World Series Game One - Phillies 3, Rays 2

Fightins' steal home field advantage, lead best-of-seven series 1-0

Let's play 20 questions:

(1) When was Twisted Sister hired by the Rays?

During the frustratingly long pre-game show, Kevin Kennedy was really overselling the Rays new attitude, which was, "We're not gonna take it anymore!" This was a good example of the completely pointless information shared with viewers during a completely pointless pre-game show. Poor little Paige just wanted the game to start - and so did I.

(2) Regarding the National Anthem: What the hell was that?

If you didn't see it, count yourself among the lucky ones. If you did, well, seriously, can you tell me - what the hell was that?

(3) After Chase Utley hit his two-run home run, was I the only one who thought Pat Burrell was going to hit a solo shot?

Come on, be honest. I'm sure there were some others somewhere who were instantly reminded of what happened in the sixth inning of Game One of the NLCS. The good news is it came early, the bad news is that Pat struck out.

(4) Which was more confusing - understanding the ground rules or listening to Joe Buck incorrectly explain the ground rules?

To his credit, he did review them again later and got them right.

(5) Why try to score Shane Victorino on Jimmy Rollins' pop fly in the second inning?

First of all, I don't understand why you wouldn't give Jayson Werth, who was on deck, a chance to bat with the bases loaded (and two outs), and, perhaps more importantly, the ball was in shallow center field. No matter who made it, it was a bad decision.

(6) How concerned should I be that I agreed with Tim McCarver's assessment of the "weird" infield alignment when Ryan Howard was batting with Chase Utley at third base and one out in the third inning?

There were three infielders on the right side and they were in. The third baseman was standing practically next to third. Fuck the heck?

(7) Is B.J. Upton slow or lazy?

Clearly I'm being facetious, but I thought Upton was fast. He dogged it down the line when he grounded into a double play in the first inning. He dogged it down the line when he grounded into a double play in the third inning. And then he didn't run down Shane Victorino's single - in fact he didn't even catch it. It just bounced past him. I think mrs. tmmullen summed it up best, "Way to hustle - it's not like it's the World Series or anything. I'm sure you'll be back again." I added, "Yeah, just ask Cal Ripken."

(8) Did Joe Maddon really think that Scott Kazmir "looked good" after giving up three runs in the first four innings?

All things considered, he pitched okay, but he was constantly having to pitch out of trouble. With his pitch count climbing, he came out of the game early. Sure, the bullpen was effective, but how many times will Maddon be able to go to that well before the Phillies start hitting them? My point is that, after listening to Maddon's spin, just for a moment, I thought I was listening to an interview on "Fox & Friends."

(9) How many viewers had strokes when McCarver said, "Pack the bags and the light the lights, curves are coming left and right."?

Seriously, fuck the heck?

(10) How annoyed was Mike Hillman when Buck McCarver talked about "the two countrymen," Carlos Ruiz and Dioner Navarro, who hail from Venezuela?

He was pretty pissed. Probably because, while Navarro is from Venezuela, Ruiz is from Panama.

(11) How sweet was Ryan Howard's catch in the stands of Upton's foul pop?

Yes, he had a couple issues in the field Wednesday night, but that play was sweet. And so was his throw to second after Hamels picked Carlos Pena off first (see question 13).

(12) Did I really see and hear a Brit promoting Mexican food in the United States?

Hey I'm all in favor of a free taco [insert the joke of your choice here], but if I have to listen to Buck McCarver, spare me that transcontinental confusion.

(13) Did you think that was a balk?

Neither did I.

(14) What is with the pitch-trax or Fox-trax or whatever it's called?

That thing is useless. If the strike zone was really as small as that graphic makes it look, games would last six hours and pitchers would walk two batters an inning - at least.

(15) How lost is Ryan Howard?

I still can't decide which at-bat was worse, the one when he swung and missed at the pitch that bounced either on the plate or in front, or the one in the ninth when he struck out looking after they intentionally walked Chase Utley to pitch to him. I need to repeat that: THEY INTENTIONALLY WALKED UTLEY TO PITCH TO HOWARD. If the real Ryan Howard can show up sometime in the next five days, the Phillies will win this at home. If not, it could be a long slog.

(16) Why was Pat Burrell taken out of the game in the seventh inning of a one-run game on the road?

