NLDS Game 2 Report Card: Phillies Handle Cuban Missile Crisis With Comeback Win
After two exhilarating games the Philadelphia Phillies have more than shown exactly why they are not only the number one team in the National League, but why there are the NLDS' top "student'.
Being down four to nothing, and dealing with a Reds team that's not only pulled out all the stops, but also debuted their "secret weapon" only to have him (Chapman) retired faster than his own 100+ MPH fastball.
The Reds seemingly crumbled under the pressure of a Phillies team that is as methodical as it gets when it comes down to getting back into a game.
They chased away the best defensive team in the National League, they blew away the blow away pitcher Chapman, and took a crucial two games to none lead, as the series heads back to Cincinnati for a game three showdown on Sunday night.
Let's take a look at the Phillies NLDS Game 2 report card, and how this game translates into a final grade of B+.
1B, Ryan Howard
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Howard came out swinging, and he swung hard, but fizzled out in the later half of the game. Still, Howard was pivotal early on, and he winds up with a final grade of B plus with two singles and two SOs.
2B, Chase Utley
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It looked as of Utley was going to have another bad night until the 5th inning when he hit his two RBI single only to follow that up with another single in the 8th, as well as, taking a hit on the hand.
Oh yeah, not to mention Utley also stole a base, and because of everything mentioned, Utley winds up with a B plus on the night.
3B Placido Polanco
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Polanco didn't have a great night coming off of an elbow injury as he flew out three times and grounded out once, but he did reach base on an infield single error by the Reds that set up the start of a Phillies torrent two inning strike.
He ends the night with a C plus.
SS, Jimmy Rollins
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If only J-Roll was 100 percent with ihs speed, this game would have been wide open. Still, J-roll ends the night with a couple of situational ground outs and a two RBI double; finishing the evening with a final grade of B minus.
C, Carlos Ruiz
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One of the best fastball hitterin the NL (sorry Chapman) Ruiz came into tonight's game and played verysimilar to J-Roll getting the crucial situational hits, and playing like the "rock" that he is defensively.
Ruiz ends the contest with a final grade of B minus.
The Outfield
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Jayson Werth: The highlight player of the game, Werth ends the evening with three singles, a stolen base, and RBI and a final grade of A plus!
Shane Victorino: Victorino started slow and ended fast with two singles—one of them clutch in the sixth—but his two fly-outs early in the game keeps the flying Hawaiian at a final grade of B minus for the night.
Raul Ibanez: Ibanez had a modest night, but never got past an average night at the plate and an average night in the outfield. But sometimes, that's all you need as a team.
He ends the night with a final grade of C plus.
The entire Outfield finishes the evening's contest with a combined grade of B plus.
The Pitching Staff
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Roy Oswalt: Oswalt came out tonight looking incredibly uncomfortable, and his pitches looked as if they were laced with a layer of concrete; weighing them down over the dead center area of the plate.
The problem is, Oswalt never tried to really paint the corners as a way of changing what wasn't working.
he did manage to fan five, but his two homers, and 3 ERs force a much needed D minusgrade in his first stint in the postseason as a Phillie.
Don't worry, Roy Oswalt is sort of like a Super Sayan: when you beat him up, he only comes back that much stronger!
Relief: There really isn't anything I can type that can do this group justice. Between Romero, Durbin (and his throw out at first), Contreras, Madson, and Lidge, this group was lights out, and provided the final overlay to a foundation that was being built all night long by the team.
They wind up with an A plus on the night, and a much needed show of hands!
As a whole, the pitching staff ends the night with an overall grade of B minus.
Charlie Manuel
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He knew when to pull Oswalt, he knew EXACTLY when to utilize a bench trio of Domonic Brown, Ben Francisco, and Mike Sweeney in his first postseason appearance, and he showed his penchant for being a Championship caliber manager.
Charlie ends the evening with a MUCH deserved final grade of A plus.
The Philadelphia Phaithful
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There are a lot fo incredible fans in MLB as in all sports, but when it comes to the Philly faithful, there simply isn't any other fan-base quite like them.
These fans send electrical charges through your veins from the first pitch to the last, win or lose, no matter if you are at the bar, at the game, or at home.
The Philly fans are the 10th man on the field, and they are simply EVERYWHERE!
If you seen any Phillies' games this year—particularly road games—the Phillies fans have been as noticeable as a pop up fly into center.
If you've ever been to a game this year, you know it's almost impossible to even drink a beer when this team wins simply due to the energy involved at Citizen's Bank Park.
Between the wave, the rally towels, and that certain magical something, that I personally believe comes from HK, just sitting here writing about it send goosebumps up and down my arms, and as a writer and a fan of baseball, THAT is what makes a Championship team.
Game three will be Sunday October 8th at 7PM EST on TNT, and shortly thereafter I will be submitting my third report card for the Phightin Phils, so please join Philadelphia Sunday night, and myself shortly after-wards, here on Bleacher Report.
Interesting Game Side Notes:
1. Mike Sweeney hits a single against the Cuban Missile crisis in his first playoff appearance in his career.
2. Bronson Arroyo did exactly what he should have done as a fly-ball pitcher facing a HR hitting team by forcing 10+ fly-outs in six plus innings.
3. The last time Oswalt faced the Reds he was relegated to the bench by the fifth inning just like tonight.
4. Shane Victorino has the most postseason hits in Phillies history despite only getting two singles, one on an error.
5. The Reds were ranked number one on overall team defense in the National League, ranked one of the best home run hitting teams in the National League, and has one of the deepest and effective bullpens in all of baseball.
All of these things were neutralized by the Phillies in nine innings of ball.
