The Zo Zone

Luckily, I've got some flexibility, what with the games starting at noon and all (West Coast). The schedule's a joke, but we'll all take it.

Man, the Rockies are a rough bunch. Kinda reminds me of some other group of guys. Should be a tight, tough weekend - pretty much the NLCS in round one.

I'm late to say it, but you've done an awesome job all year, Todd. I'm so happy I could give Bill Conlin a hug.

Go Phils!

I'd steer clear of Conlin until he shaves that beard. That's my advice - from one Phillies fan to the next. I'm just trying to look out for ya.

Who will they replace Eaton with? Geary? How will they manage that? By saying that Eaton re-aggravated his tender right Ego?

You might want to tell your usually excellent colleague Bob Ford that the Phils were 4-2, not 3-3, in their final six games.

COLORADO ROCKIES ARE COMING PHILLY!!!! LOOK OUT!

Oh, and Matt Holliday still hasn't touched home plate.

Granted, Werth spent some time here in LA... but did he have to dress like somebody from "Creed" at the pep-rally? And Myers looks like a really bad Elvis impersonator.

Thumbs-up to Burrell, Ruiz, and Iguchi.

On the topic of Eaton, did it bother anyone else seeing him looking ecstatic when they won on Sunday? At one point he was in the middle of the screen, all smiles. As if he had anything to do with their playoff run.

Although, to be fair, if it weren't for his horrible pitching, the run to the playoffs wouldn't have been as exciting because they would have clinched a few days earlier.

I keep thinking of the following:
1) did you notice the Rockies used ALOT of pitchers last night? That can only be good
2) The game went long. While I hoped for an 18 inning game, I'll take 13.
3) The 3pm start time might actually be in our favor...it gives the Rockies far less time to prepare for us.

Would I have liked the Padres? Sure...but then again keep in mind, when we had to sweep the Mets to stay alive, we did so everytime. So I'm hopeful. But at this point, everything else is just gravy.

In the 4-game series earlier this month, two of the games were started by Durbin and Eaton, neither faring well. I don't think we'll be seeing them now. Hamels did not pitch, and Kendrick took the shot to the knee. Loshe pitched well (3 ER, 6 IP - usually good enough for the Phils). Gordon, Romero and Myers pitched 5.1 innings in the series, giving up nothing. The vast majority of the Rockies' offense came against guys you're just not likely to see in this series.

Of greater concern is that the Rockies' pitching did stymie the Phils offense for a couple of those games. Francis, who pitches Game One, got roughed up by the Phils.

That great run the Rockies made included a bunch of games (7 I think) against the Dodgers. LA was playing a lot of up-and-coming players at the end of the year. And Arizona was already in. Not to underestimate them or detract from their great accomplishment, but the Phils will be the most formidable opponent the Rox have faced since, well, they played the Phils three weeks ago.

A little extra-curricular stuff too... Alfonseca got ejected for hitting Helton after Ortiz hit Werth when the Phils were blowing the 4th game open.

This has all the makings of a good one. The other six teams must be glad the Phils and Rox face off - I don't think anyone wants to run into either one of these teams. I like the Phils' chances. This should be a tense, nervous, emotional series between two teams on highs.

If that's going to be the TV coverage for the next few weeks (until Fox gets the W.S., not that McCarver and Co. are much better) gonna have to listen to Harry and the boys on XM. Lame.
And I'm also still waiting for Holliday to touch the plate.
Look how far we have come in a few days, from hoping they get in the playoffs to bitching about times of the game. I'll come and watch at 7:30 am or 11 pm.
This isn't gonna be an easy series. But I have faith. Bring it on.

The Padres Cy Young candidate gives up six runs, they are missing two star starters and the Rockies barely win in 13 innings at home. Let's see if Hamels is healthy and they have to face JRO, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Rowand and Burrell four times a peice - good luck to anyone!!! Phils made the playoffs we have nothing to lose - '93 all over again - get ready Boston!!!

Enough, of this Eaton talk. Past tense, we'll have plenty of that talk, in the off season It's real simple to me, (2) teams who made the play-offs hitting the baseball. We have more speed , they have more pitching. Both clubs, inexperienced in post season. We need to get out of this hitting slump, to have a chance against Rockies.Phils pitching has come a long way. Bullpen stable. Burrell is our catylist, our hitting woes, came at the same time, he went into late season slump. Coincidence ? My feeling, is that this we'll be one of those series, where no lead will be big enough, PLAY BALL !

Great recap Louis. Will be nice if we can hit Francis again tomorrow. Set the tone early.

I know last night was their first real game, but the TBS guys are awful. Thank you Bud Selig for taking the $$$ and leaving us with announcers who should be calling Division 2 college football.

While I am not over confident, I really like our chances in this series.

