I understand VORP... I don't understand your reaction to it.

am I alone here?.. I think Utley is f@%$#^ HOT!!!!


now, Longoria is not bad either...

what a conundrum...

Were it not for the wind, the Rays win Game Three. Not worried at all... get 'em tomorrow.... errr, toaday, Rays.

It's a "stat" made up by some stat geeks. It's meaningless except to stat geeks.



Sorry that the Phils play baseball outdoors, where God intended, instead of a domed place that, from TV, looks positively ugly. I definitely need to get down there sometime to see if it can outrank Shea or Candlestick or RFK.

Besides, were it not for the umpire at first base, the Rays wouldn't have gotten 2 runs in the 7th. (What a sensational play by Moyer and Howard even though the ump blew the call by not being in position to see the play.)

Great performance by Moyer, the Ageless Wonder, who outpitched Garza. So much for that "dropoff" from Hamels. Can't wait to see what Blanton can do tomorrow, and if the hitters can continue making progress.

Loved the "Eva" chants!

Just reported on Comcast Sportsnet: when Tim McGraw came out to deliver the ball for Steve Carlton to throw for the ceremonial first pitch, he took some of his father's ashes and spread them on the mound. Perhaps a little of Tug's magic was at work tonight.

And who knows where the game goes if the Rays take the lead on Longoria's blast. Those runs after the "blown" call might not have mattered (wanna talk about blown? exhibit a - the "ageless wonder" getting EVERY SINGLE CALL... Garza got a few, but definitely not at the same consistency as the other one...).

And yeah, the "Eva" chants were fantastic... probably original. No, that's something Longo got in the minors... so yeah, that was awesome. I can't believe Philly fans came up with that. Amazing. [/sarcasm]

Oh, and whatever that shit was that was playing while the Rays were introduced was just completely classless. This is the World Series - have some respect for the opponent.

Here's the song, you sour little man. And you're wrong regarding the strike zone. The strike zone was large but consistent for both teams.

You're starting to look more and more like a sore loser. It's really sad.

What's that you always say? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The playing of that song was just classless. I'm not sour... it was just classless, so [/i]you're[i] wrong about that.

And no, Garza got some calls, but it was not consistent for him like it was the "ageless wonder."

And don't tell me that I'm a sore loser because I'm not. I blamed the loss on the wind. Not the amorphous strike zone or anything else that would make it seem as if I was a sore loser. If y'all could complain about the two calls the other night, then I can complain about the strike zone tonight.

But really, I don't give two flips what I appear to you. I'm not here to please you.

And how can you just dismiss stats? VORP isn't just a number whisked out of the air... it does mean something. Just because you fail to recognize it as such doesn't make it so.



I mean, we probably haven't heard that one before.

So we've got Eva and attempts to bash our stadium... I'm going to put a want ad in the newspaper for something original.

And speaking of newspapers... the Tampa Bay area papers also picked up on the lack of class displayed by the pregame introductions...

No. It was something called "having fun." Tomorrow I'm hoping for:

Fish heads, fish heads
Roly-poly fish heads
Fish heads, fish heads
Eat them up, yum!



You must not know baseball, then. Garza threw 102 pitches, 65 strikes, 37 balls. Moyer threw 96 pitches, 64 strikes, 32 balls. Hardly a radical difference.



Yes, you are. The way you're acting proves it.



But you have NOTHING to complain about but the result, because the strike zone and the wind was the SAME FOR BOTH TEAMS.



You're wrong here too. Everyone is here to please me. Kneel before Zod!...I mean, Joe!

If the Phillies win this because of a game played on a rain-soaked surface they're gonna get a reputation like the the Redskin's offensive line of the 1980's.

They did a good job getting rid of most of the water though so I doubt we'll see the kind of celebrity status given the "Hogs".

Besides, what would you call them, the "Soggy Hoagies"?

Right, I don't know baseball. I've only been around the sport my whole life (my dad was a coach, my brother played at the college level and I work in the sport). But whatever... I'm done here. I can't stand your I-know-better-than-everyone-else attitude that really makes it unenjoyable to attempt to have discourse.

