Commentary: How’s Your Pulse?
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, October 15, 2008 02:26 PM | Comments: 44
Posts
Nervous? A little. Excited? Sure.
I’ll be honest, I think I’m tapped dry.
Right now, with six hours to go before first pitch, I’m tapped. Got nothing much to write. Could write about how one of the big boys needs to step up tonight, or how the bullpen needs to be close to flawless, or how Charlie Manuel’s managing his been a mixed bag this postseason. Could. But won’t. It just isn’t coming.
Instead I’ll tell you I’m nervous and excited. I think the Phils should and will win tonight. Cole Hamels is good for it — this is the game he wanted to pitch. Nobody else should be on that mound for the first inning of a pennant-clinching game. And I’m confident in the back end of the bullpen that they can finish the deed.
I’m mostly confident in the offense to put up a few runs. Part of me thinks one of the big boys (I’m looking at you, Ryan) will crush a ball that practically gives the Phils the pennant, a la Wilbert Montgomery’s dash in 1981. I can see Howard taking Billingsley into the Chavez Ravine sky. But as much as I want to just shout out that it will happen …
With the Dodgers I see a beatable, but fragile team. Fragile as in — if you don’t handle them well, they could explode. The Phils have to remain focused and formal — no need to get heated, no need to do too much. Just play the game they’ve always played, the game that has won them 98 games already.
Really, if the Phils play their game and don’t make mistakes, they win tonight, they celebrate, they go home, they tune up, they await a flight to Boston or Tampa. That’s it.
Of course, they play baseball games not for that reason, not to prove prediction, but to display talent, emotion, luck and skill. The Phils have had control of all four things throughout this postseason; one more game, and they’ll prove to everyone they have what it takes to win the whole thing.
So I’m nervous. I’m excited. I’m trembling. I’m chattering. I want 8:22 to come now. And then I want midnight to come right afterward. Sure, I’d love to peek at the result, to know what’s coming … but they have to play the game, right? And all they have to do … is play their game.
Posts: 0 dan
Tim, never stop writing
Posted: 02:28 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 BrewTownPhilsPhan
Oh boy, does that post say it all!
Exactly how I’ve felt all day.
Posted: 02:30 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Tim.. you got some ink in the METRO today too.. didn’t know if you saw it or not, page 36…”from the blogs”
Here is what I posted this morning, partly to get people on board, but more so because I really think we win it tonight..
…
Honestly… I think the Phillies jump all over Chad LONG BALL Billingsley and get him out by the 4th… they then bring in Maddux, who surrenders back-to-back shots by Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz..
Hamels goes a full 7, giving up maybe 2-3 runs, but the Phillies win this game something like 9-3..
Dodgers are going to be playing tight.. trying to win 3 games over the span of these next 9 innings, and Hamels is going to get like 8 Ks and 2-3 Double-Play balls in big spots tonight.
He is the ACE of the staff, and carries us to the World Series tonight.
Posted: 02:33 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Matt S
Well said Tim, Well said…
Posted: 02:47 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Fran
i have a calc test at 6pm. Its so hard studying for that right now when i got the phillies on my mind
Posted: 02:47 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob Cowie
My heart is racing and I already have a prior heart condition. I may be watching this game at Frankford-Torresdale tonight
Posted: 02:48 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
Nervous? Check. Anxious? Check. Excited? Check. Absoulutely positively PUMPED UP! HELL YES! LETS DO THIS PHILS!!!!
Posted: 02:50 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
This is how I felt in 1980. Not in 1993, not the same feeling. But it just feels like 1980 all over again, which I’m thinkin’ is a good thing.
Posted: 02:53 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 JimK
Hey, Frankford-Torresdale has those nice private rooms too.
Could be like a hotel stay
Posted: 02:57 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 JimK
I’ll be enjoying it from my apartment in Warminster…
With my two room mates that hate baseball. Too bad for them.
Posted: 02:59 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben Seal
This is the first time in all my years watching Philadelphia sports that I’ve felt confidence in my team’s ability to win the big game. This team’s attitude from one night to the next never falters, and it is the reason they have put themselves in this position. They have everything it takes to win the World Series, but the first step is tonight. I can’t imagine they lose Hamels’ start tonight, but if somehow they do, there isn’t a chance that Myers loses Friday in front of the home crowd. I wish I was home in Philly right now to take in the atmosphere, because when our city gets behind a team the way it has with the Phils the past two years, it’s a beautiful thing. Let’s wrap it up tonight so we can all make travel plans to Tampa. GO PHILS!
