Best Phillies Games of 2011: Epically Epic In Every Way (May 25)
by lizroscher on Jan 12, 2012 9:42 AM EST
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PrintIt began innocently enough. A so-so, ho-hum game tied through nine innings. "Oh, cool. Free baseball!" was your first thought. A few innings later, you're wondering if maybe they could speed it up. Once the game hits the 15th inning, you're beginning to regret not going to bed back in the 12th, because now you're committed. You're in it for the long haul. There's no going to bed until the game is over and someone has won, dammit. The next morning, exhausted and bleary, you wonder if you hallucinated the end of the game.
Everything about this game was epic. Its length (six hours and eleven minutes). Ryan Howard's game tying solo shot. Danys Baez pitching five scoreless innings. Carlos Ruiz at third base. Wilson Valdez pitching the 19th. There were also long stretches of epically boring baseball. Innings in which nothing would happen, just the sounds of two not-so-great relievers exceeding expectations and keeping the game scoreless for 5 innings.
Despite the fact that Raul Ibanez actually sacrificed home the winning run, this game will be remembered for Wilson Valdez's exciting and adorable turn on the mound. And it should be, because let's face facts, it was one of the coolest things to happen all year. But Danys Baez's turn on the mound shouldn't be overlooked. I expected nothing but disaster when he came into the game, but he proved me (and I'm assuming nearly everyone with a functioning brain) wrong. He tossed five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. It was unexpected to say the least, and one of the main reasons the Phillies eventually beat the Reds 5-4 in 19 innings.
That unbelievable outing from Baez was pretty much the last good thing he'd do in Philadelphia. His ERA was 3.33 after the 5/25 game, but would balloon to 6.25 by mid-July. He allowed at least one run in seven of his last ten appearances. He was designated for assignment on July 22, and released on August 1. I won't lie -- I was happy when he was let go. But now there will be one very good memory of his time with the Phillies. Yup, just the one.
Random Notes:
-- Seeing Chooch at third base was delightful. He made a heroic but ultimately unsuccessful run for a foul ball that nearly landed him in the seats, and he kept walking over to the mound to meet with Valdez and Sardinha. He was going to get Wilson through that inning if it was the last thing he'd ever do.
-- Also delightful? Seeing the Phillies watch Valdez from the dugout. You could tell that everyone thought it was a total riot.
-- Scott Franzke got hilariously bitchy as the night went on. When David Herndon came in during the 11th inning, this is what he said: "David Herndon, who by the way hasn't exactly pounded the strike zone this season, seven walks in 13 1/3..." I love it when Franzke gets feisty.
-- Regrettable Larry Anderson Quote of the Game: "I've never passed a bar."
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I made a bet with a friend in the 18th that I’d buy Valdez’s jersey if he got the win.
And what do you know…
Some people don't think it be what it is, but it do.
by TheOrangeCone on Jan 12, 2012 10:09 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Totally great game. I’d bet this is a common experience, but I almost went to bed a few times before the end. Something would happen to keep me awake, which, once the end came, seemed pretty serendipitous.
One favorite moment to add to the already solid list, Liz: when Ryan Howard was telling the media about Valdez shaking off Sardinha.
I was fortunate, on the going to bed front, that my wife and daughter happened to be out of town that week, and my work is flexible enough that it doesn’t matter if I’m late, so I was free to just ride it out.
As for the game, even the regulation portion was interesting. It was a Halladay start, after all, but it was one of those games where the Reds were BABIP-ing him to death, before finally tying it up on pain-in-the-ass Jay Bruce’s two-run single in the 7th. Ben Francisco homered, his last homer of the season till the NLDS.
Bruce homered off Bastardo, probably the last homer he gave up for a long time. I’d imagine we all though the game was over at that point—the narrative would have been something about Halladay being screwed, and Bruce being annoying. But then Howard led off with his monster home run, and then it was hours of craziness. Romero’s nightmare inning, bailed out by the hilarious pick-off of Brandon Phillips, and then Herndon getting out of the mess. Awesome awesome game.
I am forever pissed at iTunes for not making this game available for $1.99.
Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
After missing the Ryan Howard ejection/Roy Oswalt in the outfield game, I promised myself to never go to sleep during extra innings again. I was so glad I stayed up for this one!
Liz, you should produce one of those calendars with a Regrettable Larry Anderson Quote for every day of the year.
by topherstarr on Jan 12, 2012 10:35 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
My favorite, from a game sometime in ‘09 (I’m pretty sure this is what was said, anyway):
Franske: “So, Larry, are you going to watch the All-Star Game?”
Andersen: “Only if it doesn’t interfere with The Bachelor. Or Charm School.”
by ThinMountainAir on Jan 12, 2012 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
Make sure to include his racist-y rants against Lastings Milledge.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Jan 12, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
“He made two bad plays and then he makes a good one and he’s all happy about it? And now they’re all laughing and bumping chests . . . just disgraceful. If they’re gonna behave like that then they shouldn’t be in the major leagues. And that may be harsh but it’s just the way I feel.”
