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.

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]