The Yankees Answer Back!

Game 2 of the World Series was a good one.... well at least for the New York Yankees after getting shout down in Game 1 against the Phillies and ace Cliff Lee who had 10 strikeouts and won the game 6-1. But Game 2 was a whole different story as it was a pitching dole between Yankees right hander A.J. Burnett and Phillies right hander Pedro Martinez. It was question for some who would make the first and final mistake in this game? It was a question for some if this was a good idea to pitch Martinez over Cole Hamels? It was a question if the Yankees would answer back? Pedro Martinez being back in a place that he knows oh so very well said "I'm ready to pitch the game and go out and try to win, you can't go out there and be scared"

Game 2 started off with a double by Raul Ibanez and bringing him home to give the Phillies a early 1-0 lead was Matt Stairs who was the Phillies DH. After that Martinez was working with a 1 run lead. In the 4th Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run and tied the game for the Yankees 1-1. Later in the 6th DH for the Yankees Hideki Matsui would also hit a solo home run for the Yanks and give them the lead 2-1. That would be the end for Pedro as he went 6 innings, 3 earn runs, 6 hits, and 8 strikeouts. Not so bad, but A.J. Burnett was a little better he went 7 innings, 1 earn run, 4 hits and 9 strikeouts. In the 8th and 9th inning the Yankees handed to ball over to the best closer who ever played the game Mariano Rivera to get the job done and he did!

The Yankees won Game 2 of the World Series by a score of 3-1. But if your the Phillies you gotta be happy with yourself to split with a team that's oh so very good. "I think if your a Phillies or Yankees fan Game 3 is the most important game of the series only because it sets the stage and tells you who may have the uper-hand in Game 4. If you remember the Phillies in the NLDS clinched to go to the NLCS in Game 4, have had the best come back moments in Phillies history in Game 4, and last year saw a home run show in Game 4 of the World Series against The Tampa Bay Rays. If your a Yankees fan you probably remember Derek Jeter back in the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks hit a home run to win the ball game for the Yankees and got the nickname "Mr. November" on halloween night". So maybe something like that will happen tonight on October 31st? The talk has had been about Alex Rodriguez and the Ryan Howard. Rodriguez who is 0-8 in the World Series with 6 strikeouts in the first two game. Than Howard who is 2-9 in the World Series with 1 RBI and also has 6 strikeouts as well. So will the big dogs come to life tonight? Also the pitching match up has been a big talk, going for the Phillies is left hander Cole Hamels who was last year World Series MVP live up to the hype and get the Phillies a 2-1 series lead or will it be Yankees left hander Andy Pettitte who has been a big "gamer" for the Yanks get the job done? Another issue that has been talked about is are the Yankees ready to play in Citizens Bank Park where this place gets really loud? We will find out tonight as Game 3 of the World Series will get under way first pitch at 7:57 p.m. on Fox.

Broad Street vs Broadway

Game 1 of the 2009 World Series will host the Philadelphia Phillies the defending World Champions and The New York Yankees who are the last team to win BACK TO BACK tiles. This series I think might be one of the best we will see in awhile. Both teams have even pitching. Staring Game 1 for the Phillies will be the ace Cliff Lee who is 2-0 in the postseason with an ERA of 0.74, 20 strikeouts, and giving up only 2 earn runs. For the Yankees they will send out the big dog ace C.C. Sabathia who is 3-0 in the postseason with an ERA of 1.90, 20 strikeouts, and giving up 3 earn run. It will be a good show, two former teammates, two former Cy Young award winners going against each other. Game 1 of the World Series is on Fox the time is TBA.

So a lot people have been picking the Yankees to win the whole thing, which I think is crazy only because we have a good and smart pitching staff that knows how to pitch to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira who really hasn't been a problem in the postseason but can always come through when needed. But than again I'm sure that the Yankee starters are going to be careful pitching to the Phillies power hitters as well. The Phillies have a very strong line-up as do the Yankees. Both teams knows what its like to be in the World Series and know its not gonna come easy. At 1st base between Ryan Howard and Mark Teixeira is a PUSH, 2nd base between Chase Utley and Robinson Cano is gotta go to Chase Utley, Short Stop between Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter is a PUSH, 3rd base between Pedro Feliz and Alex Rodriguez has to go to A-ROD by far, Catcher between Carlos Ruiz and Jorge Posada is a PUSH, Right Field between Jayson Werth and Nick Swisher goes to Jayson Werth, Center Field between Shane Victorino and Melky Cabrera goes the Shane Victorino, Left Field between Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon is a PUSH. The pitching for both teams are even, and the bullpen goes to the Yankees. So I think this series is going to be a good one. Phillies - Yankees Game 1 of the World Series don't miss it!

