's Repeat for Harry

So here we go again another post season ride. The Phillies are looking to repeat as World Series champions just like the Yankees did in 98, 99 and 2000. The last National league team to repeat was the Cincinnati Reds in 75 and 76. The Phillies led the NL east for 141 days this year and are looking good for same results as last year. It is going to be much harder this year for several reasons. Brad Lidge is far from perfect this year. Lidge has 11 blown saves this year with a 7.21 era. To be fair though a lot of people were waiting for lidge's first blown save in the playoffs and it never happened. So can  Lidge turn it on again? Our team has suffered many injuries this year so let's take a look at how the rosters differ.

Here is a comparison from the roster last year and this year. 

Will start with the obvious  

 The Same         

  

Posistion players                      Pitchers                               Bench players

SS Jimmy Rollins                        Cole Hamels                       Matt Stairs

CF Shane Victorino                    Joe Blanton                        Greig dobbs

2B   Chase Utley                          Brett Myers                       Eric Bruntlett

1B   Ryan Howard                        J.A Happ

 RF  Jayson Werth                       Clay Condrey

3B Pedro Feliz                              Ryan Madson                                              

  C Carlos Ruiz                              Scott Eyre

                                                       Brad Lidge

                                                       Chad Durbin

Players  on the DL but were on WS team 

Jamie Moyer         JC Romero 

Players who left

LF Pat Burrell         RF  Geoff Genkins

So Taguchi                C Chris Coste 

The new additions for this year 

LF Raul Ibanez                Utility Ben Francisco                Pedro Martinez

C Pail Bako                       P Cliff Lee

The rosters have to go back down to 25 for the play offs. The  play off roster has to be set by 10 am Wednesday (tom). As of this posting the rosters had not been set yet.  All we know right now is that Cliff Lee will start game one and Hamel’s will start game 2.   I know we want to keep Cliff Lee on 4 days rest but Cole Hamel’s deserves game 1 in my opinion. The guy was MVP in every stage of the playoffs last year. Let’s hope this does not back fire.

So with rosters not being set yet here is my prediction: 

 Once again the obvious:                         Pitchers:                                  Bench:

Jimmy Rollins                                        Cole Hamel’s                             Greg Dobbs              

Shane Victorino                                     Cliff Lee                                      Ben Francisco

Chase Utley                                            Joe Blanton                                 Matt Stairs

Ryan Howard                                        Pedro Martinez                           Eric Bruntlett

Raul Ibanez                                           J.A Happ                                      Paul Bako

Jays Werth                                           Clay Condrey

Pedro Feliz                                           Chad Durbin

Carlos Ruiz                                         Scott Erye

                                                              Ryan Madson

                                                              Brad Lidge

                                                            Brett Myers

                                                            Sergio Escalona

Kyle Kendrick has really proven himself and deserves a roster spot this year. But we would only have 1 lefty in the pen, and I really don’t like the idea of having Happ in the pen . Pedro Martinez Should be put in the pen, he showed he could pitch well in relief in the World baseball Classic. Sergio Escalona name above  surprise a lot of people but he should make it. First of all the Rockies have a hard time hitting left handed pitching,The Rockies hit just .253 against lefties this season as opposed to .264 against righties. Escalona is hard throwing lefty and the Rockies have never seen him before.  And as much as I don’t think they should do it, Happ can pitch in game 1 in relief and still be on 5 days rest for game 3or 4 . Miguel Cairo deserves a roster spot but because of numbers will probalby be left off. Bruntlett can play more positions and is a little faster.

Now to notes for game 1 :        Do not underestimate Rockie starter Ubaldo Jimenez.

In  Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS  he struck out Aaron Rowand on three straight pitches — a 74-mph curveball, a 97-mph fastball and an 81-mph slider. Jimenez 97 mph fastball is consistent all game which could be bad for the Phillies.

During day games at the Phillies stadium especially around 3pm, there are shadows at home plate. These shadows make it really hard to see the ball and when you have a guy that has good hard and off speed stuff that can lead to trouble for the batters.  The Rockies are coming in hot like in 2007.

If the Phillies offense is not on their game it could be a quick first round exit by the hands of the Rockies again.

My Prediction Phillies win it in 5

Random Thoughts:  If you notice I left Chan Ho Park off of every thing above, I did not forget him. Park might be back if the Phillies make it to the divisional round.

Screw you TBS and MLB thanks for putting the defending WS champions first 2 games at 2:37 pm where most of our fans including me  can’t watch it. I know you want everyone to see Pat Sajak reading the lineup for the Dodgers, but like Utley said we are “World F ing Champions” we deserve the night game .  It is going to be 12:37 pm in Colorado; I don’t get how at least a 4pm start would have hurt. Then the Dodgers could start 8:30 or 9. The Phillies always get screwed and even if we win the Yankees or Redsox will still have the later time slot.

Rockies honestly you guys are sticking to “ Rocktober” for your slogan. I mean I get why you’re using it, but come on “Rocktober’ is the slogan  those Midwest classic rock stations use every year to in October.

That is it for right now I will try to do updates along the way.

Thanks and Go Phillies do it for HK 

I am JH Jr. and I’m out