General

MLB Playoffs Update: Phillies Clinch & The Importance of Home Field

Oct 1, 2009, 2:45 PM UTC

â†µThe Phillies beat the Astros 10-3 last night to finally clinch the NL East title and go back to the playoffs for the third-straight year and division champs. With the team up big heading into the ninth inning, manager Charlie Manuel called on veteran left-hander Scott Eyre to get a few outs before bringing in embattled closer – or former closer – Brad Lidge to throw yet another clinching pitch in a Phillies uniform. The World Series was great last year, but stuff like this is what makes Uncle Cholly a folk hero around town.â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥“I wanted him to pitch in front of the crowd,” Manuel told reporters. “I thought it would be good for him and the crowd. They responded kind of like the way I thought they would. First of all, I’ve said all along I didn’t want to get away from Lidge. That I wasn’t going to shoot him or anything. It was an ideal situation to put him in. My whole intention all along was to get his confidence back up because I know he’s got talent and ability.â†µâ‡¥â†µâ‡¥“You know,” he added with a grin, “when he came in and threw warm-up pitches, he was throwing the ball harder than he had the last few days.” â†µâ‡¥

â†µâ†µ

â†µSo now the question for teams in the NL is, ‘how important is home field?’ A day after clinching, one would suspect a line up of call-ups and bench players in Philadelphia. Despite winning the division, this has been a tough year for the Phils, so a day off for some of the regulars could help recharge the playoff batteries. That said, there’s a lot more at still at stake. Per MLB’s Todd Zolecki:â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥(Charlie) Manuel has to walk a line in the next four games between getting his everyday players some much needed rest while still putting a good enough team on the field to at least hold home-field advantage through the first round. “There are some guys that need to get some time off,” Manuel said. “But we’d like to win home-field advantage, too. I think the guys that I want to rest I can rest. It’s not like I’m going to take three or four out of the lineup at the same time.” The Phillies witnessed the benefits of home-field advantage last season, when they won all seven games played at Citizens Bank Park.â†µâ†µThe Dodgers have 93 wins and, after losing their fourth-straight game to a sub-par team, find themselves just one game ahead of Philadelphia in the League standings, tied in the loss column. The Dodgers do hold the season series lead, so if the teams finish in a tie for the top record and do both get to the LCS, the Dodgers should have home field.â†µâ†µSt. Louis was the first team in the NL to clinch, yet sits at 90 wins after losing three-straight and five of their last six. The Cardinals were in the drivers seat to beat out the Phillies and finish second in the NL in record, getting the chance to face Wild Card winner Colorado – assuming the Rockies finish that out this week – and retain home field advantage should the two meet in the LCS. Ironically, it might benefit the Cardinals to fall in the standings, as the Dodgers look far more beatable, even on the road, than hosting the Rockies, who have won seven of their last 10 and are 18-9 since September 1.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf the Rockies win today, then sweep the Dodgers to end the season and the Braves win the rest of their games, everything changes. But as it stands right now in the NL, if the Dodgers and Rockies can both win a game – or if the Braves lose a game – the Phillies will most likely host the Rockies in the NLDS while St. Louis will travel to Los Angeles. That said, the next four days can still decide a lot about home field for a seven-game LCS, where getting four at home can be crucial. Say what you want about home field or home court advantage in other sports – 12th man and all – but no advantage is more important that the two simple words in baseball: last ups.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe American League, for what it’s worth, is a lot simpler. Detroit beat Minnesota 7-2 last night to take a three game lead in the AL Central with four to play. Even if the Twins beat the Tigers today, Detroit still controls its own destiny heading into the final three games of the year. The winner of the Central will face the Yankees while the Angels will host the Red Sox. The Yankees have home field throughout the playoffs and the AL Central winner will be the road team for any series. â†µ

â†µ

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

See More: