Cole shut me up

This is the game we expected a year ago from Cole Hamels when he made his playoff debut. Today he truly became an ace, shutting up critics like me with a signature performance that earned the Phillies their first playoff win, 3-1 over the Brewers, since Game 5 of the 1993 World Series.

As early as the 2nd inning, when the rain began to fall, people around us were talking perfect game. The innings flowed so smoothly for Hamels that I thought it would happen.

With my scorecard in a plastic bag to protect it from the rain, I noted Hamels' brilliance - four perfect innings. In the 5th, I asked Christine if she were nervous even though the Phillies were leading 3-0.

"I'm not nervous about the game," she said, an apparent reference to Hamels' shutdown performance to that point.

But then, after 14 in a row, Corey Hart - who robbed Pat Burrell of a spot on the All-Star team earlier this year - lined a clean single to right. The next inning, Hamels gave up a single and a walk, then set down the final eight he faced. Hamels faced only three batters over the minimum with just 101 pitches through eight innings. I think he should have been out there for the 9th, but we'll have more on that later.

Observations from the stands: When introducing the playoff rosters, the Phils made sure no one was left out, from the manager of umpire services to the video coordinator to Rudy Seanez and Lou Marson. OK, they didn't introduce Adam Eaton. ... The Mastersingers Archmere Academy directed by David John Ifkovits did the anthem complete with police sirens in the background and fireworks overhead. ... Injured Philadelphia police officer Richard Bowes tossed the first pitch, then Phillies playoff her-, er, goat, Mitch Williams, came out to Wild Thing and promptly fired one right down the middle. Well, he missed the catcher, but he kept the ball in the park this time. ... The announcer pleaded with fans to wave their rally towels as TBS began its broadcast. Then we sat and waited for awhile, I guess for commercials to run before the Phils took the field. ... I finally ended a bad stretch and won the scoreboard ice cream shuffle game for the first time in ages - impressive, considering we had an obstructed view of the scoreboard. ... The Phanatic had a great bit today. They had three guys in cheesy-looking hot dog costumes, portraying the famous racing Milwaukee Sausages. One link was distracted by a ball girl, then the next was taken out by Randall Simon. We're still not sure if that was really him. It would be great if it were. The last wiener was tackled really hard by the Phanatic. It was a good hit, and I'm surprised the guy didn't need medical attention. ... Lauren Hart sang God Bless America.

Post-game: Walking out, we saw someone in a Sal Fasano Phillies shirt. Christine tried to snap a photo for Straight Cash Homey, but we couldn't get close enough and the photos came out blurry. ... Exiting our parking lot, cars always turn too tight and wind up hitting a big block of concrete on the curb line. Christine and I knew this Lexus in front of us was going to hit, but we didn't expect it to become stuck on this concrete with its wheels in the air. I offered to help the driver, but really there was nothing I could do.

In-game action: Besides Hamels and some good defense behind him, largely Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, the Phillies' play did not match the game's outcome. The offense was awful, and Brad Lidge did his best to fulfill Christine's prediction/worry that today would be the day he would blow his first save as a Phillie. (I predict she's going to make that prediction for the rest of the month.)

All the scoring came in the 3rd inning. Carlos Ruiz singled, the first hit for either team, and Cole reached on an error during a sacrifice bunt. Then, Jimmy Rollins flew out and Jayson Werth struck out, so Yovani Gallardo should have been out of the inning. But defense is crucial in the playoffs, and Chase Utley made the Brewers pay with a two-run double after Mike Cameron misplayed a ball in center field. An intentional walk to Ryan Howard and an unintentional walk to Pat Burrell loaded them up for Shane Victorino, who walked in the third run. Pedro Feliz then thought it would be a good idea to swing at the first pitch he saw and later in the at-bat flew to center to end the inning.

The game was rather uneventful until the 9th, when Comeback Player of the Year Brad Lidge came in to shut the lights. He's pictured above striking out Corey Hart to end the game, but not before he gave up a run, two hits, a walk and a wild pitch while throwing 35 pitches. Even J-Roll seemed annoyed - he didn't huddle with the rest of the infielders when they paid a visit to the struggling closer. It seems lately that every appearance is like this for Lidge. I still think Hamels should have started the inning, but at least Lidge held on for the save.

