NLCS Preview

For the third year in a row, the Phillies are in the NLCS. And for the third year in a row, they will face an opponent from the NL West as they welcome Pat Burrell and the San Francisco Giants to the Bank Saturday night.

In a series that will feature some great pitching matchups, this NLCS might be the toughest for the Phillies compared to the recent history of beating the Dodgers. Let's face it, Brian Wilson is no Jonathan Broxton and that is not good news for Phillies fans who are used to seeing Matt Stairs or J-Roll just totally destroy any confidence Broxton could ever have.

While I have extreme confidence that the Phillies will be heading to their third straight World Series, this NLCS is scary for a couple reasons.

How the Phillies Could Lose:
1. The Freak. Tim Lincecum's only start against the Phils was all the way back in April when the season was a lot different. Still, Lincecum dominated by going 8.1 innings and struck out 11 while only allowing 2 runs. The game ended in a wild 7-6 win for the Phillies as the typically-sure-handed aforementioned Wilson surrendered a bases clearing tying double to Jayson Werth and the Phils won in extra innings. Still, Lincecum has been nasty against the Phillies and is coming off a superb performance against the Braves (a two-hit, 14 strikeout masterpiece)

2. Pat Burrell. I wake up most nights in deep sweats. Not because of Pat Burrell's sexy eyebrows but because of the karma I'm used to experiencing in the city of Philadelphia. The Phillies have been the luckiest franchise in our cities history if you think about it. It feels like it's time to get completely blindsided. If Burrell has a big series and starts hitting homers, I'm going to feel sick to my stomach. I never had anything against Burrell, but I'm just nervous. I'm as nervous as women who happen to be at the same bar as Burrell after the games. Those women have no chance. (What's worse is possible karma in the World Series. If the Rangers make it through, you know we'll face Cliff Lee at the Bank. Eek!)

3. The offense. They just didn't get it done in the NLDS. They rode great pitching but only scored 6 earned runs and only had a team batting average of .212. We got some timely hits and some big at-bats that produced walks or hit batsmen but we'll need more against the likes of Lincecum, Sanchez, and Cain.

4. The X-factor. Madison Bumgarner? Who? Did you go to high school with him? Sounds like a character from Gossip Girl (not that I watch). But the projected Game 4 starter is a left-handed rookie who the Phillies have not seen yet. They will most likely see him in San Francisco. The ballpark combined with the unfamiliarity with Bumgarner's stuff usually spells trouble for this offense. If the Phillies are leading 2 games to 1 by the time we reach Game 4, a poor offensive output against Bumgarner could mean a shift in the momentum of the series.

Now, like I said, I have the utmost of confidence in the Phils that they can eclipse the Giants and win their third straight pennant. And I have some good reasons.

How the Phillies Could Win:
1. The Doc. The Oz. The Camel. I'm just making up new nicknames at this point but I like them. Otherwise known as H20, I think the combination of Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels might be too much for an already poor Giants lineup. These three guys will give the Phillies a chance to win any game and when that offense heats up, forget about it.

2. Mad-dog and Lights Out. The back of the bullpen was a question mark throughout 2009 and some of 2010. But lately, Madson and Lidge look, dare I say... 2008-esque. Only needed for Game 2 against the Reds, the entire bullpen is well rested and ready to close out some wins in this series. If the Phillies get a lead, they have to feel pretty confident going from a member of H20 to Madson to Lidge.

3. Clooch. Carlos Ruiz is amazing and is one of the most undervalued players in the league. He's our number 8 hitter and has an OBP of .400. He works the count, turns the lineup over, and gets on base. So many little things can add up to big wins in the playoffs. And the clutch-ness carries over to other players too. Unsung heroes like Ross Gload or Ben Francisco can factor into an NLCS too and the Phillies have been known for turning these role players into key figures in October. Just remember Matt Stairs and what he did for the city and you'll know what I'm talking about.

4. The team of destiny feeling. There is just that feeling. The feeling that nothing can stop the Phillies right now. Fresh off their first ever postseason sweep, the Phillies are the "team to beat" as J-Roll once so famously put it. I believe it too. I remember back to my little league days and taking a knee after a practice late in the season. I must have been 13. The coach gave us an impassioned speech about just making into the playoffs. Then anything can happen. We must have listened as we won our next four games and found ourselves in the championship. Unfortunately, my team, "The Orioles", lost to the Yankees in that Game, but it certainly wasn't "Richie the K's" fault. Oh... what were we talking about.

Oh right. Destiny. The Lower-South Orioles were the team of destiny that year and muscled our way to the championship. That's what this team looks capable of and I believe it will happen.

Although it will be tougher than most imagine, I believe the Phils have the guts, experience and talent to go to another World Series. My prediction: Say Goodbye to Burrell and the Giants in 6 games.