Posted: 03:07 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I’ll be watching from the POPE in South Philly with my buds.
Posted: 03:15 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I live in West Philly which is more of a Sixers/Eagles spot in the city, so I want to go back to South Philly so I can celebrate in the streets for a few hours. I hope people will party in the streets. It will rule.
Posted: 03:16 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Phils2611
Mannn… I was trying to be productive and finish out my work day when I see this…
You’ve all summarized my feelings exactly, and I cannot wait to see the game tonight. I have this really strong feeling that tonight’s game will be a blow out in favor of the Phillies.
As soon as we get a hit in the 1st inning, that crowd is going to silence. They will be expecting a “lights out” performance to get by. Hamels will be on, Dodgers will be jumpy. I see a lot of K’s and 0′s for the Dodgers tonight :-)
Posted: 03:16 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
I’m so ready for this game!
It’s times like this that I am glad games start here on the West Coast at 5:00 instead of 8:00. I’d go nuts waiting an extra 3 hours for first pitch.
But with that said, if the Phils get it done tonight, I’ll probably be so amped up that I won’t be able to go to bed until midnight or so.
Posted: 03:24 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
Phil, did you get my e-mail?
Posted: 03:24 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Russ
I agree with Georgie. This is how I felt in 1980. There’s something about em this time.
Posted: 03:25 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
My pulse always gets a tad faster when Hamels is pitching….lol Definately looking forward to the game tonight!
Couldn’t believe reading that previous thread about the cheap tix available. Amazing…
Posted: 03:28 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Eb
I can not concentrate at work what so ever, with this game hanging overhead.
Posted: 03:32 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
I don’t think I’ve ever been more confident in a pitcher (Hamels) to win a big game before. Mix that with the great things the bullpen is doing and I’m feeling overly confident – which scares me. Setting myself up for a huge letdown.
Posted: 03:33 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
PhillyGirl, methinks your pulse is racing for reasons other than his pitching ability, isn’t he your #1 pilf?
Posted: 03:35 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 tito
Phuck Philly
Posted: 03:42 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
What ya mean, Georgie? I, uh..yeah…do highly respect his pitching ability!!! ;) He’s a #1 kinda guy.
Posted: 03:43 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 T Marty
do i start drinking, that’ll calm my nerves, but it’s a little early. have to make into the AM. feel confident in the Phils, but i wouldn’t be a fan if i wasn’t still a bundle of nerves.
Posted: 03:46 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
nobody mess with tito … she’ll cut-you mang!
Posted: 03:47 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
Tickets are now just $8 for tonight. Man I wish I was in LA.
Posted: 03:48 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Phils2611
T Marty… When I get home at 5:00, I’m breaking out the beer…
It’s me and my TV at 8:22pm, I will not be missing a pitch :-) My apartment complex probably hates me by now. I live in Maryland and scream every time something big happens lol.
Posted: 03:53 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
I couldn’t ever see the last place Tigers for $8… Guess there’s just too many other things to do in LA then see a NLCS game…
Posted: 03:53 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 NYCBK
Philly is the biggest sh!thole in America I swear all you losers just wait till the AL crushes you and you go home cryin again ….same old story for the armpit of our country…then go to the Eagles and cry some more…when you have to rely on jimmy rollins ryan howard and donovan mcnabb u kno u aint winnin sh!t….catch my drift? YOU THE MAN TITO
Posted: 03:58 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 T Marty
Yeah, me too. crackin’ open a cold one or two, three, four, etc.. while i know my neighbors are Phillies fans, they’re old, so i do feel a lil’ bad when i scream clap and shout past midnight, well, it’s not my fault, the games should be on earlier.
Posted: 03:59 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
PhillyGirl, yes, indeedy, Cole is a #1 kinda guy.
