Phillies to World Series Again

Last night, the Philiadelphia Phillies used four home runs to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-4, to advance to their second straight World Series and a chance to defend their 2008 World Championship. The Phils will await the winner of the New York Yankees - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim series winner with the Yankees currently holding a 3-1 lead with Game 5 tonight.

I totally missed this one. I said L.A. in 6. After the way the Dodgers dispactched the St. Louis Cardinals and their 1-2 punch of Carpenter & Wainwright, who could have envisioned this outcome? As I look back at the NLCS, I realized a few things.

In my preview, I thought the Dodgers held an advantage over the Phillies at third base, bullpen, closer and a push as far as starting pitching. Even with the Phils 3B Pedro Feliz having only 2 hits, he had a higher batting average than Dodgers 3B Casey Blake. Blake hit a cool .105. Feliz, .118.

The pitching, as a whole, mystifies me the most. The Dodgers bullpen and their closer, Jonathon Broxton, were untouchable most of the season. But not when it counted the most. The Dodgers starting staff managed to allow almost a run an inning, walk a total of 23 batters,and Broxton couldn't hold a lead in what proved to be a pivotal Game 4. The Phillies pitches accounted for only 12 walks.

What about the Phillies closer, Brad Lidge (left)? If Lidge is choosing now to pick up where he left off, it couldn't be coming at a better time for Philly fans (and his Philly teammates). Only four Phillies pitchers gave up runs and two of those were starters (Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton). Of all Dodergers pitchers, only one that pitched more than an inning (Ramon Troncoso) did not allow a run.

Among the starting position players, only 1B James Loney (.353) and 2B Ronnie Belliard (.316) hit over .300. L.A. hit a total of 6 home runs, for the series. The Phillies had 4 last night alone. And how were the Dodgers going to score when their leadoff hitter SS Rafael Furcal, did not manage to score a single run in the series? In his 20 at bats, Dodgers CF Matt Kemp saw fit to strikeout 8 times. NLCS MVP Ryan Howard (right) walked 6 times.

Regardless of the outcome of the Angels-Yankees series, the Phillies will be on the road for the first two games of the World Series. With New York holding a 3-1 lead, Yankee Stadium appears to be their destination.

Imagine the runs that series would produce.