As I am writing this blog, the game is still in progress. But this may possibly be a historic day in the history of The Philadelphia Eagles. This may be known as the day when Andy Reid finally replaced Donovan McNabb with possible future quarterback Kevin Kolb. After seven turnovers in the last two games and looking as enthused as someone ready for a tax audit, McNabb's removal is still shocking but not totally surprising.
I know it's hard to believe, but several players shared the notion that Reid was as angry as they had ever seen him following last week's overtime debacle in Cincinnati. Although his job doesn't seem to be on the line, all of greater Philadelphia is calling for his head or Donovan's. After a decade, it's really hard to point the finger at who needs a change of scenery: Is it Reid's play calling? Is it Donovan's play? I for one, and getting sick and tired of both of them on AND off the field. With Reid, you can listen to a press conference from 1999, and you still wouldn't know what game or year it was. The same old song and dance is getting real old. If Reid "has to do a better job with putting his players in a better position to win" after ten years, maybe Reid does need to go to the front office and turn the reigns over to another coach. Since Reid drafted Kolb, it is likely that he would want to work with him if he is indeed McNabb's replacement.
No matter what has happened in any Eagles loss over the past decade, it has NEVER been the fault of Donovan McNabb. You could publish his book of excuses and make a lot of money. There have been rare occasions when Donovan opens his mouth and makes sense. Last week was not one of those instances. The fact that almost nobody on the Eagles knew that overtime ended in a tie during the season is an embarrassing to the fans of this city. And if they didn;t know the rules, it should be further reinforced by the coach. I have known that rule since I was about six. When he was six, McNabb was probably being told by somebody how fantastic he is, so I guess he never really needed to know that. To add insult to injury, he justifies his excuse by saying that Heinz Ward didn't know the rule either when a Steelers game ended in a tie several years ago. Isn't that something you do when you're a child? Put something on the other kid when you know you did something stupid?
In Philadelphia, the fans actually have greater respect for less talented athletes than McNabb (Mitch Williams) when they stick there face in the camera and say "I screwed up." We have never gotten that with McNabb. He has been the best football player in his pee wee league, grade school, high school, and college. Probably being told by his overprotective parents that everything he has ever done is perfect. When you are suddenly in a situation where everything you do isn't so great all the time, it can hit you harder than Ray Lewis. I have seen this scenario on much smaller scales, but when you break it down maybe it is bigger because this is life, not a football game. All I know is, if I don't know the rules to my job, I wouldn't have it for too much longer.
Donovan McNabb, for other reasons or not, may soon be in that position.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Phinally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In case you're wondering why it took me so long to write this blog, it's simply because I still can't believe what has transpired over the last four days in this town. I've had this site up for close to three years, and for the first time I am speechless. So I'm just gonna blurt it out, like the true kings of baseball that we are right now.
WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
What I have witnessed in the last week you really can't describe: The 25 year jinx ending in this town, the first suspended game in MLB World Series history. The 2 million plus at that parade that DWARFED the 1980 parade. We actually celebrated without anyone dying or jumping off a building. Of course, there is a clown in every bunch that always tries to make things interesting. Right now, we are the center of the baseball world. EVERYONE envies us right now. EVERYONE wants to be us right now. We are national heroes. Not only does this boost the morale of Philly sports fans, this will work wonders for the city and everybody in it.
WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those as fortunate as myself that were actually at the game, the image of Brad Lidge going down on his knees after striking out Eric Hinske will forever be imbedded in my brain. The fact that I was able to celebrate it with my dad as well as friends that have live, cried, and died with this team for our whole lives is probably what is the most special. If you can't share it with somebody, it's not worth celebrating.
What is also special are the storylines assiciated with this wonderful victory:
1. Charlie Manuel, managing with a heavy heart, is now vindicated in this town. Nobody (including myself) is crying for Jim Leyland now.
2. Brett Myers, after being exiled to the minor leagues, marks a tremendous comeback to be a post season hero, with his arm and his bat.
3. Jamie Moyer, the 45 year old ageless wonder pitches a classic game three, silencing any doubters that he can't pitch in the major leagues anymore. he attended the 1980 parade as a fan. Now in 2008, he WAS part of the parade.
4. It was a true team effort in every sense of the word. Geoff Jenkins gets the rally started in game 5 (part deux) with THE buggest hit of his career. Eric Bruntlett scores the winning run in two of the four Phillies victories in the World Series. Pedro Feliz, who overall had an up and down season, delivers the game winning hit in game five. Matt Stairs' home run against the Dodgers in the NLCS. We could go on and on. Heroes galore. And they will NEVER ever pay for a meal or drink in this town again.
5. Tim McGraw spreading his late dad Tug's ashes on the pitchers mound prior to game three. Tugger was literally on the mound. Words can't describe that.
WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As Phillies fans, we have to savor this moment the rest of our lives. Just because we've won a title doesn't mean it automatically can happen again, or for at least another 28 years. Collect the memorabilia, buy the shirts and DVD's. Experience this over and over again. Because damn it, we deserve it.
Many many people have asked me over the last week what I'm going to do with this site if the Phillies did win the series. After a few weeks of deliberation, I have decided to keep the site up. It will however, have a different tone and an almost total makeover. It is time for a little change. And in this particular situation, change is indeed good. After all, in the words of Chase Utley we are
WORLD FUCKING CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
What I have witnessed in the last week you really can't describe: The 25 year jinx ending in this town, the first suspended game in MLB World Series history. The 2 million plus at that parade that DWARFED the 1980 parade. We actually celebrated without anyone dying or jumping off a building. Of course, there is a clown in every bunch that always tries to make things interesting. Right now, we are the center of the baseball world. EVERYONE envies us right now. EVERYONE wants to be us right now. We are national heroes. Not only does this boost the morale of Philly sports fans, this will work wonders for the city and everybody in it.
WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those as fortunate as myself that were actually at the game, the image of Brad Lidge going down on his knees after striking out Eric Hinske will forever be imbedded in my brain. The fact that I was able to celebrate it with my dad as well as friends that have live, cried, and died with this team for our whole lives is probably what is the most special. If you can't share it with somebody, it's not worth celebrating.
What is also special are the storylines assiciated with this wonderful victory:
1. Charlie Manuel, managing with a heavy heart, is now vindicated in this town. Nobody (including myself) is crying for Jim Leyland now.
2. Brett Myers, after being exiled to the minor leagues, marks a tremendous comeback to be a post season hero, with his arm and his bat.
3. Jamie Moyer, the 45 year old ageless wonder pitches a classic game three, silencing any doubters that he can't pitch in the major leagues anymore. he attended the 1980 parade as a fan. Now in 2008, he WAS part of the parade.
4. It was a true team effort in every sense of the word. Geoff Jenkins gets the rally started in game 5 (part deux) with THE buggest hit of his career. Eric Bruntlett scores the winning run in two of the four Phillies victories in the World Series. Pedro Feliz, who overall had an up and down season, delivers the game winning hit in game five. Matt Stairs' home run against the Dodgers in the NLCS. We could go on and on. Heroes galore. And they will NEVER ever pay for a meal or drink in this town again.
5. Tim McGraw spreading his late dad Tug's ashes on the pitchers mound prior to game three. Tugger was literally on the mound. Words can't describe that.
WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As Phillies fans, we have to savor this moment the rest of our lives. Just because we've won a title doesn't mean it automatically can happen again, or for at least another 28 years. Collect the memorabilia, buy the shirts and DVD's. Experience this over and over again. Because damn it, we deserve it.
Many many people have asked me over the last week what I'm going to do with this site if the Phillies did win the series. After a few weeks of deliberation, I have decided to keep the site up. It will however, have a different tone and an almost total makeover. It is time for a little change. And in this particular situation, change is indeed good. After all, in the words of Chase Utley we are
WORLD FUCKING CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Fear and Loathing in Philadelphia- by Nicky Vallee
The World Series should be renamed the Wild and Wet Series...and I don't mean that in a good way....what happened last night in Philly was a disgrace. Commissioner Bud Selig should have suspended the game way before he did, and I'm not just saying that because the Phils had the lead earlier in the game.
The conditions on the field were, in a word, deplorable. What would normally have been an easy pop up out for Jimmy Rollins ended up putting a man on base. And it just went downhill from there...play was mercifully stopped as the top of the 6th inning drew to a close...but not until the Rays tied it up at 2-2.
