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Commentary: The End? I Just Can’t Tell
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, September 04, 2008 10:42 AM
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I wasn’t just trying to be funny by writing about The Doors “The End” during the Nationals’ rally last night. It really happened. The song seeped into my brain as Ryan Zimmerman and crew knocked Chad Durbin around.
The end? I hope not (and I don’t think so) — but why else would the song magically appear?
Last night’s loss to the Nationals served as a microcosm of the season so far. In broad terms, the Phils got out to an early lead, fought a bit to reclaim the lead, held it for a while, then were tied, then blew the lead big time before unsuccessfully clawing back late.
But specifically, the warts were again out in full view. Starting pitching, while not completely bad, wasn’t effective enough. Relief pitching was overtaxed. The back of the offense did nothing. Things the Phillies really needed down the stretch — an experienced setup man, a bat for the bottom of the order — were painfully missing.
You can’t drop two games to the Washington Nationals. You just can’t. Not when the Mets are beating everything in sight. Not when a three-game deficit suddenly resembles a six- or seven-game deficit.
And it does — this Mets team seems more composed and relaxed than last year’s bumbling mafia. The Phillies? Tired (now it’s the pitching). There’s always something wrong with this team.
But there’s always hope. Sept. 5, 2007, the Phils dropped a late lead to the Braves, maybe the worst loss of that season. They were five behind the Mets after that game. They actually went to seven behind a week later. But we know the rest of that story.
With just over 20 games to play, there’s absolutely still a chance the Phils can overtake the Mets, or the Brewers, or whatever, to take a playoff spot. We were all packing it in on Sept. 5, 2007. Now here we are, almost a year later, and the situation is eerily similar.
Is it really the end? Or is this team going to channel 2007?
September 4th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I just don’t see the hunger in them this year…they play as if their owed something. Extremely disappointing is what this year has turned into.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I cant rely on the mets collapsing again. but apparently the phillies, management, front office, players, all are relying on that. their whole attitude this year has reflected an arrogant malaise. “well we can catch up later and beat them in september”. really? the time is now. youd better hop to it.
the mets collapse and the phils sibsequent division win might be the WORST thing that couldve happened to them. they ALL, top to bottom, got really arrogant and lazy and theyre being punished for it now.
can they come back? yes. will the mets choke up the lead again? probably. but are the phillies good enough to run away with it? NO.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:10 am
They will not be back. I expect the Mets to take 2 of 3, and put the Phils 5 games out with less then 20 to go. I don’t think the Brewers are going to lose the wild card either. What a disappointment.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I think we see a good game out of Myers tonight to take the first of the 3 game series. Lets hope!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Anth - That would only put them 4 games out. Worst case, the lose all three games, they’d be six games out.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I WOULD NEVER WANT TO GO TO WAR WITH GEOFF…
September 4th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Yeah this team is quite sad all year. Instead of putting a few games together and winning at certain points during the year they would blow some game they should have won. Phillies should have been 5-7 games up on the Mets before the Mets figured out how to win. We know the Mets don’t have much fight in them, but when you let a team stick around they always end up getting you in the end. Not once during the whole year did the Phillies as a team pick it up and just win games. This is what you get with a whole lot of talent and no real direction. Good managing Charlie!!! It’s just a shame you did well enough to keep your job for another year. The new GM should just dump this overweight chump of a manager for a real one.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Dude, they are a baseball team, and a pretty good one at that. Since they fired Willie.. the Muts are playing pretty damn good too. … We’re better than most teams, but all things considered if we finish ahead of the Mets that will be seen as the Mets failing rather than the Phillies being the better team.
Wait and see what happens, stop crying about this team and how the players seem arrogent and lazy to you… they’ve been good all year, and they are really never out of a game.. but lets focus on whatever bad things we can instead, right?
You should start following women’s professional softball instead.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I thought Charlie was a genious like two weeks ago when the Phillies had moves payoff to beat the Dodgers and the Mets… you front-running bastards need to find new hobbies, instead of flip-flopping daily about whether you like this team or not
September 4th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Ironically, if this really is “The End” for the 2008 Phils, then the culprit isn’t the pitching.
2007 Phillies: 111 OPS+, 97 ERA+
2008 Phillies: 101 OPS+, 115 ERA+
The pitching has, on the whole, been phenomenal this year — especially the bullpen. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are the biggest reasons we find ourselves 3.0 games back right now.
