The Heroes Of Game Four
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, October 27, 2008 10:35 AM | Comments: 11
Posts
Before we ask ourselves the proverbial questions about tonight’s game five, let’s look back at game four and strike applause for the heroes:
Joe Blanton. A strong six innings put the Phils in the advantage. All his pitches were on point. The performance likely closes the book on a season of ups and downs for Blanton, but many more ups he faced here In Philly. Oh, and he hit that home run. A bright future indeed for Kentucky Joe.
Ryan Madson. When the Rays threatened a bit in the seventh, Madson came on for the final out and notched a strikeout. Then he struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth, before recording the final out via a ground ball. Another sterling job by the Phils new setup horse.
Jimmy Rollins. Young James is feeling the groove, smoking line drives as if it was 2007. Just remember, Rollins led off both clinching games with home runs. Let’s see what he does tonight.
Jayson Werth. He got off the snide with a nice two-run jack, hitting a pitch I couldn’t believe he knocked out.
Ryan Howard. The big man returneth. He hit the biggest home run of his life to put the Phils ahead for good, then killed another pitch for good measure. Welcome back, Ryan.
Posts: 0 JimC
Great job by the whole team last night. Total team effort and when the big guns show up it shows us how unstoppable we really are. Bam Bam has earned a spot in every phillies fans heart forever. Can’t wait for 2night ill be on 30 hours with no sleep and hoping for 30 more. Ill be out on broad tonight poppin bottles with my boys celebrating for the first time in my lifetime. LETS GO PHILS
Posted: 10:40 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
I gotta say Joe Blanton is the standout hero last night. He pitched the game of his life. And the home run. He was unreal last night. If they’re were any doubts about him, he crushed them last night. I feel like he truly became a Phillies last night.
Posted: 11:03 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
F**k Joe the plumber, we got Joe the pitcher!
Posted: 11:32 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Right on, Manny!!!!!
Posted: 11:36 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ (Go Joe Bombton!)
Joe was as good as any pitcher in a world series game, I thought we gave too much up for him considering his make-up but honestly who wouldn’t have given Carrasco away to be in the position we are now?
Posted: 11:38 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Seriously, World Series and playoffs aside, does anyone else think Blanton is a 4th starter on this team??
Posted: 11:38 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Joe the Lumber. . . on the back of the Daily News
Posted: 11:38 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Blanton is a great #4… a lot of their rotation next year depends on Brett Myers… his trade value might be as high as it’ll ever be. They could benefit greatly from a Derrick Lowe.. someone to just keep the ball down and get 35 starts per season.
I wonder what the deal is with Happ.. they had him warming up last night at one point, if Romero got in any trouble I think..
Posted: 11:41 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Don, I meant more like shouldn’t he be higher in the rotation? I know he was the opening day starter for Oakland and I’m not saying that, but it seems like he should maybe be higher than 4th. I mean, I guess it ultimately doesn’t matter.
I saw that with Happ, too. I think he would have come in before Lidge in that situation.
Posted: 11:49 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ (Go Joe Bombton!)
Blanton’s one of the best 3′s around but Moyer has exceeded expectations back into that middle of the pack role. It’s was considered to be weak but when their giving their normal starts Hamels/Myers/Blanton/Moyer/Kendrick is a very good rotation.
Posted: 11:49 AM on October 27, 2008
Posts: 0 C.J. Henry
Blanton really proved us wrong when we traded for him; at the time everbody was sure we gave up way too much. At this point he has proven himself to the country.
Lets take a look at these mid-season trades and how they worked out in the postseason…
C.C. Sabathia 1 Game, 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, LOSE: Team eliminated NLDS
Rich Harden 1 Game, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, LOSE: Team eliminated NLDS
Joe Blanton 3 Games, 17.0 IP, 3.18 ERA, 18 K, 3-0: Team on the verge of winning World Series.
Posted: 05:03 PM on October 27, 2008