27 outs. That’s all that stands between the Phillies and the 2nd World Championship in their history, and it’s all that stands between the city of Philadelphia and our first championship in 25 years. I’m not sure how I will be expected to sleep tonight or work tomorrow. The Phillies were at their best tonight, relentlessly pounding the opponent’s pitchers while getting a quality start from their starter and shut-down performance from their bullpen.
This series is NOT over, by any means. The Rays have been counted out many different times this year, and each time they have come back. If we do not win tomorrow, the series goes back to Tampa, where they have the advantage in both starting pitching match-ups.
I’m scared to type too much, I don’t want to say anything that could possibly jinx us. I will say this though, if we win tomorrow, don’t expect a post tomorrow night. I’ll be god knows where doing god knows what.
On to the game notes:
- Sorry there was no Game 3 update, I was down at the game and didn’t get back until 2:30am. It was worth it though (obviously). I was absolutely crushed when Upton scored to tie the game. It looked like the could be one of the most depressing losses in recent memory with the Rays first run scoring as the result of catchable ball by Burrell, second and third runs scoring after a horrendous blown call by the 1st base umpire and the tying run scoring on a stolen base and fielding error. But once again, this team somehow got it done, this time with a swinging bunt by Albert Pujols, I mean Carlos Ruiz, and Poseidon scoring from 3rd. Amazing.
- Should be an interesting pitching match-up tonight. Neither starters are overpowering, and both are making the biggest starts of their careers. Not sure what to expect out of Blanton, who has been a pleasant surprise in the playoffs.
- Joe Blanton has a huge head. I think his nickname should be Mayor McCheese.
- Mayor McCheese just had a great first inning.
- 2 for 33 with RISP and neither hit left the infield. How exactly are we up 2-1?
- Sonnanstine can’t find the strike zone. The only time we’ve buried a pitcher in the playoffs pitching like this was Billingsley. Man, it would be nice to do that right here. With 2 on, and 1 out, the opportunity is there.
- Longoria tagged the crap out of Rollins on that play. It was clear in real time that he was tagged, just like it was clear in real time that Crawford was out yesterday. Aren’t these umps supposed to be the best in the league? They have made 3-4 terrible, terrible calls this series.
- Had 4 outs to bury Sonnanstine and couldn’t do it. Another missed opportunity.
- Blanton’s slider looks fantastic through the first 2 innings. Maybe the extra rest is putting a little more life into his pitches.
- Rollins only needs 1 more caught stealing in the playoffs to equal his total in 137 regular season games. Not sure if he’s pressing and going when he shouldn’t because it’s the playoffs, or just bad luck, but it’s been strange to see him get thrown out a couple times in such a short period.
- Jayson Werth has one RBI for the entire playoffs. He’s got to come up with a big hit in the next few games.
- I’m not sure anyone looks worse when they swing and miss than Pat Burrell.
- This is looking a lot like Game 2 so far with Phillies getting men on with 0 out, and then looking absolutely awful in… (I was writing that sentence in anticipation of Pedro Feliz getting out, but he got a hit, excellent.)
- As frustrated as we are with our performance with RISP, the Rays fans must be baffled with the 0-26 from Pena and Longoria.
- On the replay, it didn’t look like Blanton made as bad a pitch on the Crawford HR as I originally thought, but still, 0-2 or 1-2 HR’s drive me nuts.
- Yet another opportunity in the 4th (1st and 2nd, 0 out) to have a big inning. This is getting redundant.
- THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, RYAN HOWARD! Vintage Howard on the long fly to LF. I kept saying that he just had to get a big hit somewhere along the way. And that might have been it. Hopefully we can stop hearing about the troubles with RISP for the rest of the night.
- I can’t believe Mayor McCheese just drilled that ball into the stands. I honestly can’t think of something that was less likely than that. I would have bet on him pitching a no-hitter before hitting a HR. Anyone not liking that trade now?
- Huge strike-out of Navarro in the 6th by Blanton. I might have to purchase a jersey-shirt. Aside from the Hinske HR, the Rays haven’t hit anything hard (the same can be said for them the entire Game 3).
- Finally Jayson Werth hits a ball on the nose. That was good to see.
- Just a random gauge in the middle of this: Do we have any Flyers fans on the blog? I liked hockey in middle school, but never really connected with the sport. I usually watch all the playoff games and love Mike Richards, but that’s about as far as I go. We aren’t going to start covering hockey, just curious.
- Pat Burrell is the SLOWEST man alive. He hit a slow roller to short, which was bobbled, and still got doubled up by a step. Last night, on the pop fly he dove and missed, off the bat the ball looked like it would be an easy out, and I couldn’t believe how slow Burrell was going, it was like he was running on ice rink with sponges on his feet.
- Like yesterday, I’m surprised that Manuel has brought in Eyre instead of Romero. It worked out yesterday, hopefully it will work out today.
- Madson’s first 2 fastballs came in a 93mph. I can’t believe that makes me nervous. 93mph has been his max for most of his career.
- After throwing nothing but fastballs, Madson gets Upton and a filthy change-out. Too bad for Ryan he’s not a free-agent this off-season. He has one more year of arbitration and then will be a FA after 2009.
