Brewers set starting lineup for Game 1

Approximately 24-hours prior to the first pitch of Game 1 of the NLDS, manager Dale Sveum not only named his 25-man playoff roster, but also came up with a starting lineup to face the Phillies and Cole Hamels. Here it is:

Brewers playoff roster pitchers 31- Bush 38 - Gagne 49 - Gallardo 73 - McClung 58 - Mota 43 - Parra 52 - Sabathia 51 - Shouse 57 - Stetter 37 - Suppan 16 - Torres 12 - Villanueva

catchers 18 - Kendall 11 - Rivera

Infielders 30 - Counsell 5 - Durham 28 - Fielder 2 - Hall 7 - Hardy 40 - Nelson 23 - Weeks

Outfielders 8 - Braun 25 - Cameron 22 - Gwynn 1 - Hart

Game 1 starting lineup 25 - Cameron, cf 2 - Hall, 3b 8 - Braun, lf 28 - Fielder, 1b 7 - Hardy, ss 1 - Hart, rf 23 - Weeks, 2b 18 - Kendall, c 49 - Gallardo, p

Meanwhile, the Phillies have yet to officially announce their playoff roster.

We're going to Milwaukee... Woo-hoo!

Full plate at the ballpark today. Cole Hamels and Charlie Manuel will hold "official" press conferences this afternoon at 2 p.m. after the Brewers' manager Dale Sveum and Game 1 pitcher Yovani Gallardo gives one in which they will talk about Milwaukee's first appearance in the playoffs since 1982. Man, I remember that 1982 postseason like it was yesterday. Remind me to write all about soon. Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor, Pete Vukovich, Mike Caldwell, Don Sutton and, of course, Robin Yount and Rollie Fingers - man were those guys good.

Anyway, we'll have a plethora of playoff punditcy (not a word, I know) all week from here in Philadelphia as well as Milwaukee this weekend. We will start with a page of predictions from some really good writers from across the nation and (of course) we will be live during the games, too.

So make sure to check back throughout the playoffs.

Apropos of nothing, I am very excited about traveling to Milwaukee. I've never been close to ever thinking I would go to that city, so I'm fired up about heading there to check out all the cultural sites the city has to offer.

I'm told that when one opens a faucet in Milwaukee, beer flows out.

Hey, that's what I'm told.

Anyway, more later.

Marson goes the distance

Baseball can be pretty darned fun sometimes. Forget about the party following clinching victories and all of that kind of stuff, sometimes it's just fun to watch a game. Take Game 162 for instance. With the NL East already wrapped up and nothing to play for other than some statistics, manager Charlie Manuel filled Sunday's lineup with September call ups. Because of that, Greg Golson, Mike Cervenak and Lou Marson have proper Baseball-Reference pages.

That's certainly no small feat. In fact, the underlying theme of the movie "Field of Dreams" was all about a ballplayer named Moonlight Graham and his not-so spotty entry in the encyclopedia. Graham, as made famous in the film, played just one inning of one game in right field for the New York Giants in 1905. He didn't get a chance to bat, nor did he make a play in the field. When the game ended, Graham never again played in the Majors so his record consists of one little notch under the games heading and that's it.

As a result, Graham has the most rudimentary and mysterious professional record in the books.

Contrarily, if Lou Marson never gets a shot to play in the big leagues again his ledger will look pretty full. Now this isn't to say that Marson will never again play in the Majors - quite the opposite. Clearly Marson should be tabbed as the Phillies' catcher of the future after a summer in which he stood out at Double-A Reading and was an integral player for Team USA in the Beijing Olympics.

"He's going to be a good big-league player," Manuel said.

Obviously, the Phillies like Marson very much though he likely seems to be slated to spend most of 2009 seasoning himself at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Nevertheless, in his first (and only) Major League game, Marson batted eighth as the starting catcher against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Better yet, he caught all nine innings, picked up his first hit and - oh yeah - clubbed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Phillies put the game out of reach.

