Oh for the days of Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson

This used to be so simple, back in the days of Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson. You hit one of our guys, we hit one of yours, end of story.

Not so simple now, not with umpires empowered to threaten both teams with ejections.

The Phillies wanted to pitch Manny Ramirez inside. In Game 2, Brett Myers pitched Ramirez inside, way inside and finally behind him. Myers never hit him, and Ramirez never charged the mound.

That did not stop the Dodgers batters from muttering that Chad Billingsley did not protect them, did not throw inside in retaliation. Never mind that Billingsley had enough trouble throwing strikes and was gone in the third inning.

The honor code demands retaliation. The Dodgers practically broadcast their intent to retaliate, in Bill Plaschke's column and elsewhere.

"What happened in Philly didn't look good," Phillies reliever J.C. Romero said. "We knew sooner or later something was going to happen."

Hiroki Kuroda picked the right spot, with two out and no one on, and after the Dodgers already had built a 6-1 lead.

The Phillies knew it was coming, and they were fine with it. Shane Victorino did not charge the mound. He simply pointed to his head, and then to his lower body: Throw down low, and we're fine, and we're even -- even if you hit me. Throw up high, near my head, and you're reckless.

So the Dodgers and Phillies are all even in the macho department, even if the Phillies still lead the series two games to one.

"It's all good," Romero said. "It's all part of the game.

"Ratings are up now. Everybody is happy."

-- Bill Shaikin

Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale on March 29, 1962. Credit: Associated Press