Acing the playoffs

When the regular season started, there was much concern about Josh Beckett reporting to camp with a bulge in his midsection. When it ended Sunday, an oblique strain that officially pushed his start to Game 3 has raised questions about whether he'll pitch at all in these playoffs.

So goes the subpar, injury-filled season for a two-time World Series hero. As with Curt Schilling, you don't question his guts or competitiveness, but it's always a worry when your ace - especially one with Beckett's postseason resume - may not be ready to go.

In his absence, two-time AL Pitcher of the Month Jon Lester gets the ball in Game 1 Wednesday night against John Lackey. I'm not calling the Sox a lock to win this series, but I like this pitching matchup.

Each John pitched a World Series clincher when they 23 years of age. Lackey is more experienced, but didn't pitch well against the Sox in last year's ALDS. He didn't pitch at all in the 2004 sweep.

Sleep is usually hard to come by for me in October, and it'll be even worse this year. Game 1 starts at 10 p.m.; Game 2 starts at 9:30 p.m. No other times have been posted for the Sox.

For the Phillies, Cole Hamels has a chance to shut up those, like me, who question his big-game ability in Game 1 at 3 p.m. Wednesday. In his playoff debut last year, he gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings. He seemed to get more comfortable as the game went on, and there was an issue with the game conditions; it was a hot 81-degree October day, and Cole came out in long sleeves.

In the past few years, I've seen the Sox come back from unthinkable playoff deficits and the Phillies twice come back from the dead in the regular season, so I know not to proclaim a must-win in Game 1. But given last year's sweep, and CC Sabathia pitching Game 2, it would behoove young Cole to put the team and fans at rest with a strong performance. There is no reason this team should not advance to the next round - especially when the Brewers Game 1 pitcher, Yovani Gallardo, doesn't seem to be stretched out to be a starter.

After spending most of the season on the DL, Gallardo pitched four innings in a game last week. He's very talented and had an outstanding rookie season in 2007, but as long as the Phillies don't go up there hacking away like they did against the Rockies last year, they should be teeing off against the awful Brewers bullpen by the middle innings.

Administrative business: Many people come to this blog in search of information on a certain relative of Pat Burrell. Until now, we've resisted posting a photo. But in the spirit of the Phillies repeating as division champs for the first time since 1981, we will oblige:


Pat Burrell and his two best friends: a beer and Elvis, his bulldog. What? Were you expecting Burrell's wife Michelle Fonseca?

[Photo credit: Jose F. Moreno, Courier-Post]