So if you go to that Lou Marson Baseball-Reference page, it looks pretty gaudy with the career .500 batting average and 1.720 OPS. Better yet, he averages out to 162 homers and 324 RBIs for a full season.

See, told you it was fun.

"He has a chance to be very good. He hits the ball a lot to right field, but today he pulled his home run to left," Manuel said. "It's just a matter of time until he learns to really handle pitches and hit the ball out front more. He's got a chance to be a real good hitter."

Marson was pretty good for Reading where he hit .314 with five homers in 94 games. For Team USA, he hit .308 in five games during the Olympics and even threw out two of three would-be base stealers. However, when Marson joined the Phillies in early September, he didn't do much more than take batting practice before the games. He also had a pretty good spot to watch from the dugout, serving as an emergency catcher in case of an injury to Chris Coste or Carlos Ruiz. Marson will reprise that role during the playoffs when he heads off to the Arizona Fall League to be ready if the Phillies need to add him to the playoff roster.

In the meantime, after nearly a month of hanging around the team Marson finally got a chance to play. Needless to say, he made the most of it.

"It was great for me to be around the guys and see how they go about their business in a pennant race and what they do every day and how they prepare - everything  like that," Marson said. "Just watching guys play helps me a lot."

Perhaps he picked up the home run swing from watching Ryan Howard?

"I never imagined I'd hit a home run my first time," Marson said.

Though he homered in his first game, Marson singled for his first hit. That is unlike Chase Utley who hit a grand slam for his first big-league hit.

"I was excited when I came in today and saw my name up on that board," Marson said. "I just wanted to make the most of it."

*** It's been pointed out in other places, but how much fun is it that the White Sox are hoping to save their playoff chances by sending Gavin Floyd to the mound against the Tigers' Freddy Garcia?

On another note, Garcia (1) and Floyd (16) have combined for 17 wins this season. That's more than twice as many as the pair combined for in 35 career starts for the Phillies.

Just getting there not enough

As far as zaniness goes in the wake of NL East-clinching celebration on Saturday night at the Bank, Chris Coste took top honors when he zipped around the field on a borrowed (at least we hope so) police bicycle. Other than Coste’s tomfoolery, the celebration was slightly muted. Oh sure, Brett Myers took perverse pleasure dousing anyone and everyone with beer and Pat Burrell made sure his bulldog, Elvis, made it to the party.

Otherwise, the Phillies acted as if clinching celebrations was old hat. After all, last year’s wild bash was 14 years in the making and it took the Phillies until the very last day of the season to sew it up. This year manager Charlie Manuel retreated to his office after the game while the party simmered in the clubhouse and out on the field.

Only when the remaining fans called for him with an echoing chant of, “CHARLIE! CHARLIE! CHARLIE!” did the manager work his way back out to the field to tip his cap and celebrate ever so briefly with his players.

Been there, done that appeared to be the theme as the celebration quickly morphed into a neighborhood cocktail party. Though pulling off the repeat wasn’t easy, the Phillies believe there is much to prove during the second season.

“I think we got a little taste last year of it, short and sweet,” Chase Utley said. “There's a lot of focus, a lot of drive, a lot of intensity. We're definitely not done.”

Last year the Phillies were finished in the playoffs pretty quickly. In fact, the team barely got warmed up before the Colorado Rockies sent them packing in three straight. Utley, in particular, went through some growing pains in his first playoffs where he struck out four times on just 13 pitches in Game 1.

It wasn’t just Utley who had trouble, either. In three games the Phillies collected just 16 hits and batted .172 with 26 strikeouts. Of the eight runs the Phils scored during the series, five came on solo homers.

“We didn't really know what to expect going into the playoffs last year,” Utley said. “This year, you have more of an understanding of how everything works. It's no different, it's still baseball. You have to prepare and go out there every day. I never played baseball in October before last year.”

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins says the Phillies worked so hard just to get into the playoffs last season that once they got there they didn’t have much left.

