Phillies-Reds pre-game notes

Roy Oswalt since coming to the Phillies in July has been dominant, losing only his first start on the road, then going undefeated at Citizens Bank Park. He was asked what changed.

"I thought I was throwing pretty well in Houston," Oswalt said. "I just wasn't winning a lot of games. I think the biggest thing you get other guys on the staff with you. But you get other guys that you can lean on along the way. It helps you out so much.

"After the '06 season, Roger (Clemens) and Andy (Pettitte) left (the Astros) and you feel like you have to win every game you go out there after that. You put so much pressure on yourself to win. If you lose 1-0 you feel like you didn't do your job."

After A.J. Burnett left the Jays in '09, that may be the same way that Halladay felt even though Ricky Romero had a pretty good rookie season.  

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The Reds' Game 2 starter, Bronson Arroyo has pitched in the playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Recall it was Arroyo who had the ball in his glove when Alex Rodriguez tried to slyly swat it loose on a tag play unleashing more cries that A-Rod was a poor-sport and a cheater. Arroyo compared the two sets of fans, Philly and the Bronx.

"I expect a very Yankee Stadium-esque environment, especially warming up in the bullpen," the free-spirited Arroyo said. These guys are right on top of you here in this bullpen. It gets a little crazy sometimes just during the regular season much less here in the post-season. They've been touted for a long time, especially in the NFL, as some of the craziest in the game."