The greatest YouTube clip of all-time? I think so…
I’ve seen Goodfellas about 20 times, and that video is just tremendous. If we repeat, I might have to buy a Jimmy Two-Times jersey. Gotta win the series, win the series.
I’ll be chatting here during the Game. I’ve got Champagne in my fridge, hopefully I can use it tonight.
I’ll keep this up to talk about Game 5 today and tomorrow during the game, but I think last night’s game deserves a couple more words.
Last night I didn’t go crazy. I didn’t run around my house and yell and scream like I did exactly one year ago when Matt Stairs blistered Jonathan Broxton. Instead, I just sat on my couch with a dumbfounded smile on my face. It wasn’t that I couldn’t believe it happened, it was that I was just so grateful to this Phillies team for giving us fans so many unique moments in the past 3 years.
After all those years of last-place teams, followed by all those years of soul-crushing close calls where we just couldn’t get to the playoffs, I think there were many of us who thought we were somehow being punished for something. We couldn’t just lose or fall short, we’d have to find new and more depressing ways to do so. They would string us on until the very last week, and then drop a series to the Reds, or have an unstoppable closer blow back-to-back games. It affected my mood for long periods of time – I put so much time, energy and emotion into a stupid sports team, and the majority of what I got in return was frustration and anger. And the fact that I let a stupid sports team affect my mood so much just made it worse.
The whole idea was that some day there would be a payoff for my loyalty. But the prevailing fear was that, like many Cubs and Red Sox fans, I would die without seeing my team win a title. We all know what happened in 2008, and the joy and relief that came with it. But in 2009, the Phillies aren’t just giving us another exciting playoff run, they are giving us singular moments that no one can take away from us and that will last us for the rest of our lives. “Did that just happen?” moments that will be replayed and replayed for decades to come.
In the last 2 years, the Phillies have won 17 playoff games (and counting…) – In those games we’ve had the following moments that we will likely never forget…
- Brett Myers’ walk and Shane Victorino’s Grand Slam of CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the 2008 NLDS
- Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs’ 2-run HR’s in the top of the 8th in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS
- Carlos Ruiz’ walk-off swinging bunt in Game 3 of the 2008 World Series at 1:47am
- Brad Lidge’s final strike-out in a surreal Game 5 1/2 to win the title
- Ryan Howard’s 2-run double and Jayson Werth’s RBI single in the 9th to shock the Rockies and win the 2009 NLDS
- Jimmy Rollins’ 2-run double with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th in Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS to take a 3-1 lead
Aside from the Yankees and Red Sox, I can’t think of a single team that has had this much drama in their favor in the past decade. Those are 6 events there that have only happened a couple times in MLB history, and they have ALL been done by the Phillies in the last 2 years. In fact, in the last 2 years, the Phillies have vaulted into the top-5 for the decade in terms of playoff wins. Here’s a chart I put together showing every teams records in the playoffs from 2000-2009, sorted by wins.
Obviously there is a lot of playoffs left, but in addition to having the 5th most playoff wins in the decade, we also have the best Win %. How many fan bases on there do you think can put together 6 moments like the ones I mentioned above? Yankees, Red Sox and maybe the Cardinals? Or, the 3 most iconic franchises in the Majors?
Jimmy Rollins said after the NLDS, as he has many times before, that this team doesn’t just want to win, they want to be legendary. They want to put the Phillies in the same breath as the teams at the top of that list. They might not get there, but regardless of what happens the rest of the playoffs, they’ve come a lot closer than I could ever have dreamed of. When they won last year, I screamed and danced, as they try to become legends, I can only sit back in awe and cherish the moment, cause only a few fans for a few teams ever get that feeling.
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I think you forgot the Rockies series from 2007. The Phillies are 17 – 8 in the playoffs in the last 10 years, not 17-5. However, that still gives them a .680 W% and still puts them on top of all other playoff teams.