If you’d have told me before the season that the Phils would have a 115 ERA+ at this point of the year, I’d have told you we were a minimum of 8 games up. The offense picked a bad year to crap the bed, huh?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Actually, since I think killing is disgusting, i probably wouldnt even participate. you only kill if you are directly in danger of being killed yourself. even then, you should try and incapacitatie/subdue instead of killing. killing other humans is a savage thing to do. if you understand history youd know that the single greatest cause of human death in the past 1-200 years has been warfare and government extermination.
there is a reason americans are the most violent people in the world. they have more people in prison here in america than the rest of the world combined. much of that is due to the false war on drugs but much of it is also due to the violent society we live in.
it takes real strength not to be maliciously violent. if i had to be, id make sure to do it with complete efficiency. so you neednt worry about going to war with me either way.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Don M… I dont think people were saying Charlie is a genius, he made a couple good calls, however looking baack in the long term he is an awful manager.
charlie is a nice guy and I would love to have a couple beers with him, but the entire staff needs to go
September 4th, 2008 at 11:32 am
cool
September 4th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Because of his high winning percentage?
I’ll give you the fact that he isn’t the best at in-game strategy.. but when EVERY player tells you how much they love playing for him, and how loose he keeps the clubhouse… that means that he does a good job…
I guess he doesn’t have enough world series rings for you though?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:36 am
People were jumping off bridges last night, but the truth is a three-game lead with 23 to play isn’t insurmountable. Is this team the team that’s going to overtake it? I don’t know. They are a good team, absolutely, but good enough all year to win the division over the Mets? Evidently not.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I’d say this season, Don, Charlie has done a good job, but has obvious flaws. At times he’s looked very smart; at times he’s looked dumb. Performance will trigger both.
Is Charlie a manager that can get a team to a World Series? As of now, he’s not. Is this front office capable of putting together a team good enough for the Series? As of now, they’re not. Those are the only hard facts we can go by — that the manager and front office (and players) haven’t been good enough to reach the absolute goal.
Does it mean Charlie should go? Maybe. But if not, maybe he needs better players.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I lost faith in this team a while back, and at no point have I regained it. It’s been a frustrating season. If its not the pitching its the hitting, and I just dont see any spark or sense of urgency.
I think it is “The End”, but I think it ended a while back, not yesterday……..to quote another, “The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost….they caught the last train for the coast.” I think the Phils lost this when they got beaten down out west.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Don M, the fact that you ever thought Charlie was a genius shows your true intelligence right there.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Don M, sometimes I wonder if you are employed by the Phillies, how can you keep such a positive outlook, year after year after year….???
September 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Just once I’d like to see the Phillies make a move that really impacts the team. Where is the Phillies Fernando Tatis or Dan Murphy or Ryan Church or Oliver Perez? Not resigning Rowand is looking like the biggest offseason move that affected the team. Should have just paid the guy whatever he wanted.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I never thought he was a genious… but anyone that reads my posts know that I’m a firm believer in the fact that sometimes moves work and sometimes they don’t…. but you shouldn’t bash your own team when they lose, and then blow them all when they win.
If you guys remember back to the Dodgers games, and the Mets game, when they won in extras.. everyone was saying how smart Charlie was for using whatever pinch hitter.. or pitcher, etc.. Last night he used Durbin where he should.. Zimmerman took Durbin long.. that ain’t Manuel’s fault…. but Durbin has been awesome for this team all year that I don’t blame him either.. you just win some and you lose some.
I try to keep a positive outlook because thats what fans are supposed to do.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:52 am
If the Phils don’t make the postseason this year….CHARLIE HAS TO GO! He manages like it’s little league and everyone has to play the minimum innings and get the minimum at bats. They said someone to light a fire up their asses and happy go lucky Charlie doesn’t work. I understand the players like him and I like him too, but not managing my baseball team.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I still have the faith. We can win this thing, and it all starts tomorrow night. One game at a time. However …….
I was at the game last night. Two observations:
1. I have said this numerous times on this blog. Single biggest flaw of this team, put the ball in play when it needs to be. Several times last night, and many dozens of time this season, we failed to move a runner and/or score a run. THE LITTLE THINGS. Definitely cost us the game last night and probably a half dozen this year. I do have to commend Stairs last night, going the opposite way with the pitch, scoring Vic.
