The Phillies and the Brewers are very similar teams this is the first of a five part series that will look at these two teams and this five game series.
Lets start with the infielders:
1B – Ryan Howard vs Prince Fielder – Howard could be the league MVP and is having a monster September. If he stays hot going into the playoffs, he is the kind of bat that can carry the Phillies all-by-himself. Fielder is almost Howard-lite (though there is nothing light about either guy), he can also carry the Brewers if he gets hot. He cracked a huge grand-slam late in the season to help carry the Brewers into the playoffs. Advantage : Phillies
2B – Chase Utley vs Rickie Weeks – Utley was extremely hot to open the season and that lasted for about three and a half months. However, the final few months Utley was nicked up and wasn’t the same difference-making bat in the middle of the line-up. He still ended up having a very solid season and plays much better defense then Weeks does. Weeks is the lead-off man for the Brewers and just hasn’t lived up to the very lofty expectations. Advantage : Phillies
3B – Pedro Feliz vs Bill Hall – “Peter Happy” is a gold glove-level third basemen, but has been very inconsistant with the bat. He has even lost some playing time late in the season to Greg Dobbs who may be the best pinch-hitter in the game. Hall is a versatile guy who played SS, 2B, OF and now 3B this season. He hasn’t come close to his big 2006 season when he pounded 35 home runs and hit .270, but he still has some power, but his 17 errors are a sore spot for Brewers fans. Advantage : Phillies
SS – Jimmy Rollins vs J.J. Hardy – Rollins hasn’t had his best season after wining the MVP last year, but the Phillies are here in large part because Rollins turned it on in September. Rollins is also a gold glove level shortstop who was a major key defensively in the NL East clinching game. Hardy hit for power this season but is still an inconsistent performer at the plate. He didn’t do much verse the Phillies this season, hitting just .217 overall. Advantage : Phillies
C – Carlos Ruiz/Chris Coste vs Jason Kendall – The Phillies catching tandem has is good and bad points. Ruiz is a pretty good defensive catcher who struggles with the bat. Coste can hit, but isn’t great defensively, but seems to call a good game. Kendall isn’t a threat at the plate anymore, after having some good solid seasons with the Pirates and A’s. Advantage : Phillies
Next Up : Outfield
With the outfielders being next up, I’m curious to see if you’ll give the nod to Werth over Hart. I think he may have had the better season.
Ray Durham has actually been getting the nod as the two bagger lately….
Ray Durham smells like a scrotum