Great writing, Pete. A friend and fellow Phillies fan used the best word when describing this team’s effect on its fans: “spoiled,” as in, we’re all spoiled by the great moments this team has provided us in the last three years (don’t forget the historic comeback in 2007, bad ending notwithstanding). One other note: if things continue as they have been, you are definitely going to have to re-do your “teams that win with bad closers” analysis. I don’t remember what the parameters of your analysis were, but you showed fairly conclusively that teams with unreliable closers never win the World Series or even get there, unless they replace said closers at some point. For sure, no team has stuck with an unreliable closer, who suddenly turned it all around in the postseason. (What is and probably will always be one of the underrated aspects of last night’s game: that Lidge struck out Kemp and Ethier in the top of the 9th to keep it a 1-run game.)
Kainer -
Thanks. I guess I had selective memory. I fixed it.
I still run around and jump and scream, especially last night. I was so low the entire game, and I was pissed at Charlie for leaving in Blanton after Ruiz walked. I thought we were going to lose, and then again tomorrow to go back to LA down 2-3. Now I’m all smiles.
Pete: i used to have this habit of turning off the game whenever the Phils are down by more than 3 or 4 runs in the 7th or 8th. i have not done that for 3 years. I know that I’d probably miss the best part.
the cubs are nice and far down that list…just an observation such a “storied” franchise.
I’m really interested to see if Colbert can get it together tomorrow night. He’s got a cushy 3-1 series lead, the place will be electric with anticipation of another trip to The Series and he’s seen his lineup go to bat in just every game this year. Hopefully, he’ll feel a little less pressure knowing that he can probably win with a 3 run outing.
Last night. High winning drama, yes. Wouldn’t advise breaking out the rhapsodies on this current Phillies team yet, though many of the town’s writers (and yakkers) are turning out purple prose, predictably and prematurely. If Broxton didn’t wimp out vs. Stairs, probably (based on hitting law of averages and Stairs’ stink-it-up season) a conversely different ending for the hometown team. Even with the big boy’s knee-knockin’ 4-pitch walk and follow-up hit batter, Broxton & Dodgers were but 2 STRIKES AWAY [!!] from deadlocking the series at 2-2 and regaining the home field advantage. That it didn’t happen, credit to Rollins, other Phils’ batters and thunderous fans. Major debit to Broxton for turning into a dancing bear when his team most needed STRIKING heat. Nobody on … HR only ties game … 4 straight ”balls” to creaky old Matt Stairs … no “grace under pressure”… I knew he was gonna blow it when he took special care to neatly fold his warm up jacket before dreadingly leaving the dugout to face the Philly “music” (and bottom of order) that Eugene Ormandy smartly avoided throughout his career.
Anybody who thinks this series is over with Gnat King Coleslaw slated to pitch tomorrow night is crazy. Dodgers have taken three straight from Phils before. That’s a mountain of work before the Dodgers, but they aren’t lucky survivors;
have a talented roster. Hold the champagne and hosannahs (and terms like “legend” and “dynasty”) for Phillies until more glory reaches fruition, until they actually do win 2 straight World Series, please. Another pennant, likely, BUT … .
Chris,
I’m trying to be optimistic about Hamels, but I’m having a tough time. I found these quotes in an article by Paul Hagen:
From Pat Gillick:
“First of all, when he came into spring training he had some [elbow] problems and he really couldn’t pitch as much as he should have,” the Phillies senior advisor said, leaning against a railing by the dugout during yesterday’s workout. “And I think what Cole has got to do – and we tell this to all the kids in the big leagues – is that to stay in the big leagues you have to make adjustments.
“I mean, for instance, the Yankees have 10 scouts here, five on each team. And they’re looking at videos and every damn thing else. So once you go around the league, the advance people are going to tell the hitters how to make an adjustment. So if you see an adjustment being made by the hitter, you got to at least think about making adjustments.
“I think that’s the way it is with Cole. He’s a two-pitch guy, basically, fastball and changeup. He’s going to have to come up with another pitch. Not come up with it, but he’s going to have to go with his curve ball. If he develops a curveball to go with his other two pitches, he’s going to be fine.”
It really does seem that Hamels’ biggest problem is not having a 3rd pitch. I don’t see how that gets corrected at this point in the season, though, so I’m not expecting him to give us more than what we’ve been getting.
