3 Giants, 1 Rangers

This San Fransisco Giants team may have been a better story than the 04 Sox, but no one will know because the Giants play out west and no Eastern teams were in the World Series.

This team was a bunch of outcasts that no one knew, no one cared about, and no one gave a chance to, but now they can call themselves World Series Champions. Led by none other than Red Sox throw out Edgar Renteria and a 5 foot pitcher the Giants not only dominated the World Series, but beat a heavily favored Texas Rangers team.

Tim Lincecum outdueled Cliff Lee in a matchup that was scoreless until Edgar Renteria hit a stunning three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning. This wouldn't be the first time that Edgar has hit a big shot on a big stage. His 11th-inning single ended Game 7 of the 1997 World Series and lifted Florida over Cleveland. He did have the last out against the Sox in 04, but the Cardinals didn't have a chance to begin with.

Everyone underestimated the Giants pitching staff and you can start with Matt Cain three postseason starts, a 0.00 ERA. Throw in Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young winner. Add Madison Bumgarner, the 21-year-old rookie who helped blank Texas in Game 4. Unbelievable run.

See Red Sox, that's how you win with pitching and defense.

Box Score

Pedro Gets One More Chance

Pedro Martinez, a.k.a. God's chosen vessel on Earth, the radiant one who shines his light on all of us, will get another chance to pitch on the biggest stage in baseball. The Phillies extended the World Series with their 8-6 win last night. Pedro will take the mound for them in Game 6.

It'll be cold in New York, mid 40's around game time. Pedro pitched decently in his Game 2 start, but wasn't able to go very deep into the game. The Phillies' offense was shut down by AJ Burnett.

Pedro will be up against Andy Pettitte, who'll be on 3 days rest. We just saw AJ Burnett on 3 days rest, and it wasn't too pretty. Maybe the 37 year old Pettitte will also struggle. Pedro will be going on full rest.

Go Phillies!



-The Commodore

7 Yankees, 4 Phillies

Way to blow it Phils. This is painful.

¡¡¡Hay Solamente Un Pedro!!!

There's only one Pedro.

And he pitches tonight in the World Series. His second career World Series start. As much publicity as Curt Schilling gets for his playoff record, Pedro's isn't exactly shabby. He's 6-2 with a 3.13 ERA and 1.054 WHIP. In 86.1 postseason innings, he's struck out 83 batters.

Schilling had the bloody sock, Pedro had a less visible but more impressive effort in Game 5 of the '99 ALDS. With a bad back and an 88 MPH fastball, he mowed through a murderous Indians lineup (Lofton-Vizquel-Alomar-Ramirez-Thome, etc. The Indians scored 1,009 runs in 1999), pitching 6 innings of NO-HIT relief to win Game 5.



Later in the '99 ALCS, Pedro was the only pitcher to record a postseason win against the New York Yankees that year. That's right, the Yankees went 11-1 in the 1999 playoffs, and that 1 loss was thanks to Pedro (and Roooooooooooooooooooger).

In the latest NLCS, he was once again brilliant. 7 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs. He was lifted after 87 pitches because the NL sucks and makes pitchers get pinch hit for. Then the Phillies' bullpen blew the 1-0 lead.

Pedro is my favorite player all-time in all sports. People think the Yankees will rock him tonight. Maybe. Maybe not. I just think it's fun to watch him pitch. He doesn't have the same blistering fastball, and his changeup is less effective, but now he's a crafty veteran who can outwit hitters and still make them look like fools.

I just wish Nelson were still alive to be his good luck charm.



-The Commodore

Time To Get Excited For The World Series (I Guess)

The Yankees/ Phillies World Series starts tonight (but probably not because of the rain) This series sucks for us Boston fans, but for our Phillie fans out there here is my half assed breakdown.

For the Phillies:
I love the experience, I love the fact they don't want to give up their championship, I love the fact they are starting Pedro in game 2. Ryan Howard, Jason Werth, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins have proved to be unbelievable clutch players. Howard is tearing the cover off the ball this whole post season. The feistyness of the Phillies offense is very scary to go against. The pitching staff is absolutely better than last year, (anyone who argues that is a fucking idiot). Cliff Lee has turned into Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels is still Cole Hamels. Even though Cole hasn't lived up to last years playoff numbers, he is still an unbelievable pitcher and has at least one really good outing in him. Pedro has looked rejuvenated( well in his last start at least), and even though he is old bones now, he is still Pedro Martinez and he can still win you a game. Also, Brad Lidge has looked pretty good in the playoffs, and it seems as if the Brad Lidge of the season is a thing of the past.

For the Yankees:
The Yankees have been absolutely scary this postseason. Who would have thought that Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon could all be laying eggs this postseason and they would still be this good. I still don't trust A-Rod or CC Sabathia. I could see the pressure proving to be too much for them and imploding. But that is just my own hopes and I have nothing to really back that up. Their pitching staff has proved to be pretty good as well, CC, AJ Burnett, and Andy Pettite have been pleasant surprises. But the only pitcher I truly trust is Pettite, he's a gritty veteran and has been in the World Series.