I would have preferred it if Charlie would have put Eric Bruntlett in left field after Chris Coste batted in the eighth inning, moved Burrell to DH, and taken Coste out. I realize this might leave you in a dangerous situation if Ruiz were to get hurt, but it's a risk worth taking - especially if you can keep Pat's bat behind Howard. Ugh.

(17) How enjoyable has it been to watch Ryan Madson evolve into arguably the best set-up man in baseball right before our eyes?

In eight games in the post-season, he has given up only one run on seven hits in 10 innings (0.90 ERA) while striking out seven and walking one. This follows a September (13 games) where he gave up only one run on 12 hits in 14 innings (0.64 ERA) while striking out 17 and walking one. Joe Owens can suck it.

(18) How lost is Jimmy Rollins?

He was 0-5 with two strikeouts and was swinging at pitches above his eyes. He's hitting .214 in the post-season and, let's be honest, it's been an ugly .214. But if the real Jimmy Rollins can show up sometime in the next five days, the Phillies will win this at home. If not, it could be a long slog.

(19) How good is Brad Lidge?

Very good. He made the first two hitters in the ninth look like minor leaguers. He flirted briefly with what a friend of mine calls "Mitch Lidge," but still turned in a perfect ninth. Who knows, he may yet blow a save in the World Series, but it wasn't on Wednesday. And that's that.

(20) How good was that game?

I realize some fans like slugfests - and I don't mind those every once and while. Other fans like it when the Phils blow the other team out, which, obviously, would allow us all to relax a little more later in games. But I do love me a good old-fashioned pitchers' duel. Every single pitch is magnified exponentially - for both teams - as a one run game like this creeps closer and closer to finality. Fortunately, the good guys came out on top Wednesday despite leaving 11 runners on base and going 0-13 with runners in scoring position. That won't get it done in the World Series.

As we wait for Game Two, hopefully the two or three people who visit our little corner of the internets will add their thoughts on the game or the series and - dare I dream? - maybe Mike will make an appearance. Only time will tell.

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Steaming cup of something

There is a fine line between making excuses and offering an explanation. Hopefully, you will see this as the latter. I truly enjoy posting here, but I only do it when I can offer something that is up to my own personal standards. If I were to post just for the sake of posting, you would end up with a steaming pile of something like this from Joe Owens of the Easton Express Times.


As a Phillies fan who has attended games for 39 years, I can't tell you how many times I have seen them clinch the National League East Division championship in person.

Well then let's start with an easy one, were you there last year?


I saw it today.

So did more than 40,000 others. Were you there last year?


By my count, this is the eighth time they have won the division in those four decades. I have been there for World Series victories and I was there the night they clinched the National League pennant in 1993. That was crazy.

Good for you. Were you there last year?


The only year the Phillies won the World Series - 1980 - they clinched the division in Montreal. So, basically, I don't remember being there for a division-clinching game, although it's possible.

First of all - fuck the heck? You don't remember if you were Montreal when Mike Schmidt hit his 48th home run of the season to seal the deal? Wow. I wasn't there, but, and maybe it's just me and it's just because that season was so special and because I was 12 years old, but the call still echoes in my head:

Harry Kalas: Swing and a long drive... Deep left field...

Andy Musser: He buried it! He buried it!

Harry Kalas: Way back... That ball's outta here! Home run Mike Schmidt puts the Phillies up 6-4!

Andy Musser: Whoo!

Harry Kalas: What a drive by Schmidt, unbelieveable, he hit that ball deep to the seats in left field. Mike is clapping his hands, he's shaking hands with all his teammates. What a wild scene here in Montreal!

I got goosebumps typing that. But back to the point - were you there last year or not?


Some observations:

I guess we'll never know. So what was the point of that steaming cup of nonsense? Perhaps a lead-in to this steaming pile of, well, you decide.


It was really cool, even though I purchased my standing-room-only tickets exactly six hours before the game.

I don't need anyone to tell me that being at the game when they clinch the division is "really cool" - but hey thanks. You really earned your money with this post. Plus, who cares when you got your tickets and why the need to say it was "exactly" six hours before the game?


Jamie Moyer is the man. Three months younger than me, the guy is my hero. Six innings, six hits, one run. Say no more.