From Hamels:
“Last year there was a little bit of different circumstances with the way I was pitching,” he conceded. “You know, it was a little bit easier [then]. This year has been a lot tougher. Things really haven’t gone the way I’ve wanted. Every time I’ve made a mistake, it’s really hurt me. I think I really have to minimize the mistakes.
“And if I’m able to do that, because I have been in the same sort of situation, it’ll just come back. That familiarity will just come back a little bit easier. I think what helps is that the guys understand that. They know the struggles I’ve gone through and they’re trying to do everything they can to pick me up. And I’m trying to do the best I possible can on the mound. Baseball is a hard game and you can’t let it get to you. You have to keep on going out there and fighting until the end.”
This doesn’t sound to me like a guy who thinks he can go out and do it either. I am still hoping though.
geez jjg – you can find negativity in anything, huh?
your “Broxton lost it, we didn’t win it” argument can be made for nearly every sporting event ever. As Charles Barkley says, there is no such thing as “should have won,” if you should have won, you would have won.
even if the Phillies lose the next 3 games, it doesn’t take away the above 6 moments, which are what makes sports great, and have been lacking in Philadelphia for the most part, for several decades.
I anointed no one a legend – but just winning a 2nd pennant, and in the fashion that they have, would make them legends in this city forever. For most of us, at least…
Pete, Negativity? Nah. Just a small parcel of reality to leaven the hysteria. “We won it, but Broxton shit his pants” accurately summarizes my position. And of course winning or losing three straight in the wonderful game of baseball is a common occurrence.
jjg: perhaps you will be silent after we clinch?
forgive me, I am a Phillies fan.
Not to make fun of the Broxton lost it point, which depending on your view might hold some merit, but I think it would be interesting to have a non player that thinks that way step in the box and face the 98 mph heat he throws, and see if they still think that way. Ned Colletti was given a contract extension today. I’m sure he has done a fine job with the Dodgers, but I can’t help but wonder if there was any degree of hesitation to reup with him after he failed to acquire Cliff Lee. Not to mention Pedro Martinez, who, as a member of the Red Sox historic 2004 win has probably emphasized to his teammates about what can, but won’t occur, even with a game advantage over the Red Sox comeback.
We ran around the house with the kids and did all the chest bumps and all, of course this was at 8:15am as we live on tape delay with the kids, but it was still sweet.
Left unsaid but everyone feels it, this team is just so likeable and easy to root for. No babies, no ‘roid users, no whiners, all effort and hustle and smart baseball play.
And how can you not love Ryan Howard “just get me to the plate boys” and he delivers. That is Babe Ruth pointing to the outfield stuff. That combined with a bit of confidence Jimmy Rollins “we are the team to beat”
For the past two months I’ve been more excited by upcoming Phillies games than Eagles games, and I’ve never felt that way before. This is from a fan who in the 80’s watched the MNF over the World Series.
“It has now happened only five times in major league baseball history, five times when a player came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth as the potential final out of a postseason game and managed to drive in the game-winning run.”
The above quote is from Rich Hoffman’s column today. Be wary of early anointment all you want, but if all it took was “shitting the bed,” I think we would have seen similar heroics more often, no?
Agreed, Morty.
A few weeks ago, Pete mentioned the common viewpoint held by the majority of sports fans, myself included, regarding their teams. That is, when we lose a game, it is because a player, or players, blew the game and/or did not step up when needed, not that the other team won the game because they executed and did what was needed.
If Rollins instead had made the third out on Monday, I’m sure many would feel that he came up small when we needed him (along with Howard and Werth in the 8th). Froum our viewpoint then, the fact that he didn’t should be viewed as him stepping up and producing a win, rather than Broxton losing the game, imo. (Just like Howard and Werth won game 4 of the NLDS, rather that Street losing it)
Manny really is some piece of work, huh? Got me thinking of Ricky Henderson playing cards in the clubhouse when he was with the Mets. Can’t remember, was that during the playoffs, too? Anyway, glad we didn’t try to pick Manny up last year when he was available.
Wonder if tonight’s crowd will substitute a “Take a shower!” chant in place of the ususal “You took steroids!” when he comes to the plate tonight. Be surprised if we didn’t see at least a few fans wearing shower caps or bathrobes, too.
bski: no need to feel sour at Manny. at this point, he’s just overrated and hyped. its sad. whatever he was before, he’s mortal now.
Not to count our broadcasters before they actually call a game but, since the world series is on Fox, we’re in for more of Buck and McCarver. Thought about that after watching a bit of the ALCS last night.
McCarver just says the same thing over and over. He may have a valid point, but he really belabors it. Reminds me of Kevin Costner playing Jim Garrison in Oliver Stone’s movie, JFK, when he’s in the courtroom describing the Zapruder film: “Back, and to the left……Back, and to the left……Back, and to the left”
Small price to pay to watch another shot at a title, though.
Everyone just needs to prepare themselves for the FOX team to talk non-stop about the Yankees and come to terms with it. Every non-Yankee fan in the country (except maybe Dodgers’ fans) will be rooting for us.
Gotta finish this series off first. Hopefully the players aren’t looking ahead as much as we are.
bski,
I agree that Hamels needs to develop a third pitch, and that needs to happen in the offseason. I guess I just think back to last year when he was so effective though…his curve was by no means his “out pitch” but it was useful when it had some bite because it would just keep hitters honest. Often good for early in the count or later in the count if he felt the hitter was sitting on his change. The one to Torrealba for instance or a couple in game 1 were either hanging or not over the plate. I don’t think it needs to look like Zito’s (not saying you are saying this either – I am just thinking out loud and trying to be optimistic) for it to be effective. I feel like he needs to throw it for enough strikes without serving it too high or little break. Certainly easier said than done, but while it has never been all that good, he has used it somewhat effectively.
Regarding Hamels, I think hes just had a really hard time locating his fastball this year which leads to him relying on his change, which leads to hitters looking for it and pounding it. I agree that a third pitch would definitely be great for Hamels on nights he has location issues with his fastball but when he locates his fastball he doesn’t need a third pitch. Besides, who didn’t see Hamels have a tough year after pitching like 260 innings last year. I know I stayed far away from him at all baseball fantasy draft for that reason. He’ll bounce back next year.
ALso, jjg, I usually like your jaded point of view but this time you just seem to be trying too hard. The whole “we didn’t win it they lost it” argument is absurd, stupid, and plain old dumb. While I agree it can happen in sports, it rarely occurs. This was definitely not one of those rare occurrences. However, Andy Reid’s play calling for the Raiders game might fall into that category for me.
Also, winning or losing three straight games in baseball is a common occurrence but not in a playoff series where one team has a 3-1. That is rare. It’s ok to feel confident.
Ryan Howard’s value in this Series is totally visible and undeniable. Yet, all things considered, despite the fact that most means unique, its not at all far fetched that one could build a case that he could easily share co-MVP honors in this Series with Carlos Ruiz based on to date results. Ruiz’s clutch offense speaks for itself. Ryan still has an edge there because of the impact of his hits. But Ruiz has given life to the lower part of the batting order, and done a terrific job of guiding the pitching staff to a near impeccable level in games 2-4. We’ve read reference to Carlos as an unsung hero. I get the impression he’s more of an unsung leader. He is key to bringing out the best in Hamels tonight, and as key as anyone to watch.
I think the Manny shower story is a bit overplayed. More of a big deal if the Dodgers were losing at the time. I wonder how excited the Dodgers are about the fact that he has the option for next year at 20 mil plus coming off his 2nd half and nothing special post season. That’s a tough burden in the middle of an ownership divorce when you need to add leadership to your pitching rotation to compete with a good Rockies club in your division.
Of all the Philly teams, the Phillies get the job done!! They are the workman that their Boss of Brotherly Love trusts (not that Boss–sorry Mr. Springsteen)!
GO PHILLIES!!
pg & Drew,
About Hamels, I went to his page on fangraphs.com to look for differences from last year to this year that might explain what his story is. Virtually everything——velocity (fastball, changeup, and curveball), percentage of swings, percentage of contact, first pitch strikes, ground ball percentage, fly ball percentage, K/9, BB/9——is very close to last year. Only a couple things stand out.
