Burrell Heading to Tampa

 

Pat Burrell is leaving the World Series champion Phils for the runner-up Tampa Bay Rays.

Burrell has agreed in principle to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Rays. Burrell who was the Phils regular left fielder would DH in Tampa.

MLB: No Game 5 Tuesday

Game 5 Postponed, Again

World Series Game 5 Recap…So Far

First Joe Carter, then Ronde Barber, now mother nature.  Now its not only players and teams that are keeping Philly teams from winning championships but now nature wont even allow it.  Game 5 of the World Series was postponed last night do to pouring rains, the first time in history that a World Series game is suspended.

In the top of the 6th inning, the Rays got a RBI from Carlos Pena after BJ Upton slip ‘n slided into second base on a stolen base, tying the game at 2.  Within minutes the tarp was on the field and MLB brass decided that the game will try and be resumed tonight at 8pm.

After 25 years of playoff heartache after playoff heartache, the Phils are now this close to winning the World Series, up 2-0 in the first inning, this close to breaking the 100 season title drought and Mother Nature rains on the parade ruins the evening and we have to wait, hopefully, only one more day.

Whenever the game picks up, it will be top of the 6th inning Ryan Howard (I hope this is right, think I remember hearing/knowing that) leading off most likely against Ray rookie phenom David Price who could be called to pitch multiple innings in the 2-2 game as the Phillies are now 3 ½ innings away from the title.

World Series Game 5 Preview: THE CLINCHER

8:00 PM ET from Citizens Bank Park

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Outcome: Could tonight be the night that madness sets in across this city?  I plan on being right in the middle of the action.  From my current location in Manayunk, there promises to be some quality crowd gathering down on Main if the Phils can clinch tonight.  After the Phils won the pennant Main St Manayunk was NUTS.  Fires in the middle of the street, roads blocked off left and right, and as far as your eyes could see was a SEA OF RED.

Cole Hamels takes the mound tonight looking to make postseason history.  He could become the first starting pitcher to go 5-0 in a postseason with five wins coming by way of start.  Opposing him will be the Rays ace, lefty Scott Kazmir.  Look for your Phightin’s to be sitting on cloud 9 and playing their best baseball of the season on the biggest night in their young careers.

This could be title numero uno for this guy’s (two thumbs pointing back at me) short life.  I was born in ’84 so missed out on the Sixers title in ’83.  Although I’m sure my pops was conceiving me right around that time.  And good LORD PLEASE COME THROUGH HERE.  I’m so sick and tired of friends from Jersey constantly bragging about their numerous titles.  Somehow Jersey = New York in the sports world.  Another oxymoron from those retards. 

GO PHILS!

Final: TB 2   PHI 6
Player of the Game: Brad Lidge – 1.0 IP, 3 Ks, PERFECT SEASON TO BOOT

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: Could we witness history tonight?  The Phils look to win the 215‘s first title in my life.  Are the stars finally going to align, this 215 fan is crossing his fingers, knocking on wood as he types this, it appears so after last night’s drubbing and King Cole set to take to the hill for tonight’s game 5.

This Phillies team has been a poised bunch all year and look for that to continue tonight as they take their business approach into tonight and don’t get caught in the moment of clinching a world title.

Look for the bats to continue to explode like last night, and King Cole to be on point once again, continuing the shutting down of the Rays power bats.  The Phils jump on the Rays early and the party will begin early in the game in South Philly as the city will erupt into a party that has never been seen before.

Final:  TB 1   PHI 8
Player of the Game: Cole Hamels – 9 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 11 K’s

Maddon Questioned Spot on Blanton’s Hat

If ya cant beat em they must be cheating right.  Well thats exactly what skipper Joe Maddon thought of Phils starter Joe Blanton.  Blanton got off to a sizzling start in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night. He was so good, in fact, that Rays manager Joe Maddon became suspicious of the Phillies right-hander.

Blanton struck out three batters in the first two innings and four of the first eight men he faced and had some great movement on his pitches.  The movement, combined with a visible discoloration on the top of the bill of Blanton’s cap, gave the Rays reason to try to put two-and-two together. Television close-ups of Blanton revealed some sort of dark spot on the cap. A similar spot was visible on the bill of Blanton’s cap during the National League Championship Series.

Rays manager Joe Maddon told home-plate umpire Tom Hallion at the end of the second inning that he believed Blanton had pine tar on his hat. Hallion replied to Maddon that he would check the ball, and if he found a foreign substance on the ball, he would proceed accordingly.

According to Mike Port, MLBs VP of umpiring, the request was essentially the end of the issue. Hallion kept an eye on the ball and on Blanton, and found nothing suspicious.

“It’s nothing,” Blanton said. “They rub the balls up with whatever they rub them up with, and you rub it up and get it on your hand. I’m constantly trying to get moisture, and just touch my hat. It’s nothing sticky. Anybody can go touch it. It’s basically just dirt from the ball that gets … over time, over so many starts, I don’t change my hat. It just gets rubbed on the hat.”

One Win Away

Joe Blanton became the first pitcher in 34 years to homer in the World Series, Howard drove in five runs with two homers and Philadelphia romped over the Tampa Bay Rays 10-2 on Sunday night to move within one win of its first title since 1980.

A day after hitting his first homer of the Series, Howard connected twice. The major league leader in home runs and RBIs hit a three-run drive off Andy Sonnanstine that made it 5-1 in the fourth and sent the city into a frenzy. Howard added a long, two-run shot against Dan Wheeler in the eighth to put the game out of reach and the World Series title within the Phils grasp.

