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We have runners on the first and the second, did I just smell a RALLY?

Varitek, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! >:(
I hate Matt Garza... :(
Six outs away from a season-ending loss... :'(

At 10/19/08 10:39 PM, Dream-of-Duke wrote: Varitek, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! >:(
I hate Matt Garza... :(
Six outs away from a season-ending loss... :'(

You talk too much punkass,talking all that shit throughout this postseason making multiple consecutive posts when nobody really gives a fuck what you say and you gloat about all this rallying when in the end you beloved nation fell to their knees in defeat to Matt Garza and in the end a 23 year old pitcher who is one year removed from college pitching in David Price.

Learn this lesson,karma will come to bite you in your ass when you least expect it with all that gloating and trash talk you give everyone and laughing at everybody's misfortune and it only creates your own downfall and disappointment down the road.

Well...guess that we cannot win every year. :P
I am not bitter, Motolov. In fact, I am more than content to see us forcing a Game 7 given we were 7 outs away from an heartless 4-1 series loss.
Did you just mention karma? You know what? I do not believe in karma, so it can kiss my ass, lol!

At 10/20/08 12:00 AM, Molotov wrote: Learn this lesson,karma will come to bite you in your ass when you least expect it with all that gloating and trash talk you give everyone and laughing at everybody's misfortune and it only creates your own downfall and disappointment down the road.

Yeah, that happened to me. Now it's the best outcome of a world series between two teams that I genuinely don't mind winning it all. Philly, with their multiple MVP winning playing staff have been most places and won most things, but the World Series is one thing that has eluded them so far.

Tampa came back from a 66-96 season in 2007 to win the AL East. Not only that, but they had some pretty impressive hitting in the postseason, with the likes of Evan Longoria and BJ Upton providing them with some serious potential to drop the bomb. (Always good for a Yanks fan, who is now effectively neutral) The pitching has been good, but I really am going to find it difficult to call this matchup.

So, with apologies to whoever neccessary, I have picked as the winners (losers, judging by the Championship Series results) of the 2008 World Series to be...

...

*drumroll*

...

The Philadelphia Phillies

At 10/19/08 10:33 PM, Dream-of-Duke wrote: We have runners on the first and the second, did I just smell a RALLY?

I believe you soiled your pants.

Time to rub it in...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

The board is still infested with trolls unfortunately, some of them are among the lowest forms of life.

At 10/20/08 07:21 AM, Idiot-Finder wrote: Time to rub it in...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

The board is still infested with trolls unfortunately, some of them are among the lowest forms of life.

Even Joba celebrated but got busted with a DUI so he fails.

At 10/20/08 06:55 AM, Idiot-Finder wrote:

At 10/19/08 10:33 PM, Dream-of-Duke wrote: We have runners on the first and the second, did I just smell a RALLY?

I believe you soiled your pants.

lol! I have not soiled in my pants since I was a small kid. Nice try to be funny. As much as I want us to win, I am also fine with the fact that we lost. The better team won the series, that was it.

At 10/20/08 07:53 AM, Molotov wrote:

At 10/20/08 07:21 AM, Idiot-Finder wrote: Time to rub it in...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

The board is still infested with trolls unfortunately, some of them are among the lowest forms of life.

Even Joba celebrated but got busted with a DUI so he fails.

Yeah, hopefully he'll learn his lesson from this, someone could get killed

So yeah, I don't know how to feel about the Rays being the opponents for the Phils. I don't know if I wanted to see Boston after all that drama, as they could've rode the big wave of momentum from coming back from the verge of elimination after being down 7-0 with 7 outs remaining. (By the way, I would've considered a Boston victory in this series an even bigger comeback than '04 or '07 due to that lead in an elimination game being the biggest the Sox have overcome.) Then again the Rays are a team that clearly play fearlessly, and I don't even know if they've realized yet the magnitude of the situation they're in.

As far as which team I would've preferred to see play the Phillies, I guess deep down I would have wanted the Sox. It was a close call, but I think seeing another upstart franchise winning a WS title before the Phils do is a thought that I don't like, even moreso than Red Sox Nation getting any more fuel to their fire. Of course, the Phils will have a huge say in whether or not these Rays will win it or not. Plus it would've been nice seeing both teams play in the cool outdoor late October night air. Sorry Tampa (St. Pete, really), but the Trop doesn't exactly exude that baseball feeling.

As for the games, I'm hoping that the fact that the Rays went 7 and the fact that they can't set their rotation up exactly the way they would want will play a factor to the Phils advantage.

