Staff Blog
Where's the best sledding hill in Philly? (1 Answer)
Morning Rounds, October 28th
You have to be kidding me.
The Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and on this cold, miserable
winter (don’t be fooled by the autumn calendar on the wall, this was winter)
night they would be crowned champions.
The team would celebrate and the town would erupt. I would walk from the Stadium all the way
downtown with nothing but a Dictaphone and notepad, taking in the city and
trying to realize what it meant to be king.
It was planned, and the plan was a dope one. Then God decided it wasn’t to be.
Yesterday I typed to sadly soon-to-be prophetic words “if you want to
make god laugh, tell him what you’re going to do tomorrow” just minutes after I
typed the words “DUNZO” (may have been an approximation), and the ‘this is done’ sentiment was more right than the “trouble” line of thought. The city was ready, this series was over, and Philadelphia finally had our championship signed and sealed. The Phillies had all the momentum, the 3-1 lead and Hollywood Hamels ready for the spotlight – it was the perfect storm.
Then, with just 12 outs to go, the rains came. If the Phillies do lose the series, after being this close with their ace on the mound and the crowd at their backs, this town may never recover. The Phillies were at a point where only an act of god could stop them. I wouldn’t put my money on any other outcome.
The Phillies are pissed, the city is anxious and Bud Selig is a ruiner.
I hate sports again.
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“I wouldn’t let him supervise one of my shits.” – a certain charismatic Phillie, in reference to MLB commissioner Bud Selig.
Three lines on their world:
Three lines on ours:
- Fox Banged Game Five six innings in.
- In a game that should never have started.
- and really needed to have been called before they did.
Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about, after the jump
PHILLIES
Many people wrote some variation on the “Seriously? Fuck.” angle. If you can bring yourself to read about what happened check them all out, fine, but I don’t want to think about ‘12 outs away.’ SKIP them all.
Phil Sheridan blames Fox, “MLB’s pimp”.
1Chair rambles on about different types of rain.
Rich Hofmann thinks the game should never have been allowed to start.
John Smallwood reports that the Rays weren’t exactely upset to get away with the game 2-2.
Bob Ford says that Charlie Manuel was so upset he refused to talk.
John Gonzalez looks at the 180 this town just took.
Sam Donnellon points out that we all forgot where we were from.
Dick Jerardi notices that reality sucks.
San Geringer talks to the fans. We’re pissed.
Bill Lyon says it’ll never be easy.
Paul Hagan talks with Tim McCarver, who does not offer insight.
Patrick Kerkstra says this is a whole new kind of suck.
Mike Sielski talks about the only town that this would happen to.
SKIP these too
Phil Anastasia reports that Phillies fans are harrassing babies.
Ed Barkowitz rememers 10,000 loses.
David Murphy’s notes look at Carlos Ruiz‘ great series, Doug Glanville’s return to the ballpark, and more.
Todd Zolecki reports.
Frank Fitzpatrick dedicates last night’s win to … oh wait.
Marc Narducci says that Scott Kazmir wasn’t up to the task.
READ
Paul Hagan looks at Harry Kalas‘ (who was looking fucking dapper last night) potential big call.
In his notes, Todd Zolecki talks with Charlie about his loved ones, and more.
Marcus Hayes says that a tennis book turned Jimmy around.
Jim Salisbury goes beyond the box score.
David Murphy points out that the players left pissed.
EAGLES
READ
Bob Brookover takes a hard look at DeSean Jackson, Brian Dawkins, and Sheldon Brown.
Les Bowen reports that Andy Reid has guarenteed a Phillies’ championship.
SKIP
Les Bowen notices that takeaways are up.
Brookover’s notes look at the Birds’ short yardage struggles, an awful penalty, and more.
Ray Parrillo says that the Birds’ run D stepped up.
Rueben Frank looks at the bad roughing call against Trent Cole.
SIXERS
Phil Jasner says that Elton Brand is here to clean up the Sixers. SKIP
Phil Jasner reports that Coach Cheeks shut down practice early, and more. SKIP
Kate Fagan looks at the other guys the Sixers brought in. READ
Tom Moore talks to the Sixers, who sound ready to go. SKIP
FLYERS
Ed Moran says that Sbisa is staying with the big league club. SKIP
TODAY and MORE
There might be a baseball game tonight and there might not be. Obviously that would affect what happens here. Stay tuned and I’ll bring you the news as soon as we get it. As always, feel free
to email
with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.
YOU MUST CHILL! MLB’s shameful decision-making aside (big ups on Phil Sheridan’s column), The Phils resume this game in good shape. Let’s not impale ourselves on the double-edged sword that is the idea of “Fate.” Yes, this act-of-god stuff can be dis-heartening, but let’s not put too much stock in destiny: This is a good team that’s gotten to where it is because of it’s skill, not because it was preordained.
Last night was a train wreck
Two thoughts given what we’ve been given:
First, the one of lesser importance
The worst of the train wreck (worse then McCarver joining the Rays broadcast team, worse then wondering how hte heck we got this umpiring crew???? …) was the “wait til it’s tied” consideration that was aplied to the stop the game decision. In the post-game, Selig said that he would not have let the game be decided by the rain and that the delay would have simply lasted til the weather cleared. That means he was ready to suspend a game with a team in the lead. (a first in baseball history I presume?) I’m down with that – it’s the freakin Series, decide it on the field.
BUT, there are 2 defensible times to make the call. One is after the top of the 5th, when we cross into a “complete game”. The other is after 5 full. After 5, if Selig really has the balls to suspend and force the completion, you gotta pull the trigger. The weather is a mess and gonna be a mess all night. So the ONLY reason to continue is to let the Rays top of the lineup face Cole in a monsoon and hope they can tie it up. There is NO hope that things are gonna get better.
So The Commissioner of the Business of Baseball (we are lacking a Commissioner of Baseball) waited, gave a sigh of relief, made the weak call between innings.
Second, and more important, it is time for the Phillies to be warriors. they are where they are and they need to win – period. This season has been a lark for the D Rays – a campaign for us. Time to finish. All 25 of y’all.
And it’s time for all of us in Philly to shake off the gloom, face down this feeling of doom, close the door on all that – and enjoy the end of this marvelous/nerve wracking ride. To you who have tickets, take your rally towels and your rally caps and give em hell – bring the house down.
To the rest of us – Go Phils
BH, I’d argue that the Cole Hamels’ skill trumps that of say, Chad Durbin. It’ll be a different ballgame when they pick this one back up.
Do we send Brett out for the 7th? Tell him to be our Rock Star? Go with Jamie, Joe the Pitcher, and Cole for 6 & 7 as needed?
Myers to Madson to Lidge?
Remember, we bat before we even have to name the pitcher.
Who leads off? Dobbs? Stairs? Just say it ain’t So
I understand where BH is coming from. He always tosses the positivity in during these moments. We’re coming back with Romero to Madson to Lidge, that’s pretty solid.
However, from a fan who sat up in right field and watched the rain blowing straight at him all night, Selig really fucked up and forced the Phils to burn their ace.
Hamels would’ve handed the ball to Lidge in this game.
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EJB: I agree, It’s definitely a different game. I just don’t think the sky’s falling. And I apologize if the “you must chill” came off too harsh. I was trying to channel Lloyd Dobler. I guess what I’m saying is that I still like our chances, up 3-1, tied in the sixth, and with a rested Madson and Romero and a very well-rested Lidge lined up for the end game.
Regan: Also correct. The Phils got jobbed. Game should have been called at 7:00 and, barring that, suspended at the end of the fifth.
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e. james: i, however, think you’ve lost it. cheer up and wink chase’s way for me.