So what do I think?
Phillies in 5. I believe the Yankees beat themselves up, and Boston rejoices. And Philly burns their city down.

Phillies Fan Offers Sex For Tix; Arrested

Susan Finkelstein, 43, was nabbed after allegedly soliciting an undercover Bensalem, Pa., cop who answered her innuendo-laced craigslist ad seeking the coveted ducats.

The married Finkelstein posted her ad -- with a subject line that read, "DESPERATE BLONDE NEEDS WS TIX (Philadelphia)" -- on Monday in the "tickets for sale/wanted" section.

Describing herself as a "Diehard Phillies fan" and "gorgeous tall buxom blonde," Finkelstein said she was "in desperate need" of two tickets to see the Phillies play the Yankees at Citizens Bank Park.

Then came the zinger: "Price negotiable -- I'm the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!"

The suggestive line caught the attention of a Web-trolling cop, who set up a meeting at a Bucks County bar.

The officer said he had one ticket, but when Finkelstein said she needed two, the cop said his brother might have an extra, Bucks County Public Safety Director Fred Harran told The Post.

"She offered to take care of both men," Harran said.

Asked what specific activities Finkelstein offered, Harran said, "Let's just say she wanted to go around the bases the other way." More

I have no problem against this. I would probably offer sex for Celtics tickets if the opportunity arose. These are desperate times, and in desperate times things need to be done, this is the world series we are talking about. However, I don't think having sex with her would match the scalping money you could get for two World Series tickets and buy a prettier hooker. Yea, I'm shallow, so be it.

Phillies Are World Champions

I fell asleep last night eventually around 4am. when i slept i had a dream, but it was the only time in my life where the dream was nothing more than an exact depiction of what had just happened.

The Phillies are world champions courtesy of their finalization of game 5 last night. It started out quickly with a pinch hit double by Geoff Jenkins. He would eventually make his way home by way of some small ball. Rhode Islands Rocco Baldelli quickly erased the lead with a solo home run...i find it hard to hate the man given the adversity hes overcome so if anyone was to do it...

After Madson was taken deep the Phils went back to work and the most senior member of the Phils was up to make something happen. Burrell missed a homerun by about a foot and a half and walked into second with a double. Bruntlett pinch ran and would eventually score.

Former sock J.C. Romero pitched well and handed it off to lights out Lidge where the game would end.


I dont care if no one watched it. I dont care if it had the worst ratings level of any World Series. i dont care. The phillies are the World Champions. Say what you want about the AL, the Rays magical season, or how low the ratings were...you can all go to hell. I know that thousands of people stormed the streets of Philly last night and tomorrow at the parade an expected 2.5 million people are going to show up. We've waited for so long for a major championship, combined between all sports about 100 years. The wait is over.

Talk Talk Talk.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the best in the world.

World Series Boring: Duh

The 5½ innings the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays got in during the rain Monday night received an 8.2 rating and 12 share, Fox said Tuesday. The previous low for a fifth game was a 10.0/17 for the San Francisco Giants' 16-4 romp over the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

Obviously. If you don't live in Philly this World Series is irrelevant. Even Rays "fans" didn't come out until game 7 of the ALCS. I thought that the Rays being in the World Series would be a good thing, but it looks like the Red Sox beating down on a NL team is a lot more appealing to the US.

Phillies One Win Away

Talk about encouraging, last nights 10-2 win was exactly what Philly fans wanted to see. Rollins got on base 4 times and is finally hitting the ball like the leagues MVP, Ryan Howard hit 2 homers to left then to right and looked like the leagues leading HR and RBI man.


And then theres Joe Blanton. This cat was an ace last night. When the Phillies picked him up in late July I was skeptical, especially since CC Sabathia and Haren were available. But turns out the Phils are 12-4 when he takes the mound, and last night he played the game of his life. I say played because he closed his eyes and blasted a solo home run to make up for one of the ones he gave up. Ata boy Joe, do your thing.


the Rays simply look out of their swagger that led them here. The media will jump all over the Phillies doing poorly with RISP, but Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria havent gotten a hit yet this WS and the 2 of them combine for 15 Ks. Without those guys swinging well, the team just cant win.

Tonight could be the best night of my sports life. Coming home from the hospital after being born i was wrapped in a phillies blanket, since day 1 i have loved this team. My entire life has been a patient fan and the time is up. Cole pitches tonight and he simply doesnt lose. He's 4-0 in the post season, the only Philly pitcher to ever do that, and tonight he looks to make it 5-0 and lead the Phillies to the..dare i say it..National Championship.


holla

TB Rays Tie the Series

Last night sucked. Instead of drinking merily with some cronies, i was forced to drink slowly and heavily by the Phillies. Yes the Rays won, but more than anything, the Phillies lost. You have to tip your hats to the Rays, they are doing something that Philly cant seem to figure out--scoring people who are in scoring position. Shields pitched well, 3 different times he had a man on third with less than 2 outs...no one ever scored.

