NLDS preview Q&A with The Good Phight
Oh Man. We're less than 16 hours away from the NLDS. Oh Man.
And because we haven't inundated the front page with enough articles yet, I have yet another one for you.
I exchanged questions with Peter Baker (WholeCamels) of The Good Phight, SBNation's Phillies blog.
Let's listen!
1. Who has been the biggest surprise for you on a team that's been relatively stable in terms of personnel for the past few years?
Probably Jimmy Rollins. Even though he had a much better second half (.642 OPS pre-ASB; .801 OPS post-ASB), he was shockingly, eye-wateringly awful for the first three months of the season. We're fortunate that the lineup is so deep and powerful, and that Raul Ibanez spent the first two months of the year hitting like Albert Pujols, otherwise the team would have really struggled to score runs with Rollins struggling.
2. Madson or Lidge?
Madson. Look, he's not a dead-solid lock the way Brad Lidge was last year, but with Ryan Madson, you can reasonably hope for a clean inning. With Lidge, all season, it's been nearly hopeless. He isn't perfect, but Madson is the best we've got.
3. What name, event, or concept do you anticipate being the most sick of hearing about come the end of this series?
"In this park, NO lead is safe!" -- apply liberally to Coors Field and Citizens Bank Park. I'm sick of opposing announcers giving the impression that CBP is somehow not legitimate. Well, guess what, two straight NL champs, two hitters' parks. Shove that up your Turner Field. Particularly frustrating because both the Phillies and the Rockies are solid pitching clubs.
4. Which Phillies player needs to step up for them to defeat the Rockies?
Cliff Lee. Something in between the Unhittable Pitching Robot of his first five Phillies starts, and the Hittable Pitching Machine of most of his recent outings, ought to get the job done. Lee is on track to start two games in the Series. If the Phillies can win those starts, they probably win the Series.
5. Which Rockies player worries you the most in a short series?
Todd Helton, a Phillie-destroying beast. 1.143 career OPS vs. Philadelphia in 335 plate appearances, so we have an appreciable sample. The only saving grace here for the Phillies is a pronounced platoon split (.986/.741) in 2009, but all it takes is one grooved fastball from some righty jerk in the bullpen to make it all for naught.
6. Series outcome prediction.
Phillies in 4. Phillies claim the first two in Philadelphia, then win Game Four behind lefty J.A. Happ.
Wow! What an interview! Thanks for your time, Peter, and here's to absolutely embarrassing your purchased ace Cliff Lee, and here's to hoping that he singlehandedly extinguishes the whole "WELL HE'S GOING TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE THAT MEANS HE'LL BE BETTER" myth!
Because really, isn't that the more important thing? The furthering of NL awesomeness?
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Comments
A really nice exchange of interviews
It is nice to get the other perspective, and this was respectful and interesting. I am surprised Helton is their biggest fear, I mean he is an awesome hitter but other Rockies I think are now more fear inspiring.
They seem like good people over there at thegoodphight. I hope they are all crying soon!
"It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time." ~W. Churchill
by Rock Oax on Oct 6, 2009 9:27 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
"Phillies in 4"
Bah. I beg to differ. Rockies in 4. Period.
Rocktober is the best time of year, yes?
by rockhead on Oct 6, 2009 10:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
lee has been streaky of late
he can certainly be beaten tomorrow….
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
by shaqfor3 on Oct 6, 2009 10:54 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, guess what, two straight NL champs, two hitters’ parks. Shove that up your Turner Field.
+1
"Admirably obsessive." - Uni Watch, March 24th, 2009
NA34 | HK | RMN
"Even our depth has depth." - Silverblood
by oo_nrb on Oct 7, 2009 1:52 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
im really sad ill essentially miss half the series
We had better take at least one in philly
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Oct 7, 2009 7:37 AM MDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
tbs playoff conmercial
Includes highlights of the phillies, Yankees, red sox, angels, dodgers, tigers and mets. Maybe the cardinals
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Oct 7, 2009 7:54 AM MDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Tigers highlights? epic FAIL
Man, I’m really tempted to buy a MLB.com TV package, but I’d only be able to use it today, and $20 to watch 2/3 of one baseball game on a 17" monitor seems silly.
DVRing it for late night home viewing, however.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Oct 7, 2009 8:00 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
tigers highlights still > mets
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Oct 7, 2009 8:19 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I thought it was just 9.95...
And you get to watch batting practice for every game! There are some cool features that you might find yourself enjoying even when you can watch on TV.
"It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time." ~W. Churchill
by Rock Oax on Oct 7, 2009 8:38 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I never actually checked price
But I have to leave at 3pm to pick up dad from the airport, and could possibly have to miss the later innings…and I likely get to watch tomorrow’s on TV. So it just seems nonsensical to buy it. We’ll see…maybe.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Oct 7, 2009 9:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
TBS needs to die
Seriously, I have never been more disgusted with a network’s “coverage” of the postseason.
[Expletive] TBS.
Between their commercials and Chip Caray’s godawful excuse for sports commentating, it’s really the worst experience I’ve had watching baseball. I’d listen to 2 George Fraziers in the booth before I willingly listen to Chip Caray.
EXECUTE: It's the Clutch thing to do
by Andrew Martin on Oct 7, 2009 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beg to Differ.
There is a place in this world where Saved By the Bell lives forever, where Zack and Kelly never break up (except on that one episode where they did) and where Slater is always wrestling for the state title. A time before Screech did bad porn and worse standup. Where Miss Bliss was inexplicably replaced with a whole nother school in a whole nother state, but for some reason the same principal went along. Where you can feel that familiar sting when you realize “oh, this one’s a Tori.” The pain of which sting can only be eased when you feel the euphoria of realizing “oh, this one is from the beach resort!” And most importantly, a place where Elizabeth Berkely lives on as the pure being we know her to be, not whatever she was in Showgirls.
There is such a place, RMN.
That place is TBS.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightenedinmate#2 on Oct 7, 2009 9:00 AM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
That was good. Very good.
That may be the funniest post i’ve read on PR. Well done. Made my morning.
by JaySantos on Oct 7, 2009 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
I was kind of hoping everyone would read it in a James Earl Jones voice.
Funny Dog to Make Life Worthwhile
by frightenedinmate#2 on Oct 7, 2009 10:15 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
JEJ or Morgan Freeman?
EXECUTE: It's the Clutch thing to do
by Andrew Martin on Oct 7, 2009 11:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh wow.
EXECUTE: It's the Clutch thing to do
by Andrew Martin on Oct 7, 2009 11:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
My theory is that they made the commercial before the Rockies had any games on TBS.
And that they’re only using clips from TBS games.
by holly96 on Oct 7, 2009 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
ZOMG, only four hours, 36 minutes to go
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Oct 7, 2009 8:01 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
ZOMG!! Bad time for the Row to go down!
Trying to e-mail you re your post in the tix thread….
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Oct 7, 2009 9:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

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