Right now, the Phils should have a 2-1 lead in Game 5...but they don't...and with high winds and heavy rain/wet snow forecasted for tonight in the Philadelphia metro area, die hard fans are left to wonder if we will be able to finally shake off that monkey...and win a title Wednesday.
Nicky Vallee is a public relations specialist and free lance writer for Dune Mgazine in Palm Springs California. Nicky is a life long, die hard Phillies fan.
The conditions on the field were, in a word, deplorable. What would normally have been an easy pop up out for Jimmy Rollins ended up putting a man on base. And it just went downhill from there...play was mercifully stopped as the top of the 6th inning drew to a close...but not until the Rays tied it up at 2-2.
Right now, the Phils should have a 2-1 lead in Game 5...but they don't...and with high winds and heavy rain/wet snow forecasted for tonight in the Philadelphia metro area, die hard fans are left to wonder if we will be able to finally shake off that monkey...and win a title Wednesday.
Nicky Vallee is a public relations specialist and free lance writer for Dune Mgazine in Palm Springs California. Nicky is a life long, die hard Phillies fan.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Phils rout Rays 10-2, one win away from breaking the jinx.
You knew eventually that the fightin' Phils would finally break out of their series slump with runners in scoring position.
They did that tonight- and THEN SOME.
When your starting pitcher with a .061 average in his career homers and equals his career rbi total, you know something special is in the air. Add two homers and five rbi's by a surging Ryan Howard and the Philadlephia Phillies need just one more win to become the World Champions of 2008. They now lead the Rays three games to one, and with lefty Cole Hamels pitching tomorrow night's game, the Phillies have to feel confident about their chances of wrapping up the series tomorrow.
The Phils attacked starter Andy Sonnanstine from the bottom of the first inning. Although they only scored one run on a bases loaded walk from Pat Burrell, Pedro Feliz singled to drive in the second run in the bottom of the second inning and the Phillies. The umpiring seemed to go the Phillies way as well. Replays showed that third baseman Evan Longoria tagged out Jimmy Rollins in the bottom of the first inning. Rollins later scored and went 3 for 5. Jayson Werth went 2 for 4 and added a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With his two home runs, Howard joins Lenny Dykstra in 1993 as the two Phillies with multi home run games in the World Series.
Blanton was also spectacular on the mound. Pitching six innings with seven strikeouts. Rays corner infielders Longoria and Carlos Pena went a combined 0 for 7 and are both hitless in the series.
On a personal note, this game was actually easier to watch in person than last night's nail biter. Then again, this will happen when you score 10 runs as opposed to just 5. In addition to the Rays facing Hamels tomorrow, they now also have to worry about the Phillies offense, which has clearly awoken from its slumber.
If all goes well tomorrow, it may be a few days before I write another column for this site. After all, it's not like anyone would have a reason to be disgruntled anyway.
They did that tonight- and THEN SOME.
When your starting pitcher with a .061 average in his career homers and equals his career rbi total, you know something special is in the air. Add two homers and five rbi's by a surging Ryan Howard and the Philadlephia Phillies need just one more win to become the World Champions of 2008. They now lead the Rays three games to one, and with lefty Cole Hamels pitching tomorrow night's game, the Phillies have to feel confident about their chances of wrapping up the series tomorrow.
The Phils attacked starter Andy Sonnanstine from the bottom of the first inning. Although they only scored one run on a bases loaded walk from Pat Burrell, Pedro Feliz singled to drive in the second run in the bottom of the second inning and the Phillies. The umpiring seemed to go the Phillies way as well. Replays showed that third baseman Evan Longoria tagged out Jimmy Rollins in the bottom of the first inning. Rollins later scored and went 3 for 5. Jayson Werth went 2 for 4 and added a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With his two home runs, Howard joins Lenny Dykstra in 1993 as the two Phillies with multi home run games in the World Series.
Blanton was also spectacular on the mound. Pitching six innings with seven strikeouts. Rays corner infielders Longoria and Carlos Pena went a combined 0 for 7 and are both hitless in the series.
On a personal note, this game was actually easier to watch in person than last night's nail biter. Then again, this will happen when you score 10 runs as opposed to just 5. In addition to the Rays facing Hamels tomorrow, they now also have to worry about the Phillies offense, which has clearly awoken from its slumber.
If all goes well tomorrow, it may be a few days before I write another column for this site. After all, it's not like anyone would have a reason to be disgruntled anyway.
