ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (2:01 PM)

We're getting Steve right now!

Steve Phillips

  (2:04 PM)

Good afternoon. The playoffs have started and the so-called new season of baseball has begun. Hopefully your team is still alive. What's on your mind?

Jonathan (Washington, D.C.)

With their win yesterday, did the Phillies make a statement to the rest of MLB that they are better than most people think and that they won't go quietly in their quest for a repeat?

Steve Phillips

  (2:05 PM)

Well, I think most people believe the Phillies area a legit contender in the NL. The only real issue they have is the closer's role. Charlie Manuel figured out a solution to that - just let your starter go 9 innings. The Phillies are a formidable team. They have the best offense in the NL. The best defense in the NL and a strong starting rotation. The only real question is their bullpen and specifically their closer.

Steve Phillips

  (2:06 PM)

So, they reinforced to many people that they are still the defending champion.

Alfredo (Miami)

With Joba going to the bullpen, I see the Yankees having a similar situation then what happened in the late 90's as they trim the game to 6 innings. However, if they advance will it be a good idea ti leave Joba in the Pen or place him back on the rotation?

Steve Phillips

  (2:07 PM)

I think at this point, Joba is probably better serving the Yankees in the bullpen than in the starting rotation. Chad Gaudin can pick up that starter's role and be effective with that slider. It will be interesting to see if Girardi and the Yankees can be lucky enough to advance through the first round.

DG (Atlanta)

How well do the Yanks and Twins match up in the series?

Steve Phillips

  (2:09 PM)

The Yankees have a distinct advantage in that they by far the better bullpen, although I have great respect for Joe Nathan. The Yankees also have by far the better offense. The Yankees should win the series, and on paper, should probably sweep the series. It's impossible to quantify the confidence and momentum the Twins have and how it will ultimately display itself in the series. It will be a major upset, however, if the Twins were to find a way to win the series.

Jesse ((Santa Paula, Ca))

Who wins game 1 tonight Angels vs Red sox?

Steve Phillips

  (2:12 PM)

Well, I think it's going to be a great start to what will be a great series that will likely go 5 games. Jon Lester is one of the best starters in the game and is a great choice by Francona to pitch Game 1. The Red Sox have obviously had trouble during the regular season against the Angels during the last several years, but have had their number during the postseason. Something feels different this year with the Angels with their versatility in the offense and depth in the pitching staff. The Angels dont' have the good bullpen that we're used to seeing, but with the better starting rotation, it may not show itself. This Game 1 on the road is huge for the Red Sox if they're going to win the series.

patrick (philadelphia)

when will charlie use brad lidge in the playoffs?

Steve Phillips

  (2:14 PM)

Well, I think he's going to probably use Lidge to close, the first opportunity they need a closer. The first time if he gets the job done, then he probably keeps it. If he doesn't, then I don't think he gets the ball again in a meaningful situation the rest of the playoffs. He's on a short leash and he knows the consequences of a late inning loss in October.

SprungOnSports (Long Island)

Though St. Louis lines up a better rotation, the Dodgers have a distinct bullpen advantage. Do you think Wainwright gets the Cards a big game two win in his first ever postseason start?

Steve Phillips

  (2:16 PM)

I think Wainwright can beat the Dodgers, but he's going to be a little more consistent than Chris Carpenter was in Game 1. Starting pitching tends to be the key in these short series. But the way Joe Torre used his bullpen in Game 1 might allow the Dodgers to create a new vehicle for success in October baseball. I agree that the Dodgers have the best bullpen in the game and it offers Torre great versatility for just about any situation. It's not necessarily the best way to do things of giving them a short leash and yanking them in the first sign of trouble, but it might work this time around. This is going to be an interesting series going forward.

jon (new york)

do you think all the game one winners will move on?

Steve Phillips

  (2:17 PM)

Game 1 is extremely critical in a 5 game series. There is no question about it. I think the Phillies and Yankees will go on to win their series. I still think the Cardinals will find a way to beat the Dodgers. At least those are my picks going in and I'm not ready to go back on them just yet.

