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So the Phillies and the Yankees (very shortly) both have home field wrapped up in their respective leagues. The focus has turned to resting players who need it and lining up the rotation.

Oh yeah, and taking advantage of a unique opportunity to tip the wildcard races in their favor.

The NL wildcard race looks like this:
NATIONAL W L GB
Atlanta 88 68 -
St. Louis 86 70 2
San Fran 84 71 3.5

And the AL looks like this:
AMERICAN W L GB
Boston 88 68 -
Tampa 85 70 2.5
LA Angels 85 70 2.5

The Braves and Red Sox are both limping to the finish line, while the other four teams are finishing up strong, particularly the Cards (14-6 in September), Giants (who likely waited too long), and Angels (12-7 in September).

Now to the point. The Phils play the Braves and the Yanks play the Red Sox in the next several days. These are probably the least likely to succeed in the playoffs of the six teams in the WC races.

Do you even try to get a hit against them?

So who do you want to face in the first round?

dbackjon wrote:So who do you want to face in the first round?

I'd take your team over the Cards right now. I'd prefer to let someone else face the Brew Crew first.

93henfan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:So who do you want to face in the first round?

I'd take your team over the Cards right now. I'd prefer to let someone else face the Brew Crew first.

I honestly think that Arizona matches up better with Philly in a short series than does Milwaukee.

Arizona has pitching. Milwaukee not so much.

dbackjon wrote:

93henfan wrote:
I'd take your team over the Cards right now. I'd prefer to let someone else face the Brew Crew first.

I honestly think that Arizona matches up better with Philly in a short series than does Milwaukee.

Arizona has pitching. Milwaukee not so much.

Well there's another way to look at it. The Phils haven hit well the last month or so. Wouldn't you rather be a team that could put up runs? I doubt you're going to outpitch the Phils.

93henfan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:


I honestly think that Arizona matches up better with Philly in a short series than does Milwaukee.

Arizona has pitching. Milwaukee not so much.

Well there's another way to look at it. The Phils haven hit well the last month or so. Wouldn't you rather be a team that could put up runs? I doubt you're going to outpitch the Phils.

I think we have a better chance in a short series vs a long series. And with Kennedy/Hudson, we COULD outpitch the Phillies.

dbackjon wrote:

93henfan wrote:
Well there's another way to look at it. The Phils haven hit well the last month or so. Wouldn't you rather be a team that could put up runs? I doubt you're going to outpitch the Phils.

I think we have a better chance in a short series vs a long series. And with Kennedy/Hudson, we COULD outpitch the Phillies.

You didn't seriously type that, did you? Kennedy lasted all of 3 innings against the Phils last time he faced them in mid-late August. Once the rally towels start waving, it gets even more intense. Arizona doesn't hit enough to beat the Phils - you need to score something in the playoffs and unless Arizona just got SF-hot (and that's always a possibility of course) then you're in trouble. But of course, everyone has a better chance in a short series versus a long one - anytime you need to just win 3 versus winning 4 of course it makes it easier.

GannonFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:

I think we have a better chance in a short series vs a long series. And with Kennedy/Hudson, we COULD outpitch the Phillies.

You didn't seriously type that, did you? Kennedy lasted all of 3 innings against the Phils last time he faced them in mid-late August. Once the rally towels start waving, it gets even more intense. Arizona doesn't hit enough to beat the Phils - you need to score something in the playoffs and unless Arizona just got SF-hot (and that's always a possibility of course) then you're in trouble. But of course, everyone has a better chance in a short series versus a long one - anytime you need to just win 3 versus winning 4 of course it makes it easier.

did I say we are going to win? Kennedy will do better in the playoffs- everyone has a bad game. And you made my point - Philly is the better team, but the shorter the series, the easier it is for a lesser team to sneak a couple of wins.

Kennedy and Hudson are very good pitchers - probably the second best duo in the NL after Halladay/Lee.

I hope the Phillies are like the fans - already planning the parade, and forgot to show up to play in the playoffs

dbackjon wrote:

GannonFan wrote:

You didn't seriously type that, did you? Kennedy lasted all of 3 innings against the Phils last time he faced them in mid-late August. Once the rally towels start waving, it gets even more intense. Arizona doesn't hit enough to beat the Phils - you need to score something in the playoffs and unless Arizona just got SF-hot (and that's always a possibility of course) then you're in trouble. But of course, everyone has a better chance in a short series versus a long one - anytime you need to just win 3 versus winning 4 of course it makes it easier.

did I say we are going to win? Kennedy will do better in the playoffs- everyone has a bad game. And you made my point - Philly is the better team, but the shorter the series, the easier it is for a lesser team to sneak a couple of wins.

Kennedy and Hudson are very good pitchers - probably the second best duo in the NL after Halladay/Lee.

I hope the Phillies are like the fans - already planning the parade, and forgot to show up to play in the playoffs

ngineer and I were at last night's Phils game, and it was ugly. I've been following the Phils since '64 and I still bear the emotional scars of that year. I'll never rest easy until the last out of the World Series is recorded. Even then! But 2008 gave me some cathartic relief.

Not sure if the Yankees are gonna go all out in the series against the Red Sox. From what I saw all three pitching match-ups favor the sox pretty heavily. Something like...

