Well, after what seems like an eternity, Game 1 is finally here. We’ve been going back and forth about who has the edge here, who has the edge there, but in the end, these teams are so evenly matched, it’s probably just going to come down to who is the hotter team for the next week.
Game 1 pits two of the best lefties in game against one another, and I think the outcome will be decided by who takes advantage of the limited opportunities they will likely have. Each team will have 2-3 chances to score, probably with 2 outs, and who ever gets the clutch hit(s) will get the win. It’s stupidly simple, but that’s how it is.
I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to check in here, but I’m sure I’ll have a couple things to say. Feel free to discuss the Game here before-hand, during and after.
With the world watching, bodies rested, anticipating psyches having stewed for days and talent fairly even, winners will be the ones that show the most heart, miles and miles and miles of heart … and that’s just referring the fans of each club!
I’d be happy leaving NY tied at 1-1. So why doesn’t Cliff Lee go in game 1 vs. the beatable AJ Burnett. I know that means he doesnt’ pitch game 4, but that ensures we leave NY 1-1. Also we have to take weather into account. Let Hamels pitch tonight in the rain and find the absolute warmest night in Philly for Pedro.
MD -
I thought about that too. It’s an interesting idea. Not sure anyone has ever done that before.
I think throwing Lee in game two because you think he’s got a better chance of beating Burnett leads Lee and the rest of the team to believe that they can’t beat Sabathia. You have to approach every game with the absolute best talent you’ve got, you gotta play it like its game seven. What would it say to your pitcher, lineup, fans, and opponent if you were to “throw” game one in order to just draw even in game two. What kind of mentality is that?
Chris, I know it breaks convention, but why not? What if Lee pitches 9 innings and loses 1-0, and we get beat 8-5 in game 2. I just wonder if pitching our #1 vs. their #1 doesn’t just cancel each other out, and why in the world would you want to cancel out Lee’s performance. For Reference see Martinez, Pedro Game 2 NLCS
And we aren’t throwing the game, we trot out our rain expert Cole Hamels in Game 1 vs. Game 2 (unless you are suggesting we are throwing Game 2 with Hamels on the mound)
It just seems to me the easiest thing in the world to do is pitch 1,2,3,4 and 1,2,3. With the crazy weather why not mix it up and ensure you leave NY 1-1.
Well, after what seems like an eternity, Game 1 is finally here……
That is my overriding concern. Even though we came out and won game 1 last year after a layoff, my biggest fear is coming out a little rusty or flat and falling behind in the series early.
About holding Lee for game 2, I agree with Chris. All of these guys (players, managers, coaches, etc….) have pride. They want to play the best and beat the best to show that they are the best. I’d have to imagine that neither Cliff Lee nor Charlie Manuel, to name just two, would feel right about ducking CC, and it would probably always bother them if they did.
I was feeling pretty good about the Phillies till I compared them to the 2008 team. 2009 team hits better but pitching and fielding are worse
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2008.shtml
and
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/2009.shtml
Yankees hit MUCH better than the Rays, but don’t pitch as well. Fielding about equal. Average team age is 2 years older, they won’t rattle.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/2009.shtml
and
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TBR/2008.shtml
MD I agree with your logic, it makes complete sense. But baseball isn’t always a logical game, in my opinion. It’s cerebral. There’s a mental side to this.
I can’t see this team going out there and thinking they are going to win when they’ve got to play musical chairs to guarantee their best pitcher gets a win. Plus, if Lee wins tonight (which is at least 50% likely) the Yankees are now in the exact situation you are trying to avoid. Down 0-1 after your ace throws 8 innings of one run ball in a loss. Then we’ve got Burnett, who is (at the moment) shaky at best and a very good chance at going home 2-0. The goal isn’t a split, the goal (however unlikely) has to be a sweep.
You want this team thinking that “our ace is going up against their ace and I’m going to war behind him in what will be the toughest and most important game of the series” That’s the mindset that begets 2 run walk off doubles and complete game shutouts. We may not get either of those tonight, but we’ve got no chance in hell of winning this series if we don’t throw our best at their best.
It’s a foxhole mentality, think of the guy you want in a foxhole with you when shit meets fan. For me that guy’s Clifton MotherPhifer Lee.
you people are thinking like we aren’t as good as the yankees – man for man. I disagree and I am glad the Phils and Charlie are with me. Put best against best and let the chips fall. Charlie is correct, you never give away a game. Even if Phils lose tonight I think they win tomorrow night with Pedro. Game on!
and another thing. I don’t care who is on the mound, this series will not be about pitching. Take the “over” on Phils and “total” every game, including tonight.
star wars? How gay. I can’t wait to get to Philly. I just pray for 1-1 at least. Yanks will have never played in that atmosphere.
