Master Index of Archived Threads


World Series I-S-T

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 22 2008 11:50 AM

Another reason to prefer the Phillies: ]Multi-platinum pop group Backstreet Boys, with Tampa native Nick Carter, will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game One of the 2008 World Series at Tropicana Field. Hamels v. Kazmir tonite. Kaz hasn't looked all that great to me this postseason.

HahnSolo Oct 22 2008 12:53 PM

Looked pretty good at Fenway last week.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 22 2008 12:57 PM

Eh. They let him off the hook.

metirish Oct 22 2008 06:11 PM

It's 8:10 , any guesses as to what the time of first pitch will be?

Zvon Oct 22 2008 06:12 PM

metirish wrote: It's 8:10 , any guesses as to what the time of first pitch will be? 8:35 according to my local rag (pro Phillies).

metirish Oct 22 2008 06:13 PM

So you think it will start on time?None of the pre-game stuff has been on yet so I will say 8:45.

G-Fafif Oct 22 2008 06:20 PM

Rays fans boo intro of Backstreet Boys like they were Sarah Palin at a Flyers game.

metirish Oct 22 2008 06:20 PM

The Backdoor Boys killing the Anthem.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 06:20 PM

metirish wrote: So you think it will start on time?None of the pre-game stuff has been on yet so I will say 8:45. lol. The Back Street Boys. I thought they only appeared on Robot Chicken these days.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 22 2008 06:45 PM Re: World Series I-S-T

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Kaz hasn't looked all that great to me this postseason. WHAM

cooby Oct 22 2008 06:48 PM

Go Phillies!

Zvon Oct 22 2008 06:48 PM

Well, I'm not surprised. That pesky Utley gets the Phils on the board with a 2 run blast in the first. His 1st World Series at bat ever.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 06:56 PM

After that opening boo boo on the play at first I thought " this is gonna be a crazy game" but the Phils recover and no damage is done.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 07:29 PM

Nice throw by Upton on that play at the plate in the 2nd. Thought that was a sac fly for sure. 2-0 Phils in the middle of the third.

Rockin' Doc Oct 22 2008 08:16 PM

Burrell running awfully far inside the baseline on that dribbler. He likely impeded Pena's view of the throw from Kazmir. I wouold have argued that Burrell was out of the baseline for running on the infield grass on his way to first.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 08:40 PM

Rockin' Doc wrote: Burrell running awfully far inside the baseline on that dribbler. He likely impeded Pena's view of the throw from Kazmir. I wouold have argued that Burrell was out of the baseline for running on the infield grass on his way to first. I agree, esp from home to about half way up the line. Then he still stayed to the field side of the baseline. Doesn't factor into the scoring though. The Bartlett walk, stolen base, Iwamura double was a nice slice of baseball. That and Crawford's fourth inning homer make it 3-2 Phils in the middle of the 6th.

Frayed Knot Oct 22 2008 08:46 PM

The way you get that call is to plunk the runner with the throw -- if the ball gets to the fielder they're not going to call it. It's risky in that if you don't get the call he's obviously safe and other runners may move up if the ball bounces away ... but at least you'll get the satisfaction of hitting him, 'specially if you throw it real hard.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 09:15 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: The way you get that call is to plunk the runner with the throw -- if the ball gets to the fielder they're not going to call it. I think you are absolutely correct sir. lol @ that second part.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 09:29 PM

I like how McCarver is trying to predict events and then they dont happen and then he goes "nope!". lol

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 22 2008 09:34 PM

Rough game for Upton.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 09:42 PM

You can get away with intentionally walking someone to get to Howard more than half the time, but the times when it doesn't work, it HURTS big time. Lets see how this plays out. I would not have wanted to give Chase anything to hit at this time myself. Might have tried pitching around him tho, cuz at times he does get a lil over anxious.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 09:46 PM

Wow. He never even got the bat off his shoulder. Shame on you Ryan. There were 2 pitches to hit there, especially that last one. Sit down ya bum!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 22 2008 10:02 PM

Phils win!

Zvon Oct 22 2008 10:08 PM

Good game. Kinda yawnyish but its not my fault they have these things running til past midnight these days. Phils did have to win this game, cuz its true that their pitching drops off a bit after Hamel. But any of the Phils pitchers, as well as the Rays pitchers, can step up and perform big in any given game.

Zvon Oct 22 2008 10:15 PM

metirish Oct 23 2008 07:31 AM

Bill Madden had this today , from Pat Gillick. ] Hatred for Mets helped Phillies as entire NL East wanted to beat Amazin's ST. PETERSBURG - It took a half-dozen under-the-radar player moves by Pat Gillick to produce the first Phillies World Series team since 1993, and the Phillie GM characteristically passes off most of the credit to his scouts and assistants. The real credit, Gillick says half-kiddingly, goes to the Mets. "If you want to know the best thing we had going for us this year," said Gillick, "it was the fact that all the other teams in our division hated the Mets' guts. It started with Atlanta and all the hostility they had with the Mets through the years. Then Fredi Gonzalez left Bobby Cox to manage the Marlins and he didn't forget everything that went on between the Braves and Mets. Look what Florida did for us the past two years (beating the Mets two out of the three in each of the last series of the season to prevent them from making the postseason)! "Washington doesn't like them very much either, and all those teams seemed to really get up for the Mets." It's no secret the Mets' dancing after home runs and other histrionics have created animosity between them and opposing teams. As for the 71-year-old Gillick, he insists his plans to retire after the season are firm and irrevocable. If so, his Hall-of-Fame resume is intact. Gillick won two world championships in Toronto, then turned the Seattle Mariners from perennial losers into AL West champions. Now, in three years in Philly, he has gotten the Phillies to the postseason twice after a 13-year drought. His key deal/gamble was acquiring closer Brad Lidge from the Astros, but it was the scrap heap where Gillick did his best work, signing lefty set-up man J.C. Romero as a minor league free agent, right fielder Jayson Werth and righty reliever Chad Durbin as released free agents, and picking up handyman/pinch-hitter deluxe Greg Dobbs on a waiver claim from Seattle. "This is definitely it," Gillick said. "I might stay around in baseball on a consulting basis or something, but a couple of years ago my wife (Doris) and I moved from Toronto to Seattle and she loves it out there and spends most of the time there. I spend the season living in an apartment in Philly and it gets lonely."

bmfc1 Oct 23 2008 07:40 AM

So Madden thinks that if the Mets acted with more restraint, they wouldn't be "hated" by the opposition even though the team has a high payroll and is from NY, both of which makes other teams jealous. Perhaps if the Mets acted with the class of Shane Victorino, or were solid citizens like Brett Myers, the other teams would lay down during critical September games. Madden went for the easy story, as usual. Wally Matthews must be kicking himself for not writing this, again, today. There are many reasons that the Mets are home, none of which have to do with the Mets behavior.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 23 2008 07:43 AM

Oh, I think there may be an element of truth to this. Look how happy the Marlins were to beat the Mets in both of the last two season-ending games. I don't know if that's directly because of Jose Reyes' antics, but I'm not so sure they would have been as jubilant at knocking the Milwaukee Brewers out of the playoffs.

metirish Oct 23 2008 07:47 AM

I agree that there is a smidgen of truth to it , as Grim points out the Marlins certainly like turning the Mets over. Madden is an asshole though. Jon Harper yesterday was blaming the yankees and the spring training fight with the Rays as Tampa's inspiration to greatness.

bmfc1 Oct 23 2008 07:50 AM

I know that there's something to it but the Phillies were better and the Mets should have won more games. Hatred from the other teams didn't stop the Mets from getting Murphy in from 3d with nobody outs. But what can you do to change this? Is there a better person in the game than David Wright? Reyes tried to curb his enthusiasm and felt that it hampered his game--Carlos Delgado told him to be himself. The Mets aren't going to be subdued, they are always going to be from New York (as far as we know) and they are always going to have a high payroll.

metirish Oct 23 2008 07:56 AM

Winning the WS would shut them up.

Willets Point Oct 23 2008 07:57 AM

Do the Mets really celebrate more after home runs, et al than other teams? I don't really see it myself.

Centerfield Oct 23 2008 07:58 AM

The Mets can make this chalkboard material. I wouldn't mind having an "Us against the World" type attitude next year.

