Comments on: ESPN Universe Says Rays Will Beat Phils

By: herbal ecstacy

herbal ecstacy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:50:17 +0000

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By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:28:40 +0000

PhillyGuy.. I just read up this post a little bit, so forgive me for being late on the subject.

I understand what you mean.. you won’t find die-hard Phillies fans all over the country the way you would RedSox fans.. BUT. I have to agree 100% with Chris D, Clare, and others…

I’ve been to both Boston and Chicago for Phillies trips in the past 3 seasons.. In Boston, at Cask-n-Flagon, the bar behind the Green Monster, I was told that NOBODY EVER COMES INTO BOSTON AND TAKES OVER THE WAY YOU GUYS ALL DID THIS WEEKEND!

In Chicago, at Murphy’s Bleachers, we heard non-stop, PHILLIES FANS ARE AWESOME, I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR THIS SERIES!!

Both cities hate the NY teams that played in their respective leagues by the way!!

So, I FULLY expect Trop to have something like 1/3rd Phillies fans for both games.. due to Clearwater being so close, and Phillies fans traveling so well to support their team!!!

By: Phillies Phan SC

Phillies Phan SC — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:18:49 +0000

Let the media go on; Phillies have already proven them wrong in the NLDS and NLCS. What makes me laugh is that EVERY argument on why the Rays should win the equal argument could be made for the Phillies. Look, I love our Phillies and I WANT them to win, but if anyone can predict this, they are idiots. These teams are the best matched, and I BET the ratings will be higher than anyone imagines. Ratings are overused anyway and exclude multiple viewings (sports bars, etc). So screw ESPN, no analyst knows what is going to happen. It depends on two things: 1) Brett Meyers performance AND 2) Whether Rollins and Howard get hot – or at least if the rest of the offense can pick them up. Plain and simple. If those two things happen, Phillies get their second World Series. Bottom line, we DON’T KNOW, which is what will make this a high rated series.

By: J-Man

J-Man — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:15:57 +0000

Lewisauce-ESPN headquarters is in Connecticut,which is one of the New England states which the Red Sox represent,thats why their so Red Sox bias.

By: Lewisauce

Lewisauce — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:12:26 +0000

I’m surprised the “analysts” from ESPN aren’t still picking the Red Sox.

Seriously, I am so freakin’ sick of the national media being sycophants to the Red Sox and the Yankees and, now, the Rays. If the Rays were in the AL Central, the national media wouldn’t give a shit. But the Rays are trendy because they play in the AL East — well, OK, and because they did win a bunch of games, but if they won those games in another division, in any division that didn’t include Boston/New York, the national media would barely care.

I am happy the pundits are picking the Rays. I hope they all do. It’s like they don’t believe the poor, bellicose, passionate people of Philadelphia deserve a championship. Bastards.

By: Philly Fan from NY

Philly Fan from NY — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:35:18 +0000

I don’t care what everyone else says. The Phillies will not care, it will just pump them up some more. The Rays on the other hand are nervous and once they start to lose momentium will fall apart. They are a young team. The Phillies have experience and are going to be less nervous.

I predict that the phils win in 5 games. They have to win the first game to make them shaky. They will lose the second game. Then win the next three.

By: SuperJimmy

SuperJimmy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:51:07 +0000

Lets look at who the Rays beat this year shall we?

Yankees – old beat up team with less than half of a proper starting rotation.

Blue Jays – Decent rotation with one of the most deficient lineups in all of MLB

Red Sox – Played for most of the year without either Papi, Manny, or Lowell. Bottom fell out in the playoffs when half the starting lineup went down to injury.

White Sox – struggled down the stretch and had to win a sudden death to even make the postseason.

The Phillies took out two young upstart teams anchored by the best hitter in the game (Manny) and the best pitcher in the game (Sabathia)

They’ll take out yet another squad of young guns.

3-1 Phillies.

By: Chris D

Chris D — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:41:24 +0000

Philly guy, not true at all. Better look a little closer at who is in the stands during those road games. That goes for any Philly sport. We travel well.

By: Chris D

Chris D — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:38:26 +0000

Joe Buck, et al had me fired up. FoxSports, the whole of the media were trying desperately to sell Dodger Blue to the world. When they weren’t doing that, we were sitting there watching the NL Championship Series getting commentary on how great the Red Sox and Manny were, on how great Joe Torre and the Yankees were and how each of these factors somehow made the Dodgers the team to beat. Oh, that’s right, they knocked of the NL’s best record, the Cubs. Or did they? How many errors did Chicago have in those 3 games? Seems to me Chicago imploded under the usual pressure of bearing the load of the most infamous record in sports history. None of this was really discussed. I felt like the Dodgers were constantly being shoved down my throat. I heard myself repeatedly asking Joe Buck, “Hey buddy, who are you trying to convince of the Dodgers’ worthiness?” I happen to realized that Chicago lost those games, that the Dodgers had the worst record of any playoff team and came from the worst division. The idea that this series won’t sellf is nothing more than the bitterness of these fat cat NY loving, Boston loving media dweebs. They wanted desperately to sell us Manny vs Boston, Torre thumbs his nose at NY. Good for us and TB for refusing to give that to them. Also, whoever thinks the AL is the better league is flat wrong. They play a different kind of baseball over there which I believe produces the perception of being better. You can’t say that. You are comparing apples to oranges, both fruits, but not the same. Eventually Selig will get around to fixing this travesty and doing away with the DH. You wanna hit then pick up a glove and get your butt in the field, plain and simple. That’s baseball.

By: Clare

Clare — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:57:23 +0000

Phillyguy, not true.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:43:48 +0000

It saddens me to see ESPN take this path of journalism, but I am not surprised. Think about how many cubicles, how many offices, and how many break rooms, have been destroyed by the Rays beating the Red Sox. No World Series for them this year. They have no Patriots to cheer for, and basketball season is barely here, and it’s a long one. When they don’t get their dream matchup, and they have to travel to a place that isn’t a top their list, they throw a fit by accusing the upcoming series something not fit for their royal eyeballs. Since they have chosen not to enjoy it from the top of their mountain, they want to tell the rest of the country that it may not be worth watching as well. Although there are some awesome announcers, and wonderful personalities at ESPN that are outstanding in their feild, the vast majority of the employees at that company are terrible. Ultimately, it is becoming more and more clear every year that ESPN will ruin sports, the way that MTV ruined the music industry.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:55:39 +0000

Manny…
I actually don’t think all the coverage Cole has been getting will get to him.
He came out and said he wants to win 20 games. He wants to be an All-Star, he wants to win the Cy Young..He wants to pitch in big games….I don’t think a guy who can’t handle all that pressure would say those things. He has taken the ball in each series opener, pitched great, then shut down the Dodgers to clinch the pennant…he doesn’t worry me at all.

Brett…I think he will pitch well…but pitching on the road makes me a bit uneasy. We all know how amped up he gets, and he feeds off the crowd at the Bank.

However, with that said…it’s not like the fans in Tampa are known to get into pitchers heads…so I think he will pitch okay.

Although, to me, the Phils best chance is to steal game 1

By: brett

brett — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:46:34 +0000

Good idea but doesnt Missanelli hate the Phanatic

By: ashley

ashley — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:43:56 +0000

It’s been us against the world for a long time. I don’t care what anyone else says. I have confidence in my team and do not need “expert” opinions to make me nervous. It’s not going to be a cakewalk for either team. It’s gonna be rough.

BTW I love the Phanatic Santa idea!

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:22:28 +0000

I emailed MikeMiss and JodyMac at 950ESPN… I’m trying to see if we can get this to happen. It would stick-it to every lazy writer that ever felt the need to type jaded story..

By: MP

MP — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:41:23 +0000

Yeah I am loving the Phantic dressed as Santa!!

By: Manny

Manny — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:36:17 +0000

I like the Phanatic/Santa idea, Don!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:22:05 +0000

Phillyguy, I understand what you’re saying, but disagree. I grew up in the Midwest as a Phillies fan, and now live out west. There are several Phillies fans here too — you just don’t see them.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:20:05 +0000

Phils playing the underdog against a ten-year-old team who’s only winning season is this one? Phils facing a Cinderella team just down the road from her castle?

I like those odds. Go on, continue to underestimate the Phillies. Haven’t gotten any respect all year, why should it start now……

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:18:30 +0000

Again..

the Phanatic should come out for Game#3 dressed up as Santa Claus, and the crowd will go CRAZY!!

Have a bunch of the groundscrew dressed in Rays gear and chase them around pelting them with snowballs…