Commentary: In Crazy Times, Pragmatism Prevails
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, October 28, 2008 09:01 AM | Comments: 115
Posts
This morning I wrestled with myself …
My emotional side found the rain delay and game suspension to be exactly the event that occurs against Philadelphia. The 1977 rain that played its part in finishing the Phils against the Dodgers. The Fog Bowl. Etc. Etc.
I thought, “That’s it. This is the moment we look at for years. We had a 3-1 lead, the rain came, it slowed everything down, we lost.”
I thought that the Rays now had momentum, seemed chipper and carefree about the whole charade. And Joe Maddon spoke to the media, while Charlie Manuel refused. Phils players in the locker room cursed Bud Selig. They’re unfocused, I thought. This sucks.
Then my pragmatic side stepped in, and told me that’s utter nonsense. They’ll be focused when they have to play, I thought. And this team is not 1977, or the Fog Bowl Eagles, or whatever. We’ve seen all season that this team gets the job done when they need to.
The Phillies have been in hairy situations before, and while this situation seems the most absurd of them all, it won’t deter the team from doing its deed.
Here’s what we know, for sure: The Phillies and Rays are tied in the bottom of the sixth. Cole Hamels is out of the game (though I don’t know how much longer he would’ve had anyway). The Phils need to score one run in the next 12 outs, while preventing the Rays from scoring one run in their next nine.
We also know the Phillies bullpen has been tremendous all season and postseason. And we can expect a combination of Chad Durbin/Scott Eyre/JC Romero/Ryan Madson/Brad Lidge to get the final outs.
We also know the Rays have Grant Balfour pitching, but can bring in anyone, including David Price. But we know the Phils have hit the Rays bullpen so far, including Price.
Look, things may seem bleak and confusing now. That’s nature. That’s how we’re conditioned to act. But when it gets down to it, the Phils are at the advantage. They have more chances to hit. They have the home field. They can shake off the pressure and play their game as well as possible. So what that Hamels is out? One man does not a 25-man roster make. And if any team has proved it this season, it’s the Phillies.
Let the Rays have their 9=8 philosophy. I got one for us: 3=W. For the next three full innings, play the best damn baseball you can, and you will win. And then we can celebrate the world championship. And I know we will.
Posts: 0 BrewTownPhilsPhan
Tim, I mean this in the most manly way possible:
I love you, man!
Posted: 09:13 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 bigmyc
Hey, bravo, Tim. Bravo.
Great posting…it nicely sums it all up. I feel better already. It’s not this team that I worry about, it’s the crazy circumstances that we have to face as a sports town be it super hot goalies in tournament time, cheating signal stealing Football dynasties, Pea soup thick Lake Michigan fog, Joe Carter and now THIS little fit from Mother Nature….
But I agree, if there is a team that can man up over it, it would be these guys.
Posted: 09:14 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Dave
Tim, this is why your blog is great.
I have absolute faith that the Phillies will win the rest of this game. There’s no doubt in my mind.
I just feel it is beyond ridiculous that they went out for the sixth inning in the first place. They allowed Tampa to tie the game without giving the Phillies the same opportunity in the bottom of the inning.
If Selig was going to put it in a perpetual rain-delay, then why start the 6th at all?
Posted: 09:23 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
MLB was rooting for the Rays just so they could delay the game. As long as the Phils were winning they were going to keep playing. I’m worried about david price pitching 4 or 5 innings (he’ll be on 4 days rest).
Are they even going to get the game in tonight in Philly? How’s the weather?
Posted: 09:24 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Craig
Weather.com say’s there’ll be rain this all day today.
wohoo
Posted: 09:25 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
If it gets rained out today and god forbid this series goes to a game 7, we would then have Hamels starting on a full 4 days rest Saturday night right?
Posted: 09:29 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
Nice post.
The Phils have an extra 3 outs to get one more run than the Rays.
It’s not a lost cause at all.
However, that was very frustrating last night.
Posted: 09:29 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike N
Wouldn’t surprise me if we see only Madson and Lidge. Maybe Romero if there’s a lefty up in the eighth.
Posted: 09:44 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 MikeJG529
Everybody should be available to pitch except for Hamels. 9 outs is all we need. No saving Myers for game 6, we need to go for the jugular now. We’ve shown we can manufacture runs. The Rays had to sleep in Delaware last night, hopefully badly. It will happen tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNoDqfBlwV8
Posted: 09:44 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Everyone just needs to take a collective hugh breath and just realize that this game and series WILL be won HERE!!!!
Btw…….Tim………Can YOU run for President?
