NLCS Preview at Miller Park This Weekend

Pack up your grills, the coolers, the kids, and your rally caps!  Grab some good friends, and head to Miller Park for some exciting baseball this weekend.  The NL leading Philadelphia Phillies are in town for a 4-game series against the Brew Crew.   Get ready for a preview of the NLCS.  The atmostphere at Miller Park is going to be electric!

This series is huge!   It could be the deciding factor in who will have home field advantage for the NLCS.  To guarantee that the Brewers don’t have a shot at being the best team in the NL, the Phillies are sending to the mound their top pitchers – Hamels, Halladay, Lee, and Whorley.  With this rotatation, you know the Phillies are taking the series very seriously.  As are the Brewers.  They are countering with Narveson, Marcum, Wolf, and Gallardo.  I would prefer seeing Greinke starting one of the games, but it didn’t work out that way.  Even so,  I still feel confident the Brewers can match up with the Phillies, pitch by pitch.   Besides, back in April, the Brewers got to Halladay and Lee, as they took 2 out of 3 in the series.  I know, it’s ancient history (as I’ve been told), but hey, why can’t the Brewers do it again, especially since they are playing at Miller Park where they are 50-19.

Looking at the starting line-up, I may be inclined to give that one to the Phillies.  They have a slighltly (and it’s a very small slightly) better starting line-up than the Brewers.  (Note: as this goes to press, the Phillies are without Howard and Utley).   BUT if the Brewers can get production from players not named Braun, Fielder, and Hart, it could lead to very interesting and entertaining games.  As for the defense, I’m staying away from that.  Defense can either be on or off, so I’m counting on the pitching and offense to get it done!

The bullpen goes to the Brewers.  The Brewers have THE best closer in baseball, John Axford (and his mustache).   The Brewers also have the best 8th inning pitcher in KRod.   The bullpen knows their roles and will get done what needs to be done to guarantee wins.   No question about that!

My prediction, and it’s a BOLD one:  Brewers take 3 out of 4 !!

No matter how this series plays out, be prepared for 4 days of outstanding baseball.    Look for great pitching duels and/or high energy offensive performances.   And for many fans, who may not get a chance to experience postseason, this is it!  This series will go down as one of the best of the season!  Don’t miss out on the fun!

*As this post is being finished, the Brewers lead 1-0 thanks to a solo homerun from Yuni!