What kind of sportswriting is this? The only thing that your age tells me is that you were 18 years old in 1980. So you don't remember if you went to Montreal for the Phillies clincher when you were 18? It was October, so maybe you were in college somewhere? Really? Still drawing a blank? Yikes.

Hey, maybe I'm being mean, I wouldn't trust this guy to tell me the time or the weather, let alone his analysis of a sporting event. Although Jamie Moyer was spectacular. Maybe he heard one of the fans standing next to him say that and decided to write it down.


Jimmy Rollins isn't lighting it up at the plate, but the man is a great shortstop.

Whatever.


Temple played a dreadful football game across the street. I believe there were more people in the lower level first-base-side restroom at Citizens Bank Park than watching the Owls at Lincoln Financial Field.

First of all, yuck. What would possess someone to write this? I don't ever want to imagine anyone in a public restroom anywhere. Why not say "there were more people in line for a beer" or "there were more people at Bulls BBQ?" Seriously, that was unecessary and gross. Second of all, why did Temple suddenly appear in an article about the Phillies? Do you have ADD or something?


Abner's cheesesteaks are OK, but I should have gone to Pat's. My bad.

Apparently you do. Nonetheless, while I admit it's been a few years since I've been to Abner's, I love their cheesesteaks and prefer them over the much-hyped competing duo of Pat's and Geno's. Still, it's hard to argue that you shouldn't have gone to Pat's if you don't say why.


Ryan Madson is not dependable. Sorry.

Okay, after a detour to the Owls football game and a cheesesteak break, we're back to game analysis. And you're just wrong. Madson gave up one earned run in 13 appearances (14 innings) in September. That's an 0.64 ERA. He struck out 17 and walked one. One! Can you get any wronger?


Pat Burrell is clueless. Same inning: Trots down to first for a base on balls only to be called back to home because the count is three balls and two strikes. Moments later, he's at second base with one out. His teammate hits a little looper that is tracked down by an infielder. Big Pat is galloping around third and the Nationals flip to second to double off Burrell and end the inning.

Apparently you can. Is this the only game you've seen Pat play this year? Sure, he looked silly during that inning. But it would be hard to find a sample size smaller than that by which to judge any player, let alone Burrell.


Try the American League, Pat. It's less taxing.

Try watching more games you steaming cup of spit. He carried this team (along with Chase Utley) while Ryan Howard was hitting .200. Plus, not resigning him for next season would be a mistake. Get your head out of where steaming piles come from. Oh, wait, like above, maybe he just heard one of the fans near him say it and decided to write that down too. It all makes sense now.


I have no idea where the Phillies are going in this postseason. In fact, I have my doubts. But they are there, in the mix, which was not the case for more than 30 of my suffering seasons with this club.

I have no idea what the point was of this steaming cup of insanity. In fact, I have my doubts that you are even a professional writer. But you are here, on the internets, which I wish wasn't the case because I had to spend more than 30 suffering minutes reading and ranting about your post.


Give 'em a puncher's chance.

Actually, the oddsmakers favor the Phillies to beat the Brewers. Of course, that doesn't mean they will, but it does help me make my case that you are a steaming pile of idiot.

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Fire Tom McCarthy

Three things I thought after watching that fantastic game:

1 - There were many stories (Chris Coste going 4-4 off the bench, Shane Victorino's leadoff triple in the 13th, the bullpen, and Brett Myers' pinch hit at-bat), but the biggest was Jimmy Rollins. It's only two games, but it's nice to have ol' Jimmy-Legs back. If he can play like the 2007 version of Jimmy Rollins for the next five to eight weeks, the Phillies can go deep in the playoffs. If he can't, they may not make the playoffs.

2 - I hate Tom McCarthy. I'm tired of him offering those annoying mid-inning "reports" from the stands that ramble on endlessly while all I really want to do is hear Harry call the game. I've had enough of him encouraging Gary Matthews - who should also be fired - to continue with his mind-numbing comments that we are supposed to think is analysis. I really just want him to shut up. I felt my blood pressure rise when he kept referring to bad outings Scott Schoeneweis has had "here at Shea Stadium." Did he forget he was in Philly? Then I thought I felt blood coming out of my ears when he kept repeating with escalating alarm and certainty that Kyle Kendrick would be unable to start Wednesday's game because he "got all stretched out and warmed up in the bullpen." Yeah, the starting pitcher who averages about 90 pitches a game will be all worn out from that side work that he'll have to skip a start. If he had said that the extra work might limit how long he can go in his start, I would have agreed, but that's not what he said. He said Kendrick wouldn't start Wednesday because he warmed up in the bullpen. If Kendrick doesn't start, I will add an update to this post and publicly apologize to Tom McCarthy, provided that if Kendrick does start, then the Phillies agree to fire Tom McCarthy for making such a stupid comment.

