Otra vez

Primetime

"I don't want to say goodbye, to you...so I'll just say goodnight..."

Mos Def - Goodnight

The Fightin' Phils defeated the Dodgers in LA, 8-6. The score and hits will fool you, however Thursday night was a pitchers duel, that Philadelphia was able to take advantage of.

Very Familiar

The NLCS got off to a cardiac start, as this series is not for the fair weather fan, or faint of heart. James Loney, Andre Ethier, Manny Ramirez, and Juan Pierre, battled the Phillies starter Cole Hamels, but the Dodgers pitching fell apart beginning in the 5th, as Ryan Howard came up big with runners in scoring position, just as he did in Colorado. Raul Ibanez smacked a 3-run homer in the 8th to give Philadelphia the lead for good, giving Brad Lidge an opportunity for save number 3 in the post season.

While the home runs and final 3 outs will get all the praise from tonight, it was the pitching of former Dodger Chan Ho Park...now pitching for the Phillies, that provided a steady balance in the 7th that kept the 5-4 Philadelphia lead. In baseball it's all about pitching, and the guy that makes the most from the mound will give his team the best opportunity to win.

Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Big Brown

Iconic

"Stuntin (stuntin) is a habit, put it in the air..."

David Banner - Stuntin is a Habit

Going into the NLDS the questions swirled around the Phillies and their closer Brad Lidge...now as the team moves into the next round, all the chatter has subsided.

For what its WERTH

The Philadelphia Phillies closed out the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies last night in stunning fashion. They led the game after a 1st inning home run by Shane Victorino...and Jayson Werth added his own blast in the 6th to make it 2-0, however the Rockies came back not only to tie it...they took a 4-2 lead going into the top of the 9th.

There is an old saying...patience is a virtue, and the reining champions personified that, by making the most of their at-bats with 2 outs in the 9th. Ryan Howard hit a 2-run, double, making it 4-4...and Jayson Werth followed that up with a single to bring Howard home.

With the Phils leading by 1, Brad Lidge closed the door for his second consecutive save. It's one game at a time, as they move into the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phillies are experienced, and talented enough for the next challenge, so you can expect more of the same as Philly battles through the test of October.

Photo: David Zalubowski

The Glass Slipper

October's Best

"Bare witness to the greatest, can't beat us...join us..."

Beanie Sigel - It's On

The MLB playoffs begin this week...and much has been made about the Tigers collapse (since September 29th), the Yankees starting pitching, and the Phillies closer or lack thereof...Brad Lidge.

Proving Grounds

Instead of joining the ranks of the mainstream media...you know my contemporaries...I'm going to look at the Brad Lidge situation like a glass that is half full. Yes he has blown 11 saves this season, after going a perfect 41 for 41 last year, but starting this week, all of that is in the past, as the Fightin' Phils will face off against the upstart Colorado Rockies.

Yes the closer position is a BIG key to a teams' success, however the Philadelphia Phillies possess a strong offense, and solid starting pitching. The point I'm trying to make is, that if Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez, and Shane Victorino do what they do best, then Lidge may not have to save as many games, which will put less pressure on him and the rest of the pitching staff.

In basketball there is a saying...it's not how you start...it's how you finish, and as it relates to this story and Brad Lidge...if the glass slipper fits...by all means wear it.

Photo: Zelevanskly/Getty Images

Tale of two Cities

Success

Can and AG. in DC

Teacher and student

"Friends, how many of us have them...friends, before we go any further, let's be friends..."

Whodini - Friends

The Philadelphia Phillies are back in the World Series for the first time since 1993. The City of Philadelphia is drunk with excitement, as the Phillies are on the verge of bringing a major championship to this famished blue-collar town.

Sunday, October 19, 2008. Today is the first day of the week, and within this week the Phillies will play 3 World Series games, and the landscape of this city can change forever with the swings of a bat, and the pitch of a baseball. I was hopeful that the rest of the week can be as good as Sunday. I was not only on BET in the morning, talking sports on Bring that week back...but I was also mentioned in the Philadelphia Inquirer, in a column written by Annette John-Hall, Black and White are red all over.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Game 1. I'd been driving around a lot today and from North Philly to West, everyone is wearing Phillies, jackets, and caps. Even the SEPTA buses have a GO PHILLIES message on the route display sign, which is something I have never seen this late in October. Around 4:30pm, I received a call from the hospital saying that my grandmother had been addmitted for shortness of breath. That was a damper on what had turned out to be a good day leading up to the first game of the World Series.

Grandmom, got the attention she needed and was held over night. I later went to Modell's and purchased a Phillies World Series cap. On my drive home, I had an idea to text a good friend and Tampa native, Candice Dupree about her thoughts and feelings on the national pastime.

6:02:19 PM. I text Candice.

"Hey Can. Hope you are well. I wanted to ask you what your thoughts are on Philly playing Tampa in the World Series? Do you have a team that you are cheering 4?"

9:28:22 PM. Candice writes back.

"Now u should already know that I don't get down with baseball like that."

9:29:23 PM. I retort.

"I do know that, but its both of your cities in the World Series. Hometown and college town. Your thoughts?"

9:45:54 PM. Candice says:

"Well the fact that Tampa has a bunch of youngsters and no "famous" players says a lot abt their team. I know absolutely nothing abt the Phillies."

9:46:39 PM. I reply:

"Okay Can, that's a great answer. Thank you."

The Phillies won 3-2 behind the great pitching of Cole Hamels, Brad Lidge, and 2-run homer by Chase Utley.

The Rays however won Game 2 on Thursday night, 4-2 as Ryan Howard was able to finally get involved, but it wasn't enough as Big Game James Shields pitched a gem, and BJ Upton played well with 2 hits and 1 RBI, sending the series to Philadelphia knotted up at 1 game each. By the way, Phillies also had 2 errors, and that didn't help either...and last but not least, the home plate umpire called a terrible game, but I digress, I don't want to turn this into my own personal soap box for poor officiating.

Game 3 is set for 8:00 PM, October 25, 2008, in South Philly. This is the real test not only for the Rays, but also for the Phillies.

Playing at home for this town is both the gift and the curse.