One is that he is throwing more fastballs this year (59.1% vs 54.8% in 2008) and fewer curveballs (10.5% vs. 13.7 in 2008). I don’t know if his elbow problems during spring training limited how much work he did on his curveball early on and if that in turn proceeded to diminish it’s effectiveness and his confidence to throw it. Or it could be that his lack of command with the fastball has gotten him behind in the count more often, forcing him to throw more fastballs later in a lot of ABs throughout the year.
It sure seems as though command of the curveball would really help him a lot though. As it is, hitters can totally disregard the pitch. Either because he does not throw it enough or he doesn’t get it over much when he does, it is of no concern and hitters are able to then sit on the fastball and changeup. Then, even when he throws a good one, it get whacked (the changeup to Manny that he hit for the home run was not a bad pitch, but it was the third one in a row he saw and he was waiting for it).
The other thing is, which I have mentioned before, that Hamels’ BAbip is very high this year. Last year it was low. This suggests that he has probably been a bit on the unlucky side this year, while also being somewhat lucky to get away with only two pitches last year.
Bottom line is that I agree with Gillick. The hitters have made adjustments and are getting to Hamels. Now it’s his turn to make adjustments to get back ahead of them.
jjg – if you qualify the phils game 4 win then you have to qualify the Dodgers game 2 win. The series could also be over if the phils didn’t hand them that one with the walks and error. It mystifies me when people would credit that type of win to Dodger grit and talent, but when Phils do it it is a collapse by the other team. you typify Negadelphia and really it is shared by national writers as well. They can’t seem to bring themselves to see how great this team is. They love the negadelphia angle and fall into is nationally as well. Plus, they are used to the Eagles choking.
This really hasn’t been that close of a series. Total runs are 25-12. As I said before the series, Dodgers just won’t score enough to win 4 out of 7. Throw out the dodgers pitching stats built against the padres and nats of the world, they have not consistently faced this juggernaut. It will go down as one of the great offenses of all time. Is there really one stopper in the bunch? Not with the starters. Even Broxton – do you realize he blew 6 saves in the regular season. Lidge blew 5 more and you would think it was 25 more.
Even if it goes back to LA, Phils are dominant on the road. they love to win on the road. It would be no special advantage to the Dodgers. Heck, who would they even start in Game 6 – Kershaw? Wolf on 3 days rest? Ouch! Phillies are so much better and deeper all the way around. We got a tested Pedo and Lee waiting in the wings. Game over!
Ken, I agree on the Ruiz comment. It really isn’t far fetchd. His blast in Game 1 set the tone like Utley did in Game 1 of WS last year. He scored the winning run in Game 4. And he exudes confidence behind the plate, which our pitchers like and the team feeds off of. Howard is a monster to be sure but I won’t have a problem if Ruiz named MVP. On Manny, I agree a non-issue and overplayed.
<<I won’t have a problem if Ruiz named MVP.>>
I was writing on results to date. Tonight is new material for the equation.
Interesting sidebar (to me at least). Sunday night, Game 3, Phils 11, Dodgers 0. Game went up against Bears Falcons NFL. In Los Angeles, where they have no NFL team, the NFL game outtdrew Dodgers-Phils in tv ratings (source, Colin Cowherd, ESPN Radio).
Emphasizing the public’s misplaced interest in football as well, football scored a winner again. Philadelphia, which didn’t have an NFL team this past Sunday either, also chose football over baseball by a slim margin.
Quoted highlight copy and the source link follow.
NFL games were the highest rated programs in both Los Angeles and Philadelphia last week, despite both markets having teams involved the MLB League Championship Series. In Philadelphia, the Eagles’ loss to the Raiders on Sunday drew a 30.2 rating — topping the 29.1 rating Dodgers/Phillies Game 3 drew in the market later that night. Not even Monday’s thrilling Game 4 (29.9 in Philadelphia) could top Eagles/Raiders. (Fang’s Bites)
Football may have topped baseball in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, but not in New York. The Yankees’ Game 2 win over the Angels on Saturday night drew a 19.3 rating in New York, topping Giants/Saints (16.2) and Jets/Bills (17.1) the next day. Jets/Bills did top Games 1 and 3 of Yankees/Angels, which drew ratings of 16.7 and 17.0, respectively. (New York Times).
http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/
bski,
I completely agree with your last statement re Gillick’s comments.
nice to see that curve ball
Loney says Hamels curve is “very good” – maybe he just needs to work on that all summer – get the location right.
