down to four

Pitching and defense are the post-season mantra and that was very much the case in the recent division series. Forget about the pathetic Twins and their nemesis, the Yankees. Until the Twins are able to beat the Yankees, they should enjoy their season-ending division titles.

The Giants-Braves series was pretty much over as soon as Billy Wagner got injured. That threw the Braves' bullpen, already running on fumes, into a tailspin. The Braves' defense was simply awful, much as it had been most of the season. The Giants' defense was not crisp either, but the Giants were able to outlast the shaky Braves. No wonder Pablo Sandoval disappeared from the starting line-up; the guy is a misadventure waiting to happen at third base. As for the pitching, Lincecum was outstanding in his post-season debut. I felt sorry, though, for Hudson and Lowe, who both pitched their hearts out for the Braves. But oh that brutal defense behind them.

The other ALDS, too, was about pitching and defense. Game 5 last night had it all: Cliff Lee at his brilliant post-season best for the Rangers and shocking defensive miscues by the Rays, who were schooled on the base paths. Elvis Andrus at 20 can no doubt run like a deer but there is no way Vladimir Guerrero should score from 2nd on an infield ground-out. It will be interesting to see if the Rangers abuse Posada and the Yankees in the same way.

All in all, there was some great pitching (Halladay, Lincecum, Lee, Hamels) in the first round but also some ugly, ugly baseball. The only offense clicking so far is, sigh, the Yankees.

charges dropped against tyson gillies

It was reported this weekend that the cocaine possession charges against prospect Tyson Gillies have been dropped. Gillies was arrested on August 20 for an alledged incident on June 11, when a bag of cocaine was found in the back of a police car in which he had been riding. Officers were reportedly giving Gillies a ride home after they had noticed him standing by the road waving his shirt. Gillies supposedly tested negative for any drugs in a test administered five hours after the alleged incident.

Start to finish, this story was a bit murky. All I can say is that Gillies, a touted piece in the Cliff Lee trade, does not seem to be the type of person who would squander his talents or the opportunity given him. It is just as likely that none of this would have happened had he not been injured and rehabbing in Florida.

happy 100th!

Shirahata Miyoshi, my former ragweaving teacher in Tono, earlier this year celebrated her 100th birthday. A friend in Tono sent photos from the party held to celebrate the event. I used one here against a throw I wove while studying with Miyoshi, who was also a nationally-known storyteller.

Tono is in Iwate prefecture, in northeastern Japan, and is known for its remarkable legends, collected by folklorist Yanagida Kunio, who visited Tono early in the 2oth century. One hundred years ago Yanagida published a compilation of the legends under the title Tono monogatari (The Legends of Tono). I often heard Miyoshi recount legends that she learned as a little girl sitting around the open hearth in her family farmhouse. She was an unforgettable storyteller and a local treasure.

Happy 100th to Shirahata Miyoshi and the Tono monogatari!

it's the giants

Saturday's game is sure to be the most over-hyped in either of the championship series, featuring Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum. It's Jonathan Sanchez, though, who makes me nervous. The Phillies are still, I believe, the better team, but that doesn't mean they will win. I could easily see the Giants taking the series. H20 have pretty pedestrian numbers against the Giants, odd in that they are not much of an offensive team. On the other hand, neither this year are the Phillies. Maybe the 103.5-mph Aroldis Chapman offering that Carlos Ruiz smacked Sunday night for a ringing double is a portent. That was, supposedly, the fastest pitch ever hit.

phillies take the cole train to nlcs series

Thank you, Cole Hamels. I wanted a complete game shutout in Game 3 and that's exactly what you delivered last night. Hamels, who made his debut four years ago in Cincinnati, has always liked pitching there. Coming into last night's game, he had a 6-0 record and an ERA of 1.07 in seven starts against the Reds.

