Can’t wait for next year. Just imagine us having an actually 3rd baseman and Cole coming back to his normal self.

Not that it means anything, but I think the Phillies beat the Yankees if we played 7 straight games with no days off.

It’s a weird feeling, being on top of the world for more than a year and finally being knocked off…but it’s a feeling I am happy I got to experience.

Are you really gonna question bringing chad durbin in? Come on, it was obvious pedro was done, and the top of the order was up, who else would you bring in in that situation? That was certainly not what lost the phillies this game. Also, anyone else feel that the strike zone expanded quite a bit in the 7th against our lefties starting with chase utley? That really frustrated me, as the umpire was not calling that outside pitch all night against our lefties, it really left chase utley in a bind during that at bat. Oh well, this team is good enough to get there next year, the yankees are a great team and they spent their money and got their championship. I am still very proud of the Phillies.

for reaching so far, and going so far in memory of Harry the K.

Trust me, it sucks a lot more right now being a Phillies fan living in Japan. It sucks to have Yankees fans rubbing it in your face, but to have Japanese people who only cheered for the Yankees because of Matsui rubbing it in your face….

Still, of all the bad things that could have, or did happen to this team, there are so many more good things that did happen.
I am proud of the Phillies.

As one of the recent game recaps here said recently, “This is as good as it’s ever been.”

That’s still true. We’ll be back for more next year. It was a great season, despite all the ups and downs, and I’m proud to be a Phillies fan.

The man reads poetry out loud, man

Every year is the same
And I feel it again,
I’m a loser – no chance to win.
Leaves start falling,
Come down is calling,
Loneliness starts sinking in.

But I’m one.
I am one.
And I can see
That this is me,
And I will be,
You’ll all see
I’m the one.

Any comments on the 7th inning and on expansion of the strike zone for joe west against our lefties?

Not the way we drew up this Series, but hell, if you’d told me 13 months ago that I’d be disappointed that my Phillies would fail to go back-to-back, I’d have said you were nuts.

Flags fly forever… and I’ve still got “High Hopes” for next year!

after I decided to post something “classy” at PA, something just connected with my inner 10-year-old, my moniker, and once again, it’s a rainy night in late October, I am watching the TV, and I see puddles on the left field warning track and a sullen, sodden left fielder. And I felt horribly, deeply sad.

It was a wonderful ride. But bah, I hate this.

Props to Chan Ho for a well pitched series.

I was pulling for you, as was most of Purple Row.

For the past seven years and always thought it would be fun to see a Yankees title when i lived here but never did I imagine it would be the phils they would be beating. I moved here in 2002 and had little hope for the phils. I went to game 1 and will remember it forever. As for the series, winning it takes a great team and a lot of breaks and in my opoinion the yanks got a lot more of them. Just think about all the hard outs for the phils. But in the end the phils were left starting Pedro twice because hammels was so mediocre, the yanks pitched Howard extrermely well and the dh was huge. I’ve always wondered why the talking heads never talk about that? It’s a huge edge for al teams in the ws. Just think if the phils could add a 30 home run hitter to their lineup in place of the pitcher? And just think if the phils went out this offseason and signed a no 1 starter, no 2 starter and a power hitting third baseman? I’d like to see that team take on the yanks. And a final note. I live in manhattan and it’s been quiet. Yankees fans are lame or spoiled. Not sure. It really doesn’t feel like a ws was won tonight. Here’s to great season and a great blog. And here’s to adding a no 2 caliber starter and a better bench. Go eagles!

And I am not saying it’s over. It would be a pleasure, and I have to admit a bit scary seeing you guys again next year.

Because I know the Phils will be

That’s what the write-up called Rivera, Jeter, Posada, and Pettitte. Four Amigos. Five rings, 1996-2009.
That got me thinking what we would have if the Phillies cornerstones who came up through the minors stayed in Philly and managed another title or two and were still here and winning another title in 2021. Our guys would be: Ruiz, Rollins, and Utley, too old to be regulars at age 42; Howard, at 41; and Hamels, at age 37. Throw in Ryan Madson (41) or JA Happ (39). That’s what they would be 13 years after the 2008 title. However, if you shortened the timeline to five years sooner, 2016, then you might be able to find four Phillies from the current team could still be regulars or at least valuable bench players: Utley, for sure, Madson and Hamels I could see, and any one of the others could still be around in another seven years. The fact that the Yankees four five-ring winners were all key figures 13 years after playing is truly remarkable.

Though I bleed Dodger Blue, you guys have a tremendous team in Philadelphia. Most of all, I love the way it’s run, with a core group that management has allowed to grow, while not being afraid of adding a significant new face or two every season. That’s the way it SHOULD be done. I can only hope that the Dodgers take a cue from you guys (though I’m not too optimistic with the ownership we have, but nevertheless…), and not follow the lead of the Indians, Padres, and Mariners of earlier this decade. As far as the Phillies go, the season can only be viewed as a disappointment relative to the insanely high point where you guys started out from.

