Sixth inning: Settled in

Through six innings it appears as if we figured out the whole Jekyll and Hyde thing with Brett Myers. That is, of course, he can keep it together before turning things over to the bullpen. But after another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, Myers has retired seven in a row and 16 of the last 17 for 79 pitches.

Size this up: Myers threw 21 pitches in the first inning and 58 from the second to the sixth.

Yes, it is safe to assume he has found his groove.

The same could be said for Shane Victorino, who doubled to deep center to lead off the sixth. At the same time, Victorino picked up the Phillies’ sixth double of the game, which tied a franchise record for most doubles in a post-season game. In Game 3 of the 1976 NLCS against the Big Red Machine, Garry Maddox, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa, Jay Johnstone and Mike Schmidt pounded out six two-baggers.

The Phillies last that game (and the series) when the Reds rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth. George Foster and Johnny Bench led off the inning with homers off Ron Reed before Ken Griffey singled in Davey Concepcion with one out off Tom Underwood.

Needless to say, it doesn’t look like the Brewers are going to morph into the Reds (or the Phillies) any time soon.

End of 6: Phillies 5, Brewers 1

Fifth inning: Break up the Brewers?

In a sense, the Brewers’ playoff run looks a lot like the one the Phillies had last year. They snuck in on the last day of the season thanks to a loss by the Mets, celebrated like crazy and are poised to be bounced out very quickly. Like in Philly, Milwaukee fans waited even longer for their team to make the playoffs. The Phillies ended a 14-year drought last season, while the Brewers knocked off a 26-year absence in ’08. Better yet, the Brewers switched leagues so this is their first trip to the National League playoffs.

But unlike the Phillies last year, the Brewers don’t seem to be regrouping for another run in 2009. That’s part of the reason why the club went after CC Sabathia at the deadline and fired manager Ned Yost two weeks ago even though they were tied for first in the wild-card race.

The Brewers are a flawed club that will have to make a bunch of moves this winter if they want to challenge the Cubs in the NL Central. That’s easy to say, but hard to do. More than likely Sabathia will be pitching for big money somewhere else next season. Heck, it could even be for the Phillies, who will have some cash to spend after a few big salaries come off the payroll.

Needless to say, the Phillies will have a spot for a lefty starter who throws around 250 innings per season.

In the meantime it will be interesting to see how the Brewers respond in Game 2 if they are down 2-0. That’s especially the case considering their best pitcher was beaten like a drum as they turn to Dave Bush.

Meanwhile, Myers appears to be in cruise control. After giving up a hit and a run in a shaky first inning, Myers has not allowed a hit since and has retired 13 of the last 14 he faced.

End of 5: Phillies 5, Brewers 1

Fourth inning: Loud and proud in Philly

I’m a little getting it together for this inning so we might as well double up… I had to grab a drink and a chocolate-chip cookie and chat with ESPN radio’s Mike Gill of the Mike Gill Show. If you’re ever in New Jersey, tune in and listen to Mike – he knows his stuff. Meanwhile, Brett Myers held the Brewers in check in the fourth, but the most important thing the pitcher did was force Sabathia to throw 10 more pitches during his second at-bat. Clearly the big lefty is laboring and after Myers’ latest epic plate appearance, Jimmy Rollins laced a two-out double.

That forced Sabathia to issue an intentional walk to Victorino. It alos pushed his pitch count even higher. Through four, the big fella has thrown 98 pitches.

And the Philly fans are screaming after each and every one of them. Typically I’m not one to pay much attention to the fans in the stands, but the hometown crowd here at the Bank has been stellar and smart during the first two games of this series. They cheered really loud during Myers’ at-bats, gave Victorino a curtain call, stayed on top of every bit of nuance and cheered like hell when Sabathia exited the game after giving up a walk to Chase Utley to load the based.

As he walked off, Sabathia appeared to say something in the direction of Victorino. It didn’t look like he said, “Nice hit, dude.”

Sabathia’s line: 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 5 K – 98 pitches

End of 4: Phillies 5, Brewers 1

Third inning: Victorino's grand slam

According to whiz kid Kevin Horan of Phillies.com, Shane Victorino clubbed the first-ever post-season grand slam by a Phillie. In fact, the Phillies have only hit 45 playoff homers, a list in which Lenny Dykstra tops with six, followed by Gary Matthews and Greg Luzinski with five each.

My partner in crime at CSN.com, Andy Schwartz, pointed out that the chart should show:

Dykstra, 6*

Victorino is quickly climbing the charts with his second post-season blast. He also hit one in Game 3 at Coors Field last season for the Phils’ only run in the deciding game.