The Phillies shot their fireworks in the air earlier today, but now it's time to get ready for the 2007 World Champions to begin defending their crown against the Angels.

J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell are in the lineup, and there were a couple of roster surprises: Mike Timlin didn't make the cut, but a third catcher did, meaning Terry Francona may have realized that Jason Varitek can't hit anymore.

"We're carrying three catchers to put our roster in its best position," Francona said. "Believe me, we're going to do everything in our power to win these games. If we feel like running or hitting for anybody is the right thing to do, we will."

Administrative notes: Tonight's game will end too late to update. I'll catch up with the champs tomorrow. Our game photos are a bit off today. Our seats, along the left field line, and the rain didn't make great conditions for picture-taking.

Today was so good, my animosity toward Gagne is subsiding

The Phillies and Brewers were knotted in a pitcher's duel for most of the day game, as the Phils tried to pull within one for the Wild Card - and an opportunity to tie in the nightcap - and the Brewers tried to thwart their challenger.

It was a tense affair until the 8th, when the Phillies got a healthy dose of crappy relief pitching, hammering a former Red Sox for three runs on a walk and three hits in one-third of an inning, leading them to a 7-4 victory.

And guess what? That crappy former Red Sox now working from the Brewers bullpen was not the goggled, roided, washed-up Eric Gagne. It was Brian Shouse.

The Brewers saved Gagne, whose awful performances for the Red Sox last year still haunt me even though they won the World Series, for mop-up duty. He got Carlos Ruiz to fly out to right. Corey Hart, who beat out Pat Burrell for the final slot on the All-Star team this year, turned it into a double play because Pedro Feliz ran from first base as if there were two outs. He's lucky that came at a forgettable moment in the game. But SoxandPhils was taking note.

There were two big blows in the game for the Phillies. In the 6th, down 3-1, it seemed like old times when Chase Utley got hit with a pitch to lead off and Ryan Howard knocked him in with a home run. We didn't get a picture of the Phillies two big bats celebrating at home because of another incident with a drunken fan.

Before I could log the play in my scorecard, I was knocked out of my seat to the ground. I didn't know what happened until I saw a drunk guy whose seat was in the row behind me laying in the row in front of me. Apparently he got "too excited" by the home run and fell - mostly on me, but a little on Christine, too. The park ushers neither checked on us nor seemed to care that there was a patron in the park too stinking drunk to stand up.

He kept talking with his friends, who thought his fall was awesome. Our season ticket neighbor leaned over to us and asked, "What's more annoying, having him fall on you or hearing him keep talking about it?"

Back to the game: While the fall kept Christine from snapping a photo after Howard's homer, she got the next big blast, a three-run homer by Shane Victorino in the 8th to put the Phillies ahead 7-4. (Pat Burrell had just driven in the go-ahead run with a single.)

On-field observations: Great start for Joe Blanton, seen to the right battling fellow fattie Prince Fielder. At first Christine was disappointed we were getting Blanton instead of Brett Myers, whom we still haven't seen live. Then she predicted Blanton would win and Myers would get shelled in the nightcap. Thankfully, that prediction didn't hold up. Blanton did his job - three earned on two walks and five hits with four strikeouts. Take out the first and fifth innings when the Brewers scored their runs, and he gave up one walk, hit by pitch and hit in five innings. ... ESPN's No. 2 Web gem today was Corey Hart's 5th inning catch. From the stands, it looked look an easy fly that he seemed to lose in the sun. ... Chase Utley played like an old-time scrappy second baseman. He had a sacrifice bunt and turned a couple of nifty plays in the field, including a double play in the 5th off of Hart. He fielded it, hustled to beat Jason Kendall to the bag and leaped over him to avoid a collision. It seemed like there would be no time to even attempt a throw to first, but he nailed Hart in plenty of time. ... Why is Charlie Manuel intent on blowing out Brad Lidge's arm? For the second time in two days, he brought him in a non-save situation, apparently forgetting he might need him for the night game.

