Sharp on mound and at the plate, Blanton puts Phillies up 3-1
I don't know about you, but I'd call that a slugfest, even if Tampa Bay didn't join the party. So the only thing left to do is for Cole Hamels to go out and clinch this thing at home. The Phillies will have their World Championship and I will have pulled off one hell of a trifecta, prediction-wise.
But first we wait, which won't be easy. In fact, I'm sure the only reason I'll be able to fall asleep tonight is because I'm still so tired from staying up for Game Three. And speaking of exhaustion, as much as I would love to spend some time nitpicking Buck McCarver and the Fox Traveling Circus, I'm not going to do that. I'm going to bed. Monday is shaping up to be a pretty big day.
But before I do, I thought you might appreciate some haikus inspired by tonight's game. Enjoy:
---
He of dirty hat
Whether with one arm or two
Blanton is the man
---
Dearest Jimmy-legs
Crack crack crack and run run run
When you score we win
---
One, two, three runs home
When Ryan swings mighty bat
Oh! Oppo poppo
---
Huh? No hits, two runs
Worry not for Utley, still
Quite a strange boxscore
---
Big blow by Jayson
So welcome to the party
Could you stay a while?
---
Ryan in the eighth
Still holding mighty bat - oops!
He did it again
---
Say it ain't so Pat
Will he stay, will he go, or
Will he get a hit?
---
Steely-eyed is he
Our Hamels will take the ball
One more win to go
---
Showing posts with label predictions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label predictions. Show all posts
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hope is not analysis
For those three or four people who visit our little corner of the internets, I promise to share some stories and some thoughts on the NLCS in the next few days. I've been busy the past week or so enjoying the first two games in Philadelphia, attending mrs. tmmullen's high school reunion, and battling some ill-health. Please accept my sincere apologies.
And since I'm here, well, it worked once, so I'll try it again:
Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 5-2 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Rays.
---
And since I'm here, well, it worked once, so I'll try it again:
Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 5-2 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Rays.
---
Sunday, October 5, 2008
NLDS Game Three - Brewers 4, Phillies 1
Blanton set to start game four
That was tough to watch.
Something I may not have ever mentioned here is that I am a certified PIAA basketball official. I share this with you for two reasons. First, I will be at Kutztown University all day today for the second day of a two-day officials clinic, which means I will not be able to watch Game Four [I literally arrived home from day one of the clinic just in time to see the first pitch on Saturday].
More importantly, it gives me some credibility when I say that the most important thing that players, coaches, and managers want from officials and umpires is for them to be consistent. If it's a foul in the first quarter, it needs to be a foul in the fourth. Or, in this case, if it's a strike to one hitter, it needs to be a strike to another hitter.
I think there are few people who would disagree that the home plate umpire was inconsistent last night - and it killed Jamie Moyer. Some might argue that Jamie needs an umpire who will give him a little off that plate and I will admit that certainly helps him. But what is more important for him is to find that spot that the umpire will call a strike and keep pounding it in there until the hitter has to swing at it. Moyer couldn't do that on Saturday because the umpire was inconsistent.
In one at-bat in the second inning I watched Moyer throw four straight pitches in virtually the exact spot after which the count was 2-2. I said to mrs. tmmullen, "This is not going to be good." Unfortunately, it wasn't.
The good news is that the Phillies hitters will face Jeff Suppan today. He is 0-2 in his last three starts with an ERA north of 10.00. Even better, in their careers, the Phillies are hitting .307 as a team against him with good numbers from Utley (.474), Burrell (.429), Rollins (.333), and Howard (.300) - the four guys who need to start hitting right now (although Howard looked good last night).
The Phils counter with Joe Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts. Milwaukee hitters, as a team, have only had 40 plate appearances against him, so, despite their .297 average, that could work in his favor.
There you have it. I'm off to Kutztown and I'll hear the good news - or the bad news - on the radio on the way home. Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 6-3 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Dodgers.
---
That was tough to watch.
Something I may not have ever mentioned here is that I am a certified PIAA basketball official. I share this with you for two reasons. First, I will be at Kutztown University all day today for the second day of a two-day officials clinic, which means I will not be able to watch Game Four [I literally arrived home from day one of the clinic just in time to see the first pitch on Saturday].
More importantly, it gives me some credibility when I say that the most important thing that players, coaches, and managers want from officials and umpires is for them to be consistent. If it's a foul in the first quarter, it needs to be a foul in the fourth. Or, in this case, if it's a strike to one hitter, it needs to be a strike to another hitter.
I think there are few people who would disagree that the home plate umpire was inconsistent last night - and it killed Jamie Moyer. Some might argue that Jamie needs an umpire who will give him a little off that plate and I will admit that certainly helps him. But what is more important for him is to find that spot that the umpire will call a strike and keep pounding it in there until the hitter has to swing at it. Moyer couldn't do that on Saturday because the umpire was inconsistent.
In one at-bat in the second inning I watched Moyer throw four straight pitches in virtually the exact spot after which the count was 2-2. I said to mrs. tmmullen, "This is not going to be good." Unfortunately, it wasn't.
The good news is that the Phillies hitters will face Jeff Suppan today. He is 0-2 in his last three starts with an ERA north of 10.00. Even better, in their careers, the Phillies are hitting .307 as a team against him with good numbers from Utley (.474), Burrell (.429), Rollins (.333), and Howard (.300) - the four guys who need to start hitting right now (although Howard looked good last night).
The Phils counter with Joe Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts. Milwaukee hitters, as a team, have only had 40 plate appearances against him, so, despite their .297 average, that could work in his favor.
There you have it. I'm off to Kutztown and I'll hear the good news - or the bad news - on the radio on the way home. Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 6-3 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Dodgers.
---
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Stark on Phillies vs. Mets
Jayson Stark at ESPN.com has a worthwhile look at who will win the NL East in 2008.
Also, the Pedro Feliz deal is now official; no word on who is getting the boot from the 40-man roster (though Mr. Mandel strongly suggests it will be Wes Helms).
Also, the Pedro Feliz deal is now official; no word on who is getting the boot from the 40-man roster (though Mr. Mandel strongly suggests it will be Wes Helms).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)