Phillies vs. Dodgers NLCS

These two teams are playing very well coming into this series. Each with their pitchers rested up and ready to throw some gas. Its Dodgers vs. Phillies, the two teams that swept each other in the month of August. This will be the fourth time they have played in the National League Championship Series, but the first time since 1983. They finished off the two Midwest teams, now its time to see who will have the right to play for the World Series.

Here are some questions coming into this series:

Strength vs. Strength
Overall, the Phillies were fourth in the NL in team ERA. But their offense has been particularly impressive, tied for second in the NL, leading the league in home runs. (The Dodgers led the NL in giving up the fewest home runs. Something might have to give here.) Derek Lowe is an impressive postseason pitcher and once again proved it by pitching a phenomenal performance against the Chicago Cubs. No. 2 starter Chad Billingsley is one of the game's most underrated pitchers, and Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant in the clincher against the Cubs in Game 3. He started twice against the Phillies this season, allowing four hits, two runs and two walks with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings. Plus, the Dodgers' bullpen is loaded with power arms. But on the other hand the Phillies have Ryan Howard who led the league in Home Runs and RBI's and they have the former MVP in Jimmy Rollins which must count for something. Something has to give.....

What kind of Phillies will we see?
Its hard to pinpoint how they will play offensively. They scored 799 runs this year, only second to the Cubs this year. But they have been known to go pretty cold and for lengthy periods of time. They have three great players in Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley; as well as Pat Burrell (33 Home Runs) and Jayson Werth (24 Home Runs). But its stifling when they don't hit as they did in the first 3 games of the NLDS against Milwaukee. They scored all their runs in the first 3 innings and went 5-31 with runners in scoring position isn't going to cut it. But they scored 43 runs in eight games against the Dodgers this season. Will they hit well in this series? That is anyone's guess.

How important has Rafael Furcal's return been?
Furcal



Extremely important. Before he got hurt May 5, he was their best player, hitting .366, running wild and playing great defense. "He means as much to the Dodgers as Derek Jeter means to the Yankees," one scout said. Furcal isn't the player he was in April because he has missed so much time, but his speed was evident in the Cubs series when he extended a crucial inning with a two-out bunt hit. He went 4-for-12 with three walks in the series, and his speed on the bases is a vital weapon that the Dodgers must use to their advantage. Plus, he is their leadoff hitter, meaning Matt Kemp andRussell Martin don't have to hit there, and that will allow them to drive Furcal in.

Is Cole Hamels turning into a big-game pitcher?
Hamels



Absolutely. Cole has been outstanding for the Phillies this year and completely baffled hitters in the NLDS series. He was so good in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Brewers, one scout said, "The Brewers saw changeup after changeup after changeup, but they couldn't stay back against it. They really tried, but they couldn't. And when they looked changeup -- which you can't do -- he threw his fastball by him.'' Hamels didn't pitch well in his first postseason appearance last year against the Rockies, but like all good pitchers, he learned from it. Now he appears to be the best starting pitcher in this series, which is saying something. And he might be needed twice -- maybe three times -- in the series. If the Phillies win this series, its because Hamels lead them to the World Series on his back.

Is Rusell Martin turning into a big-game hitter?
Martin


Definitely. He pounded Cubs pitching in the NLDS, going 4-for-13 with three doubles and a home run. He has always been a good hitter, but with the arrival of Manny Ramirez, he is getting even more to hit, which was clear in Game 2 against the Cubs when Carlos Zambrano had to throw Martin a strike on 3-1 with the bases loaded and Ramirez on deck. Martin launched it to left-center for a three-run double. Martin is determined to be a great player -- so determined, in fact, that when he made an out in an exhibition game last spring, he fired his bat in anger. Two springs ago, one Dodger said Martin had a chance to be "one of the best catchers of all time. His focus is incredible.'' He lost some of that this year, one teammate said, but now it appears he has it back -- just in time for the biggest games of the year.

Conclusion: This series matches strength with strength. The home ballparks play to the strengths of the two clubs -- Citizens Bank, one of the most hitter-friendly facilities in the Majors and Dodger Stadium a much more favorable venue for pitchers.And you have a notable stylistic difference between the two managers. Both are accomplished, but on the Dodgers' side is the urbanite, Joe Torre, with 13 straight postseason appearances. Torre has now made his success bicoastal. On the Phillies' side is the folksy Charlie Manuel. Manuel sounds like country but he is country shrewd, succeeding as a manager in both leagues, now winning division titles with the Phillies for the past two seasons.If you add it all up and you come up with something like a very even matchup.The teams split eight games during the regular season. I see this being an extremely close series with the difference being that the pitching will just be a little better for the Dodgers.

Dodgers in 7.