MORE OF THAT RELAXING

by Max Blue

http://maxblue3.tripod.com

                                                Champs gearing up for post season,

                                                Still, to lose to the Fish is not pleasin’.
                                                R. How and J. Werth went long,

                                                But C. Ham a three inning wrong song.

                                                The good news: B. Lid a clean inning teasin’.

Saturday, October 3, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Florida – 4, Philadelphia – 3.

WP – A. Sanchez (4-8), LP – Hamels (10-11).

H – Meyer (20), Sanches (10).
S – Nuñez (26).
HR – Howard (45), 2^nd; Werth (36), 8^th, 1 on.

The Division Championship Series are in place after St. Louis lost and LA beat Colorado. Phillies play a five-game series against Colorado beginning Wednesday, October 7 at Citizens Bank Park. C-Man has not announced who will start Game 1. The choices seem to be either Cliff Lee, or Cole Hamels. Neither has pitched that well in recent starts.

The main worries are these:

1.       No Champs’ pitcher has sparkled in the last week or so.

2.       Was today’s Brad Lidge’s 1-2-3  ninth indeed a tease? Mad Dog gave up an 8^th inning run that proved a game-winner.

3.      Chase Utley looks completely lost – his batting average has slipped to around .280 with feeble, and last second cuts at pitches he famously used to drill to vacant spots in the gaps, down the lines, and over the walls. He almost certainly is once again playing with a sore hip as he did a year ago. We can only hope he has the fortitude to rise above the pain in the playoffs as he did last year.

The good news is that Ryan Howard has been seeing the ball well and is launching it to far places against all kinds of pitching. His batting average has nudged toward .280, closing in on Chase Utley. He seems poised for a titanic post-season run. The Champs will go as far as R-How carries them. So says the fearless Max.