“I think we were so hell bent on that and so focused to win the division that we kind of ran out of steam heading into the playoffs,” Rollins said. “There's no such thing as pacing yourself, but we know that there is more than just winning the division. We won the division last year and three games later we were watching with everyone else. We don't want that to happen again, so we'll be a little more under control and hopefully bring home a championship.”

There is a big difference between the maiden voyage in 2007 and the return trip in 2008. For one thing, every player expected to be on the playoff roster – except Geoff Jenkins and Chad Durbin – have post-season experience. Better yet, six players (Brad Lidge, Eric Bruntlett, Tadahito Iguchi, So Taguchi, Pedro Feliz and Scott Eyre) have appeared in the World Series.

For a change, the Phillies will have experience as an asset.

“Our focus is different this year,” Howard said. “This is the first step, making the playoffs. We didn’t like the feeling [of losing] last year, but we got the experience. We know what to expect this year.”

In fact, manager Charlie Manuel says there won’t be a repeat of last season.

“Believe me – we’re going to go farther in the playoffs than we did last year,” Manuel said.

Nevertheless, the Phillies still don’t know who they will play come Wednesday in Philadelphia. Though Cole Hamels will get a second consecutive Game 1 start in the NLDS, the Phillies must wait for the Brewers and the Mets to settle the wild-card race. If the Mets survive to make the playoffs after blowing a 3 ½ games lead in the NL East just two weeks ago, the Phillies will host the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But if the Brewers come out on top, they will head to Philadelphia to open the playoffs with the memory of the four-game sweep that led to manager Ned Yost’s firing still fresh in their minds.

Manuel says the Phillies matchup pretty well against either the Brewers or Dodgers.

“It doesn’t really matter. All the teams we play we match up well against them,” Manuel said. “The Cubs have a lot of right-handed pitchers and our left-handed hitters match up against them. It doesn’t really matter to me who we play. We’ll see.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Jenkins, who had been ranked fourth amongst active players in games played without a playoff appearance, spent the first decade of his career with the Brewers. Needless to say, the irony of facing his old team when he finally gets to the playoffs was not lost on Jenkins.

“I’ve been waiting to get into the postseason for so long. It's just a happy, unbelievable feeling about getting here. I'm just excited about keeping it going,” Jenkins said. “You picture how it might be, but until you go through it, you can't even picture how great this is.”

Yeah, the Phillies already know. Now they want to find out just how much better it can be.

“We all have a little experience at this,” Rollins said. “We can hopefully go a little further into the playoffs. We know winning the division doesn’t guarantee you anything. It just means you have a chance to go win the World Series.”

The second trip starts Wednesday.

The last play

[viddler id=b4c782fc&w=437&h=332] video via The 700 Level.

REPEATERS!

<

Eighth inning: Phew! That was close!

Brad Lidge has been in a few big games during his career. Actually, he’s been in some really big games with everything on the line, including that one in Houston in the NLCS when Albert Pujols hit that home run. Yeah, everyone remembers that one.

Though he seems relaxed and laidback away from the field, it’s obvious he gets amped up when he gets the ball. Even if the game is tight and the pressure is about to boil over, Lidge wants the ball.

After last night’s game when the prospect of pitching in the ninth inning of a clinching game was broached, Lidge’s eyes lit up.

“I don’t care if it’s 100-0 – I will be available,” he said. “There is no scenario where I won’t want to be out there.”

Of course Lidge usually only comes into the game when the Phillies have the lead. That thin thread became even more precariously delicate during the eighth inning when Ryan Madson entered and promptly got into a jam.

Unlike Lidge, this is the first time Madson has been in these high-pressure situations. Last season he was on the disabled list when the Phillies made their march to the post-season so all he could do was celebrate with his teammates and watch from the bench.

This year Madson gave up a leadoff single to (Phillie killer) Cristian Guzman and a long double to Ryan Zimmerman. Things really got worrisome for the 45, 177 in the house when Lastings Milledge lifted a blooper into short center field that shortstop Jimmy Rollins somehow hauled in.

