MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

[Gyuri]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

Right, 15 years isn't that long (and 4 world series in 28 years is pretty good). It's more the fact that most people over the age of 40 (i.e., most announcers/network producers) are aware of the Phillies as a team that had never won anything, ever, until 1980 and are the team with the most losses in professional sports. As a result, they are thought of as a failure franchise (in a failure sports city), and any data point that can highlight that is played up.

[Reed John]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I was glad it was delayed. I was able to watch the last few innings after the Penn State game.

I imagine Cubs fans must get very angry every time the announcers pointed out that it's been FIFTEEN YEARS since Philadelphia had hosted a World Series game. As if that's a long time in baseball.

[Gyuri]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

The Rollins play was in game 2. The pitcher threw the ball and it hit his uniform but not his body (which counts as a HBP under the rules). However, b/c the ump had a bad angle and Rollins didn't wince in pain (b/c he wasn't) the ump didn't call it.

[Femme Folle]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

Rollins not getting the base even though he was hit by a pitch

How did that happen?

I didn't watch the game because I thought it was rained out. I did stay up late enough, but by the time I realized it wasn't postponed, it was over.

[Gyuri]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

It was a crazy, ridiculous, awesome game. After the terrible missed call in the 7th (Moyer made a great play on a bunt and got the ball to Howard a half a step ahead of the runner, but the ump was behind Howard and called him safe b/c he couldn't see the play) on top of the umpiring screw up in game 2 (Rollins not getting the base even though he was hit by a pitch), I had begun adding to the baseball section of my annual scrapbook of why it sucks to be a Philadelphia sports fan.

However, thanks to some terrible play from otherwise excellent Rays defensive players, and a healthy dose of luck, it all turned out ok last night. Apologies, Spiritual Forces That Control Sports, and all is forgiven (for now).

[Incandenza]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I live on the West Coast, and not even I could stay up late enough to watch the end of the game (yes, in bed on Saturday night at 10pm...that's what a child will do to you).

Sounds like a crazy game. I thought it was going to 7, now I don't think so.

[Dynamo Kev]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

ah.. What an exciting game- now only if I didn't fall asleep in the 8th inning due to one glass too many and the fact that it was 1:30am.. The last thing I remember seeing was Ruiz throwing the ball at Upton- who stole third then scored the tying run.
Good on you Cha'lie.. I, along with 90% of Philly fans, wouldn't have started Moyer last night- and he proved us wrong, again.

A few days ago I was going to write how ironic it would be if dingleberry Manuel was the manager to finally end the drought- considering all the good managers we've had in this town over the past 25 years.. I'm convinced he still doesn't know what a double switch is, nor can he string together a complete sentence in English- but he does know how to handle players and he has the patience of a saint.. If Charlie wins this one- they'll build a statue in his honor. But don't think one championship will soften or shut us up, we'll still call for his head next year..

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

Don't worry D-Kev,

YOU CAN'T DOO EEET !!!

[Dynamo Kev]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

It was always going to be pheast or phamine with the Phillies. Small ball is not understood by these players so there's no use crying about men left on base OR not making contact with 1 out and a man on third OR an 0-10 lead-off hitter who swings for the fence.. What the phuck is this- oh yeah, Philadelphia..

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

Good little game. This is like Euro 08, a quirky boutique shop style of World Series.

[Femme Folle]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

You had it right, JV. The catcher is number 2.

Here's a handy little illustration:

[Incandenza]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

Phillies leave 11 on base, Ryan Howard leaving 4, and still win Game 1.

Both teams have excellent pitching. If the Phils win it all, and Hamels gets another win in the WS, he really deserves to be MVP.

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

3-2 Phils in the 6th.

Bj Upton '08 = Dave Winfield '81.

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

And the Rays strand all 3 with bases loaded on 1 out that ends with a 5-3-2 double play. (Now I need to figure out what # the catcher is.)

Still-two-nil-Phils.

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I guess that's truly the case, because when I saw Giorgio Chinaglia score that penalty against the Atlanta Chiefs, the fate of my heart was sealed. With the Phils, it was "eh."

Not to mention, I got free tickets from Univision at the new Citizens Park Stadium....3rd row behind home plate. It was a f'n rainout.

Phils up 2-0 in the 2nd. Just stranded full bases on a great (uh...what's an outfielder to catcher double play...8-2 double play ?) double play on a catch and tag-up at the plate.

[ursus arctos]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I don't think the Hornby rule applies in baseball.

