NLCS Game Five Recap: NL CHAMPIONS

by dajafi on Oct 16, 2008 12:04 AM EDT Comment 30 comments

You had the feeling good times were at hand when Jimmy Rollins reprised his leadoff home run from the clincher of the NL Division Series. The sense grew as Cole Hamels started finding his groove in the middle innings, putting up zero after zero. The stars seemed aligned when Rafael Furcal's three errors in the fifth inning led to two unearned runs, stretching a 3-0 lead to 5-0. Ryan Madson, popping the gun at 97, brought it within reach with a scoreless eighth.

And at 11:37 PM Eastern time, with Brad Lidge on the mound, the Phillies won their sixth National League pennant. The celebration continues at this late hour.

Ryan Howard was a hero tonight, with three hits and a big third-inning RBI. Chase Utley scored twice, and turned in more fantastic defensive work--turning double plays, laying out to snare line drives. But NLCS Most Valuable Player Cole Hamels was the brightest star. Pitching deeper into the autumn than he ever has--between 33 regular season starts and three more in the October crucible, he's now thrown 249.1 innings--he's been at his best in the last 22: three starts, three wins, a 1.93 ERA, 13 hits, 22 strikeouts, 5 walks. Hamels now stands with 1993 NLCS MVP Curt Schilling in the Phils' playoff pantheon.

Congratulations to Charlie Manuel and all the Fightin' Phils--your 2008 National League Champions.

The World Series starts October 22.

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Long time

could not post throughout NLCS – superstition. But, what a wonderful night. This team has incredible character and actually made it look easy tonight. Congrats to all on GoodPhight and to Phils fans everywhere! Adding to the enjoyment was watching Buck and MCarver, two of the biggest assholes in history, have their prescripted story line blow up in their fucking faces. So, to all a good night

by suffering on Oct 16, 2008 12:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the last time the phillies went to the world series, I had an inexplicable thing for John Olerud and Pat Molitor….something I am very glad to have outgrown.

don’t even know how to react. I could cry. wish I was in philly right now, my friends are in broad st. banging pots and pans…wow.

not being very coherent, but guess that’s understandable. GO PHILLIES!

by bugbear on Oct 16, 2008 12:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats guys

by from First to Third on Oct 16, 2008 12:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From Giants land

Congrats, we are celebrating for you guys hard, like it’s 2002.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Oct 16, 2008 12:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Link fail

Here

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Oct 16, 2008 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And guess what we’re hearing on Baseball Tonight? How the Dodgers lost it as opposed to how the Phillies won it.

It’s getting old. Just win, fellas.

by Walcott on Oct 16, 2008 12:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BBTN is BS

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Oct 16, 2008 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t hear that. They sounded pretty complimentary to the Phils from what I saw.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Oct 16, 2008 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

PHILLIES FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by WholeCamels on Oct 16, 2008 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So if my Rays do make it, I am curious as to how we'll match up to your team. I'm trying to look past Cole Hammels because it's obvious he's a beast....

I know he’ll be lights out, but I’m not so sure about the rest of your team, both hitting and pitching. I know I’m getting ahead of myself. First things first we gotta beat Boston

by TheUltimateBucFan on Oct 16, 2008 12:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats to Philly fans!

Another Giants fan who is happy! Thank you for keeping the dodgers out of the World Series… and my $20 on the Phils to win the World Series at 15-1 alive!

What a fun team to watch. Enjoy every moment!

by costenh on Oct 16, 2008 1:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was at the game tonight....

absolutely great game and ran into a ton of Philly natives.

On a side note, I was assaulted by at least three different Dodgers fans

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Oct 16, 2008 1:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I, for one...

… am shocked. Whatever you did, I hope you didn’t shred a beach ball with your car keys. They really don’t like that.

by costenh on Oct 16, 2008 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cheering when Victorino was possibly hurt?

exitfare – if you’re still reading this thread, it appeared on TV that the Dodgers’ fans were cheering when Victorino got hit in the ribs by the Russel Martin pick-off throw. Was that so?

And we hear endlessly about how we cheered when Michael Irvin got injured at the Vet . . . .

by David S. Cohen on Oct 16, 2008 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can confirm that.

Philly gets all of the ink for having bad fans (and there are plenty of them), but being that I’ve seen games in around 15 stadiums, every team has bad fans, even the Cards.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Oct 16, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Assaulted by Dodgers fans?

I didn’t know there were fans in LA who even cared enough to assault anyone.

I mean, what did they do, through their iced lattes at you?

by Jay on Oct 16, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, “throw” not “through.”

by Jay on Oct 16, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was in the section with all the gang members apparently

I got at least one person kicked out which was a small victory. The big victory was the Dodgers losing.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Oct 16, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations from a Diamondbacks fan

Nice job on not just winning, but shredding the Dodgers. Certainly enjoyed watching that. Good luck in the World Series!

"Now, this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard [Hank Steinbrenner] say, and this is the third time I've said that this season."

by kishi on Oct 16, 2008 2:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Might sound silly but, I can’t wait to see how many Phils Charlie puts on all star roster next year!!! No more snubs!!! 4 more games!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO

by schrifty on Oct 16, 2008 8:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

jeez. didn’t even think of this…the implications…THE IMPLICATIONS!!

by char6587 on Oct 16, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Coste, All-Star.

by Jay on Oct 16, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phillies Vs Rays(?)

Congratulations to the Phils and their fans. With the Proximity of Clearwater and St Pete We get to see the Phils in the spring and get to see the minor league club quite a bit. Should be a good matchup with the power,speed and pitching probably even. Perhaps a slight edge to the Rays on defense although thats a tough call either way. Slight advantage to the Phils hitting as they get to add a bat at DH at the Trop, although the Rays pitchers have done well for themselves in interleague play . Now if the Rays can finish off the Bosox it will make for a great series.

by Harold From St Pete on Oct 16, 2008 9:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

PHILS IN 6!!!

WOO HOO!!!

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Oct 16, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations to Phillies fans far and wide!

I’m an A’s fan myself, so my season has been over for a while but as a Eagles fan I have the slightest sentiment for the Phillies. (Sorry, that doesn’t extend to the 76ers.) I don’t know if you can beat the eventual AL champion Rays but I’ll smile if you do. Good luck.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Oct 16, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well we couldn’t beat the Milwaukee Sabathias or the LA Mannys either… but here we are :-)

Thanks for the kind words

"When you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you're getting your ass hammered by guys - there's no better feeling than to have that done." - Matt Stairs 10/13/08

Gold... Pure Gold...

by foos05 on Oct 16, 2008 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations from an Astros fan!

As a die hard Astros fan I couldn’t be any happier for this bunch.

It’s been said many times before, but pitching is what wins baseball games. Top to bottom, from the rotation to the bullpen, it’s been a pleasure to watch.

Good luck in the WS!

P.S. Your former inept GM says you are welcome for Brad Lidge. EASILY his best season since 2004.

by Texan_Dawg on Oct 16, 2008 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks man, the Astros put a little bit of a Wild Card scare into everyone this year, huh?

I thought Lidge would be good this year but he far exceeded my most optimistic projections.

by WholeCamels on Oct 16, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Today is a Good Day

By the way, I don’t know if anyone mentioned this, but it appears that the blonde who accompanied Mitch Hamels to the game yesterday was not Mitch’s girlfriend, but Heidi’s sister. Mitch is just a college freshman.

by taco pal on Oct 16, 2008 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s also kind of weird to see Hamels, Victorino, etc., getting the full press treatment on ESPN and the like; I mean, these are OUR guys, they don’t belong in the national spotlight.

by WholeCamels on Oct 16, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs