Phillies, Dodgers have new cast
MANY OF THE faces from the 2008 NLCS are the same, but not all of them.
Both teams, naturally, made some changes from a season ago and just about all of them were upgrades. If they weren't, there probably would be two other teams playing for the NL title.
Here's a look at some of the most significant moves:
FOR THE DODGERS ...
Second base
Analysis: Ronnie Belliard was rescued from Washington before the trade deadline and gives Joe Torre a veteran presence he didn't have last year. He has edged ahead of Orlando Hudson for the starting job and had a huge ninth-inning hit in Game 2 against the Cardinals in the NLDS.
Replaced: Belliard (and Hudson) took over for Blake DeWitt, who played more like Joyce DeWitt while suffering through a sophomore slump that had him back and forth from the minors.
Starting pitching
Analysis: Randy Wolf was the Dodgers' best pitcher this year, though he got roughed up in Game 1 against the Cards. His 3.23 ERA was more than respectable and he probably would have had more than 11 wins with better offensive support. Vicente Padilla was signed off the streets after Texas outrighted him. He became an instant hero when he stiffled the Cardinals in the NLDS clincher.
Replaced: Derek Lowe and Greg Maddux certainly had more playoff experience, but they were fading. Lowe had a mediocre season with Atlanta and Maddux retired after last year.
Bullpen
Analysis: Getting George Sherrill from the Orioles provides an effective bridge to Jonathan Broxton. Ramon Troncoso was second among National League relievers with 82 innings pitched. He and Ronald Belisario were very reliable.
Replaced: Broxton took over for Takashi Saito and Sherrill essentially supplanted Joe Beimel/Cory Wade. Sherrill, a lefty, will be quite important in this series.
FOR THE PHILLIES ...
Leftfield
Analysis: Raul Ibanez carried the Phillies during the early part of the season, but hit just .232 after the All-Star break.
Replaced: Pat Burrell took his ring and his dog and basically pigged it up in Tampa. Burrell had a career-low 14 homers. Ibanez hit 34.
Starting pitching
Analysis: Getting Cliff Lee in July should earn Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. some consideration for executive of the year. Rookie J.A. Happ was terrific during the regular season and Pedro Martinez was solid in his nine regular-season starts.
Replaced: Brett Myers is still on the team, but a hip injury derailed his season and he was unable to get back into the rotation. Jamie Moyer lost his job to Martinez, but sparkled in the bullpen. Moyer ripped up his groin in the final week of the season and is out for the year.
Bullpen
Analysis: Chan Ho Park and Tyler Walker were the most visible new faces, but neither pitched in the NLDS. Park was hurt and Walker wasn't on the roster.
Replaced: Most of the names are the same, the consistency is what has been missing. Closer Brad Lidge is the most prime example, but Ryan Madson has yet to find the zone he was in last October. Losing J.C. Romero, first to a suspension and then to a season-ending forearm injury, hurts the Phillies. This could be the only area the Phillies are inferior to last year.
WELCOME ABOARD
A list of the current players who were not around for last year's NLCS:
PHILLIES
C: Paul Bako
LF: Raul Ibanez
RP: Antonio Bastardo
2B: Miguel Cairo
SP: Cliff Lee
LF: Ben Francisco
SP: Pedro Martinez*
RP: Chan Ho Park
DODGERS
C: Brad Ausmus
3B: Mark Loretta
RP: Ronald Belisario
SP: Vicente Padilla
2B: Ronnie Belliard
RP: George Sherrill
SS: Juan Castro
1B: Jim Thome*
SP: Jon Garland
RP: Jeff Weaver
2B: Orlando Hudson
SP: Randy Wolf
*Thome has been used exclusively as a pinch-hitter by the Dodgers. Martinez could be used out of the bullpen.