But in doing so, Rollins collided with Shane Victorino -- seemingly kicking him in the shins – as Guzman tagged and scored. After the play, Victorino remained on his back, but remained in the game.

Madson stayed in, too and got Elijah Dukes on a broken –bat grounder before whiffing Aaron Boone to end the inning.

When Boone swung and missed, Madson screamed and pumped his fist as he walked off the mound.

The Phillies tacked on one with two-outs in the bottom half of the inning when Victorino legged out an infield single and came around to score on Pedro Feliz's RBI double.

Here comes Lidge…

End of 8: Phillies 4, Nats 2

Seventh inning: You will get wet

A few folks milling around here – mostly TV types – are discussing the best way in which to remain dry if the Phillies clinch today and we have to wade into a clubhouse full of champagne and beer spray as well as other tomfoolery. The truth is there is no good way to avoid the party. The best bet is to dive in, get what you need and get back to the press box to change into something a little less wet.

That’s my tact, anyway. I brought a change of clothes in case the Phillies nail this down. And following last season’s celebration where I had a beer poured down my pants by a player who shall remain nameless as well as other liquids dumped on my head, I should have brought a poncho.

Chad Durbin got the Phillies to within six outs of the clincher by working through the seventh. He had some help from Chase Utley, who turned a neat little inning-ending double play to end the inning.

The Phillies went quietly in the seventh against lefty reliever Mike Hinckley.

I don’t know… maybe the Phillies need another run or two?

End of 7: Phillies 3, Nats 1

Sixth inning: Brew Town, U.S.A.

It pains me to report that I have never been to Milwaukee. Home to Richie Cunningham, the Fonz, as well as Laverne & Shirley, it always seemed as if there was a lot happening in Milwaukee. Those thoughts got stronger when I learned about Milwaukeean Jeffrey Dahmer, Lieberace and saw Wayne and Garth visit the city to catch an Alice Cooper gig.

So nothing against the Mets, but it would be neat to see the Brewers get the wild card so the Phillies can have that second trip to Milwaukee. If we go, I hope to visit Schott’s Brewery.

Jamie Moyer escaped the sixth with his two-run lead thanks to some of his wily and crafty work after Ryan Zimmerman and Lastings Milledge singled to open the frame. From there, Moyer went to work and stranded the runners by getting two flies to center and his first whiff of the game.

After six, Moyer has allowed six hits and a walk on 86 pitches. Call it a night, Jamie.

Steven Shell relieved John Lannan and sat down the Phillies in order.

We’re into the bullpens now, folks. The Phillies need nine outs.

End of 6: Phillies 3, Nats 1

Fifth inning: Finding the groove

One of the worst-kept secrets around the Phillies during the second half of the season was that Chase Utley had been playing through some type of injury. Close observers of the game – like scouts for instance – knew something was up based on how the All-Star took his swing or ran to receive a ball. Clearly something was bothering Utley because he went from 25 home runs during the first half of the season, to just eight after the All-Star Break. In fact, all of Utley’s power numbers waned, though his batting average remained steady.

Utley ripped a few loud fouls off the lefty John Lannan, but went down on strikes when the pitcher fooled him with a slider. Regardless, Utley’s stroke seems solid.

The Nats got on the board in the fifth when Jayson Werth could not hang onto a long drive hit by Anderson Hernandez when he crashed into the right-field fence. Werth appeared to be shaken up a bit on the play, taking an extra minute to loosen up his shoulder and/or catch his breath after relaying the ball back to the infield.

Moyer, meanwhile, is up to 72 pitches. He should be able to get through seven innings.

Nevertheless, fears that Werth was a little banged up were allayed in the bottom half of the frame when he led off with home run just over the out-of-town scoreboard in right.

Call it a “Citizens Bank Park Special.”

Lannan survived big trouble when Shane Victorino’s long drive was caught at the fence.

The Phillies are 12 outs away from wrapping things up.

End of 5: Phillies 3, Nats 1

Fourth inning: Phillies on the board

Just walked into the dining room to get a diet coke when I caught one of the attendants singing “Strangers In the Night…” Do be do be do…

Meanwhile, the old-timer Jamie Moyer had a relatively quick inning for a change. In sitting down the heart of the Nationals’ order, Moyer used just 10 pitches.

