2011 NLDS Game 5 Live Blog

The last time the Phillies played a win-or-go-home game in the playoffs was in 1981.  With Steve Carlton on the mound, the Phillies lost 3-0 to the Montreal Expos.  30 years later, right-hander Roy Halladay is on the mound as the Phillies take on the Cardinals.  This may be the most coherent paragraph I right all day.

Game 5: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers 5:07 (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)

Game 5: Cardinals vs. Phillies 8:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)

2011 NLDS Game 4 Live Blog

I will be bitterly disappointed if Joe Blanton does not make a pinch-hit appearance today.  I probably will not be around for the start tonight.  As for what time I will be around, honestly, I am not sure.  Expect it to be around 6:00 and 8:00.

Game 4: Phillies vs. Cardinals 6:07 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)

Game 4: Brewers vs. Diamondbacks 9:37 (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)

A Tale Of Two Calls

It is a home run that is already drawing comparisons to Matt Stairs' moonshot that won Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS.  And not just the magnitude of the homerun.  But in the call of the national TV play-by-play announcer. This is Joe Buck calling the "devastating turn of events" in 2008.  And now here is Dick Stockton calling Francisco's shot today.  See if you notice any similarities.

P.S.  If you want to hear a real announcer's call of that home run, fast forward to the 28 second mark of that video and hear Scott Franzke.

NFL Week 4/ALDS Game 2/NLDS Game 2 Live Blog

Football and playoff baseball, woohoo! Wait, what?  Ron Pitts and Dick Stockton are each announcing a Philly game, respectively?  NOOOOO!!!!!!!

Game 2:  Tigers vs. Yankees 3:07 (TNT - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)

Game 2: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers 5:07 (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)

Game 2: Cardinals vs. Phillies 8:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)

2011 NLDS Game 1/ALDS Game 1/ALDS Game 2 Live Blog

Who is ready for 9 hours of Tinie Tempeh's Written In The Stars and advertisements for re-runs of , er, I mean, the second day of the MLB Playoffs!  

Game 1: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers 2:07 (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)

Game 1: Cardinals vs. Phillies 5:07 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)

Game 2: Rays vs. Rangers 7:07 (TNT - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Jamie Maggio)

Game 1: Tigers vs. Yankees 8:37 (TBS - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO LIVE BLOG!

2011 League Division Series Schedule

Well, after hours of torture and waiting, MLB and TBS have finally officially released their announce schedule for the NLDS and ALDS.  After what some have claimed to be one of the greatest nights in the history of sports last night, these playoffs have a lot of live up to, but regardless, the small sample size crapshoot nature of the MLB Playoffs should mean fun regardless.  Unless of course you are a Phillies fan like me and will be stuck listening to Dick Stockton for three to five games.  I eagerly anticipate the numerous errahs in the booth.  On a more serious note, Brian Anderson takes over as the lead play-by-play announcer this year as Ernie Johnson is dealing with some personal family issues.  (all times ET)

National League Division Series

Philadelphia Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Game 1:  October 1:  Cardinals vs. Phillies  5:07 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 2:  October 2:  Cardinals vs. Phillies  8:07 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 3:  October 4:  Phillies vs. Cardinals  TBD (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 4:  October 5:  Phillies vs. Cardinals  TBD (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 5:  October 7:  Cardinals vs. Phillies  TBD (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Craig Sager)

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Game 1:  October 1:  Diamondbacks vs. Brewers  2:07 (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)
Game 2:  October 2:  Diamondbacks vs. Brewers  4:37 (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)
Game 3:  October 4:  Brewers vs. Diamondbacks  TBD (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)
Game 4:  October 5:  Brewers vs. Diamondbacks  TBD (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)
Game 5:  October 7:  Diamondbacks vs. Brewers  TBD (TBS - Victor Rojas and Joe Simpson, SR: Sam Ryan)

American League Division Series

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers

Game 1:  September 30:  Tigers vs. Yankees  8:37 (TBS - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 2:  October 1:  Tigers vs. Yankees  8:37 (TBS - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 3:  October 3:  Yankees vs. Tigers  8:37 (TBS - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 4:  October 4:  Yankees vs. Tigers  TBD (TBS - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 5:  October 6:  Tigers vs. Yankees  TBD (TBS - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz, SR: Tom Verducci)

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Game 1:  September 30:  Rays vs. Rangers  5:07 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Jamie Maggio)
Game 2:  October 1:  Rays vs. Rangers  7:07 (TNT - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Jamie Maggio)
Game 3:  October 3:  Rangers vs. Rays  5:07 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Jamie Maggio)
Game 4:  October 4:  Rangers vs. Rays  TBD (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Jamie Maggio)
Game 5:  October 6:  Rays vs. Rangers  TBD (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Jamie Maggio)

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 6 Live Blog

Giants @ Braves 7:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 3 Live Blog

Game 2: Reds @ Phillies 6:07 (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 2: Braves @ Giants 9:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

I'll be at Citizens Bank Part cheering on the Fightin Phils (pssssst, look for me on TBS), but that should not stop you from commenting on the LIVE BLOG OVER HERE

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 2 Live Blog

Game 2: Rangers @ Rays 2:37 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)

Game 2: Yankees @ Twins 6:07 (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)

Game 1: Braves @ Giants 9:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

Live blog is over here.

