World Series Opponent Still Undecided
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, October 17, 2008 09:02 AM | Comments: 94
Posts
It looked like the Phillies and Rays would renew their hate-soaked rivalry in the World Series, but the Red Sox decided to tap into that ol’ Red Sox magic.
Seriously, the Sox were down 7-0 in the seventh, when David Ortiz homered. Then JD Drew homered. And then soon the game was tied, 7-7. Drew’s ninth-inning double won it for the Sox.
Now the ALCS shifts back to Tampa for game six Saturday. Hopefully the Rays win, because no way would I want the Phillies to face a team that just came back from a 3-1 deficit by winning its final three games on a miraculous comeback, and then in their opposition’s home field. No freakin’ way.
Regardless, both teams will be tough for the Phils. I mean real tough. Not Brewer tough, not Dodger tough, not even Met tough, but real, real tough. They’re very good. Luckily for us, the Phillies are very good, too.
Posts: 0 NJ
There was two bad things and one good that happened in last nights game. On the bad Kazmir pitched well enough to think (if the Rays win the ALCS) he’ll pitch game 2 in Tampa not game 3 on the road which would been good for the Phils, also there seems to be no sign of the power-feast coming 2-4 in the Rays line-up drying up. On the good side the Sox beat up on the Rays best 3 relief pitchers which is promising. If the Rays do win this hopefully they’ll wrap in game 6 so their bats don’t see live pitching for a few days.
Posted: 09:14 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Before the game started last night I knew the Sox were going to win the game. I wasn’t worried about it at all. After they got down 7-0 I turned the game off thinking the Rays won. The fact that the Sox came back from that kind of deficit just shows how good this team really is. After that win I think the Sox can take the series.
Posted: 09:34 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg V.
Both teams are scary as hell! The Rays, because they are stacked with players that seem capable of hitting home runs every at bat. The Red Sox, because they came back from a seven run deficit to escape elimination! Definately not something to take lightly if you are the Phillies.
The Phillies are about to be tested like they have never been tested before. The odds are against them, the stats are against them, but as Tug McGraw famously uttered once, “Ya just gotta believe”! And I do believe in this team.
Posted: 09:34 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Ya gotta believe was a line Tug used for the Mets run in 86. We gotta stop using that line as Phillies fans.
Posted: 09:35 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
The Phillies just need to somehow, someway keep their competitive edge right now. I was really hoping for a Rays win last night, not because I think they are a worse team than the Sox, but because at least then our opponent would have almost just as much down time as us. I really hate that whoever gets in will have more momentum going into the Series. And that team has home-field. If that’s Fenway……look out Phils.
Posted: 09:51 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
Both they teams are excellent they wouldn’t be in the ALCS if they weren’t.
But one thing this did show, is that the Rays do have a glaring weakness, and it’s there bullpen. I was saying that to a friend even before they melted down.
Posted: 09:52 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
That’s an excellent point Paul. And we all know how valuable a good bullpen is. Hopefully, the Rays take this thing, but maybe it needs to go 7 so they are more beat up (especially the bullpen) going into the Series. Yeah, they’ll have momentum, but they won’t be as rested or as confident. That will definitely help the Phillies.
Posted: 09:57 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Philsfanintheburg
Rest is HUGE this time of year! As long as the Phillies stay mentally “hot”, they should be ok. No time for a mental break!!
