Philly Pressure

The Philadelphia Phillies plan to put the hammer down on the Brewers in Game three of the NLDS tonight in Milwaukee. The oldest pitcher in the game will start for Philadelphia, a team with a 3.65 ERA during the regular season. Jamie Moyer has never been to the Fall Classic but his veteran experience is expected to end the Brewers’ season. Moyer will count on his craftiness to continue to winning ways for his NL East championship team. He was 9-1 in his last 16 starts of 2008 and the Brewers will need to be patient at the plate if they want to succeed. The Brewers are coming in to Game 3 with dismal digits. The team batting average is a measly .115 during the series. The Brewers have put together a paltry 3 runs total. Given the fact the first two games were played in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, that is not a good sign for Dale Sveum’s team. Sveum is the interim manager for Milwaukee and he has some understanding of being down in the post-season. Remember he was on the coaching staff for Boston when they came from behind to beat the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. The Brewers will have to take this five game series one at a time and a win at home tonight would start them in the right direction. The team counters with Dave Bush on the mound. Jeff Suppan, the Cardinals playoff star a few seasons ago, was supposed to pitch. But the Brewers might benefit with Bush. Bush, like Moyer, was solid down the stretch. In his last 10 starts of the season, he sported a 4-1 record and finished strong. So far the Brewers pitchers have tamed the Phillies at the plate. Ryan Howard’s lefty bat hasn’t been a factor. That could change tonight because Bush is prone to giving up runs to left handed hitters. The Phillies have scored most of their runs as unearned ones during the series. Even though they aren’t hitting well, their defense, speed and pitching has kept this a one-sided series. Shane Victorino has stolen three bases, Cole Hamels dominated the first game on the mound and the bullpen has been shaky but effective. Brad Lidge looked vulnerable in the first game and mentally, that should have given the Brewers a boost. If they were able to fluster the star closer, it might give them that swagger they used to defeat the Cubs to make the post-season. I would like to see the Phillies win the series because I like their combination of strength and power. They play hard and work well together. It would be nice to see the Brewers win one at home though and make this somewhat of a series. As it looks now, the other three series are not very competitive. The Brewers have decent rising guys in JJ Hardy, Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun. They need to start producing some runs.

Parting points: I am listening to “Motownphilly” by Boyz II Men in honor of the Phillies. Good stuff.

The NHL season kicks off at noon today. The Rangers play the Lightning and the Penguins take on Ottawa. Both games are for some reason being played overseas.

I am curious to see if Vanderbuilt can pull off the upset against Auburn. Somehow, I doubt it.