My NL Championship Preview

We baseball fans are in for a treat, just in time for Halloween.

When the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies take the field tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, the baseball history God's will be taking us back to the time of old school pitching duels.

And we the fans are going to love every moment.

Roy Halladay, who's last, and first ever post season start ended with Halladay pitching the second perfect game in baseball post season history, against the Cincinnati Reds,will be taking on "The Freak," Tim Lincecum of the Giants, who struck out 14 Atlanta Braves in his one post season start.

Runs will certainly be a premium tonight when these two men, owners of a combined 3 Cy young Awards, take the mound tonight, and it's not going to get any easier in the following two games.

The Phillies will send Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels out against the Giants, who will counter with Jonathon Sanchez and Matt Cain in games 2 and 3.

Now, let's try not to discount the offense on both teams, where there are some quality hitters.

The problem for the Giants is that most of them wear Phillies uniforms.

The Philly offense is loaded.

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, and Placido Polanco head a run producing offense that is looking for a third straight trip to the World Series.

There are very few weakness in the Phillies lineup, but they will be tested against the great pitching staff of the Giants.

For San Francisco, the offense is led by 1st Baseman Aubry Huff, who was terrific for the Giants after signing as a free agent in the off season.

Veteran players like Juan Uribe, Mike Fontenot, Edgar Renteria, Pablo Sandoval, and Pat Burrell, are very capable hitters who must make the Philly pitchers work hard while waiting for the right pitch to hit.

The Giants must find a way to scratch out runs and get the ball to their great closer, Brian Wilson, who saved 48 games in the regular season.

For the Phillies, it's set up man Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge, who had a great NLDS against the Reds.

Now, for my prediction, er, my guess on who's going to be playing in the World Series.

The Phillies are on a historic run, having won the past two N.L. pennants. They can become the 1st team since the 1942-43-44 St. Louis Cardinals to go to 3 straight World Series.

The Giants are trying to get back to the Series for the first time since 2002, and for only the second time in 48 years.

This is going to be a classic match up, a baseball purists delight.

The pitching is going to make all the headlines, and it should, but the offense of the Phillies is going to be the difference.

The Giants havea great pitching staff, but they will not be able to hold the Phillies down enough to win the National League Pennant.

And because of that, I like the Phillies in 6 games.

Enjoy the baseball, it's playoff time, the greatest time for our National Pastime.