Posted: 09:46 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
NEPA,
I think you might be right. If the game rains out today, and is finished tomorrow, I guess it’s possible Hamels could pitch a game 7 on 4 days rest. Not sure if Charlie would do that though.
Posted: 09:47 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
You know what? I really hope we don’t play today. I’m way too upset right now to see this game. I bet our players could use the day off to channel their energies and go out full force tomorrow.
Posted: 09:50 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chase Mutley
I took off work today. It’s funny that I would have dragged myself in if they won, even if they lost. I just feel completely deflated today. Lets hope that remainder of the game gets postponed until Wednesday because if the players are feeling a quarter of what I am, they’ll need today to simmer down.
Posted: 09:51 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Paul/NEPA…..I was think the same thing about Hamels in a potential Game 7. How many pitches did he have last night? I think it was relatively low. But……seriously……it’s NOT gonna go 7………NOT even 6. We win it HERE!!
Posted: 09:52 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg V.
I would have taken a win or a loss better than I’m taking this! This is absolutely horrible!
Posted: 09:52 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
When it was 2-1 I was definitely thinking to myself that 2 runs is not going to win this game. So in my opinion the game is exactly where it should be. They have an extra 3 outs on the Rays. If anything that at least means someone’s gonna get 2 ABs. We all know the game wasn’t going to be shortened no matter what. So the Phillies find themselves in a situation they’ve been in a lot this year. Close game late and one of the best bullpens in baseball. AND they can still get Hamels the win. Go Phillies!!!
Posted: 09:54 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Chuck, it doesn’t matter how many pitches he had last night. He would be on full rest.
Posted: 09:54 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Yeah, I hope it’s tomorrow. I need some sleep tonight anyway as I’m sure the players do. Weather looks real bad. Just talked to a buddy who said it’s snowing in Willow Grove. Jesus!!
Posted: 09:54 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
NEPA…if he pitches Friday it’s short rest. The only way it would be full is if Game 7 was played on Sat.
Posted: 09:55 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Joe Green
Current weather.com forecast – at 8pm ET tonight – 50% chance of showers – 41 degrees – feels like 31 degrees – wind from WNW @ 25 mph.
Would Bud Selig dare to move on to games 6 and 7 in Tampa Bay and play the rest of this game 5 if necessary in Philadelphia on Saturday?
Posted: 09:55 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NC Jason
Hamels was around 71 pitches last night
Posted: 09:56 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Agreed. I am not ready to watch this game tonight. Let the weather settle down and play it Wednesday, or even Thursday if you have to. Make the Rays hang out in the North as long as possible and get Hamels rested in case we need him. Haha, I also think there’s a part of me that just doesn’t want this season to end. It’s been quite a ride.
Posted: 09:57 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
It’s been snowing pretty steadily for about 3 hours up here in Chalfont, just north of Willow Grove. Another incentive to win this thing at home, Bud Selig handing that trophy over, when they announce him at CBP, he is going to get killed! 9 outs and 1 run fromt the title! GO PHILS!
Posted: 09:57 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NC Jason
Has MLB come out and said that game 7 would be on Saturday?
Posted: 09:58 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Yea Chuck, that’s what we were talking about. If today is rained out and we play the remainder of game 5 tomorrow, then we’re assuming Game 6 and 7 would be Friday and Saturday.
Posted: 09:58 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Ben….think about this too. If the game were to to resume in the top 6th with a 2-1 lead, who’s to say the Rays wouldn’t score MORE than one run. Cole did a GREAT job only allowing one run in that inning…..basically w/o his change up either!!
Posted: 09:59 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
NEPA….Iwas under the impression that there would be no day off…meaning that Wed we finish this game……Game 6 Thurs and Game 7 Fri. Have you heard differently?
Posted: 10:00 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Joe Green
Reasons for my theory is that Saturday’s forecast is pretty good and Bud is good for doing the unpredictable.
Posted: 10:01 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NC Jason
There is no guarantee that Saturday would be game 7 – it could be Friday. So I think we all need to root for the rain and hope that everything is pushed back to get Hamels a start in game 7 – IF NEEDED
Posted: 10:02 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Joe….No way that scenario happens…….Even Selig isn’t THAT stupid (at least I hope not)
Posted: 10:02 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Brian
I don’t see them playing tonight. I really hope they don’t. If we’re delayed till Wednesday, Hamels will/should be available for a game 7. He only threw 75 pitches last night.
If this game was going into a never ending delay it should have been stopped long before it was. IMHO it wasn’t ever going to be stopped if either team had a lead.
