It's hard to look at things objectively when you expect the Phillies to win.
If one team can equal the Phillies' starting pitching trio of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, it's the San Francisco Giants, the Phils' opponent in the NLCS that begins tonight, who can pitch two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain.
I think the Giants have a better bullpen, the Phils a better offense and defense.
And I think the Phils are a better team.
Despite the Giants' pitching, I expect the Phillies' offense to come to life and hit better than .212 as they did against the Reds in the NLDS.
Look for Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and yes, Jimmy Rollins, to carry the Phillies to their third straight World Series. It's going to be a tough one, but I see the Phillies winning in 6 games.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Phillies prediction
An hour before first pitch, it's time to make my prediction on the National League Division Series between the Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds.
I expect the Phillies to be in the World Series, so why am I so worried about this match up?
The Phillies' three starters of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels are better than who the Reds are pitching. What concerns me is the Phillies' offense, which has had several stretches of ineptitude during the season. Now would not be a good time for another one, and Placido Polanco is out of the lineup for game one because of a sore back.
When the Phils hosted the Reds in a 4-game series in July, the Phils swept the series. But the first three games the Phils won in the final at bat. In fact in the third game, Reds' pitcher Travis Wood had a PERFECT GAME against the Phillies heading into the 9th inning in a game the Phils won, 1-0. The Phils won the final game, also 1-0, with Hamels on the mound.
The Phils need to jump on the Reds started and get a lead. The Reds bullpen is pretty good, and with lefty reliever Aroldis Chapman and his 100-plus mph fastball coming in to face Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the late innings, it would be nice if the Phils were ahead when he came into the game.
But I expect the Phils' starting pitching and post-season experience to come out ahead in this series. Phillies in 4.
I expect the Phillies to be in the World Series, so why am I so worried about this match up?
The Phillies' three starters of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels are better than who the Reds are pitching. What concerns me is the Phillies' offense, which has had several stretches of ineptitude during the season. Now would not be a good time for another one, and Placido Polanco is out of the lineup for game one because of a sore back.
When the Phils hosted the Reds in a 4-game series in July, the Phils swept the series. But the first three games the Phils won in the final at bat. In fact in the third game, Reds' pitcher Travis Wood had a PERFECT GAME against the Phillies heading into the 9th inning in a game the Phils won, 1-0. The Phils won the final game, also 1-0, with Hamels on the mound.
The Phils need to jump on the Reds started and get a lead. The Reds bullpen is pretty good, and with lefty reliever Aroldis Chapman and his 100-plus mph fastball coming in to face Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the late innings, it would be nice if the Phils were ahead when he came into the game.
But I expect the Phils' starting pitching and post-season experience to come out ahead in this series. Phillies in 4.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Happy 50th anniversary, Fred and Wilma
On Sept. 30, 1960, "The Flintstones" -- a modern stone-age family -- debuted on ABC. It became the longest-running animated series when it finished on April 1, 1966, a record which stood until being shattered by "The Simpsons." Yabba, dabba, doo!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wow, what a run!
Two months ago, the Phillies were floundering.
At 92-61, they also have a 6-game advantage for best record in the National League and are just behind the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball.
If the Phils finish with the best record in the NL, they will get an extra day off during the NL Division Series, which means Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt can pitch on regular rest. And thanks to the NL's All-Star Game victory, they'd have home-field advantage in the World Series, should they get there.
Another Red October will soon be upon us. Let's hope it ends with a November parade!
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| Phillies celebrate Wednesday's victory over the Atlanta Braves./AP Photo |
Just two games over .500 at 48-46 on July 21, the two-time National League champions were in third place in the National League East, 7 games behind the Atlanta Braves.
I'll admit, I thought this was going to be a lost season: Too many injuries, too many players having below-average seasons.
Since that day, the Phillies have the best record in baseball at 44-15 and have turned the 7-game deficit into a 6-game lead -- thanks to the recent 3-game sweep of the Braves -- with just 9 games left in the season. At 92-61, they also have a 6-game advantage for best record in the National League and are just behind the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball.
If the Phils finish with the best record in the NL, they will get an extra day off during the NL Division Series, which means Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt can pitch on regular rest. And thanks to the NL's All-Star Game victory, they'd have home-field advantage in the World Series, should they get there.
Another Red October will soon be upon us. Let's hope it ends with a November parade!
We're getting fatter
And the U.S. is leading the way.