ESPN now has 23 expert predictions, 21 of which pick the Yankees. Pedro Gomez (the guy who was tasked with the insufferable task of following Bonds around on his HR record tour) picked Phillies in 6 as well as the Karabell pick for Phills in 6 that Pete posted the other day.
I’m sick of all the Philly talking heads hating on the Yanks and the media for their “bias” but thats overwhelming. This is arguably the best team the NL has seen this decade, they are better than at the very least 13 of the AL teams.
I guess I can take some solace in the fact that only 2 of the 21 picked NYY in 5.
Phillyfan, you’re “praying” for 1-1? What happened to all that Game on!, man for man, I’m with Charlie business??? PHILLIES IN FOUR!!! OH, SUCK IT!
I love baseball.
I can’t believe I have to listen to McCarver.
ESPN now has 23 expert predictions, 21 of which pick the Yankees.>>>
What makes them experts. Phils in 5.
And that is why I am “praying” for at least 1-1, cause then we wrap it up in 5. what does “SUCK IT” mean?
SUCK IT doesn’t really mean anything, just fired up!
not the right time for Jimmy to try to get his first bunt hit of the year…
Ryan Howard’s beard is Samnson-esque. Gotta love that thing.
The Big Piece!
how did chase not score?
need you here Raul
god damn raul – jumped the gun
Smaller ballpark than Dodger stadium. Little tougher to go first to home.
Fuck. Raul that was ball 4.
well – that was the EXACT situation I talked about in the intro….
pete – phils win in spite of Rollins leadoff position. He is now 0-10 leading off playoff games. Just brutal – typically a lazy fly to left. At least this had some creativity.
Here come all the “Phillies can’t hit with runners in scoring position” crazies!
I have a feeling Girardi is going to pitch around Werth like he’s Albert F’ing Pujojs this series. I didn’t feel at all confident in Raul during that AB. Let’s hope he proves me wrong.
Wow, that curve was freaking sweet!
Wow. that was really impressive.
C.L. Smooth cut through the top like it was water.
Man, i’d be feeling real comfortable with a 2-0 lead right now
If Howard is going to hit lefties consistently this series, then it is over.
swinging at pitches out of the strike zone that inning
that ballpark is dead. Where are the fans?
rollins is brutal – that was 3-0
STOP SWINGING AT BALLS!
come on rollins and vict – killing us
There we go. C.C. can’t handle our lineup, especially when we make him throw strikes.
Dannie – funny how they say the “CC doesn’t have his best stuff”. Not the case. As I said before, it is the different hitters. Wea re not blinded by the lights and our patience will make him throw alot of strikes. Utley at bat was unbelievable. I think we still will need 5 runs to win, but we are on the way.
9 outs, 11 hitters, only two balls hit well. Lee looks great so far.
Utley has 2 very good AB’s so far (walk in the 1st and the homer).
The wind-up doll in this depression commercial is creeping me out.
feliz looks hopeless out there
oh dear god. here we go again. LETS GO REPLAY! CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP. LETS GO REPLAY!
brilliant play by Rollins – purposely caught it, then faked Matsui out by pretending to turn the double play.
Tim McCarver is fucking retarded – Cano was already out, Rollins threw to first to fake out Matsui. He doesn’t understand how brilliant that play was.
by the way – if Jeter made that play – we would hear about it for the rest of our lives and McCarver would have no problem figuring out what happened.
The umps got one right! What a play. Now, how about some runs. This game is staying too close to long.
Damn straight, Pete.
its 9:45 in the top of the 6th. this is a joke.
NO FUCKING WAY!!! two, two-strike homeruns!! CHASE UTLEY, YOU ARE THE MAN!!
CC, please keep coming inside to Utley (as long as your in the game, that is)
more like Chase Utley, you are the offense
CC won’t learn. He keeps pounding Utley in and Utley keeps pounding them out.
specifically keeps TRYING to pound him in but isn’t getting quite far enough in and not high enough. That last one was suppose to be up and in and it actually ran down the center and in Utley’s power zone.
It really looked like Howard was trying to send one to Queens. He tooke some big, ill-advised hacks in that AB.
dannie and bski, they were both right on the plate. He’s getting some unintentional movement and those pitches are tailing back into the sweet spot.
Chris - You’re right. He could get away with that if the ball was up, not down. Great to see Chase taking full advantage of mistakes. That is a great start for him.
Yeah, if we do beat CC tonight, I’m ready for the excuses, like phillyfan said: CC wasn’t sharp, or didn’t have his best stuff, etc….
I don’t expect the Phils to get much credit for beating a guy who’s been dominant this postseason.
haha, did you just see Lee catch that?! That was awesome!! No biggie.
I love how these Wanda Sykes commercials have deftly filled the void left by not seeing those retarded George Lopez commercials.
6 innings on around 86 pitches for Lee. Even though they’re still not hitting him hard (aside from Jeter), he’s working a little harder now. Gotta get at least 2 more from him.
hope Lee can go 120 pitches and finish this off.
un oh – that yankie “mystique” is kicking in here in the 6th – it is called shrink the strike zone on the opposing pitcher…
Save for a DP, no way CC gets through the inning. Can’t throw strikes, well over 100 pitches.
What are the implications of Girardi keeping C.C. in right now already over a 100 pitches. I would think he might get him out thinking about game 4 at this point. Trust the bullpen to keep it close for their offense.
110 pitches.
Really Feliz. He needs to be getting his ass kicked in the dugout right now. Terrible baseball.
I think Feliz might actually have more outs than AB in the playoffs this year – he is horrible.
Let his ass off the hook there!
Chooch got robbed. Looked like Tex was 3 feet off the bag when he caught that throw from Rodriguez.
It’s looking like ChrisMcC was right, I really shouldn’t doubt Uncle Charlie anymore, he knows how to challenge his players. Chase looks like the days off really helped. If Rollins or Shane could just get on base, 1 time, come on guys.
Can’t even bother to comment on Feliz at this point.
I was thinking the same thing about CC, Dannie. Keeping him in the game could definitely affect his availability for game 4.
That said, I think we’re going to see him for 1 more inning. This is our chance for the top of the order to get to him and give Lee some breathing room.
I was wrong. Looks like we’ll see Phil Hughes in the 8th.
Lee has two defensive plays tonight that typify exactly why I call him C.L. Smooth.
LOL – Tankies have two post-season homers at their own park (5+ games) and now Utley by himself has tied them in less than 1 game.
actually Feliz hit that well – just right at A-rod. I don’t have a problem with that at-bat. Charlie didn’t bunt him. The best he could do is hit it hard and he did that.
If it weren’t for the 92 mph of forward movement, Phil Hughes’ fastball could actually float inertly in mid air. That thing is dead straight. This could get really entertaining.
pounce phils, now pounce!!!
Two very nice ABs to start the 8th. Got to make something out of them now.
phillyfan – There really wasn’t much of an at-bat he swung at the first pitch after C.C. just walked the last batter.
Hughes doesn’t need to be jawwing with the HP ump, he needs to be barking at that junk stuff he brought to the ball park tonight. Get on the bench chump.
2-2!! This is Chase’s money count!!
wow – there was that “mystique” again. Ump was overtaken by it I guess
yeah real money count… ry-ho gonna do big things lets go
that Utley at bat was a killer. I can’t believe this ump called those strikes. The 3rd one OK, but give me a break. Ump has been decent all night until that at-bat. Blatant favoritism.
if Lee is at 105 pitches or less after 8 innings and Charlie doesn’t at least start him in the 9th I will puke.
oh goody. bases loaded and two outs for raul. I’m stirring with anticipation. meh.
Alright Raul!! 4-0 zip. You could not have expected this game to go any better thus far. Lets just hope that the 8th and 9th go as well.
I still think the phils will need 5 to win it.
Great job by Raul. Nice inning. Got the 7-8-9 hitters coming up for the Yankees. A nice clean easy inning and then we’re on to the 9th.
SMELL THE GLOVE!!!
C.L. SMOOTH!!!!!
why is anyone warming up?
I hope Hamels is watching Lee very closely
wow…
Roy who? Wonder what he is thinking right now?
Phillyfan, Roy is thinking about grabbing a shovel and paying a little visit to his pal JP Riccardi.
Talk about a shut down inning. Lee looks like he’s just throwing (and fielding) in his backyard. He’s only thrown around 105 pitches, so he damn well better be pitching the 9th.