- Jim Carrey is still famous? Good for him!
- Man, Carlos Pena looks like the 2004 version of Carlos Pena.
- The announcers have been better tonight, making more thought out points (the throwing high to Pena, low to Longoria is not something I would have noticed) and given props to the scouts that found those holes. The one thing I’m noticing with them is that they have focused so much on the hitting problems and not a whole lot of how good the pitching has been, particularly for the Phillies. They mentioned it late in the game tonight, but the whole reason we are winning is our pitching.
- I’m glad Charlie got Stairs in at home so he could get a good ovation for his legendary HR off Broxton. By the way, he’s got some serious bat speed for a 40-year-old.
- Great to see Werth and Howard get their HRs in the 8th. Both balls were crushed, and we’ve needed them both to get hot, and they’ve chosen a great time.
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
nnPete, I was curious to see if the gun at the home field would lower Madson!s speed and it seems he wasn!t hittng 97 mph but he still looks nasty. The umps seem to be missing alot of calls, are these really the best?Blanton can finally be viewed as a good acquisition after all.He has stepped up bigtime and Lidge is rested for a possible 4 out save if needed. Go Phillies !!!!
Phillies in 5, I said it after Game 2 and I’m saying it again now. (go check the comments section in the last Philly column if you don’t believe me)
This Rays team has been outmatched from the beginning, our pitchers were rested, our bats are better and the Rays team has no idea how to play without their DH
Where’s the parade going to be, ’cause with Hamels on the mound, it’s all over.
Joe: When the team traded for you, I called you a rich man’s Adam Eaton. I’m sorry, and I apologize profusely.
MVP of Sat should be Ruiz – Who expected him to hit anything throughout the season, let alone get a HR & the game-winning hit during the World Series?
Pete, I’ll be happy to solve your mystery of where you should be ‘if’ (aka when) we win tonight = Broad St celebrating and parading with all of Philly!!
Greatness seldom includes direct ascension. Requires passing of rigorous tests along the way. Tonight will be Hamel’s tribulation. Do you really think a Phillies championship
will arrive at the will of its fans without a stopover at the lodge of despond? Tonight, fighting a strong red tide of sentiment and a fraternity of eager Phils, the Rays skate the Series back to St. Pete and a Game 6, somehow, some way - my surmise.
‘in culo alla balena’ also for game 5 (this guidoesque formula is working pretty well, as you can see…)
Go Phillies !!
jjg: That would be the Philly way, wouldn’t it? Philadelphia: nothing comes easy here. However, this entire postseason has been very un-Philly-like.
Phils 5, Rays 3.
Morty That’s why ‘74-’75 Flyers were such a perfect fit for the city. Rolled up them sleeves and went to work! Likes of Ross Lonsberry, Don Saleski, Orest Kindrachuck, Moose Dupont, Bill Clement … not stars, foot soldiers … kept chippin’ away, wearing ‘em down till victory arrived, but not without pain and setbacks. Lo, they’re in our hearts forever, like Freddy “the Fog” sagely instructed.
Your optimistic prediction for tonight is noted.
Apropos of tonight’s ballgame:
“You like ham & eggs, right? The chicken made a contribution but the pig made a commitment!” – Fred Shero
FYI -
5 teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series. 35 teams have not.
I’m a college student, but I would forever be kicking myself if I missed the parade IF WE WIN (I’m kinda superstitious, so knock on wood, etc.). I need to know when the parade would be so I can arrange a trip back home. Does anyone know?
jjg: Yes this team is far from the overachiever, blue collar, type that has been set by the Flyers, ‘93 Phils and ‘01 Sixers. Unlike the Rocky mythology, this Phillies team has a ton of star power to go along with their grit. Though they may be “sputteringly efficient,” they are not plucky and lucky.
To my eyes, it is a nice change, because I am tired of the underdog Philly rap.
Morty The core is luxuriously rich and gratuitously grateful. And we’re “frontrunners.” (Can’t forget that.) To me, the best angle of this playoff tear is the contributions of Ruiz, Bruntlett, Madson, Stairs and Feliz. The lords of the manor – Utley, Rollins, Howard, Burrell and Hamels – am not a big fan of, though abilities are evident and undeniable. As a sports fan, talent impresses, but attitude and personality endears and endures. To each his own there. Boiled down, winning is only winning. I hear ya on the “Rocky” theme perpetuation, but it’s now culturally ingrained, like “cheeese wid” & vendor pretzels.
“Yo!”
Since I have been bashing the Fox announcers, I must give them credit when it is appropriate. I agree with Pete, they were better last night (and game 3 as well). Plus, there was a whole lot of Philly love from Fox last night which helped to soothe my irritations from games 1 and 2.