Posted: 10:01 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
hey tim – ‘no freakin way’ – peter griffin reference?
i look at this situation as 6 things in one hand, a half dozen in the other… part of me wants them to beat eachother up for 7 games, the other part agrees with my friend Chuck up there, the downtime thing… i’m stymied, hah
i think the phils have just as much momentum as either of these two teams
i would rather see the rays over the sox strictly because there are nerds here (redsoxfan) who would wear a bosox jersey to our stadium whereas down in florida you would see more phillies phans in tampa… thus taking away tampa’s home field advantage somel…
Posted: 10:03 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 TwoTonsOfIrony
Tim I totally agree that the worst of all possible worlds is that the Sox come back from 3-1 down and roll right into The Series with flashbacks to their 2004 4 game run on the Yankees. However, this win was great for the Phils if the Rays pull it out. I was getting pretty frightened by the Rays (and still am) as they roll through the Sox. If they had finished it off last night, they would have rolled into the series winning games of 9-8, 8-2, 13-4, and 7-0, some of those numbers are from memory so I apologize if they are not spot on, but my point is that they were rolling. This loss may bring them back down to earth a little bit, although they still scored 7. The best outcome for the Phils is that the Sox go town the Trop and win one like 3-2 cooling off the Rays bats a little and then the Rays struggle through a game 7 and come in a little weary and possibly out of gas (I can dream right?).
On a side note, a lot of people have been harping on the bad press that Philly and its fans get, and I live in DC and we have a new fan down here. Thomas Boswell wrote two beautiful articles during the Dodgers series that praised Philly fans as maybe the smartest in baseball, and the other one centered around Charlie and his mother and how this team is really a TEAM. The links are below, I would strongly encourage the read.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/10/AR2008101003223.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/10/AR2008101000003.html
If those don’t work, my name is a link to all the articles by Boswell on washingtonpost.com and the two articles are called “Taking Care of Their Own” and “Dispelling Illusions”
Posted: 10:05 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Yeah, what’s with redsoxfan anyway?
Philsfan, mentally hot is a great way to put it. Somehow, I think they will. They know how much is at stake here and I don’t think they will let down in that dept.
Posted: 10:11 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Philsfanintheburg
Can anyone imagine the Parade dopwn Broad???
Posted: 10:13 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Another point to pick up with what Gabriel said…home-field is definitely more of a problem with Fenway. Gab, you’re right…..think of all the Phillies fans in the Tampa area because of our ties to Clearwater for so many years. Besides, how many actual Rays fans are there? I mean REAL baseball fans that are truly passionate about their team
Posted: 10:15 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
not only can I imagine it…..I’m there!!!
Posted: 10:16 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
Interesting to note that Longoria committed and error with two outs in the 9th that would have ended the game. He’s still a tremendous player, I just wonder if that’s going to haunt him a bit.
Both of these teams are very good. It’s going to be tough, but not impossible. I hate the 6 day layoff though, that’s going to hurt us.
Posted: 10:19 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Did anyone else know for a fact that Drew was going yard to make it 7-6…. ??
Two good things come out of this game.. #1, we already know that the RedSox starters aren’t that good,…before the ALCS most fans wanted to play the Rays, but before last night’s game, I’m guessing everyone was getting scared of the Rays and wanted to play the RedSox..?? I think we can jump on Boston’s starters if we play them
#2.. wasn’t it great to see the mighty Rays bullpen look that bad last night!.. unable to find the strikezone, and getting pounded when they did. The Rays bullpen doesn’t scare me nearly as much as the Sox does.
I was hoping that if the Rays won though they would do it sooner than later, because we need to get their bats to cool off
Posted: 10:21 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Don M…both teams have bad bullpens. Boston does have Papelbon though.
Posted: 10:25 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 JimC
We have to play the Rays because of the streak and the confidence the rays will have if they win the next two. Also does anyone know about taguchi. I said this before the post season started that I never wanna see him in a phillies uniform again and I heard Marson might take his roster spot as an emergency catcher so Coste can get some ABs
Posted: 10:29 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
Scare now phillies fan. It’s alright we will let you win a couple. then rip out your hearts. And win four in a row. GO RED SOX
Posted: 10:38 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Philsfanintheburg
lol Sox Fan…….go play in your own blog…HAHAH
Posted: 10:40 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
just bought my bus ticket to boston. see your there guys. only 79.00 to see my team. Hope to see romo play this week that would make my weekend.
Posted: 10:41 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Did you guys see all the die-hard fans leaving Fenway after the Rays went up 7-0 ???