AG/DC Oct 23 2008 08:18 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 23 2008 08:58 AM

Yeah, I'd like Manuel to come out like Davey Johnson and demand that they not merely win, but dominate. The Phils went 41-31 in the division. The Mets went 40-32. All that hate amounted to one game.

holychicken Oct 23 2008 08:48 AM

AG/DC wrote: The Phils went 41-31 in the division. The Mets went 40-32. All that hate amounted to one game. If, of course, you assume that the teams are equal in talent. Also, I am not sure if it is relevant, but you might want to take out the 11-7 against each other. Which means that the Mets went 29-25 while the Phils went 34-20.

metirish Oct 23 2008 08:53 AM

Willets Point wrote: Do the Mets really celebrate more after home runs, et al than other teams? I don't really see it myself. I really doubt that they do , it was reported last week that the Phillie players pinned a picture of Reyes dancing around the place to illustrate to Victorino what not to do to when you get the big hit, that was after he hit the granny of a C.C.

AG/DC Oct 23 2008 09:01 AM

="holychicken"] ="AG/DC"]The Phils went 41-31 in the division. The Mets went 40-32. All that hate amounted to one game. If, of course, you assume that the teams are equal in talent. Would the Phils want to argue that they're the lesser talented team, but got by anyhow, and don't really belong? ="holychicken"][Also, I am not sure if it is relevant, but you might want to take out the 11-7 against each other. Similarly, would they want to argue that "Everybody hates them but us --- we think they're cool"?

holychicken Oct 23 2008 09:27 AM

="AG/DC"]Would the Phils want to argue that they're the lesser talented team, but got by anyhow, and don't really belong? All I am saying is that does support the claim that the other teams in the division *seem* to play harder against the Mets. It doesn't prove it, by any means, but neither does your divisional record prove the opposite. ]Similarly, would they want to argue that "Everybody hates them but us --- we think they're cool"? If they had any sense about them they would recognize how cool the Mets are and argue for it. But alas, this is the Phillies we are talking about. They might be good, but they ain't to bright. ;)

Willets Point Oct 23 2008 11:48 AM

The World Series, 1912: A crowd of people gather in the streets to watch the Red Sox and Giants game on an giant electronic scoreboard. The best part is that these pictures are not from Boston nor New York, but from Washington!

metirish Oct 23 2008 11:51 AM

Those are great links Willets ,thanks.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 06:43 PM

Oooo, I have the whole place to myself for tonights game 2 :)

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 06:46 PM

Nah - I'm around.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 07:02 PM

="themetfairy"]Nah - I'm around. WOOT! Phils shudda plated at least one there. Rays up 2-0. That 1st inning by the Rays was very baseball. Walk, hit, error, and RBI groundouts.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:04 PM

Is that McCarver announcing?

AG/DC Oct 23 2008 07:04 PM

Gotta root against Brett Myers.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:09 PM

I don't think it was so clear that Baldelli swung at that pitch. But it was weird for the umpire to call the strike and then ask for help from the first base coach.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:12 PM

The Rays tack on another run, but Baldelli is called out at the plate to end the inning.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 07:20 PM

="themetfairy"]Is that McCarver announcing? Yea, him and Joe Buck. The usual suspects for Fox. ]Gotta root against Brett Myers. lol ]But it was weird for the umpire to call the strike and then ask for help from the first base coach. That was odd. Not a very assertive ump there,lol.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:22 PM

That explains why the announcing suxx. Back to the Baldelli at bat - it was a close call. McCarver and Buck kept saying that he "obviously swung," which sounds like out-and-out rooting to me.

AG/DC Oct 23 2008 07:32 PM

I don't know about rooting, but I'm listening to the Rays radiocast (originally had the Phils booth, but they sound drunk). The guys in the radio booth were wondering who had the "Comfortable chair." -"I don't have it tonight." -"Well, I don't have it." -"Wait a minute... look over there in the TV booth. Look at that." -"Nah, it couldn't be." -"I'm telling you. Tim McCarver took our comfortable chair." -"I can't believe it." -"Believe it."

HahnSolo Oct 23 2008 07:37 PM

That was one ugly at bat by Dobbs.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:40 PM

="AG/DC"]I don't know about rooting, but I'm listening to the Rays radiocast (originally had the Phils booth, but they sound drunk). The guys in the radio booth were wondering who had the "Comfortable chair." -"I don't have it tonight." -"Well, I don't have it." -"Wait a minute... look over there in the TV booth. Look at that." -"Nah, it couldn't be." -"I'm telling you. Tim McCarver took our comfortable chair." -"I can't believe it." -"Believe it." ROFL - too funny!

Zvon Oct 23 2008 07:40 PM

themetfairy wrote: That explains why the announcing suxx. Back to the Baldelli at bat - it was a close call. McCarver and Buck kept saying that he "obviously swung," which sounds like out-and-out rooting to me. I don't think these guys suck. They are far from the best. They are easy to ignore. Anymore McCarver should just bring a recording of the stuff he always says and just play it. Was a day I totally enjoyed his broadcasting though. Especially when I was watching a game with my non-baseball knowledgable g/f, cuz he would save me a lot of question answering. If McCarver is consciously or unconsciously rooting for anyone here I would have to thinks it's certainly the Phillies. He played for em for a few years. Was Steve Carltons designated catcher.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:41 PM

Cliffy leads off the 4th with a broken bat single. And yes - Carlton definitely extended McCarver's catching career.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:47 PM

Cliffy scores on the safety squeeze. 4-0 Rays.

AG/DC Oct 23 2008 07:58 PM

="themetfairy"] ="AG/DC"]I don't know about rooting, but I'm listening to the Rays radiocast (originally had the Phils booth, but they sound drunk). The guys in the radio booth were wondering who had the "Comfortable chair." -"I don't have it tonight." -"Well, I don't have it." -"Wait a minute... look over there in the TV booth. Look at that." -"Nah, it couldn't be." -"I'm telling you. Tim McCarver took our comfortable chair." -"I can't believe it." -"Believe it." ROFL - too funny! it was like something out of Seinfeld. I pictured them coming back in the middle of the night trying to get into the TV booth to get their chair back. Their dooomed franchise rallies back from years upon years in the basement to beat the mighty Yankees and Sawx, get into the World Series and all those guys get is the big shots stealing their furniture.

themetfairy Oct 23 2008 07:58 PM

The Phillies go from having two on and one out in the top of the 5th to a 9-3 inning ending double play. Nicely turned Rays!

Zvon Oct 23 2008 08:00 PM

Wow. Werth runs em out of the inning. Nice heads up play by Baldelli.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 08:02 PM

AG/DC wrote: it was like something out of Seinfeld. I pictured them coming back in the middle of the night trying to get into the TV booth to get their chair back. Their dooomed franchise rallies back from years upon years in the basement to beat the mighty Yankees and Sawx, get into the World Series and all those guys get is the big shots stealing their furniture. lol.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 08:17 PM

I googled Joe Buck for the picture I used above with him and Tim. I was just about to close that window when I glanced around. Apparently there's a band that shares his name,....in a way. They are called Joe Buck Yourself. lol. http://bucketcity.ning.com/group/joebuckyourself

Zvon Oct 23 2008 08:41 PM

POLL: Do the Phils have a comeback in em here in game 2? Yes __ No __ They will tie it and it will go 18 innings then the Phils score, Rays tie it in their half and it goes 23 innings __ (^I'm not going to divulge the winner cuz if the above happens I don't want u guys thinking im psychic or anything)

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2008 08:47 PM

I think we can call him Jayson Werth-less tonight. Boy is having a rough game. So far, so good as far as I'm concerned: I was a Philly phan last night (cuz I figured if they lost a Hamels game to start out it might be a short series) but am a Rays fan tonight for much the same reason.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 08:53 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: I think we can call him Jayson Werth-less tonight. Boy is having a rough game. So far, so good as far as I'm concerned: I was a Philly phan last night (cuz I figured if they lost a Hamels game to start out it might be a short series) but am a Rays fan tonight for much the same reason. I always wish for a seven game series when the Mets arent involved. Only because after its over no baseball for like 5 months. I did vote 5 games in the poll, using the '69 Met analogy that the Phils win the first game, and then the Rays take 4 in a row in some miraculous fashion.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2008 08:54 PM

Manuel leaving Utley & Howard back-to-back like this makes it easier for Maddon to combat, particularly with Price on the squad as well as two other LH relievers.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 09:01 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Manuel leaving Utley & Howard back-to-back like this makes it easier for Maddon to combat, particularly with Price on the squad as well as two other LH relievers. And if Howard has at bats like that throughout the series the Phils are in trouble.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 23 2008 09:07 PM

The World Series is an opportunity to hate Tim McCarver all over again every October. He grates on me. Quickly.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2008 09:08 PM

Just out of curiosity, is Upton going to run out ANY of these GiDPs he hits into, or just assume he's cooked from the start and jog them all out? That's 3 in 2 games now, and Maddon yanked him from at least 2 games during the season for not hustling.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 09:13 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Just out of curiosity, is Upton going to run out ANY of these GiDPs he hits into, or just assume he's cooked from the start and jog them all out? That's 3 in 2 games now, and Maddon yanked him from at least 2 games during the season for not hustling. Maddon's too smart to rock the boat at this time, but I'm sure he is noticing and will address it again in the future.

