Pyle of List

vs.

Season series: Dodgers won 4-3 (2-2 in LA, 2-1 in Philly)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Season Record: 95 - 67

Goods

• This lineup will hit. The Dodgers faced two potential Cy Young Award winners in St. Louis and beat both of them. They are very balanced in terms of righties and lefties and have a deep bench of pinch hitters (Thome, Pierre, Loretta, Belliard).
• BBB - Best Bullpen in Baseball. When you only need your starters to throw 5 solid innings, you know your bullpen is the real deal. Bellesario, Kuo, Sherrill, and Broxton are set up to dominate the late innings.
• Home Field Advantage. Even though both teams have better overall records when talking home/road splits, it’s nice to have the pressure be in your favor the majority of the games. It will especially help the young pitchers like Billingsly and My Boy KERSHAW!1! (who will never have to pitch in Philly).
• They got this far with a sub-par Manny. Imagine how good they could be if Manny returns to anything resembling his career postseason numbers.

Bads

• A lot of young players on this squad. Kemp, Ethier, Loney, Kershaw, Billingsly. Yeah, all these guys were on the squand that made it to the NLCS last year, but that’s about it for their playoff experience; riding Manny’s hot bat. It’ll be interesting to see how they respond to being the leaders this time around.
• No true ace. At the beginning of the year it looked like Billingsly was going to step into that roll. Then he fell off in the second half. There are moments when it looks like KERSHAW!1! could be an ace, but he’s young and inconsistent. I mean, their game one starter, Randy Wolf, never pitched in the playoffs until this year, and it’s not because he’s young.
• Not a speedy bunch. Kemp and Pierre both stole at least 30 bases, but Pierre isn’t a regular player anymore. The next highest total is Furcal with 12. It just means the Dodgers won’t be putting too much pressure on the Phillies pitchers once their on base.

Philadelphia Phillies

Season record:  93-69

Goods

• Been here before. Not just this far into the postseason, but against this very team. There is a lot to be said for good players (of which the Phillies have a lot of) having that extra edge of confidence against a team.
• They’re essentially the same team as last year…only better. They didn’t lose any major pieces from their World Series run last year and added two major pieces (Cliff Lee and Raul Ibanez).
• Two aces. We’ve seen teams ride two great pitchers to WS wins in the past (’03 Marlins, ‘01 D-Backs) and the Phillies have the two guys capable of repeating that: Lee and Cole Hamels. Hamels’ overall numbers may not blow anybody away, but he has a great postseason resume, and is capable of throwing a gem any time he toes the rubber.
• “Hey, you fellas got some, uh, big sticks…”. Howard, Utley, Victorino, Ibanez, Werth. These guys can mash, no doubt about it. And it’s not just a product of their ballpark, like some may claim. These guys are all capable of sending one into the seats anywhere, anytime.

Bads

• Lots of lefties. Howard, Utley, and Ibanez are all left handed hitters. The Dodgers start their postseason rotation with two pitchers that have killed lefties this year (Wolfe and especially KERSHAW!1!).
• The bullpen is suspect. Some of their best relievers will be lost for the series (either due to injury or having to move to the rotation), leaving everyone’s favorite late inning punching bag Brad Lidge out there on an island. Lidge blew 11 saves this year (1 being to the Dodgers) and has looked shaky in the postseason (you really want a closer that refuses to throw a fastball to Tulowitzki?). That can’t give you a lot of confidence.
• Starting pitching depth. Listen, having two aces is great, but what’s after that? Old Man Martinez? A rookie (J. Happ)? If the Dodgers steel a game against the aces (which I think they will) then the Phillies could be in trouble.

Prediction: Pain Dodgers in 6