Perhaps he’s settling in?

In addition to a packed house in the seating area, the press box is stuffed, too. In fact, a writer two with no paper on Sunday turned out to properly describe the action of the local nine. And from what I have heard, Scott Lauber is also offering live updates on his site.

It’s Scott’s birthday so go check it out.

If you decide just to stay here, I’ll tell you that Scott is probably writing about how Chase Utley appears to be finding his swing again. Utley picked up a leadoff single and dashed to third when Ryan Howard followed with another single.

Utley scored the first run of the game when Pat Burrell lifted a sacrifice fly to right and then Howard came in to make it 2-0 when Carlos Ruiz also hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Call those productive outs… do it.

Moyer walked with two outs to re-load the bases, but Jimmy Rollins could not break it open off John Lannan.

Nevertheless, the scoreboard has been dented. Is it enough for Moyer?

End of 4: Phillies 2, Nats 0

Third inning: Howard or Pujols?

While we’re on the topic of the MVP (weren’t we), it seems as if it is Albert Pujols’ award to lose this season. Interestingly, it was Pujols who said during the build up for the honor in 2006 that he didn’t understand how a guy who didn’t make the playoffs could win the MVP. Now that the show is on the other foot, don’t count on Ryan Howard making the same kind of statement. After all, Howard and the Phillies are on the path to the playoffs and Pujols’ Cardinals are not.

Still, if Howard helps carry the Phillies to another playoff berth with his 48 homers and 146 RBIs, the slugger makes a strong case despite the strikeouts, low batting average and unsung slugging percentage. Pujols’ all-around numbers are better, but how will the voters judge it.

Jayson Stark, complete with some name-dropping tells everyone how he will vote when he posts his ballot in a couple of days. No link – it’s ESPN… find it yourself. Or ask me to ask Jayson for it – he’s sitting directly in front of me.

Moyer’s pitch count continued to mount in the third thanks in part to a pair of two-out singles the Nats picked up. Still, after three innings, Moyer is up to 49 pitches though the zeroes hang on the board.

Jimmy Rollins got a two-out double to right off John Lannan in the bottom half of the inning, but the Nats’ lefty bounced back to whiff Jayson Werth for the second time.

End of 3: Phils 0, Nats 0

Second inning: Lidge takes top honors

Before the game the local chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America – a secret society in charge of the demise of our great nation – handed out the post-season awards in the form of a handsome plaque. The writers chose Brad Lidge for the MVP, Cole Hamels for top pitcher despite the fact that Lidge also is a pitcher. Greg Dobbs took home the prize for “Good Guy,” while Jamie Moyer got the special achievement award.

Perhaps the highlight of the brief, on-field ceremony was when the Philly Phantic mused up the flowing locks of the well coiffed scribe, Todd Zolecki. However, with his usual aplomb and a stylish flip of that mane, all returned to order for Zolecki.

Thank God.

Anyway, based on what Lidge said last night he is chomping at the bit to get out there in the ninth with a lead today.

Moyer issued a two-out walk to Aaron Boone, son of ex-Phillie great, Bob Boone. However, he threw 16 more pitches in the second and has racked up 33 through two innings… that’s too many.

The Phillies kicked up a bit of a fuss in the second against John Lannan when Pat Burrell walked and Shane Victorino singled to left with one out. However, Burrell was caught off second base when Pedro Feliz popped out to short center field.

That’s two base-running gaffes this week for Burrell if you are scoring at home.

End of 2: Phils 0, Nats 0

First inning: Moyer in familiar territory

In a neat bit of coincidence, Jamie Moyer is back on the mound for the Phillies in a potential clinching game. Last season in Game 162, Moyer turned in six solid innings to pick up the win over the Nationals as the Phils got their first playoff berth in 14 seasons. Today, Moyer attempts to give the Phillies their first back-to-back playoff bids since 1980-81.

