Well, the Phillies won a game tonight that they probably shouldn’t have. They left men on base, they had bad at-bats, they swung at bad pitches and they made base-running and fielding errors. But unlike almost any Phillies team we can remember, we won this game with pitching. Hamels looked very good but wasn’t completely on. He still got us his solid 7 innings and 2 runs. Madson and Lidge didn’t allow a baserunner and looked completely unhittable. I mean, completely unhittable. It’s hard to believe it. But we didn’t play well and just won Game 1 of the World Series.
Here are my Game Notes:
- I dare you to let the Backstreet Boys sing the national anthem in Philly. I dare you. Let’s see what happens. The dude on the right was absolutely a retired porn star. Hopefully the baseball gods will look poorly on this atrocity. Well, at least the fans all have bright blue mohawks to make up for it.
- I LOVE the straight on camera angle. You can actually see strikes and the movement of the pitches. However… you’d think FOX would have been able to center the camera. Considering it’s the World Series and all.
- Chase Utley’s HR eliminated any worry about problems with rest. And, it also caused me to go absolutely crazy. Maybe the time off helped his hip heal a little bit.
- In the 2nd inning, Victorino could have been safe if he had slid better. He had a chance to get the outside of the plate but went right into the catcher. Bases loaded, one-out, you have to get a run out of that. Big mistake on several levels in the 2nd.
- Terrible pitch by Hamels in the 3rd. Had Iwamura 1-2 and hung a breaking ball. Bases loaded, 1 out with Upton up. Great play by Feliz to turn the second double-play on Upton.
- We manufactured a run in the 4th, we are going to need to do a lot more of that if we want to win this series. Can’t rely solely on the Home Run.
- Carlos Ruiz is from Panama, not Venezuela. Thanks, McCarver. Then Buck follows it up by pointing out the “fellow countrymen are talking” while he’s speaking with Dioner Navarro. Fox! We swear we don’t think all South American countries are the same!
- Iwamura (who by the way, I really wanted the Philies to sign to play 3rd when he came over) with a nice piece of hitting to get the Rays’ second run. But I don’t know why Hamels didn’t throw a change-up that entire at-bat.
- Feliz is having a good night. We have way too many hits, and way too many baserunners, to only have 3 runs. Also, Coste has left 5 runners on base and is looking just what he is, someone who hasn’t seen a pitch in a long time.
- Ryan Howard is the worst defensive first basemen of all time. And Carlos Pena bailed him out by getting picked off.
- So far, Cole Hamels had made Evan Longoria look very, very pedestrian.
- “He can’t hit a breaking ball, he can’t field ground balls, he not fast, and he has the lamest Subway commercial ever, and this guy wants $150 million dollars?” – Dannie
- The top of the 7th is a perfect example of why I hate batting Utley and Howard back to back. They can bring in a lefty to pitch to both of them instead of having to face Burrell or Werth in between. (Of course, Werth strikes out and Utley gets a single and steals second.)
- 3 people I’m watching with simultaneously said “WHAT THE HELL?” when Howard swung at the pitch that advanced Utley to 3rd… you aren’t getting your $150 million Ryan.
- Honestly, if someone had never seen the Phillies before and knew nothing about the team and watched these playoffs, they would have to be wondering why Ryan Howard was on the field, let alone on the roster.
- Is there someone at Fox that realizes how often McCarver is just flat-out wrong? Like when he just said that Hamels went exactly 7 innings in each start. Except of course for his first game, when he went 8. I mean seriously, do they not have respect for themselves as a broadcasting company? I don’t understand.
- We need Madson to pitch like Balfour has been pitching.
- He did.
- Rollins has had two of the worst ABs you could possibly have his last two times up. Looking at 2 perfect pitches and then swinging at a HORRIBLE pitch for strike 3. Embarrassing.
- Howard, they are intentionally walking people to put 2 on with 1 out to get to you now. How do you feel about that? Does that tick you off? It ticks me off. How about you do something about it.
- “Do something about it” apparently means look at 2 pitches right down the middle of the plate to end your AB. Anybody else on my trade Ryan Howard train yet? You think he’s going to be good in 5 years? Anyone?