Needless to say, the affable (and boisterous) centerfielder will undoubtedly have a lot to chirp about amongst his teammates on the charter to Milwaukee after the game. Better yet, Victorino needs a triple and single for the cycle. In his first two innings he already has a double, stolen base and the slam.

Good move by Charlie for putting Victorino in the No. 2 hole and sliding Jayson Werth down to sixth.

Meanwhile, Myers sailed through the third inning with his second straight perfect frame. Perhaps he needed to shake out the jitters in the first inning in order to settle in? If so, it worked.

CC Sabathia whiffed the next two hitters after Victorino’s slam, but Werth smacked another double and then swiped third . Interestingly, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard account for four of Sabathia’s five strikeouts.

End of 3: Phillies 5, Brewers 1

Second inning: Charlie says, 'Relax'

In the playoffs, the game is all about pitching and defense. Actually, those two things are not mutually exclusive. The stat geeks all seem to agree that half of good pitching is really defense and the best indicator of how good a pitcher is comes from the whiffs-per-nine-innings ratio. So when the game is all about pitching and defense it makes it difficult for the guys in the throes of a hitting slump. For the Phillies, that means Pat Burrell and Jayson Werth.

Burrell’s late-season swoon has been well documented. In fact, if the left fielder is back with the Phillies in 2009, I’m just going to write a whole bunch of stuff about a massive hitting slump and save it for the inevitable moment when he goes into the tank. Why not? It happens every season.

Burrell’s woes are exclusive to the last two months of the season while Werth has slowly been falling into a slide of the last two weeks. Though he has five hits and a homer since Sept. 20, Werth has whiffed 13 times during that span, including a hat trick in Game 1.

As a result, Charlie Manuel dropped Werth from the No. 2 spot in the order to No. 6 tonight.

“It might help Werth relax a bit,” Manuel said. “He's been trying too hard. I told him to slow down and stay on top of the ball more, relax. Also, I like Victorino hitting second off CC. Left-handers that throw hard, especially when Victorino makes the pitcher bring the ball down, he can have strong games at times.”

Guess what? Charlie might be on to something.

Werth smacked an 0-1 offering to left-center for a one-out double to start a game-tying rally highlighted by Pedro Feliz’s double just inside the chalk line in left.

That was where it ended for the Phillies. Myers has thrown 32 pitches through two, while the Phillies’ plan to get Sabathia to throw, throw, throw and then throw some more appears to be working as the big lefty fired 51 pitches to this point.

The fans really got into a nine-pitch at-bat from Myers, who worked the count full, fouled off three pitches and then walked. Jimmy Rollins followed with a four-pitch walk to load the bases.

Then it happened...

... and my question was, "Has a Phillie ever hit a grand slam in the playoffs?"

Shane Victorino has. He just did it. I saw it... CC Sabathia laid one tight and Victorino put it in the left-field seats.

Is it over already?

End of 2: Phillies 5, Brewers 1

First inning: Here comes the heat

Harry Kalas threw the ceremonial first pitch and didn’t do too badly. Upon picking up the sign from Chris Coste, Harry laid one in there just off the corner. It looked like a fastball from here.

Just like Harry, Brett Myers came out throwing his fastball, too. Actually, that’s just about all Myers threw in the beginning of the game. The first 11pitches Myers threw were all the ol’ No. 1. Perhaps even the four pitches he tossed up there to Price Fielder during an intentional walk could have been considered fastballs, too. If that’s the case, Myers’ first 15 pitches were fastballs and it took until the fifth hitter for him to throw a breaking pitch.

The inning started and ended well for Myers, too. It was just the middle that was the difficult part.

After striking out Mike Cameron on three straight pitches, Myers walked Ray Durham on four straight. Ryan Braun followed with a double off the wall to make it second and third and forced the walk to Fielder.

That’s when Myers turned to his curve. That’s also when the trouble began. Myers walked J.J. Hardy to force in a run and looked like he was on the verge of an early knockout when Corey Hart bounced one back to the mound for an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play…

The ol’ 1-2-3.

The Phillies’ plan seemed to be to force CC Sabathia to throw a lot of pitches. To a degree that worked as the big lefty chucked 17 in the first, including one that turned into a double down the for Shane Victorino. But after Victorino swiped third base with one out, Sabathia whiffed Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to end the threat.

And the inning.

End of 1: Brewers 1, Phillies 0

Pregame: Myers needs to be in control

Batting practice just ended and the crowd is slowly filtering into the park for Game 2. It looks as if it will be a brisk, breezy early autumn night for baseball. It definitely feels like October.