It’s rather apt that Moyer is the pitcher who get the ball since the story is that he cut school in order to attend the Phillies’ victory parade in 1980.

Clearly, Moyer is the only player on the Phils who remembers the ’80 title team.

Word around the campfire is that Moyer will be the oldest pitcher in baseball history to pitch a clinching game during the regular season… that is if he does it. So far, though, he’s off to a good start. He sat down the Nats in order in the first on 17 pitches (11 strikes) and two groundball outs.

Don’t expect Moyer to go the distance today, but count on him being consistent.

Meanwhile, just before Jimmy Rollins dug into the batters’ box the Mets game went final. Chalk up a complete-game, three-hitter for Johan Santana.

Chalk up a first-inning goose egg for the Phillies in the first as Nats’ lefty John Lannan sat them down in order with two whiffs. The last one was a 11-pitch epic to catch Chase Utley looking.

End of 1: Phillies 0, Nats 0

Santana dealing for the Mets

The fans are filing in to the ballpark for the 3:55 p.m. start and it looks as if the place is going to be packed to the rafters by first pitch. It also appears as if the Phillies are going to need to win today to clinch the NL East, because Johan Santana just finished the eighth inning at Shea with a shutout intact.

It appears as if the Mets will live to fight another day.

Better for the Phillies or any other team that might have to face the Mets down the road, it appears as if Santana will need a good five days before he pitches again. Through eight innings, Santana has allowed two hits on 104 pitches. This, of course, comes three days after Santana turned in a complete game victory on a career-high 125 pitches in his last outing.

Needless to say, Johan has earned a break.

Meanwhile, we’re getting ready to get busy here in Philly. It looks as if the Phillies will need to win to sew it up.

Going live...

As with any potential clinching game -- or playoff game -- we will be doing inning-by-inning updates for the big game against the Washington Nationals this afternoon at the Bank. At the same time we also will keep an eye on the proceedings from Shea Stadium with (we hope) a few exclusive updates from some folks in the press box up there. In the meantime, here are the lineups:

Phillies 11 - Rollins, ss 28 - Werth, rf 26 - Utley, 2b 6 - Howard, 1b 5 - Burrell, lf 8 - Victorino, cf 7 - Feliz, 3b 51 - Ruiz, c 50 - Moyer, p

Nationals 6 - Hernandez, 2b 15 - Guzman, ss 11 - Zimmerman, 3b 44 - Milledge, cf 34 - Dukes, rf 8 - Boone, 1b 53 - Nieves, c 2 - Bernadina, lf 31 - Lannan, p

One more word on the great Paul Newman, who passed on this morning at the age of 83 after a long battle with cancer...

Aside from being one of the most mesmerizing actor I've ever seen. The fact is that no matter the role, it was impossible to take your eyes off him. Whether it was as Fast Eddie Felton in "The Hustler," the title character in "Cool Hand Luke" or even underrated films like "The Road to Perdition" and "Nobody's Fool," Newman brought it all the time.

He was that way off screen, too. The obit in The Washington Post claimed that Newman "mocked his sex-symbol status and said that his personality was closest to the vulgar, second-rate hockey coach he played in 'Slap Shot' (1977)."

Newman was beloved by his acting colleagues, who all seemed to want to emulate him. But really, how could they not? As a devoted family man, activist and artist -- all of the highest order -- there was a lot to copy. He was truly an American icon.

Thankfully Newman leaves behind an epic legacy on the screen and a more important one in the super markets. Newman's Own products have contributed $200 million to charities since 1982 and will continue giving for decades to come.

So as tribute, I'm going to sit here during the Phillies-Nats game and dig into some Newman's Own pretzels and if I get home at a decent hour, watch any of the great films from Newman's body of work...

I think this could be a "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," night.

Paul Newman: 1925-2008

Charlie finally wins over fans

If someone was new to Philadelphia and didn’t know how it had been for the past three years, the newbie would probably assume that the local fans and manager Charlie Manuel shared a mutual love affair. The fans, one would have to assume, loved Charlie for his folksy ways and the gutsy way he stands up for his players, and the manager loved the fans just because they loved him back. If only it were that simple.

