2009 Chachi #86 Checklist 1-86

In my opinion, all good baseball card sets need a checklist and that checklist should be part of the set. As a set collector growing up, I never minded whenever I'd get a checklist in a pack of cards. It was the roadmap. It was a necessary tool. Without the checklists, I'd have no idea who I needed to complete a set, let alone how many cards comprised the complete set.

The 2009 Chachi set marks the fifth year I've put together a complete team set chronicling the year that was for the Phillies. This set marks the first year I haven't created backs for each card in the set. Creating the backs was an extremely time-consuming endeavor, and the maintenance of this blog took precedence this past season. (The blog is more fun than creating the card backs for every card.) However, I needed a back for the checklist card in order to capture the complete 86-card checklist. There are some "insert" cards listed as well, some of which found their way on to the blog over the past year.

The number of cards in a complete Chachi set varies from year to year, depending on the number of Phillies players, highlights and Postseason appearances. The inaugural 2005 set contained 63 cards, followed by 71 cards in 2006, 73 cards in 2007 and 87 cards in 2008. There's no way to tell how many cards will be included in the 2010 Chachi set, but card #1, featuring the 1974 Topps design, will debut on Opening Day 2010.

2009 Chachi #84 World Series Game 6/Defeated

World Series Game 6 - November 4, 2009
Yankees 7, Phillies 3

This is not a game I particularly care to remember or to recap. Suffice it to say, it was not an enjoyable game. The Yankees soundly defeated the Phillies in Game 6, winning their 27th World Championship.

The Damn Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd when Hideki Matsui golfed a Pedro Martinez fastball into deep right. In total, the eventual World Series MVP would explode for 6 RBIs on three hits in the game. The Phils got a run back in the 3rd when Chooch tripled and Jimmy Rollins drove him in with a sac fly. But that was pretty much the extent of the Game 6 excitement for a Phillies' fan.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Yankees started another rally when Shane Victorino misplayed a Derek Jeter fly ball, resulting in a single for the Yankees' captain. Matsui knocked in two more with the bases loaded in the inning, making in 4-1 Yankees. After the Yanks scored three more in the 5th, to give them a commanding 7-1 lead, it was all but over. Ryan Howard hit a 2-run homer in the 6th, but it wouldn't be enough.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recorded the last five outs of the game for the save. I watched the first two outs of the top of the 9th inning, but as of this writing I have yet to see the final out. I saw Shane Victorino send a weak grounder to second and I turned off the TV and went to bed.

Down and Out: This was also the day I started figuring out I was sick. What I thought was a simple cold turned out to be the flu, and our Disney trip took a significant detour. Doug caught it too and we spent the final days of our trip in various stages of grumpiness and/or slumber. I beat it first and then Doug beat it and thankfully Jenna never caught it.

Best Tweet: From beat writer Andy Martino at phillieszone - Robin Roberts in clubhouse. Would be fully rested for a potential Game 7.

Mission Accomplished: The Phillies didn't accomplish their mission, but Doug certainly did. He informed us prior to leaving for "Mickey's House" that he wanted to say hello to Buzz and Woody during his visit. Not only did he get to tell them hello, he also gave them hugs and high fives and informed Woody, "There's a snake in my boots!" Woody seemed amused. And for the record, by my unofficial tally, there were many, many more Phillies fans in Disney than Yankees fans.

2009 Chachi #83 World Series Game 5/Chase Utley

World Series Game 5 - November 2, 2009
Phillies 8, Yankees 6

No matter what the outcome, tonight's ballgame was going to be the last game played in Philadelphia in 2009. Staff ace Cliff Lee came through again, pitching 7 solid innings and ensuring the Phils would make a trip to the Bronx for Game 6.

Lee was erratic in the 1st, perhaps weighed down by the magnitude of this potential elimination game for the Phils. The Yankees scored first in the top of the 1st when Johnny Damon scored on an Alex Rodriguez double. The Phils would quickly jump back into things in the bottom of the inning. Jimmy Rollins singled, Shane Victorino was plunked and Chase Utley homered (the first non-solo home run for the Phillies this series) and the good guys led, 3-1.