3 - I hate the CW 15 (WLYH). For the second time in the past few weeks, they were not airing the Phillies game. Fortunately, tonight, it was on Channel 249 and, fortunately, that channel is included in my cable subscription. But seriously, fuck the heck CW 15, it's Phillies/Mets... in August... with first place on the line... They should be ashamed of themselves for denying those without access to that obscure channel the opportunity to watch this important game. They should be embarrassed that they haven't bothered to update their "Phillies 2008 Schedule" on their website since April 13th. And they should know that I now plan to make a note of all the local advertisers during the next Phillies broadcast and notify them that I will go out of my way to avoid giving them any of my money - and I'll be sure to tell them why.

Mrs. tmmullen says I should loosen up and just enjoy the fact that the Phillies are in first place. I should listen. She's wicked smart.

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It's Pat!

I never thought Bill Conlin would go Hollywood. After reading this, I'm confident he never will.


The 2008 Phillies are a Hollywood movie set of a baseball team.

Because they have lots of stars? Two MVPs (Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins), a future MVP in Chase Utley, a future Cy Young in Cole Hamels, and a lights-out closer in Brad Lidge?


Cecil B. De Mille [sic] would have been proud of the facade they present.

Okay, nice head fake. Still, he's going with DeMille? Really? Maybe it's because you can get a guy's name wrong when his last picture premiered 50 years ago (that's right, I said 50). Geez, DeMille died almost ten years before I was born - and I'm the old Mike here. Okay, let's just slog along.


What the camera sees is the Roman Forum in all its marble-faced grandeur. Walk behind the set, however, and it is the clever handiwork of skilled carpenters, propped up by timbers, a plywood, styrofoam and plastic edifice that can be broken down in moments and configured into a gracious plantation manor.

Yeah, we get it. He could have just called the 2008 team a Potemkin Village. Sure, it's still a relatively obscure reference, but it would saved us a lot of time and trouble.


General manager Pat Gillick will understand the analogy, even if he does not agree with it.

Plus he's old enough to connect the reference, unlike most of Conlin's readers.


After all, he grew up in Southern California and knows how things work in Hollywood.

Sure, just like if you grow up in Hershey, you automatically know how things work in a chocolate factory.


This team can and should win the East. But it is a one-take team. One major setback and the Phillies are out of film.

Fuck the heck?


The reality of the economic handcuffs slapped on Pat when he was hired to replace Ed Wade by the limited partnership that runs baseball's Comfort Inn has never been any clearer than it was last Thursday. The trade deadline passed and all the Phillies had to show for the month of rumor, conjecture and wild surmise was a sideways move. Gillick acquired Oakland's Joe Blanton in hopes the hulking righthander could become what an expensive bust named Adam Eaton failed to be.

I'm not sure I understand your point [shocker - does hand signal]. Hey, I agree with questioning ownership. But I don't understand the "Comfort Inn" reference and, his last start notwithstanding, I think even the most irascible resident of Negadelphia would agree that Blanton is an upgrade over Eaton.


It was a sidestep worthy of Fred Astaire . . .

For the love . . . Astaire died more than 20 years ago and his last film was more than 30 years ago (although I must admit that I remember him in this and thought he was great). I wonder if Conlin has been exposed to any pop culture since the Phillies won the World Series in 1980.


The reality is, deadline fans, teams moving the Griffeys, Mannys and CCs, high-priced stars nearing their expiration dates, are not looking for "prospects" in the classic sense. What would a Carlos Carrasco, just promoted to Triple A with less-than-stellar Double A numbers, have done for a contender playing in the present tense? Ditto Double A all-stars Lou Marson, the Phils' catcher of the future, and Jason Donald, the Phils' Eric Bruntlett of the future. Both are playing for the U.S. Olympic team.

