NLCS Game 2: Phillies at Dodgers (Phillies lead 1-0)

Some quick hits of what we learned in game 1:

1) The Phillies strength with their power-hitting lefties proved to be too much for the Dodgers power lefty starter and strong lefty pitching out of the bullpen.

2) It was a big win for the Phils to wrestle home-field from LA, but don't overestimate the importance of this victory; something tells me with that creaky Philly pen, a blowup or two could be looming nearby.


3) Every time the Phillies struck for a big inning, the Dodgers put a multi-run inning on the scoreboard in the bottom half. Says a lot about the Dodgers fight and ability to counterstrike.

4) That was by far Cole Hamels least impressive postseason victory.

5) George Sherrill's uniform won't be immediately shipped to Cooperstown after that performance.

6) Brad Lidge's saves aren't winning any style points, but he's getting it done and little else matters.

7) Nothing from that game changed my opinion that this will be at least a 6-game series, and don't be totally shocked if the Dodgers managed to steal two of the three in Philadelphia.

Today's matchup: Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.63, 37/8 K/BB, 44 2/3 IP) vs. Vincente Padilla (12-6, 4.46, 97/54 K/BB, 147 1/3 IP). Nobody has even a remote clue what we're going to get out of either of these pitchers, but the pressure is certainly on Padilla and the Dodgers to win game two. He's gone 4 and 0 in seven games started with LA, and his 3.20 ERA in that span contrasting with 4.92 with the Rangers certainly shows he's been a new pitcher over the last two months. That hasn't stopped extra firefighters being called to duty at Dodger Stadium to prevent the highly flammable Padilla from causing massive destruction. You won't be getting Vintage Most Dominant Pitcher of the '90s Pedro Martinez, but the Phillies potent offense will not need dominance; with the way they came out swinging the bats last night, five innings of mediocrity out of Pedro may get the job done. If, however, Pedro does what he's been known to do over the years, conjures the old magic and rises to the challenge with a turn-back-the-clock performance, it might be lights out for the 2009 Dodgers.

Prediction: The Dodgers are too good to lose the first two at home (right?). Maybe. Predicting playoff games is more difficult than judging Tom Cruise's sanity, so let's just say 6-5 Dodgers and flee the premises.