The Phils chased Yankees starter A.J. Burnett in the 3rd, scoring twice more and taking a 5-1 lead. Chase Utley's solo home run in the 7th gave the Phils a 7-2 lead and landed Chase in the record books with his 7th career World Series home run. Phillies announcer Larry Andersen christened Chase as the first "Mr. Octember." Just to make sure the last few innings were comfortable for the bullpen, Raul Ibañez added a solo shot a few batters later to make it 8-2 . . . and they would need the cushion. The Yankees would score four times in the 8th and 9th innings, but the Phils hung on to force one more game.

He is the Man: Chase Utley's fifth home run of the 2009 World Series tied him with Reggie Jackson for most home runs in a single World Series. Reggie accomplished the feat in 1977.

Public Service Announcement: If you have a toddler and are weighing your dining options while at Disney's Animal Kingdom, you should steer clear of the Rainforest Cafe. Doug was terrified, terrified, of the swinging monkeys, roaring elephants, dangling snakes and the overall noise of the place. We switched tables a few times, but eventually made our exit. Earlier in the day, Doug loved the Kilimanjaro Safari. As we rode through the safari, he turned to me with a huge grin and exclaimed, "This is cool!" And of course, he loved giving Mickey a high five.

2009 Chachi #85 Gold Gloves HL

The 2009 National League Rawlings Gold Glove winners were announced this afternoon and both Jimmy Rollins (shortstop) and Shane Victorino (outfield) retained their places on the team. This is the third consecutive Gold Glove for Jimmy and it's Shane's second in a row.

Jimmy became the fifth Phillie to win at least three Gold Gloves, joining the elite group of Mike Schmidt (10), Garry Maddox (8), Manny Trillo (3) and Scott Rolen (3). Shane became the first Phillies outfielder to win consecutive Gold Gloves since the original Secretary of Defense accomplished the feat from 1975 to 1982.

Fare Thee Well, Eric: I happened to check the Transactions tab on the Phillies website today and noticed Eric Bruntlett had been dropped from the team's 40-man roster. He's currently listed as a minor league free agent. Eric will be forever remembered as the guy who scored the game winning runs in Games 3 and 5 of the 2008 World Series. He also turned a memorable unassisted triple play earlier this year.

The Complete Set: Unless J.A. Happ wins the NL Rookie of the Year honors on Monday, the 2009 Chachi set will have only three more cards - #83 World Series Game 5, #84 World Series Game 6 and the Checklist at #86.

2009 Chachi #82 World Series Game 4/Pedro Feliz

World Series Game 4 - November 1, 2009

Yankees 7, Phillies 4

The Phillies lost their first ever game played in November in excruciating fashion, giving the Yankees a commanding 3-1 lead in the World Series. In terms of painful losses, this loss could be compared to the agonizing 1993 World Series Game 6 loss courtesy of Mitch Williams and Joe Carter. (I just used excruciating, painful and agonizing in the first paragraph - this should be a great post.)

The Yankees jumped on Phillies starter Joe Blanton early, scoring two in the 1st inning. The Phils quickly got one back in the bottom of the 1st on a Chase Utley RBI-double. After that, Blanton and Yankees starter CC Sabathia settled in for a few innings. In the 4th, after Ryan Howard singled and stole second to start the inning, Pedro Feliz singled him home to tie the game. The tie would be short-lived however when Blanton walked Nick Swisher to start the Yankees' 5th, and he'd ultimately come around to score. (Don't walk the lead-off guy after your team ties the game, Joe!) The Yankees would eventually score twice to regain the lead, 4-2.

CC's final pitch of the night resulted in a Chase Utley solo home run in the 7th, to make it 4-3 Yankees. With two outs and a full count in the bottom of the 8th, Pedro Feliz lined a solo home run to left off Joba Chamberlain, and I may have awakened a zebra. (More on that later.)

