Phillies Breakfast Links, October 26, 2009: The Bell vs. The Statue, SEPTA vs. The City, and Razors in Trenton
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2009 7:41 AM EDT
91 comments
Ugh. This guy again. via nymag.com
Yankees win. Yankees win. Duuuuh Yankees win. Oh, and the Angels just crumbled in the 8th inning when they erred on consecutive sacrifice bunt plays. This leaves the Halos to rue what might have been.
Now that the matchup is official, let's review the neighborly animosity between the two cities. This kind of stuff is just going to get ridiculous for the next three days. The official border is the State Barbershop in Trenton. Look for a Regis and Katie standup on your morning TV this week.
If you're contrarian about your pre-Series hype, here's a nice piece in the Hardball Times about the worst World Series games ever. How did this one not make the list?
20 things to ponder about the Yankees. Jimmy Rollins once again demonstrates his eerie powers of prognostication when it comes to baseball and New York. And--better sleep tonight alert!--now we know why Joe Girardi wears #27.
After Lee, Phillies rotation unsettled. Perhaps next year we'll have four off-days between each World Series game to make this pre-series chatter go away.
Lee is 4-4 with a 5.02 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees, but is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his past three against them. That included a 10-2 victory over New York in the opening of the new Yankee Stadium on April 16, when Lee still pitched for the Cleveland Indians.
SEPTA workers authorize city strike. The city will appeal to MLB umpires, who could rule the strike a ball, especially given that A-Rod is going to be at the plate. TWU 234 may walk out right before the World Series starts. How fun would another parade be without buses, subways and trolleys? Ah, SEPTA. We're getting there.
Ibanez may need off-season surgery. And Utley says he's not hurt. And wait, there's a Carlos Ruiz chest protector backpack? Gotta get me one of them there.
Scoscia wants schedule tightened. Too bad this critique will probably go nowhere and be criticized as sour grapes. He's right, you know that?
And I got the Hot Stove!
Manny Acta to the Indians. I always kind of dug his implacid but long-suffering expression in the dugout. I guess Cleveland did, too.
Mark McGwire to be Cardinals' hitting coach. Do as I say, not as I did? Commence the "needling" jokes.
L'Affaire Phillips. Update: Facebook is the new bunny in the pot.
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I was at the game they gave away the Carlos Ruiz Chest Protector backpack…I wanted one so bad but you had to be 13 years or younger. I offered a kid 10 bucks for one…but his Dad said no.
by Clyde Simmons on Oct 26, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Angels 8th
Reminded me of when we had Jon Lieber on the mound. That dude couldn’t throw a ball anywhere but to the catcher, and even then he wasn’t terribly accurate.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Prognosticators NOT Named Jimmy
I know I’m rehashing an old argument, but I feel myself getting worked up over the way many baseball critics, i.e. Rosenthal, Kurkjian, Peter Gammons and fans of the AL talk about the American League. They completely overvalue the AL over the NL. I believe there is no way to really compare these 2 leagues in the first place and it goes back to the old addage, “You can’t compare apples to oranges.” I understand when an AL team comes into an NL park they abide by the NL rules and vice versa, but when a team is paying a DH $15 million to supplant the pitches AB for an entire season, it skews influential offensive statistics used to make critical comparisons and predictions.
As soon as either the NL adopts the DH or the AL finally gets rid of it, can there be accurate comparisons. As for now, the DH, will always separate the 2 leagues as the primary difference. Any prediction made by computer simulation or advance baseball reporter is really just a shot in the dark. This may be more of a message to myself than anyone else on the biggest reason not to get caught up in the mumbo jumbo of “Why they think so and so will win the WFC.”
by Phils 2036 World CH on Oct 26, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tis the season...
for prognostication and previews, at least for the next two days. You already know the Yankees are going to be favored, so don’t let it get you upset. The game is still played on the field. I did read an article the other day (although I don’t know where) suggesting that the Phillies are really an AL team in disguise the way they are built and play. It is a backhanded compliment to be sure, at least to the extent it implies that the NL sucks except for Philly.
I’m not sure I agree there is “no way to really compare these 2 leagues.” Interleague play is at least one indicator, and the NL hasn’t really matched up as of late. But I don’t care at all which league is better. It’s meaningless. All that matters is which team is better come Wednesday. And if the Phils repeat, I suspect this will shut-up alot of people who love to claim AL dominance.
by Boundforbeach on Oct 26, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah
If I know my New Yawk sports fans, I know one thing, if the Phillies win, it will be because of the umps, or luck, or injuries, or A Rod, or Phil Hughes, or Joe Girardi, or anything but the Phillies being better.
by Cormican on Oct 26, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I respectfully disagree
If we lose we will not be complaining about umpiring (there are still some idiots, can’t speak for everyone), since we just beat the Angels and over at Halos Heaven they did nothing but run stories about MLB-umpire conspiracy theories. I don’t see why injuries would be mentioned since none of the Yankees’ key components are injured (except possibly Chien Ming Wang, who could have been good this year if he didn’t implode, but still not a major factor). As for luck that always is a part of the postseason with short series. A hot streak could mean a championship for any team that makes it into the postseason.
And if we lose and blame our players, I don’t see the problem with that (in moderation, there’s no sense in hating a player just because he had a bad series). Yes, if our players don’t perform, we will lose, and we will blame them for it. If Hughes implodes in the bullpen in the late innings of a close game then he will be partially responsible for our loss. And if Girardi overmanages the bullpen or makes terrible moves, then he’ll be responsible as well.
I think that these teams are evenly matched and the team that wins is going to be the team that plays better for the next week and a half.
by YankeesRock on Oct 28, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that article was in the New York Post.
Quoth Bart Hubbach:
But these Phillies are practically an AL team with their power, and they give the NL its best chance in a long time to repeat, not to mention give the Yankees fits in the Fall Classic.
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
umm…just out of curiousity, who was the last NL WS champion who got to play in it again the next year?
The Braves won in 95 and were back in 96 (lost to Yankees in 6).
The next most recent team was the 75-76 Reds, which did win back to back.
Since the Reds, the Yankees have won multiples (1977-1978, 1998-2000), and the Blue Jays in 1992-1993. Seeing as how the Yankees spend more at 3rd base than a lot of NL teams do on their whole roster (possible exaggeration – haven’t checked the #‘s), I’m going to posit that the whole “repeat” thing isn’t an NL thing, it’s a “non-yankee” thing.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since 1960
NYY 61/62
Oakland A’s 72/73/74
Reds 75/76
NYY 77/78
Jays 92/93
NYY 98/99/00
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 26, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In fairness, the AL is a better league than the NL. I’d say that 95% of this is due to the AL East,* but whatever the reason, it’s true. And the Yankees were certainly the best team in baseball over 162 games.
But the playoffs are a crapshoot. The Yanks will rightfully be favored, but the disparity between the guys in blue pinstripes and those in red pinstripes isn’t very substantial at all over the course of 7 games.
*[I mean, the AL Central is beyond pathetic. I can think of 7 teams in the NL that could probably have won that division.]
by PhillyFriar on Oct 26, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the Tigers and Twins are respectable teams. I don’t know that 7 NL teams could’ve won that division. I’ll say the 4 NL playoff teams could’ve (but hey….SOME division has to be the weakest), but beyond that, who? Giants? Braves? Marlins? Cubs? Ehh…not seeing that happening.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Besides the 4 NL playoff teams, I think the Braves were clearly better than anyone in the AL Central, and you can make a pretty compelling argument for the Giants and maybe even the Marlins as well. It’s all academic, of course, but I’d guess that the Keith Laws and Joe Sheehans of the world would tend to agree with me.
Anyway, that was all a fancy way of backing up my ultimate point: while the AL is a better league than the NL, it’s in large part because 3 of the best teams in baseball the past 2 years play in the AL East.
by PhillyFriar on Oct 26, 2009 4:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Giants fan living in Philly, here
SEPTA TWU antics are really pissing me off. They wait until the world series to strike and publish BS letters in the papers here talking about how they really care about the riders and that is it. BS just say you are watching out for yourself! I love SEPTA and they have a greta system here, I just can’t stand the way the TWO is going about it.
This is aimed at the TWU heads and not the workers who I respect very much. Thank you SEPTA workers!
I R 5
by say hey nation on Oct 26, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
septa union is a joke they deserve to burn
it seems like septa threatens to strike twice a year
by packimop on Oct 26, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The city will appeal to MLB umpires, who could rule the strike a ball, especially given that A-Rod is going to be at the plate.