- No walks, Brad, no walks, Brad.
- Lidge was dominant. Clearly these guys had never seen his slider before.
Another nail biter. I’m getting used to this. But we got the result we wanted and needed. Game 2 tomorrow night. Hopefully the offense can get on fire and send us to Philly up 2-0.
Nice start uh?
Great article, I don’t know a single thing about baseball but I enjoyed reading it.
Crossing fingers for Game 2,
In culo alla balena (again)
Typical Phillies win when Cole is on the mound. Tonight is the time to start hitting! Too bad Brett won’t be in the lineup. The commercial breaks are ridiculous. A 3-2 game went on forever. Can’t wait for the 8-7 extra inning game when it ends after 1:00am.
sfw: I’ll tell what is also ridiculous, Tampa’s minor league stadium and crowd. Talk about a fake team!
Here’s hoping the Phils teach their team and fans a lesson. They’ve experienced Boston. Welcome to Philly!
My TV guide from Verizon TV scheduled the game from 8 to 10pm. Needless to say I had to program the following 5 programs (Sienfeld, Malcolm, et al. to record as there was no way in hell the game was going to be over by 10pm. Nice going Verizon they don’t start the game till damn near 8:25 and the game was in the 5th inning at 10.
With the exception of a nice 9 pitch walk effort by Howard, he flat out sucks against good pitching. Thank God for arbitration, and can we sign and trade him?
Does Chase Utley really deserve the infield shift ala David Ortiz?
The extra rest did our pitchers good.
Are Howard and Rollins the weakest MVPs of all time? Do they make the Hall of Fame? Sure doesn’t look like it.
I can’t go on day after day with 5 hours sleep and nail biters every game. Pete, another great job of recapping the game. You are correct, if you didn’t know Ryan Howard’s stats the last 3 years you’d wonder WHY IS HE IN THE BIGS….. he can’t hit a curveball. And whatever he’s got … J-Roll has been infected with. He looks clueless as well.
On the plus side COLE, RYAN and BRAD were spectacular! Thank God for Chase’s timely HR!!!
I’ve been going to sporting events for over 40 years and THAT WAS THE WORST NATIONAL ANTHEM EVER!!!!!!!!! The city of Tampa and the Rays SHOULD be embarassed they allowed that to happen.
Tom T.
Does anyone else feel that the Phillies replaced Jim Thome with……Jim Thome?!? Ton of power, no plate discipline and lackluster fielding. He only got 6yrs/85 mill, why does Howard feel hes worth more? I would like someone to ask him that exact question.
Anyway, got an away victory! I couldnt believe it! I have been a philly sports fan for quite some time, Im not used to this winning stuff. After last night I got a good feeling that the phills might pull it off, just got to find a way to win 3 more. .
Morty Thanks for keeping me abreast of changes in our rapidly advancing society. Next thing ya know, the ‘Veg-O-Matic’ will be off the market. Or ‘The Clapper’ will fade due to planned obsolescence. Makes one’s head spin.
Madson’s transformation from Little Red Riding Hood to the Big Bad Wolf is remarkable. Didn’t know who to expect in the eighth last night. Found the fellow with fangs.
Victorino gambled (his style) and lost. I love to watch laser throws from outfielders nail runners. One of the best parts of baseball. Callison & Clemente would’ve been proud of Upton; his batting efforts, however, horse of a different color. Upton’s got a small, wiry, lithe frame like former fine defensive centerfielder Curt Flood (who refused to play in Philadelphia after being traded by Cards for Richie Allen; pioneered the concept of free agency in baseball).
Burrell got away with runner’s interference on topper to right side, blocking throwing lane through subtle adjustment of lumbering, blocky body - infield side of line.
Young ’King Cole’ was a very bold soul. Nice job in big spot.
Utley jack turned ‘em back. Relieved pressure some, especially for Hamels. Phils in driver’s seat from that point.
Is that an iron skillet on Howard’s right hand?
Great pick and throw by Feliz to start DP. Utley & Rollins combined on a smooth one too.