I pissed myself when the Sox lost. I was so pissed because I was sure it was going to be like '04 when we won the World Series when we were down 3 games to none to the Yanks and made a huge comeback, or like the '07 win when we were down 3 games to 1.

Man fuck this shit.

At 10/20/08 03:33 PM, phileeguy wrote: So yeah, I don't know how to feel about the Rays being the opponents for the Phils. I don't know if I wanted to see Boston after all that drama, as they could've rode the big wave of momentum from coming back from the verge of elimination after being down 7-0 with 7 outs remaining.

Yeah, it's a tough call in this part of the season, but as the old saying goes - "If you want to be the best, you've got to beat the rest"

As for the games, I'm hoping that the fact that the Rays went 7 and the fact that they can't set their rotation up exactly the way they would want will play a factor to the Phils advantage.

That's a slight advantage, but they might be slightly more game accustomed than you, from the break that your guys have had.

That said, they might be a little hung over this morning and nursing a few bruises from that godawful dog pile that they celebrated with :P

And like you said earlier, they play without fear, as hardly any of the team know what it's like to make it to the playoffs, so they're in dreamland, hoping they don't wake up for at least a few more victories. Who knows where or how it will end?

At 10/20/08 03:33 PM, phileeguy wrote:

As for the games, I'm hoping that the fact that the Rays went 7 and the fact that they can't set their rotation up exactly the way they would want will play a factor to the Phils advantage.

Just to throw out there if you count up all the major sports (NBA,NFL,NHL,MLB) it has been 100 seasons since Philadelphia had a champion when the Sixers won it in 1983 which is 9,274 days ago (burns,doesn't it) but here is my analogy of how the World Series will go about in the first four games.

Game 1 - Tampa is pretty much forced to throw out their only starting left handed pitcher in the first game in Scott Kazmir against Cole Hamels which i believe they would have done anyway cause Kazmir gives them the best chance to beat Hamels with Kazmir allowing an average under .200 and just 1 home run against lefties and having an ERA of 2.90 at home and you throw in a 2.89 ERA of 102 innings at night games,as for Hamels there are flaws with him mainly cause he gives up high averages of .260 .294 and .304 to the #2,#3 and #7 hitters then you throw in his two games in dome games he gave up 11 earned runs,i know Hamels has been unstoppable this postseason but it seems to me Kazmir has the advantage with this one.

Game 2 - We know that "Big Game" James Shields is excellent at home but i really don't like him in this matchup against Brett Myers mainly cause he gives up enormously high averages to the Phillies best lineup hitters with a .279 .295 .289 and a .398 against the #2,#3,#4 and #6 hitters and he has been very bad at night games having an ERA of 4.19 and allowing an average of .270 though he does have 111 strikeouts compared to 49 strikeouts in day games so the Phillies will get a lot of pitches to hit and as for Brett Myers it doesn't get much better with the fact he is terrible on the road having an ERA of 6.21 and a Strikeout to Walk ratio of 67/36 and the two games in a dome he also stunk it up giving up 10 earned runs with an average of .370 then you throw in that he allows an average of .327 to the leadoff hitter and averages of .356 .321 and .325 to the #3,#4 and #5 hitters,this game will probably be a shootout but i got to take Shields here at home.

Game 3 - This one will also most likely be a shootout and not to say anything bad about Matt Garza cause God knows he has been fantastic this postseason but he really isn't good on the road having an ERA of 4.53 and allowing 14 or his 19 home runs and allowing an average of .315 to the leadoff hitter and though Jamie Moyer is no spring chicken oddly enough he is worse at home then he is on the road having an ERA ratio of 4.62/2.92 which brings up the question why Moyer isn't pitching Game 2 and Myers pitching Game 3 but it is what it is and i like the Phillies bullpen to win this one for them.

Game 4 - You got Joe Blanton against Andy Sonnastine which one would say would be a shootout game but Sonnastine has pitched his best ball during the playoffs and during night games having a 3.81 ERA in 146 innings and though he may pitch right handed he pitches better against lefties giving up a .265 average compared to a .289 against righties while Joe Blanton doesn't really have any big advantages over the Rays except that he is better at home then on the road with an ERA of 4.31,Sonnastine defenetly has the advantage here and i'm going with the Rays on the road to make it 3-1 in the first four games.

to be continued....

At 10/20/08 04:07 PM, Jamie wrote: I pissed myself when the Sox lost. I was so pissed because I was sure it was going to be like '04 when we won the World Series when we were down 3 games to none to the Yanks and made a huge comeback, or like the '07 win when we were down 3 games to 1.