The Phillies are back to The Show

Last night the Philadelphia Phillies beat Las Angeles Dodgers 10-4 and now the Phillies are heading back to World Series to take on the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They will wait and see who they will take on, erther way who ever they play it will make for a good series. Game 1 of the World Series will be October 28th, 2009.

Game 5 of the NLCS started off a little rockie for the Phillies in the 1st inning as Cole Hamels gave up a solo home run to Andre Ethier with 2 outs to make it 1-0 Dodgers. In the bottom of the 1st Jayson Werth would change that with a 3 run home run to take the lead 3-1. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers Vicente Padilla would only go 3 innings giving up 4 hits, 6 runs, and stiking out 3. Not the same Padilla we saw in Game 2. Cole Hamels would almost match him going 4 1/3 innings giving up 5 hits, 3 runs, and stiking out 3 as well. But the Phillies wouldn't let this become another close game as Shane Victorino hit a 2 run home run to give the Phillies a 8-3 lead in the 6th inning. Bottom of the 7th inning Jayson Werth stepping up to bat with already 1 home run would hit another one to make it a 9-3 lead for the Phils. So Werth would have himself a 2 home run game. In 9th Brad Lidge would come in to get the final 3 outs and he did so as he got Ronnie Belliard to fly out to center and the Phillies would win the National League Championship Series and head back to World Series for the second straight year in a row by a score of 10-4! Ryan Howard would win the Natinal Leauge postseaon MVP award. He had a batting avg of .355 with 2 home runs, 14 RBI's, 11 hits, and OBP of .462. Those are great MVP numbers right there and we hope to see more of this in the World Series.

So who is greatest Phillies team in history? This Phillies team might be the best team that anyone has seen in a very long time. There was the 1950 Phillies nickname the "Whiz Kids" who won the National League Championship Series and went to World Series but lost four straight to the New York Yankees. The 1976,77, and 78 Phillies team that was really good won the National League East Division title 3 years striaght never made it to the World Series as they lost the 1976 NLCS to the Cincinnati Reds. They would lose the 77 and 78 NLCS to the Las Angeles Dodgers back to back years. It wasn't in till the 1980 Phliadelphia Phillies would yet again win the NL East Divsion and fainaly the NLCS to win their first World Series title against the Kansas City Royals. In 1983 the Phillies won the National League East Division and the National League Championship to make it back to the World Series but lost to the Baltimore Orioles four games to one. It wouldn't be in till amlost a decade that the Philles would win the NL East and National League Championship Series to return to the World Series in 1993, but would come up shot yet again losing to the Toronto Blue Jays who would win BACK TO BACK World Series titles. But in 2007 something special was about to begin in the city of Philadelphia as the Phillies won the National League East Division Campionship on the final game of the season. No they didnt't go far in the playoffs in 2007 but it showed people in Philadelphia that something more was about to happen. As in 2008 the Phillies would win the NL East Division Championship for the second striaght year and also beat the Dodgers to win the National League Championship for the first time since 1993. In 2008 they would win the World Series for the second time in team history since 1980 over the Tampa Bay Rays. This year in 2009 they have won NL East yet again and beat the Dodgers yet again in the National Leauge Championship Series to go back to the World Series. The 2009 Philadelphia Phillies find themselves to be the second team since the 75-76 Cincinnati Reds to win to win BACK TO BACK World Series titles in the Natinoal League. So could this be one of the best Phillies teams in their history? Only time will tell.

Yankees Hit Hard

Game 4 of the ALCS was pretty much over from the start. Yankees ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia was awesome, as he went 8 innings, gave up 5 hits, 1 run, and had 5 strikeouts. But the Yankees also put this game away early with their bats. Robinson Cano would hit into a fields choice to give the Yankees a early 1-0 lead in the 4th inning. Later in the 4th Melky Cabrera would hit a single and 2 runs would score to give the Yanks 3-0 lead. In the top of the 5th the man who has been red hot through out the postseason Alex Rodriguez hit a 2 run home run to make it a 5-0 game. Rodriguez's home run made it his 5th home run this postseason as he the most dangerous batter for the Yankees.