As has been often with this team, not great, but winning.
Ryan F…interesting comparison with the Jim Thome/Ryan Howard. Although I think we can all safely say Thome shows a little more restraint at the plate then Howard.
Can Las Vegas start some over/under odds on how many strikeouts Burrell will wrack up never swinging his bat?
Watching Lidge close out these 9th innings has been a pleasure, he has become a freaking machine (granted, a machine that can cause a bead of sweat or two every now and then…but not last night).
Nice recap, Pete.
Let’s start from the top (performers) and work our way down.
Great to start off with a win. We needed at least one win in Tampa and we got it. IMO, we need to win both of Hamels’ starts and we’re halfway there. Hamels is really making his case for admission into the “aces” club. It is a lot of fun to watch a guy slowly, steadily, establish himself as a big time pitcher in the league as the playoffs unfold.
Madson is locked in and letting it fly. His confidence has to be at an all time high and it shows. He is pitching as if there is nobody standing at the plate. The way he is just disposing of guys is fantastic to watch.
When Lidge has that slider working, and by that I mean getting it over, he is devastating. When he is off and bouncing it up there, hitters are able to lay off of it. When he has pinpoint control of it , like last night, he can get it over to get ahead. Then when he throws it at the shoetops, guys just can’t lay off of it. Again, fantastic to watch.
You have to be absolutely thrilled at the pitching in game one. The long layoff didn’t hurt Hamels, Madson, and Lidge yesterday. You could see that they were all strong and, more importantly, they were all sharp, which was surprising. Hopefully we will see the same from the rest of the staff.
One last thing about the pitching. It seemed to me that the Phils made a conscious effort to throw a lot of offspeed stuff. I mean, how many consecutive sliders did Lidge start off the 9th with, 7 or 8? Hamels used his changeup a lot. Only Madson threw a bunch of fastballs, but they were 96-97mph and the hitters were overmatched. Even at that, Madson still threw a few changeups.
Tampa whacked a bunch of homeruns against the Red Sox. From what I saw, they were all on fastballs. I’m sure the quality of last night’s pitchers (and their pitches) had something to do with it, but I still see the Rays as a team that really struggles to hit offspeed stuff. As much as I felt that Myers was relying too much on his curveball and that he really needed to establish his fastball, I think that he had better stick with his curveball and slider against the Rays for the mostpart. Don’t get me wrong. He needs to use his fastball, but just to mix it in. He’s got to pick his spots and use it just enough to keep it in their heads. I’m afraid that if he comes out all fired up and tries to blow his fastball by the Rays hitters, they are going to send several of them over the wall and we will find ourselves in an early hole.
The offense is a concern, as it has been for some time. Almost everybody up and down the lineup had a chance to do some damage, and nobody did. Other than Ruiz, who has been the favorite punching bag of many a fan this year, nobody could push a run across. It was excruciating to watch. I’m hoping that the layoff is at least partially responsible for the lack of production.
I was ok with Victorino tagging. I like the fact that we are being the aggressors. We stole a few bases and tried to make some things happen. Obviously that was part of the strategy coming in. I like forcing the other team to step up and make plays. I think, since we were up 2-0, it was a good gamble. If that throw was 1 foot to the left or right, Victorino scores. You tip your cap to Upton for the throw, but I think we sent a clear message to the Rays that we are coming after them hard. I think it’s going to pay off somewhere in this series. Either we will get a couple runs due to aggressive base running, or the Rays will make a misplay in the field or hurry a throw knowing that we are forcing the action.
Ryan Howard is absolutely wretched. I am in complete agreement with your comments, Pete. I know Rollins is lost at the plate and it pains me, but at least he is playing well in the field. We all know that Manuel has Howard’s name etched in stone at first base and in the 4 spot on the lineup card, so for us to win this thing either Howard gets a clue on both sides of the ball or everybody else on the team makes up for what he is not giving us. I can’t believe that I’m saying this about a guy who may end up winning the MVP award.