Go Rays!

I guess Jamie Moyer is fed up with this discussion too. Bleck....

Oh, lord. Get down off the cross already.



Yeah, well, he was too busy pitching to worry about it. And why have you changed your screen name again? It's really confusing trying to keep up with you.

Bad time for technical difficulties:



I had this problem. There were breakups in the signal and then everything froze up. First I called a friend from out-of-town to see if he had the same problem. He didn't. Then I turned off the TV and cable box, turned it back on and the channel changed. That channel was working fine. Turned back to Fox, and it was still frozen.

Luckily, I got an idea. I switched to the HD channel. I don't have an HDTV but because I have the digital cable box with DVR, I get the feeds for the HD channels. Sure enough, it was working fine and, unlike the poor people in the article, I saw the homers.

I was Ausmusfan for so long and he's gone, to God knows where. I'm just searching for an identity, trying different things. Can't use Aaron because have you seen how many Aarons there are. Was NFLfootballfan... But aren't we all (kinda)? I guess I'll be Houston Texan Owen Daniels for the rest of the season. I'm really smitten with him at the moment. Unless he starts dating a bimbo (JS), and I'll have to kick him to the curb.

One thing hasn't changed. I love your posts.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled discussion.

How 'bout those Phillies? I'm rooting for them just because they have Lidge and Bruntlett.

ZOMG, the most horrible rendition of SSB ever!

you said it Santana.

Wow. Just one more win and the drought is over. Once again, the Phils starter outpitched the Rays starter, and Blanton homered to boot! And the bats are starting to boom boom boom. They even got a hit past the infield with a runner in scoring position.

I guess they won't be walking Utley to pitch to Howard tomorrow night.

The umpires screwed up again -- Rollins was clearly out at third in the first inning. But why didn't Sonnanstine go to second and get the easy double play? That would've made the point moot.

And now it's time for Viewer Mail!



Not THE worst. I mean, Carl Lewis? Roseanne Barr? etc. Not even the worst in this Series -- I mean, did you hear the Backstreet Boys?

But people like Patti LaBelle need to just sing the anthem instead of trying to make it their own. That's the real problem.

It's Daryl Hall tomorrow night. (Hall without Oates? Poor Oates.)



Why, aren't you sweet!

Probably in the minority, it seems...



Okay, definitely in the minority around here...

Some people shouldn't be commenting on posters changing their screen names...especially if they changed their screen name to FIRE CHARLIE MANUEL NOW!

I've decided that I will post here actually... but I won't respond to anything certain posters have to say, it's just not worth my time. But though I don't care what he thinks, I don't want anyone else to accuse me of running away in tough times for my team.

A nice beating tonight. Unfortunate that the Phillies got a run from a guy who had already been out (to me, this was the worst call of the series... the call on Crawford last night [this morning] was blown, but it was more than a banger and difficult for the umpire to get... the balk in game one was pretty bad, etc etc... but this was just terrible). But clearly, clearly when you get beat like the Rays did tonight, that one call does not make a difference.

All the pressure is on Philadelphia so the Rays can just go out Monday night, play loose, and try to get this thing back to St. Petersburg. I expect a better effort... do not go down without putting up a hell of a fight, guys.

It is unfortunate that these games is now America's (or maybe not since no one is watching) view of the Rays. They aren't playing like they have been all season when they won the AL East - the toughest division in baseball, when they won the ALDS by not blinking in their first postseason experience, and when they won the ALCS by knocking off experience in a fantastic 7-game series. Whatever happens the rest of the way though, I'm incredibly proud of this bunch. And it's because I've watched them all year that I have no doubt that they can add one more thing to that resume - winning three straight to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It might not happen, but I have faith that it can.


And oh, here's more great classy behavior from Philadelphia... absolutely incredible that this kind of stuff was allowed to happen. I'm glad Stu stepped in for his organization... we are so freakin' lucky to have him as owner.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/ra...ticle873330.ece

In my defense, I...ummmm...gulp...