Wet, Wild, Wacky, and Eventually Wonderful
Note to the baseball gods: If you made 45,900 Phillies fans wait seven hours for the home team to lose another heart breaker of a World Series game, you are not baseball gods, you would be SATAN!
Whether it is fate, or luck, or whatever you want to call it these days, the Fightin' Phils narrowly pulled out a game three victory at 1:47 am to take a 2-1 series lead over the Rays in the first World Series game ever to be played in Citizens Bank Park. Truth be told, this game shouldn't have even been this close. However, you throw in a combination of more blown calls by the umpiring crew and the Phillies still struggling to hit with RISP and you had the gut wrenching feeling that nothing is going to come easy for this team and their fans, no matter what the final result of this World Series is.
The game was the latest starting game in the history of the World Series. This was because all of your typical World Series games for the Phillies over the last quarter of a century have this common denominator: RAIN. Look it up. Game three of the '83 series didn't exactly feature rain, but rather a storm from the night before resulting in wet turf that in all likelihood cost the Phillies game three (look up Ivan DeJesus). And as far as 1993 goes, we played two games in a downpour and I think we don't really need to rehash them. So needless to say I was not very optimistic when rain was in the forecast for yesterday. And by the way, the previous openers in '83 and '93 also featured left handed starters for the Phillies- and YES, Steve Carlton (who threw out the game's first pitch) and Danny Jackson were both the losing pitchers in those games.
Enter left hander number three- Jamie Moyer. The script is all too perfect: Local guy from Souderton who skipped school in 1980 for the Phillies World Series Parade. At 23, he made his big league debut and beats Steve Carlton, his boyhood hero. 22 years later at 45, he shouldn't be pitching in a softball league let alone the Major Leagues. Nonetheless, here is Moyer, in the twilight of his career and oh yeah, about to pitch THE biggest game of his life. After two rough outing in the playoffs, there was question as to whether Moyer should even start this game. Manager Charlie Manuel stuck with the guy who led the Phils in wins this year and he did not disappoint: allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings (and two of the three runs were avoidable). Made even more impressive was the fact that Moyer pitched the game with a stomach virus. Needless to say, my fellow Hawk Hill alumni made us all proud last night. Truth be told, I wanted Moyer to win this game almost as badly as I wanted the Phillies to win the game.
Lost in the mix is Carlos Ruiz, who went two for three and shrugged off a crucial eighth inning throwing error that tied the game to have the only game-winning, walk off, infield hit in World Series history. Ruiz, who may have been the most inconsistent hitter on the Phillies this season, is the most consistent hitter in this World Series. His second inning homer off starter Matt Garza was just his fifth this season, but all five of his homers have tied the game or put the Phillies in the lead.
A story that surfaced after the game was that Tim McGraw, son of the late Phils reliever Tug, scattered some of his father's ashes on the pitcher's mound prior to the start of the game. Ya gotta believe that Tugger was looking out for the Phils and the fans this night.
If the Phillies lost this game, it would have gone down in the top five heartbreaking losses in this club's checkered history. Instead, they pulled it out for their first game three victory in six World Series appearances. The team will be the death of all of us for how they do things, and I may not live to see my next birthday. If there are two more wins and a parade down Broad Street, I think I have a chance. They have never won a game four in their World Series contests either, so Joe Blanton will need to be on his best tonight against Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine.
Last night they made the impossible just two steps closer.
Whether it is fate, or luck, or whatever you want to call it these days, the Fightin' Phils narrowly pulled out a game three victory at 1:47 am to take a 2-1 series lead over the Rays in the first World Series game ever to be played in Citizens Bank Park. Truth be told, this game shouldn't have even been this close. However, you throw in a combination of more blown calls by the umpiring crew and the Phillies still struggling to hit with RISP and you had the gut wrenching feeling that nothing is going to come easy for this team and their fans, no matter what the final result of this World Series is.
The game was the latest starting game in the history of the World Series. This was because all of your typical World Series games for the Phillies over the last quarter of a century have this common denominator: RAIN. Look it up. Game three of the '83 series didn't exactly feature rain, but rather a storm from the night before resulting in wet turf that in all likelihood cost the Phillies game three (look up Ivan DeJesus). And as far as 1993 goes, we played two games in a downpour and I think we don't really need to rehash them. So needless to say I was not very optimistic when rain was in the forecast for yesterday. And by the way, the previous openers in '83 and '93 also featured left handed starters for the Phillies- and YES, Steve Carlton (who threw out the game's first pitch) and Danny Jackson were both the losing pitchers in those games.
Enter left hander number three- Jamie Moyer. The script is all too perfect: Local guy from Souderton who skipped school in 1980 for the Phillies World Series Parade. At 23, he made his big league debut and beats Steve Carlton, his boyhood hero. 22 years later at 45, he shouldn't be pitching in a softball league let alone the Major Leagues. Nonetheless, here is Moyer, in the twilight of his career and oh yeah, about to pitch THE biggest game of his life. After two rough outing in the playoffs, there was question as to whether Moyer should even start this game. Manager Charlie Manuel stuck with the guy who led the Phils in wins this year and he did not disappoint: allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings (and two of the three runs were avoidable). Made even more impressive was the fact that Moyer pitched the game with a stomach virus. Needless to say, my fellow Hawk Hill alumni made us all proud last night. Truth be told, I wanted Moyer to win this game almost as badly as I wanted the Phillies to win the game.
Lost in the mix is Carlos Ruiz, who went two for three and shrugged off a crucial eighth inning throwing error that tied the game to have the only game-winning, walk off, infield hit in World Series history. Ruiz, who may have been the most inconsistent hitter on the Phillies this season, is the most consistent hitter in this World Series. His second inning homer off starter Matt Garza was just his fifth this season, but all five of his homers have tied the game or put the Phillies in the lead.
A story that surfaced after the game was that Tim McGraw, son of the late Phils reliever Tug, scattered some of his father's ashes on the pitcher's mound prior to the start of the game. Ya gotta believe that Tugger was looking out for the Phils and the fans this night.
If the Phillies lost this game, it would have gone down in the top five heartbreaking losses in this club's checkered history. Instead, they pulled it out for their first game three victory in six World Series appearances. The team will be the death of all of us for how they do things, and I may not live to see my next birthday. If there are two more wins and a parade down Broad Street, I think I have a chance. They have never won a game four in their World Series contests either, so Joe Blanton will need to be on his best tonight against Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine.
Last night they made the impossible just two steps closer.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Phils acting like they forgot how to play baseball as Rays even series.
Where do we begin?
Greg Dobbs forgetting how to swing the bat? Jimmy Rollins now at an ungodly 0 for 10 clip? Ryan Howard continuously coming up small in the clutch and forgetting how to catch a baseball? Jason Werth forgetting how to field, run the bases, or setting a Philies record with 16 strikeouts in the postseason? Oh, and I almost forgot: How the Phillies after two games are an alarming, discouraging, and downright frightening 1 for 28 for an .036 clip with runners in scoring position! This officially tops Tyrone Hill in the 2001 NBA Finals as the most impotent display (or lack thereof) of offense I have ever seen from a team playing for a championship. I was not alive to see the 1966 Dodgers score just two runs against Baltimore in the most anemic showing of team offense ever witnessed in a World Series.
Starter James (Big Game) Shields was not his sharpest, but when your offense is sporadic like the Phillies, they sometimes can make anyone look good. Things got so bad for the Phillies that they made Dan Wheeler, considered the weakest link in Tampa Bay's bullpen, look like Sparky Lyle. Unlike game four of the NLCS, there was no dramatic comeback win to seize a commanding lead in the series. Although the Phillies leave Tampa Bay with a split, they can't help but feel that this game was well within their reach, and they let it slip away. A win by the Phillies tonight would have almost secured a parade down Broad Street for the first time in 25 years.
As I said before, Tampa Bay is no lay down. And just like all of the critics who are predicting the Rays to win this series, they did anything but that in game two. By getting three runs on three ground outs, they didn't exactly tear the cover off the ball. Nonetheless, they did much more than the Phillies did offensively. For the second straight game, the Phillies failed to put the ball in play in clutch situations. After watching this team throughout the year, you are well aware of the long stretches this can go on for. And with an inconsistent and questionable Jamie Moyer going against ALCS MVP Matt Garza on Saturday night in Philadelphia, it looks like the Phillies may be the underdog in this series just 24 hours after their thrilling game one victory.
That's Philadelphia for you. Note to Don Henley: New York's not the only city where everything can change in a minute.
Will the Phillies turn the tide? Or will it be 1983 and 1993 all over again? I really hate to bring this up, but the Phillies just don't seem to have ANY luck in World Series games dated October 23rd. After all, it IS 15 years to the day since Joe Carter sent Mitch Williams' fastball (?) over Skydome's left field wall. I am going to bed tonight very disgruntled, just like I did 15 years ago to the day, and just like every other Phillies fan in the Delaware Valley will do tonight.
I really hope I haven't seen this script before.
Greg Dobbs forgetting how to swing the bat? Jimmy Rollins now at an ungodly 0 for 10 clip? Ryan Howard continuously coming up small in the clutch and forgetting how to catch a baseball? Jason Werth forgetting how to field, run the bases, or setting a Philies record with 16 strikeouts in the postseason? Oh, and I almost forgot: How the Phillies after two games are an alarming, discouraging, and downright frightening 1 for 28 for an .036 clip with runners in scoring position! This officially tops Tyrone Hill in the 2001 NBA Finals as the most impotent display (or lack thereof) of offense I have ever seen from a team playing for a championship. I was not alive to see the 1966 Dodgers score just two runs against Baltimore in the most anemic showing of team offense ever witnessed in a World Series.
Starter James (Big Game) Shields was not his sharpest, but when your offense is sporadic like the Phillies, they sometimes can make anyone look good. Things got so bad for the Phillies that they made Dan Wheeler, considered the weakest link in Tampa Bay's bullpen, look like Sparky Lyle. Unlike game four of the NLCS, there was no dramatic comeback win to seize a commanding lead in the series. Although the Phillies leave Tampa Bay with a split, they can't help but feel that this game was well within their reach, and they let it slip away. A win by the Phillies tonight would have almost secured a parade down Broad Street for the first time in 25 years.
As I said before, Tampa Bay is no lay down. And just like all of the critics who are predicting the Rays to win this series, they did anything but that in game two. By getting three runs on three ground outs, they didn't exactly tear the cover off the ball. Nonetheless, they did much more than the Phillies did offensively. For the second straight game, the Phillies failed to put the ball in play in clutch situations. After watching this team throughout the year, you are well aware of the long stretches this can go on for. And with an inconsistent and questionable Jamie Moyer going against ALCS MVP Matt Garza on Saturday night in Philadelphia, it looks like the Phillies may be the underdog in this series just 24 hours after their thrilling game one victory.
That's Philadelphia for you. Note to Don Henley: New York's not the only city where everything can change in a minute.
Will the Phillies turn the tide? Or will it be 1983 and 1993 all over again? I really hate to bring this up, but the Phillies just don't seem to have ANY luck in World Series games dated October 23rd. After all, it IS 15 years to the day since Joe Carter sent Mitch Williams' fastball (?) over Skydome's left field wall. I am going to bed tonight very disgruntled, just like I did 15 years ago to the day, and just like every other Phillies fan in the Delaware Valley will do tonight.
I really hope I haven't seen this script before.
Phils win opener in Tampa Bay, but take it one game at a time.
You've heard the stats over the last week: 10 out of the last 11 winners of game one of The World Series have gone on to win the fall classic. That bodes very well for The Philadelphia Phillies, who won the inaugural contest in Tampa Bay 3-2 in exciting, and sometimes gut-wrenching fashion. Despite the game one victory, there were several problems that the Phillies will have to address if they are to capture the first title in Philadelphia since 1983.
The Good:
Starter Cole Hamels is quickly cementing himself as one of the best Phillies post season pitchers of all time, allowing seven baserunners in seven innings and surrendering two runs in last night's victory. His post season ERA is now 1.55
Chase Utley became the 34th player in World Series history to homer in his first World Series at bat. His two-run blast set the tone for game one, and he added another hit later in the game.
Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge: When these guys pitch as effectively as they did last night, you are pretty much looking at a seven inning game. Madson is throwing even harder this post season, and the fact that Lidge could set the Rays down in order despite a seven day layoff is very encouraging.
Taking game one was VITAL. If the Rays beat Hamels, it shifts the confidence level towards them. 63 out of 103 teams who have won game one have won the series. That is just a number, but this morning I would rather be the Phillies than the Rays. Also lost in the mix is the momentum factor. Even though the last two teams with an extended layoff (2006 Tigers, 2007 Corraddo Rockies) exited rather quietly in the World Series, the previous three teams (2001 Diamondbacks, 2002 Angels, 2005 White Sox) had an equally long layoff and won the World Series.
The Bad:
After Cole Hamels, the talent in the Phillies rotation drops significantly. Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Joe Blanton must step up if they are to put the Rays away.
The Phillies were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position. This included Ryan Howard going 0 for 4 and striking out three times with runners in scoring position. Howard was also atrocious in the field again, only being saved by a pickoff of Carlos Pena after his error allowed Pena to reach first base. You can't give a championship caliber team like Tampa Bay 4 outs in an inning. Eventually, they will make you pay for it. The layoff seemed to hurt Jimmy Rollins as well. Rollins probably had the worst offensive game by a hitter in recent memory in a World Series, going 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and stranding 5 runners on base. My prediction was that these two would have an excellent series. But then again, everybody seems to be picking the Rays to win as well. I hope that the latter is wrong. Howard and Rollins MUST have a stronger series if the Phillies are to win.
I'm sure this series is far from over and technically, there are six games left to go. Keep in mind that the Rays also lost game one of the ALCS against the Red Sox, and then reeled off three wins in a row. They are a resilient team who will bounce back. Also keep in the mind that the Phillies won the opener of the 1983 World Series, then promptly dropped four in a row from the Orioles. At the end of the day, I'd still rather be in the Phillies position right now. Their business like approach assures you that they know there are three more wins to go. They've proven everybody wrong all year. They have to do it again tonight as the "experts" are predicting an uproar in the Rays offense in game two.
Last night however, the Phillies made what always seemed impossible one step closer to becoming possible.
The Good:
Starter Cole Hamels is quickly cementing himself as one of the best Phillies post season pitchers of all time, allowing seven baserunners in seven innings and surrendering two runs in last night's victory. His post season ERA is now 1.55
Chase Utley became the 34th player in World Series history to homer in his first World Series at bat. His two-run blast set the tone for game one, and he added another hit later in the game.
Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge: When these guys pitch as effectively as they did last night, you are pretty much looking at a seven inning game. Madson is throwing even harder this post season, and the fact that Lidge could set the Rays down in order despite a seven day layoff is very encouraging.
Taking game one was VITAL. If the Rays beat Hamels, it shifts the confidence level towards them. 63 out of 103 teams who have won game one have won the series. That is just a number, but this morning I would rather be the Phillies than the Rays. Also lost in the mix is the momentum factor. Even though the last two teams with an extended layoff (2006 Tigers, 2007 Corraddo Rockies) exited rather quietly in the World Series, the previous three teams (2001 Diamondbacks, 2002 Angels, 2005 White Sox) had an equally long layoff and won the World Series.
The Bad:
After Cole Hamels, the talent in the Phillies rotation drops significantly. Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Joe Blanton must step up if they are to put the Rays away.
The Phillies were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position. This included Ryan Howard going 0 for 4 and striking out three times with runners in scoring position. Howard was also atrocious in the field again, only being saved by a pickoff of Carlos Pena after his error allowed Pena to reach first base. You can't give a championship caliber team like Tampa Bay 4 outs in an inning. Eventually, they will make you pay for it. The layoff seemed to hurt Jimmy Rollins as well. Rollins probably had the worst offensive game by a hitter in recent memory in a World Series, going 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and stranding 5 runners on base. My prediction was that these two would have an excellent series. But then again, everybody seems to be picking the Rays to win as well. I hope that the latter is wrong. Howard and Rollins MUST have a stronger series if the Phillies are to win.
I'm sure this series is far from over and technically, there are six games left to go. Keep in mind that the Rays also lost game one of the ALCS against the Red Sox, and then reeled off three wins in a row. They are a resilient team who will bounce back. Also keep in the mind that the Phillies won the opener of the 1983 World Series, then promptly dropped four in a row from the Orioles. At the end of the day, I'd still rather be in the Phillies position right now. Their business like approach assures you that they know there are three more wins to go. They've proven everybody wrong all year. They have to do it again tonight as the "experts" are predicting an uproar in the Rays offense in game two.
Last night however, the Phillies made what always seemed impossible one step closer to becoming possible.
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