And then it all went horribly wrong. Brad Lidge retired the first two Yankees in the top of the 9th, and had two strikes against Johnny Damon. It all happened so fast: Damon bloops a single to left, Damon steals second, notices no one is covering third and steals third, Teixeira gets drilled, A-Rod doubles, Damon scores, Posada singles to left, scoring Teixeira and A-Rod, 7-4 Yankees, Mariano Rivera pitches 1-2-3 bottom of 9th, game over. Excruciating.

In the Jungle: We watched this game from our room at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Unbelievably, zebras, giraffes and gazelles were roaming the savanna during the game, viewable from our balcony. Earlier in the day, we grooved with Frozone and Mr. Incredible at the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party at the Magic Kingdom. Jenna's highlight was watching Doug react to the 4-D Mickey's Philharmagic movie, especially during the "Be Our Guest" segment.

2009 Chachi #81 World Series Game 3/Jayson Werth

World Series Game 3 - October 31, 2009

Yankees 8, Phillies 5

Had this been 2008, an early 3-run lead with Cole Hamels on the mound would be all the Phillies would need to practically guarantee a victory. Unfortunately, this is 2009 and the night quickly turned into Cole's Halloween Horrors.

The home crowd was electric as Cole finally took the mound an hour and twenty minutes after the scheduled start of the game, due to the obligatory World Series Game 3 rain delay. Jayson Werth put the Phillies on the board first with a solo home run to lead off the 2nd inning. Jimmy Rollins drew a bases loaded walk for the Phils' second run of the game and one batter later, Shane Victorino's sac fly to left scored the third run.

Cole's night started to unravel in the 4th inning after he had retired 10 of the first 11 Yankee batters. Following a walk to Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez got the Yankees within a run with an instant-replay reviewed and approved 2-run home run. The Yanks plated three more in the 5th and Cole's night was over. The Phillies bullpen then allowed solo runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings.

Solo home runs from Jayson Werth (his second of the night) in the 6th and Carlos Ruiz in the 9th closed the gap a little, but it was not enough. With the 8-5 win, the Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the World Series.

He Said What?: Following Game 3, when asked to comment upon his disappointing 2009 season, Cole Hamels reportedly responded he "can't wait for it to end." This is not the type of quote that will endear you to Phillies fans, Cole.

MIA: After three games, Ryan Howard is 2 for 13 with 9 strikeouts. Jimmy Rollins is 2 for 10.

Downtown Disney on Halloween: If you're considering spending Halloween in Downtown Disney next year - don't. The place was a madhouse since there were various free candy pick-ups scattered throughout the marketplace. And the heat (88 degrees) precluded Doug from donning his Buzz Lightyear costume. All was not lost as we made a pitstop at the Lego store and added a Lego circus train to Doug's growing collection.

2009 Chachi #80 World Series Game 2/Pedro Martinez

World Series Game 2 - October 29, 2009
Yankees 3, Phillies 1
Exactly one year after the Phillies won Game 5B of the 2008 World Series, they dropped Game 2 of the 2009 World Series to the Yankees, 3-1. If you had told me going into these first two games the Phils would split before heading back to Philly for three, I would have been happy with that outcome. Still, it would have been nice to head home with a 2-0 series lead.

Pedro Martinez was back in the Bronx - the location of a few infamous incidents he'd probably prefer to forget. He and Yankees starter A.J. Burnett threw a lot of pitches early, but after 5 innings each pitcher had allowed only a run a piece.

The Phils struck first in the 2nd inning. Raul Ibañez doubled to left and came around to score when a sharp grounder from Matt Stairs eluded Alex Rodriguez' glove for a single. The Yanks tied things up in the 4th when Mark Teixeira hit a Pedro Martinez change-up for a solo home run to right-center. In the 6th, Pedro struck out Teixeria and A-Rod before Hideki Matsui lofted a home run into the short porch in right giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead. By this point, A.J. Burnett had settled in and the Phillies' offense wasn't able to get anything going.

Entering the 7th, Pedro had allowed just four hits and struck out eight. He gave up a few singles to start the 7th, and his night was done. Chan Ho Park entered the game and promptly allowed an inherited runner to score, making it 3-1 Yankees. All in all, Pedro pitched a good ballgame but A.J. Burnett pitched better, and a sweep in New York was not to be. Although he allowed a few base runners, Mariano Rivera entered in the 8th for a 2-inning save and shut the door on the Phils.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for a Halloween night Game 3. Hakuna Matata.