2. Charlie had a bad night last night. As the Nats were mouting their charge, I kept saying to myself that he needs to make the move. He stayed with our pitchers one batter too many last night says this armchair manager. But I think he did.
Water under the bridge now, need to play solid fundamental baseball the next three weeks, and we do have a shot.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Ben. . . how is Rowand doing compared to Victorino this year?? Oh yea.. keeping in mind that he makes over $9 M more than him this year too..
Tatis, Murphy, Church, Perez? are you serious?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Mother F*$#ers. The biggest series of the year is coming up and you are all ready to call it quits? B/c they dropped a series to an oddly hot Nationals team?
No. Don’t give me this BS. You all suck and are shitty fans. JRoll is right, you front-running bastards. Go root for the Eagles.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Chad Durbin was put in because of his record against Ryan Zimmerman. Sorry to say but nobody is perfect through the course of an entire season. The Mets series will definately factor into our playoff chances.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I love how everyone is still jumping on Howard (league leader in HR and RBI)… and Rollins eventhough he’s playing great baseball as of late..
paying no attention to the missing BAT of Pat Burrell.. Chase Utley’s power seems to GONE..
Anyone blaming this stuff on Charlie Manuel needs to start following baseball
September 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Thats what fans are supposed to do? Since when is there a rule book on what fans are supposed to do?
Durbin is showing exactly what kind of pitcher he is. Never was that good to begin with and put up some good numbers. Good numbers mean nothing to me. Durbin has showed that he can’t get guys out when it truely matters and getting guys out every once and a while does not count. I’m sorry but there is no true setup man on the Phillies so you stick with whatever was working. You’ve got to know your players, not just throw them in situations and hope for the best.
The Phillies have not played up to their potential this year and you cant just win some, lose some anymore. They’ve done that too much already. Goes right back to my point that the Phillies just don’t put any string any good stretches together. It’s ok to play .500 baseball if you play .700 baseball the weeks before. It’s not ok to play .500 baseball over long stretches if you have any expectations of winning. The Phillies were 39-26(6/8) at one point. They have since played one game under .500 baseball since then. Somethings gotta be wrong.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
once the phillies sweep the mets, a different tune will be playing.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Well considering we still had Victorino last year with Rowand, whats your point? Wouldn’t it have been great if we had Rowand AND Victorino?
September 4th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
We traded for blanton and all they talked about was how he’s an innings eater. What the hell happend to that he can’t go more then 5 without blowing up
September 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Don M, Are you seriously gonna say that those guys are garbage for the Mets? All I’m asking is who the Phillies version is of those guys?
Not how good of players you think they are. You can’t argue with the fact that the Mets have gotten production from places they never thought they’d get it. Where is that on the Phillies? Where is any consistent production?
September 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
And if Howard is your only example keep talking. The guy is still hitting below .240. So its safe to say he could have had a better year.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Does this work better for you,
I try to keep a positive outlook because thats what fans are supposed to do, IN MY OPINION…
we should have paid Rowand whatever he wanted..
And then how would we pay Hamels, Victorino, Howard, Burrell, and everyone else that people want to keep or that we have to pay arbitration.
Rowand is a nice player.. but I think Victorino is better all-around.. and if someone else wants to overpay Rowand for 5 years, you can’t knock the Phillies for letting him walk.
Werth is probably having a better year than Rowand too..
September 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
You must be friends with Geoff… people probably lineup to hang out with you guys, and get-in on that postive-vibe you always put out.. you seriously must be a lot of fun at parties, and to watch games with and stuff
September 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Consistent production from the Phillies..you mean guys like,
Werth, Dobbs, Durbin, Moyer…. all guys people weren’t expecting much from, and all guys that steadily help this team win games..
Everyone on EVERY team could have a better year.. I just think that other teams fans actually stay positive instead of jumping on-and-off the bandwagon depending on the outcome of each game. Half the guys on here would have killed themselves by now if they were Cubs fans, or RedSox fans before 2004.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I WANT TO TALK TO MY MAIN MAN JIMMY ROLLINS
September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Geoff my man! Do you take yourself seriously. I see other people have picked up on your b.s. crap. Do you ever sleep? Do you think people really care that much about what YOU have to say? Are you one of the bottom feeding liberals that collect unemployment and welfare and then blog about crappy baseball teams all day? I’ll be back in a few days because I dont have a chance to get on much. I forsee you continuing to write over and over again…. just dont foget to answer the door when dominoes delivers your lunch.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Ben~ What is your definition of the word “fan” (for the Phillies)?