Posted: 04:01 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Just looking at a picture posted about the 93 phillies. I can’t believe some of the names on that team. that I can’t recall. Must be old age, but paul fletcher who the hell was he. Don M one of the things you said today about Blanton reflex what I meant . CC And Harden were better pitchers but Blanton has done better than eaton could is true . I don’t believe we could have put together any minor league package to get CC. Harden we could have had we had more to offer.my thinking was and still is if and when we get to the series Hamels and harden are better than what we have now. Carrasco is not the great prospect people think. There is a lot of scouts who think he is know better than a 4-5 starter.if marson would have closed the deal do it. The phillies right now have 4 catchers who can project to hit better than ruiz, Valle. Naughton, D’Araud, Jaramillo.But when you said he has done better than eaton there is a post that says I agree he outpitch CC and Harden that is not true.
Posted: 04:11 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
PROJECTIONS – SCHMAJECTIONS…
thats why this stuff is so hard to develop a definite answer on.. because the same people that were mad about giving up Cardanes and Outman to improve now with Blanton, because they are top-prospects.. also should have that same feeling about the good thinking it was to keep Carrasco and Marson, and Donald, and whoever else..
My whole take is that the areas we need the most help… Starting Pitching depth (if Blanton, Moyer, Happ, Carrasco, etc.. are battling for the back-end rotation spots) we’ll be pretty good.. and that is without them acquiring anyone.
What the did with Blanton was improve right NOW.. and still keep the prosepcts that we think were the closest to being able to contribute to our team either next year or in 2010.
Harden would have been nice.. but Blanton outpitched him head-to-head in Chicago.. which I watched in person.. and Harden missed numerous starts towards the end of the season.. while Blanton wasn’t anything close to an ACE, but we didn’t lose when he pitched (like Lohse last year).
Sabathia is a STUD.. but if you have just as good a chance to get him as a Free Agent.. why give up your farm and then run that risk of losing him too.. when if you just wait a half a season, you can get him for just money..
I don’t know why I like it so much, but there are so many sides to every arguement about strategy and planning in baseball.. what a great sport! and it just makes it that much better when the Phillies saved their best baseball for the end of the season again!!!
Posted: 04:27 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
also.. I know that tito would have responded to these post.. but he-or-she was having a BBQ, and all the beans fell through the grill… so once that gets cleaned up, we’ll get a response I’m sure
Posted: 04:31 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Keith
I’m so excited for this game, I have a midterm at 6:40-8, so I can’t wait to take that and see the Phillies win!
Go Phillies! :D
Posted: 04:41 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Because you have a better chance to win with CC. Plus two first round picks if you don’t sign him. If you draft well could replace what you lost. That’s why Milk. did the trade they draft well and they get two good players when CC. leaves.
Posted: 04:43 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Don M one of the things I believe is next year . We will have another eaton. Hopefully the phillies only reup blanton for next year. He is arbitration eligible. No three year deals. let him prove most of us wrong and pitch well enough to warrant a new deal. what scare me about him is he is only 88-89 pitching inside that bad. He has to have pinpoint control to win
Posted: 04:46 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 04:46 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
MOST, MOST, MOST 1st round draft picks never even sniff the Big Leagues… the Baseball draft is so much different than any other sport, because they draft purely on potential..
Posted: 04:57 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Lavelle
The Big Mo has shifted into the Phils’ corner.
Knock-out punches are gonna get thrown all night by the meat of the line-up, not that they’ll necessarily connect on all of them.
If some conspiracy theorists are right, Howard looks for the biggest stage and most crucial times to increase his arbitration position. Look for it tonight.
Posted: 05:10 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Right but for some reason milk. Does it better than most right now they have ten top B.A. rated choices at double a. And they are going to load up losing C.C,and sheets. The only point is you get back something for a rental player. It’s up to you to draft well to take advantage that’s my point.
Posted: 05:16 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
I’m really nervous about this game. We need to score runs, Hamels will not win by himself… And Billingsley will probably NOT suck as he did in his last start. A loss today could seriously hurt us.
Posted: 05:35 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
I hear ya Manny. I think it’s gonna be tight. But………………the Phillies WILL prevail. Yeah, someone said they saw Ryan having a big night. I see that, too. He’s like way overdue. Heading home now. Enjoy the game and (hopefully) the result everyone. GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 07:26 PM on October 15, 2008
Posts: 0 scot
I ran 7 miles immediately after work today, i’ve paced at least another 7 around my apartment since i’ve gotten home. By the first pitch I may have a marathon under my belt. Come on Phils.
Posted: 08:02 PM on October 15, 2008