Obviously, CC Sabathia takes most of the headlines for tonight’s game, which is understandable. The guy is (probably) the best pitcher in the game right now. But be that as it is, the pitcher who likely will have the greatest impact on tonight’s game won’t be Big CC… it will be Brett Myers.

It’s a given that Sabathia will pitch well. If the lefty isn’t just short of brilliant, he’ll be a rung slightly below. Myers, on the other hand, has been the proverbial Jekyll and Hyde this season. When the Phils’ righty isn’t mowing them down with rows of goose eggs, he’s been just dreadfully awful. Just take a look at his season splits: before the All-Star Break and his exile to the minors – bad. After that – good.

But there are a few blips on the screen for Myers and whether or not they prove to be an anomaly or an indicator of something bigger will be determined tonight. After beating the Brewers with a two-hit complete game in which he threw just 95 pitches on three-days rest on Sept. 14, Myers was lit up like a pinball machine in his last two starts of the season.

Against the Marlins on Sept. 19 Myers was roughed up for 10 runs in four innings in a 14-8 loss. He followed that one up by giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Braves on Sept. 24.

“I think the first two innings are important for Brett,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I think if he gets his rhythm down and he’s moving his fastball, if he can locate his fastball in and out, then he should be able to handle his breaking stuff.”

But Myers will need both his fastball and curve to be successful, Manuel says.

“His two big pitches have to work for him. His breaking stuff has to be on the outside part of the plate to these right-handers,” Manuel said. “If his command is good, then he has a chance to pitch a good game.”

There is some concern, of course. Whether Myers; two bad outings to end the season were simply a matter of leftover fatigue from pitching on short rest or merely a matter of improper mechanics has not yet been determined.

We’ll learn about that tonight.

Pregame: Here comes Big CC

Back at the ballpark again where the Phillies look to take a 2-0 series lead against the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-five NLDS. As anyone who would read this site knows by now, the Phillies held off the Brewers to win Game 1, 3-1, behind one of Cole Hamels’ best outings ever. Who knows… maybe it was the best outing by a Phillies pitcher in a playoff opener ever, too. Certainly Curt Schilling against the Braves in Game 1 of the 1993 NLCS has to rate up there – that was the one where Schilling whiffed the first five hitters of the game on his way to 10 whiffs as the Phils went on to win in the 10th on Kim Batiste’s game-winning hit.

But if the Phillies are going to get that commanding two-zip lead tonight, they will have their work cut out for them. After all, Big CC is going.

Big CC, of course, is CC Sabathia, the defending American League Cy Young Award winner who joined the Brewers in a deadline deal that Phillie Geoff Jenkins mused was the greatest deadline acquisition ever.

Without a chance to dive into some research I’m going to say it’s a tough statement to argue with. Certainly the raw numbers bear that out. In 17 starts since joining the Brewers, Sabathia went 11-2 with seven complete games, 128 strikeouts in 130 innings and a 1.65 ERA.

In just that short amount of time it’s not unreasonable to peg the big lefty as a viable NL Cy Young Award candidate. In that regard the reason has less to do with the numbers than the impact. After all, when the Brewers were reeling and limping through the first part of the month, Sabathia took the ball whenever asked. In fact, he worked on short rest in three consecutive starts to close the season, seemingly willing the Brewers into the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

Sabathia will make his fourth start in a row on short rest tonight.

“We know we have our work cut out for us,” Pat Burrell said. “This guy has been phenomenal for them all year. You see [pitchers work on short rest] all the time, but you don’t see guys who come over and dominate the way he has.”

Charlie Manuel told a story the other day how he and pitching coach Dick Pole nearly got fired in Cleveland for campaign so hard to get Sabathia on the team out of spring training in 2001. All Sabathia did that season to justify Manuel’s argument was go 17-5.

Nevertheless, Manuel is curious to see how strong his former protégé pitches on short rest again.

“I think they’ve pitched him a lot. I’m kind of anxious to see when his stuff when the game starts,” Manuel said. “But he has a tremendous feel for a pitch. He has a changeup and a slider and he can bury a slider on righties and he can reach up and go 95, 96 with something on it.

“And he’s very much in control of himself.”

Yes, the Phillies will have their work cut out for them. Then again, we all will.