Yawn.

My mom, bless her Southern heart, always told me if I didn't have anything nice to say, to not say anything at all...

Ehh, edited because I've decided to (once again) ignore my mother along with repealing earlier remarks that I would no longer respond to you... what on earth does editing my post to say "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! WAAAAAAAAAA!!!" mean? Is it because I again stated that an umpire made a wrong call (while saying explicitly that it had no outcome on the game)? Let's look back, shall we?



I didn't change anything you said, so it looks like I was doing exactly what you defended fellow Philly fans for doing. So, what's the difference?

What else did I say in my post that could be mistaken for "WAAAAAAA?"

The Rays were beat soundly... the pressure is on Philly... I'm proud of the team... I think they can still do it. Where exactly is the "WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" man? I just don't see it.

Is it because I complained a little bit about the way Rays family and officials were treated? Let me ask you then if you condone that type of behavior? Do you think it's okay to dump a beer on a 9-year-old child? If you're going to say that the opposing team's fans should expect some ribbing, I accept that. I've ribbed plenty of Red Sox fans at the Trop, Detroit fans at the Sommet in Nashville, etc. However, this is family and team officials... not just regular fans... and some of the behavior is beyond reprehensible.

At least he didn't want to FireSusanLucci

I don't think anyone expected Pena and Longoria to go 0-for-the-Series... '85 Royals were the last WS team to win after being down 3-1, but I'm not writing off the Rays yet.

"Eva" chants = classic sportsfan misogyny/homophobia.

why does Utley grease back his hair?

btw JIP, RBI was "made up" by 19th-century stat geek Alexander Cartwright, for 19th-century fans like you.

Perhaps that will go over better.



Hardly. Since, based on your other posts, you are clearly unfamiliar with popular culture, you might want to read this so you'll understand.

Or this:

This response to me states a couple of things...

1) That you know I'm right and can't come up with one of your clever comebacks. You know I didn't say anything close to "WAAAAAAAA!!!" and to be called out on it pains you. Perhaps no one else will call you out in a civil way, but I'm not backing down. I'll be civil and within the rules of this board, but I'm not backing down.

2) That apparently you condone behavior such as pouring a beer on a 9-year-old child.

Is it really difficult to formulate a response? I know it's easy to just say "nothing of consequence" but c'mon. You insinuated that I was being a baby, when in fact I was not. I stated a call was bad - you said that was okay. I complained about behaviors against a certain group of fans - I'm still not sure if that's what you were talking about because you chose not to respond in a reasonable manner.

Top of the 6th and they're playing in mud. Seriously this is ridiculous.

Game finally delayed... should have been done a long time ago... but I won't complain. Upton has proven twice now that no one should ever question his hustle ever again.

Loved the (once-again) amorphous strike zone for Kazmir... this might be the worst umpiring job in the postseason I've ever seen.

No, it just means I'm tired of your lame-ass shit. You've gone beyond pathetic and I'm not interested in playing with you any longer. I'm adding you to the Ignore list so I don't have to even see what you write from now on.



I didn't really read the story closely. I briefly clicked on the link and scanned it and noted the source and the tone. Did the same writer complain about the bottle of beer thrown at a Flyers player in Washington, or the beer thrown at a Flyers player in Montreal, both of which occurred this past spring? I'm guessing the answer is no. So I'm not interested in his slanted story. Especially since much if not all of its "truthiness" is in question based on one fact: at Citizens Bank Park, THERE ARE NO MUSTARD PACKETS GIVEN OUT. Mustard and ketchup are in large dispensers. You pump your condiments onto your food. So the story about mustard packets being thrown at someone? Ummm, no.

----------

With the surprise storm causing the suspension of the game, this Series has now officially entered the Twilight Zone.

There was no way the game would've been stopped while the Phils (or Rays) had the lead. Once they stopped it, it wasn't going to resume because the weather was obviously not going to improve, and there was no chance they'd allow either team to win a rain-shortened game. That's fine for the regular season but not the postseason.