By the end of the night the Yankees would crush the Angels. The Angels only got 1 run. The final score ended up being 10-1 all YANKEES! So the Angels in the outfield i guess will come up short as if it looks like they might be done, but don't forget teams have came back in the postseason before. Like the 2004 Red Soxs were down 3-0 against the Yankees and came back and won 4 straight and won the 2004 World Series. So never count a team out in till its over for good. I think if you look at this Angels team they have had a great season. They started off the season rough losing close friend starting pitcher Nick Adenhart who died in a car accident killed by a drunk driver. "Just making the postseason is an honor cause you always have that chance to go to the World Series" said Angels outfielder Tori Hunter. Game 5 of the ALCS will be Thursday night at 7:57 on Fox. The Yankees look to their right hander AJ Burnett to win Game 5 and head back to New York for the World Series. The Angels give the start to John Lackey as he will try to slow down these red hot Yankee batters and at least give his team a chance to stay alive. Yankees - Angels Game 5 of the ALCS.

Magic Was in the Air for the Phillies

You know the greatest thing about baseball is? Its never over in till its over. That one inning can change the whole difference of a ball game. Well that's what happened last night in South Philadelphia as the Magic of the Phightin Phils came alive yet again.

So Game 4 of the NLCS all started off with a bang as Ryan Howard who has been doing it through out this whole postseason hit a 2 run home run to make a early 2-0 lead. Ryan Howard tied Lou Gehrig's major league record with 8 RBI's in the postseason. Former pitcher Randy Wolf who pitched really well against the Phillies, went 5 1/3 innings giving up 4 hit and 3 runs. In the top of the 4th the Dodger bats would come alive against Joe Blanton who had 3 scoreless innings and looked really good, got knocked around. With two men on James Loney came through with an RBI knock to make it a 2-1 Phillies lead. Later in the 4th Russell Martin hit an RBI single to tie the game 2-2 coming with 2 outs. In the 5th with 2 outs Matt Kemp would hit a solo home run to give the Dodgers the lead 3-2. So just when you though that early 2-0 lead would mean good things to come got washed away pretty fast. In the 6th the Dodgers would get another run scored off the bat of Casey Blake to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 6th inning Shane Victorino hit a 1 out triple and Chase Utley would bring him in with an RBI single to make it a 4-3 Dodgers lead.


Here we are in the bottom of the 9th inning where everything just unfolds in a blink of an eye. The Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton would stay in the game after just pitching the 8th and try to finish this game and tie the series up 2-2. He would get the first out on a Raul Ibanez ground ball. But coming into the game to pinch hit for third baseman Pedro Feliz the guy who loves to hit the fast ball Matt Stairs. For those of you who don't remember last year in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS Stairs came into the ball game to pinch hit, hit a moon shot home run off of Jonathan Broxton that would live on in Phillies postseason history forever would give the Phillies the lead and they would never look back from there. So would Stairs be able to do the same here in Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS to tie the game? Instead they would walk Stairs and look for the double play ball to end the ball game. Coming into run for Matt Stairs would be Eric Bruntlett who has a lot more speed on the bags. So now stepping up to the plate would be Carlos Ruiz and Broxton would get wild and hit him and put the go ahead runner on base. So now runners on 1st and 2nd 1 out and pinch-hitting for pitcher Brad Lidge would be Greg Dobbs. Dobbs would hit a little blooper over to third for the second out. Now it would be up to Jimmy Rollins with 2 outs. Rollins hasn't done much in the postseason but would he become the hero this time? Rollins had 1 ball and 1 strike on him. The next pitch came in fastball at 98 mph and Jimmy swung his bat and in a flash he hit the ball right over Broxton's head and would split the outfielder and head for gap. Coming in to score and tie the game would be Brunlett and could it be... could it be that Carlos Ruiz would come all the way around from 1st to home to score the winning run and the Phillies would win the ball game 5-4!?! Well it did and it happened so fast that you would never believed it if you wouldn't have seen it!

Yes Jimmy Rollins would win it in Philly Style shocking the whole city of Philadelphia. This Monday night will never be forgotten as if it looked like the Dodgers would tie the series up and there would be a game 6. The crazy thing about this whole story is, it all happened with 2 outs, the same pitcher who blew Game 4 of the NLCS last year all happened again. Jimmy Rollins a guy who is never scared to come up big proved everyone right. So when everything seemed to be in the Dodgers bags, Rollins made sure it would end in the Phillies bags with a walk off game winning, big knock double. The thing with the Phillies are that they play all 27 outs and if you make a mistake they make you pay for it. Just like Ryan Howard's 2 run double in the top 9th against the Rookies to tie the game and than Jayson Werth's RBI single to take lead to win the game. Well the same thing happened here and Jimmy Rollins made the Dodgers pay for their mistake's late in the ball game. Rollins 2 out double to win the ball game will be remember forever in Phillies postseason history along with Matt Stairs home run last year. Maybe this is a sign that's telling every team in baseball "WE ARE THE TEAM TO BEAT". Rollins says big things and makes big things happen when needed. All I can say is "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"? "THANK YOU PHILLIES, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER"?