Phillies 11 – Rollins, ss 8 – Victorino, cf 26 – Utley, 2b 6 – Howard, 1b 5 – Burrell, lf 28 – Werth, rf 7 – Feliz, 3b 51 – Ruiz, c 39 – Myers, p

Brewers 25 – Cameron, cf 5 – Durham, 2b 8 – Braun, lf 28 – Fielder, 1b 7 – Hardy, ss 1 – Hart, rf 30 – Counsell, 3b 18 – Kendall, c 52 – Sabathia, p

Check back closer to game time…

Game 1: Phillies 3, Brewers 1

I’m not sure, but I’d be willing to beat that Brad Lidge has moved past that game in Houston in the playoffs when Albert Pujols smacked that bomb deep into the night. Remember that one? Some say it was the reason why he struggled for a bit during his time with the Astros and led to his trade to the Phillies.

Either way, it appears to have worked out pretty well for both the Phillies and Lidge. After all, 41-for-41 in save opportunities is pretty darned good. Better yet, his 1.95 ERA is a tad inflated by a handful of rocky outings in non-save appearances.

Plus, Lidge nailed down the Game 1 victory with a six-hitter save where he notched three strikeouts on 35 pitches.

Heading into the game, Lidge threw at least 24 pitches in his last three save chances, which is a bit too high. In fact, the last time the closer had a 1-2-3 save was Sept. 18 in Atlanta. But since the closer is only working for one inning he doesn’t really have to be the model of efficiency.

He clearly took his time in Game 1 by going to deep counts against nearly everyone. Four hitters worked the count to 3-2 and Ryan Braun doubled down the line in right to help push across the Brewers only run, while J.J. Hardy walked with two outs.

In the end, though, it wasn’t enough.

Lidge is Machiavellian. The end justifies the means. He’ll get there at his own pace.

But is it OK to be worried that it’s taking a little too long?

Game 1: Phillies 3, Brewers 1

Eighth inning: Long time coming

Today’s attendance is the second-largest crowd in CBP history with an announced 45,929. The largest crowd was Game 2 of last year’s NLDS against the Rockies with 45,991. I bet the record falls tomorrow.

Nevertheless, the Phillies are three outs away from their first post-season victory since Game 5 of the 1993 World Series. That was the game where Curt Schilling tossed a three-hit shutout against the Blue Jays at the Vet.

I was there in the press box that day. In fact, I’ve been in the press box for the last eight Phillies’ playoff games in a row and 11 of the last 16.

I’m getting old.

Still, Cole Hamels is through eight innings with 101 pitches, two hits, one walk and nine strikeouts. If he’s going to top Schilling’s effort he’s gone to have to politick the hell out of manager Charlie Manuel because Brad Lidge is getting warmed up in the bullpen.

Whether Lidge or Hamels takes the mound in the ninth, they will face the top of the Brewers’ order.

On another note, both the Dow and the Nasdaq were down today. Hey, who needs to retire…

End of 8 Phillies 3, Brewers 0

Seventh inning: Sage advice

My goal after this game is to find out what Jamie Moyer was telling Cole Hamels during the bottom half of the sixth inning. While the Phillies were hitting, the elder and younger lefties were shown on TV deep in conversation in which Moyer appeared to be doing a lot of talking and Hamels was doing a lot of listening. Certainly it’s no secret that Hamels really, really looks up to Moyer. In fact, whenever he has a question about the game or certain situations, Moyer is the first person the kid seeks out. Better yet, Hamels often tells anyone who will listen that one of his goals in baseball is to have a career as long as Moyer’s.

Based on the way Hamels adheres to a holistic regimen and gets those regular chiropractic/A.R.T. treatments, he could do it.

Neither team got a hit or a base runner in the seventh. Worse for the Phillies, Carlos Villanueva struck out the side while Jayson Werth got a hat trick.

Through seven, Hamels has thrown 90 pitches. He’ll get one more inning before the Phillies turn it over to Brad Lidge

End of 7 Phillies 3, Brewers 0

Sixth inning: Is that a rally?

OK, has it gotten ridiculous yet? I mean really… come on. Hamels has allowed hits in back-to-back innings after Craig Counsell dropped one into center with one out. To top it off, free-swingin’ Mike Cameron drew a 3-0 count before drawing a five-pitch walk.

That’s two straight hitters on base in a row!

!!!

Hamels quickly put out the fire with his eighth strikeout of the game vs. Bill Hall before getting Ryan Braun to pop up to short. Still, the Brewers actually had a runner in scoring position.

Apropos of nothing, one of the TV dudes from Milwaukee actually cheered in the press box after Counsell’s single. C’mon… what is that?