Jeff (Los Angeles)

How good do you think Matt Kemp can be? Who would you compare him to? I am a huge Dodger fan and it's exciting to see him progress the way he did at the plate, now if only he could learn the CF position and take better routes and not depend on his athletiscism.

Steve Phillips

  (2:19 PM)

I think Matt Kemp is a very good player the more he plays the more he gets better. He's shown how his play can produce rapid and significant improvement. He has all the tools to be a great player. He has the power and speed and the character to work hard for improvement. He's a really good kid and a nice part of the core for the Dodgers in the future.

Steve Phillips

  (2:19 PM)

I always hate making comparisons as they seem unfair to the individuals. I'll have to give more thought to what Kemp most reminds me of.

Justin (Arizona)

Who wins game 2 today Rockies vs Phillies? Do the Phillies go up 2-0?

Steve Phillips

  (2:21 PM)

I think the Phillies win Game 2 with Cole Hamels on the mound. The Rockies struggled this year with left handed starters, especially on the road. I think they had only 8 wins all season against left handed starters away from Coors Field. I think Hamels' changeup will keep the Rockies hitters off balance and will lead to a Phillies victory.

Steven (East L.)

Can you comment on Leylands decision to pull Porcello and insert Zach Miner as well as his decision to let Rodney pitch so long? Both were huge mistakes in my opinion.

Steve Phillips

  (2:23 PM)

I have to say that I didn't mind either decision. I think that you have a 20 year old rookie who gave the Tigers everything he possibly could in that outing. Jim Leyland knows his pitchers better than anybody. I'm sure he would have preferred to let Miner start the inning instead of coming in with runners on. Because of Miner's hanging slider, it's easy now to say it was a mistake, but it didn't feel like a mistake when he made the move. As far as leaving Rodney in, I don't have a problem with that either. He was trying to get another inning out of his closer, knowing he had other limitations in his bullpen. The Tigers battled hard, but made some mistakes on the field that cost them dearly. It's always easy to point to managerial decision, but in the end the players have to make the plays, make the pitches or get the hits that are necessary to win.

JRS (Colorado)

Do the Rockies have a shot at making a legit playoff run? Why?

Steve Phillips

  (2:25 PM)

I think the Rockies do have a shot, as they are a well balanced team that has played good baseball for a long period of time this year. They ran into a tough draw in the Phillies with the quality left handers that they can throw against the Rockies. Colorado is going to have to find a way to solve the Phillies' lefties if they're going to win the series or they're going to have to shut down that high powered Philly offense and win a couple of low scoring games. Aaron Cook and Jason Marquis as both of them are very competitive. It's going to be an interesting remainder of that series. Obviously Game 2 today is absolutely critical for Colorado.

DG (Delaware)

When will MLB get with the times and not allow the team with the best record in each league decide theirs along with every other team's playoff schedule? The Sox vs Angles game should have been yesterday and the Yanks vs Twins today... A no brainer!!

Steve Phillips

  (2:28 PM)

I disagree. I think that the team with the best record earns the right to make that decision. The problem isn't letting teams select what series they play. The problem is the Twins didn't have their stadium available Monday. In 2008, the Twins complained about the fact that despite teh fact that they had the better regular season record against the White Sox yet had to play their one game playoff in Chicago. They got the rule changed to where it was no longer a coin flip to determine the site to where it was the head-to-head record, but the Twins didn't leave open their facility to play on Monday. I think MLB should say that if the team can't play the one-game playoff in the home stadium as it is earned, then the game should be played at the other team's facility instead. It shouldn't be pushed back a day and disrupt the playoff plan for three other teams.

Steve Phillips

  (2:29 PM)

The Yankees had 103 wins compared to 87 for the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees deserve whatever advantage the process gives them, as they were the dramatically better team during the regular season.

Steve Phillips

  (2:30 PM)

We're in the heat of the battle now. If the games so far are any indication, we're going to see some great baseball the rest of the way. Talk to you soon.

Buzzmaster

  (2:30 PM)

Thanks for chatting Steve!