At least that's what the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developmet said in its first-ever obesity forecast released Thursday that states that citizens of the world's richest countries are getting heavier.
According to the study, three out of four Amercans will be overweight or obese by 2020, which will then lead to skyrocketing health-care spending and disease rates. I'm trying to reverse that trend, eating a little healthier and exercising regularly. I'm still not where I'd like to be, but I have lost 20 pounds in the past 12 months.
The Paris-based organization, which brings together 33 of the world's leading economies, is better known for forecasting deficit and employment levels than for measuring waistlines. But the economic cost of excess weight -- in health care, and in lives cut short and resources wasted --- is a growing concern for many governments.
In the Associated Press story, Franco Sassi, the OECD senior health economist who authored the report, blamed the usual suspects for the increase.
"Food is much cheaper than in the past, in particular food that is not particularly healthy, and people are changing their lifestyles, they have less time to prepare meals and are eating out more in restaurants," said Sassi, a former London School of Economics lecturer who worked on the report for three years.
At least that's what the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developmet said in its first-ever obesity forecast released Thursday that states that citizens of the world's richest countries are getting heavier.
According to the study, three out of four Amercans will be overweight or obese by 2020, which will then lead to skyrocketing health-care spending and disease rates. I'm trying to reverse that trend, eating a little healthier and exercising regularly. I'm still not where I'd like to be, but I have lost 20 pounds in the past 12 months.
The Paris-based organization, which brings together 33 of the world's leading economies, is better known for forecasting deficit and employment levels than for measuring waistlines. But the economic cost of excess weight -- in health care, and in lives cut short and resources wasted --- is a growing concern for many governments.
In the Associated Press story, Franco Sassi, the OECD senior health economist who authored the report, blamed the usual suspects for the increase.
"Food is much cheaper than in the past, in particular food that is not particularly healthy, and people are changing their lifestyles, they have less time to prepare meals and are eating out more in restaurants," said Sassi, a former London School of Economics lecturer who worked on the report for three years.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Mmmmm, donut. Mmmmm, burger
State fairs have been known for inventing interesting food ideas. Most of them recently have involved deep frying a favorite dessert: Twinkies, Oreos, or candy bars.
But a vendor at the Wisconsin State Fair may have gone over the top: a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger!
That's right, a cheeseburger between two halves of a Krispy Kreme glazed donut. The calorie count: 1,000. And for an additional cost, chocolate covered bacon is added to the burger.
This burger didn't originate at this year's Wisconsin fair, but that's how it is gaining its notoriety. As a fan of Krispy Kreme donuts I'd love to try one, though it definitely goes against the healthier-eating kick I'm currently on.
The Allentown Fair is in two weeks. Maybe it will show up there.
But a vendor at the Wisconsin State Fair may have gone over the top: a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger!
That's right, a cheeseburger between two halves of a Krispy Kreme glazed donut. The calorie count: 1,000. And for an additional cost, chocolate covered bacon is added to the burger.
This burger didn't originate at this year's Wisconsin fair, but that's how it is gaining its notoriety. As a fan of Krispy Kreme donuts I'd love to try one, though it definitely goes against the healthier-eating kick I'm currently on.
The Allentown Fair is in two weeks. Maybe it will show up there.
Philles Phans Phlock to Phlorida
I just returned from a visit to Walt Disney World and August must be a popular time for Phillies fans to visit Central Florida.
Everywhere I turned throughout the four theme parks, I noticed an abundance of people donning a Phillies shirt or hat. In Epcot, I walked passed a man in a Phillies shirt who asked me how I was doing, just based on a Phillies batting practice jersey I had on. Moments later, another guy in a Phillies shirt fist-bumped me. Our paths then crossed again in the Rose and Crown Pub in the United Kingdom in the World Showcase.
Based on observations, the Phils were far-and-away the most popular team for Walt Disney World visitors when I visited. The Yankees were a distant second, followed by the Red Sox.
Everywhere I turned throughout the four theme parks, I noticed an abundance of people donning a Phillies shirt or hat. In Epcot, I walked passed a man in a Phillies shirt who asked me how I was doing, just based on a Phillies batting practice jersey I had on. Moments later, another guy in a Phillies shirt fist-bumped me. Our paths then crossed again in the Rose and Crown Pub in the United Kingdom in the World Showcase.
Based on observations, the Phils were far-and-away the most popular team for Walt Disney World visitors when I visited. The Yankees were a distant second, followed by the Red Sox.
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