On the other hand, it’s a good thing Hamels is dealin’ because the Phillies aren’t hittin’. Aside from that little uprising in the third, the Phillies have pounded out a lusty three hits. Had Mike Cameron been able to haul in Chase Utley’s double, the Phils would be in a precarious spot.

Instead, they might be cruising.

End of 6 Phillies 3, Brewers 0

Fifth inning: No no-no

Cole Hamels got into his first bit of trouble during the fifth inning… that is if you call a full count trouble. Based on the way Hamels has been pitching so far, yes, a 3-2 count is a veritable rally.

But Hamels quashed it when he got Prince Fielder to chase the 3-2 pitch. Then he got J.J. Hardy to bounce a 2-2 pitch to short. Corey Hart wasn’t going to wait for 3-2 though. Instead he punched one to right for a solid single, 13 outs away from the no-no.

To this day, Kevin Millwood’s no-hitter against the Giants at The Vet is the only one I have ever seen. Ever. That counts little league, minor leagues and everything all over the map.

Except for wiffle ball, but that doesn’t count.

Either way, Hamels has six strikeouts and no walks through five.

Yovani Garrardo was not around to see the fifth inning. Instead, Dale Sveum brought in side-arming lefty Mitch Stetter to face the Phillies’ lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. When righty Pat Burrell came up, Sveum went for Carlos Villanueva.

I believe that is Spanish for “New Village.”

Garrardo’s line: 4 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 3 K – 75 pitches, 37 strikes.

End of 5 Phillies 3, Brewers 0

Fourth inning: Flat out dealin'

Don Larsen is the only pitcher in Major League history to throw a no-hitter during the post-season when he beat the Brooklyn Dodgers with a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. I wonder if Larsen looked anything like the way Cole Hamels looks today?

Through four innings, the Brewers have gone 12 for 12 in making outs after Hamels cruised through the last frame with just eight pitches. Thirty of Hamels’ 44 pitches have been strikes.

Yovani Garrardo re-grouped after that rough third inning in which he allowed the Phillies to bat around. Jimmy Rollins laced a two-out single to right,

However, with 75 pitches under his belt, Garrardo’s remaining time is short. Manager Dale Sveum has reliever Carlos Villanueva tossing in the bullpen.

End of 4 Phillies 3, Brewers 0

Third inning: No big threat

Just like the raindrops, the strikes keep pouring out there for Cole Hamels. After three innings, the crafty lefty is still perfect with four whiffs and 36 pitches (24 strikes). Because of the early perfection, the no-hitter cards are out. That means Mike Radano of the Courier Post walks around with 10 cards in which other scribes will select after they give him $5. If the player in the position of the batting order coincides with the a number on the card, that person wins all the $5 bills.

If Hamels tosses a no-hitter, the person with the King gets the cash.

Clever little contest, huh?

Carlos Ruiz got the first hit of the game to lead off the third. When Hamels reached base on an error a few pitches later, the Phillies had a bona fide rally going.

Trouble for the Brewers, right?

Guess again. First, Jimmy Rollins popped out to left after swinging at the first pitch from Gallardo. Then Jayson Werth whiffed on a 2-2 pitch for his second strikeout of the game.

Just when it looked as if the Phillies were going out with barely a whimper, Chase Utley laced a two-run double to center that nearly landed in the webbing of Mike Cameron's glove.

Cameron is as good as any center fielder out there (at least he used to be), so when he put his left arm up it looked as if he was easily going to haul it in. However, on his first jump it looked like Cameron came in instead of back to get the liner.

Just like that the Phillies finally broke through for a lead in a playoff game. Better yet, with the way Hamels is pitching the two runs might be more than enough.

But just to show they weren't kidding around, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino drew consecutive walks with two outs. Victorino's came with the bases loaded to give the Phils three, unearned runs.

Center City has come back into view. Maybe the storm has blown over?

End of 3 Phillies 3, Brewers 0

2nd inning: Big wind and big rain

Don’t look now (OK... go ahead), but it looks like a storm is brewing. That’s no metaphor, either. It really looks like a real, downpour with thunder and lightning and all of that jazz is creeping up on us. Judging from the view of the in-motion weather map on Rich Hofmann’s laptop, there are a bunch of greens, yellows and oranges about to cover up South Philadelphia.

That’s not good.

It’s not good because Cole Hamels is dealing right now. In the second the lefty sat ‘em down in order on just 11 pitches with one more strikeout. If the game goes into a delay, that could be the end of Hamels’ outing.

As I typed that sentence, Kevin Horan of Phillies.com said, “You know, if there’s a delay they could lose Hamels.”

