All-Time Tourney Rules and Explanation
We’ve already done three series in our off-season tournament to crown the greatest Phillies’ team of all time. The final first round match-up pits 2008 (one of 2 Phillies’ teams to win a WS) and 1977 (one of 2 Phillies’ teams to win 100 games). The winner takes on last year’s 2009 squad.
Game 1: 1977 Phillies 2, 2008 Phillies 0 – (1977 leads series 1-0)
You can’t game plan for Steve Carlton. Lefty pitches a complete game shut-out against Cole Hamels, giving up only 3 hits and 3 walks over 9 innings. Hamels isn’t so bad himself, going 8 strong and giving up 2 runs, but he can’t match Lefty. Luzinski and Schmidt provide the offense, each with RBI singles.
Game 2: 1977 Phillies 9, 2008 Phillies 6 – (1977 leads series 2-0)
The ‘77 squad takes the first 2 at the Vet in a match-up of not-so-great 2nd starters (Brett Myers vs. Jim Lonborg). Myers gives up 7 runs in 5 innings, Lonborg 6 runs in 4 innings. Chris Coste opens up the scoring with a 2-run double in the 2nd, but all hell breaks loose after Jay Johnstone hits a grand slam in the 4th to give ‘77 a 4-3 lead. In the 5th, Victorino and Utley go back-to-back to regain the lead 6-4, but Gary Maddox gives ‘77 the lead for good in the 6th with a 3-run shot.
Game 3: 1977 Phillies 5, 2008 Phillies 2 (17 innings) – (1977 leads series 3-0)
Yes, you read that right. 17 innings. After tearing the cover off the ball in Game 2, neither team scores a run from innings 5-16 until Jamie Moyer (who was supposed to be the Game 4 starter) blows the lead by giving up 3 runs in the 17th on singles by Bowa and Hebner and a bases loaded walk to Bob Boone. The 2008 squad is forced to use every single pitcher except Hamels and Myers. ‘77 was saved by 3 solid innings a piece by Jim Kaat and Wayne Twitchell. Both starters (Joe Blanton and Larry Christenson) are gone long before a decision.
Game 4: 1977 Phillies 4, 2008 Phillies 2 – (1977 wins series 4-0)
With Moyer not able to pitch, Charlie throws Hamels on 3 days rest, and Danny Ozark counters with Carlton. Carlton emerges victorious again, as 1977 completes a shocking sweep of the 2008 team. Carlton only goes 6 innings this time, but Ron Reed and Gene Garber give up 0 runs in the final 3 innings. Hamels heroically goes 8 innings again, but this time gives up 4 runs, with Luzinski, Maddox and Hebner each hitting a solo shot in each of the first 3 innings. The 2008 team had a shot in the 9th with the middle of their order coming up, but no one reached base and ‘77 advances.
Summary
After 3 competitive series, we see our first sweep of this tournament. Steve Carlton was the difference maker, and the MVP of the series. He was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. Combine his performance with the crazy 17 innings Game 3 and Brett Myers’ laying an egg in Game 2, and 2008 never really had a chance.
The semi-finals are now set. We’ll see Carlton vs. Roberts in the first match-up and see if last year’s team can pull off the upset against the ‘77 team.
NEXT UP! 1980 vs. 1950 in the Semis
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Pete: i don’t know if you’ve mentioned this already but don’t you think Matt Holliday’s contract is a little bit too much? its not like the Yankees or Sox were seriously after him. just reading some of the details here and all the perks?? wtf? he and Pujols are on different levels, they might want to bear that in mind before they pulling out all that junk.
i always thought STL was frugal with their signing of guys like Kyle Lohse and Joel Piniero for bargain deals. Rolen seemed like the only time they dealed out more than average.
Hard to believe this would be a sweep but I can’t argue with Carlton dominating.
Also, I agree the Holliday $ amount and time was a bit absurd. That contract better not prevent them from resigning Pujols or else St. Louis might revolt.
The Cardinals will be paying Holliday until 2029. No business is wacko enough to overpay without having money for a Pujols. But with that said, one has to wonder how much they will have for the other 23 spots for the next 5 years or so.
This next matchup of the 80 and 50 clubs is interesting. Hell, they all are. The 50 club was decimated near the end of the regular season by injury and Curt Simmons being called away for military service. They had a 7.5 game lead with 11 to play before going down to the last day. At full strength, they might have fared a lot better against the Yanks. So they might do well here.
At the start of the tournament, I expected the 08 club to beat the 80 club. Lidge the difference. Since the system swatted the 08 club away in a sweep, I’m assuming the 77 team gets to the finals, and I am very interested to see how they run up against the 80 club, should they beat the 50 team. As I mentioned the other day, its possible the 80 team drew favorable matchups to go all the way, unlike the 77 team, which at one point, led a strong Pirates team by 15 games before losing to the Dodgers, National League President Chub Feeney and Black Friday’s destiny..
Hall of Fame note. Today, it was pointed out in reference to having to wait for enshrinment that Joltin Joe DiMaggio had to wait 3 years to get in. Not mentioned was that he only hit 361 homers. Compare that to Ted Williams 521 minus 5 years for Korea.
I think Holliday deal is horrible. I’ve never been a huge fan and he’s only had 1/2 a successful season away from Colorado. I would have given him slightly more than Bay, 5 years, $80 mill. To pay a player like him that kind of money when you are bidding against no one AND have a pretty fixed budget, is really stupid.
From the Phillies perspective though, it might handicap a league rival for several years, so that’s good.