That’s funny as hell. I particularly enjoyed when Vlad was hitting for the Halos last night and had to swing at everything because the ump was calling balls that were 3-4" from the plate strikes.
by Cormican on Oct 26, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Morgan noted this and posited that this was because “Vlad expands his own strike zone.” Um. So the guy has the ability to hit a ball for a single to right in the 8th that most batters would struggle to get the bat on. He should be penalized for that?
by Steve J on Oct 26, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, I should follow my own Neyer advice below. Joe Morgan is not someone to be listened to under and circumstances.
by Steve J on Oct 26, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair, he usually does that anyway.
But it did seem like Pettitte got a hell of a lot more borderline strikes than did the Angels Ps.
by dajafi on Oct 26, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just a testament to Vlad that he can hit a ball 2" off thr ground and 6" off the plate for a double to RF.
Thought the strikezone was pretty unequal last night. Pettitte was getting stuff that the Angels were not. Throw that in and the Angels inability to field a sac bunt, and there’s the game (umps not responsible for Angels inability to field, or stupid baserunning by Vlad)
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looked to me like because of where the umpire was positioned (over Posada’s right shoulder), he was consistently calling the outside pitch (to RH batters) a strike. This also seemed to work the other way, so that inside strikes to RH batters were being called balls. It was a net disadvantage to Saunders rather than Pettite. What I couldn’t figure is why the Angels pitchers couldn’t seem to notice that and adjust as well. The bases loaded walk for the Yankees’ third run, which did end up influencing the situational strategy later, was just stupid. Anybody have Pitch FX data fwiw?
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was stupid, but a few of those pitches were marginal. If I was an Angels fan I would’ve thrown stuff at the TV, grabbed my broom, and called shenanigans.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m aware Vlad has never seen a pitch he didn’t think he could hit (I’m surprised he doesn’t swing when they intentionally walk him, though he doesn’t get that much at this point in his career). The weird thing is that first pitch that was 4 inches off the plate was easily the most hittable pitch of his at bat. Instead he swung at the third pitch, which I think would have rolled to the backstop had he not made contact with it.
by Cormican on Oct 26, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Endy Chavez must have given him lessons.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
check out the "expert" picks for the series...
For some reason i wouldn’t have this any other way:
by MikeD. on Oct 26, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
beautiful
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Oct 26, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NLCS
No surprise there. Gammons, Neyer, Caple, and Arangure all picked the Dodgers for the NLCS. And so did Steve Phillips, and you saw what happened to him…
by Boundforbeach on Oct 26, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how can someone have the balls to pick yankees in five? thats just embarassing. can’t wait til all these yankees lovers start yankin their predictions after game one
by packimop on Oct 26, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s Rob Neyer. He’s hardly “someone”. If you want something to get all hot and bothered about…
by Steve J on Oct 26, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty typical
Neyer picked the Dodgers in 5.
by The R on Oct 26, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, in fairness, Neyer was the only espn.com expert to pick the Phillies to beat the Dodgers in 2008. Caple, Phillips, Kurkjian, and Stark (!) all picked the Dodgers. (Caple picked the Dodgers to win 4-1! … In 2007!)
4-1 in this WS is a rather aggressive stance though.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
(Both of those years should have been 2008, of course.)
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My Expert Pick
Yankees and Yankeeland are in for a surprise. May not see what’s coming with their heads so far up their own…. Phillies in a sweep to win consecutive WFC’s.
by Phils 2036 World CH on Oct 26, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's funny.
Poked my head for a chat over at River Ave. Blues, and there’s a definite feeling of, “The mainstream media thinks the Phillies overmatch us, that we’re the underdogs. What a joke.”
Maybe that says something about the psychology of wanting to be an underdog, but I’m no social scientist, so I’ll leave the conclusions to others.
by PhillyFriar on Oct 26, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rudy Guiliani..."Ugh" is right
But get used to it. We’re going to see lots of him, Jack Nicholson, Billy Crystal, Adam Sandler, Regis, Jay-Z, Sarah Jessica Parker and others rooting on the damned Yankees.
But don’t fret. We should have Will Smith :)
by Boundforbeach on Oct 26, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I keep looking at that picture of him, and without fail, it keeps pissing me off. Bleah.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
baseball prospectus had yanks as ~55/45 over the Phils, before last night’s game.