The sellers giving up future Hall of Famers on career down-ticks want major league-ready prospects who have survived the high-minors crucible. They want them gifted and they want to have those golden years before arbitration and free agency. That left the Phillies with one realistic, tradeable, option from the varsity - Shane Victorino. Fans, you didn't want to see a Phillies outfield next month without him in it. Nor did you want to go into a stretch drive with untested Greg Golson and his high strikeout ratio as your centerfield anchor.

I told you a stopped clock is right twice a day. So while I would have said it more concisely and I might quibble with a detail here or there, I agree with the overall logic of this point.


Pat is a brilliant baseball man who won back-to-back World Series titles in Toronto and revived moribund Baltimore and Seattle. Baseball's Great Oz has done excellent work behind the curtain. He knows talent. And when he has the money and the parts to trade, he knows how to acquire it. But that has not happened here.

Agreed. So why hasn't anyone asked him why? Is there no professional baseball reporter who will ask that question and push for an honest answer?


His masterpieces are Aaron Rowand, Jamie Moyer, Jayson Werth and Brad Lidge.

Nice list. He had foresight to bring Rowand in and the courage to let him leave, and he was right. He thought Moyer still had something to offer, and he was right. He felt if Werth could get healthy, he could contribute, and he was right. He traded for Brad Lidge, and (even though I thought he was wrong) he was right. And let's not forget the he brought us Greg Dobbs, the best pinch-hitter in baseball this year.


But you'll most likely remember Pat for Adam Eaton and Freddy Garcia, for signing Tom Gordon instead of Billy Wagner, and for not re-signing Kyle Lohse and Rowand.

Agree on Eaton, who was signed shortly after Wes Helms, and on Lohse who, credit where credit is due, he brought to Philadelphia in the first place. As for the others:

(1) I'll give him a pass on Garcia. Even if he was duped, which I'm not convinced he was, he brought in Tadahito Iguchi when Utley got hurt and there are whispers that the White Sox did that deal, in part, to make up for the Garcia bust and to ensure the two clubs could still trust each other enough to work together in the future.

(2) I'm not Tom Gordon's biggest fan, but between him and Wagner, I'll take Gordon. At this point in their careers, they aren't as far apart in talent - or durability - as you might think. Plus Gordon doesn't run his mouth like Wagner does. QED.

(3) Sorry, but I have to put letting Rowand go in the plus column. Compare his numbers from last year to this year and ask yourself if he was worth the money. I've got no beef with Aaron, but I say no.


Pat Gillick left Toronto after the 1994 season. In the next 3 years, the Blue Jays were 56 games under .500, including 56-88 in 1995, just 2 years after a world championship. Pat Gillick took the revived Orioles to the postseason, but left when his contract expired in 1998. In the next three seasons, the O's were 55 games under .500. Pat Gillick's 2001 Mariners juggernaut won a record-tying 116 regular-season games, despite trading away superstars like Ken Griffey Jr. He left his GM position after the 2003 season and stayed on as a special adviser. In the three seasons after he stepped down, the Mariners were a staggering 66 games under .500.

Yikes. Those declines were both swift and significant. I was not aware of those numbers and I'm now officially a little worried about next year. I guess what Conlin is saying is that, despite being financially hamstrung by the owners, Pat has done as good a job with this team as he has with the previous clubs.


Sounds about right for teams put together like a Hollywood movie set.

What? He's blaming Pat for what happened to teams after he left? That's insane. That would be like the Bush Administration blaming the Clinton Administration for the projected 2009 federal budget deficit. But that couldn't actually happen, could it?


Cut . . . Print . . . And, tell the set carpenters to start hammering. Cecil B. Gillick will be shooting on location back in Seattle next spring.

At least he ended as incoherently as he began. He certainly gets my Oscar vote.

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They Boo Horses, Don't They?

It was originally my intention to take a pass on the situation with Jimmy Rollins calling Philadelphia fans "front-runners" (clearly, they're not, although perhaps fickle might have been a more accurate word). The whole thing has been covered ad nauseam and we're probably the only Phillies blog (applied loosely at the moment given the lack of attention over the past few months) that hasn't weighed in on it yet. But after reading his attempt to clarify his comments, I had to get in the game.

