World Series Game Five Recap: Forever
by dajafi on Oct 29, 2008 10:22 PM EDT
97 comments
When a team wins a championship, they pass out of the moment and into the ages.
Everything takes on a glow: the great players, their greatest moments. This year came with so many of them that we'll never forget--from the mad rally late against the Nationals to record their first win of the season, ending with a Jayson Werth walkoff walk, to the last evil Brad Lidge slider on a frigid October night: the freeze-frame shot that will stay with us forever.
Tonight was for redemptions large and small. Geoff Jenkins, in the last at-bat of a lamentable season, smashed a double off the top of the wall to bring a stadium back to life after two days of suspended animation. After Jimmy Rollins--whose face tonight bore the determination to end the team's 28-year title drought--bunted him over, Jayson Werth, another player looking to redeem himself after some series mistakes, knocked him in with a bloop fly to shallow center as Citizens Bank Park went nuts.
After the Rays tied it in the 7th--and nearly went ahead but for a spectacular play at the plate turned by Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz--Pat Burrell, already redeemed from disappointing years earlier in his career, came up in the 8th looking for one hit in a World Series which he'd started 0-for-13. In perhaps his last at-bat with the team, Burrell blasted a double to left-center as the crowd roared again. Two batters later, pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett--one of the more unlikely World Series heroes--scored what turned out to be his second game-winning run of the Series, driven in by yet another redeemed player, Pedro Feliz.
J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge finished the job, Romero inducing a double-play ball from B.J. Upton to short-circuit a potential Tampa rally in the 8th. And Lidge, showing his filthy stuff, put the last touch on one of the greatest relief ace seasons ever with a scoreless ninth that ended when he struck out Eric Hinske, and started a Philadelphia party a quarter-century in the making. Cole Hamels, 4-0 in five postseason starts, is the World Series Most Valuable Player.
Perhaps the ultimate redemption is that of manager Charlie Manuel. Initially pilloried as an inarticulate fool who couldn't even call a double-switch, the 64 year-old West Virginia native proved himself an exceptional leader of men--and a canny late-game strategist whose every move paid off tonight. Good on you, Charlie. And thank you.
On behalf of my Good Phight compatriots, thank you for taking this incredible journey with us. We're deeply honored that you chose to spend this unforgettable night, this unforgettable season, with us.
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Oakland A's fan here
congratuations to the Philadelphia Phillies, 2008 Worls Champions!!! The team richly deserved this — and so do Phillie fans (love how they booed Bud Selig!!!)
Not ashamed to admit there were some tears in the Camels household. And one absolutely terrified dog.
CELEBRATE!!!!!!
http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?
me, I made my 5-year-old cry with my whooping, and the dog barking her head off. A kind of bliss at 40 markedly different than that at 13.
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 29, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Congratulations on your team's victory Ladies and Gentlemen.
I’m glad the Rays were able to give you guys some fun to watch. I throughly enjoyed watching this series, even if the team I pulled for didn’t come out on top. I admit that I underestimated your team, and am more than happy to eat my fair share of crow. The Phillies were the better team and deserved the championship.
Thank you, you’re going to have a great team to cheer for for quite a long time. Anytime your guys can top the Red Sox and Yankees is OK by me.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?
by WholeCamels on Oct 29, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to admit, slaying the invincible Red Sox machine is not a bad consellation prize.
It’s really hard to be dissapointed about the loss this year for me because the Rays completely blew away their expectations. This will certainly hurt more if it happens again next year.
thanks for your part in making the FOX beancounters rethink their MLB contract.
Someday….
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 29, 2008 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks for this site. I find blogging and watching a tremendous way to handle my nervous energy, and I appreciate that it’s moderated well.
+1
I found this site when I was looking for a place to whine about the 10,000 losses. I found an articulate, smart site with great contributors and writers, and it has enriched my baseball experience immeasurably.
I couldn’t tell an OPS+ from black ops (or gritty white ops) before I came here. Thanks, thanks, thanks. And thanks Phils for the Series win.