In fairness, I don’t think LA is a racist person. I think he just doesn’t like most people no matter their skin color.
by ThinMountainAir on Jan 12, 2012 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Strictly speaking, I think what he’s prejudiced against is black youth culture, for lack of a better term. I don’t think he’s prejudiced about skin color as such, but what he is is still rather objectionable.
Yeah, I’d call him a cantankerous old prick before I’d call him a racist prick.
by ThinMountainAir on Jan 12, 2012 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe call him...
Bill Cosby?
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Jan 12, 2012 5:33 PM EST up reply actions
Pudding pops
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Jan 12, 2012 10:47 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
And the offseason meme .gif to-do pile grows.
by Wet Luzinski on Jan 16, 2012 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
I didn’t see any of the game because I suffered a concussion during a flag football game earlier in the evening and had to go to the ER. I have no memory of that entire day but my roommate apparently showed up after the game (he was actually in attendance). When he told me that Baez pitched 5 shutout innings and Valdez got the win, the only thing I said was, “That’s stupid”.
by ricker2005 on Jan 12, 2012 11:02 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I couldn’t believe how good Baez was in this game. He didn’t scrape through on luck; he was on his game for five damn innings. Every inning he went back out to pitch I thought would be the one where the Reds would blast him to pieces and it never happened. Just incredible.
by ThinMountainAir on Jan 12, 2012 11:10 AM EST reply actions
Weird Baez clip from the game: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15201757&c_id=mlb
They couldn’t make one of him striking people out?
I was on my computer at home working on class prep or grading. It was a long night, but I had a lot to get done. I was following the game on our site and one of the gamecasts. When it got to the 16th inning, I said screw it – I’ve got to get in front of a TV even if it will slow down my work. Totally worth it. Amazing game and memory.
“OK everyone, here’s ‘The Road to Brown.’ Again.”
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Jan 13, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
I remember I left home at around 8 when I was picking up someone at JFK. Been viciously searching for the satellite radio channel once I left the AM Station area, and what do you know? I listened as the Phillies made a push, when Dom Brown hit a popup when he could have driven the game winning run. I turned it off, returned home and dozed off at around 1. When I woke up, I realized I coulda turned on the TV and watched Valdez pitch.
"I quit school in the 6th grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn't spell it."
by secondroundpick on Jan 12, 2012 4:20 PM EST reply actions
Zolecki and Salisbury collaborated on a book:
http://zozone.mlblogs.com/2012/01/12/coming-soon/
I’ll buy it, naturally.
"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
Funny night. I too had the day off the next day, so wound up taking the third shift manning the blog with overthrow threads (between our 1800 comments and Red Reporter’s, over 5000 comments were placed on SBN game threads) and later the game recap, which I put up at 1:50 a.m. Some other fave aspects were Chooch playing third and nearly making a great play on the tarp, Rollins juggling defensive chain saws all night at short, and Valdez throwing more strikes (5) than J.C. Romero (4).
And the best bar bet trivia question answer: the last position player before Wilson Valdez who started in the field and end up winning the game was…. Babe Ruth, 10/1/21.
oh, yes, re: Rollins: I remember a few of those plays, and the camera would show Dusty Baker throwing his arms up in disbelief… very entertaining.
video
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15193659&c_id=mlb
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15198299&c_id=mlb
Love Wheels’ unusually genuine “wow” on the second one
link. ehh, what is, “Won more games than the World Series winner?”
by Wet Luzinski on Jan 12, 2012 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
What does he know? He’s from Canada.
"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
Yeah, when was the last time a team from Canada beat Philly at anyth…
Some people don't think it be what it is, but it do.
by TheOrangeCone on Jan 13, 2012 12:48 AM EST up reply actions
Loved this game to death. Big fan of Wilson Valdez; I mean, who has better posture? Walks off the mound like, “That’s right, get used to it.” I also remember Wheels getting all “sad day for baseball” and “shame it comes to this” when it became clear that Valdez was the only possible pitcher.
Nothing has come easy, but I guess that wouldn't be the Philadelphia way if it did come easy. - Jimmy Rollins
Also, this is OT, but H/T to Rob Neyer
It’s not often that SB Nation features a map of Alaska.
Kickass.
On that map, I live somewhere above the buried remains of Chicago.
Random memory
Working really late on due diligence numbers and walked in a Wawa on the way home just in time to hear the clerk scream ‘F@ck Yeah!’ when the winning run crossed the plate.
Needless to say it kind of scared me a bit and certainly the guy in scrubs who dropped his coffee all over the floor. One game I won’t soon forget because of that distinct memory.
the best performance of the game though
arguably came from the poor reds pitcher who took the loss. The kid played great and threw so many pitches. He managed to keep the phials stifled for 5 innings and then just lost it in the 6th. Can’t fault the guy for throwing 6 games worth of pitches for his position and taking the loss.
"My grandmom's favorite grandson, ask my grandmom" --Rone
by layout ultimate on Jan 15, 2012 6:14 PM EST reply actions
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