See, the kid is sharp. It’s also his birthday. No. 23 for the kid… remember when you were 23?

Yeah.

Anyway, Ryan Howard beat the shift by working a walk. However, he was quickly erased when Pat Burrell grounded into a first-pitch double play. Apparently Burrell’s back is OK, but he’s not any faster.

The inning began with steady raindrop and a gusting wind blowing toward right field that could be deadly if a hitter got one up in the stream. In fact, it is so murky, blustery and cloudy that the visage of Center City off in the distance disappeared.

Goose eggs. No hits or nuthin’

End of 1 Phils 0, Brewers 0

1st inning: Nothing doing

Strangely enough, it seems as if there are more people here than last year. That’s strange because the Rockies had many more of TV and newspaper folks that traveled with the club than the Brewers. I don’t know what market size Milwaukee is, but it doesn’t seem as if they have all that many writers in town. In fact, I wagered that there will be more Philly media in Milwaukee than Milwaukee media in Milwaukee.

That was three Milwaukees in one sentence. I bet that’s a record.

Interestingly, Cole Hamels took the mound sans sleeves for Game 1. This is interesting because last year he did wear a long-sleeved shirt on a sunny and balmy afternoon. By the second inning, Hamels was sweating through both his under and uniform shirts.

Here in the first inning, Hamels is looking free and easy with his naked arms out there in the breeze of a rather cool afternoon. Truth be told, it feels like a perfect afternoon for a nice, long run.

Without the sleeves, Hamels mowed down the Brewers in the first with a pair of strikeouts and a pop up. It took him 14 pitches (nine strikes) to handle the Brewers in the opening frame.

Yovani Gallardo took the mound for just the fifth time all season. Because of that, the 22-year-old righty seems to be an odd choice to start the Brewers’ first playoff game since 1982. However, before he tore up a knee ligament while covering first base during a game last May, Gallardo pitched pretty well in 20 starts for the Brewers in his rookie season.

The kid showed why he’s one of the Brewers’ top prospects by retiring the Phillies in order in the first on 12 pitches (nine strikes). Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley hit the ball hard, but directly at guys wearing gloves.

End of 1 Phils 0, Brewers 0

Pregame: Myers in a brand-new role

Brett Myers appeared in the NLDS last season, but only went just 1 1/3 innings. After all, back then he was the Phillies’ closer instead of the top-of-the-rotation starter. As such, Myers had a different type of playoff experience last year compared to the one he’ll have on Thursday night when he faces the Brewers in Game 2. “I was never in a key situation,” Myers said of last year’s playoff appearances. “I mean, it was a key situation because it was the playoffs, but it really wasn’t a save situation type thing.

“It was fun to be a part of. I wish we were on the other end of it. This year it’s more in my hands and the starters’ hands to get us a lead so we can get to (Brad) Lidge and give him that opportunity.”

That’s the plan, anyway. Myers is capable of throwing a good game based on the way he pitched during a majority of the second half following his return from a minor-league exile. However, after a complete-game, two-hit shutout against the Brewers on short rest two weeks ago, Myers has produced two straight clunkers.

In his first 11 starts after the All-Star Break, Myers went 7-2 with a 1.80 ERA. But in his last two starts, Myers went 0-2 with a 15.12 ERA.

Big difference.

So maybe getting a chance to face the Brewers again will be a remedy… right?

“Absolutely nothing,” Myers said. “It’s the playoffs. It’s different. It’s a totally different atmosphere. Those guys are going to step it up a little bit more.”

Game 1 is about to start. I’ll be back after the first.

Pregame: Burrell in the lineup

Greeting from friendly Citizens Bank Park where we are back in the same spot for Game 1 of the NLDS just the way we were last year. Better yet, just so we don’t confuse anyone the live, in-progress updates will flow like water from a faucet. Indeed.

Lots of media here today as one would expect… looks like those newspaper types are still hanging on while they still can. Hang tough, guys. It won’t be much longer…

Nevertheless, there was plenty of intrigue here at the Park this morning. For one, manager Charlie Manuel told us he made out two different lineups for the opening game. In one, Pat Burrell was in his normal spot in the order and playing left field just like always.

But in another, Jayson Werth shifted from right field to left and veteran Matt Stairs was slated to play right. That contingency was made just in case Burrell’s aching back did not hold up following a strain he suffered during batting practice yesterday.

However, after he took his hacks this afternoon, Burrell shot Manuel the thumbs up and declared himself ready to go. Besides, trainer Scott Sheridan said Burrell was feeling “significantly better” last night and showed up at the park at 8 a.m. this morning for treatment.