Game 5 of the NLCS will be tomorrow night at 8:07 on TBS. The Phillies will send out their lefty starter Cole Hamels to win Game 5 and head back to the World Series. For the Dodgers there hopes stay alive in the hands of Vicente Padilla. Phillies - Dodgers Game 5 don't miss it.

Phi -LEE-ies shutout the Dodgers.

Game 3 of the NLCS was all Phillies as they shout the Dodgers 11-0 to take 2-1 series lead. The big talk of the game was starting pitcher for the Phillies Cliff Lee as he did an awesome job. Lee tossed 8 scoreless innings, gave up only 3 hits, had 10 strikeouts, and now is 2-0 in the postseason with an ERA of 0.74. "Cliff Lee, what can I say about him? He was absolutely outstanding," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He just shut down the Dodger bats”.

Ryan Howard started things off in the bottom of the 1st inning as he hit a 2 run triple to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Jayson Werth in the same inning would hit a 2 run home run and now put the Phillies up 4-0. In the inning Jimmy Rollins would get a RBI double and make it 5-0. The Phillies would jump all over started Hiroki Kuroda for the Dodgers as he wasn't that good from the start. As we move into the 8th inning the Phillies just shut the door early with an 8-0 lead, by that point Cliff Lee already had 10 strikeouts. But with 2 runners on Shane Victorino hit a 3 run home run and gave the Phils an 11-0 lead. That really closed the doors and put the game in the books. Chad Durbin came in the 9th inning in relieve of Cliff Lee remember Durbin was the only pitcher to come in the bottom of 8th of Game 2 giving up no runs in the bullpen, here he also gets the job done for the Phillies with a one, two, three inning Phillies win. So what a game it was for the Phillies as their bats came alive and for left hander Cliff Lee as he is having an amazing postseason. Let’s keep it rolling!

Game 4 of the NLCS will be tomorrow night at 8:07 on TBS. The Phillies give nod to started Joe Blanton who will make his first postseason start and try to give the Phillies a 3-1 series lead. For the Dodgers they hand the ball over to their left hander and former Phillie Randy Wolf as he will try to slow down the Phillies bats and help the Dodgers tie the series up 2-2. Don’t miss Game 4 of the NLCS, Phillies – Dodgers.

Game 3 of the NLCS Phillies - Dodgers

Game 3 between the Phillies and the Dodgers should be a good as the Phillies send out their ace and guy who people fell in love with here in Philly Cliff Lee who has a 1.10 ERA in the postseason. As for the Dodgers they give the start to Hiroki Kuroda who will make his first postseason start. During the season he had a ERA of 3.76 and 8-7 recored.

If your a Phillies fan you hope Chase Ultey fixed his problem to the throw to second base and hope he isn't hurt. Also better hope the Phillie bats wake up tonight in this cold weather. So far the series is tied 1-1 and both teams looking for a win to take a series lead.

Heart Break lost for the Angels

So what a dramatic finish of Game 2 of the ALCS as the Yankees beat the Angels in 13 innings by a score of 4-3. We start off in the bottom of the 2nd inning were Robinson Cano hit a triple and scored Nick Swisher and Yankees took a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd inning Derek Jeter hit a solo home run a put the Yanks up 2-0. But the Angels would come back in the 5th inning were Erick Aybar hit a single and would score Maicer Izturis to make a 2-1 Yankees lead. In the same inning A.J. Burnett threw a wild pitch and in to score for the Angels would be Erick Aybar to tie the ball game 2-2. After that happened everything would cool down intill the 11th inning where the game goes into extra innings.

So here we are in top of the 11th inning, its raining pretty hard and its really cold in New York City sanding on second base is Gary Matthews with 1 out and Chone Figgins singles and Matthwes scores and the Angels take the lead 3-2. So what you would have thought would have been a Angels win and give the Yankees their first postseason lost got turned around in the bottom of the 11th inning when Alex Rodriguez hit a solo home run to tie the game up 3-3 and gave the Yankees new hope. But than in the bottom of the 13th Melky Cabrera would hit into a fielders choice and into score for the Yankees was Jerry Hairston Jr on a throwing ERA by second baseman Maicer Izturis and the Yankees would win the game 4-3. It was a great game none the less and a great pitching match up between both starters A.J Burnett and Joe Saunders both pitchers just giving up 2 runs. In the end the Yankees would walk away with the "W" and take 2-0 series lead. What a heart break for the Angels so close but not good enough.