AG/DC Oct 23 2008 09:15 PM

Bruntlett?

Zvon Oct 23 2008 09:35 PM

Its getting interesting here in the 9th. ....lil bit. (that top view of the check swing by Baldelli discussed earlier shows no way did he "obviously" swing)

Zvon Oct 23 2008 09:37 PM

I just had time to sit up in my seat and its over. Rays take game 2.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2008 09:37 PM

Tied-Up! Now they all get a day off - or maybe two if the forcast holds for Saturday

Zvon Oct 23 2008 09:40 PM

They oughta give Rosenthal a milk crate or something to stand on when he does those post game interviews.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2008 09:43 PM

If FOX & ESPN ever co-produced a game they could have a "short-off" starring their on-field reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tim Kurkjian

Zvon Oct 23 2008 09:58 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: If FOX & ESPN ever co-produced a game they could have a "short-off" starring their on-field reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tim Kurkjian lmao. Kurkjian is the only person in the world over 15 years old who's voice is still breaking.

Zvon Oct 23 2008 10:04 PM

Valadius Oct 24 2008 05:52 AM

Dan Wheeler. Cliff Floyd.

Fman99 Oct 24 2008 06:20 AM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: The World Series is an opportunity to hate Tim McCarver all over again every October. He grates on me. Quickly. Yep. Buck and McCarver both, in fact. They are YES-network-level bad broadcasters.

Zvon Oct 25 2008 06:50 PM

Game three. This is disgraceful whats going on here tonight. This game should have been called hours before its starting time.

Zvon Oct 25 2008 08:35 PM

Its 10:30, 2nd inning, and the Phils up 1-0. Phillies should have scored more in the 1st with second and third, no out, but datsAbaseBall.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2008 05:47 AM

Serves them right for not even scheduling the start until after 8:30. Not that rain is more likely at that hour but it leaves you with no wiggle room once you do get delayed. But it won't change. Selig was quoted in the last day or two as saying that, while he'd like to reduce some of the extra off-days in the post-season next year, the idea about moving even weekend games to afternoon or earlier PM starts is not up for discussion. The ratings suffer in afternoon games he claims and the networks won't clear the time anyway. Of course they would if the rights fees were reduced but he's not going to add that part. For those who didn't stay up; the Rays tied it without a ball leaving the infield in the 8th and the Phils won it without a ball leaving the infield in the 9th. Top 8: Upton infield single; steal; steal + E2 = tying run (3-3) Bottom 9: Bruntlett HBP; passed ball + E2 = runner on 3rd/0 outs. Then IW + IW loaded the bases and prompted Madden to play 5 infielders vs Ruiz who foiled the scheme by getting a 40-foot single for the always-popular 'walk-off dribbler' Game 4 = Blanton v Sonnenstine in another late night game in late October in the northeast.

SteveJRogers Oct 26 2008 09:33 AM

BTW, this series is proving the biggest "non-controversy controversy of recent postseasons, but look for it to return the next time" wrong with the "Look for the Rays to dominate because the Phillies had too much rest" argument. I'm all for eliminating extra off days and tightening up the postseason as well, but it really is a silly argument to blame blowouts on too much rest in-between a team that swept or won the LCS in 5 games, as opposed to their opponents who won the LCS in a 7 game war. Kind of like blaming Super Bowl blowouts on the extra week between the championship game and the Super Bowl.

cooby Oct 26 2008 01:37 PM

what time was it over?

themetfairy Oct 26 2008 01:50 PM

1:49 am, according to ESPN.

Zvon Oct 26 2008 06:23 PM

from last nights game

Zvon Oct 26 2008 06:25 PM

themetfairy Oct 26 2008 06:39 PM

The bottom of the first is starting at 8:38. I doubt I'm staying up for the whole thing.

Kong76 Oct 26 2008 06:51 PM

As the NFL on Fox wound down they had a tick down clock (around 8:00) as to when the next World Series game would be on ... it's just maddening. Countdown to Jeannie was more like it ... yuck.

metirish Oct 26 2008 06:53 PM

Hitting in this series has been terrible.

themetfairy Oct 26 2008 06:53 PM

I hat Jeannie. 1-0 Phillies on the bases loaded walk to Burrell. The run is more maddening because Sonnenstine could have gotten out of the inning with a tailor made double play ball but he went for the runner at third instead (and, ultimately, didn't even get Rollins out).

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2008 07:46 PM

Rays' newly found defensive rep is suddenly taking a beating this week. And it's the solid infield guys (Longoria, Barlett, Iwamura) who are making most of the goofs. Crawford's HR was only the 2nd of the last 9 TB runs that was driven in by a hit. The other was Crawford's game 2 HR. All 4 runs in game 3 came on an infield out, an infield out, a Sac Fly & an error

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 26 2008 07:47 PM

Hasn't been the best executed world series I ever saw.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2008 07:50 PM

Yup. Lotsa mistakes both ways, runners left all over the place, not very good fielding, and even some bad umping. Good bullpens has been the hilight for both teams.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 26 2008 08:07 PM

Big fat Joe Blanton hits a big fat home run

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2008 08:30 PM

Since when did they start allowing in-series roster moves? I hope there's some sort of limit what moves can be made or I could see some serious manipulations at some point.

Fman99 Oct 26 2008 08:39 PM

The entire series disgusts me. Between Phillies wins and national baseball coverage I have had enough. I'm punching out, Maverick.

metirish Oct 27 2008 05:01 AM

Broad Street Joe they are calling him in Philly. It's not been a good series to watch no matter who you are rooting for.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 06:35 AM

="metirish"]Broad Street Joe they are calling him in Philly. You misheard, it's broad-assed Joe. Or, as they said in Oakland back when he was part of the famed 'Moneyball' draft, "he wears a big pair of underwear".

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 08:13 AM

Frayed Knot wrote: Since when did they start allowing in-series roster moves? I hope there's some sort of limit what moves can be made or I could see some serious manipulations at some point. What happened? I know that can only happen if you declare a player injured (i.e. Mike Lowell and Richie Weeks in the ALDS, all based on the Clemens situation last year).

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 08:33 AM

Cliff is injured and was replaced between games 3 and 4 by Eric Hinske (who promptly HR'd in his first AB). But you didn't used to be able to make roster changes mid-series based on the idea that there's nothing to prevent teams from "discovering" an injury as an excuse to replace worn out or slumping players, or even platoon-type players/pitchers towards the end of a series simply for strategic reasons.

Centerfield Oct 27 2008 08:36 AM

I know it's just a couple of games, but Philly just looks so much better than the Rays. I'm not quite sure how to feel about this. I go back and forth from thinking "Damnit, the Mets really could have won it all" to "I guess Philly was better than I gave them credit for." Whatever. Big collapse starts tonight with Brad Lidge's first blown save of the season.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 27 2008 08:40 AM

Yeah, the Phillies really are a good team. They don't blow leads and they don't let you feel comfortable when you're ahead of them. It looks like we'll have to endure this World Championship, and Jimmy Rollins telling New York to "stick it" and hope that they don't continue to be this good next year and in years to come.

Fman99 Oct 27 2008 10:34 AM

At this point I am rooting for that slimmest of hopes, that the Rays can win one more time and force the Phillies to clinch on the road. It's petty but I cannot help it.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 12:02 PM

- The Phils are the 43rd team in World Series history to take a 3-1 lead. Of the previous 42, 36 have gone on to win the series, including 23 closing it out in five games. The six teams to rally from a 3-1 deficit were the 1903 Pilgrims over the Pirates, the 1925 Pirates over the Senators, the 1958 Yankees over the Braves, the 1968 Tigers over the Cardinals, the 1979 Pirates over the Orioles and the 1985 Royals over the Cardinals. Other tidbits from the folks at BP: –The Phillies scored eight of their 10 runs off home runs in Game 4 and have scored 14 of their 20 runs in the series off homers. –Howard had the 46th multiple-home run game in WS history. The first since Kent for the Giants in Game 5 in 2002 and the first Phil since Dykstra in Game 4 1993. –The Phillies are unbeaten home in this postseason, taking two from the Brewers in the National League Division Series, two from the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series and now two from the Rays. - Blanton's HR was the first in the WS by a pitcher since Ken Holtzman for the Athletics in Game 4 in 1974 and the 15th time overall. He's also became the fourth player to hit his first major-league HR in a World Series game. – Eric Hinske's PH HR was the 23rd player in World Series history to hit a pinch-hit home run when he connecdted off Blanton in the fifth inning. The Phillies’ Eric Bruntlett in Game 1 was #22. (No mention if it's the first time two different PHers named Eric hit HRs .. I suspect it is). – Rays 1B Carlos Pena and 3B Evan Longoria are 0-for-29 w/15 strikeouts in the series after going 23-for-78 (.295) in the ALDS & ALCS

Willets Point Oct 27 2008 06:50 PM

The Philistines take a first-inning lead. 2-0 to William Penn's Boys.