Wow – a shut out would make tomorrows night game absolutely crazy. Must win for Yanks against Pedro.
wonder if it makes sense to give Dobbs a start at third tomorrow against the righty. Feliz is brutal.
Dobbs hits like Feliz and fields like me. Stick with PF. In my opinion anyway.
Tim McCarver just compared playing second base to judging a 4 way stop. He’s fucking retarded.
this is pretty nice…
Philies are a freaking rolls royce. Just a machine. There is no weakness. Tankies are figuring that out tonight.
I needn’t have worried about us not being sharp for game 1. This is fantastic. What a statement game.
Hah Hah – maybe the “exprts” need to rethink who has the better bullpen.
Right now Yankee stadium sounds like a giant dentist’s waiting room.
Jeter-cam needs to stop immediately.
Let’s talk about Derek Jeter standing at SS while the Yanks get smoked.
I think I just heard a baby cry.
Right now the fans are asking each other if the Knicks won.
No reason to send Victorino. Unless it was a scheme to end the inning and get Lee back there before he gets stiff sitting around.
Fellows, I have a predicament. Maybe you can help me out. If the Phils win their second straight WS, against the favored yankees to boot, I feel I may have hit my zenith as a sports fan. Can it ever get better? I love all four sports, but I don’t think even a Eagles SB would top beating the favored yankees in the WS for a second straight title.
I would let Lee pitch to 6 hitters before pulling him
The Phillies still have to win the damn thing before that becomes a problem. You’re safe for atleast a few more days.
Even though I liked the song before, I think “Empire State of Mind” is now an automatic skip Track on BP3
ok, the Knicks remark may have been a little hubristic. mulligan.
Letters not it the word clutch – a.r.o.d
What the hell is it with us forcing throws (and make bad ones) to first trying to get double plays.
And why the hell are Buck and McCarver expecting Madson to come in after every hitter?
One down, three to go. Great win, Clifton!
anybody know the last guy to throw two CG’s in the same postseason?
Dannie, Chase Rock and CL Smooth “told us how the feel” huh? Sorry that was a stretch.
That’s one way to take care of Mo Rivera.
awesome, now I want another win in NY. Guess our best is better than their best, nice feeling! Hey how many pitches did Cliff throw, is he available for game 4 or 5 ?
Got that right, Jason. Keep his ass planted on the bench.
What a way to start the series. Except for Feliz (ugh), everyone got involved. There were hits, runs, walks, and rbi all through the lineup.
Great to have a fully rested bullpen for tomorrow, too. Definitely hoping Pedro can duplicate the start he made against the Dodgers. If he can’t, Charlie has a lot of options and I expect him to manage all out trying to get a 2-0 lead.
Good night all.
Chris McC–
Schilling threw three CGs in the 2001 post-season;
Beckett threw two CGs in the 2003 post-season.
Nice to capitalize on Road Field Advatage, combined with Home Field Advantage now. Cleveland does indeed rock. I’m sure we’ll hear mention of Carlton’s name a good amount in the next 24 hours. Forget Lefty. That was Koufaxesque.
Here’s the deal on Game 2. I have never, ever heard a player say anything less than complimentary or respectful things about Pedro. Oh, I have heard media types and fans galore question him. The reality is he’s is a sure fire first ballot hall of famer, on full rest plus in a perfect
competitive environment for Game 2. This Series is far from over, but so far, we’re exactly where we want to be, and Charlie’s one game at a time mandate is a perfect psyche to keep the petal to the metal tomorrow.
I expect him to manage all out trying to get a 2-0 lead.>>
Exactly, bski. It’s so much harder to win a series when you are satisfied with a split on the road. Great teams keep the pressure on, and this is one of the greater great teams. Maybe the only “negative” if you will is that since Mo didn’t pitch tonight, he could easily go 2 plus tomorrow should the Yanks lead in the 7th. I’m not suggesting he’s invincible, its just obvious he takes the challenge to another level.
Maybe the only “negative” if you will is that since Mo didn’t pitch tonight, he could easily go 2 plus tomorrow should the Yanks lead in the 7th.>>>
Why do you think Rivera would handle the Phils. I would venture that he has never faced an offense like this in the last 5 years. Broxton and Street were great too. Rivera will have to throw stikes just like every other pitcher that faces the Phils.
I’m listening to Lee on ESPN News right now. I love his attitude. What a competitor, what a gamer.
<<I still think the phils will need 5 to win it.>>
Ya think?