2009 Chachi #79 World Series Game 1/Cliff Lee & Chase Utley

World Series Game 1 - October 28, 2009
Phillies 6, Yankees 1

It took five games over a span of 59 years, but the Philadelphia Phillies have won their first World Series game against the New York Yankees. Playing in a steady drizzle, the Phillies won behind a gem from their ace Cliff Lee and two home runs from Chase Utley.

Cliff Lee was on tonight. Locating his fastball and keeping the Yankees off-balance with his off-speed pitches, he made it look easy. He struck out the side in the 4th, the heart of the Yankees order no less, giving him seven strikeouts already at that early stage the game. In the end, he finished with a complete game, allowing no earned runs, striking out ten, walking none and scattering six Yankees' hits. (He also made a few cool plays in the field!)

Through the first six, both starting pitchers had allowed just four hits. However, two of the hits allowed by Yankees starter CC Sabathia were solo home runs by Chase Utley. Chase finished off an amazing 9-pitch at-bat in the 3rd by drilling a CC fastball into the right field stands to give the Phils a 1-0 lead. He jumped in his Cadillac again in the 6th with a long home run again to right.

Raul Ibañez added two more runs in the 8th, singling home Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino to make it 4-0 Phils. Shane's RBI-single in the 9th, along with Ryan Howard's RBI-double added the final two Phillies runs. A small bump in the road in the form of a Jimmy Rollins error allowed the Yankees to score their lone run in the bottom of the 9th. But that would be the only blemish on Cliff Lee's 122-pitch masterpiece.

Best Highlight: A month and a half shy of his third birthday, our son Doug was in bed prior to the first pitch tonight. I made sure he took his rally towel with him though. I checked in on him during the 7th inning stretch and he was sound asleep, clutching his Phillies rally towel. Perfect.

2009 Chachi #78 Ryan Howard HL

Ryan Howard's .333 batting average, 2 home runs and 8 RBIs earned him the 2009 NLCS MVP honors. Since the League Championship series began in 1969, Ryan became just the third player to win Rookie of the Year honors, regular season Most Valuable Player honors and be named an LCS MVP. Albert Pujols and Fred Lynn are the only other players to pull off that feat.

Ryan joins a list of four other Phillies NLCS MVPs:

1980 - Manny Trillo

1983 - Gary Matthews

1993 - Curt Schilling

2008 - Cole Hamels

2009 Chachi #64 Strikeout Leaders - Cole Hamels & Joe Blanton

He's only pitched in parts of four seasons so far, but when Cole Hamels reaches 95 strikeouts in 2010, he'll crack the list of all-time Top 10 Phillies strikeout leaders. Granted, his 800+ strikeouts will still be slightly behind Steve Carlton's Phillies mark of 3,031, but his total will still be fairly impressive. This is the third year in a row Cole has led this category for the Phillies, although his leading total of 168 is the lowest leading total since Eric Milton's 161 strikeouts in 2004.

The rest of the 2009 Phillies Top 10 in strikeouts: Joe Blanton (163), J.A. Happ (119), Jamie Moyer (94), Ryan Madson (78), Cliff Lee (74), Chan Ho Park (73), Chad Durbin (62), Brad Lidge (61) and Brett Myers (50).

2009 Chachi #63 Victory Leaders - Blanton, Happ & Moyer

With the team's success this year, it's hard to believe no pitcher had more than 12 wins in 2009. After the trio featured on this team leader card, the rest of the Top 10 Phillies victory leaders were: Cole Hamels (10), Cliff Lee (7), Clay Condrey (6), Ryan Madson (5), Pedro Martinez (5) and Brett Myers (4). Tied for tenth on the team with 3 wins this year were Kyle Kendrick, Rodrigo Lopez and Chan Ho Park. Nothing against Rodrigo, but talk about getting lost in the shuffle after the Pedro and Cliff Lee acquisitions!

