The UtLong watch continues here at LBPOST Sports, where we’re torn between city allegiances to the Phillies’ big bat, second basemen Chase Utley (a Poly grad), and the Rays’ young star, third basemen Evan Longoria (Diiiiiirtbag).  The tie breaker for most of us has been the fact that Longoria appeared on SportsNight in February, when the idea of him becoming the MLB’s rookie postseason home run hitter was absolutely preposterous.  Long story short: there was much wringing of hands and pulling of hair when the Phillies won game three 5-4 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Utley has been magnificent throughout, and the Phillies wouldn’t have come away with a victory tonight without his solo jack in the sixth inning.  It was a deep shot that may not have cleared the scoreboard at Blair (as former Poly baseball coach Bill Powell—Mr. Powell if you had him for driver’s ed—claims Utley did a few times), but was good enough to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.  His groundout in the first also scored Jimmy Rollins to start the game’s scoring.  All in all, Utley has looked this series like what he is: a power hitter with enough experience to keep from getting rattled.

On the other hand, our boy Evan (who I should mention went to Bosco before he attended LBSU) has had some problems.  He came into the series having hit six homers (the rookie record for postseason bombs), but has done…well, not much of anything since.  He’s 0-12 through three games, and has been struck out six times.  He did have a ground out RBI in the second game, but that’s about it.  It’s not voodoo, or a terrible collapse, in my opinion: it’s just baseball.  Ice in your veins and a great swing or no, you don’t hit six home runs in your first playoffs without a good chunk of luck, and eventually that goes away—I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he regains form in the next few games.  It’s just about making sure he doesn’t psyche himself out—after all, he hit a long ball to left in game three earlier, but because of a cruel Philly wind it was knocked down onto the warning track.  When the wind starts blowing in a more favorable direction, Evan will be fine. 

Check back tonight for a live UtLong game blog of game four!