MLB Playoffs Log 10/1

The MLB Playoffs *officially* started today and, even though my Cardinals were left out of the fray, I intend on watching as much baseball as I can the next few weeks. To get back into the blogging practice, I've decided to keep a playoff journal full of updates, predictions, and a humble opinion of what I see throughout October.

NLDS Game 1: Phillies 3, Brew Crew 1

Two words: Cole. Hamels. Eight innings pitched, two hits, nine K's, no runs. Hamels had a great season, surely good enough to sit on the fringe of Cy Young talk, but there was one stat that blew him out of contention: his win-loss record. However, it was a direct result of receiving terrible run support, and it looked like that may be the case again today...until the error. Maybe the play was harder than it looked, maybe it was jitters, maybe it was playing for a club that hadn't tasted October since four days after my birth. Irregardless, Mike Cameron misplayed a flyball that lead to all three of the Phillies unearned runs. Game over.
Alright Milwaukee fans, which do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news?
The good news: Brad Lidge looked human. After not blowing a save all season long, it took Lidge 35 pitches to get through the ninth. Ryan Bruan struck for one run, then while waiting on second base he watched Prince Fielder take a wild swing at ball four to strike out; a Fielder walk in that situation changes the game. You'd have Hardy and Hart coming up with two on and one out and if Hardy still would have walked, it would have been bases loaded and the real pressure would have been on Lidge. Again, most likely playoff-rookie jitters, but if Fielder lays off that one pitch, we may have had a different outcome. Then again, maybe it's that one pitch that makes Brad Lidge that good.
The bad news: in my opinion, the story overshadowing Hamels' dominance is the news that Ben Sheets is out for the playoffs. That alone is what made Milwaukee so dangerous in a short series, they had the best 1-2 punch of anyone. Now you don't have Sheets, you lost the opener, and CC may only get one start. You heard it here first: the Brew Crew won't live to see a Game 5.

NLDS Game 1: Dodgers 7, Cubs 2

Don't worry, Cubs fans, it's just one game. Unlike the Brewers, I'm not ready to announce Chicago's demise. I have a feeling this series will go the distance and the Cubs will represent the NL Central in the NLCS. But that doesn't mean the North Side faithful shouldn't have any concerns. (Of which they do, considering how on edge the Wrigley crown appeared last night. The color men in the booth kept referring to the palpable uneasiness they sensed from the crowd, as if they are waiting for something bad/disappointing to happen. But how can you blame them?)
First of all, that James Loney grand slam wasn't a fluke, or at least not entirely. During the first four innings Ryan Dempster looked pretty good, but at times he struggled with his command. After the second walk he handed out in the fifth, I thought for sure they were going to pull him -- at that point he had already walked six batters and thrown 98 pitches. Yet he was left in to walk the next batter and then give up the home run. Dempster will rebound in his next start. It's Piniella's best impersonation of Dusty Baker that would have me concerned. In the playoffs, you have to know when to make pitching changes.
Secondly, this may be a glimpse of what's to come for Manny Ramirez. No doubt he's been hot since joining LA, but that power golf stroke to the bleachers in left field may be the beginning of a big post-season for Manny.
All in all, the Cubs aren't in a hole of which they can't dig out. Big Z will have a big game tonight against Chad Billingsley and get the win. Chicago has too good an offense to keep down. And this is coming from a Cardinals fan.

ALDS Game 1: Red Sox 4, Angels 1

I only watched two innings of this game, so I don't know much more than what I read in the box score. Looks like Jon Lester turned out a gem. Jacoby Ellsbury was a spark in the lead-off spot. Jason Bay is still doing his best Manny impression by providing the offense. Sportscenter highlights showed plenty of Boston defensive plays, which is surprising because they aren't usually known for their defense.
Looking at the hearts of the lineups, it looks like the Angels should have had the advantage: their 2-5 hitters went 8 for 15 (.533) while the BoSox 2-5 went 2 for 16 (.125). If this trend keeps up, the Angels will find success in this series.