Other starting pitcher and victory stuff:

- The Phillies haven't had a 20-game winner since Steve Carlton won 23 games in 1982.

- Recently, the Phils have had their share of years when the team leader in this category had 12 or fewer wins, including: Brett Myers in 2006 (12), Randy Wolf in 2000 (11) and Curt Schilling in 1996 (9). The '96 Phillies were a very bad team.

- The Phillies used 12 starting pitchers in 2009, compared with just 7 in 2008.

2009 Chachi #62 Stolen Base Leaders - Jimmy Rollins & Shane Victorino

All credit goes to Phillies coach Davey Lopes for improving the team's running game over the past several years. For the fifth year in a row, Jimmy Rollins stole over 30 bases. Additionally, Jimmy joined Chase Utley (23) and Jayson Werth (20) in the 20-20 club (at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases) - the first time more than one Phillie has reached those marks in the same season. Four of Jayson's stolen bases came in the same game back in May.

Also swiping bases this year, rounding out the Top 10: Ryan Howard (8), Raul Ibañez (4), Carlos Ruiz (3) and Eric Bruntlett (2). Greg Dobbs, Ben Francisco and the speedy Cole Hamels all had exactly one stolen base.

2009 Chachi #59 Batting Leaders - Shane Victorino & Chase Utley

The long lay-off until the start of the 2009 World Series will give me an opportunity to post the remaining 2009 Chachi Team Leader cards.

To qualify for a season's batting championship, a player needs 502 or more plate appearances. Unfortunately, this rules out Paul Hoover (3 for 4 with a .750 average) and Andy Tracy (5 for 12 with a .417 average) for the Phillies' 2009 batting title. A situation could arise where a player has less than 502 plate appearances but still wins the batting championship. However, those rules involve too much math and this situation doesn't apply to the Phillies this year.

Shane Victorino takes the honors this year with his .292 average, followed by Chase Utley (.282), Ryan Howard (.279), Raul Ibañez (.272), Jayson Werth (.268), Pedro Feliz (.266) and Jimmy Rollins (.250). This is the second season in a row the Phils haven't had someone crack the .300 plateau. Shane dropped below .300 after September 15th and Chase hadn't been above the mark since September 2nd.

2009 Chachi #77 National League Champs HL

Other Game 5 thoughts . . .

First Pitch: Prior to Game 5, the only two managers to guide the Phillies to World Championships took the field. Charlie Manuel caught the ceremonial first pitch thrown by Dallas Green. The Phils have always maintained a reverent connection to their past and this was just a very cool moment.

Going to Disneyland: It appears more and more likely Game 1 of the World Series will be played in the Bronx. If that’s the case, Charlie Manuel and his coaching staff can at least look forward to a visit to Anaheim for the 2010 All-Star Game on July 13th. (Although the Angels just took the Game 5 lead in the 8th.)

Thank you Ruben: Ed Wade laid the foundation, Pat Gillick made a few repairs, but current general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. made all the right moves to help the Phillies return to the World Series in 2009. His offseason signing of Raul Ibañez was key in fortifying an already potent line-up, despite Raul’s mid-season decline. Ruben pulled the trigger on the Cliff Lee trade, bringing the team a legitimate World Series Game 1 starter, made all the more necessary by Cole Hamels' recent struggles. Finally, he brought in Pedro Martinez. It was still a little surreal seeing Pedro (in a Phillies uniform) spray champagne all over the field and into the stands following last night’s victory. But he stabilized the rotation when they needed it the most and who’s not looking forward to seeing him start a World Series game against the Yankees? (Probably the Yankees.)

2009 Chachi #76 NLCS Game 5/Jayson Werth

NLCS Game 5 - October 21, 2009
Phillies 10, Dodgers 4

One of the best songs from the Beatles' farewell album Let It Be is the hopeful rocker, "I've Got A Feeling." Well tonight I had a feeling, a hopeful feeling, and I watched my first ever Phillies Postseason game completely and totally relaxed. No standing in front of the TV. No pacing the living room floor. I just watched the game, while listening to the Phillies radio broadcast, and I enjoyed myself. (We originally had tickets to tonight's game, but that's a happy story for another day.)