Posted: 10:02 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NC Jason
Chuck ~ MLB has not come out with a definite schedule. Here is a link discussing it.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081028&content_id=3650025&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi
Posted: 10:03 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
No, I thought that they always gave a day off for traveling. I really don’t know how these type of things are handled.
Posted: 10:04 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 98Rays
“MLB rooting for the Rays” what a joke! The fix was in, both Buck and McCarver saw the strikes Kazmir threw called balls, Hamels just has to get close and it’s a strike. The Mo Mo is gone for the Sillies. Look at history Bird fans, any Florida team ever to make the post season has won it all. Pack your bags for Game 7 it’s a lock!
RAYS WIN! RAYS WIN! RAYS WIN!
Posted: 10:04 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Dennis
Enough with the lets hope Hamels is available for Game 7 talk! Let’s win at home whenever the hell they decide to play again, we have to win a 3 and half inning game where we get the extra at bat….
Posted: 10:06 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Oh my….the idiot trolls are back
Posted: 10:07 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
The term “Murphy’s Law” must have been coined by a Philly sports fan.
Posted: 10:11 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
I’m glad someone out there is positive. I just have this sinking “Bartman” feeling in my gut.
The right thing to do is to go ahead and plan the last 3 games out so that the fans, caoches, and players can lay out their plan. To keep dragging their feet and holding out hoping to play tonight is as stupid as playing last night.
Go ahead and plan for Game 5 on Wed, Game 6 on Fri and Game 7 on Saturday. I think that is the smart thing to do, but as we know……that doesnt always happen. Whatever Fox wants Fox gets.
Posted: 10:12 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Pat
98Rays, I’ve been watching the game’s on TV and on the MSN feed. I’d agree with you about the strike zone, but I have yet to see it adjusted for any batter or any pitch. How could you say that Burrell or Howard’s zone is the same as Vic’s or Rollins? A pitch at Vic’s knees (strike) would be below Burrell’s (ball).
Posted: 10:16 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Did anyone else feel physically ill last night? I’m sure most.
Posted: 10:19 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
To be honest, I actually didn’t feel the game at all. I was at a new bar, kinda weird, and the noise was drowning things out, and I didn’t feel completely up to snuff. And when the rain started I began to doubt things. Just wasn’t a good thing.
I’ll actually contend that the BEST THING may be that this game stopped at 2-2.
Posted: 10:20 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
I was feeling it in the early innings. We were up 2-0, Cole was cruisin’. Then the rain started coming down harder and from there it just got progressively worse.
Posted: 10:25 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
Ah, no wonder this happened-the jinxtress Sarah Palin is just up the road in Hershey, Pa.
Posted: 10:26 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
Oh man, I wasn’t feeling this game at all yesterday, Tim. The rain also gave doubts though I also tried to imagine Brett Myers rolling in the mud celebrating… I think we all got too ahead of ourselves.
And I agree with Gavin: go ahead and set this game for Wednesday night. I think that part of what’s killing us right now is that everything is up in the air. The players, the fans, the manager all need to know what’s gonna happen with this Series NOW.
Posted: 10:29 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Absolutely Tim……Hamels got out of the 6th only giving up one run in those conditions……pretty remarkable!!
Posted: 10:35 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Georgie……oh yeah….there’s a major election next Tues. Maybe the Rays can adopt cute little Sarah as their good luck charm……she can be a……..”Baseball Mom.”
Posted: 10:38 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
I think the thing that made it so tough last night was the fact that we still had the lead with 2 outs, nobody on. All of a sudden, single – stolen base – RBI single – Tie Game. It wouldn’t have been so bad but the Phils had no immediate chance at a rebuttal. Now we have to wait a day or 2 for our chance to get back at them, all while having this bad taste in our mouths.
Posted: 10:42 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
I agree Tim.
Once the rain started I began to get nervous. It was probably a good thing that the game stopped when it was. (However… the game probably should have never started to begin with)
The delay can easily derail any momentum that the Rays may have gotten last night.
Posted: 10:47 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 Ben
Thats exactly what I’m talking about Chuck. Hamels really stepped up his game again and got out of that inning. He easily could have imploded in that situation with the conditions. Phillies just need to come out and put the pressure on.
In the end, I don’t care when the game is played. Today or tomorrow. Just as long as the Phils win.
Posted: 10:50 AM on October 28, 2008
Posts: 0 adam
whenever this thing starts the phils bullpen will dominate and someone (i say that because everyone has contributed at some point) will get the clutch hit and win us a WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!
Posted: 10:55 AM on October 28, 2008