Cole Hamels will try to close out the Phillies’ second Series title on Monday night against Scott Kazmir in a rematch of Game 1 starters. Hamels (4-0) looks to make MLB postseason history tonight, trying to become the first pitcher to win five postseason starts in one year.

World Series Game 3 Preview

8:00 PM ET from Citizens Bank Park

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Outcome: With the World Series coming back to Philly for the first time in almost 15 years the Phils look to feed off the energy of a raucous Citizens Bank Park.  Jamie Moyer takes the hill for the Phils tonight as the Game 3 starter. Moyer has had some rough outings in this postseason but look for him to rebound tonight, and heres why.  He has never pitched three terrible games in a row, hes a savvy vet, was unfortunate in Milwaukee and LA with some fielding blunders as well as a few minor mistakes.

Matt Garza will get the nod for the Rays; Garza was named ALCS MVP and has been pitching very well of late.  One can only hope that the left handed bats of the Phils hit Garza early and often.

I look for our skippers true genius to finally shine through.  With the series now back in the NL park, Charlie will get to work his magic with pinch hitters, relief pitching and double switches.  I used to question his tactics a few years back, but he has proven time and time again to have mastered his moves and matchups.  Look for Charlie Manuel to put this team on his back and coach them to a great victory in this great city of brotherly love.

GO PHILS!

Final: TB 5   PHI 6
COACH of the Game: Charlie Manuel – 4 pitching changes, 3 pinch hitters, 1 double switch

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: The World Series moves to the 215 as the Phils and Rays Game 3 is tonight in the Illadelph.  Phils fans are a little on edge after watching the Phils struggle to drive in runners in scoring position compounded with ageless Jamie Moyer getting the start tonight after struggling in this post season.

The Phillies bats will need to come alive tonight to help support Moyer early.  The Phils have to hope to get this game to the bullpens early knocking Matt Garza out as early as possible and give Moyer as much room for error as they can.

If the Phils jump out early look for the crowd to carry Moyer and the bats, and for the Phils to take Game 3 tonight and the series lead.

Final: TB 3   PHI 6
Player of the Game: Pat Burrell – 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBIs

World Series Game 2 Preview

8:00 PM ET from Tropicana Field

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Outcome: So my Cole prediction for last game was pretty close.  I said “7.2 IP, 5 Hs, 2 ER, 8 Ks”.  His ending stat line was: 7.0 IP, 5 Hs, 2 ER, and 5 Ks.  Damn good call if I do say so myself.

Now onto tonights game.  Brett Myers against James Shields.  How bad did Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard look last night.  Well I’m pretty happy that JRoll will be turned around at the plate and batting leftie for the most part.  He looked terrible on the right side last night.  Ryan should see some better pitches as well from the rightie, Shields.

Brett Myers takes the hill for his first ever World Series appearance as that seems to be the theme between these two young ball clubs.  Myers will be juiced beyond belief for tonight’s game and  I bet he coems out a little TOO juiced and gives up some early hits, only to settle in and cruise through six solid (notice I didnt say strong) innings.  As long as we can get him some support we should be able to hold on a for 2 – 0 series lead heading back to the Illa.  I see this being a high scoring affair and the Phils able to outlast the streaky Rays. 

GO PHILS!

Final: PHI 8   TB 5
Player of the Game: Chase Utley – 3 for 4, SB, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs

Phils Quiet the Cowbells

Phils Win! Phils Win!

What a game indeed.  Chase Utleys bomb in the first inning proved to be the mighty blow that Tampa Bay just could not overcome and seemed to shut up those annoying ass cowbells for a minute.  Cole Hamels once again pitched a gem of a game and moves closer to making his mark on baseball postseason history.  Oh, he’s just now 4-0, with a 1.55 ERA, with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings. That makes him only the 10th starting pitcher in history to win four games in one postseason, joining: Josh Beckett, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Jack Morris,  John Smoltz,  Orel Hershiser, Dave Stewart, David Wells and Burt Hooton.

Also, if Hamels gets another start in Game 5, he will have a chance to tie the all-time record for most wins in a single postseason, held by Randy Johnson (2001) and Francisco Rodriguez (2002). NOTE: all of K-Rod’s wins, and one of Johnson’s, came in relief. So Hamels is now in position to become the first starting pitcher ever to win five times in one postseason.

Carl Crawford and Akinori Iwamura were the only Rays that seemed to shake Cole as Crawford went deep on a breaking ball that hung out over the plate a little too long and Aki went 3 for 4 as well as driving in the Rays second run. The Phils had multiple opportunities to pad their lead but failed to do so, going 0-11 with runners on base and leaving nine men stranded.

Cole gave way to the best bullpen in the 8th.  Ryan Madson came in throwing straight HEAT for a perfect 8th leading the way for Mr. Perfect himself, Brad Lidge.  Lidge once again did his thang, throwing another perfect 9th while striking out two.

The Phils will try to make it two in a row at Trop tonight as Brett Myers pitches against James Shields in Game 2.

Breaking News: Coste It Is

Before manager Charlie Manuel has even written out his line-up he has disclosed to us he will be penciling in back up catcher Chris Coste as the “mystery” designated hitter for Game 1 of tonight’s World Series.

The risk with Coste has been, if Carlos Ruiz has to leave the game tonight with an injury, Coste would be forced into catchers duty and the Phillies would lose the DH spot in the lineup, and the pitcher would have to bat for themselves.

I truly do not see that being a huge issue.  Yes, losing the DH would be a disadvantage, but should not decide the game.  Plus, with the Phillies being the National League they have played all season without a DH.  I trust Manuel would be able to match up with pinch hitters and double switches in the late innings. This is all a moot point, remind you, if Carlos does not have to leave the game with a injury, which is a very slim risk in my opinion.