So far everything appears to be OK for Burrell and the Phillies.

Here’s today’s lineup:

11 – Rollins, ss 28 – Werth, rf 26 – Utley, 2b 6 – Howard, 1b 5 – Burrell, lf 8 – Victorino, cf 7 – Feliz, 3b 51 – Ruiz, c 35 – Hamels, p

The Brewers will counter with:

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 will go with 11 pitchers during the first round which means reliever Rudy Seanez will not be on the NLDS roster. Instead, the Phillies will have outfielder So Taguchi off the bench and rookie lefty J.A. Happ as the long man. This morning Manuel said the roster decisions were difficult.

“That was the toughest decision we had to make. Seanez played a big part in our season, especially early and all the way up to July,” Manuel said.

“Happ is on the roster in case we need a long guy real early or incase we get into a situation where the game goes into extra innings and we need a multiple innings guy.”

Finally, Shane Victorino’s shin is fine, too.

Check back closer to game time. I’m going to fight the crowd and find something to eat in the dining room.

Look out for the flying bugs, it's the playoffs!

If I recall correctly, the Phillies and the Yankees were the chic pick for the World Series. Actually, I’m not sure if “chic” is the correct word since I may have been the only one to make that prediction. As it turned out, both the Yankees and the Phillies went out of the playoffs in the first round. The Phillies met their demise when their powerful offense went cold, while the Yankees were attacked and done in by a swarm of gnats in Cleveland.

But isn't that always the way it turns out in Cleveland?

The truth is it takes a lot more than quiet bats and flying bugs to stop me. Rather, this year I'm going to put myself back out on that limb and make my picks. Just to make it a little more fun for everyone involved, I asked a bunch of my freaky friends about how they see things playing out.

Here it is:

John Finger - shepherd/CSN.com NLDS Phillies over Brewers in 4 Cubs over Dodgers in 4

ALDS Angels over Red Sox in 5 White Sox over Rays in 4

NLCS Cubs over Phillies in 6

ALCS White Sox over Angels in 7

World Series White Sox over Cubs in 7

I made these picks without irony though I see how funny it is that the Cubs could make it to the World Series for the first time in half a century only to lose to the team on the other side of town.

Laugh it up...

John Gonzalez - columnist/Philadelphia Inquirer NLDS Phils over Brewers Cubs over Dodgers

ALDS Rays over White Sox Angels over Red Sox

NLCS Phils over Cubs

ALCS Angels over Rays

World Series Angels over Phils

I really want to pick the WS the other way. Years of conditioning, I guess.

Kevin Horan - writer/Phillies.com NLDS Phillies over Brewers  Dodgers over Cubs

ALDS Rays over White Sox Angels over Red Sox

NLCS Dodgers over Phillies

ALCS Angels over Rays

World Series: Dodgers over Angels 

Bob Ford - the best sports columnist in America/Philadelphia Inquirer NLDS Phils over Brewers Dodgers over Cubs

ALDS  Angels over Red Sox Chisox over Rays

NLCS Dodgers over Phillies

ALCS Angels over White Sox

World Series  Angels over Dodgers

Stephen Miller - Phillies beat writer/Allentown Morning Call NLDS Phillies over Brewers in four games Cubs over Dodgers in four games

ALDS Angels over Red Sox in five games Rays over White Sox in four games

NLCS Cubs over Phillies in six games

ALCS Angels over Rays in six games

World Series Angels over Cubs in seven games

Just remember, I'm the guy who picked the Tigers to win the World Series before this season. Oh, wait. Let's just forget that.

Ryan Lawrence (a.k.a. RyLaw) - Phillies Beat writer/Delaware County Daily Times

NLDS Dodgers vs. Cubs Cubs in 5 Carlos Zambrano, not good. Everyone else on the Cubs, good. Manny is Manny and underrated Dodgers nearly get the Cubs' goat. 

But the magic of Wrigley prevails, even if Captain Curt doesn't believe in those high class strippers Mystique and Aura. (Personally, I think they're kinda hot).

NLDS Phils vs. Brewers Phils in 4 Milwaukee's best look like Phils Version '07. Cole Hamels, good. Brett Myers, not so much - but Happ to the rescue. Joe Blanton, yikes. Phils bats, however, batter Brewers pitching staff that's 11 CCs short of respectable. 

ALDS Red Sox vs. Angels Angels in 4 Boston too banged up for this prognosticator's liking. J.D. Drew is hurt, huh. Really? REALLY? I like the Sox pitching, but Delco's best manager (Scioscia) likes the idea of an all-LA World Series, so he can stick it to the Dodgers, who had zero interest in hiring him and have hired 43 managers since. Angels pitching, good.

ALDS White Sox vs Yankees...err...my bad, no New York teams made it this year. Sad. White Sox vs. Rays Sox in 3 I like the Rays, I really do. But can you pick against Jim Thome. He's a nice fella. I'm not picking against that guy. I'm watching him on TV now. He's just NICE. White Sox bullpen, good. Despite the play of the best third baseman in baseball, Evan Longoria, Rays are deer in headlights.

NLCS Cubs vs. Phillies Cubs in 7 I feverishly begin writing my Game 1 World Series preview - 'Say Hello to 17-game winner Gavin Floyd' - in hopes of a Phils-Sox series that would have more story lines than a soap opera starring Lindsay Lohan and Brett Favre. But the Cubbies send me to an early vacation, and I raise a few Old Style Lights in Wrigleyville. Brad Lidge blows Game 7 win by serving up walk-off homer to Alfonso Soriano.

ALCS White Sox vs. Angels Sox in 4 Sorry, Scoscia, Dodgers are dead. So is your team, which hasn't had much of a pulse since clinching the division in June. White Sox ride the Rockies-like wave, clinching at the very last moment and running off on a win parade, which is scaring the Bartmans out of the North Siders. Chants of "1908, 1908" begin as riots begin when Sox fans invade Wrigleyville. Phils beat writers watch as Ken gets bloodied in the battle. Fun times.

World Series Cubs vs. White Sox Sox in 7 The White Sox come in with a 10-game winning streak. While Fox is showing constant highlights of Bartman and the goat (the goat also likes Old Style Light, apparently), there is a growing group of among baseball fans that are suddenly sick of the idea of the Cubs collecting their first crown in 100 years. Jim Thome is a nice guy, damnit.... and this Griffey character also seems swell. Two Hall of Famers who don't need to go down like Ted Williams.

Sox win first game, sending the Cell's crowd in a frenzy. But Cubs take next two, ending the 11-game win streak and slowing the suicide rate on the North Side for a weekend. After Floyd evens the series up, Rich Harden fires a two-hit shutout - Cubs up 3-2 in the series.

But Jeanne Zelasko somehow allows the goat to escape in an exclusive pregame interview outside The Cell. The goat takes off, hops on the 'L' and gets off at the Addison stop.

Before Game 6, the goat slips a five-spot in the drunken security guard's hand (the guard thought the Cubs already won the whole shebang). The goat is on the field! The goat it on the field!

While the goat begins eating the ivy off Wrigley's hallowed walls (can walls be hallowed?), a sure-fire Jim Thome double-play ground ball goes right through Ryan Theriot's legs in the 7th inning. The Cubs 4-1 lead shrinks to 4-3.

The goat ate too much ivy. Not good. The goat leaves a special gift (it's browner and smellier than the remnants of that stuff Len Dykstra spit up here 15 years ago).

At the same time, Griffey takes Kerry Wood deep in the bottom of the ninth. White Sox win, 5-4.

In GAME 7, Cubs are lifeless after WGN airs news report on the goat defecating on their field. Gavin Floyd throws first career no-hitter as Sox clinch World Series title.

This is strictly for entertainment purposes.... please do not bet on the goat shitting. He might hurl instead.

Scott Lauber - Phillies beat writer/Wilmington News Journal NLDS Phillies-Brewers: Phillies in 4. CC can't start every game, right? Right? Cubs-Dodgers: Cubs in 5. Manny can't bat in every inning, right? Right?

ALDS Angels-Red Sox: Angels in 5. I love watching the Red Sox lose. Rays-White Sox: White Sox in 5. So many ex-Phillies (Gavin Floyd, Jim Thome), they can't lose.

NLCS Cubs-Phillies: Cubs in 7. At least the Phillies can drown their sorrows at The Lodge.

ALCS Angels-White Sox: Angels in 5. They're good. Real good. 

World Series Cubs-Angels: Angels in 7. Neither Bartman nor the Billy Goat were there, so the Cubs blamed Brad Lidge.

Jason Weitzel - proprietor/Beerleaguer.com NLDS Phillies over Brewers in 5 Cubs over Dodgers in 4

ALCS Red Sox over Angels in 5 White Sox over Rays in 4

NLCS Cubs over Phillies in 6

ALCS Red Sox over White Sox in 7

World Series Red Sox over Cubs in 5