Willets Point Oct 27 2008 07:04 PM

If the Phillies win tonight, Tug McGraw will be on the mound.

Willets Point Oct 27 2008 07:52 PM

Listening to the Phillies radio broadcast and hearing far more presidential election ads than I get in Mass.

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 07:54 PM

Can they actually have a rain shortened clincher?

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 07:55 PM

Damn, so much for me hoping that Rollins botch would start the Rays' rally.

Willets Point Oct 27 2008 08:11 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Can they actually have a rain shortened clincher? There has never been a rain-shortened World Series game. Whether it's a possibility remains unanswered.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 08:13 PM

Can they by rule have one? -- Yes.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 08:15 PM

And yeah, Kazmir's gotten squeezed a few times. But 6 BBs + a HBP in 4-plus innings is the type of game that's keeping him from being a top pitcher. He has too many of those.

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 08:29 PM

Makes you wonder why the North East and Ohio teams didn't try to get their domed stadium proposals through. Granted that dome on top of the original design for the project soon to become Citi Field back in the late 1990s was awful, I really wonder why Citi Field lost its dome?

metirish Oct 27 2008 08:29 PM

This game is turning into a farce .

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 08:34 PM

What I'm referring too, courtesy of StadiumPage.com

soupcan Oct 27 2008 08:36 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: I really wonder why Citi Field lost its dome? Answer: $1,000,000,000.00.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 08:40 PM

The Rays tying it up might actually give the umps an excuse to stop the game.

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 08:40 PM

soupcan wrote: ="SteveJRogers"]I really wonder why Citi Field lost its dome? Answer: $1,000,000,000.00. Actually, I don't think it would have cost that much more.

Willets Point Oct 27 2008 08:41 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Makes you wonder why the North East and Ohio teams didn't try to get their domed stadium proposals through. Granted that dome on top of the original design for the project soon to become Citi Field back in the late 1990s was awful, I really wonder why Citi Field lost its dome? Because: 1. Domes are more expensive to build, especially when you're trying to get public financing. 2. Ditto the expense of maintaining a movable roof. 3. Domes are unpopular with fans. 4. Most of the time games can be rescheduled. The odds of a fifth game of the World Series in a torrential downpour are slim enough for most teams that it would be hard to justify the dome on those grounds. 5. As you stated, the Citi Field dome was awful.

Zvon Oct 27 2008 08:42 PM

lol.this is crazy. One thing I really didn't want to experience here was a rain called finale. Now that its tied can they postpone it and pick it up tomorrow?

Zvon Oct 27 2008 08:43 PM

finally, the tarp comes out.

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 08:43 PM

Rain delay time.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 08:51 PM

Meanwhile "up north" here not only is it not raining but it's 15 degrees warmer.

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 08:51 PM

] 1. Domes are more expensive to build, especially when you're trying to get public financing. Only a portion of Citi is publicly funded, the Mets are putting up most of the bill. ]4. Most of the time games can be rescheduled. The odds of a fifth game of the World Series in a torrential downpour are slim enough for most teams that it would be hard to justify the dome on those grounds. Well, I'm talking about games that AREN'T rescheduled. Where the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Red Sox, Orioles, Phillies, etc, make fans sit for hour upon hour for the game to start, restart, or whatever on real nasty, raw, cold nights. And there are plenty of those nights as opposed to games called before they open the stands. The latter at Shea you can probably count on one hand, how many times that has happened over the last decade. And just because that original design was bad, doesn't mean scrap the concept entirely. I mean look at all the retractable domes out there now, they have real turf fields.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 08:55 PM

]Only a portion of Citi is publicly funded, the Mets are putting up most of the bill. Which is why there's not going to be a dome. It's easy to put one into your plans when you think someone else (read: us) is footing the bill. But the era a the publicly financed stadium is over.

Zvon Oct 27 2008 09:02 PM

Watching the local news weather report regarding the game. Tomorrow calls for lottsa freezing rain and 55mph winds. Wind chill in the 20s... Possible snow? lol. I love how what TV contracts have done to the game is coming back to bite em.

SteveJRogers Oct 27 2008 09:11 PM

Even more reasons cities like NYC, Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincy and Baltimore should have domed baseball stadiums. That, or severe tightening of the postseason schedule. But I say, why not both!

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 09:21 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Even more reasons cities like NYC, Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincy and Baltimore should have domed baseball stadiums. That, or severe tightening of the postseason schedule. But I say, why not both! So your suggestion to the decision makers of MLB is to take in less money but spend more. Good luck with that plan.

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2008 09:23 PM

Game suspended! Will resume tomorrow from the point it was called ... weather permitting of course.

Zvon Oct 27 2008 09:25 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Even more reasons cities like NYC, Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincy and Baltimore should have domed baseball stadiums. That, or severe tightening of the postseason schedule. But I say, why not both! Not severe tightening, post season wise. Having off days in the middle 3 games of the NLCS, that should have been just 3 games in a row, would help a little. This series could have been over a few days ago. These games have to start sooner in the month. Last time the Phils were in a World Series the games were already over like a week ago. The way the post season is structured these days, its the season they have to tighten. If they weren't such money grubbers they'd go back to having more double headers, and make them one admission price like they used to be. How many double headers did they have back in the 70s,80's? Im thinking like 15 or so. OE: 20 is kinda much,lol. I just checked an old schedule from the 60s and there were 19 double headers scheduled.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2008 04:35 AM

Even if the World Series was to end a week earlier, the weather isn't going to be dramatically different over those seven days. And with global warming, fall isn't what it used to be anyway. Ten years from now it might be 65 degrees at night in Boston. So what's the deal with tonight's resumption of Game 5? Do fans who were there last night show their ticket stubs for reentry? I hope they all hung on to them! It's funny that they have to go back there, fight the traffic, juggle their plans, just to see what might be a three-inning game. They'll do it, in order to see a World Series victory, but hopefully that won't happen either.

dgwphotography Oct 28 2008 04:52 AM

I had to scrape frost off my car last week - what was that about global warming?

metirish Oct 28 2008 06:39 AM

If they had started the game at 7 or even 7:15 maybe they get last nights game in , the 8:30 starts have long been beaten over the head on this board and plenty of other places.

Willets Point Oct 28 2008 06:45 AM

I feel bad for any fan who had tickets to last night's game and have a time conflict with the continuation of the game.

AG/DC Oct 28 2008 07:22 AM

Heck of a job by Tampa fighting back into it under those conditions. Jimmy Rollins helped a bit too. JC Luchbucket and I had a Rollins vs. Reyes talk last night. He went for Reyes's instincts. I liked Rollns' hands. Didn't like 'em last night though. Don't seem to be much good to him when they're cold. I thought Utley didn't land the tag on the tag-and-throw DP, but the runner didn't argue.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2008 07:54 AM

I live 24 miles (as the crow flies) north of Citizens Bank Park, and it's currently snowing. And it's even sticking to the ground!

HahnSolo Oct 28 2008 09:06 AM

If I am Tampa I'm feeling alright now. Just the fact that they didn't lose last night makes it feel like a win. Plus now they'll have 9 outs to get a few more runs across, and none of those will be gotten by Hamels. On a normal day, Hamels (with his relatively low pitch count) would probably go 8 innings. The Rays could still steal this.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2008 11:52 AM

No game resumption tonight. Game 5 is now scheduled to resume tomorrow night.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2008 12:05 PM

Which means: - the Rays have to make plans for another day in the northeast. As it is they had already checked out of their Philly hotel and are currently holed up in Wilmington, Delawere as nothing could be found on short notice in Philly. Not sure if the current spot is available for tonight also. - The dates for games 6 & 7 (if necc) are pushed back at least one day each, moving game 7 to the Friday night they had originally re-arranged the schedule to avoid. - 'House' doesn't get pre-empted tonight. I was briefly chuckling over the fact that FOX had been using the playoffs to promote the hell out of the next 'House' episode only to have it taken over by the rainout.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2008 12:25 PM

And Game 5B will conflict with the big Obama 30-minute paid funfest.

