Major League Baseball

Phillies-Giants: Game 3 talking points

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:16 a.m. ET

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What we're talking about after the Giants defeated the Phillies, 3-0, to lead the National League Championship Series, two games to one:

* The Phillies find themselves down, two games to one, in the best-of-seven NLCS and the next two games are at AT&T Park.

What makes this a little alarming is that the Phillies' Big Three starters - Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels - were the biggest reason the Phils were widely expected to beat the Giants. But they were outpitched by Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez and especially Matt Cain in the first round of matchups.

* Risky business: Charlie Manuel set himself up to be second-guessed by sticking to his plan of starting Joe Blanton against Giants rookie lefthander Madison Bumgarner tonight instead of having Roy Halladay start on short rest.

The Phillies' manager has several good reasons for doing this. But the bottom line is that if the Phillies lose and don't rally to make it back to the World Series, this will be a decision that's debated for a looooong time.

* No 'O' (Continued): Lack of hitting continues to be an issue for the Phillies, who are now 2-for-19 (.105) with runners in scoring position in the first three games of the NLCS. Overall, they're hitting just .194 as a team.

This comes after they batted .212 in the NLDS against the Reds.

* Poor Cole: Yesterday was the fifth time this year that the Phillies have been shut out when Cole Hamels started.

* What to do about Cody: Giants rightfielder Cody Ross was a waiver pickup in August. In Game 1, he hit two homers. In Game 2, he homered again. Yesterday, he drove in the Giants' first run. Overall, the former Marlin is hitting .444 in the NLCS.

"It's been an unbelievable experience for me so far," he said. "Two months ago, I didn't dream I'd be in this situation. The Giants were awesome to bring me over here, and it's been a great ride so far. It's nothing I can really explain with words."

The Phillies probably have a few words, but they can't be printed in a family newspaper.

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