Remember the Phitans
by RememberthePhitans on Oct 29, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks. It’s funny, we all have stories like that. I think we all do this partly because we love baseball, we love the Phillies and because we love when people are open minded to see things from a new angle. Appreciation like this is all the thanks I need.
For Who? My teammates.
For What? To Win.
How Much? Where do I sign?
Amen to that
I love baseball. I love the Phillies. I have learned so much about baseball just reading your articles. Most of us can be open minded about anything other than the fact that the Phillies are the best team in the world!!!!
by PhoenixPhilly on Oct 30, 2008 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I take back that proposed Sabathia-Myers trade talk. For now.
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 29, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
What I can see clearly is your son, twenty years from now at age 25, talking about how his first memory of the Phillies is being woken up because his ordinarily soberish Dad was running around screaming like a maniac.
I’m just hoping I’m not under any kind of legal injunction to pay for the therapy….
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 30, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Congrats to the Phillies and the Phillies fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your team and fans have been a joy to watch!!!! The Phillies are my second fave team after the Rockies and I have really enjoyed seeing them triumph against another wonderful team in the Rays!!! Live it up for all it’s worth, because you all deserve it!!! And don’t forget this ones for Cholly!!!!!!!
Re-sign Everyday Atty!
by AtkinsandTulofan on Oct 29, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions
dajafi
Did you actually manage to sit down at a computer and write that after the game ended? If so, I tip my cap to you, sir.
FUYIufdiosa;t4ekfmka;rgoif
Charlie Manuel answering a question
“Don’t take this in a cocky way, but I already knew how good I was”
People have GOT to get off this guys back, accent or no, he’s a funny and smart dude I think
by jemagee on Oct 29, 2008 10:42 PM EDT reply actions
Charlie was awesome in his press conference. Almost seemed more pissed off… maybe because he was answering questions instead of celebrating. The one really classy answer he gave was to the Japanese reporter, about Taguchi.
He’s a genuinely good guy, and we’re lucky to have him.
manuel
was really rolling the dice well tonight. I have always hated the bunt to 3rd base when you have a good hitter at the plate. It’s a low percentage move to give away an out to get a guy to 3rd base. but tonight it worked twice. Amazing!!
Every move he made was a winner, and every move by Maddon was a loser. Even the Utley-Howard lineup issue didn’t hurt him with a little thanks to Maddon
Hey
When did cole hamels stop saying you know?
by jemagee on Oct 29, 2008 10:42 PM EDT reply actions
Believe it or not
you were the first people I thought of as I watched the final out of the game.
Congrats to all of you Phans and all of Philadelphia tonight.
Ecstatic
I go back too long with these guys, but character is key. The gleam of determination of the team, the unexpected double by Jenkins, the amazing (and intentional) play by Utley to get the runner at home, the continued dominance of Lidge, Charlie’s underappreciated startegic moves, the great post game interviews with Rollkins, Moyer, Hamels, Howard (all so articulate in comparison to many teams). Peter Gammons has real class on ESPN, but the FOX team is just disgusting. And, to conclude, I did not start out disliking the Rays, but Joe Maddon has changed all that. What a classless shit in his postgame interview. It’s one thing to praise your team in defeat and talk about the future, but it’s absolutely another not to give credit to the winners. Eat me Joe! 2008 Phillies you are an amazing and inspiring story. I love you.
Um…I know we’re all supposed to be celebrating and all – but wha?
by jemagee on Oct 29, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
congrats from a city near philly that can't find october on the calendar
Yes, I should say that, which, I should say that.
trivia questions
easy: when was the last WS to have been won at home?
hard: when was the last WS to have been clinched earlier than 10:05 p.m. local time?
i feel all warm
what a terrific feeling on a such a hold freaking night.
what a game.
and what a blog! I’m at college, and my roommates don’t care shit about sports, and Phillies fans exist, but are scarce. I was almost wondering how I’d feel about them winning, being so far away….but the internets helps me feel a much bigger connection to all this, and I am so incredibly appreciative.
Lidge purposefully lose the All-Star game so we could win it at home.
For Who? My teammates.
For What? To Win.
How Much? Where do I sign?
bonfires on Broad Street
Just south of City Hall. Small bonfires and lots of multi-thousand fan gatherings in the street.
A surprisingly old-looking Bill Cosby on the FOX affiliate asking in a pre-taped PSA segment what this sort of behavior has to do with being world champions? (fortunately he answers: nothing, Go Phillies!) thank goodness he did, as I’m too cold and drunk to have figured it out for myself.
Fuck Bill Cosby. Grumpy, victim-blaming, misogynist hag. You can’t knock me off this cloud right now.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 30, 2008 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
just got back
Just got back from driving into center city after the game. Was walking up Broadstreet, high-fiving everyone I saw. The place is crazy, but I didn’t think things were out of control. Very jubelant, but I didn’t see any fires. Worst things I saw were lots of broken beer bottles and random people pissing in the streets. Good times!
Center city was popping!!! OH MY GOD!!! WE WON THE WORLD FUCKING SERIES!!!! People hanging from street lamps, standing on moving tractor trailer trucks, fireworks on broad street, smiles all around, high fives, breasts, alcohol, weed, uprooting trees, pandemonium.
It was like Watts except everyone was happy and it was a multi-racial crowd. Happiest moment of my baseball watching life.
I love this team. I love you all. Thanks for an awesome season everyone.
It was very multiracial and harmonious. There are a lot of people who believe that the local black community doesn’t care about baseball and doesn’t support the Phillies. Last night gave the lie to that.
I didn’t see any breasts, but I probably didn’t stay long enough.
Very true
I biked home from the game via Broad Street and it was incredibly multi-racial.
by David S. Cohen on Oct 30, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
YYYYEEEEESSSSS
oh man oh man oh man oh man I can FINALLY forget about the Bruce Ruffin/Rick Schu era..CONGRATS TO ALL! We deserve this.
When in doubt, veer left....
by philly420pdxhilo on Oct 30, 2008 1:10 AM EDT reply actions
Who the hell remembered the ruffin/schu area before you mentioned it – less herb fella, less herb
by jemagee on Oct 30, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Schu
Who can forget the guy who actually displaced Mike Schmidt to first base for a season or so?
http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?
thanks
Just wanted to thank everyone who posts here. I’ve dropped a line or two, but mostly just lurked. I’ve had a blast reading game threads the day after games. Reliving the game with you all living and dieing on every pitch. Great stuff, thanks for sharing this wonderful season with me!
From a Cubs fan...
Congratulations.
Hey… maybe someday we can understand what it feels like!!!
pfffffffffffffffffffff
Lidge is a beast.
Oh My God
I could not believe we won. This doesn’t happen to us. We are World CHAMPIONS…I will treasure this forever.
If the Phillies win a championship....
and no one is watching it, does anyone care?
Congrats to all my fellow Phils fans!! I am still on such an emotional roller coaster that I shed tears finally this morning in my car on the way to work. I cannot wait for the parade tomorrow. I walked in to work this morning and my boss said…“I guess you won’t be working tomorrow.” I never ask for a day off and he didn’t wait for me to bother asking!!! CONGRATS TO ALL OF US REAL FANS AS WELL AS THE ONES THAT JUST JOINED US!!!!
until today I haven’t shown up to work still drunk in like 8 years
"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...
until today I haven’t known a championship …. ever.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
Whodie, the last one i “knew” was when I was one year and 4 months old… I love everyone right now… nothing can ruin today
"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...
I wasn’t quite 3 years old in 1980 so I have no recollection of that. My family was indifferent to basketball so 1983 meant nothing. This is TRULY AWESOME.
A few years ago, who would’ve thought the PHILLIES would end the drought?
http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?
Not I… It seemed as if the Eagles were our hope… Even earlier this year it looked like the Flyers might write their place in history…
"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...
I never thought it would be the Phillies. and that sucked. it would’ve been so anti-climactic and disappointing if it had been the Flyers—I don’t watch hockey. Basketball is the 4th sport in Philly. Eagles would’ve been close, but I’ve been to only 1 regular season game in my life.
Phillies=PERFECT. and I still can’t believe it.
Let’s not go over board there cochise..if i recall correctly, during most of the early portion of the playoffs the main topic of conversatoin was still the eagles choking
by jemagee on Oct 30, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah sorry, this is still the Eagles town!
"Watching Big Ben kiss the canvas nine times in Philly was like watching a guy fighting a school of sharks -- with everyone rooting for the sharks."
And this team didn’t just win, they ran roughshod through the postseason. 4-5-5 is downright Yankees Dynasty-esque.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?
only team to win all 7 home games in the playoffs
"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...
And I think the sweetest thing about that 4 – 5 – 5 run is that:
1) Some people picked the Sabathias over us…
2) Hardly anyone gave us a chance against the LA Mannies…
3) Most of the “experts” assumed the Rays would simply run over the Phils like a speedbump… (How are all of those “Rays in 4 or 5” predictions looking now asshats?)
With this city, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
"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...
suck it indeed
"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...
has anyone managed to find wallpaper worthy photos on the web
Especailly from the celebration?
"Watching Big Ben kiss the canvas nine times in Philly was like watching a guy fighting a school of sharks -- with everyone rooting for the sharks."
Not yet… I’m waiting for the perfect one..
The first person that finds a nice WS DVD set, please post about it. I’m interested in something along the likes of the 1980 Boxset.
"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...
If anyone has a shot of Ryan Howard just before he ‘sacks’ Brad Lidge – that would be nice – dude – that’s a freight train coming
by jemagee on Oct 30, 2008 11:33 AM EDT reply actions
SI pictures
They have a good pic of Lidge and Ruiz. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0810/mlb.best.world.series.shots/content.1.html
congrats Phillies fans
Reds fan here. enjoy the win! your team and you fans richly deserve it. relish in it while it lasts, because next year its our turn!
"If you don't get the President of the United States on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you? You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company."
by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 30, 2008 12:03 PM EDT reply actions
I admire your baseless yet extreme optimism :)
by jemagee on Oct 30, 2008 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Your coach is Dusty Baker. You have 2 young and highly promising right handed pitchers. I feel for you.
All of the stud/future stud pitchers whose careers were recklessly ruined or are in the process of being ruined by Baker’s complete disregard for their health should band together and file a class action suit or something.
Tremendous excerpt from Sheehan
Watching your favorite team win a championship isn’t the highlight of anyone’s life. We love, we marry, we parent, we achieve, we have all of these experiences with family and friends. These are the things that make up a life.
Your team, though… you share that with everyone. You don’t go through that alone, with your spouse or your kids, with your friends or your business partners. You live that passion in public, in a stadium, with thousands, tens of thousands of others, and your heart goes out on your sleeve and stays there, no matter how badly it gets bruised. Everyone around you, walking around for years—28 of them, say—all of you with a shared history of joy and pain, of almost and not-quite-almost, memories of the great third baseman or the scrappy center fielder, but also of a left-handed reliever gone awry, and the other guys jumping up and down, spiking your ill-placed heart, pain you’d try to forget if only those damned highlights people would let you.
And in a moment, you’re healed. In the time it takes for a reliever—a perfect reliever—to drop to his knees and raise his arms to the sky, it all goes away. There’s no disappointment, there’s no pain, there’s no frustration, there’s just you and 46,000 like you, screaming into the night sky with that reliever, a building full of happy, surrounded by a city of joy, all looking at one thing: baseball
Hold on a second
Congrats to the team and Charlie, and everybody certainly enjoy the day, but somebody is missing here:
"Two batters later, pinch-runner and Pat Gillick acquisition Eric Bruntlett—one of the more unlikely World Series heroes—scored what turned out to be his second game-winning run of the Series, driven in by yet another redeemed player, and Pat Gillick acquisition , Pedro Feliz.
Pat Gillick acquisitions J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge finished the job"…
How could we forget Pat Gillick’s prized acquisition??? Adam Eaton!
dajafi you should be ashamed of yourself :-)
"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...
A post from this thread on Baseball Think Factory:
Rodder Posted: October 30, 2008 at 12:25 PM (#2999670)
“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.” Bart Giamatti.
My favorite baseball quote, which I think about each year on the day following the World Series. This is the first year in my lifetime the quote doesn’t describe my emotions.
This nicely sums up my feelings as well.
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