September 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I just don’t know what it is about this team this year, last September I was gung-ho going into september with even more of a deficit. I don’t see that same fire, that same agenda that they had set and were going to do Whatever It Takes to get there. They feel bland and that lack of character is a direct reflection of the manager, I am sorry, I still have faith, but one playoff appearance and no playoff fire in that playoffs, with the talent that is present on this team. The manager is always on the hot seat.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The thing about not signing Rowand is the flexibility it provides them in the future. Haven’t they had enough bad long-term contracts over the past 8 years? Burrell, Abreu, Eaton all come to mind.
I mean Rowand is a career .284 hitter and he’s hitting .277 this year. His production over the next 4 years after this is likely to steadily decline since he’ll be 32, 33, 34, & 35 those years. By the 4th year of that deal, we would all most likely be bi+ching about it.
I do believe letting him walk instead of paying him 9.6mil was a better long-term deal.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I’m really curious as to which fans cheer their team on when they lose a late-season series to a crappy team like the Nats? You can’t be expected to be happy or positive about failure, it’s just silly.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Don M. - You shouldn’t leave out the White Sox. They had not won it since 1914 before they took the WS in 2005. I used to always get sick of listening to Red Sox fans complain while the White Sox and Cubs had it even worse.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Not for nothing though. Tim is this sight Phillies Nation or Phillies “whine and cheese” convention? Stop with the crying already, so they lost a series to the Nats in a terrible way and Uncle Chollie royally makes a mockery out of managing night in and night out. Let’s face it maybe this team only succeeds with their backs against the wall. They have three with the Mets and 4 with the Brew Crew, after next week we will know our fate. Here’s rooting to be at 10th and Pattison come October, and not for a beer at McFadden’s to watch the birds game.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Haha! Seriously Richie! It’s almost like the Phillies have the Mets right where they need them. It’s just frustrating that they can’t seem to get it done unless they have their backs up against a wall.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Hard loss to take - Durbin looks burned out, I’d give him 4-5 days off.
Hitting Utley was done in a classy fashion last night. I hate to see Utley get hit by a pitch, but that is old school baseball. Did anyone notice Utley lean into the pitch a bit, and Odalis Perez lob it in there?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
3 Games out isn’t as bad as it seems…Especially at this point, going into a 3 game series against the Mets. We have to ”atleast” take 2 out of 3 from the Mets to even consider making the playoff’s. I don’t see a sweep happening, but anything is possible. The Season basically comes down to this series right here. How bad do we want to win? Guess we’ll find out.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Seriously Bruce? If that isn’t a loaded question if ever saw one. Give me a break with that question.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
PHIL,
where you at man??? haven’t heard from you in days, weeks, months…
September 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Don M, I guess blindly following the team you love is a personal choice. I watch plenty of games to know im not a front-runner. I’ll be watching them against the Mets and hating on Hernandez and Cohen as I am forced to listen to those butchers, but excuse me if I don’t see how they make the come back this year. They just haven’t shown it. But if it does happen I will be there watching the whole thing. By the way, if my positive outlook on the Phillies actually made a difference I’d be all for it, but I’m not that naive. So I keep a realistic viewpoint.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
The defination of Philly Fan according to the media, is anyone who will throw snowballs at santa clause, stupid lazy media.
The Brew Crew is falling apart, potential for a wilcard, and the Mets being up by 3 games is not some insurmountable task..
Hell I wouldnt mind getting the wild card and taking the cubs on. Big Z and Harden could be hurt, that goes a long way.
I heard along with being a kick ass Alaskonian and NRA member, I heard Palin throws a mean 12-6 Curve. SIGN HER UP
September 4th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Phillies still need to figure out how to win to do ANYTHING!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
If the Mets take 2 out of 3 they are up only 4 games not 5. Add it up next time.
Anth Says:
September 4th, 2008 at 11:10 am
They will not be back. I expect the Mets to take 2 of 3, and put the Phils 5 games out with less then 20 to go. I don’t think the Brewers are going to lose the wild card either. What a disappointment.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Somebody asked me how I keep such a positive outlook… and I responded that I do keep a positive outlook because thats what fans are supposed to do.