Speaking to local reporters yesterday in the wake of the heavily circulated video clip in which he expressed some discontent with Philadelphia sports fans, Rollins said he was simply sticking up for some of his teammates who have been booed mercilessly this season.

But that wasn't the question. The question was, essentially, are Philadelphia fans as bad as the media makes them out to be? Both Rollins and Ryan Howard responded, almost in unison, "they can be." And that should have been the end of it, because, let's face it, they can be. But Rollins didn't stop there and, well, you know the rest. Now back to his clarification.

"A lot of times, fans worldwide in general, they say, well, you are making all this money, you are supposed to [take it], or I paid to come to the game so I can let you know anything and say anything I want," Rollins said.

True. He may not like it, but it's true. I may not boo, but it's true.

"Well, I have kids, I've got a wife, I've got mom and dad. Before I was a ballplayer I was a person and I am a person the same way you are. So you say something as a person, forget the uniform, as a person I could say something back. But because of the uniform, I [the fans] can say anything I want to you, and that's your armor, that's your shield. It's just not true. Not at all."

Hold on Jimmy. Now you're talking about something completely different than booing. In fact, I agree with you here in that fans shouldn't say anything they want. There should be some boundaries. But there aren't. Which is why I won't take my daughter to Mets games - I don't want her to have to listen to all the nonsense - often profane - coming from the jerks around us.

Though Rollins attempted to clarify what he meant by the word "front-runners," saying he wasn't calling Philadelphia a city of fair-weather fans,

Yeah, he dropped the ball on that one, figuratively. And, no doubt, fans somewhere booed.

he also didn't back down from his stance that the populace takes its negativity toward individual players too far.

I realize "populace" is the writer's word and not J-Roll's, but herein lies the problem. You can't paint an entire fan base with a one broad brush. While some fans were relentlessly hounding Pat Burrell over the past few years, there were others like me who calmly and rationally defended him. As for Pat, he kept his mouth shut and played baseball. Maybe there's a lesson there for Jimmy-Legs.

"It's not me, it's booing the guy who is out there working hard and busting his butt," Rollins said. "That's when I really get upset. I've always said that. Whatever you want to do against me, I can deal with myself. And I'm sure he could deal with it, too. But that's my teammate. I know the work he is putting in, I see what he is doing, trying to get better, and you are crushing him. That's what makes me upset."

So doc, I've got this friend who has this rash - it's not me! - but my friend, yeah, my friend... and... well... it's really irritating, and it's not getting any better, and he's not sure what to do. What advice would you give him?

Rollins acknowledged the fact that Philadelphia is a city that hasn't seen much athletic success in recent years, and that some of the frustration may lie in the one World Series title the Phillies have won in their history. But he also said current players shouldn't be targets for the frustrations of years past.

Buckle up, this is my favorite part.

"I've been around 8 [years]," said Rollins, who added that he is happy playing for the Phillies and isn't looking to leave. "In the 8 years, we've been getting closer and closer."

No! You haven't! Don't believe me? Read this. [And on an unrelated note, is there a reason the writer wrote "8" instead of "eight" like you're supposed to?]

"Last year we finally got over one obstacle and we are still working to get over another one. And it's our fault as players for saying, well, we understand why, because of this. You know what, let them get over it. You weren't even born yet. Some of you were just born in 1980. That's like saying, well, the Oakland A's haven't won since '90-something, and I was an A's fan growing up. If we're not in it, that's still my hometown team. I never want them to win as long as I'm playing, don't get me wrong, but take the team that you have and push them to be better. Don't take Black Friday - I just found that out - don't take Black Friday and put it on these new guys. Half of them don't even know it. I didn't know it until 15 minutes ago, 20 minutes ago. Black Friday, I was like, is that like Palm Sunday?"

Fuck the heck? Jimmy, just stop talking.

"You know about the history of the team, don't get me wrong, but when you are there, you are trying to change that for that time period. My tenure here, were we successful? That's all you can control."

But you haven't been Jimmy - and that's why they're booing. Or at least why some of them are. If there is any good news to take out of this situation, it's that many Phillies fans (not all, so put away that broad brush mr. tmmullen!) are fickle. That means when Jimmy wins a game with his bat or his feet or his glove, with open arms he will again feel the embrace of the City of Brotherly Love.

So Jimmy, just shut up and play.

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