I think that’s fairly accurate. I think the Yankees should be favored, but not overly so. While I really want the Phillies to win, the core of Jeter/ARod/Teixeira is better than Utley/Howard/Werth IMHO. I’d say it’s close, but still in the Yankees favor.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’ll be about there – I expect to see a 54/46, since it was 51% Yankees, 3% Angels, 45% Phillies before last night.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
by The Dark on Oct 26, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of those group of three players. WAR/650 PA
Yankees: 17.09
Philleis: 16.34
So yes, it’s close.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Oct 26, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least my attempt at an honest prediction is Phillies in 5. I am sure I am biased, but I also think that aside from CC, Yankees starters will have bad match ups, and that Phillies offense is better than Yankees. Also, Phillies have tons of long fly ball hitter guys, which will work well in both ball parks, possibly to the extent of undermining homefield advantage for the Yankees.
Phils also have a nice non disadvantage insofar as Francisco in LF and Ibanez as DH is a pretty natural way to take care of the DH issue. The Yankees, when dropping Matsui (presumably) from the line up dont look all that great.
Texeira is slumping, and I dont count on that to continue, but hopefully it does. A Rod is really rolling, but that might get curbed a bit. Angels were also actually much closer series wise sans errors, which Please God the Phillies wont commit as many of.
A patient Phillies offense is an awesome force to behold, and I think whether or not the guys are patient etc. will really be the deciding factor. Second, will be whether any of our starters poop on the field. Third will be whether are bull pen can poop with dignity on the field, haha.
Phils take game 1, lose game 2 and win the home games.
by Whack8888 on Oct 26, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I actually think the Yankees lineup is better. But the difference isn’t very large. Over a seven-game stretch, it’s a toss-up as to who would be more likely to score more runs in a vacuum.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure if I’d call 5 games, but I agree that I can see the Phils beating up on the Yanks.
I’m completely unimpressed with the Yankees bullpen besides Rivera. The Dodgers bullpen (with Kuo) was far better and the Phils chewed them up.
A-Rod is playing out of his mind, but so is Howard, and A-Rod doesn’t have much protection behind him. At least not like Howard.
CC has been pitching great, but the Phils have lit him up in the past. Burnett has been completely mediocre against the Phils. Pettitte has been tough though. Especially if he gets those 4in. off the plate strikes. But I think Lee negates Sabathia (making a push). And I really think that Pedro will pitch lights out, kind of like a last hurrah. I do wonder what Hamels/Blanton will do.
I’d say the Phils defense is superior. You could argue that the infields are a push, but the Phils outfield makes the Yankees look like 50yo beer leaguers.
I think the Phils win in both the intangibles and managing. Girardi seems to have been questionable and lucky. Manuel also seems questionable, but considering how he’s been right so often, I’m starting to think he is some kind of rainman. And the Phils have been through this all before, and have proven that they don’t get rattled. The Yanks have swagger and confidence too, but I still wonder about how A-Rod, Teix, Cano, and Burnett will do on the really big stage.
Overall, and I admit I’m biased, but I see the Phils in 7. They split the first 2 with CC, take 2 from Burnett, lose one to Pettitte, then beat up on a tired CC in game 7. Then again, I suppose the Phils could take the first 2 from CC… then it’d be over in 5.
by The R on Oct 26, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hasn’t Burnett pitched in a couple WS already?
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what, I have to back up my post with some research??
Just looked it up, no, this is his first postseason.
by The R on Oct 26, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t realize he was hurt in 2003. I also can’t keep him straight from Penny and Beckett wrt who’s pitched when and where. That 2003 team had a lot of good young arms. I know Redman turned into a pumpkin later in his career, but he pwn3d the phils for a while there.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the Whiz Kids shall have their revenge
phillies in 6
by fitzy first on Oct 26, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I very much respect the team that the Yankees will field over the next week. They have a pitching staff that can be dominant from first pitch to last pitch if they’re on. They also have an offensive team that can put up big numbers. Much will be made regarding the legendary Yankees teams that have played in the World Series and the squad in the late 90s that won 3 straight, but this team isn’t any of those teams. Outside of Jeter, Rivera, Posada, and Damon, they don’t have anyone that has played in the WS before.
