Coming into a big game 5 carrying a 3-1 lead in the NLCS, the Philadelphia Phillies move ahead and become National League Champions moving by the Dodgers by the score of 5-1. You could see this outcome brewing right from game one. Cole Hamels is unstoppable. He was named NLCS MVP as he was the winning pitcher in games 1 and 5 posting a 1.93 ERA through the opener and the closing game of the league series. The only game for the Phillies to drop was game 3 when the action shifted from Philadelphia to LA and the Dodgers had their chance to bounce back down 2 games to none and did come away with a win but that was it. Winning in five games is huge for this Phillies squad because now they get a weeks rest until the 22ND when Game 1 of the 2008 World Series is slated to go down.
Overall the Dodgers seemed to be the favorites coming into the series. Sweeping the Cubs in 3 games, 2 of which were in Chicago, put them in a league of their own. Toppling the best team in baseball by that margin put high expectations on a young but talented staff of Dodger Blue. But in the end it is all blues in LA but Joe Torre did get this team to the NLCS in his first year with the team. Coincidence? I think not. Thanks New York! The pitching staff of the Dodgers seemed to step it up against the Cubs but when it came down to stamina and lasting through a long series, they could not execute. I do not really think that the Dodgers beat the Cubs per say. More or less it was the Cubs beating the Cubs and the Dodgers just took that lack of momentum and rallied to win an easy 3 out of 5 game series in the division series. That is another story that I need to address at a later date.
The Phillies move on to the World Series for the first time since 1993 when they took down the Atlanta Braves to move on and eventually lose to the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. Party time in the city of Brotherly Love! Hopefully some brotherly love can be shown between Kuroda and Victorino. Nah, I doubt it.
Who will it be...
Phillies vs. Rays or Phillies vs. Red Sox. The Sox are down 3-1 and need a 3 game run to get past their division rival. Game 5 of that series is scheduled for Thursday night at 8:07 pm on TBS.
** Quick note: My prayers and wishes go out to Charlie Manuel as his mother passed away earlier this week. Going through a time of such happiness and sorrow at the same time must be incredibly difficult. But it gives him a reason to win and motivation to succeed in his job and his love of the game off baseball. Good luck to Charlie and the Phillies in the World Series!
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