Last night was simply more of the same. Hamels, who was masterful, gave up five hits, struck out nine and walked none. Brandon Phillips led off the 9th with single to left, but Hamels then got slugger Joey Votto to ground into a doubleplay. That left former Phillie Scott Rolen. Hamels got him swinging on a 95-mph fastball to end the game and to send the Phillies to their third-consecutive NLCS series.

With that strike-out, too, Cincinnati offense: finis. Cincinnati defense: finis. The talented, upstart Cincinnati Reds: finis. The Reds were shut out in two of the three games.

The Phillies scored twice. Their first run came in the 1st, on yet another Reds' error. They scored their second in the 5th, on a Chase Utley homer that just crept over the wall. Utley now has more home run than any other second baseman in postseason history, with 10. And how could I forget the sparkling defensive play by Shane Victorino, on a hard liner by Brandon Phillips? Or that Hamels hit a long fly ball off of Aroldis Chapman in the 9th?

Up next, the Braves or the Giants, but that won't be till Saturday.

Freak Brings It

Great pitching duel but Lincecum came out ahead. 117 pitches, 14K's, 9 innings of beautiful ball. It was beautiful because Lincecum was allowed to finish the game.

That was Thursday night. Nothing like the festivities of post season with patriotic bunting lining the walls.

Fear the Beard

The Giants slogans for the post-season are "Torture" and "Fear the Beard." we got plenty of both last nite. After a first inning 3 run homer by former Phillies player Pat Burrell, he later made a fielding error that converted a single into a double that started the Braves rally. All it took was a huge blown save by Wilson for the rabid fans to be deflated like so many limp orange pompons. Deja vu from early in the season when Wilson blew a save to a gem pitched by Lincecum. As for the beards that all the relievers are sporting, especially the black dye job on Wilson, I say the beards aren't feared by the opposing team but the Giants fans themselves. This writer sported her own luxurious bush, only to learn that female fans were sporting panda heads, not beards.

reds unravel, phils pull the string

Game 2 on Friday night was a disaster for the Reds. Early on it was a dud for the Phillies. From the first pitch Roy Oswalt looked as if he had been invaded by space aliens. He said later it was rust, but I don't know about that. He was gone in five, having given up four runs. Red starter Bronson Arroyo was also gone in five, giving up two runs with a little help from some porous defense.

It turned into a bullpen meet and the Phillies prevailed. Between hitting men and walking them, the Reds kept the Phillies on the bases. Eventually they cashed in. Down 4-3 in the 7th, Chase Utley was 'hit' on the knuckles by an Aroldis Chapman blazer at 101 mph. Said Utley afterward of the pitch in one of the great lines ever, "I felt like I thought it hit me." Whatever Utley felt, he put his head down and headed straight for first. No one contested it. He was later called safe on a bang-bang play at second. In truth, Scott Rolen was ill-advised to throw to second in the first place. Then Jimmy Rollins hit a liner to right that Jay Bruce misplayed into a two-base error. Brandon Phillips added another circus touch by bobbling the throw to the infield. Utley stumbled rounding third (did he even touch the bag) and scored, with Werth on his heels. "It was hectic out there," said the deadpan Utley.

So the Reds went from a 4-0 lead in the 5th to a 7-4 defeat. Five of the Phillies' runs were unearned thanks to four Cincinnati errors, including the one by Bruce, two by Phillips and one by Rolen, all of whom are Gold Glovers. One of the funnier headlines the next day was in the Inky: "Bobble Reds, Cincy held giveaway night..."