I’m a fan of this team win or lose, and of course I’d rather see them win, but the majority of people that post on here think the world is about to end if the phils lose a game or a series.. but then think the phils are the greatest thing since sliced bread when they win..
And if it doesn’t make a difference having a positive or a realistic/negative viewpoint.. why not be positive-just-because?
Im not stupid, I know this team has holes.. but I also know that every other team has holes too, and every other team signs guys that underperform, and guys that produce more than expected, and managers that look smart when a move works, and dumb when a move doesn’t …
September 4th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Agreed, and well put Don. I do think if we do not make it this year and we cannot gain that swagger back that we had by mid-year next year, Charlie has to go.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Don M you put it perfect. I’ve been a Mets fan for 20 years and have seen some terrible ass teams but I’m still a Mets fan and always will be. If I was like a lot of the people out there, I would’ve given up after the Mets historic collapse.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I said before, and many times.. that if this team doesn’t make the playoffs, they need to make some changes.. But i still think they’re making the Phillies.. and will continue to think that unless they are eliminated… We are a better team than the Mets, and I think we’re better than the Cubs too.
No team from the NL WEST scares me that much.. Brewers are tough if you have to face Sabathia and Sheets.. but overall, top to bottom, I think we’re better than them too
September 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
LOL I know what the problem is. Rollins didn’t give a prediction and Beltran did. HAHAHAHAHAHA.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Don M you really think the Phillies are a better team than the Mets? Can you explain?
September 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Now I have gone and done something VERY positive-I pulled my circa 1980 pink “Phillies Fever” t-shirt from the bottom of my cedar chest. It is threadbare and a little tight, but I will work it for all its magic this weekend. PHILLIES FEVER!!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I think we have better starting pitching, a better bullpen.. and not as many hot-dogs.
Our pitching overall has been great lately..
And if you go position-by-position.. the Mets win at 3b hands down.. and you can make solid arguements for either team at every other position.. we did that before so no point bringing all that back up.
I just really dont think the Mets are that good, but again, Im a Phillies fan
September 4th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Phillies don’t have better starting pitching, that is fact. Just look up the stats, it’s not close. Their bullpen has been way better than the Mets bullpen even though they have blown some recently. The only reason the Mets are in this shitty mess that they are in is because they have 22 blown leads by the bullpen. Offensively the Mets are better in all Categories besides HR’s, obviously Shea is not CBP. I just found an interesting stat online, the Mets are the best in the NL Pitching when the opposing team has the bases loaded.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Some pitching stats:
Phillies Bullpen: ERA 3.15
Mets Bullpen : ERA 4.13
Phillies Complete Pitching: ERA 3.88
Mets Complete Pitching: ERA 3.96
September 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hamels, Myers, Moyer, and Blanton have been awesome lately
Santana is awesome, Pedro is not, Pelfrey is good, Perez has been much better than expected, Maine is going to be solid his entire career..
Outside of Santana, any phillies pitcher listed can outpitch any of the Mets guys.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
But im sure over the past month or whatever our Bullpen is much worse. and our starters are much better…
Overall, i think the lack of consistency in our offense is hurting us, and our pitching has been very good all year
September 4th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
> can they come back? yes. will the mets choke up the lead
> again? probably.
I hate to break it to you, Geoff… but there is no Easter Bunny.
“Probably”? PROBABLY??? What’s the basis for a once-in-a-lifetime event “probably” occurring twice in consecutive years? How many consecutive collapses have the Phillies had after 1964’s ‘10 Game Phlop’?
September 4th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I think the Phillies starting pitching is not nearly as good as the Mets. I really think outside of Hamels there is not a solid #2. Hamels is just amazing, he has some great #’s this year. Myers is mediocre and looks completely lost at times. Moyer is solid, you know exactly what you will get out of him. Blanton, I thought would eat innings and be way better in the NL but that really hasn’t been seen yet. The Phillies bullpen has just been amazing though. A 3.15 ERA is simply amazing and i’m sure got to be the best in baseball.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I’m not going to lie and say I watch the Mets a lot… but you obviously haven’t been watching the Phillies lately… Myers has been nothing short of FILTHY since he returned from the minors.. Moyer has had mostly Quality Starts all season.. and Blanton has walked more people than we expected, but he’s also done a very good job of keep this team in ballgames since he got here..
