Unbiased WORLD Series Recap: Game One

by SC on Oct 23, 2008 5:09 AM EDT in Post-Game Comment 10 comments

Phillies 3, Rays 2 (Philadelphia leads series, 1-0)

Bet that song gets stuck in your head for a couple days if you let it play.

How about a little respect for the Philadelphia Phillies? Too many people, in my estimation, share this dream of the American League dominating the field of play, when all that really matters when considering this is the World Series, not the ridiculous All-Star Game or the continual bore that is interleague play. Wow, Jeremy Guthrie batting! Hey, the Subway Series, that isn't played out yet.

The fact of the matter is this: there have been eight World Series this decade, and five of them have gone to the American League (Yankees in 2000, Angels in 2002, Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, White Sox in 2005). The other three have actually been won by a National League team (Diamondbacks in 2001, Marlins in 2003, Cardinals in 2006).

The two Red Sox sweeps were dominant, yes, but the White Sox sweep of Houston was as close as a four-game series can possibly be (5-3, 7-6, 7-5 in 14 innings, and 1-0).

The American League does not get a pass to win the World Series just because there are probably more good teams in the American League than the National League, or just because we happen to win the stupid All-Star Game.

The Phillies can play, is what I'm saying. Cole Hamels was outstanding again (7 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) and I think we can say that the echoes of doom are long forgotten when it comes to Brad Lidge in the ninth inning. He's got a 1.08 ERA this postseason, giving up one earned against Milwaukee in game one of the NLDS when the Phils had a 3-0 lead.

This was a hell of a game, and I expect this series to be filled with close games, no matter who wins or how far it goes.

Now, to favor the Rays, this one's obvious: someone on the Philadelphia staff's gotta step up. They beat Scott Kazmir, and coming behind Kazmir are James Shields and Matt Garza. The Phillies are countering those two with Brett Myers in game two against Shields, and Jamie Moyer against Garza in game three. Moyer looks cooked so far in the postseason. I don't know how the Phillies aren't bumping up Joe Blanton to counter Garza and hoping that Blanton can turn it up some, because Moyer has been awful. Risking another bad outing against Garza, the ALCS MVP, is pretty foolish, if you ask me.

Game one lost or not, the Rays are very much in it, because their starters say they're in it. Hey, a couple more hits and they win game one anyway. The Phillies let a lot of opportunities to blow it open go by.

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A very enjoyable first game

The relief pitchers were particularly impressive, on both sides. You can’t hit what you can’t see.
The fact that the Phillies won DESPITE stranding so many runners may actually work in their favor. Sooner or later they have to start hitting in those situations.
I was initially rooting for Tampa Bay Rays, but those goddamn cowbells put me over the edge. And that pathetic sort of synthesizer heavy metal music to which they intro their team just stinks of “Bush League.”
Go Philliies.

by Lothar on Oct 23, 2008 8:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love when they hit home runs

and you hear “FEEL! THE HEAT! RAYS!” blaring through the dome. I couldn’t believe it the first time I heard it, it’s so bush

by oriolez on Oct 23, 2008 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually downloaded that song

Hey, I like it. Sue me.

by PhilR8 on Oct 23, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's no Orioles Magic.

Zartan says, "Sign Dan Johnson."

by birdman on Oct 23, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

again, it is high school football

I really hate it, but it has nothing to do with the team. I’m sure they’d be thrilled to be intro’d to the stylish sounds of Korn or Alterbridge, but the management isn’t hip to such hot acts.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Oct 23, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phillies should actually move Blanton up to second spot

Myers has been far better at home than on the road. I don’t normally get overexcited about those sorts of splits; but it’s pretty dramatic with Brett (3.01 at home; 6.21 on the road).

And they have had about 2 months off, so any talk about “normal rest” is pretty much a joke at this point.

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Oct 23, 2008 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am proud to say

I have never heard that song in my life.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Oct 23, 2008 6:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs