Tonight at 8:37, the Philadelphia Phillies begin Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Roy Halladay toes the mound for the Phils while Chris Carpenter, who before last Sunday won his last three starts over the Phillies by the combined score of 24-3, returns for the Cardinals.

To say I’m nervous would be an understatement. St. Louis has a guy the Phillies routinely don’t hit going on four days rest (Carpenter) and the greatest right-handed hitter in baseball’s last 50 years (Albert Pujols); plus an assortment of guys who simply put bat barrel on the ball.

Earlier, I redid this spring training poster. All of the pitching means nothing if Halladay and the offense can’t get it done tonight.

Nearly one year ago, the Yankees and Phillies were eliminated roughly within 24 hours of each other. Alex Rodriguez ended last season’s Yankees run looking at a called third strike.

Ryan Howard did the same one day later.

Last night, Rodriguez struck out swinging to end New York’s postseason.

Hoping that is not a harbinger of things to come for the Phillies.