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Q&A with Peter Baker of The Good Phight

Same exercise, new person. Peter Baker of TGP, home of the NL Champions. Check out TGP over the next day or so to see my take on their questions.

Good_phight_medium

It appears that Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer are ripe for the picking, how have the Phillies won two series with these guys starting?

You'll note that the Phillies have lost two games this postseason,
both of Jamie Moyer's starts. He certainly isn't helping. Blanton was quite good in the Game Four clincher versus Milwaukee, and really mediocre in Game Four against Los Angeles (a game the Phillies won anyway, Matt Stairs be praised). So how have the Phillies won? Cole Hamels, and timely hitting -- As good a recipe as any.

We all know how good Chase Utley is, but who are most Rays fans overlooking?

Greg Dobbs, the Phils' likely Designated Hitter in St. Pete. Led the league in pinch hits in 2008. Scott Kazmir will probably flummox him, but he's put up an .846 OPS against right-handed pitching this year. Unlike lots of National League teams in the World Series, the Phillies really have a geniune, credible bat the put in the DH position.

 What's the one thing about the Rays that should scare the Phillies the most?

At the risk of sounding totally hacky and indecisive, their consistency. I've been asked by friends who are casual fans what to make of the Rays -- I tell them that the Rays are a relentless team that, with the possible exception of defense, does not do any one thing amazingly well, but does everything pretty well. It's a team without any real tangible weaknesses, they don't make many mistakes, and they have strong bats at nearly every position.

 On a scale of 10 how awesome is Cole Hamels?

Cole Hamels = Nigel Tufnel's amplifier.

Hamels was drafted in 2002, when the Phillies online community/blogosphere was just starting to coalesce. He has been tracked, followed, obsessed over, and cheered throughout the minors and since the beginning of his big league career. It's been supremely satisfying to see someone who was "our guy" for so long rise from relative obscurity to the pinnacle of the sport.

What will hold the Phillies back in this series?

Consistent starting pitching. It's looking more and more like the wheels are falling off the Jamie Moyer Express, and Brett Myers is as mercurial a pitcher as there is. If Myers can pitch like he did against Milwaukee in his Game Two duel with CC Sabathia, the Rays will be in trouble. If he lets his nerves get the best of him, well, Flags Fly Forever in St. Petersburg.

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Around SB Nation

A Thought

Oct 2008 from Lookout Landing - 63 comments

Keys to the Cadillac...

Oct 2008 from The Good Phight - 4 comments

Comments

Display:

I dont like this

it admits defeat even before we take the field in at least 2 maybe 3 games.

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Oct 21, 2008 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

Congrats from a Sox fan

So after a day of grief for my Sox season, I just wanted to say congrats on winning the ALCS. It was definitely a great series, one of the best I’ve seen. I think, this year, the better team won.

Had it been any other team, I would’ve normally been so disappointed Sunday night, but you guys have had a dream season and deserve a trip to the WS*. I’ll be rooting for the Rays come Wednesday. Good luck!

*(It also doesn’t hurt that you helped knock the Yanks out of October! Please, lets do it again next year!)

by RedSoxFan596 on Oct 20, 2008 10:47 PM EDT reply actions  

Sounds like Brett Myers is the Phils’ version of Matt Garza?

by boteman on Oct 20, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions  

Sort of….emotionally Myers is like Garza, but without the talent.
Flaky + talent = mercurial, e.g. Garza
Flaky + no talent = unreliable, e.g. Myers

Garza was not sent down to the minors this year (go Threshers!), and it did not take until the end of July for Garza to get his fourth win of the season.

Garza is not married, and thus has never punched his wife out in public.

Hm, maybe they’re really not that alike after all….

by i_heart_aki on Oct 22, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

have you actually seen Myers pitch a game where his head is on straight? he has one of the best curve balls in MLB and a very effective cutter… when his head is in the game, he might be more lights out than Hamels…

"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08

Gold... Pure Gold...

by foos05 on Oct 23, 2008 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

You can't even look at the stats

The NL players stats are all inflated from playing in the NL. Don’t even compare the two leagues. We win in 4-5.

by putupyourDUKES on Oct 20, 2008 11:44 PM EDT reply actions  

Dude

He wouldn’t be that rude. Myers only beats his own girlfriend.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Oct 21, 2008 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

You're right

I apologize

hide Brett Myers’ girlfriend after we embarrass him on thursday

by atlantaray on Oct 21, 2008 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

Close the bars so Hamels doesn't break his hand in a fight in Clearwater again

Oh wait, nevermind. Open all the bars and make it free drinks for any Phillies players :)

by Jason Collette on Oct 21, 2008 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

Lawrence Taylor

This is some L.T.-era NY Giants scheming here.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Oct 21, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

no idea

I had no idea they were related. We have to hope Rowand doesn’t resent the team for failing to pad that outfield wall before he Discount Nose-Jobbed himself on it in 2006.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Oct 21, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'd just like to say.

I’m impressed that Baker said that Dobbs would be the likely DH in ST. PETE

9=1

by mrichardkent on Oct 21, 2008 5:13 PM EDT reply actions  

i wouldve went with a platoon of dobbs against kaz and stairs against shields

the red sox had a 9 game elimination win streak, but matt garza was too busy rocking out to tupac to notice

by RaysOfHope on Oct 21, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

dobbs doesn’t hit lefties at all…

"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08

Gold... Pure Gold...

by foos05 on Oct 23, 2008 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

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