With Hamels only throwing 75 pitches, if it goes to 7 games I would think he'd be available in relief in game 7 if need be. Or even start it, if they can't play tomorrow night and game 5 resumes Wednesday, with games 6 and 7 moved to Thursday and Friday.

And with the score tied and Hamels set to lead off the 6th, I think they might have hit for him anyway. Now, of course, they will.

Got back from the rain shortened game tonight. I was annoyed that the game continued long past the start of the rain. I got to the stadium at 7:30pm and saw the live local radar and forecasts on TV at the stadium. It was completely obvious to anyone with half a brain that the rain would begin soon and once started would continue for a long time. Starting the game while it was dry was fine, but once the rain begun the tarp should have been thrown on the field and after a maximum of 75 minutes the game suspended. The officials decided to play almost an hour in the cold windy rain risking injury to players, not to mention having the fans sit through it for no good reason. They knew the game wouldn't be finished so why wait till the middle of the sixth inning.

This series of less-than-generally-popular teams sure is viewer unfriendly. All these rain delays, the poor umpiring.

I was listening to a bit of the ESPN radio broadcast last night, and after the 5th inning Jon Miller said something like "It's now an official game" and I thought, "It is?" Surely they wouldn't call a World Series game after it's technically official after 5 innings.

Anyways, I went to bed before it was officially suspended.

If I recall, the rain started in the 4th? So in that case, the game would have never resumed with the Phillies leading 2-1 in the 4th. In a regular season game with no commissioner, that game then would be wiped out. Game 5 would be tonight starting over in the first inning. (since you couldn't have a suspended game in the 4th). I think that would have been more detrimental to both teams. Hamels and Kazmir would have been done. Now you'd have to move Garza and Myers up a day, and no more off day.

I think Selig would have had a LOT of explaining to do had he called the game after 5 when it was 2-1. No precendents with 105 years of world series play and nothing in the rule book saying otherwise. Even as a Phillie fan, would you have wanted the title in a 5 inning game?

At least this decision to suspend the game was within the rules with no "executive decisions" needed from Bud Selig.

If the rules committee smart this offseason, the would immediately add a rule into the book for this type of situation. Something to the effect of "All World Series games will be played for a minimum of 9 innings, regardless of how many days it takes". "Furthermore, any WS game that starts and then is held up for weather or other such delay will be suspended no matter what the score or inning". Something like this would have been more black and white for Welke's crew and for Maddon/Manuel to manage the situation. I bet if a rule like this was written, we would have the delay/suspension back in the 4th or 5th inning.

josh

Yes. Unfortunately, the half-brained are overqualified to run MLB.

I hope some of you, like me, caught the post-suspension press conference. (Best laugh was the ump who said the conditions "never became comical.")

Beelzebud said even if the score WASN'T tied, "No sir," it would not "under any circumstances" have ended as a shortened game. Apparently this was a rule B-bud devised and kept to himself, cuz Dim Tim & Joe Suck were analyzing the situation in blissful ignorance of it, and I'd never heard of it. B-bud also claimed all the forecasts he saw called no more than a half-inch of rain all night.

Someone on another board said last night's strike zone was "polygonal-shaped" ... Worst-umped Series I can recall, and I've been watching since '71.

You can bet they're not playing in extreme cold tonight ... cuz it was set to be a travel day, and Fox has a full slate of programming ready to go.

(And JIP, I know who Eva Longoria is. I even watched the brainless "Desperate Housewives" twice, and was unsurprised to learn it was "created" by a Republican fag. The chant is still misogynist and homophobic. Need to put down a rival? Call him a woman, girlfriend.)

Just think, if either team had signed Bonds they would probably have swept by now.

Game 5, Part 2 is now postponed until tomorrow at 8:37 pm ET. Assuming they won't have an off-day if the series continues, games 6 and 7 (if necessary) would be Thursday and Friday, meaning Hamels could pitch game 7 on 3 days' rest -- and he only threw 75 pitches last night.