Frayed Knot Oct 28 2008 12:30 PM

Well they had already agreed to delay the game until post-Obama as Wednesday was supposed to be Game 6. Actually all it's going to do is cut into the pre-game show since no game has started prior to 8:30 anyway. If this does go 7 it might allow Philly to bring back Hamels. It'll be short rest for him but coming off a short day.

dgwphotography Oct 28 2008 01:44 PM

Thank god for TiVo

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 03:18 PM

Just to re-set the stage for Game 5.5: - Tie game, 3-1/2 innings and the Rays have to win to survive. It's the Bottom 6th and Cole Hamels' lineup spot is due up for the Phils. They'll PH for him obviously and who they use could trigger what Maddon will do. Grant Balfour (R) had pitched the 5th and is still the pitcher of record for TB so he can either stay in or be replaced. Phils mgr Manuel has announced - starter like - that Ryan Madson will be the first pitcher up in the 7th although there's certainly no reason why he has to stick with that.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 05:37 PM

So who pinch hits for Hamels? Place your bets! I think this is bench listing is accurate: G. Dobbs 3B C. Coste C S. Taguchi LF G. Jenkins RF M. Stairs RF E. Bruntlett SS Will Balfour stay on for the Rays? If so I'd go with Dobbs.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 05:42 PM

No, they save Dobbs for a big spot. They announce Jenkins, forcing the Rays to counter with a lefty, and then bring up Taguchi.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 05:49 PM

seawolf17 wrote: No, they save Dobbs for a big spot. They announce Jenkins, forcing the Rays to counter with a lefty, and then bring up Taguchi. OOO, I like the detail. I'm thinking with being like a 3 inning game getting something started right off the bat makes the lead off situation a big spot. Can get a bloop or a blast from him, even a walk.

Willets Point Oct 29 2008 06:17 PM

Zvon wrote: I'm thinking with being like a 3 inning game getting something started right off the bat makes the lead off situation a big spot. . 3 inning game? Wouldn't it be hillarious if it stayed tied until the 15th inning so that they end up playing 9 innings tonight? Yeah, I didn't thinks so either.

Kong76 Oct 29 2008 06:32 PM

I think it would be funny.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 06:38 PM

It would be a pisser.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 06:39 PM

This was in the Atlantic City Press. I found it amusing. ]A wet and wild night:Reliving Game 5, part one Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 First inning: A light mist is in the air and fans around the park wonder why the tarp isn't on the field. Perhaps it won't rain even though they get text messages from friends saying the weather will be bad. Obviously, they don't know as much as Major League Baseball because the game starts and Cole Hamels gets the first three batters out. Philadelphia loads the bases with two outs and even gets a hit with runners in scoring position. The Phillies take a 2-0 lead on Shane Victorino's single to left. Fans start calling their bosses asking for today off to attend the World Series parade. Second inning: Hamels' perfect game is ruined with a walk to Dioner Navarro. But it doesn't matter because fans believe he could throw a complete-game shutout in what is sure to be the second of many, many World Series appearances for him. Third inning: Hamels blows the no-hitter to Akinori Iwamura, who Hamels has gotten out only twice in the World Series. No worries because Aki was the only problem in the inning. In the Phillies' half, Ryan Howard strikes out. All is right in Philadelphia. Fourth inning: It's beginning to rain harder and the fans who paid the most for their tickets are heading for cover. Those sitting in the outfield and upper deck haven't moved an inch from either nerves or frostbite. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria break their 0-for in the World Series with back-to-back hits and the Rays score. Hamels' shutout is ruined. Longoria's hit stopped the fans chanting 'Eva' (in reference to actress Eva Longoria), which he heard throughout Games 3 and 4. When Hamels comes to bat, he gets hit on his left hand while attempting to bunt. The crowd nearly passes out. But it's not as bad as Hamels running from second to third three times before Chase Utley hits into a ground-ball out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Fifth inning: Philadelphia's grounds crew is working the field and everyone wonders when the tarp is coming out. Bud Selig checks the field and decides it's too early to make the call. The criticism won't be as harsh yet even as Jimmy Rollins drops Rocco Baldelli's pop-up in the swirling wind. Ryan Howard and Pat "I don't have a hit in the World Series" Burrell draw back-to-back walks and Joe Maddon calls on Grant Balfour to pitch. Shane Victorino has to wait nearly 10 minutes as the grounds crew carries sacks of a drying agent onto the field in an attempt to clear up the muddy mess. The wait wasn't nearly as bad as watching Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz all pop out. 6th inning: Most fans celebrated the World Series becoming an official game. Fans in the Hall of Fame Club, a lounge inside the stadium, high-five each other at the thought. But no one told the fans, the players, the media or anyone outside of Selig's mind that the "official-game rule" isn't going to apply in the World Series. The game will go nine innings no matter what. Yet, Selig allows the Rays to bat in the first half of the inning despite harsh weather conditions. B.J. Upton reaches on an infield single as Rollins has trouble controlling the slick baseball. As Upton steals second, he slips on the mud and puddles spray across the infield. Selig still isn't ready to call the game. Pena gets his second hit of World Series, scoring Upton, which ties the game at 2-all. Longoria flies out to end the inning. The tarp is on the field. Fans call their bosses asking for Tuesday off to finish watching the game. -Susan Lulgjuraj

metirish Oct 29 2008 06:40 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Just to re-set the stage for Game 5.5: - Tie game, 3-1/2 innings and the Rays have to win to survive. It's the Bottom 6th and Cole Hamels' lineup spot is due up for the Phils. They'll PH for him obviously and who they use could trigger what Maddon will do. Grant Balfour (R) had pitched the 5th and is still the pitcher of record for TB so he can either stay in or be replaced. Phils mgr Manuel has announced - starter like - that Ryan Madson will be the first pitcher up in the 7th although there's certainly no reason why he has to stick with that. I was going to ask if they had to start the players that were in the game the other night , this is certainly something different.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 06:41 PM

Good call with Jenkins Seawolf17. But Maddon does not counter.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 06:43 PM

WOW. Jenkins knocks one to the wall. Lead off double. WOW

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2008 06:43 PM

Willets Point wrote: Wouldn't it be hillarious if it stayed tied until the 15th inning so that they end up playing 9 innings tonight? Yeah, I didn't thinks so either. I think it would. In fact, I'm rooting for them to play 18-innings tonight, and then have it start raining again.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 06:44 PM

Listen to the Philly crowd and then try and argue for neutral site games.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 06:44 PM

Zvon wrote: Good call with Jenkins Seawolf17. But Maddon does not counter. And apparently, I'm starter than Joe Maddon tonight.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2008 06:46 PM

He can't can he? Doesn't his pitcher have to face a batter?

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 06:47 PM

He did, two nights ago. He could have sent him out there, then after Jenkins was announced, bring in Howell. Fuckin' hell.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 06:47 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: He can't can he? Doesn't his pitcher have to face a batter? He did, he pitched the entire 5th inning.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 06:49 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Listen to the Philly crowd and then try and argue for neutral site games. That neutral site bullshit is.... bullshit. To me the big show is the ultimate way to repay your fans.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 06:54 PM

If, Tim, their pitching coach says Howell has been their "most valuable pitcher, getting big outs all year," then why don't you bring him in to counter Jenkins and force the Phils to spend another hitter? They haven't even mentioned that as a possibility.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 06:56 PM

I do think you've out-managed Maddon as well as the booth Seawolf.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 06:58 PM

Maddon's made a bunch of "gut" pitching decisions that haven't worked out this week.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 07:00 PM

YEAH ROCCO! SUCK IT, PHILLIES!

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:00 PM

Having a Ball-delli !!

Zvon Oct 29 2008 07:01 PM

WOW. Rocco hits a rocket. Tie game. WOW.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:03 PM

]I was going to ask if they had to start the players that were in the game the other night , this is certainly something different. Same rules as any single game. If you were in before you're in now. If you were removed already (say Kazmir) you're ineligible until Game 6

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:10 PM

Well that was a pretty action-packed inning: 4 pitchers, 2 runs, 1 HR, a long double, 2 sac bunts, an almost run-saving catch, plus a play at the plate on a guy trying to take 2 bases on an infield bouncer.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 07:11 PM

That was a great play by Utley, and a great play by Ruiz. Tim McCarver showing his Mets roots, referring to Howell as "J.C. Martin."