What we need is 3 wins. We don’t need to prove our bullpen is good, or that Lidge is cured, or that Hamels can pitch. Or that we have depth. It’s not law. But none of that was proven tonight. I know you know that, and its a lot nicer to hear that thinking from a Phils fan than one of the moronic portion of the Yankee fan base, but I figured I’d have some fun with it.
Why do you think Rivera would handle the Phils>>
Didn’t say I did. You inferred it, ad understandably so. What I am doing is showing him the well eaned respect he deserves from a masterful career against a number of outstanding hitters. Truth is, I would’t dare project that the Phils will succeed against him, but…Charlie, if he’s one thing, is a hitting coach. And at his briefing the other day, he was asked about Mo. He kind of soft pedaled it, and this is take out of context, but he said words to the effect of he had ideas on how they can beat them. Trusting in Charlie is the foundation of my baseball fandom (til his next wrong move, I guess), but until they whack Rivera around, I’m rightfully giving him the bennie of the doubt. He is thee core of the Yankees run back when they were good.
But believe me, if he comes in with the rosiest of situations, I’m not saying the Phils won’t beat him. But they gotta prove it.
The Phils love the pressure. They eat it for breakfast, especially our next pitcher Pedro Martinez! And Cliff Lee was marvelous!!
GO PHILLIES!! LET’S GO WIN THIS SERIES!!
2 quick things…Phils are trying to become the first ever to repeat without home field advantage in either series.
Anyone ever realize amidst all the post season madness that Charlie gets to manage the all star game again next year? Cool stuff.
In a 5 game series the 7 game 2-3-2 format means the -3- team has the home field advantage. So Phillies had 3 games at home compared to 2 in Tampa Bay in 2008 and we now expect the same in 2009
anybody know the last guy to throw two CG’s in the same postseason?
Jayson Stark’s prognosis on Team of the Decade Honors pending World Series results.
IF THE PHILLIES WIN
1. RED SOX
2. PHILLIES
3. YANKEES
4. CARDINALS
5. ANGELS
IF THE YANKEES WIN
1. YANKEES
2. RED SOX
3. CARDINALS
4. ANGELS
5. PHILLIES
Jaosn, thanks for the Beckett/Schilling stat. and Lee’s postgame presser was great. I don’t think he’s physically capable of sweating, worrying or doing anything other than being awesome!
If the Phillies win, they will have he exact same number of WS appearances and titles. Plus, they will have repeated, which is a special accomplishment in its own right. I don’t necessarily disagree with Stark placing the Sox above the Phills, but that has got to be a razor thin margin.
Along the lines of Pete’s attack on Yankee fan arrogance or approximately that the other day, I will make a prediction on something that will occur on Mike Francessa’s show today. The subject of Cliff Lee being free agent after the 2010 season will come up, and speculation will develop (however briefly) of how good he’d look in a Yankee uniform. Book it.
“The subject of Cliff Lee being free agent after the 2010 season will come up, and speculation will develop (however briefly) of how good he’d look in a Yankee uniform. Book it.”
I agree. the Tankees add by subtracting and stealing from their rivals, ex. Damon and Tex. The Sox screwed up not making the big offer for Tex, could have kept the Yankees out of the playoffs for at least another year and Arod’s #’s wouldn’t be as impressive.
As much as I love the game one – and trust me, I’m going to cry like 3 year old with bad gas when we win this series – I am dreading listening to Mikey Miss pontificate on Yankee arrogance and “expert” predictions on 97.5 today. Nonetheless, I’ll subject myself to it to further entrench my own air of superiority, over Missanelli that is. Baseball presents one with all sorts of personal dilemmas.
the cool demeanour, Iverson-esque attack mode mentality, non-chalant impression and seemingly effortless and dismissive manner of pitching. Yanks were swept off their feet. Initial approach was to take pitches, then they started swinging; neither worked. He just attacks, all you can either get called out or strike out. A-Rod took his hat trick home. Cliff Lee is now my favorite Phillie (sorry Victorino). I’m getting a jersey!
undertested? definitely! well lets see what the Yankees really got.
Most impressive thing about Lee last night were all the swings and misses early on. The Yankees looked lost. At one point he got Jeter to swing at a pitch that had already passed him and was on his back foot. That Spiked Curve is something else.
Again?
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press / October 28, 2009)
CC Sabithia wipes his forehead after giving up a second home run to the Chase Utley to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning.
Gotta love the caption. THE Chase Utley!