I sure did.. I loved it…GO SAWKS!!
Posted: 10:41 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
Sorry was so into the game didn’t notice that.
Posted: 10:58 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
You had to notice it.. that was what the cameras showed for at least a minute straight…HUNDREDS of fans heading for exits, and it was like a heard of cattle, packed, as they tried to get the hell out of that stadium.
unless of course you weren’t watching because you thought your team had already lost?
Posted: 11:01 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
soxfan, you just wasted $79. Instead you could have bought a nice Phillies NLCS shirt and hat. Maybe next year……wait……..better think about what the Yanks are gonna do in the off-season. There might not BE a next year for you soxfan!!
Posted: 11:03 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
Did anyone hear them say around the time all of the “Fenway Faithful” started to head for the exits that TBS turned the mics up so the crowd would appear louder than it was?
Other than that, it was a good game. Called the Papi HR, he looked itchin to hit one. At lease we have one more game of baseball to watch this weekend. On a side note, while at Modell’s last night, saw a couple bangwangon red sox fans buying random sporting goods when the guy behind me said, “Seriously he picked tonight to stock up on underarmour?” Priceless. Rays will win the American League tomorrow!
Posted: 11:12 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
MP, that was probably redsoxfan you saw. Can’t admit that the Phillies are better.
Posted: 11:18 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Rick
Of course that’s the case Don M! Otherwise RSF would have been on here 2 seconds after the game winning hit posting more antagonizing comments.
Hmmm…that didn’t happen though did it? RSF didn’t post until around 7AM this morning.
RSF is a front-runner just like all those fans heading for the exits last night. Probably even wears a pink Red Sox hat!
Posted: 11:22 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
Just because my teams are the redsox and cowboys how does that make me a front runner.
Posted: 11:26 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
oh poor redsoxfan… poor poor rsf…
i guess i can appreciate your extraordinary passion for ‘your’ team… i guess i’m just sick of arguing with you so please allow me to pick your brain for a moment…
1) have you ever lived in or around boston?
2) is your family from there and moved here but kept their sports ties?
3) where at in mt laurel do you live? i used to live in larchmont…
4) why are you so bitter?
5) are you actually just a phillies phan who wants to shake things up on this blog?
6) are you irish? (i am, i love my green phils hoodie with the white shamrock on the sleeve)
7) if you ARE irish, let’s meet up for some bangers and mashed! we could discuss the possibilty of your squad and mine meetin in the phall classic…
that’s all for now – please dont reply with the usual sarcasm, i’m actually just interested now…
Posted: 11:26 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Aww, how cute. Little RSF is back.
I love how the Red Sox have become what they have sworn to hate: the Yankees. Think about it. Overbloated payroll, fans that have lost all humbleness in winning one that now they must have more and more like Sylar from Heroes. The Sox are marketed now like the Yankees.
Which is funny because I have tons of Yankees fans for friends and they have gotten extremely humbled since they actually had to begin fighting for the playoffs.
The tables have turned.
Posted: 11:29 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
soxfan, I think you ARE a front-runner. You are probably really a Yankees fan who jumped in 04 after the Yanks choked in the ALCS.
Posted: 11:29 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
yeah, SJ….that’s why soxfan switched….cause he’s not humble.
Posted: 11:31 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Rick
Just a little FYI for Phil – Tug’s slogan “Ya Gotta Believe” started during the Mets run in 1973. That said, I completely agree, it needs to stop being used by our fans. Everytime I hear or see (in the case of a blog) Phillies fans use it, it bugs me.
Posted: 11:35 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 rootin tootin
ther is nothing to worry about in the boston bullpen they have papalbomb we have madsen and lights out lidge you guys did see madsen throwing 93-97 mph fastballs and lidge threw his fast ball in the 90s also, its the starting rotataion on our side that is troublesome. if the phils are up 2 games do you start moyer or blanton and if we split who do you go to for game 3
Posted: 11:37 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
Stinking modell’s not one redsox alcs shirt. went to one on snyder and 24 street. Today the classicest orgization in baseball voted to give Manny two third share of the world series winning money. Can’t stop believing my favorite song.