Lester vs. F. Garcia
Wakefield vs. Burnett
TBD (forgot who they'll be starting) vs. Nova

All the talk in Philly is everyone wants the D-Backs in the 1st round & I'll agree.

dbackjon wrote:

GannonFan wrote:

You didn't seriously type that, did you? Kennedy lasted all of 3 innings against the Phils last time he faced them in mid-late August. Once the rally towels start waving, it gets even more intense. Arizona doesn't hit enough to beat the Phils - you need to score something in the playoffs and unless Arizona just got SF-hot (and that's always a possibility of course) then you're in trouble. But of course, everyone has a better chance in a short series versus a long one - anytime you need to just win 3 versus winning 4 of course it makes it easier.

did I say we are going to win? Kennedy will do better in the playoffs- everyone has a bad game. And you made my point - Philly is the better team, but the shorter the series, the easier it is for a lesser team to sneak a couple of wins.

Kennedy and Hudson are very good pitchers - probably the second best duo in the NL after Halladay/Lee.

I hope the Phillies are like the fans - already planning the parade, and forgot to show up to play in the playoffs

No dice on the last account - the Phils team is all professionals and fully aware of the need to play the games. We as fans, on the other hand, have the leisure of looking ahead.

GannonFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:

did I say we are going to win? Kennedy will do better in the playoffs- everyone has a bad game. And you made my point - Philly is the better team, but the shorter the series, the easier it is for a lesser team to sneak a couple of wins.

Kennedy and Hudson are very good pitchers - probably the second best duo in the NL after Halladay/Lee.

I hope the Phillies are like the fans - already planning the parade, and forgot to show up to play in the playoffs

No dice on the last account - the Phils team is all professionals and fully aware of the need to play the games. We as fans, on the other hand, have the leisure of looking ahead.

and as for the three innings - remember, there was a two hour rain delay, and neither starter returned...

bluehenbillk wrote:All the talk in Philly is everyone wants the D-Backs in the 1st round & I'll agree.

Why is that?

arizona has the best record in baseball since Mid-may. better than Philly

Phillies....D-Backs....can....whoop-ass

Questions?

bluehenbillk wrote:Phillies....D-Backs....can....whoop-ass

Questions?

We shall see Dbacks already have beaten Halladay in Philly once. Will happen again

dbackjon wrote:

bluehenbillk wrote:Phillies....D-Backs....can....whoop-ass

Questions?

We shall see Dbacks already have beaten Halladay in Philly once. Will happen again

Hmm you sound pretty sure of yourself. Might be the desert sun. Care to back that up?

bluehenbillk wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
We shall see Dbacks already have beaten Halladay in Philly once. Will happen again

Hmm you sound pretty sure of yourself. Might be the desert sun. Care to back that up?

Season series:
@ Arizona
AZ 4-0 WP Kennedy, LP Lee
AZ 7-5 WP Hudson, LP Oswalt
PH 8-4 WP Hamels, LP Saunders

@ Philly
AZ 3-2 WP Shaw, LP Halladay
PH 9-2 WP Lee, LP Saunders
PH 4-1 WP Herndon, LP Kennedy

So the Dbacks have already beaten both Lee and Halladay this year, split with the Phillies, have a better record since May 15th than the Phillies.

Philly is the better team, but the gap is not what some claim.

So dbackjon, you care to wager on such series, should it happen?

dbackjon wrote:

bluehenbillk wrote:

Hmm you sound pretty sure of yourself. Might be the desert sun. Care to back that up?

Season series:
@ Arizona
AZ 4-0 WP Kennedy, LP Lee
AZ 7-5 WP Hudson, LP Oswalt
PH 8-4 WP Hamels, LP Saunders

@ Philly
AZ 3-2 WP Shaw, LP Halladay
PH 9-2 WP Lee, LP Saunders
PH 4-1 WP Herndon, LP Kennedy

So the Dbacks have already beaten both Lee and Halladay this year, split with the Phillies, have a better record since May 15th than the Phillies.

Philly is the better team, but the gap is not what some claim.

doesn't matter what teams did against another team during the regular season especially when it comes to the Phillies and that rotation. If I had to bet on it, I would bet my life savings on Halladay, Lee, Hamels than Kennedy, Hudson, and Saunders. Don't get me wrong I hope the DBacks destroy the Phillies but in my honest opinion I don't think the DBacks stand much of a chance.

bluehenbillk wrote:So dbackjon, you care to wager on such series, should it happen?

Of course. Even though I have repeatedly said the Phillies are the better team. I expect the Phillies to win the WS this year. But I also think the Dbacks will be the toughest opponent in the NL for them.

dbackjon wrote:

bluehenbillk wrote:So dbackjon, you care to wager on such series, should it happen?

Of course. Even though I have repeatedly said the Phillies are the better team. I expect the Phillies to win the WS this year. But I also think the Dbacks will be the toughest opponent in the NL for them.

How about the loser makes a written concession post & then does not post on the Other Sports (this) section of the forums until the winner's team is done playing. You in?

or

bluehenbillk wrote:

dbackjon wrote:
Of course. Even though I have repeatedly said the Phillies are the better team. I expect the Phillies to win the WS this year. But I also think the Dbacks will be the toughest opponent in the NL for them.

How about the loser makes a written concession post & then does not post on the Other Sports (this) section of the forums until the winner's team is done playing. You in?

or