Okay, there ya go. That's more like it. I can accept all of this... I don't agree with it, but at least you're engaging in a reasonable conversation. I'm not certain why a Tampa Bay columnist would write on a Flyers player having a beer tossed at him... especially in this piece baseball piece. And the key is player. The person in question in the article is a 9-year-old boy. I know, I know, you question the "truthiness" of it because of one fact that may or may not be correct (it's just that I find it hard to believe that you've visited every concessions POS or condiments kiosk in Citizens Bank Park... I discovered an area of Tropicana Field that I had never visited before during the last week of the season and I've been there 100+ times... if you have though, I'll gladly accept that one statement as false) and because you seemingly have a somewhat cynical attitude about the media anyways.

Oh, except, you won't see this because I'm on ignore.


phillyrunner, are you going to be able to make it back to the park when the game resumes? I feel for any of the fans who might not be able to return. That would be incredibly unfortunate, so I hope you get to head back on out and support your team.

I will be heading on back to game tommorrow night for the the rest of the game. I was not like a few people who claimed they lost or threw their ticket away. Unfortunately for them, they are out of luck.

Just for clarification in my last post, in no way was I looking to end the game after 5 innings just to get a win. I do want a full game. I wasn't 100% clear on the rule change from last year until I looked at it later.



If the game did not get tied would it have continued anyway until the end?

My whole point is that in reality it does not really matter what the rules are because "Bud is God" and will do what he wants. So even if the game was not tied in the sixth he clearly would have suspended the game to be continued later. Because as he says, "it's in the best interest of baseball" and I will agree with him on that. The sixth inning did not have to start for King Bud to declare his edict on the game and I would not have had to endure an extra hour in the cold and rain.

Just my two cents

Congratulations to the Phillies and most of their fans.

More importantly, many thanks to the Rays. What an improbable run... definitely the start of something amazing.

YES BABY!!! Philadelphia FINALLY gets a major sporting championship for the city after so many years of disappointment. Congratulations to the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies!!!

Philly in the house baby!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to the Philadelphia Phillies and to all my Philly friends!

Philly finally wins a title!!!!

Hell if they can, maybe Buffalo can get one of their own!!!! Right???

Yea, that's pushing it...

Congratulations to the Phillies and their fans!

25 years of frustration have been erased!
What a great ending to a season at the ballpark tonight. There was a charged atmosphere from before the first pitch thoughout the end. For 3 innings everyone stood during the game. The streets were filled with people tonight in numbers I havn't seen in 25 years.

I have to really commend the players who metioned the fanbase on the drive to the championship. I send accolades to Charlie Manuel this year, who at first I really didn't think could get it done. The best signing of the year was Brad Lidge who is the only pitcher that won a World Series with a perfect save record for the year.

Wow.



For a while after the final out I was just basically giggling and crying at the same time. What more can I say? Wow.

Oh, yeah. There is one more thing...

All the haters can SUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edit to add: PhillyFan says for all the haters to GO f**k YOURSELVES!!!!

Congratulations! I gave a big shout out to all the long-suffering fans on our board.

ME, 2....Big shout out to all the Philly faithful that have stuck with their teams all these many years! It doesn't get any better than this! Congrats, and have fun!

I find that very hard to believe, he is far too cadid to ever say that LOL


Congrats Phillies Fans!

Congratulations to all the Phillies' fans on the board! Enjoy the moment...Bask in the glory! Behave yourselves at the parade...on second thought...GO WILD!! 28 years! WOW! What a wait! It's been worth it.

I grew up in Harrisburg and have tons of friends who are Phillies fans....congrats to them, and to all of you on Outsports.....

And this my dear friends is why a lot of people will never, ever, ever root for any team from the city of "Brotherly Love". Congrats to the Rays on a remarkable season. Go Pirates!

Yeah... it's kinda like how last night when Mr. Montgomery congratulated the Rays on a great season and the fans booed. I've always been taught to win with class and lose with class... unfortunately it seems like many in the Philly do neither.