--2B Chase Utley became the 34th player to homer in his first World Series at-bat when he drove a Scott Kazmir pitch over the right-field wall in the first inning Wednesday night. Utley, seemingly immune to the pressure of the World Series, practically shrugged off the achievement. "I try to treat every game the same, whether it's the first game of spring training or this," he said. "It's easier on yourself to do that. But coming up with a few homers to tie or give your team a lead, that's certainly a good feeling." Utley also hit the game-tying home run in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Dodgers.
--RHP Brett Myers' 19-day mission the minor leagues in July turned around his season. But what if he hadn't been able to streamline his delivery and regain his confidence? "Then we've got problems," assistant GM Mike Arbuckle said. "No question, Brett is an upper part of the rotation guy. For him to scuffle like that all year, you're asking a lot of everybody else to step up. His second-half contribution was very significant."
Myers, the Phillies' starter in Game 2 of the World Series, went 7-2 with a 1.80 ERA during an 11-start stretch from July 23 through Sept. 14.
--C Chris Coste was manager Charlie Manuel's choice to be the designated hitter in Game 1 against Rays LHP Scott Kazmir. Manuel values righty-lefty matchups, and Coste was the best right-handed option on the Phillies' bench, even though he finished the season in a 3-for-32 funk and had only one at-bat in the playoffs. During the season, Coste batted .296 against left-handed pitchers.
Manuel said he considered using lefty-swinging Matt Stairs, a designated hitter throughout his career in the American League. But Stairs got only 34 at-bats all season against lefties.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 -- Teams that have won Game 1 of the World Series on the road since 1987. Of the previous five, three have won the Series.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can't think of any better way to quiet them down. That's how you do it. If you want to take the wind out of the sails and shut the cowbells up ... get some home runs, that will do it. Except in Citizens Bank Park. If you hit enough there, they ring the Liberty Bell." -- Manager Charlie Manuel on the Phillies taking the crowd out of the game after Chase Utley's first-inning home run.
