NLCS Game One

by Stephen Higdon on Oct 9, 2008 7:25 PM CDT

While I won't be able to participate in any of the discussion of tonight's match-up of Cole Hamels vs. Derek Lowe (screw mid-terms), I figured I'd provide a forum.

Current Series

4 game series vs Dodgers @ Citizens Bank Park

Los Angeles Dodgers True Blue LA @ Philadelphia Phillies The Good Phight Thursday, Oct 9, 2008, 7:22 PM CDT Citizens Bank Park Derek Lowe vs Cole Hamels Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70. Complete Coverage >
Fri 10/10		3:35 PM CDT
Sun 10/12		7:22 PM CDT
Mon 10/13		7:22 PM CDT

Lineup

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies

10/09/08 7:22 PM CDT

Los Angeles Dodgers	Philadelphia Phillies
Rafael Furcal - SS	Jimmy Rollins - SS
Andre Ethier - RF	Shane Victorino - CF
Manny Ramirez - LF	Chase Utley - 2B
Russell Martin - C	Ryan Howard - 1B
James Loney - 1B	Pat Burrell - LF
Matt Kemp - CF	Jayson Werth - RF
Casey Blake - 3B	Pedro Feliz - 3B
Blake DeWitt - 2B	Carlos Ruiz - C
Derek Lowe - P	Cole Hamels - P

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Derek Lowe	14-11	34	34	1	0	0	0	211.0	194	84	76	14	45	147	3.24	1.13

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Cole Hamels	14-10	33	33	2	2	0	0	227.1	193	89	78	28	53	196	3.09	1.08

I'll offer this commentary, if the Dodgers win tonight, they'll win the series.

Also, I'm so sad that from here on our we will be forced to listen to Tim Mccarver...that some one can be worse the Harold Renyolds and Joe Morgan narrating a game is frightening.

0 recs | 14 comments

Comments

Ok one comment

Back to back doubles result in a one run lead in with only one out.

Stephen Higdon - October 9, 2008 reply

Passed ball to Kemp

Makes it runners on 1B and 2B for the Dodgers.

Stephen Higdon - October 9, 2008 reply

Short game!

After Burrell put them ahead not much excitement.

mokulen - October 9, 2008 reply

C'mon Lidge

Get your act together.

mokulen - October 10, 2008 reply

Made Nomar look bad on the 3rd out

mokulen - October 10, 2008 reply

Nomar made himself look bad on that one

just swung at anything Lidge threw.

Only_A_Lad - October 10, 2008 reply

Do you recall that Nomar may have been the beginning of the end for Lidge in Houston?

Early in 2006, the Astros’ were riding high (W/L wise), and had a nice lead in the 9th in their first home game against the Dodgers. Nomar Garciaparra hit a grand slam off Lidge. on April 24, to produce Lidge’s first blown save of the year. It ruined a fine pitching performance by Pettitte.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260424118

Lidge blew the save in the next game against the Dodgers, walking 3 in the 9th. Lidge didn’t seem the same after that, in terms of confidence. He had a terrible road trip to Colorado and LA, and on the plane ride home, Garner told him he would be replaced as closer. Lidge was booed mercilessly in Houston at any time he started screwing up again after that.

While everyone talks about the Pujols HR, I often wonder if Nomar’s grand slam had a bigger impact on Lidge’s confidence. It was the beginning of everyone asking, “What’s wrong with Lidge?”

clack - October 11, 2008 reply

I'm always surprised that nobody mentions the Scott Podsednik homer.

That one was, in my mind, many times more jarring. It was freakin Scott Podsednik walk-off homering.

But, anyways, didn’t everyone decide that Lidge was probably just injured in 2006? I think that’s a lot more reasonable assumption than Lidge suffering from PTSD.

Not to bring up the whole, “What’s up with Brad Lidge?” thing from the past three years.

Only_A_Lad - October 11, 2008 reply

Lidge had problems before Pujols

as noted here by Alyson Footer.

Danyah - October 11, 2008 reply

you're right

I’m getting ahead of myself but I’ll have to close my eyes if he is ever having a bad night against the Red Sox lineup. Of course I may have to close my eyes if he’s having a good one too …

mokulen - October 11, 2008 reply

Good point about Posednik.

At the time, though, I still wrote it off as bad luck…you know, guy just happened to get ahold of one. When Lidge couldn’t find the strike zone and players of all types were able to hit him, that’s when I started to lose confidence in him.

In early 06, I theorized he might be hurt, but everyone denied it; even though his knee issue probably was under the surface in 06. I think there was some combination of poor mechanics (maybe the knee helped cause that), tipping his pitches, and mental pressure. As for the latter point, there were points in time when Lidge seemed more steady on the road than at home. A lot of closers, facing constant booing and hostility from their home fans, have failed for a season, only to bounce back for another team the next year,. Another thing which isn’t mentioned about Lidge’s Philly season…remember that he had arthroscoopic surgery on his knee before the season began.