I did pick the Phillies to win this series but figured it to be 6 or 7 games. I'm sure we all were having second thoughts about our wish to have JP go after Furcal this off season right around the 5th inning when he made 3 errors to cost his team 2 important runs. I wonder if his troubles had something to do with him hurting his ankle when Jayson Werth slide into him in the 1st. Down by 3 the Dodgers had a chance, down by 5 it was pretty much over.
Chad Billingsley had his second lousy start of the series, lasting just 2.2 innings, giving up 4 hits, 4 walks and 3 earned runs. Greg Maddux pitched 2 innings of relief and was the lucky guy on the mound when Furcal blew up. Other than that the Dodgers pen allowed just 2 hits and no runs.
Unfortunately the Dodgers didn't get much offense going against Hamels who went 7 innings giving up 5 hits, 3 walks and 1 earned run on Manny's home run. I wonder how much money Manny made for himself in the postseason? I wouldn't want to sign him for more two seasons but, wow, he is amazing. Hamels won the NLCS MVP Award for his 2 starts, 2 wins and 1.93 ERA Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge pitched 8th and 9th and the Phillies are off to the World Series.
Former Jays and Canadians: Jayson Werth went 1 for 4 with a walk. He hit .190 for the series.For the Dodgers, Russell Martin went 0 for 4, finishing the series with a .118 average. He vented a bit to the home plate umpire after striking out. I'm sure he would have been thrown from the game if it hadn't been since an important game. And Jeff Kent went 0 for 2, both strikeouts, to end the series at a perfect .000 batting average.
Phillies of the Day: Hamels (.275 WPA), Pat Burrell (.125), Ryan Howard (.125) and Jimmy Rollins (.121). No Suckage Phillies or Dodgers of the Day. Suckage Dodgers: Billingsley (-.196), Blake Dewitt (-.177) and Furcal for the 3 errors.
Congratulations to the Phillies,NL Champions, who truly were the better team this series.