Observations from the stands: We heard some singer outside the ballpark doing Sweet Caroline before the game. Christine wished harm on those who were singing along with him; I said he's just getting people in the mood for October. ... The Annville Cleonia High School marching band played some jazz standards on the field before the game - it wasn't explained why they were there. Joe Blanton was almost hit by a flag. ... The Phillies, with Burrell's help, handed out trophies for some kids' home run derby contest. The award was bigger than some of the kids and one poor soul (not pictured) got a broken trophy. Jamie Moyer and one of the ball girls also won this contest in their younger days. ... The Malvern Troop 7 Boy Scouts of America presented the colors. ... The Westminster Youth Choir sang the anthem with some bugle accompaniment. It got me in the mood for a fox hunt. ... "They're just torturing me right now," Christine said when the scoreboard featured Myers as one of the stars of the game. At this point, the Brewers still had the lead off of Blanton. ... Great name for the folk singer doing God Bless America - Ace Enders.

The other half of the 2008 World Series: The Red Sox head to Tampa just one game out after a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. The Rays lost to the Yankees 8-4. Jon Lester pitched really well; Jonathan Papelbon didn't. Papelbon's on our fantasy team; Lester's on our opponent's. His performance may knock us out of the playoffs. We'll find out tomorrow.

Phillies game 2: Great game by Brett Myers, a complete game 6-1 win on short rest. I'd wax poetic and probably remember writing him off with harsh words throughout the season, but tonight's post is long enough. Unbelievable. The Phillies, who control their own destiny, are tied with the Brewers for the Wild Card and trail the Mets - who blew it against the Braves in the 9th today - by just one with two full weeks to go. Can't wait to read the headlines in the New York tabloids tomorrow.

Pat wuz robbed

I truly thought the Philadelphia fans would come through. I clicked for Pat Burrell many times, knowing that this could be his last opportunity to make an All-Star team, especially as a Phillie. I surprised myself with my interest in this.

I knew David Wright would be tough to beat - he's from a bigger market in a city that's hosting the All-Star game. Plus, he's got better buzz nationally than Pat the Bat. I didn't think Corey Hart, playing for Milwaukee, would be a serious candidate. Turns out he was. Turns out he didn't deserve it.


Entering Thursday's play, Burrell and Hart had roughly the same playing time. Burrell's averages could all set career highs - .282/.414/.587 - compared with Hart's .293/.332/.504. I admit I didn't look closely at all the candidates' numbers, but if Burrell's on-base percentage was a measly .332, I might have given him a few votes, but I wouldn't be so gung-ho about it.

Looking further, thanks to Hart's advantage in hits (because it appears he has no judgement of the strike zone), each has roughly the same number of total bases. Runs and RBIs are also about the same. Burrell has struck out 12 more times despite 45 fewer ABs, but he has walked 68 times compared with Hart's 17.

In the field, Hart is probably better, although Burrell hasn't (officially) erred this season. Hart records about two outs per nine innings compared with Burrell's one and a half. And Hart has 13 steals, and Pat, as you know, is mobile challenged.

I thought Charlie Manuel's obsession with removing Burrell late in the game would cost him, but turns out it hasn't. I don't know what did.

At least Evan Longoria beat out Jason Giambi despite the Yankees' moustache giveaway.

Today: Burrell, who might have been daydreaming about making the All-Star team, went 0-3 in an afternoon matinee. Didn't matter. The Phillies crisply beat the Cardinals 4-1. Jamie Moyer put in seven strong innings, and Ryan Howard homered twice, raising the batting average to .234 and giving himself a slight shot at Mike Schmidt's team record of 31 first-half homers. Howard already set the Phillies first-half RBI mark.

Delighting Gary Matthews, Alyssa Milano was in the house selling her line of women's sports apparel. He seemed intrigued by her many tattoos.

Competitors: The Mets also won; the Marlins play late. The Red Sox were off, but are now 1.5 games out because the Rays lost.

[Photo credits: MLB.com (Corey Hart), Delwareonline.com (Pat's flip)]