Cole Hamels pitched like 2009 Cole Hamels tonight and not 2008 Cole Hamels. Andre Ethier homered in the 1st to give the Dodgers the early lead. In the bottom of the 1st, Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla worked around Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, walking both, only to allow a 3-run home run to the clutch Jayson Werth. Both teams traded home runs in the 2nd - James Loney for the Dodgers and the free-swinging Pedro Feliz for the Phils, and it was 4-2 Phillies after two.

Raul Ibañez' RBI-double to right in the 4th scored Jayson Werth and chased Padilla from the game. Later in the inning, after a very patient at-bat, Shane Victorino was hit with the bases loaded to give the Phils a 6-2 lead. Cole Hamels' night was done shortly after allowing a solo homer to Orlando Hudson in the top of the 5th. At this point, the game was over two hours old and still just in the 5th inning. But it didn't matter. I was still smiling.

At 10:40pm EST, Shane Victorino's 2-run home run made it 8-3 Phillies and the Dodgers' 2009 season all but ended. Jayson Werth would add a final bomb in the 7th and the Dodgers would make a little noise in the 8th, but I bet at this point the Phillies traveling secretary was on the phone cancelling the team's chartered flight to Los Angeles.

While Cole Hamels has yet to recapture his 2008 mojo, the much-maligned Phillies bullpen seems to have found its groove. Chad Durbin shut the Dodgers down in the middle innings, Chan Ho Park pitched a scoreless 7th, and Ryan Madson stranded the bases loaded in the 8th. Brad Lidge entered in the 9th to close it out, and close it out he did. After two quick outs, Ronnie Belliard lifted a fly ball to Shane Victorino who caught the ball for the final out.

Can you believe it? The Philadelphia Phillies are heading to the World Series for the second straight year. The on-field celebration following the game was decidedly low-key. As Jayson Werth mentioned after the game, there's still four more games to win. Or as Ryan Howard put it, "One more step, and we got action."  I'm still smiling.

Go Phils!

2009 Chachi #66 Leading Firemen - Brad Lidge & Ryan Madson

Entering the Postseason, one of the Phillies' weakest links was the back end of their bullpen. Specifically, fans were nervous about the recent reinstatement of Brad Lidge as the team's closer. Brad's struggles throughout the regular season have been well documented - 11 blown saves with an 0-8 record, a 7.21 ERA and batters hitting .301 against him. However, as most of the play-off teams have seen their closers falter, Brad has saved three games this Postseason and he was the winning pitcher in last night's unbelievable victory. In four appearances, he has yet to allow a run.

Throughout all his regular season hardships, manager Charlie Manuel never lost confidence in the man who was perfect last year. I'll be the first to admit I lost confidence in him, so it's probably a good thing Charlie's in charge of the team and not me.

Team Save Leaders: Brad managed to save 31 games throughout the regular season, followed by Ryan Madson's 10 saves. Chad Durbin (2) and Clay Condrey (1) also recorded saves for the Phils in 2009.

2009 Chachi #75 NLCS Game 4/Jimmy Rollins & Carlos Ruiz

NLCS Game 4 - October 19, 2009
Phillies 5, Dodgers 4

Are you kidding me? Jimmy Rollins hit a 2-out, 2-run walk-off double in the bottom of the 9th to win Game 4 and give the Phils a 3-1 lead in the NLCS.

A two-run home run from Ryan Howard in the 1st inning continued his torrid streak and gave the Phils an early lead. Phillies starter Joe Blanton was cruising until the 4th, when the Dodgers tied it up 2-2.

As Joe Blanton began to falter, Dodgers starter Randy Wolf was beginning to settle in. Following Ryan Howard's 1st inning home run, Wolf retired the next 12 Phillies in order. Matt Kemp hit a solo home run in 5th, and the Dodgers tacked on another run in the 6th to make it 4-2.

The Phils added a run in the 6th when Shane Victorino tripled to left and came around to score on a Chase Utley single. The team threatened in the 8th, but stranded two more base runners.  Brad Lidge held the Dodgers scoreless in the top of the 9th and the Phils were down a run with three outs to go. Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton needed three outs to tie the series at two games a piece, and guarantee the NLCS would return to Los Angeles.