Larsen And Halladay

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HISTORIC FINAL OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 1 Live Blog

Game 1: Rangers @ Rays 1:37 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)

Game 1: Reds @ Phillies 5:07 (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 1: Yankees @ Twins 8:37 (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)

Phillies 2010 NLDS Roster Set

Last week, I decided to get in the head of Charlie Manuel and projected the Phillies post-season roster. Now granted, most are obvious, but as far as the ones that were not obvious, well, I did not too shabby. Unfortunately I was not perfect, but hey, who is, right?

Anyway here is the actual post-season roster the Phillies will be going with to start the NLDS.

Catchers (2)
Carlos Ruiz
Brian Schneider

Infielders (8)
Ryan Howard
Chase Utley
Placido Polanco
Jimmy Rollins
Mike Sweeney
Ross Gload
Wilson Valdez
Greg Dobbs

Outfielders (5)
Raul Ibanez
Shane Victorino
Jayson Werth
Ben Francisco
Domonic Brown

Pitchers (10)
Roy Halladay
Roy Oswalt
Cole Hamels
Brad Lidge
Ryan Madson
Chad Durbin
Jose Contreras
Joe Blanton
J.C. Romero
Antonio Bastardo

Outside of having Ross Gload as an outfielder instead of an infielder (Gload plays 1B as well as all outfield positions), the only projection I got wrong was having an extra pitcher, Kyle Kendrick, on the roster instead of an extra outfielder, Domonic Brown. If he is only coming in to pinch hit, I guess I am okay with that, but under no circumstance should he be in the starting line up. If an outfielder gets injured, start Francisco before Brown.

The playoffs start tomorrow. I will be live blogging the entire day of baseball, starting with Rangers-Rays at 1:30. Join me and the rest of the cast of normal characters for what should be a fun day of baseball on TBS. Chip Caray might be gone from TBS, but we'll be sure to bring the fisting to the live blog anyway!

2010 LDS Schedule

Welcome Mormons!

JFein, ladies and gentlemen! He'll be here all night. Tip your waitresses, why don't you?

Now that my bad jokes are out of the way, here is the TBS' schedule along with announcing assignments for the 2010 NLDS and ALDS! (all times PM ET)

National League Division Series

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds vs. NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

Game 1: October 6: Reds @ Phillies 5:07 (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)
Game 2: October 8: Reds @ Phillies 6:07 (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)
Game 3: October 10: Phillies @ Reds TBA (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)
Game 4: October 11: Phillies @ Reds TBA (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)
Game 5: October 13: Reds @ Phillies TBA (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)

NL Wildcard: Atlanta Braves vs. NL West: San Francisco Giants

Game 1: October 7: Braves @ Giants 9:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 2: October 8: Braves @ Giants 9:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 3: October 10: Giants @ Braves TBA (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 4: October 11: Giants @ Braves TBA (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)
Game 5: October 13: Braves @ Giants TBA (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

American League Division Series

AL West: Texas Rangers vs. AL East: Tampa Bay Rays

Game 1: October 6: Rangers @ Rays 1:37 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)
Game 2: October 7: Rangers @ Rays 2:37 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)
Game 3: October 9: Rays @ Rangers 5:07 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)
Game 4: October 10: Rays @ Rangers TBA (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)
Game 5: October 12: Rangers @ Rays TBA (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)

AL Wildcard: New York Yankees vs. AL Central: Minnesota Twins

Game 1: October 6: Yankees @ Twins 8:37 (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 2: October 7: Yankees @ Twins 6:07 (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 3: October 9: Twins @ Yankees 8:37 (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 4: October 10: Twins @ Yankees TBA (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)
Game 5: October 12: Yankees @ Twins TBA (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)

For the 3rd year in a row, Brian Anderson is announcing the Phillies NLDS series. For the 4th year in a row, Joe Simpson is announcing the Phillies NLDS series. In 2007, Simpson with partnered with Don Orsillo.

It is my hope to have a live blog up for most of, if not all of these playoffs. I say most of because I am going to Game 2 on Friday and I may not be around for a lot of the weekend until Sunday night. Regardless, I have every intention of a live blog on Wednesday, and unlike last year, I won't have to leave in the middle of the game for class!