Hitting and defense have been Cincinnati strengths, but in Game 1, the Reds did not hit and in Game 2, they did not field. The Phillies, meanwhile, did what they always do: capitalize on the opponent's mistakes. Chase Utley committed two errors early in the game and looked to be the goat. What he said later was, "What I have learned is when you make an error, you have to put it behind you. You can't change it at that point. All you can do is move on from there and try to improve on your mistakes."

game 2: bronson arroyo v. roy oswalt

Another postcard from the friends who went to Fan Appreciation Day. This one shows a bit of Oswalt's home debut as a Phillie, on August 11 against the Dodgers. The Phillies won it 2-0. After Halladay's no-hitter, Oswalt quipped that the only way to top it was for the offense to come up with 25 hits.

more from last night

Oh the happy faces at the end of last night's game. This father and daughter were next to me at the game and totally into every minute of it. They were also good, good people, and I'm happy they allowed me to take their photo. Lucky girl, lucky dad.

It was a blur of rally towels for most of the game last night.

Another note from last night: It was the first time the Cincinnati Reds had been no-hit since 1971.

It was a most happy day for Zoo with Roy. Do check it out at www.zoowithroy.com.

Late last night I heard a national talking nitwit say that after Halladay's no-no, Roy Oswalt was sure to get lit up tomorrow. It could of course happen, but the guy neglected to mention that Oswalt is 23-3 lifetime against the Reds. He is also 9-0 in his career at Citizens Bank Park.

halladay's historic, no hits reds

Any seat in the park last night was a good seat. I liked mine just fine but, seriously, I would love to sit behind home plate for one of Roy Halladay's games.

Unbelievable. At the start of the 8th inning, the man two seats next to me hugged his daughter, who looked to be about 13 and was wearing a softball jacket. I smiled at the guy and mouthed over the girl's head: Unbelievable. He echoed the comment and hugged his daughter again. At that point everyone was standing for every Halladay pitch. With each strike, each out, the roar of the crowd got, unbelievably, louder and louder. When Ruiz got the final out, the most frazzling out of the night, we all could have gone spinning off into space. It was an unbelievable night at the ballpark.

So this is what Roy Halladay did in his post-season debut, after starting 320 games in the majors. He faced 28 batters, walked one, on a close call at that, gave up only one hard hit ball, to pitcher Travis Wood, threw 104 pitches, 79 for strikes, (25 of them for first-pitch strikes), struck out eight, and made it all look effortless from start to finish. And he did it all against the Cincinnati Reds, who led the National League this year in all offensive categories. He made them look feeble.

Driving down to Philadelphia, I was thinking about Cliff Lee's postseason debut in last year's NLDS, an electrifying performance that ended in the 9th with the whole park chanting, Let's go, Lee! And thinking about Hamels' dominating performance in the 2008 NLDS against the Brewers. Then I heard that Polanco had been scratched for the day's game with a back problem and hoped it was not an omen.

After the 1st inning, though, you had to have the feeling that the Phillies had the game. Halladay retired the first three Reds on 10 pitches, and I thought, hey, he could do that another 24 times. But it was Shane Victorino who sealed it. With one out in the 1st, he doubled, stole 3rd, then scored on an Utley sac fly. Shane was obviously in his post-season form. Little did we know that it was ball game over right there. However, with two outs, the Phillies added three more in the 2nd, one coming on a Halladay RBI single. Gosh.

Reds' starter Edinson Volquez didn't make it through the 2nd. The Reds bullpen came in and did a sterling job but it was too late. The Phillies had a 4-0 lead and that indeed was the game.

In the 4th, I wondered briefly if Halladay would pitch another perfect game. After he walked Bruce in the 5th, on a full count, I thought, OK, the perfect game is gone, it's a no-hitter. By the 6th, the no-no was on everyone's mind. In the 8th it was standing room only while Doc was on the mound. In the 9th, the joint was rocking to chants of Let's go, Doc! Pretty soon it was all over and the park erupted. An unbelievable game, an unbelievable postseason debut.

Yet, until the weird little dribbler off the bat of Brandon Phillips in the 9th, I never thought it was in doubt. But Ruiz made a quick recovery and threw Phillips out at 1st. I was at the Millwood no-hitter at the Vet and remember feeling as nervous as a cat till the last out, and that was against the offensively-challenged Giants.
Memorable as that game was, last night's was awesome to the nth degree.

Friday will be the 54th anniversary of the only other no-hitter in baseball post-season history, Don Larsen's perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. That happened in the World Series, in the days when the WS was the play-offs. Another big difference, while Larsen was a journeyman pitcher, Halladay is an ace.

One of the best quotes afterward came from Scott Rolen, "I never thought I would look forward to facing Roy Oswalt." Oswalt and Hamels have their work cut out for them. Halladay, meanwhile, is proving Ruben Amaro to be a genius. Red Doctober, indeed.

h2o and let's go

At Charlie Manuel's presser today, someone asked how hungry Roy Halladay was to be in the post-season. Charlie could barely answer for laughing, "I think he's real hungry, I think he's starving." And the room cracked up. He was also asked about having Halladay and Sweeney, two veterans who have never been to the post-season, on the team this year. Sweeney, he said, was high energy, vocal, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet,--and he can still hit. "As for Halladay," said Manuel, "I could sit here and talk about him forever."

There was a lot more in the presser. To those who listen, Charlie Manuel has a lot to say. He keeps reminding me of various Zen 'masters' I knew in Japan, who gave these little talks that went drifting by until days or weeks or months later you suddenly twigged to what had been said. Or maybe you never did.

No matter what happens in tomorrow's game, it's been amazing watching Halladay pitch this season. H2O: Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt. What continues to be wonderful about the Phillies is that they are above all else a team. They have their share of stars, but their stars don't act like stars. They never put themselves above the team. It's really something special to watch.

H2O will take the Phillies far or not. In a five-game series, though, anything can happen; luck and timing are as big as anything else. The best team, and coming into the post-season the Phillies are certainly that, sinply does not always win.

Just now, with temperatures in the 50's and a steady rain falling, it's hard to believe there will be a game tomorrow. I'm thinking it's good that my seat is under cover. H2O, let's go!

it's the reds

A postcard from friends from this year's Fan Appreciation Day.

Specifically, it's Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels against Volquez, Arroyo, and Cueto. And it all starts at 5:07 on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The forecast is for cool weather and showers, probably much like today, which this morning is feeling chilly. Not exactly Charlie Manuel's 'hitting weather', but I do hope the Phillies are in an offensive frame of mind. The Reds are sure to be.

Carlos Ruiz says he is sore but hopes to be ready for Wednesday. X-ray results were negative but he will see team doctors today. J.C. Romero, who left yesterday's game with a back problem, says that he will be ready to go. Here comes Antonio Bastardo!

Giants Clinch!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

braves escape 8-7

Billy Wagner almost blew it in the 8th, giving up three runs, but in the end he got Raul Ibanez swinging with the tying run on base. Danys Baez did blow it, in the 4th. Cole Hamels looked good in his two tune-up innings, while Roy Oswalt did not seem quite tuned in in his one inning. John Mayberry hit a two-run blast to give the Phillies a brief lead. Werth also hit a two-run homer but by then the Braves had eight on the board. Is this bye-bye, Baez, for the play-offs? Please say yes. Bobby Cox did the beleaguered Brooks Conrad a service by playing him at 2nd today. Conrad made one error but was key in the Braves' offense. Redemption is sweet.

And someone please plunk Tim Hudson. Seriously. Hudson nailed Carlos Ruiz on the elbow in his first at-bat and almost took him down. Ruiz looked to be fighting back tears. Hudson is the one who did the same to Placido Polanco in April, putting him on the DL and causing all kinds of elbow problems throughout the season. Polanco, who had his 4th cortisone shot on Wednesday, has been playing through pain all season and will have surgery this winter.

I doubt that he does it on purpose but Hudson seems to have a talent for hitting Phillies on the elbow. I would like to think that Roy Oswalt would have plunked Hudson in his next at-bat were it not for the circumstances. Next season will be time enough. Ruiz left the game and there is still no word on his condition.