It all starts tomorrow with our ace.

Go Phils!

We were also looking forward to the weekend in San Diego (especially given how well the Phils played in July there, and it's closer to San Francisco), but Denver it will be.

Should be a great series of two hot teams. I was hoping for the Padres, since I agree it would have been a better match-up, but what can you do.

Any particular LoDo brewpub we should be looking for you in Todd (and other Phillies fans)? :) Hotels are tight in Denver this weekend, but we'll be at the Hyatt Regency at the convention center.

I enjoy the blog - it's been a great source for us expat fans.

James: concerning Eaton celebrating... I understand what you mean, but in all fairness to the guy, he is on the team, pitched all year, and he did have a couple of really good starts against the Mets (one in the first sweep back in June at Shea, and one in the big 4-game sweep just over a month ago at CBP) - and boy did the Phils end up needing each of those wins against the Mets.

His season was a disappointment, and it is right that he's not on the post-season roster - that's just a sensible move. But I wouldn't deny the guy his right to share in the team's accomplishment. Just my $0.02.

Holla! TBS announcers are horrible - Ernie Johnson get rid of those stupid glasses - and Cal become a coach and forget analyst, the Phils should have swept you in '83!

. . . and second place MVP candidate Matt "I Love You Trevor Hoffman for Blowing the Game and Allowing Me to Finish Second Instead of Third in the MVP Voting" Holliday still has not touched home plate.

Phillies/Rockies... should be wild. But let's hope not too wild. Let's hope those freeswinging Rockies come into CBP all charged up on adrenalin and Cole makes 'em look silly. It will be so important to get off to a good start here at home.

3pm start is ridiculous, but that's the world we live in. I'll be there high above right field... with my shades on as I stare into the setting sun!

My last postseason game was one of the World Series games against the Orioles in '83. We brought poster board and markers and made up signs in the parking lot. One was "Pluck the Orioles" with the old Phillies 'P' and a featherless bird with a hand clenched tightly around its neck. The other was more esoteric: "Phillies Eat 'Oriole' Cookies!" I guess that was the beer talking.

As for that blurb about the Eagles kindly letting the Phils have the spotlight, I think that's a little backwards. It's actually extremely gracious of the Phillies to take the media and fan heat off the Birds. I'm sure Andy Reid is mighty grateful!

Go Phils!

I'm also all for not piling on Eaton. Yeah, he was bad. Really bad, at times. But he's got to feel even worse not making the roster. One of the best things about this blog is the fact that nobody here ever goes overboard - well, okay, I have been a little hard on a certain first baseman at times, and also a certain closer, oh and the no underwear-wearing right fielder... what was my point here? Oh, right. This is a little different, with Eaton. Trying hard is not enough when you're making that kind of money. Still.

He seems like a good guy and enjoys playing here in Philly. Let's hope for next year.

Should be an incredible week.

Can I just say I LOVE watching that video of the team come out and help with the tarp. What a class act. I was, and still am, so proud of "my boys" for doing that. I'll tell you, this team is just such a treat to root for sometimes. Yes, they can make you want to kill yourself (see the 9-8 lost in ATL in Sept) but when they do it right, you just want to hug them. These are guys you want to have a beer with.

Just got my standing room tickets to Tuesdays and Wednesdays games!!!!! LETS GO PHILLIES!

p.s.*please don't break my heart*

I've been as hard on Eaton as anyone, I admit. I don't dislike him as a person, I assume he's a nice guy, good husband and father, good team player. He's just not pitching worth a damn anymore. We don't make the playoffs without his 10 wins, so I say we cut him some slack, he's history for this post season.

A couple things on him: if I'm Gillick, I order up an MRI and see if he's got a bad arm. And there was mention of some personal issue(s) he had to deal with this year, so he may have more than we know going on in his life. If so, good luck, go get it fixed and see ya in Clearwater.

I just don't want to see him on the field anymore unless he's helping the ground crew with the tarp.

Well said, jimmymack. I'm not into this "he's a bum" mentality. The guy wants to pitch better I'm sure. And look back at that tarp video in Colorado. The starting pitcher was out there pulling on that tarp, and that was AE.

It's gotta be tough as hell to be dropped from the playoff roster right now, but his comments in the paper were classy and he held only himself accountable. Seems like a stand-up guy.

But yeah, let's get that MRI.

I agree Bobby - AE seemed to put the team's well-being first in his comments. A controversy involving a disgruntled player could have a seriously detrimental effect on the team right now, and AE, with no hesitation, nipped that in the bud. And like I said in a previous comment, he DID have his moments of important contribution this season. But now is the time for a 4-man rotation, and the right course is clear.

By the way, I had forgotten that he and Rollins were drafted the same year by the Phils. Eaton in the 1st round, Rollins in the second. How about that?