I respect what they’ve done all season, and understand that it will be a tough task to defeat them, but I’m confident that we can, and will, do it. Realistically, I say it’s the Phils in 6. However, since I’ll be at Games 3 and 4, it would be utterly fantastic if it’s the Phils in 4… :-)
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Oct 26, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Odds
Vegas just put out the line for Game 1. Someone said the Phils are big underdogs even with Lee on the mound. The line says Philly +152, NYY -162. I don’t know the first thing about betting. Can someone explain this line?
by Boundforbeach on Oct 26, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
when your team has a plus, you get that amount for betting $100. If your team has a minus, you have to bet that much to win $100. So Philly +152 means bet $100, win $152. And NYY -162 means bet $162, win $100. Someone care to confirm?
Also, that shows that Yankees are favored in game 1 because you have to bet a bunch of money to win a little and for the Phillies bet a little and win a lot. Relatively, of course. I’m poor, I’m not putting $100 on anything
by pjnc2003 on Oct 26, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thnx… it surprises me. That disparity seems just enormous.
by Boundforbeach on Oct 26, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Part of that has to do with the amount of betting for one side or another. I suspect there is a lot of betting for the Yankees. If that happens, they usually change the odds for the other team (Phillies) to make it more attractive to bet for that other team. They do that in order to have more equal betting, its sort of a hedge to reduce payout losses.
by The R on Oct 26, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
clarification
I think you know this, but I’ll clarify just because this crap used to confuse me.
So Philly +152 means bet $100, win $152, which means for you initial $100, you’d walk away with $252 if you won (the $100 you bet, plus the $152 you won).
And NYY -162 means bet $162, win $100, which means for your initial $162, you’d walk away with $262 if you won (the $162 you bet, plus the $152 you won).
A good way to look at how the house prevails on stuff like this and to ‘check you math’ is to play out the money if you bet on both sides.
If you bet both sides, you’d be laying down $262. If the Phils won, you’d lose $10. If the Yankees won, you’d break even. Therefore, the goal of the bet acceptor is to make sure that money is laid evenly on both sides (and adjusting the line to move the money….too much money on the Phils, lower the reward on them and lower the cost to bet the yanks), so they just pay the winners with the losers cash and pocket $10 or so from about half the bettors.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn we need an edit function. My second line on the yanks should read:
(the $162 you bet, plus the $100 you won).
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thanks Bilzo, seeing the combined bet+winnings makes it clearer how close the 2 bets really are (252 to 262)
by pjnc2003 on Oct 28, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and if I’m not mistaken, there’ll be some distortion because of big money interest in the Yankees — not unlike driving up costs for seats, there will be some distortion in the odds because any house does not want to get overexposed. So Phillies bets will ultimately be cheaper, Yankees bets will be more expensive.
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate Rudy Giuliani and his completely unwarranted celebrity status.
by FuquaManuel on Oct 26, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wholeheartedly second that opinion.
Right now on CSN, there’s a presser and Robin Roberts is being questioned about the 1950 WS Whiz Kids. It’s interesting stuff.
by doubleh on Oct 26, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my lucky throwback Robin Roberts jersey was made for this series.
Revenge!
by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so what you’re saying is that it’s time to pull out the old billy baroo?
by Boundforbeach on Oct 26, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
DH?
Have we heard officially who the DH will be? Dobbs for RHPs and Francisco for LHPs? Will Francisco play in the LF/Raul as DH and Raul in LF/Dobbs as DH?
And since when has Cholly started this “I’m not telling the media/fans what we’re planning to do?” BS… I thought that was strictly an act employed the guys in green and white across the parking lot?
by ajr142 on Oct 26, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why do you care? Unless you’re betting money on the game, I don’t see how your interests are impacted either way.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was listening to some NY radio earlier, and was pleasantly surprised that it was at least somewhat balanced. There was the odd Yankee fan who just crapped on the Phillies, but for the most part, most of the fans and talking heads felt it would be a good competitive series. In fact, I would say that the voices I’ve heard out of NY have been slightly more respectful of the Phillies’ chances than have the voices I’ve heard out of Philadelphia about the Yankees’ chances. Which is strange.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Predictions are for suckers. As always, this series will be decided more by luck than by any actual differences in talent. Even series between non-evenly matched teams are crapshoots, and these two teams are fairly evenly matched.
So that said: PHILLIES IN FIVE, BABY!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I’d have to agree with this more than anything else. With two teams this “even”, it is going to come down to luck. Stupid crap like who throws the fewest balls into the dugout, who gets the ball 8" off the plate called for a K, who dives and misses a liner in the outfield, that kinda crap.