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:13 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 29 2008 07:14 PM

So he leaves the LHP in to pitch to Burrell and THEN removes him for Bradford?!!? If nothing else, Bradford almost always keeps the ball in the park. Howell almost didn't.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 07:14 PM

seawolf17 wrote: That was a great play by Utley, and a great play by Ruiz. Tim McCarver showing his Mets roots, referring to Howell as "J.C. Martin." lol. That was caaaaarazy. Wooo-Burrell finally gets a hit. If that had left the park I would have been like....WOW.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:17 PM

Rays gotta keep this game tied or else they'll see Lidge real soon if not immediately to start the 8th. But keep it tied and they can get to Durbin and/or Eyre.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 07:18 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: So he leaves the LHP in to pitch to Burrell and THEN removes him for Bradford?!!? If nothing else, Bradford almost always keeps the ball in the park. Howell almost didn't. Joe Maddon forgot to take his anti-senility meds this morning.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 29 2008 07:22 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: Rays gotta keep this game tied or else they'll see Lidge real soon if not immediately to start the 8th. But keep it tied and they can get to Durbin and/or Eyre. Plan B...

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 07:23 PM

Boy, I could watch Chad Bradford pitch all day. Fascinating.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 07:26 PM

That was an exciting inning. So far this whole resumed game has been. I hope the ratings for this telecast are not really high. Then TV might try making all baseball games 3 innings.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 07:30 PM

WOW. You gotta take a few pitches there Upton. You have to give Crawford a chance to try and steal one. Thats a BIG dp.

Rockin' Doc Oct 29 2008 07:33 PM

With Bruntlett on third with one out, why didn't Maddon intentiaonally walk Feliz to set up the potential inning ending double play with the catcher Ruiz on deck? Bradford is a groundball pitcher so it would seem the logical move. Should Manual counter by pinch hitting for Ruiz (with Dobbs or Stairs), then you can counter with David Price and look for a strike out. If you don't get that, then you still have the possible double play in order.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 07:41 PM

Could Maddon be suffering from brain freeze?

SteveJRogers Oct 29 2008 07:46 PM

3 more outs for a Philly championship.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:47 PM

What it shows you is that fans who think only their own manager doesn't handle the bullpen correctly probably won't be satisfied with how his replacement does it either. And so it's down to Longoria - Navarro - Baldelli against Lidge to extend the season

Zvon Oct 29 2008 07:50 PM

I want a Met hat like one a those they are wearing,...where you can pull the flaps down over the ears.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:53 PM

I'd send the runner!!

Willets Point Oct 29 2008 07:53 PM

The Rays have life in 'em.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:54 PM

No lo contendre on the steal

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 07:57 PM

Dang, I thought that one was going to get down. Would have been an interesting call on whether to send the runner home if it did.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 29 2008 07:59 PM

aaaaah, fuck it.

metirish Oct 29 2008 07:59 PM

Oh well , see you in the spring.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 08:00 PM

How dare Lidge pull an Orosco! Gratz Philly.

seawolf17 Oct 29 2008 08:00 PM

Ah, cut the Phillies some slack. They finally caught up to the Mets after an eighty-year head start. Congrats to them and their pissant fans.

Frayed Knot Oct 29 2008 08:00 PM

Helluva year for the Rays, but some of their youthful mistakes showed through this week.

metirish Oct 29 2008 08:01 PM

I remember Charlie Manuel was on first to be fired hot seat two seasons ago , congrats to him.

Zvon Oct 29 2008 08:02 PM

Wonder if they are gonna show a shot of my reaction at the last out. They've just shown everyone elses.

Willets Point Oct 29 2008 08:03 PM

Congrats Phillies. You're a target to be tumbled from your perch now. And I know just the guys to do it.

TransMonk Oct 29 2008 08:04 PM

I hate baseball.

Valadius Oct 29 2008 08:06 PM

I don't care. Let them have their championship and let them fade away for another generation.

metirish Oct 29 2008 08:07 PM

Area baseball writers are dusting down their "Mets worst nightmare" articles for tomorrow.

Willets Point Oct 29 2008 08:09 PM

Official time for the game 3:28. Ha! Plus a 46 hour rain delay.

Fman99 Oct 29 2008 08:09 PM

Good, let's put this fucking season to bed. The only World Series that matters is the 80's movies one anyway.

Willets Point Oct 29 2008 08:12 PM

Ha-ha! The Phans are booing Bud Selig. Keep it classy Philly!

metsguyinmichigan Oct 29 2008 08:14 PM

Nice. You win the World Series and the first thing that happens is you get airhead Jeanne Zelasko asking stupid-assed questions.

metirish Oct 29 2008 08:14 PM

Bud gets booed by his own family , he's used to this.

Willets Point Oct 29 2008 08:19 PM

metirish wrote: Bud gets booed by his own family , he's used to this. "Hi honey, I'm home!" "Booooooooooo!!!"

Zvon Oct 29 2008 08:29 PM

="Willets Point"] ="metirish"]Bud gets booed by his own family , he's used to this. "Hi honey, I'm home!" "Booooooooooo!!!" __________________

soupcan Oct 29 2008 08:43 PM

Finally this lousy season comes to an end. How many days until pitchers and catchers?

Gwreck Oct 29 2008 09:00 PM

Too many.

TransMonk Oct 29 2008 09:18 PM

Gwreck wrote: Too many. True. But the MLB network starts the first of the year and it's a WBC year. Should provide at least a little more interesting baseball fix than normal this winter

Edgy DC Oct 29 2008 09:26 PM

Let Parody Season begin.

metirish Oct 30 2008 04:07 AM

This is five WS in a row that have been lopsided.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2008 05:10 AM

Good! Less money for the networks and MLB. The postseason has ended and I didn't see a single pitch of any of the games. We were watching House on TiVo last night when we heard fireworks going off outside. The dog got agitated, and I was wondering what the fireworks were about. Finally my wife remembered that the Phillies were playing and that they must have won. That's how out of my consciousness this has been, even living in the Philadelphia market.

Fman99 Oct 30 2008 06:16 AM

TransMonk wrote: ="Gwreck"]Too many. True. But the MLB network starts the first of the year and it's a WBC year. Should provide at least a little more interesting baseball fix than normal this winter I am looking forward to both of these. I wonder if my cable provider will be carrying the MLB Network.

metirish Oct 30 2008 06:32 AM

Carriage The network has signed contracts with 36 cable and satellite carriers.[5] In a deal that may be copied by other sports league owned channels, MLB tied carriage of the MLB Network to the ability to carry the popular out of market MLB Extra Innings package. In return, cable and satellite providers were offered a minority share of the new network. I hope cablevision carry it.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2008 06:34 AM

Since I have DirecTV and the Extra Innings package, I'm pretty sure I'll get it. I have my doubts that it will have much worth watching, though. I suspect that there will be a bunch of studio shows with smiling airheads and shouting fools.

HahnSolo Oct 30 2008 06:43 AM

21 World Series champions since the Mets last championship: - 4 were won by the Yankees - 4 were won by other teams in the NL East - 2 were won by inferior teams who beat the Mets in the postseason That's 10 out of 21 gut punches and off-seasons of misery. At least I have a world class sports and entertainment facility to look forward to.

metirish Oct 30 2008 07:11 AM

Cable rate increases across the board for the New Year , if you have the bundle from cablevision then there will be no rate increase but for others it will be as much as 3.5 percent... http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/sns-ap-cable-rates-rising,0,1130588.story

soupcan Oct 30 2008 09:37 AM

Ouch.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2008 09:47 AM

Oh no you di'ent! This morning I wore my Mets cap to the local convenience store when I picked up my newspaper. As I was entering a guy held the door open for me. I said, "Thank you" and he shouted "Mets suck!" No class. I hope the Phillies go 0-162 next season.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 30 2008 10:00 AM

I think it's more likely we'll see the Rays in the series again in the next few years than it is that we'll see the Phillies.

Centerfield Oct 30 2008 10:09 AM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think it's more likely we'll see the Rays in the series again in the next few years than it is that we'll see the Phillies. Why would you say that? The only guy they might lose from their lineup is Burrell, and the only one from their rotation is Moyer. Both those guys are easily replaceable.

metirish Oct 30 2008 10:10 AM

Yeah I think that too , it's got to be nice to know that you can pencil in David Price into the starting rotation next season. Obviously we have not seen much of him but wow he looks like a keeper.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2008 10:15 AM

I'm afraid we'll be reckoning with the Phillies for at least a few more years.

Willets Point Oct 30 2008 10:17 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm afraid we'll be reckoning with the Phillies for at least a few more years. No, the Phillies are afraid, because the Mets are going to be breaking their hearts for years to come.