The fact is Charlie Manuel’s tenure as one of the most successful managers in franchise history, has been anything but rosy. Manuel has heard that he is a poor in-game tactician, a little too loose in handling his players, and, well, Philadelphians thought his Appalachian twang sounded funny.

Oh yeah, Charlie heard all of it, but he says he didn’t hear anything during the ninth inning when an argument with home-plate umpire Andy Fletcher got more than a little heated just before the skipper got the heave-ho.

“CHARLIE! CHARLIE! CHARLIE!” the full house at Citizens Bank Park screamed shortly before the Phillies wrapped up an 8-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

“It was pretty good,” closer Brad Lidge said of Manuel’s arguing tenacity. “He got after it a little bit. I was trying to read his lips a little bit. It was exciting. But Charlie, man, he’ll fight for you out there. It’s great. We really appreciate it as players.”

As Lidge said, Manuel’s selflessness has not gone unnoticed in the clubhouse, which, ultimately, is what the manager cares the most about. Though the manager says he doesn’t notice the cacophony outside of his insular little world, the players notice that Manuel keeps the doors and windows locked so that his guys can just worry about playing ball.

That’s pretty nice.

Yet as the crowd screamed for their manager, those who had observed the relationship from its infancy during the 2005 season to the present day had to marvel at the transformation.

Suddenly, a man who was belittled on talk radio and admonished like a child by fans for supposed strategy gaffes was being serenaded by 44,000 strong.

Not that heard it.

“No, I didn’t [hear the chant],” Manuel said before referring to his argumentative skills. “My red neck was showing too much.”

Then he thought about accessorizing.

“All I needed was some white socks and I'd be all right,” he said as he exited the press conference room to roars of laughter.

After four seasons and just about two consecutive NL East titles, the fans in Philadelphia have finally accepted Charlie Manuel for what he truly is…

A top-notch baseball man, a salt-of-the-earth type of guy and man worthy of respect from his peers, colleagues and players. Not only will Charlie break down a batting swing, explain a pitching decision or crack a joke quicker than a seasoned comedian, but also the manager will regale anyone with volumes of stories from his days playing ball in the minors, majors and Japan, as well as his time coaching and managing.

If you want to talk ball, Charlie Manuel is Mark Twain.

But the Phils’ manager gives more than some good stories. Indeed, Manuel is on the path to rewriting the franchise records for winning. In fact, in the Phillies’ 125-season history, the team has only had four managers on the job for six seasons or more. If Manuel goes the distance on the contract he signed at the end of last season, that’s where he will be, too. By winning 90 games (with a chance for 92) this season and 352 in his first four seasons, Manuel has won more games over that span than any other skipper in team history.

That doesn’t mean it’s all daisies and puppy dogs in Phillie-ville. Manuel disciplined reigning NL MVP twice this season for tardiness and lack of hustle. He’s also battled with Shane Victorino on his focus, sent his opening day starter back to the minors for a month to iron out some flaws and held a few closed-door meetings in order to keep the team on the correct path.

It’s a road that has the Phillies heading back to the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1980-81.

But that doesn’t mean the trip is over – not yet.

“We don't take nothing for granted in this game,” Manuel said. “I learned that a long time ago. I like our position. I'll like our position better when we're two up with one to play. That'll be good. That's when I'll drink champagne and V.O. and dance and sing and everything.”

Won’t that be a sight to see?

*** Programming note: Since Saturday's game is a potential clincher, I will be offering live, in-game updates. So dial the site up and enjoy the game with me...

However, if the Mets lose before the Phillies game begins, the clinch will have already occurred. In that regard, the live updates won't come as ardently.

A rest day for Hamels?

We should be in position to take care of business ourselves. We shouldn’t have to depend on anyone. I said that from day one. -- Charlie Manuel

  For the first time in his… well, ever, Cole Hamels made it through an entire season without an injury. Of course, that feat hasn’t been finalized yet because the Phils’ lefty very well might have one more start this season.