It just happened that Matt Garza was on the top of his game yet again. Lester did a good job keeping us in the game, that was all I could ask. After all, batters win ball games. I am sensing a busy offseason. I am sure that Theo and crew will make some trades. I am confident that we will be back stronger next year.

At 10/20/08 05:15 PM, Molotov wrote: Just to throw out there if you count up all the major sports (NBA,NFL,NHL,MLB) it has been 100 seasons since Philadelphia had a champion when the Sixers won it in 1983 which is 9,274 days ago (burns,doesn't it)

Yeah don't remind me. That streak of no championships has been around longer than I have been.

Game 1 - abbreviated to Kazmir > Hamels in your opinion here.

You might like Kazmir here, but I don't know why Maddon wouldn't want Garza or Shields over Kazmir. Sure, being at home would help him, but he's third best right now to Garza and Shields. If you want to win, you need to get off to a good start, and having just 2 games at home off the bat, you'll want to win them both.

I'm still hoping for some Weegee magic.

Game 2 - once again abbreviated to Shields > Myers.

You might be right about Shields getting a win here over Myers, I kinda feel the same way too. I do think that you're buying into the stats a bit much and possibly overlooking the postseason efforts. Myers was no Cy Young, but he got the job accomplished in his 2 starts and Shields did pretty well too, and should be feeling good about himself going into the game. I think this match-up is another game of which Brett Myers is going to show up? The Dr. Jekyll from the 2nd half of the season, or the Mr. Hyde from the first.

As for the rest of the respective staffs I'll just say that Garza needs to keep his form, Moyer needs to return to form, and Blanton needs to just continue what he's doing and not lose any games.

Rays: Squeal piggy squeal...

Met fan: *sob* squeal...

Duquette: *jacking* Best...movie...ever...

This sums up the Kazmir/Zambrano trade

christ, we were like 18 outs from the only WS matchup that'd allow me to day "i've been there" at every game

At 10/20/08 06:36 PM, phileeguy wrote:

You might like Kazmir here, but I don't know why Maddon wouldn't want Garza or Shields over Kazmir. Sure, being at home would help him, but he's third best right now to Garza and Shields. If you want to win, you need to get off to a good start, and having just 2 games at home off the bat, you'll want to win them both.

Because simply put that both would be pitching on 3 and 4 days rest and that's too risky to start out a World Series.

I'm still hoping for some Weegee magic.

Weegee comes and goes. ;)

Game 2 - once again abbreviated to Shields > Myers.

You might be right about Shields getting a win here over Myers, I kinda feel the same way too. I do think that you're buying into the stats a bit much and possibly overlooking the postseason efforts. Myers was no Cy Young, but he got the job accomplished in his 2 starts and Shields did pretty well too, and should be feeling good about himself going into the game. I think this match-up is another game of which Brett Myers is going to show up? The Dr. Jekyll from the 2nd half of the season, or the Mr. Hyde from the first.

No doubt besides Matt Garza Brett Myers has been the biggest surprise of starting pitching this postseason with his performance and yeah i might be buying into the stats just a bit but i'm just looking at matchups here,if he gets a good start then he has a good shot to be the Dr.Jekyll you are looking for but it's still up in the air with him cause he is streaky.

As for the rest of the respective staffs I'll just say that Garza needs to keep his form, Moyer needs to return to form, and Blanton needs to just continue what he's doing and not lose any games.

Garza pitched both LCS games at home and remember when he pitched against the White Sox on the road in the Wild Card series he was awful,as for Blanton he just needs to keep the game within reach and hope the offense can help him out and the bullpen close it out.

Joba will have to suck it up, in sports you cannot let a simple taunt get to you and here's a reason why.

The whole "from the worst to the best" feel-good story will continue. Rays in 6...

At 10/21/08 06:24 PM, Dream-of-Duke wrote: The whole "from the worst to the best" feel-good story will continue. Rays in 6...

Generally, it's known as "Worst to First"

I think it's certainly worth watching, as we haven't really seen anything like as good a series as I think this one's going to turn out for emotion, drama and excitement.

