For the second consecutive year the Philadelphia Phillies will represent the National League in baseball’s fall classic, as they closed out the Los Angeles Dodgers last night in Philadelphia with a 10-4 series clinching win. In a series that was eerily similar to last year’s NLCS, it was familiar news to Dodgers fans who witnessed their second consecutive 4-1 NLCS exit at the hands of the Phillies. The Phillies, who await the winner of the Yankees/Angels ALCS matchup, have witnessed a revival in their bullpen, a major question mark coming down the stretch and into postseason play.
Featured on a reality television show earlier this season entitled The Pen on MLB Network, the Phillies bullpen was the backbone of last year’s title run. This year has been quite a different story as the bullpen has combined to blow 22 save chances in 66 total chances. Brad Lidge, who was a perfect 41 for 41 throughout the 2008 regular season and 7 for 7 in the 2008 postseason, has for the moment found his former dominance converting three save chances in three attempts; this following a disastrous 2009 regular season which saw him sport a 7.21 ERA with a league leading 11 blown saves.
Coming off a strained right hamstring suffered in mid September, Chan Ho Park added another dimension to the Phillies bullpen and gave manager Charlie Manuel another option in bridging starter and closer roles. Used liberally throughout the series, Park pitched in four of five games and was charged with the Phillies only loss of the series, a game 2 loss in which he was charged with 2 earned runs, though a miscue from second baseman Chase Utley could be partly to blame.
Sporting a beard that would make any samchun proud, Park is now on his way to his first World Series appearance, and second for a Korean born player, following Byung Hyun Kim of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks. Park hopes to fair a bit better than Kim who, while managing to be in the winning end of the series, finished with an ugly five earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched and a 13.50 ERA.
FOR ONLY $28!
Featured Event
It’s the new year, and Yim Jae Beum is coming to town! After a sold-out show in Los Angeles last October, he is coming back to hold two U.S. concerts for the 2012 Lunar New Year. Everyone already knows this man can sing! He’s got an impressive resume, debuting as a rock singer back in 1986, releasing Korean classics, such as “For You,” and most recently, joining and winning first place twice on the MBC show, “I am a Singer.”
Seattle and New Jersey, get ready! We are happy to announce that we will be giving away TWO (2) pairs of tickets! read more
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