After a busy weekend of action around the MLB, we have the National League Championship Series set and we are headed to the city of Brotherly Love! The Philadelphia Phillies took out the Milwaukee Brewers in 4 games moving them into the NLCS for the first time in 15 years. The Phillies have not won a playoff series since they met up with the Toronto Blue Jays in '93 in the World Series. The Brewers gave it a good run making it to the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. But when it comes down to it, the Phillies have moved on and after winning games 1 and 2. They dropped game 3 in Milwaukee but sealed the deal tonight, beating the Brew Crew 6-2. The Phillies scored all 6 runs by virtue of the long ball. After winning the East and eliminating the Mets, the Phillies are making it worth their while and are ready to play more baseball when the team from the NL West head to town. Wait, the Cubs got swept?
That is a fact. The Chicago Cubs have been swept out of the postseason for the second consecutive year. Even with the best record in the National League in the regular season, it is not enough to hold off none other than Joe Torre and the LA Dodgers. Not only did the Dodgers win their first postseason series since 1988, they did not drop a game to the top seed in the NL. Chicago did not play the type of baseball they have played all season. The main problem was that they dd not hit the ball. No matter how good your pitching staff is, if you do not support your starter, you are not going to win ball games. I have to tip my hat to Joe Torre who picked up his 18th playoffs series win of his career. I have the up most respect for Joe and I am glad to see him still successful at the helm. The Dodgers pitching worried me, but it certainly held its own. The staff as a whole only gave up 6 runs in 3 games to the Cubies. The pitching staff also only had 6 walks while racking up 24 K's. The young hitting duo of Russel Martin and James Loney was all it took to lift the Dodgers to their quick and painless 3-game sweep.
All in all, both the Dodgers and the Phillies deserve to be in this situation. Both squads played solid baseball and did what it took to win. I really liked what I saw from the Dodgers young players. Their fiery youth is what I believe could lift them to the big dance at the end of October. I will give a "revised" prediction to the remainder of the postseason once the American League Divisional Series' finish up. Currently the Rays lead over the White Sox 2-1 with the Red Sox leading over the Angels 2-0. The Sox could clinch a spot tonight as they are tied right now 4-4 in the bottom of the 7th. Game 4 of the Rays/Sox series will be tomorrow at 5 pm and if there is need for the Game 4 of the Angels/Red Sox series, that will follow at 8:30 pm.
Game. Set. Match. Good night from Chicago. Good Morning from Philly. See ya in the NLCS Manny!
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