Since you were at game 3, I’m sure you missed it Pete, but I hope that everyone else caught the correction Buck and McCarver made. As Ruiz stepped to the plate (I think it was his second at bat), the following exchange took place…Buck: “Carlos Ruiz, who is from……..McCarver: “PANAMA”, steps in the box in front of Dioner Navarro, who is from……..McCarver: “VENEZUELA”. It was deliberately set up that way to draw attention to the point they were trying to get across. Also, you could easily detect barely concealed laughter from both of them as they said this. I’m guessing that Fox must have received a bunch of e-mails complaining about the screw up, so they felt they had to make an explicit correction. I wish they made at least a small apology for the screw up, but I’ll take the correction all the same.
How about all the missed calls in this series? I’ll take last night’s blown call as a make up for the bad call on Moyer’s fantastic play, but it is still not a good situation. They are right on top of these plays and still missing them.
How about the blown up picture of Longoria clearly tagging Rollins 3 feet away from the bag? The glove was halfway up Jimmy’s butt. I don’t think that photo will make it into Jimmy’s career highlights scrapbook.
We also learned a bit about the third base umpire, Tim Welke. Who knew he had homophobic tendencies? As soon as the play happened, I said wouldn’t it be something if we won the game because Tim Welke is too insecure to look at another man’s butt? My boys were rolling on the floor, but my wife was rolling her eyes at that one.
Good point about the pitching, Pete. It is definitely the reason we are winning. We have to remember that the Rays were mashing the ball in the ALCS. They hit a pile of homeruns and scored runs in bunches against Boston. Our pitching has almost completely shut them down and kept them down the whole time.
As far as tonight, I think Hamels will lock it down. Everything he has done up to this point in the playoffs has prepared him for this moment, IMO. He clinched the NLCS with a game 5 win on the road. With this one at home where your team is relaxed and confident, where your offense has awakened (what a difference seeing the ball makes), and against a team that is pretty wobbly and ripe to be closed out, it is difficult to see our first home loss of the post season coming today. Unless Hamels just has one of those days and is off, I don’t see the Rays faring any better off him than they did in game 1.
Hamels has not been overly amped, rattled, or overcome by nerves in any of his four previous postseason starts, so there’s no reason to think that today will be any different. I’m hoping to see a complete game shutout (a la Schilling in game 5 in Philly–a game I attended, btw–back in 93) combined with some offensive fireworks to wrap up this title in grand style. GO PHILS!
Max A ‘Victory Parade’ most likely will take place 1 day after Series clinching victory. If Phillies win, look for festivities to take place on Tues, 10/28; or Thurs, 10/30; or Fri, 10/31, depending on game outcome(s). Call Phillies for confirmation, 215-463-5000.
if we win tonight, I think the parade would be Wednesday
Am curious, Pete. Why do you think that? City can plan in 1 what it can plan in 2, of that there is no doubt.
What irony if the Phillies win tonight on Philadelphia’s 326th Anniversary, the day the city was founded!!!
Philadelphia: Represent It in Flying Colors!!!
Happy Birthday!!
Just bought my champagne. I was afraid to jynx it by buying it but I gotta be prepared. I’ve never seen a Philly championship so I’m gonna go absolutely crazy if they win tonight! Go Hamels! Go Phillies!!! Win this tonight in Philly so we can have a huge celebration!! WOOOO
I really hope I’m wrong but I think this series goes back to Tampa for game 6. I think Scott Kazmir shows some Devil Ray pride, makes a heroic stand and shuts the Phils down.
I really get the feeling that being a Tampa Bay Devil Ray means something to him, and that he’ll stand up for that tonight. It’s not like he hasn’t been in this type of situation before. Before this season, there were plenty of times when he would shine in the middle of some tough stretches by the Rays. His Rays would get pounded for 3 straight games, but then his turn would come up and he’d actually give the Rays the chance to win a game or two.
I don’t watch SportsCenter much, but when I did in the past and the Rays got a win, or played a close game, Kazmir was almost always involved. AND this was for two straight seasons before this one. AND this would be in the AL East, which has a disproportionate amount of dangerous sluggers and shut-’em-down pitchers. He’s the guy you worry about in the quote about momentum being tomorrow’s starting pitcher, and yesterday’s 10-2 spanking means nothing to him.
Here’s to some partying tonight, but if the Phils overlook Scott Kazmir, aka Kid K, aka the Kazmanian Devil, we’re gonna have to wait just a little while longer.
The FOX pre-game folks are horrible they have already made like 5 mistakes
Kazimir is not ready which is a great sign
you give cole hamels a 2 run lead it looks good
By Moyer standards, Burrell is struck out twice in 1st on consecutive inside pitches.
Navarro should’ve walked on taken high pitch, top of 4th. Hamels gets favorable call, and subsequent DP.
Philadelphia: Nothing comes easy.
This game might not resume until Wednesday. What a miserable turn of events. Absolutely unbelievable.
One thing we now know: J-Roll is not a bad weather shortstop.
Should’ve checked with control tower to bring in that pop fly.
Un. Freaking. Believable.
Two things I’m tired of seeing:
1) Chevy Chase’s man-boobs. (Am I the only one who’s sick of that commercial?)
2) Incessant replays of 1980. Don’t get me wrong. I loved that team, still do, always will. I’m just saying it’s about time for an updated championship highlights film to be played during future rain delays.
3 innings left, 3 1/2 if we want to make it exciting. We can still do this.