East Coast Bias- October 15, 2007

Today's Headlines

- NFL Rundown

- College Football Rundown

- NLCS and ALCS Review

The Weekly Phil

- Eagles Win 16-9


On today's podcast show we discuss the big games in the NFL and rundown the Top 25 action in the College game. We also get into the exciting MLB postseason games with a review and preview of the NLCS series between the Rockies and D-Backs and the ALCS series between the Indians and Red Sox. And we end the podcast with some Eagles talk following their victory over the Jets in the Weekly Phil.

Guess What The Rockies Did Again?

Arizona reliever Jose Valverde walked Willy Taveras with the bases loaded for the winning run. The Rockies have now won 19 of their last 20 games and it doesn't seem like the Rockies can be stopped.

The Rockies are now part of an excluisive club, they joined the 1976 Cincinnatti Reds as the only NL teams to win their first five games in a postseason. Despite only batting .211 the Rockies find themselves up 2-0 in the NLCS and going back home to Colorado.

The next game in the series will be on Sunday. The starting pitchers will be the Diamondbacks Livan Hernandez and the Rockies Josh Fogg. Can the Rockies make it 20 out of 21? All signs right now point to yes.

The Rockies Forgot How To Lose, Win 5-1

Thanks to another stellar effort by Jeff Rancis, the Rockies have won.....again. The white-hot Rockies are 18-1 in their last 19 games. Over the course of 6 2/3 innings, Francis only gave up one unearned run and struck out four. The bullpen did its job the rest of the way, allowing only 2 hits. Brad Hawpe provided all the runs Colorado needed going 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Brandon Webb allowed four runs on seven hits in his six innings. Consequently the Diamondbacks 3-11 this season when Webb gives up 4 or more earned runs. With the exception of Eric Byrnes, no other Arizona player had more than 1 hit and grounded into double plays twice on the night.

Game two is tonight in Arizona starting at the absurd time of 10:18 EST.

Wild, Wild West in the NLCS

Game 1 of the NLCS begins tonight between the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks with first pitch at 8:37 EST.

Both teams send their aces to the mound as lefty Jeff Francis goes for the Rockies and last year's Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb goes for the D-Backs. The pitchers were important in their teams NLDS success, combining for 17 K's and 13 innings pitched in their Game 1 victories over the Cubs and Phillies.

It will be interesting to see if the youth can continue to carry the D-Backs past Colorado, as SS Stephen Drew, CF Chris Young, and 3B Mark Reynolds all were key in the 3-game series with

Chicago. As for the Rockies, the Triple H's are what fuel the Colorado power surge. In the 18 games against the D-Backs this season, the Rockies Brad Hawpe, Todd Helton, and Matt Holliday combined for a .350 BA, and had a total of 40 RBI's and 30 walks in the season series. Don't sleep on the should-be Rookie of the Year SS Troy Tulowitzki who has been sensational in the field and with the bat.

Do Or Die For MLB Teams

The Cubs, the Phillies, the Yankees, and the Angels are all now trying to stave off elimination. All of these teams are currently in 0-2 holes and beginning tonight, the Phillies and Cubs begin their attempt to win 3 in a row.

Saturday Games

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs

A 3 run home run by Chris Young sparked the Diamondbacks to a 8-4 win and a step closer to challenging for the NL Pennant. Doug Davis won his first career postseason game while allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings and striking out eight. Chicago's Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee have combined to go 4-for-27 through two games in the series. The young and upstart Babybacks could shut the door again on the Cubs who are still looking for their first World Series title since 1908.

Diamondbacks lead 2-0


Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies

A decision to take Kyle Kendrick out of the game after loading the bases proved to a be a costly mistake by Charlie Manuel. Reliever Kyle Lohse came in and served up a grand slam to Kaz Matsui putting the Rockies up for good. The Rockies won the game 10-5 thanks to a great performance from the bullpen (gave up only 1 earned run in 6IP). With the series shifting to Colorado, the Phillies have quite a task ahead of them. The Rockies batted .298 at home, including a staggering .376 BA by Matt Holliday.

Rockies lead 2-0

Sunday Games

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

A healthy Manny is a clutch Manny. Thanks to a 3 run walk off home run Manny Ramirez propelled the Red Sox to a 2 game lead in the 5 game series. After a rocky start from Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox bullpen came in and shut the door going 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Angels pitchers gave up 9 walks including 5 by Cy Young hopeful Kelvim Escobar. Manny Ramirez has 21 post season homers, one shy of Bernie Williams for most all-time.

Red Sox lead 2-0


New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians

The Yankees held a 1-0 lead heading into the 8th inning, then it got all buggy. A swarm of bugs began attacking Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain in the 8th inning and while he didn't want to blame the bugs, they certainly contributed to his 2 wild pitches in the inning. One of those wild pitches led to a Indians run by Grady Sizemore. Indians fans were treated to a win in wild fashion when in the 11th inning Travis Hafner singled in the winning run. The Indians Fausto Carmona pitched 9 solid innings in his post season start. Yankees stadium will be host to the next two games, assuming they last another game.

Indians lead 2-0

MLB Playoffs, Phillies Lose Opener

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Josh Beckett, the 2003 World Series MVP, pitched his 2nd consecutive post season shutout to help the Red Sox take a 1-0 lead on the Angels. David Ortiz added a home run and considering that the Sox are 7-2 in post season games when he homers, the Boston faithful are hoping to see more of them.

After surrendering a lead off single Beckett began his domination of Angels hitters by sitting down 19 in a row. Only one other pitcher besides Beckett has thrown a shutout in the first game of the post season for the Red Sox. The other? Babe Ruth.

Boston leads 1-0

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies

17 game winner Jeff Francis pitched four hit ball on his way to his first post season win and Matt Holliday homered in the top of the 8th to provide a 2 run cushion. Prior to yesterday's game Francis had a paltry 15.12 ERA when pitching against the Phillies.

On the season Chase Utley was batting .332 but looked confused at the plate yesterday, striking out four times. Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell provided all of the Phillies offense when they went back to back in the 5th inning.

Colorado leads 1-0

Arizona Diamonbacks vs. Chicago Cubs

Brandon Webb pitched a gem going seven strong innings while striking out nine. The Cubs Carlos Zambrano also pitched well but only made it through 6 innings and gave up a solo shot to Stephen Drew.

In addition to Drew homering, the young Mark Reynolds homered to give the Babybacks a 1 run lead. Conor Jackson provided a cushion with a sac fly to make the score 3-1.

Arizona leads 1-0