I think he would benefit most from having Lee and Happ teach him a cutter.
Hamels needs to listen to the Chooch…
Chooch puts down curve, Hamels gets ticked, they have a meeting, Hamels throws fastball, Ethier bombs it out.
LISTEN TO CHOOCH.
damnit!…Cole can never get out of the first inning unharmed…he looked so good the first two batters and then couldn’t put Eithier away…now Manny gets a hit….
Hamels gets hurt on every mistake… other than that, his control and velocity look good, hopefully we can get to Padilla and Hamels can calm down.
quite the pitch-around Howard. Or hopefully Padilla is wild today…
this crowd needs to get loud and get in Padilla’s head – some chants would be nice
man – what was werth looking for 3-1? Fastball down the pipe.
the movement on Padilla’s fastball is sick sometimes….
YESSSS!!!!!!
HE IS A MAN-WALL!!!!!!!
and our lead is cut in half…he put that right down the middle….
nice shut down inning – IF we win and play the Yanks, Hamels should probably be our 4th starter considering how many HRs they hit.
wow!…Feliz coming through…hopefully Padilla will finally be rattled!
welcome to the playoffs Pedro!
Padilla’s Flotilla can set sail for the showers.
How does Pedro go from a homer to three swings like that?
gotta love a six pitch AB that ends in a sac bunt.
gotta get 2 more out of this – Dodgers have plenty of time get 3 runs back
That RBI’s gonna smart a bit.
Utley has come up with some big hits and ABs this postseason, and while he looks better than September he still does not look terribly comfortable at the plate.
mitch williams thinks Utley is hurt
9 outs away!
so should Hamels or Happ start in the WS?
IT’S OUTTTTAAAAA HEEEEERRRRRREEEEEEEE
The only major question left in my mind is if Madson has good stuff tonight. I’m disappointed TBS didn’t show Hamels in the dugout right away when he got yanked. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking of Harry and Whitey durng this run, but I’ve been thinking about Tug tonight. He’d have gotten a real charge out of this. Don’t know if Happ should start in the WS. But I know Hamels shouldn’t. Pretty telling answer.
Charlie should have never sent Park out there again. Chan Ho is unittablle for an inning, then he loses it. Let’s go Madson, lock it up!
This at bat is agonizing.
The “take a shower” chants at the end are fantastic
Look at the way Martin chased that ball. This team has already quit.
Lights Out? Last chance to use him for a week. He deserves to be on the field for the clincher.
phillyfan, I like your precision and tempo. My kind of writer. Keep up the good shadowboxing. But your third statement is misleading, lacks verity. You’ll get your shot someday, kid. All it takes is a pet goldfish, Kensington sides of beef, high black Cons and an “ugly duckling” … Adrian!!!
Negadelphia? How trite. I don’t accept typecasting. Ever. Sociology is boring and inexact. And it doesn’t pay.
To call the Phillies (a 1-time World Series winner) a juggernaut is proof of your homeristic writing basis. Step back and find some ground … “It will go down as one of the greatest offenses of all time” … overstatement, possibly.
You called it: the game is over. Personally, I didn’t expect the Dodger’s staff to turn up so limp, excepting Padilla’s strong Game 2 performance. Phillies at the plate were no great shakes. Will have to up their .231 to wear the crown again.
Morty, Don’t get it at all. Your comment holds no water. I made no mention of BED soiling (read it again). Don’t misrepresent me for the sake of your Phillies boosterism. I gave credit to hitters (which invalidates your stance that I was anywhere in the vicinity of “all it took was shitting the bed”). And, besides, “shitting the bed” and heroics are not interdependent, no? [Didn't take you for a Frenchman. Ahh, but, then again, maybe your like affected Michael Barkann, yes?]
correction to post #63, line 6: you’re