Things got a bit feisty between the two dugouts last night, didn’t they? A lot of words, a lot of posturing, people acting all like, “HOLD ME BACK, MAN! HOLD ME BACK!” In other words, a typical night outside a New Jersey guido bar.

Some disturbing information to note…

• Last night was Jamie Moyer’s 2nd poor postseason performance in a row, and he’s getting perceptibly worse. This by no means diminishes the fantastic regular season he had, but lately Moyer has looked like… well, like a 45-year-old pitcher. If this series goes to six (or, God forbid, seven) games, will he be the one we’re counting on to pitch us into the World Series?
• The Dodgers have now scored five or more runs two games in a row against Phillies starters, all by the fourth inning. Overall, they have outscored the Phillies 14-13, and 10-2 since the fourth inning of Friday’s game.
• Rollins, Victorino, Feliz, Werth and Howard are all hitting below .200 through the first three games of this series.

Tonight: Game 4. Joe Blanton vs. Derek Lowe.  Does this make anyone a bit nervous? I know Blanton’s pitching has been stronger since his arrival in Philly, but we’re talking about a pissed-off, playoff-seasoned pitcher in Lowe, who will relish the fact that the Phillies’ bats won’t have the cozy dimensions of Citizen’s Bank Park to bail them out this time.

I’m not sure who would benefit more from tomorrow’s off day. If the Phillies win tonight, they know no matter what happens in Game 5 they just need to take 1 of 2 back at the Bank. For that to happen, though, would mean that the Phillies managed to break this nagging, persistent trend of the home team never losing.

If the Dodgers even the series tonight, the off day can help them ride the momentum and prepare for a third and final game in front of a rabid fan base. And by rabid, I mean “sticks around until the bottom of the eighth inning.” (Ba-ZING!)

The captain has not turned off the “Don’t Panic” sign yet, so don’t interpret these observations as some harbinger of doom. Still, a win tonight would loosen the sphincters of many a fan who have seen these opportunities slip away with Philly teams in the past. (Hopefully not too loose. That could get messy.)

GO PHILS!

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