The Phillies finish September/October with a 23-7 record. Their season record of 97-65 is the best in baseball. Since July 22, the turnaround point of the season, they are 49-19. Under Charlie Manuel, the Phillies have been the best second-half team in the National League since 2005.

Looks like it's going to be the Reds in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Game 81

Game begins with over excited fans. We must win today.

Third inning Sanchez sends Sanchez home, then Huff sends Sanchez home. 2-0 Giants.






Top of the 6th Sanchez is replaced by Casilla. Is this a smart move?

phils blank braves 7-0

Vance Worley, in his second start in the majors, faced down Tommy Hanson, going five strong innings and giving up just one hit. OK, the Braves are not looking like offensive giants but they are fighting for their play-off lives. The Phillies on the other hand are pretty much playing loosey-goosey--and it shows.

Both starters were lifted after five. The Phillies, who littered the bases each inning, finally broke through in the 7th, again aided by a Brooks Conrad error. (Poor guy, he has definitely been the goat so far.) Chase Utley had two hits, scored two runs, and stole two bases--a good, good afternoon. What starting regulars there were again started to give way to the bench after the 5th. Bastardo, Baez, Madson, and Contreras each threw an inning of scoreless ball. It was the 21st shutout thrown by Phillies' pitchers this year.

So far the Phillies have, almost without trying, put the kibosh on Bobby Cox's retirement weekend. The Padres, meanwhile, again silenced AT&T park. Depending on what happens tomorrow in Atlanta and San Francisco, the Phillies could face the Reds, the Giants, or the Padres on Wednesday. It's even crazier for the Braves, Giants, and Padres.

It was the day the Braves and their fans honored Bobby Cox, who would, if the roles were reversed, probably play things pretty much as Charlie Manuel is doing this weekend. At the end of his speech, Cox saluted Manuel and the Phillies for winning the NL East. Pretty classy. The entire Phillies' team stood throughout the 35-minute ceremony. That, too, was classy.

phillies clobber braves

What was billed as a big weekend for two teams last week turned into an afterthought for one. For the Phillies the final season series with the Braves is tune-up time. The priorities are staying sharp and staying healthy. For the Braves it's a chance to win the Wild Card and to honor the retiring Bobby Cox.

Last night in the 6th, Jimmy Rollins broke the game open with a line-drive grand slam on the first pitch he saw from tough reliever Peter Moylan. The slam was set up by a crucial error by third baseman Brooks Conrad and a savvy at-bat by rookie Domonic Brown. Again, regulars started then gave way to the bench guys. Kyle Kendrick was (smaller case) ok, giving up two runs in six innings. Watching his opponent Brandon Beachy was more interesting. The Phillies kept hitting every chance they had and waltzed away with an 11-5 win. After Rollins hit the slam, the Braves' dugout looked depressed. Vance Worley goes today against Tommy Hanson.

phanatic around town raises more than $250,000

Detail from one of my favorite Phanatics, called "Phanatic Phans". By Max Mason, who did several of the murals at Citizens Bank Park, it was installed at the Philadelphia airport.

The auction is over, the results are in. The Phanatic around Town project raised more than $250,000 for Phillies Charities. The lead Phanatic was, no surprise, the "Phillie Phanatic", created by team illustrator Melissa Maani and signed by all members, here and gone, of the 2010 team, including manager and coaches. It garnered $50,400. I wanted to see the popular statues about town but had to settle for the Walk in the Park.

kurt landes again il executive of the year

For the second year in a row, Kurt Landes, general manager of the IronPigs, has been named the International League's Executive of the Year. In their three years of existence, the 'Pigs have drawn a whopping 1,889,273 fans. This year they set a franchise record of 645,905. A capacity crowd at Coca-Cola Park is just under 9,000. Despite the dismal economy, the IronPigs have continued to draw fans at a record rate. What would happen if they ever fielded a decent team?