Even after just two games in this NLCS, one thing is as clear as ever: The two-time defending NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies have their hands full this time around. These San Francisco Giants are not “your father’s Giants.” This team has gotten it done all season long with pitching and timely hitting when necessary, and present a very tough challenge for the Phillies in the NLCS.
The Phillies, hoping to get to a third consecutive World Series, are playing a different type of game this time around and it has worked to fruition. It’s been their pitching, not offense, that has brought them here. Their H20 rotation of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt has carried them as their bats were often silenced this season.
The Giants on the other hand have an entirely different lineup than they did in the beginning of the season and caught fire down the stretch to rip the NL West away from the San Diego Padres. Pitching alone may not be enough for San Francisco, but Cody Ross has made sure that pitching isn’t the only thing the Giants can do as well as the Phillies in this series.
With two games in the rearview mirror, it’s now a best-of-five with the Giants holding home-field advantage, hosting the next three games in consecutive days. This may go down to the wire. Someone will need to swing the pendulum of momentum out West before the series shifts back to Philadelphia, if necessary.
Now, let’s go ahead and bear witness to some of the better performances over the weekend.