Fin: Giants 3, Phillies 2

I think that is what we should call the BABIP fairy next year when we are getting screwed.

Im sure he would have loved the chance for that AB too, a hit would have raised his next pay.

You’ve got a fantastic way of dealing with trolls. Sorry for the Giants’ version… but I get that you know they don’t represent most of us.

He’s a class act.

Someone may note this later on but it bears mentioning since Phillies fans are not the only ones who’ve had to endure long years without a World Championship. San Francisco Giants fans (since 1958) and Texas Rangers fans (since 1972) have never had a Series title to celebrate. Heck, the Rangers are like the Tampa Bay Rays were a couple of years ago, with no playoff success at all, except they had 25 years more frustration. So although I will miss seeing the Phillies in the Series this year I do appreciate that in some city, some team’s fans are going to have a wonderful experience.

We’ve got a much better one… Below average maybe, but threats to hit one out up and down the lineup. We’ve also got MUCH better pitching than that team. It’s no disgrace to lose to this Giants’ team. They will be up there with this dominating pitching for many, many years.

But maybe we expected too much out of the starting pitching. History shows that this Giants team had hit the Phillies pitching well in the past, and while that is not a definite indicator of future performance (small sample sizes and all), the Giants came in knowing that they had beaten every one of the Big 3 at least once this year (Halladay was 0-1, Oswalt 1-2, and Hamels 0-1 with a no decision). The defense behind them this series also did not help any of them to look good- while there were not many true errors, there was enough sloppiness to fill a book- with cleaner defense, every one of the starters looks better.

I can’t root for the Giants either (call me a sore loser, or whatever, but rooting for the team that just beat mine is a level of grace I am not quite up to). I have to, however, question the idea of how above their talent they are playing- they won 92 games, the second most in the NL, and a team does bot do that by being bad. Further, they made the right mid-season moves… They needed offense to go with their defense and they went and got it- Pat the Bat, and Cody friggin Ross were good moves to bolster the offense, and Buster Posey is going to be giving opposing pitchers nightmares for years to come (I am really glad he is not in the East!). They were a good team all year, and they took advantage of the opportunities they got.

As for the blame- loads to go around on all sides- the position players do NOT deserve a pass- their hitting was generally poor (low batting averages and slugging percentages all around), along with scary bad defense. I pray that it is a short series and a small sample size, not a harbinger of things to come.

Pitched good enough to win in all their starts, the offense is squarely to blame for this series loss, also durbin in game 4.

Agree. Looking at the highlights, I’m numbest of all in looking at how the Phillies blew that bottom of the 3rd.

I think it is the perfect time to talk of the future… Keeps us from dwelling in the disappointment of this moment.

As to relief pitchers- I hope they can re-sign Contreras- he did a lot of good for the team coming out of the ’pen. I am mixed about Durbin and Romero. Bastardo is good, but his injury history makes me leery of his ability to hold up for a full season. With the financial situation the team is in, they will be looking to be cost controlled here- either pharm hands or cheap free agent arms. This could be a problem, as I have seen nothing from Mathieson and Zagurski in their brief major league stints to have much faith in them (caveat of very small sample size here). Vance Worley may be a possibility, although I imagine he will be competing with Kyle Kendrick for the fifth starter role.

I don’t know what good right handed hitters will be available at a price the Phillies can afford. I don’t know that they will make a big pickup here, again because of money.

3 of 6 games decided by one run, with one more decided by 2- it very much could have went either way.

And if you told me that Madson would pitch 5.2 innings and give up one of the bullpen runs I would have been equally surprised.

Bruce Banner walking away to that tune

This is one of those nights where you don’t even bother trying to sleep.

I won’t feel too sad if the Eagles beat the Titans asses tomorrow morning :D

This is why we say “we.”

Bold statement. I’m sure you’re saying that because of your extensive knowledge of both clubs, and not because of sheer bitterness at having just lost to the Giants.

(Subtext: we’re all upset about losing. But it’s unbecoming to be a sore loser like that.)

Remember, they have to start the series out at AT&T park, where home runs go to die.

The Rangers pitching is amazing. And they actually have clutch hitting.

Cliff Lee? First WS appearance? Non-assholes? The Rangers are the team to root for.

and don’t deserve a better outcome. I don’t hate them, but we did just hand the Rangers their first World Championship on a silver platter.

America.

And it makes me violently mad.

that last line wasnt supposed to be in quotes, but yeah I feel generally upset for the guy. He just plane loves the game.

Maybe the Phillies will bring him back next year. That would be nice. He certainly seemed to be a worthwhile addition to the bench this season.

the video was hard to watch…my heart definitely goes out to the guy, wish he could have gotten an AB tonight! thinking about the guys who might not be back next year might be the saddest part about tonight for me.

Trade Lidge for A-level or B+ level pitching prospects. Madson is ready to close. He may not have been last time, but he is now. That saves $7M next year.

So you have a top 5 closer and a top 5 set up guy and your willing to risk both to save $7 mill?

• If you trade Lidge (ill advised as good late inning guys do not grow on trees), and move Madson to the closer’s role- who do you put in the set up role- great late inning relievers do not grow on trees- and it is not like you have a great cheap one waiting in the wings.