G-Fafif Oct 30 2008 10:35 AM

Whose fans do we have it better off than from a strictly haven't-won-it-since perspective? Kansas City Royals (1985) Detroit Tigers (1984) Baltimore Orioles (1983) Pittsburgh Pirates (1979) Seattle Mariners (Never from 1977 on) Texas Rangers (Never from 1972 on) Milwaukee Brewers (Never from 1970 on) San Diego Padres (Never from 1969 on) Houston Astros (Never from 1962 on) San Francisco Giants (Never from 1958 on/1954 for the diehards, some of whom I know) Cleveland Indians (1948) Chicago Cubs (1908) Throw in fans of the Washington Nationals (2005), the Tampa Bay Rays (1998) and the Colorado Rockies (1993) among the never-wons who have come along in the wake of October 27, 1986. Let us now fan out around the country and taunt these losers so as to enhance our self-esteem.

HahnSolo Oct 30 2008 11:19 AM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think it's more likely we'll see the Rays in the series again in the next few years than it is that we'll see the Phillies. I don't know, they're going to need a lot of guys in that bullpen to reproduce what they did this year plus they have a shaky closer situation. Oh, and the two richest teams in MLB are in their division.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 30 2008 11:31 AM

I like the idea of the Rays staying hungry and the Phils getting fat and happy.

Gwreck Oct 30 2008 12:02 PM

Why the Phillies won't be as good next year: 1. Injuries. In 2008, they had none, other than Geoff Jenkins. Four starters made 30+ starts, and the Blanton/Eaton combo had another 32. Bullpen healthy all year. Most of their key players are relatively young but having essentially zero major injuries is definitely a factor of luck as well. 2. Players who overperformed in 2008: Werth, Dobbs, Lidge, Moyer, Durbin Players who underperformed: Ruiz (?) I wouldn't be shocked to see Werth have a good year as a full-time player in '09. But the rest of those players won't be better in '09. 3. Ryan Howard's steady decline: 2006: .313/.425/.629 2007: .268/.392/.584 2008: .251/.339/.543 4. Plexiglass pinciple.

Farmer Ted Oct 30 2008 12:09 PM

Philly has an excuse now for two Gay Pride parades in the same year.

TransMonk Oct 30 2008 12:13 PM

Farmer Ted wrote: Philly has an excuse now for two Gay Pride parades in the same year. Bullet of cool!

soupcan Oct 30 2008 01:01 PM

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2008 01:06 PM

Scratch what I said earlier. I hope they go 0-162 for the next three years.

themetfairy Oct 30 2008 02:49 PM

I can never understand what makes people riot during times of great happiness.

Kong76 Oct 30 2008 03:07 PM

Don't tase me bro!

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2008 03:41 PM

themetfairy wrote: I can never understand what makes people riot during times of great happiness. Makes no sense to me either. I'm glad no New York championship has ever been "celebrated" that way. Did this start with the 1984 Tigers? That's the earliest example I can remember, anyway.

Valadius Oct 30 2008 05:32 PM

I'll never forget what my idiot brother said to me when the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. My brother is in Boston - he's a film student at Emerson. "Goddammit, I wanted to go out and look for riots!"

SteveJRogers Oct 30 2008 05:35 PM

themetfairy wrote: I can never understand what makes people riot during times of great happiness. Dollars to doughnuts says they aren't fans, but are hooligans just looking for an excuse to act like miscreants.

dgwphotography Oct 30 2008 05:43 PM

themetfairy Oct 30 2008 06:00 PM

Yeah - they're all class in Philly....

Willets Point Oct 30 2008 06:20 PM

In Boston after the various championships of recent years most of the post-victory violence occurred in the student quarters. Not to blame students but it seems that some of their number and/or people who live near the colleges like to use victory celebrations as an excuse to get rowdy. I've also found the media likes to sensationalize the violence and make it sound like a riot when it's not. Obviously no amount of violence is acceptable but it need not be exaggerated either. I can't speak for Philly but I expect it may be a similar story.

SteveJRogers Oct 30 2008 06:38 PM

Willets Point wrote: In Boston after the various championships of recent years most of the post-victory violence occurred in the student quarters. Not to blame students but it seems that some of their number and/or people who live near the colleges like to use victory celebrations as an excuse to get rowdy. I've also found the media likes to sensationalize the violence and make it sound like a riot when it's not. Obviously no amount of violence is acceptable but it need not be exaggerated either. I can't speak for Philly but I expect it may be a similar story. Which is odd since NYC has a bunch of colleges in the city, hell Queens does have St. Johns for crying out loud, and you would think the media would lap up and over blow a minor "incident" around an NYC college. And I haven't really heard much during the 9 major NYC championships (the '86 Mets, the 4 Yankee ones, the three Giant championships and the '94 Rangers) that I've been aware of the outside world for. Something else is interesting, and I've asked this before but to no response. Was Game 7 of the 1986 World Series the last time a sea of humanity rushed the field for a baseball championship? I thought for sure that Philly's Phinest couldn't contain a few hundred yahoos from rushing the field. Granted MLB/FOX had the on-field trophies and awards set up, but still.

cooby Oct 30 2008 06:48 PM

Willets Point wrote: In Boston after the various championships of recent years most of the post-victory violence occurred in the student quarters. Not to blame students but it seems that some of their number and/or people who live near the colleges like to use victory celebrations as an excuse to get rowdy. I've also found the media likes to sensationalize the violence and make it sound like a riot when it's not. Obviously no amount of violence is acceptable but it need not be exaggerated either. I can't speak for Philly but I expect it may be a similar story. RIght you are Willets. My "son-in-law" made it to work and back on Market Street in downtown Philadelphia today. I can assure you that most of the city is still intact.

Willets Point Oct 30 2008 08:27 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Which is odd since NYC has a bunch of colleges in the city, hell Queens does have St. Johns for crying out loud, and you would think the media would lap up and over blow a minor "incident" around an NYC college. New York is so big it swallows anything up. I don't think anyone refers to it as a college town or even part of the city as "the student ghetto" just because there's so much else going on. In Boston, a much smaller city, there are whole sections of town dedicated to the housing, feeding, and entertaining of students, recent graduates, and other people in their late teens/early 20s. Again, I can't speak for Philly. SteveJRogers wrote: Was Game 7 of the 1986 World Series the last time a sea of humanity rushed the field for a baseball championship? No one rushed the field after the 86 World Series because the field was rung with cops on freakin' horses. This was mainly in response to the field storming that occurred after the Mets clinched the 86 NL East title which resulted in much damage to the field.

G-Fafif Oct 31 2008 04:58 PM

]"A lot of things were made in the offseason, we can talk about the New York Mets. They brought in that great pitcher, Johan Santana, but they forgot that it takes more than one player to bring home a championship." --Jimmy Rollins to the Phillies fans Obsessed much? That's just strange.

Edgy DC Oct 31 2008 05:21 PM

Still and all, it's kind of one of the things fans tend to want in their players --- that they care as much about the rivalries as the fans do.

Met Hunter Oct 31 2008 08:17 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Something else is interesting, and I've asked this before but to no response. Was Game 7 of the 1986 World Series the last time a sea of humanity rushed the field for a baseball championship? I thought for sure that Philly's Phinest couldn't contain a few hundred yahoos from rushing the field. Granted MLB/FOX had the on-field trophies and awards set up, but still. It wasn't game 7, it was the divisional clincher versus the Cubs. I missed that game due to work. My brother and I were at Game 7 and weren't allowed on the field. We didn't want to destroy it, just run out there like everyone did in '69. The field did get pretty messed up that night vs. Chicago, and I can't remember anyone ever having an on field celebration like that ever agin. I do remember people celebrating outside Shea after Game 7. Some guys even leaned into our car to hug us as we sat in bumper to bumper. No car flipping, no burning things with the outside pretzel vendors. Just alot of yelling and hugging.

themetfairy Oct 31 2008 08:58 PM

I was on the field September 17, 1986. It was raucous, but good natured. After Game 7, the Upper West Side was abuzz. Car horns honking, lots of cheering - it was like a big old street fair. The same when the Giants won the Super Bowl and the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. It's not that New Yorkers never riot. But they riot when they're pissed off about something. Moments of great happiness don't inspire riots in the City.

SteveJRogers Oct 31 2008 10:36 PM

Met Hunter wrote: It wasn't game 7, it was the divisional clincher versus the Cubs. I missed that game due to work. My brother and I were at Game 7 and weren't allowed on the field. We didn't want to destroy it, just run out there like everyone did in '69. The field did get pretty messed up that night vs. Chicago, and I can't remember anyone ever having an on field celebration like that ever agin. Hmmm, for some reason I seem to recall a small group of field rushers mixed in with the players. Ehh, could just have been clubhouse personnel and such.