Finally, having to listen to Buck and McCarver is insulting to me. It goes beyond the Phillies thing. I’m insulted as a baseball fan. There are announcers I don’t like, but I can live with them calling a game because they are fair, knowledgable, and prepared. You mentioned their gaffes, Pete. That stuff is inexcusable. To make matters worse, they just got done covering us in the NLCS. After two weeks, they should be very well versed in all things Phillies. Instead, we are continually fed incorrect information. I’m guessing they also must be saying incorrect things about the Rays as well.
This is the biggest stage for baseball and it is just horrible to have these two guys flub and misinform their way through every broadcast.
Ryan Howard is batting and fielding like Shemp Howard.
I happen to like Timmy, me boy. Yes, he proffers much and is sometimes tediously elaborative and pedantic, and is occasionally misinformed (who isn’t?), but he knows the game well and has insights that we non-major leaguers don’t have. Balances his commentary with a good sense of humor and isn’t afraid to take a stand – whether it suits your rooting interest or not. His Memphis twang is distinctive and homey, fits like an old sweater. He scored the winning run from 2nd (10th inning, against Expos, 2-1) in the last game played at Connie Mack Stadium (10/1/70) on an Oscar Gamble single to center. (I was there.) Then he ran for his life to the clubhouse before the sentimentally-attending “termites” went to work disassembling the grand old park. I watched McCarver’s entire major league career. Was a fine competitor (’59-’80) and is a career baseball man who shares competently and generously in the broadcast booth.
JJG…I don’t mind at all if an announcer takes a stand or isn’t afraid to say what he believes. In fact, I prefer that to the wishy-washy, everybody’s great, it could be this-unless this happens, I could see this possibly happening announcer. The only thing I ask is that if you make a statement, you have justification for it. If you have an opinion, it is based in fact, you can back it up, and you stay consistent with it.
McCarver totally lost me when, during the first few games of the NLCS, he repeatedly said that Madson has the best changeup on the staff BUT THEN, out of the clear blue sky, during Game 5 when Hamels was pitching, Joe Buck talked about Hamels’ arm action on his changeup and McCarver responded with “the best”. McCarver then proceeded to say that Hamels has the best changeup on the staff. What is that? Factual mistakes are going to happen. With all the information floating around, it’s easy to lose a fact or mix a few up here and there (although he is a professional and has been in the business for many years).
Now, I’m certainly not happy about the mistake on his part in the first place but, if he owned up to it and explained himself, I could live with it. I would also be ok if he changed his opinion. It happens. As long as he acknowledged the fact that he was changing his opinion and, again, explained himself, I could live with that as well. He did neither of those things. Why? Did he forget what he said earlier in the series? Did he forget what his own opinion was? Did he even know that he contradicted himself? Is he too proud to admit a mistake? Does he not feel the need to explain himself to the viewers? The whole thing makes me feel that he is just talking out of his a** more often than not. THAT is what is unacceptable to me.
The Howard situation is a bit of conundrum. He’s been absoutely horrid in the post season but can you honestly say the Phils would’ve been in the playoffs without what he gave them in September?
I’d trade him straight up for Rich Harden for the next 6 games but for an entire season, I don’t know. Find a way to get me Edinson Volquez AND replace 65% of his offensive production over the course of a season and then we can talk.
I know this happened before you were born but the greatest 3rd baseman of alltime was a career .235 hitter in the post season. You want to trade him too?
bski I’m sure if you challenged him on the Madson/Hamels change-up contradiction, he’d clarify his position or admit to temporary insanity (a condition brought on by working extensively with Joe Buck and/or being “Lefty”‘s interpreter for a decade). “Talking out his a**”? That sounds too angry. How about ‘singing extemporaneously for his supper’? Tim would find that more palatable. I think he’s a good egg and fair country broadcaster, but you and others offer a more critical view of his professional standing. So be it.
Enjoy the game!
JT-
I was never a Mike Schmidt fan. Still am not to this day. Matter of personal taste. Was too much about ‘me’. Great fielder/eventually a good hitter. A five-tool player. And a tool sometimes. “Herbie” struck out a lot too; wasn’t clutch at all in front half of career. If it wasn’t for Pete Rose’s and Dallas Green’s influences, Phillies never would’ve won.