• Trading Ibañez for high quality pitching prospects will be difficult without paying at least some of his salary- he was given too much contract by the Phillies, and trading him for anything of value will require that the Phillies pay some of his salary- saving the Phillies less than you think.

• While I don’t particularly want Baez back, I don’t think that any trade involving him happens that does not have the team eating some salary (or taking another bad contract). The choice may come down to either keeping him or eating some or all of the salary.

• If you trade Blanton- where are you going to get his replacement? He is not great, but he is decent, and I do not see a ready made replacement for him in the organization.

• Good luck on getting Werth to take that deal. He is going to be looking for a Matt Holliday/ Jason Bay kind of deal, and with Scott Boras as his agent, he is not going to be giving a hometown discount.

• I really do not know how much Moyer has left in the tank. His Renaissance during the early part of this year was wonderful to watch, but he was ineffective in 2009 leading to his being removed from the rotation, and ended up getting injured. While I would like to have him back, perhaps as a fifth starter with Worley/ Kendrick around if needed, expecting him to get through a full season as a fourth starter is probably unrealistic.

• Agreed about keeping Valdez- while he is more glove than bat, his defense is strong, and his hitting improved through the season. Sweeney’s contract is up, and as much as I like him, I am not sure if I bring him back or look for a right handed utility infielder with a good background as a bench bat.

Castro was deported when Polanco came off the DL.

They’re taking issue with it? Fuck ‘em. It’s the truth. Burrell and Huff are the only non-mediocre hitters on the team,

There a hitless-wonder type team. They won with pitching. What’s wrong with that?

I think anybody in the world would agree that their hitting is pretty average. But they have great pitching and they’ll live and die by that.

Maybe that’s my fault, because I pointed them to the recap as a peace offering of sorts… you know, given the whole “Good luck to the Giants” undertones.

But don’t worry, FM, you’re right — the hitting on that team is not good. Posey’s a stud, Huff’s in the midst of a good year, and Burrell’s still a legit major league hitter… but that’s it. I mean, isn’t it almost more of a compliment that they were able to beat Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt and Madson with a smoke-and-mirrors offense?

Giants’ fans: GO THE FUCK AWAY, for a little while, at least. Come back Monday!!!!

Thank you, why is this so hard for people to get doubleh? I’m glad some else feel this way. We know we have a good team tonight though they were horrendous) I don’t need need to be reminded of that or for people to get all pissy when I say’ “thanks but I find this a bit condensing and you’d feel exacdtly the same way if you had just lost and I was saying the same thing.” It just rude and presumptious.

Brian Wilson is one of the main reasons I’ll still be pulling for the Giants in the WS. He’s a character and just the kind of guy I’d love to have on my team. Plus, he’s a damn good closer.

I think he’s a total poseur. To fabricated. Tries to hard to be weird.

Eh. I’m pulling for the Giants. Straight out of Corte Madera, yo. But still, even if it wasn’t for that, there is the whole “The Phillies lost to the eventual World Series Champions. They lost to the best team” thing. That’s how I’ve always approached it. Unless the Phillies had lost to the Braves. Or when the Eagles lose to the Cowboys in the playoffs. Or the Flyers to the Penguins/Devils. You get my drift. Then fuck that.

You hit him, remember? He didn’t charge the mound. he didn’t throw the bat. He didn’t even rifle the ball at you. He just underhanded the ball towards the mound and ran to first with his head down.

oh I hate that fucking song.

He’s more overpaid than a hooker with 10 STD’s

Yeah, you’re gonna fit in real well.

Stay CLASSY, Atlanta.

what’s the matter, sweetie-pie? (banned)

frenchy?

I totally agree with you about the need to get a right handed power bat in the lineup. I am not sure that Brown is truly ready to be an every day starter next year- his defense looked questionable at moments, and it is as yet unknown if he can hit major league lefties. I would love to see them bring in a right handed bat- frankly, I would love to see them swing a way to keep Werth and shift him to Left Field after Ibanez leaves. I also agree with you on the need for them to work on hitting off speed stuff— the book on the Phillies now is that they struggle against off speed pitches, and that is going to be the way that they are pitched until they prove it different. This team definitely has to improve its small ball skills.

I am not sure of the need to consistently bat Utley second and Polanco third. Up until this year, Utley actually hit lefties better than righties. Plus the current set up (placing the contact hitting Polanco ahead of the “power” hitting Utley and Howard is supposed to give them runners to drive in. When everyone is hitting, it works, so I would wait and see on that. As for Rollins, good shortstops who can hit are tough to find. The Phillies do not have anything in their farm system and the free agent market is very thin at that position. Also, Rollins is not going anywhere next year without his consent. His option has been picked up, and he has 10 and 5 rights. Further, he is a switch hitter who is better from his right side.

when I saw the line up change for what forced game 6 I was worried. That vic baseloaded fail gave me a nightmare.

not yet we have to win 14 straight divisons.

What’s the alternative? I mean, seriously, we’re all upset, but what else do you suggest we do?