Game Recap:
The Phillies closed out the 2010 regular season by trotting out eight pitchers in what was basically a spring training game for them. With that being said, with the loss today, the Phillies allowed the Braves to win the National League Wild Card.
What went right?
Really? I'm going to do this tonight? Oh well, might as well close things out.
Jayson Werth went 1-3 with a two run home run.
John Mayberry had a pinch hit two run home run.
Wilson freaking Valdez was 1-1 with an RBI.
Ben Francisco went 1-1 with a two run double.
Cole Hamels only pitched two innings, but did well, allowing no hits and striking out two while walking one.
The Phillies finished the season with the best record in baseball for the first time in team history.
What went wrong?
Placido Polanco was 0-3.
Chase Utley went 0-3.
Carlos Ruiz left the game in the third inning after being hit on the elbow with a pitch. Brian Schneider came in for Ruiz and went 0-3.
Danys Baez pitched part of the fourth inning and could only record two outs. He allowed four runs on five hits and was tagged for the loss.
Joe Blanton pitched the fifth inning and it looked like the first inning of some of his starts. He allowed two runs on four hits and walked one.
The Braves won the National League Wild Card.
Game Analysis:
You know, I could talk about this game today, but that would honestly be a waste of time. For the Phillies, this entire series against the Braves has been nothing more than three spring training games. The Phils clinched everything that they needed to this past Monday when they beat the Washington Nationals, and they still managed to win three of their last five games, including two against the Braves. That just tells you how could this team has been through September and how dangerous they could be going into the playoffs.
Did anyone honestly think that the Phillies would have ended up with the best record in baseball back in July? The Phils were just three games over .500 and looked lost. Sure, they had Roy Halladay, but Cole Hamels wasn't getting any run support, and Roy Oswalt was a bit of a pipe dream. Now, at the start of October, the Phillies have clinched their fourth straight National League East crown and are sitting with home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Hamels only pitched in two innings today, but he looked sharp while he was in there. He walked one, but struck out two and didn't allow a single hit while he was pitching, and just looked more comfortable than anyone has seen him since 2008.
This is a Phillies team that is loaded and ready to go deep into the playoffs once again. The only concern that the Phils might have is the elbow of Carlos Ruiz. It didn't look too bad when he was hit in the third inning, though he did leave the game. It seemed like more of a precaution than anything else, because this game meant nothing to the Phillies. For the first time in a while, this team actually has everyone healthy and ready to go, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. When you throw Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels into the mix, this is a team that should have been the best in baseball this year.
Now, the real fun begins. Starting Wednesday, the Major League playoffs begin, and nothing is decided. Every National League team that made the playoffs is very talented, and each won at least 90 games. This is not going to be a walk in the park for the Phillies. Remember, two years ago, the Dodgers won just 84 games and made it to the NLCS. Anything can happen. It's now a race to 11 wins. First team to get there gets a parade.
On Wednesday, the NLDS begins in Philadelphia for the fourth straight season. Roy Halladay will make his playoff debut against the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds will bring Edinson Volquez out for their first playoff game since the 1995 season. Let's see how this year turns out.
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