Projecting The Phillies Post-Season Roster

The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched a playoff spot! With that news, the discussion of playoff rosters now becomes relevant. Granted this is a piece often written and the only ones worth discussing are the people who will not see a ton of post-season playing time, but I need a quick blog piece to procrastinate my paper, so here goes nothing. Last year the Phillies went with 13 players and 12 pitchers to start the post-season. This year I think you go 14 and 11, if for no other reason, than because the biggest reason the Phillies went 13/12 last year is because they had at least 1 game (turned out to be 2) at Coors Field. The Rockies are not yet eliminated, but their hopes are not exactly sparkling. This piece is written with the thought in mind that they won't pull off the miraculous.

Catchers (2)
Carlos Ruiz
Brian Schneider

Infielders (7)
Ryan Howard
Chase Utley
Placido Polanco
Jimmy Rollins
Wilson Valdez
Greg Dobbs
Mike Sweeney

Outfielders (5)
Raul Ibanez
Shane Victorino
Jayson Werth
Ben Francisco
Ross Gload

Sweeney should be on the roster just based on huggability alone. But given that he is the only experienced 1st baseman on the team besides Ryan Howard, he needs to be there should something happen to Howard. The last thing I want to do is to rely on Ross Gload having to play there if Howard goes down. The same reasoning applies to bringing in Greg Dobbs. While Sweeney has some pop left, Dobbs has absolutely 0 pop, but, he is one of Charlie's guys and if the Phillies need an emergency 3rd baseman, Dobbs is needed, especially if Jimmy Rollins injures himself yet again and Valdez is stuck playing middle infield. Francisco, the sloppy seconds in the original Cliff Lee deal, has been this team's 4th outfielder all year long whereas Ross Gload brings with him some pop, a la Matt Stairs.

Notable absentee: Domonic Brown

Even though Domonic Brown is likely a future star, I don't want him anywhere near this post-season roster. The kid is young, he is inexperienced, and perhaps, he could be overwhelmed by the immense pressure. Not to mention, I don't want to give him the feeling that he has seen and done it all by playing in the playoffs. Leave the kid hungry. The downside to not bringing Brown is you lose his speed, but speed alone is not enough to warrant a spot for a rookie who has shown he is prone to rookie mistakes, and even though he does have speed, he is not gotten much of a chance to apply it in terms of stealing bases.

Pitching (11)
Roy Halladay
Cole Hamels
Roy Oswalt
Joe Blanton
Brad Lidge
Ryan Madson
Jose Contreras
Chad Durbin
J.C. Romero
Antonio Bastardo
Kyle Kendrick

Barring injury, all but the bottom 3 should are easy givens. I'm not a Romero fan at all, but he is a lefty, and the Phillies do not have many of those in The Pen. The same with Bastardo, who at times has shown flashes of brilliance. Plus I like Bastardo's potential. Romero has no more potential, though he is this team's top lefty, for whatever it is worth. His inconsistency is enough of a question mark for me that I won't call him an easy given, but if I were handicapping it, I would say 90% chance Romero makes it. The odds are much lesser for Bastardo, but I would tend to lean going with a 2nd lefty. Kyle Kendrick in case a game goes to extra innings or a starter is pulled early for whatever reason. He's by no means a great pitcher, but at least he can save a bullpen (and a starter) by going 3-4 innings without much of a problem. Plus he is one of the better athletes on the pitching staff and if need be, can take an AB without looking lost at the plate.

Notable absentees: Danys Baez, Vance Worley, David Herndon

If there is going to be a swap, I think it is Baez over Bastardo. I despise Baez. I think he is a terrible pitcher who makes Ryan Howard's ridiculous contract extension look like a good deal, but I think Charlie realizes Baez is terrible as well. The usage of him in the past few months has dropped dramatically. Tough call, but I don't think Baez has done enough to make the cut. Some people argue that Vance Worley should be the Phillies 5th starter. In the future, maybe, but for a guy whose minor league numbers are equitable to Kendrick's major league numbers, I don't see how he fits on the roster. Rule 5 draft pick David Herndon has had an up and down year and has been a long man for Charlie throughout the year (best example of this: Scott Barry and l'Affaire d'Astro), but given that Kendrick will likely be the long man (or if Charlie needs someone early in the NLDS, you could probably even bring in Blanton), Herndon, like Worley, loses his place on the roster.

So that's what I think? Any agreements? Disagreements? Again, the guys who will be argued are the guys who won't see a ton of playing time and will most likely come off the bench or the bullpen, but it is still a fun discussion to have. As always, feel free to chime in in the comments.

TBS Announces MLB Playoff Announcers

And the Fisting One's replacement is.............Ernie Johnson!

LDS Announcers:
Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz
Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson
Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly
Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez

ALCS Announcers
Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, and John Smoltz

Sideline Reporters
Craig Sager
Tom Verducci
Marc Fein
David Aldridge

TBS Studio
Matt Winer, Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken, and David Wells.

Ernie Johnson is the man and even though I have not heard him do PbP much, if at all, he certainly figures to be better than anything Captain Fisted ever had to offer. Overall it looks like a good line-up, certainly much better now that Chip Caray is no longer with TBS to tell us that balls are getting fisted foul. Goodbye, Chip. We'll miss you.