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

The Catalyst

Return

Lights, camera, action

"It's the same old song, but with a different meaning since you've been gone..."

The Four Tops - It's the Same Old Song

This Friday Manny Ramirez will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers after serving his 50-game suspension.

Batman Returns

The Dodgers have been playing well this season, and while many of the experts thought they would fall off the map when Ramirez got suspended, they actually kept their composure and remained as one of the top teams in the National League. Juan Pierre did a great job of filling in, and now that Manny is back, I believe he will take the team to the next level.

I know this sounds vaguely familiar as it was only just a year ago when Man Ram arrived in the City of Angels and things changed for the better almost immediately.

Manager Joe Torre has done a great job with this ball club, and it won't be too long before the Dodgers are right back in the pennant race.

Photos: Webster Riddick

No Place Like Home

Fearless

"Well this is the time that you waited for..."

Sadat X - Shinin' Star

On Tuesday night the Phillies played against their NL West rival the Dodgers, and amidst the Manny Ramirez buzz, something amazing happened in South Philly.

Phanatic

Phillies Right Fielder Jayson Werth had one of the biggest games in his career by stealing 4 bases, including home...a base rarely stolen. The Phils won the game 5-3, and with Jimmy Rollins now batting 5th in the lineup, a lot of question marks were settled as he played well, and Werth captured the crowd. He sealed the victory with his speedy play, and determination.

Rewind

NL Champions

Youth

Ambition

"Are they still getting down where we used to go and dance? Will our ball club win the pennant...do you think they have a chance..."

Marvin Gaye - What's Happening Brother

15 years ago, I was but a young teen just learning my way, as I often adhered to my parent's teachings, and the life lessons taught to me via the outside world. Last night the Philadelphia Phillies chased away doubt, and provided the championship starved City of Brotherly Love with a glimmer of hope that hasn't been seen since 1993.

'93 til Infinity

My first professional sports memory would be of my father taking my brother and I to Veterans Stadium to see the Phillies. It seemed like a lifetime ago, as I didn't understand baseball or sports for that matter back then. It's interesting how things twist and turn in our lifetime, as I went from being ignorant and apathetic about sports, to making a career being as knowledgeable about it as possible...writing about everyone from Tiger Woods, to Kobe Bryant. 

Last night in the crisp southern California night, the Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to capture the 2008 National League Pennant, earning a trip to the World Series for the first time since I used school tokens, and carried a bag lunch. During those years, I wanted to be on television, covering the NBA. The fact that my home team was playing for the championship didn't mean much to me, as basketball was the only thing on my mind...well that, and a few girls. At that time it was Raquel Hernandez, Mimi Crespo, Selene Mendez, and several others, but when I say my mom had very strict rules, I'm not exaggerating. Rule number 1: NO GIRLS, so I focused on my dream of playing and one day working in sports. 

Fast forward to the present day, and I don't have to worry about my mother's rules anymore, however its funny how I can still hear her voice as I navigate through my adult life. Nevertheless, the Phillies are vying for supremacy of Major League Baseball and I'm now living my dream covering sports. One goal is fulfilled, and others remain a work in progress. 

Do I have a girlfriend...technically no...I also don't have my own half-hour sports show either.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Go Phillies!

Photo credits: Gilbert family, www.nicekicks.com