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Steve Phillips

  (1:01 PM)

We're down to four very good teams, any of whom have a legit chance to win the Series. It'll be an interesting couple of weeks--what's on your minds?

John LA,CA

Hey Steve whats your prediction on the Dodger Phils series and why?Thanks

Steve Phillips

  (1:03 PM)

I'm picking the Dodgers in seven, which means I think it will be a very close series with two very good teams. The Dodgers have something magical going on with Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez leading the way. I believe Rafael Furcal is having a major impact as well, as he brings a level of professionalism, energy, and speed that at times was lacking from this young team. They really missed him this year. The Dodgers' pitching is overall a little bit better than the Phillies. The key will be whether Hong Chih Kuo is healthy enough to come out of the pen and neutralize Utley and Howard on the left.

Steve Phillips

  (1:05 PM)

The Dodgers walked the second-fewest hitters and hit the second-fewest batters in the national league, and gave up the fewest home runs.

jaybird, huntington park, ca

Steve,the Aybar squeeze bunt? better if it were a safety squeeze?...let him hit away? thoughts?

Steve Phillips

  (1:07 PM)

I didn't have a problem with the play, as Aybar is one of the better bunters in the game, I think that it was a good plan that just wasn't executed very well. Aybar jabbed at the pitch on the bunt attempt and just couldn't make contact.

Steve Phillips

  (1:07 PM)

The Angels play that kind of baseball, and even before the squeeze, I thought it was a potential play. It wasn't a shock to see it implemented.

Dennis (Santa Clarita, CA)

What about McCarver's comments about Manny. It seems it's one thing for an analysist to say those things, but a guy who is actually going to be working on the announcing of the series. If your were the GM would you be a little annoyed?

Steve Phillips

  (1:10 PM)

Were I the GM of the Dodgers, I wouldn't give much thought to what McCarver said. You traded for Manny knowing what the circumstances were in Boston, but you can only judge him based on how he's performed in LA. It's hard to think how he could have been any better than he has been. People will say things from now until eternity about Manny. The good news is that he seems somewhat aloof and unaffected by what goes on around him. I wouldn't worry too much about it, and if anything, I would close the circle a little tighter around the team so nobody has to deal with the comments.

RaysOfHope

what are the chances for the rays in ALCS?

Steve Phillips

  (1:12 PM)

The Rays certainly have a legit chance to win that series. They have the homefield advantage and won 10 of the 18 games they played against the Sox. They don't seem to be flustered by the attention, and they seem to make big plays and get clutch hits. The Rays win with pitching and good defense. That tends to give you a shot to win every time out. I'm picking the Sox in 7, but I think it will be a great series, and the Rays will be a tough team to beat.

Rich (Orlando)

Steve, the Rays have had someone different coming through in the clutch all season. Care to take a stab at who it might be that'll put the Red Sox away?

Steve Phillips

  (1:14 PM)

I think Aki Iwamura has had great numbers against the Red Sox this year. He's 9-24 against Matsuzaka, 7-22 against Josh Beckett, and 10-24 against Tim Wakefield, the potential game 4 starter. I would say Iwamura is a guy that the Red Sox should keep an eye on and reconsider how they have been pitching to him.

Ryon (Kenosha, WI)

CC Sabathia had said he enjoyed his time in Milwaukee, and according to Brewers.com, there is a way to get CC back with the Brew Crew. Is that possible with their financial situation?

Steve Phillips

  (1:17 PM)

I don't see any real way that the Brewers can afford him as a free agent. He's going to cost them about $25 million a year over a 5-6 year period. It could make it very difficult for a team with a $90 million payroll, as one player would total 27 percent of your payroll. It's tough to win that way.With the loss of Sheets and Sabathia, they need to replace two starters, and would be better off with a combination of Lowe and Burnett for $25 million, instead of Sabathia for $25 million. They need to spread their money around, and have it impact more spots on the roster than just one player. The fact that the Brewers might be able to afford him in 2009 doesn't mean they can afford him beyond that, as Braun, Fielder, Hardy, and Hart will all get pay jumps in the future. Look for Sabathia to end up in LA with either the Angels or Dodgers, as he just built a home there, and his preference is to play close to home.

Dave (Calimesa, CA)

Steve, what's your take on the Varitek tag? Does Dave Campbell make a legitimate point?

Steve Phillips

  (1:19 PM)

I listened to Dave Campbell's comments on it, and I think the umpires should have gotten together on it, but I believe the right call was made. Varitek had complete control of the ball when the out was made. There's nothing in the rules that says that Varitek has to, say, take the ball out of his glove to show the ump. There may have been room for discussion, but the right call was made.

Bryan- MA

Steve, I read a good article by Jeff Blair in The Globe and Mail. He talked about the Rays having an edge on the Sox in the young players their system has produced. The Rays have done this by having top 3 picks the past 5-6 years. The Sox have been to the playoffs the past 5 out of 6 years, and still produced a very good system of young players, even though they did it with late 1st round picks. Why doesn't anyone bring this up when comparing teams farm systems? Sure they pay over slot for the players they draft, but their evaluation of those players are pretty good.

Steve Phillips

  (1:21 PM)

I completely agree that the Red Sox have done a tremendous job in signing and developing young players. You have to credit Theo and his staff. Playoff teams usually have a good blend of youth and experience, homegrown players and free agents. You can look at the Phillies, Dodgers, Rays, and Red Sox as being all in the same vein when it comes to that.

Jesse (Los Angeles, CA)

The Dodgers have many holes to fill during the offseason, they'll probably lose Lowe and Penny, Blake, Furcal, and Kent, and still need to decide on Manny. Who do you see returning from this list and where can they go from here?

Steve Phillips

  (1:23 PM)

They'll make a play for Manny and possibly Furcal. If they have a good prognosis medically on Furcal, they should lock him up, as he has proven to be a real leader. They probably would get a discount on it as he didn't play because of injury. A rotation that includes Sabathia, Billingsley, Kuroda, and Kershaw has a great start to being a great team. Manny and Furcal add depth to the lineup. I would expect the Dodgers to make a play to resign Casey Blake as well. I expect the Dodgers to be competitive again next season.

Patrick (Cheyenne,Wyoming)

I have hear some sportcasters saying people would not watch a Phillies vs Tampa Bay world series personally I think it would be great seeing two new teams personally that is what makes baseball great never knowing what do you think?

Steve Phillips

  (1:26 PM)

I tend to agree with the masses. Of all the combinations that would drive ratings, the Rays-Phillies is probably the least. People like to watch marquee names in franchises play for championships, and where the Rays are a novelty, I'm not sure they will drive the ratings the way the history and tradition of the Red Sox will. I agree that there are great storylines on the Rays and Phillies that I will enjoy talking about, but for most baseball fans, Dodgers-Red Sox is the most compelling series.

BK (mpls)

Thanks for the chats all year. If your Jim Hendry, what do you do with the Cubs this offseason?

Steve Phillips

  (1:28 PM)

I try to keep as much pitching depth as I can while adding at least one and maybe two left-handed bats. They are too right-handed in their lineup, and I believe that is exploited a bit by the good RH arms in the Dodgers' staff. The core of the team should and will come back. If they lose Dempster, that is a void they will have to fill, but I expect they will make a play to keep him.

Steve Phillips

  (1:29 PM)

The Cubs should pick up Rich Harden's option, because sixty percent of a great season might be worth seven million dollars, if you look at it from an injury perspective. If they exercise the option, they can either keep or trade him--he would be interesting on a one-year basis.

Steve Phillips

  (1:29 PM)

It's going to be an exciting finish to a great season. Can't wait to see how it all plays out.