Here what I believe will happen in Game 1

After both Kazmir and Hamels pitched to a standstill for 12 innings, Pena will hit a walkoff off Lidge and the Rays will win 1-0

In celebration, the Rays frontoffice will run into the streets and rape some Mets fans living there while yelling "Squeal piggy squeal..." as Duquette looks by and laughs at them

Soon afterwards Victor Zambrano walks by and said "I didn't think my pitching is that bad"

yay, world series. sucks we couldn't get through, but if we were going to lose to anyone, i'm glad it's the rays. don't care who wins, as while i <3 the rays, i also <3 the phils, first ballpark i ever saw a game in, plus as ng is located in philly, much love to that obv

At 10/22/08 07:33 PM, jonthomson wrote: yay, world series. sucks we couldn't get through, but if we were going to lose to anyone, i'm glad it's the rays. don't care who wins, as while i <3 the rays, i also <3 the phils, first ballpark i ever saw a game in, plus as ng is located in philly, much love to that obv

Jon, you're starting to sound like Barack Obama. "I'm rooting for the Phillies", then a few days later "I'm showing love to the Rays"

Still, game 1 was a good result, fair and Phily deserved to win. Now we've got to see how the rest of it pans out.

Excellent yet a predictable Game 1,Kazmir giving up the lead early while Hamels slowly but surely gives up runs but till no avail while now even he will give up 3 runs in a postseason game and the Philly bullpen was well the Philly bullpen giving up nothing to make the final 3-2 Philadelphia.

As for Game 2 expect a lot more runs score to say the least.

At 10/23/08 03:14 AM, Coop83 wrote: Still, game 1 was a good result, fair and Phily deserved to win. Now we've got to see how the rest of it pans out.

Well, I'm sure you'll find a few Rays fans that will complain about the non-balk call. I would say that it was definitely borderline as Cole stepped down fast enough to try and get the runner, so he didn't exactly locate his step where he would've wanted as it was both kind of a step to first AND home. Had he not done it that fast, Pena could've had the steal. Still, he followed that up with a Strike-out and a ground-out, so there's no assurance that the Rays would've scored with 2 outs.

You might hear about the Burrell running situtation with the error at first too, but I don't fault Pat for what he did there. Had he ran the runners cut-out like runners are supposed to, Kazmir most likely would've had an easy out, so whether he was called for interference or not it was a risk he needed to take as he could've been dead to rights either way. Still, there was no damage as Victorino couldn't come up with a hit to make it a more costly - and possibly controversial - error.

At 10/23/08 03:31 AM, Molotov wrote: Excellent yet a predictable Game 1,Kazmir giving up the lead early while Hamels slowly but surely gives up runs but till no avail while now even he will give up 3 runs in a postseason game and the Philly bullpen was well the Philly bullpen giving up nothing to make the final 3-2 Philadelphia.

I don't know if I would classify this gameas a "predictable." Yes, Hamels will give up a run or two, usually via the long-ball but he keeps his team in the game. He only usually has 1 or two mistakes along with an excellent defense behind him to keep his ERA relatively low. That's as far as I'll go on predictable, other than the Phils bullpen. But predictable goes out the window when Philly is 0-13 with RISP. That was an abysmal stat, and Charlie Manuel pointed out what everyone thought in the post-game interview in that the Phils should have had atleast 2 or 3 more runs on the board if they even had just 1 or 2 connections with RISP.

As for Game 2 expect a lot more runs score to say the least.

I'd have to agree. I'm not sold on Myers having a great start vs. the Rays until I see it. He was good vs. a jumpy Milwaukee team and was pretty lucky in game 2 vs. the Dodgers. On the other team I don't think Shields has looked great either, but both pitchers can pitch well and it remains to be seen if either will.
As for the hitters, I'm thinking that the 2-3-4 hitters of the Rays won't go 0-fer again, but I could see Howard doing so. He's been off his game all post-season and everyone keeps commenting on the fact that the Phils will be dangerous when he wakes up, but it's been 2 weeks and he must have someone continuously hitting the snooze button. So he needs to seriously get things going along with Rollins if the Phils want to have a chance in games not started by Cole Hamels.

At 10/23/08 03:31 AM, Molotov wrote: Excellent yet a predictable Game 1,Kazmir giving up the lead early while Hamels slowly but surely gives up runs but till no avail while now even he will give up 3 runs in a postseason game and the Philly bullpen was well the Philly bullpen giving up nothing to make the final 3-2 Philadelphia.

The Phillies had to win both matches with Hamels on the hill to have a chance. Now that step one is completed. Can they steal one with Myers starting tonight?

On second game, Brett Myers would don a Michael Myer mask and yells "DO I MAKE YOU RANDY BABY?" and stabs Shields, after killing him he would then went into a rampage forcing the Phillies to forfeit the game

Shields becomes the first pitcher won win a game dead

After this incident, Selig forms a meeting on what to do with Myers in which they agree unbeknownst to Selig that they'll send the commissioner to the island where Bison Dele (who is alive and well) lives, Bison then roasts Selig and ate him later that night

Big Game James has managed to keep the Phillies' offense in check so far and the Rays led 4-0 after 5 innings.