Game 3 of the ALCS between the Yankees - Angels will be Monday at 4:13 on Fox as the Angels come home and give the ball to right hander Jered Weaver to give the Angels new life and keep it close. For the Yankees they give the start to left hander Andy Pettitte to close the door and take a 3-0 series lead and look for the sweep in Las Angeles and head for the World Series.

Game 2 of the ALCS Yankees - Angels

Game 1 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Angles was a good one as C.C. Sabathia was lights out on mound and helped the Yankees win Game 1 of the ALCS by a score of 4-1. The Yankees lead the series 1-0 as the Yanks send out right hander A.J Burnett to try to give the Yanks a 2-0 series lead going into Las Angeles to take Game 2. But the Angles will give the ball to left hander Joe Saunders to give the them new hope and try to tie the series up 1-1. Remember the Yankees bats are hot as they yet don't have a postseason lost so will see if Saunders and the Angels can do so tonight. Game 2 of the ALCS Yankees - Angels only on Fox.

Game 2 of the NLCS Phillies - Dodgers

The Phillies win Game 2 for the Dodgers. The Dodgers won Game 2 of the NLCS 2-1. Pedro Martinez did a great job pitching 7 scoreless innings but in the end it wouldn't matter. Ryan Howard in the 4th inning hit a solo home run off pitcher Vicente Padilla who pitched a very good game as well and put the Phillies up 1-0. After that it was the Phillies through out the first 7 innings. Martinez shut down the Dodger bats and looked very strong. He only gave up 2 hits through out 7 innings of work.


In the 8th inning Charlie Manuel took out Martinez to put in Chan Ho Park who has been great in the Phillies bull pen gives up a hit to Casey Blake. Than coming into run for Blake was Juan Pierre, now stepping to plate for the Dodgers was Ronnie Belliard and he drops down a bunt single and now there is runners on 1st and 2rd and no out. Now stepping into bat for the Dodgers is Russell Martin who hit a hard ground ball to third baseman Pedro Feliz and throws the ball to second baseman Chase Utley and what you would have thought would have been a double play turns out to be Era as he threw the ball away to first baseman Ryan Howard and Pierre scores on the Era and game is now tired 1-1. So here we are in the 8th inning bases loaded 2 outs coming in for Ryan Madson that loaded the bases for the Dodgers is the left hander J.A. Happ to pitch to left handed hitter Andre Ethier and J.A. Happ walks him and walks in the winning run and the Dodgers take the lead 2-1. In the 9th inning the Dodgers give the ball to their hard right handed closer Jonathan Broxton and gets a 1,2,3 inning and the Dodgers win Game 2 of the NLCS and now ties the series up 1-1.

Game 3 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers will be on Sunday night at 8:07 on TBS. The Phillies come home and send out their ace left hander Cilff Lee to try to take a 2-1 series lead. As the Dodgers send out their left hander Randy Wolf to do the same. Both pitchers are the probable starters.

Game 1 of the NLCS. Phillies - Dodgers

The Phillies take Game 1 of the NLCS over the Dodgers 8-6. Cole Hamels didn't have his best stuff tonight and the way he acted when Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins couldn't come up with the double play ball was just uncalled for. As a picher you don't show up your teammates like that they teach you this in high school cause remember these guys have saved you a few times this season. So don't be upset if they don't make a play because than you make bigger mistake like when he gave up a 3 run homerun to Manny Ramirez and Phillies at the point only had a 1 run lead when they had 4 run lead. But his teammates still had his back like when Carlos Ruiz hit a 3 run homerun and put the Phillies up 3-1. Than Ryan Howard came up big again hitting... a 2 run double and made it a 5-1 game. Also Raul Ibanez hits a 2 run homerun and put the Phils up 8-4.

Brad "Lights Outs" Ligde got the job done for his 3rd postseason save and can we all say if your a Phillies fan that our closer that was so great last year is back? Only he lives to tell the tail. Tomorrow at 4:07 it will be Game 2 of the NLCS as the Phillies will give the nod to the right hander Pedro Martinez who this try to shut down the Dodger bats and take 2-0 series lead. As the Dodgers give the start to a former Philadelphia Phillie Vicente Padilla to try to tie this series up and head back to Philly. Who would have thought 5 months ago that we would have seen both these pitchers pitching in the NLCS where Martinez didn't even have a job and Padilla who wasn't even that good with the Taxes Rangers are now the talk about Game 2 of the NLCS. So if your a Phillies fan, a Dodgers fan, or just a baseball fan dont miss Game 2 of the NLCS only on TBS.