I’ll look forward to many October battles in the years to come- so long as the front office doesn’t eff things up- and more short term, seeing Citizens Bank Park next August!

From a Yankee fan, the Phillies are a great, great team, and I would be stunned not to see the Phillies back in the WS next year. If it makes anyone feel any better, I was freaking out at the thought of seeing Utley on deck in the ninth, even with a 4 run lead and Mo on the mound. He’s that good. If Matsui didn’t get the 6 RBI and the MVP, I would argue that Utley get the MVP regardless of who won.

Good luck next year on getting your 4th straight division title.

Well…
It’s been a great run. Baseball season is now over. First UNC basketball game is Monday night, so my seasons shall just bleed one into the other.

Great run by the Phils.

I know it’s an annoying usage of the multiple end points comparison, but…

Over the past two MLB seasons, only one team has gone to the World Series twice, and one it once. No other team can claim that. Go Phils!

Still was a great season, two time NL champions, 3 time NL East Champions, I would love for this to continue like a Braves legacy with these division titles. There are only a few areas to address here with this team though.

1) 3B – Feliz needs to go, I feel like its only a matter of time before we put out for Beltre, he has a great glove as well.

2) Closer – This one will be interesting, they can’t move Lidge but they can start to develop Madson more. Maybe bring in a former closer on staff in spring training to help him with his psyche.

3) Bullpen – This rely’s on health. Chan Ho needs to be back, Durbin needs to go. They need to bring in a lefty as well, as well as someone who can hit over 95 thats not Madson, maybe Betancourt.

4) Bench – The market is really weak this offseason but they need to get that bench shaped up, preferably a setup kind of like the Dogders had, minus the Thome salary.

I have some feeling though we might not see that outfield the same next year, something just tells me it might be different but I don’t see how it will be possible. The key is going to be money. Phillies management has shown that they will put the cash out to be the big spenders in the NL, especially with the pay Howard is going to be due in the long term (looking at 18M a year). The other key is 30, though in baseball is young, its not young enough to wait for the farm, especially with the outfield (eventually they won’t be able to keep both Victorino and Werth, mostlikely after next year), and the infield with dipstick Jimmy.

Don’t forget one thing, had the National League won the All Star game, Phils would’ve had home field advantage. That’s the main reason they lost. There’s no way any of the Yanker’s pitchers would’ve gotten six RBIs. Matsui wouldn’t have even played a game 6 in Philly. Maybe pinch hit – once. Yanker’s pitchers would’ve had to bat in games 1, 2, 6 and 7 if it went that far. The NL is a real league where all the players who take the field have to actually bat or be pinch hit for. Tougher strategy, tougher league. Any time AL team wins a game because of DH rule, and that game clinches the series, its a tainted win. It’s inferior baseball. And the Yankers and their fans know it.

to load the bases and then go to the shitter because your pitcher hits?Gotta love the guy who has a million excuses,anybody else think thats why our country is in the pot.Excuses for why I didnt pay my bills,go to work,the yankees win,forclosed on my home,all goes hand in hand.

I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate the Phillies on a great season and for being fabulous and classy defending champions. I live here in Central Pennsylvania now and I am of course bombarded with Phillies fans all around me, but I could never get myself to “hate” this team. In fact, I kind of like them (even J-Roll), and they remind me a lot of these Yankees in many way. Hold your heads high because you have a great team and I have a feeling we might see each other again…

If we consider the following, it’s kind of amazing that we made it as far as we did:

• Hamels was a shell of his former self, especially in the postseason.
• Two key guys who helped us to win the whole shebang last year – Moyer and Romero – were unavailable.
• Other pieces of last year’s championship puzzle – namely, Myers, Stairs, and Dobbs – were practically useless this time around.
• Lidge had a horrible year but somehow managed to keep it together, at least until we got to the World Series.

Everything seems rosy when we think about 2008 now, but if memory serves we weren’t exactly hitting lights out against Tampa Bay (except during Game 4). During the other games, we scored just enough to win, and our team pitching did the rest.

I think it was Phil Sheridan who wrote that the Phils realistically could not expect to win with one solid pitcher (Lee) and one solid hitter (Utley). Still, they were only two wins away from doing just that.

Congratulations to the Phillies for a wonderful season. Thanks to Charlie for keeping the guys loose, but still bringing down the hammer when needed. Thanks to Ruben for keeping the team competitive. And thanks to the players for getting over their championship hangover fairly quickly and getting right back to the World Series. We just ran out of steam against a better team.

I think Pedro was actually pretty decent last night. He just got killed by one man. He wasn’t dominant but he got the job done, … if not for Godzilla Pedro was good.

I was pulling for your team they whole way. I was excited when your team beat the Dodgers cause I wanted my team to play you guys in the hunt for “RED” October. And when my team was eliminated by the “evil empire” I was really pulling for your team because while I’m an AL fan I won’t root for NY or Boston.

So I’m sorry, and I hope we meet in October in 2010.