Ryan Howard "broke out" of his slump last night but it doesnt really mean much if gets hits with no one on base. And for some reason Carlos Ruiz decided that hes just gonna be the man this World Series. Well i appretiate it Carlos, now whatever your drinkin, let Jimmy and Burrell get a motherfuckin sip.


The Rays are ball players, they're young, but their ball players. they scored runs last night in small ball fashion; two of their runs came on infield groundballs...I respect that. Someone Longoria and Pena are 0-for in the series, but something tells me they were just warming up for Jamie "I'm way too fucking old" Moyer to take the mound.

I'm not very happy today. The teams flew back to Philly late last night, and need to take a day to gather themselves. I am probably going up to Philadelphia tomorrow night to tailgate at the complex and then head to bar to be with local hooligans. i also plan to plaster the last of my DC stickers in the ghetto that is South Philly. for now I'm going to the movies to cool myself. Expect a movie review of 'Pride And Glory' this afternoon.

Phillies Take Game 1

Last night the knot in my stomach was actually a little bigger than my stomach itself...this caused me great discomfort. i was nervous, i was anxious, i was in a state of shock that i was actually watching the backstreet boys sing the national anthem.

i went up to a bar near my house to be in a public setting while i watched the game. Plus they had $1 hot dogs and $1.50 drafts all night...this helped the knot i just spoke of. i saw alot of old friends who came up to watch the game as well, it was truly like a blast from the past: old friends, and old feelings of Philly pride all building back up within me. It was going to be a good night.

Jimmy Rollins popped out, Jason Werth got walked, and then Chase tried to put down a bunt on the pull-shifted infield. Charlie Manuel would later say that was all him. Well he fell 0-2 in the count, fouled one off, then worked it to 2-2. Kazmir then dropped a meatball right in Utley's wheelhouse and he didnt miss. Charlie Manuel would later say that was all him.


the local establishment i was at erupted. "Shots for everyone" the bartender yelled. And shots we took.....and shots we took.


The game would test the nerves of Philly fans from there on out. What should worry people the most are two things: 1. Ryan Howard looks like a fish outta water right now, and 2. the Phillies left 11 men on base last night--8 in scoring position. these two issues have been issues most of the post season, but this is a team that will capitalize on missed opportunities more so than the NL teams the Phillies played. not to mention, the only reason they didnt put up more runs (TB) was because hamels was on the mound and throwing 7 strong innings yet again. The only thing that matters is the final score.


Tonight Brett 'the bat' Myers takes on James Shields. Tonight the pitching match up is in TB favor, that being said I would look for a more high scoring game. Hopefully Myers can go out there and have a quality start and the big names for the phillies (Rollins, Howard, Burrel) need to be productive.




I left the bar drunk, smiling, with a full and knot free stomach.

World Series Opens Tonight

Tonight in Tampa FL, two of the best left handers in all of baseball square off in game 1 of the WS: Hamels and Kazmir. As I said in both the previous rounds, the Phillies need to win when Hamels is on the hill. He's there best pitcher, and is always going to give them a chance to win more so than the rest of the rotation. Kazmir and Hamels have been compared to one another their entire careers, dating back before they were drafted. They were both drafted in 2002 and were 3 picks apart in the draft. kazmir was brought up by the mets, but since they hate keeping their young studs, he was traded before he and Hamels ever had a chance to face off in the NL east. based on their postseason performances, you have to lean towards Hamels tonight, but it all comes down to either offense being able to hit these guys.




The next major concern is how the Phillies will handle the DH spot. In the games during the regular season vs. the AL the Phillies have used Dobbs, Stairs, and Big Daddy Ryan Howard in that slot but tonight Charlie Manuel has hinted at using back up catcher Chris Coste as the DH.

I dont mind this move, hes the best right handed hitter to go up against Kazmir, but it makes me nervous to have both Phillie catchers active in the game.

Will the down time hurt the Phillies?
Will the Rays continue to hit so fucking well?
Can the Phillies' starters go at least 5-6 innings each game?
Did the end of the ALCS reveal weakness in TB bullpen?

I am nervous. I have waited a long time to watch my team in the WS. And to me game 1 is the most important in the WS. I heard a stat that something like 10 out of the last 11 world series were determined by the winner of game 1. Stats like that dont hold that much weight with me, but shit...cant ignore it.

ESPN First take yesterday claimed this to be a boring WS, and of little intrest to the whole country. they say you need a 'villian' in the series, some team that people love to root against in order to make it interesting. Well thats them, i got my villian--

Fuck you TB mascot, ya fuck.