Or he might not. It’s still up in the air.

Obviously, there are a few variables to be worked out before a decision is reached on whether Hamels will pitch in Game 162 for the Phillies or if he is held out for Game 1 of the NLDS. For instance, if the Phillies sew up the NL East on Saturday, Hamels will close the season with a 14-10 record, 3.09 ERA and a league-best 227 1/3 innings.

For a guy who never went a full season without a trip to the disabled list, the amount of innings Hamels piled up is significant.

However, Hamels could pile on some more if the Phillies have not clinched the NL East by Sunday. Even if the team sews up a wild-card spot heading into the last day, Hamels will go to the mound to bring home the division.

Needless to say, manager Charlie Manuel would like the Phillies to take care of business as quickly as possible. That’s obvious, though it isn’t so much as to have Hamels for the first game in the playoffs – it’s to give the kid a break.

“You have to take care of your club,” Manuel said. “You have to do what you think is best for your team.”

The worry isn’t that Hamels is tired physically after his first full season – not at all. Manuel said Hamels hasn’t shown any signs of wear and tear this late into the season. No, the concern for Manuel and the Phillies is that Hamels could be a little burnt mentally.

Not that Hamels has shown signs of that, either.

Anyway, there are still a bunch of moving parts that will come into clearer focus by the end of the night. Chances are we will have a pretty good idea where and who the Phillies will play when the postseason begins on Oct. 1.

Here’s how it shakes out for the Phillies:

If the Phillies win the NL East and the Mets win the wild card, the Phillies will play the Dodgers in the NLDS.

If the Phillies win the NL East and the Brewers win the wild card, the Phillies will play the Brewers in the NLDS.

If the Mets win the NL East and the Phillies win the wild card, the Phillies will play the Cubs in the NLDS.

If the Phillies and Mets finish the season tied in the NL East and with a better record than the Brewers, the Mets win the division because of their 11-7 record against the Phillies. The Phillies win the wild card.

If the Phillies and Mets finish the season tied in the NL East, but have a worse record than the Brewers, the Phillies would play the Mets in a one-game playoff Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

If the Phillies, Mets and Brewers finish the season tied, the Phillies would host the Mets in a one-game playoff to decide the NL East title Monday at Citizens Bank Park. If the Phillies lose, they would host the Brewers in a one-game playoff for the wild card Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. If the Mets lose to the Phillies on Monday, they would host the Brewers in a one-game playoff Tuesday at Shea Stadium.

One up, three to go

So here we are. Just three games to go in the season and the Phillies have a one-game lead over the Mets in the NL East standings. That's the case because the Mets rallied to knock off the Cubs with a walk-off double from Carlos Beltran with two outs in the ninth. A loss certainly would have been devastating for the Mets after the Brewers beat the Pirates with a walk-off grand slam from Ryan Braun with two outs in the 10^th.

Yes, it's as tight as drum with three to go.

As we head into what is supposed to be a rainy, wet weekend, the Phillies have a one-game lead over the Mets to win the East. They also have a one-game advantage over the Brewers to clinch, at minimum, a wild-card spot.

It also means the Phillies cannot clinch a playoff berth on Friday. Instead, they will have to take care of the last-place Washington Nationals - just like last year - if they want to go to the playoffs again.

Here we are again, folks.

To get after it, the Phillies will go with Joe Blanton (8-12, 4.79) against Collin Balester (3-6, 4.83) on Friday night; Jamie Moyer (15-7, 3.78) vs. John Lannan (9-14, 3.86) for Saturday afternoon's nationally televised game; followed by Sunday's finale where Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09) could face Odalis Perez (7-11, 4.27). However, if the Phils clinch on Saturday, expect Hamels to sit out until game one of the NLDS.

The Mets host the Marlins for the final three regular-season games at Shea Stadium, while the Brewers play the Cubs.

The playoffs start next Wednesday... opponents and teams to be determined.