Should’ve beaten the Cubs on Friday, but he got hosed by some terrible calls by the umpires. he had a tough game last night, because he allowed 9 baserunners in 4 innings… he was only at 85 pitches or so though, so if they needed to, they could’ve got 2 more from him … so im not going to tell you that was great. But his 2 previous starts. 5.1 against the Cubs, with only 2 ER, against the Dodgers, he went 6 innings, and gave up only 1 ER. (the same Dodgers team that jumped all over Brandon Webb last week)
September 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
To be honest RiVLez if you are a Mets fan, what would bring you to a “Phillies Nation” site, I wouldn’t even think about going on a Mets site. Maybe it is built up anger and embarassment from choking last year, praying that they don’t do the same this year, so that you can get all the air back in your heads that was sucked out last year. That is just my opinion, but something tells me I’m right on. I would be willing to bet anything that come October when the Phils have beat out the Mets again, Mr RiveLz will be nowhere to be found on this site. Can I be more right about that? Do all Mets fans have a big blue pillow that they cry on??
September 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
The only thing I have to say this is 2008 not 2007. This is a way different team than last year. Reyes was just pitiful in August and September and statistically the Mets don’t do well if he doesn’t do well. So far he has been great in August and last year the Mets got beat up by the Phillies. 2007 Phillies won 12 of 18 games against the Mets and this year the Mets have won 10 of 15.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Richie, I go to many baseball blogs and love to read what fans have to say about their team. I have no embarassment, I didn’t play for the Mets and i’m not praying the Mets don’t collapse this year again. Whatever happens is going to happen regardless of what I do. Richie how are you so sure to think that the Phillies are going to win the division? Can you tell the future? It’s great you are confident in the Phillies as I am also and believe we will have a fight to the finish just as last year. I have been on this site for the past couple of years on and off as well as many other blogs and will continue to do so regardless what happens today, tomorrow or next month.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Glad to hear that RiveLz and I respect that, but their are several shallow compadres of yours that come on this site and speak with no sense, and do not have any heart. I respect you for that, but there are few and far between with loyal and intelligent Met fans. Do I think the Phillies will win, of course, do I think it is a foregone conclusion, no way. Will I live and die by them, yes. I truly do believe though that September comes down to good pitching(starting and bullpen), the Phillies have less runs allowed on the year, but September is a whole new ballgame.We shall see!!
September 4th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I’m assuming you mean morons like Mr Met. I don’t say things just because I am a Mets fan. I say things because I believe it makes baseball sense. The one thing I can say is, I will definitely enjoy the series this weekend sitting on the edge of my seat! Going to be a fun September guys.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
“With just over 20 games to play, there’s absolutely still a chance the Phils can overtake the Mets, or the Brewers, or whatever, to take a playoff spot. We were all packing it in on Sept. 5, 2007. Now here we are, almost a year later, and the situation is eerily similar.”
Tim, your intentions are noble, but the situation this year is not eerily similar to what happened a year ago. For one thing, the 2007 Mets had everything to lose after a strong playoff appearance the previous season and being tagged the early favorites. The Phils then, in contrast, had nothing to lose and everything to gain. They were the underdogs. This year, the roles are reversed. The positioning of the standings is the same, but there is a significant role reversal. This time, the Phillies are fumblin’ away their chances. Meanwhile the Mets are, as Hatebreed puts it, “As Diehard As They Come.” At least right now, they “never waiver, never falter, remain diehard,” no matter how much the bullpen can screw up a good thing.
This weekend cannot get here soon enough. Too bad I’ll miss the Saturday game, though, due to work all day until close. Should be a very fun series.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Mets/Phillies:
BA - .267/.254
R - 693/676
HR - 147/185
TB - 2037/2075
SO - 852/978
SB - 121/113
OBP - .340/.331
SLG - .418/.433
W - 79/76
SV - 39/39
HLD - 88/61
IP - 1269.1/1253.2
K/9 - 7.24/6.65
ERA - 3.96/3.84
WHIP - 1.34/1.38
September 4th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Just a quick little stat about whoever said the Phillies have better starting pitching, in about the same amount of innings, the Mets have a lower ERA, more strikeouts, lower OBP, lower slugging %, lower batting average, less HR allowed, and lower WHIP. Just curious, where did that statement come from?
September 4th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
rivelz needs to be a little gayer, your def. not one of those fans at shea going nuts i can see..
September 4th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I said, “I THINK” …as in, in my opinion, … and then said over the past month or so our starting pitching has been awesome, and, in my opinion, better then the Mets.
I guess we’ll see in this series if I’m right or not
September 4th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
im ashamed rivelz is a met fan
September 4th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Starting pitching better or worse doesn’t really matter. Over the past month the Mets have been the better team… unfortunately.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
heyo- yeah, i’d be ashamed too of someone who has class and intelligence.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Do Philly fans support Jimmy Rollins running his mouth about the Mets, even though he’s having a terrible year?
September 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Not bringing back Aaron Rowand this year is a big reason why the Phillies season has gone the way it has and probably Kyle Lohse too with the way he has pitched for St. Louis this year. Rowand was the team leader and motivator and the Phillies players know it too. He made hitters ahead of him in the batting order better. Burrell and Howard seen better pitches to hit with Rowand following them in the batting order. Rowand was the guy who restored order in the club-house when things would go bad and kept guys loose. The guys know and remember all of this and the absence of Rowand this year has had an effect on their attitudes.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
fans shouldnt be like this, its like a gay house
September 4th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Who knows how Rowand was in the clubhouse? How do we know he was the leader? Is there someone here who has access to the clubhouse on a daily basis to know these things? Rowand is gone and get over it. For the amount of jingle these guys are getting paid they should be able to motivate themselves.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
haha- a gay house???
September 4th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
not wit the phils fans, u can keep doin wat ur doing but what kinda met fan comes in here and makes goody goody with them, come on??? if ur gonna be goody go to YOUR TEAMS BLOG homo
September 4th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
What kind of fan (of any team) comes to another team’s blog using slurs? Obviously one with severe personal and insecurity issues.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
There’s probably a thoughtful Phils fan who could suggest a therapist to help resolve your personal demons.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
what slurs are you referring to?
September 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Seth Everett from mlb.com just said that Billy Wagner has not thrown 2 consecutive sessions without pain, and until that happens he’s DL’d.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
A shoulder/elbow/arm has only a limited number of throws in it. Perhaps Wagner’s has reached its limit.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
why did the phillies expand their roster with stiffs like Les Walrond & Eaton -
why didn’t they bring up Andrew Carpenter, and Carlos Carrasco (his era was 1.72 at LVALLEY)
this ownership & gm really s**k!!
September 4th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
“not wit the phils fans, u can keep doin wat ur doing but what kinda met fan comes in here and makes goody goody with them, come on??? if ur gonna be goody go to YOUR TEAMS BLOG homo”
What kind of Met fan? I’ll tell you what kind. The kind that can make an intelligent argument without offending anyone. He seems to be one of the only of his type. Who would have guessed it, but he actually seems to be a fan of baseball in general and understands that there is a whole world outside of New York. It’s called class.
As for some of the other topics, I agree with Don M when he says the Phillies have a better pitching staff. Obviously, the Phils pen is best in the league, and the opposite can be said about the Mets pen. The rotation is pretty close if you consider numbers from the entire year. If youre talking about after the All-Star break, its got to go to the Phils. Hamels has been a stud all year, Moyer has been much better than anyones expectations, and the re-emergence of Myers can only be defined as dirty. Blanton is an improvement over Eaton, but so would a 6-year-old, and Kendrick has been what one would expect from a young, bottom of the rotation guy.
Do I think the Mets will win the disision…yes I do. Will the Phils take the wildcard…lets see how the Brewers respond to their recent thumping. I do know that the Nl will once again come down to the last out of the last game of the season. It might not be a good thing for Phillies fans, but it will be a great thing for baseball fans. Im looking forward to a fun September.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
The Philly fans are looking for the Mets to have a repeat melt-down like 2007 to leap-frog ahead of the Mets…what a terrible way to live. The fact is, the Mets are playing awesome baseball, power-hitters are finally meeting expectations, their playing excellent defense, and last but not least, have a better manager then last year. The Phillies are playing mediocre baseball and are failing to execute when needed. The Mets are quite the opposite. I’m sorry to say Philly fans, the house of cards are stacked and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like their going to fall down.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Some Phillies players and baseball announcers and analysts stated at various times last year that Rowand was a leader in the club-house. He also had that quality about him when he played for the White Sox. Rowand mentioned one time that if he would not have been a baseball player, he would have liked to have had a career in the military.
Getting over it FRED does not erase the fact that the Phillies could have signed him for about the same amount of money that the Giants did. He only wanted a contract that was a year longer.