After all, the first game I ever saw was the Mets and the Dodgers.

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

They were actually the first game I went to live as well, against the Cubs. Somehow the Nick Hornsby rule didn't take effect with me, as I never really lived and died with them.

But they are always such a fun team in the playoffs, and my only hope is like the last time two goofball teams made the final from out of left field, they gave the world the best World Series of all time. So here's to another Twins and Braves between the Phils and Rays.

[Femme Folle]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I agree with Gyuri too, and in fact, I said as much to a colleague yesterday when justifying my support for an NL team (I'm a maverick--reaching across the aisle). Rays fans haven't suffered enough yet. A WS loss would be good for them.

The Phillies were one of the very first teams I ever saw play when I was a kid. My family made a yearly pilgrimage to Houston, ostensibly to visit my mother's sister. I know now that the trip took place not so much because my dad loved to visit his sister-in-law, but because he wanted to go to a baseball game.

I also hope they win for their manager. He lost his mother during the NLCS and I think it would be a really nice way for him to end this chapter in his life. Come on, Phillies, do it for Mrs. Manuel!

[Heliotrope]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I'm hoping the next two weeks will be good for Hawaiians.

[Reed John]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I'm not a Phillies fan (I'm not anti-Phillies either) but I agree with all of that.

[Gyuri]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I'm obviously biased (given that I'm a lifelong Phillies fan and all), but for a neutral, this should be a no-brainer. Sure the Rays are an exciting, young team, but they play for the worst fans in the major leagues (who didn't even fill out the stadium until the end of the season), who have absolutely no history and, frankly, care as much about the Rays winning the World Series as I care about the Philly Soul winning the Arena League (i.e., forget about it five minutes after it happens).

I've lived through this before when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale and the Marlins won the World Series the first time. Those fans didn't deserve a World Series (let alone two) and these don't either.

Now you may say that it doesn't matter about the fans, as the players are great and deserve it. I have no real argument against it except that nearly every decent player on that team is under age 26 and they aren't going anywhere. The Rays will own the AL East (see the mid-part of Posnanski's column for more)for the next few seasons (until the players leave to play for the Yankees and Red Sox), and so will have plenty more chances. Who knows when the Phillies will get another shot.

[jason voorhees]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston



TAMPA, FLA -- "I've said from the beginning that I am a unity candidate," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told eight thousand supporters in Tampa Monday afternoon. "Bringing people together. So when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays, and the Rays showing some love back, you know we’re on to something right here."

Obama was not only standing with a number of Rays, who clinched the American League Pennant last night -- right fielder Jonny Gomes, left fielder Carl Crawford, pitcher Edwin Jackson, designated hitter Cliff Floyd -- he'd been introduced by outfielder Fernando Perez and clutch closer David Price.

"Congratulations to the Rays," Obama continued. "Those are just some wonderful young men, young men and I had a meet their families and they are just outstanding people."

Basically the Rays, and the closer last night (Dave Price,) went to an Obama rally as a celebration today.

And any team that has Dickie V as a fan can't be that bad. Waittaminit....He also likes PUKE !!!

[Reed John]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

Tampa Bay can't win. Those fans don't deserve it. Most of them probably didn't even know their city had a team until a month ago and the fans that have been with them all along need to go through a few heartbreaking near misses before they can fully appreciate winning it all.

[Incandenza]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

I'm torn. I really have no ill will towards either team, and while I generally make it a rule to root against any team from Florida, I like the Rays and their youth.

So it comes down to my personal connections to players:
Evan Longoria - share a first name, he went to my hometown college (Cal State Long Beach), and I've been following him since he played for the Dirtbags (what the CSULB baseball team is called)

Chase Utley - same class at Long Beach Poly High School, and at UCLA. Didn't really know him, didn't have any classes together. Don't like the first name "Chase" all that much, and "Utley" makes me think of Garrick Utley, the old NBC reporter that I remember most from the Gulf War.

It's close, but the Poly/UCLA double play for Chase makes me a Phanatic.

[Gerontophile]

MLB 2008: The Year of Anti-Boston

A BoSox fan, this morning:



That was a fine game, and not just the result. The Rays closer (David Price) looks like he may turn out to be a star, and Matt Garza was brilliant.

Dont really care who wins it all, but I will support the Rays. They have played great all year, and had to beat a tough division, whereas the Phillies were up against the flopping Mets (although I wont mind if the Phillies win).