Edgy DC Nov 02 2008 12:40 PM

="G-Fafif"] ]"A lot of things were made in the offseason, we can talk about the New York Mets. They brought in that great pitcher, Johan Santana, but they forgot that it takes more than one player to bring home a championship." --Jimmy Rollins to the Phillies fans Obsessed much? That's just strange. Same to you, Buddy. ="Newsday"] Mets' Wright issues challenge to NL East BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com November 2, 2008 David Wright has a message for Jimmy Rollins: I don't like you guys either. Wright, the star attraction at yesterday's Topps baseball camp inside the Hofstra bubble, was aware of the Phillies' latest volley of verbal attacks, which included Rollins and general manager Pat Gillick flatly stating that the Mets are hated by every NL East opponent. Wright's reaction? Bring it on. "I don't like those guys," Wright said. "I know they don't like us. There are guys that I respect on that team. I respect them, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to be friends with them. My whole career, I've tried to stay away from that. I'll shake somebody's hand and say hello, but I'm not going to be buddy-buddy with anyone before the game. "I'm not a big fan of the teams in our division just because we play them so much. I would hope as a competitor that you would have that edge, that you would have a genuine interest to go out there and beat them by as much as you can." Rollins made his initial comments during the World Series, then took one final swipe at Friday's victory parade by suggesting the Mets were not much beyond Johan Santana. "They forgot that it takes more than one player to bring home a championship," Rollins said. In Wright's mind, however, the Mets are every bit as capable of doing what the Phillies did. They went 11-7 against the world champs during the regular season and finished only three games behind them in the division. "As far as the Phillies winning, I'm not bitter about it," Wright said. "I'm disappointed that we didn't cash in on the opportunity to get into the playoffs. It's something where they deserve it. They played their best baseball at the right time of the year, and that's something we weren't able to do the last two years. It's a simple formula. "This might be the optimistic side for me, but it makes it more of an attainable goal for us. Seeing a team from your division that you've played 18, 19 times, that you've played well against, go on to win the World Series, it hits a little closer to home. "It's a silver lining. It's a positive. But that was my first thought when the Phillies won the World Series. I was like, 'Wow, a team from our division going on to win the World Series.' So why not us? Why can't we do that?" Wright also was not surprised by the talk radio drumbeat that called for the Mets' core - namely Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado - to be broken up during the offseason. Not that he heard the public debate firsthand, but Wright was kept informed by friends in the city. He doesn't see that as a solution, however. "I don't think there needs to be a shakeup," Wright said. "I think that we need to be better as a core both on the field and as leadership figures in the clubhouse. I don't think there's any necessity to trade the core players. But if we want to continue to be core players and produce and be successful in New York, then we need to find a way to win. We have to find a way to get better and to elevate our game up a notch because the last two years haven't been good enough."

Willets Point Nov 02 2008 01:42 PM

]They went 11-7 against the world champs during the regular season and finished only three games behind them in the division. Hey, you know what. This is true. The Mets are a pretty good team. I'm psyched for 2009.

Centerfield Nov 02 2008 06:37 PM

G-Fafif wrote: ]"A lot of things were made in the offseason, we can talk about the New York Mets. They brought in that great pitcher, Johan Santana, but they forgot that it takes more than one player to bring home a championship." --Jimmy Rollins to the Phillies fans Obsessed much? That's just strange. Someone needs to put him on his ass next year.

metirish Nov 02 2008 07:28 PM

I saw the video of tis on the News yesterday , very lame but not surprising.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 03 2008 07:54 AM

This is almost funny. Jocks say stupid unsupportable things all the time. And the writers lap it up, feed it to other jocks, then gleefully report back. If Wright refuses to take the bait it's: DAVID WRIGHT IS A PUSSY or if they get what they want it's WRIGHT TO ROLLINS: SUCK MY DICK then back to you, Jimmy.

Zvon Nov 03 2008 04:30 PM

I think this is just what the Mets needed. A lil motivational kick in the ass. I would have thought 2007 was enough, but not so. I would have thought Santana would make the difference, but not so. I would have thought a managerial shakedown would kick start em....almost. I hoped for Shea Stadiums last season they would step it up,....nope. Now if the team can focus and stay focused, and Omar does his job and fills in the gaps, I do believe we knock the Phils off their lil perch next year. Personally, for me, this scenario is the only thing that could quite possibly make the last two season endings bearable experiences.

SteveJRogers Nov 03 2008 04:37 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Still and all, it's kind of one of the things fans tend to want in their players --- that they care as much about the rivalries as the fans do. In part that is because in some variations of various rivalries, that actually was the case. There were several instances where the Red Sox players truly hated the Yankees, and vice versa. Ditto Cardinals-Dodgers, Dodgers-Giants, etc. Sure some of that were during the pre-union era (the 70s Yankee-Sox rivalry may have been the last of the pure hatred by players on both sides) and all, but fans, or at least those who know the history of the rivalry, know at one time the players on both teams despised one another.

Zvon Nov 05 2008 05:30 PM

I read this letter in my local newspaper yesterday: ]A win brings out some fans' inner beast Published: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 I leapt for joy as strike three sailed into Carlos Ruiz's mitt. I clapped and hugged and shed a tear. Like everyone else, I have bragging rights in baseball and civics for the next year, and I own a memory to cherish for decades to come. But I'm 41 (the Phillies being kind enough, in fact, to gift me this championship on my birthday). I feel no compulsion to destroy. As the throng of revelers spilled deliriously onto Broad Street, many remained generally well-behaved, intensifying their yells at each exploding firecracker or sporadic piece of tickertape. But a celebration a quarter-century in the making quickly became a reason for many to unleash their id and uncork years of anger, frustration, and anonymity. One man repeatedly dips into a Hefty bag at street side and tosses garbage as high as he can, grinning as if he's the greatest litterbug in history. Several risk their spine climbing lampposts, some to rip down banners adorning them, others just for the thrill of defying gravity. An overzealous 20-something shakes a can of Miller Lite and makes it froth over those in immediate proximity, then launches the still-half-full container into the crowd like a grenade, completely unconcerned that it might well land on someone's skull. Many circle around trash set ablaze, as if they've never before sat in front of a fireplace. What is it about the lax authority of sports celebrations that elicits pyromania? Is it the remote memory of congregating around fire in our ancestral past? It must be, for one partier hangs by his right arm from a tree on the sidewalk as if he were a shaved version of Australopithecus, while others try to shake him down like a coconut. More than a few succumb to such primal urges, striking parking signs as if the slabs of metal had insulted their mother. One inebriated soul repeatedly runs shoulder-first into the transparent, plastic side of a bus stop, egged on by onlookers. A roar suggests that he eventually broke the pane. A parking meter felled. A luggage store looted. Padlocked bicycles smashed and twisted. Cars overturned - one with the driver still inside - as the perpetrators are cheered on like heroes. For the rowdies who had to go to felonious lengths to make their celebration worthwhile, the Phillies victory was merely a trigger on a starting pistol for civil disobedience, a sanction for low-level anarchy. Particularly in Philadelphia, it's easy to realize how important sports is - we live and breathe vicariously through it - but it's harder to realize that sports ultimately isn't all that important: It doesn't tangibly alter our condition. It just gives some of us the opportunity to indulge our inner beast. Had the 1986-87 Flyers - a team I lived and died with as a 20-year-old - won Game 7, perhaps I may have indulged some adolescent need to wreak havoc. But then, how much long-suppressed anger and frustration can a 20-year-old truly have? From what I witnessed, a lot- although many of these disturbers of the peace were far too young to feel the full brunt of life's traumas and frustrations. I certainly have a lot more to be angered and frustrated by at 41 than I did in my 20s. These post-game shenanigans had nothing to do with the local baseball team winning the World Series and everything to do with bloodlust. Because, for some, sports isn't about entertainment - it's about anger, frustration, and anonymity. Maybe I'm too old to revel in the moment, but the most satisfying instant of public celebration proved far less dramatic than all of the screaming and burning and vandalizing: Returning to my car, another fan, also donning a Phillies cap, walked toward me. Without breaking stride, we spontaneously and silently high-fived as we passed. That split-second felt more genuine and worthy of the moment than any of the run-amok antics of Broad Street. Randy S. Robbins lives in Margate. A tip of my hat to Mr.Robbins

Edgy DC Nov 06 2008 07:43 AM

I hope his car isn't overturned in its Margate driveway this morning.

Zvon Nov 06 2008 03:23 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I hope his car isn't overturned in its Margate driveway this morning. I deny everything and demand proof.

Willets Point Nov 14 2008 08:16 AM

Sorry, this is Phillies related, but this is hella-cute.