With one out in the bottom of the 9th, pinch-hitter Matt Stairs drew a four-pitch walk and Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch. Broxton jammed pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs, coaxing a weak line drive to third for the second out of the inning. At this point, the Dodgers bullpen had not allowed a hit since Chase Utley's 6th inning RBI-single. Jimmy Rollins, who had struggled at the plate in the NLCS, was the team's final hope.

With the count at 1-1, Jimmy drilled a 99mph Broxton fastball to the gap in right. Pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett scored from second to tie it. Carlos Ruiz scored from first to win it. And with a win Wednesday night, the Philadelphia Phillies will head to the 2009 World Series.

2009 Chachi #74 NLCS Game 3/Ryan Howard

NLCS Game 3 - October 18, 2009
Phillies 11, Dodgers 0

That's more like it! Answering my earlier plea for a stress-free game, the Phils scored early and often to take Game 3 of the NLCS over the Dodgers. It certainly helped that Cliff Lee was nearly unhittable.

The ace of the staff, in complete control throughout the night, pitched eight shutout innings. He allowed just three hits, walked none and struck out ten. I hope Cole Hamels was taking good notes from the dugout.

The offensive damage:
- Ryan Howard's 2-run triple in the 1st started the night off right.
- Jayson Werth followed with a 2-run home run in the 1st and the Phils were up, 4-0.

- Jimmy Rollins' RBI-double in the 2nd and Ryan Howard's RBI-ground out made it 6-0 after two.
- Pedro Feliz finally got into the swing of things with an RBI-triple in the 5th.
- Carlos Ruiz continued his torrid NLCS with two more hits including a double to drive in Pedro Feliz in the 5th, making it 8-0.
- Shane Victorino went 2 for 3 with a 3-run home run in the 8th to cap the night's scoring.
- Every player in the starting line-up scored at least once.

Let's do it again tomorrow night!

2009 Chachi #60 Home Run Leaders - Ryan Howard & Jayson Werth

How about it Phillies? How about scoring early and often tomorrow night and making it a relaxing game? I have a busy day at work on Monday, and I could use a stress-free, early to bed night. I've had it with this one-run game business. Let's bust things wide open and make the bullpen a complete non-factor.

Go Phils!

Team Home Run Leaders: Ryan Howard's 45 home runs this year were good enough for third place in the NL behind Albert Pujols (47) and Prince Fielder (46). Jayson Werth's 36 homers placed him 7th on the NL leaderboard. Rounding out the top 10 for the Phillies: Raul Ibañez (34), Chase Utley (31), Jimmy Rollins (21), Pedro Feliz (12), Shane Victorino (10), and Carlos Ruiz (9). Greg Dobbs, Ben Francisco and Matt Stairs all tied for 9th place on the team with 5.

2009 Chachi #73 NLCS Game 2/Pedro Martinez

NLCS Game 2 - October 16, 2009

Dodgers 2, Phillies 1

Pedro Martinez pitched a masterful seven innings this afternoon, but shoddy 8th inning defense and a bases loaded walk gave the Dodgers a draining Game 2 victory.

In his seven shutout innings of work, Pedro allowed only two hits, walked none and threw just 87 pitches. He turned the game over to the bullpen in the 8th. It took five Phillie relievers to record three outs in the inning and before it was over, the Dodgers had taken a 2-1 lead. The 8th inning train wreck was made possible by Chan Ho Park's failed attempt to field a sacrifice bunt, a wildly errant throw from Chase Utley on an apparent double play and a bases loaded walk by J.A. Happ.

Vicente Padilla pitched incredibly well too, which will teach me to post a baseball card of the opposing pitcher on game day. (Don't expect to see any Randy Wolf cards on Sunday.) He pitched into the 8th and allowed just four Phillies hits. Padilla's only blemish was allowing a solo home run to Ryan Howard in 4th.

Looking on the bright side of things, the team heads back to Philly for three games with the series tied 1-1 and Cliff Lee taking the mound on Sunday night.