Phillies still being heard from in playoffs

The Phillies season ended a couple of weeks ago.

But that doesn't mean they aren't having a big effect on the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Of course, this involves former Phillies.

This afternoon Cole Hamels will take the hill for the Texas Rangers in a deciding Game 5 against Ben Revere and the Toronto Blue Jays. Here's an interesting fact: The Rangers have now won the last 11 games Hamels has started. That includes Game 2 of this ALDS; Hamels didn't pitch especially well and was not involved in the decision, but he did get the win.

Then there is Chase Utley. You might have heard he was involved in a tough takeout slide that broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada.

Mets fans were all over Utley when the series shifted to New York. Utley has not played in the last two games. He will be eligible to play again in the deciding Game 5 tomorrow back in L.A. That's because his appeal of his two-game suspension for the controversial slide will not be heard until Monday.

Maybe the best line concerning the treatment Utley got in New York came from his manager, Don Mattingly.

Asked if the booing and jeers from the New York faithful bothered him, Mattingly offered this quip:

"He played at Philly."

Good line.