I just hope umpiring really doesn’t come into play. The Phils got more shafted than the Rays did last year and still came out on top, but the Phillies were hands down a better team than Tampa last year, so it didn’t matter as much. I don’t really like A-Rod, but there’s a pretty big gap between A-Rod/Tex and Longoria/Pena.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Frankly there’s a pretty big gap between Jeter/ARoid/Tex and the rest of Baseball in general. No other team can line up 3 likely Hall of Famers around their prime like that. That said, I think the rest of their lineup/bench is pretty equal to or less than what the Phillies have.
by Cormican on Oct 26, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed completely on the “Playoffs are a crapshoot, and anything can happen in a short series between evenly-matched teams” train of thought.
On the other hand, I think it’s rewriting history to say that the 2008 Phils were “hands down” better than the 2008 Rays. Tampa Bay won 97 games in the AL East, then beat a damn good Boston team to win the AL. They lost to us because they struggled to hit left-handed pitching, and because the Phils exposed their bullpen in Games 3 and 5. The Rays were quite frankly the better team over 162 games, but luckily for us, things like matchups and luck play a huge role in a 7-game series.
by PhillyFriar on Oct 26, 2009 5:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
ehh…fair enough I guess. I might not have said that going into last years games, but that roster isn’t significantly changed and it didn’t get it done this year. The ludicrous spending of the Yankees might have something to do with that however.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoops
I actually did mean to type ARod. Freudian slip there.
by Cormican on Oct 26, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Go Phillies!
Beat the MFY
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
by 44FAN on Oct 26, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope the prediction of the Phils in 5 is right on as I have a ticket to that game.. I personally think it will be a all out dogfight and hope the Phils pull it out and believe they will IF the umpiring is fair.
by DeanH on Oct 26, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Haven’t seen as much Yankee/celebrity-worshiping douchiness as I’d expected from the national media – yet. There’s been some of it, but a good number of commentators have been surprisingly respectful of the Phils. Come on, national media! I need to get riled up some more.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Were the Phils not reigning WFCs, I suspect we’d be drowning in Yankee knob gobbling.
by Cormican on Oct 26, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
from the sbn mets blog
Credit where due – I thought this was amusing.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
http://twitter.com/SI_jonHeyman
Jon Heyman reports that Pedro will pitch Game 2, Hamels Game 3, Lee Game 4 on three days’ rest.
I don’t know if I trust Heyman though. He had a lot of false leads during Halladaypalooza back in July.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hmmmmm, Lee on 3 days rest? I think Manual should withhold a final decision depending on how the first 3 games go. Lee is a great pitcher, no doubt, but the last thing the Phils want to do is waste him on short rest and him not pitching to his maximum ability. Unless things are really dire, ie 0-3 or maybe even 1-2 I would prefer Blanton in this spot.
by Whack8888 on Oct 26, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m still turning it over in my head, but at the moment I think I agree with you.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would refrain from Lee on 3 days rest.
I didn’t associate Heyman with any “bad” rumor reporting during Halladaygate, but I wasn’t paying attention to too many rumors since I didn’t believe them.
Andy Katz for ESPN College Basketball is one guy who I click off whenever he’s reporting rumors. That dude just guesses and more often than not he’s wrong.
by Bilzo on Oct 26, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pedro Martinez in game two? In Yankee Stadium
You guy can’t be too confident with that matchup.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Oct 26, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh, he could try, Joe is probably in better shape
than half the team, dude is an animal.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Oct 26, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think it's because of Hamels home/road splits?
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Oct 26, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We don’t even know if the report is accurate, so it’s a little early to speculate.
by taco pal on Oct 26, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, Heyman is a bit of a weiner.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Oct 26, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually kind of like the idea of Lee pitching on short rest — as long as he feels up to the task — but the problem is that even if you do that, you have to: (A) ask Hamels and Pedro to pitch on short rest as well; or (B) use your fourth starter in Game 5 anyway.
Obviously, Option A is unlikely, because neither Cole nor Pedro has ever pitched on short rest. Option B makes some amount of sense, because it makes Lee available for a potential Game 7 (again, on three days’ rest).
by PhillyFriar on Oct 26, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
toddz
Phillies bullpen has a 7.11 ERA in the World Series. In 12 2/3 innings: 15 hits, 10 earned runs, five walks and two homers. 16 strikeouts.
by char6587 on Nov 4, 2009 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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