Posted: 11:40 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Oh, I thought it was 86. Whatever the case may be, he started it as a Met. We need to stop using it. I know he was a great Phillies closer, but when it’s started as a Met we know it needs to stop being used since it’s the Mets slogan.
Posted: 11:41 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
RSF you moron it’s Don’t Stop Beleivin’ and Journey sucks.
Posted: 11:41 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
You need all help you can get maybe its like that movie angel’s in outfield. That’s the only way you can win in a make believe movie like your make believe rocky hero. How lame to put his statue up at a sports complex. because you lack any true hero.
Posted: 11:44 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
redsoxfan had a nice night last night..
a nice bowl of Manhattan Clam Chowder while listening to Can’t Stop Believing … and then he got snuggled up in bed by the bottom of the 7th inning.
Posted: 11:44 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
RSF, had you seen Angels in the Outfield, you know that they don’t do championships. Maybe you need another bad Jimmy Fallon movie.
Posted: 11:47 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
When told that he has been eating the wrong type of soup, and jamming to the wrong song for all 4 years he’s been a RedSox fan.. he said, “You can’t DENIED you are SCARE!!”
To which we had no response.
Posted: 11:47 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Whoah, Phil. Don’t go dissing Don’t Stop Believin’ and Journey. Yes, diss RSF, but not Journey!
Posted: 11:48 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
Don you are right. But I had New England Clam Chowder at the oregon diner.
Posted: 11:49 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
WTF was up with David Boreanez doing the lineup the other night… “star of BONES, on FOX!” … F that.. he had to read all the names of the guys off a card, cause he doesn’t know anything about the team.
Have players, or at least someone associated with the team do the lineups.. or pick fans to do it or something..
Posted: 11:49 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Redsoxfan, I told you…..you should have bought that Phillies shirt and hat with the $79 you wasted on that bus trip to nowhere. Of course you weren’t going to find an ALCS shirt at Modell’s here, you idiot. Besides, that shirt is only good if you actually WIN the ALCS….and that ain’t happenin’.
Posted: 11:51 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Its a shame you missed your team’s comeback.. it was really something!!
Keep talking smack though, you are slowly, slowly, sucking less (of course this may just be because your posts are getting shorter…)
Posted: 11:52 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 redsoxfan
SJ Mike why is he dissing Journey I like there music. See mike we can agree on somethings. Maybe you can become a redsox fan after the phillies lose to them this year.
Posted: 11:52 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
This is kind of long, but give a little perspective. It’ll take several posts.
I used to be very pro-Boston sports. I felt we were in similar situations when it came to heartbreaking teams.
Now take the Red Sox. 90+ years of heartbreak and curse. Always overshadowed by the mighty and hated Yankees. Everyone had already hated the Yankees because apparently 13 straight postseasons, 6 AL Pennants, and 4 World Series wins in a decade and a half caused them to be hated.
We all pitied and sympathized with the Red Sox. 2004, the entire country rooted for the Red Sox. They made the hated Yankees look awful in one of the most miraculous comebacks/collapses in sports history. The Red Sox won the World Series, curse broken, end of story….or so we thought.
Posted: 11:53 AM on October 17, 2008
Posts: 0 SJ Mike
Everyone was happy for the Red Sox. I know I cheered for them. I know a great majority of Philly cheered for them. Then the Red Sox slowly evolved into what the Yankees were. Bidding wars for top Japanese and free agent pitchers. Throwing millions of dollars of cash at players not worth that much. Payroll budgets that could support small nations and probably help contribute to ending this financial crisis. Constant coverage on ESPN and Fox. Bad Jimmy Fallon movies. It just all went to hell overnight!
Posted: 11:53 AM on October 17, 2008