Phillies Nation

50 Responses to “Ruiz’s Squib Wins Late-Night Thriller For 2-1 Lead”

1. Tim Malcolm Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:16 am

   Here’s a great bit of news: Before the game, Tim McGraw went out to the mound and spread some of his father’s ashes onto the hill.

   Beautiful.

2. Keith Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:20 am

   what a game, what a game

3. nate Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:21 am

   completely agree about ruiz

4. gplad Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:29 am

   God bless the TUGGER. Lefty just grabbed Wheels’ ass in the concourse during a post game interview with Guidel. Ashes on the mound, Lefty in the house, Schmity with the email before he Mets series, the ghosts have come home to support this team. We definately have somethin special going on here people.

5. Nick S. Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:33 am

   Phillies Haiku:

   Two more wins to go.

   Bruntlett Ruiz ONE TWO PUNCH!

   Fishy Fishy Fish.

6. nelson Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:36 am

   victorino’s bat was silent this game, but diving to avoid that wild pitch was clutch. if he got hit, we’ve got runners on 1st and 2nd, and a different ball game to approach.

   i agree, that call by the 1st base ump was horrible. he called him safe and it cost us a run. to be honest, he was in no position to make the call at all, safe or out.

   all in all, great game tonight. a real nail-biter. i think i’m finally starting to catch my breath. but i hope this devastating loss to the rays takes the wind out of their sails.

7. Greg V. Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:37 am

   That story about Tim McGraw almost brought me to tears. This game was the reason I love baseball. It had it all! Big plays, huge hits, manufactured walk off RBIs, bad calls, not to mention a fantastic start from the hometown hero. I am overwhelmed by this game.

   Though to reference the bad calls, this shit has to stop. The umps are horrendous this World Series.

8. Zack Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:43 am

   Greg, without the ump giving Moyer that enlarged strike zone, he’s in trouble. Why do you think Moyer gave him the hat tip when he left the game? It all evens out in the end. I didn’t see an egregious bias against the Phils. I’ll take that bad call for an enlarged strike zone for Moyer any day.

9. Ed Says:
   October 26th, 2008 at 2:44 am

   Unforgettable game. I just got home… I’m so fired up i don’t think i’ll be sleeping at all tonite. It was great that they used a 5 man infield and we still scored on a ball that was in front of them! Go Phils!!!!!!

10. Lefty Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 2:46 am

    Awsome come back!!!! Jamie you pitched a great game,you deserved the win….. but thanks for going 6+!!!!That was a nice touch with Carlton throwing the first pitch.

11. GOOSEBUMPS Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 2:56 am

    how do you spell PHAITH?’

    R

    U

    I

    Z

12. Phillies Phan SC Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 2:57 am

    Where have the good umps gone? Maybe they should use this poll and use the good ones. I do not know how scientific the poll is though or if the website is credible: What the heck though, it is all talk….

    http://www.azsnakepit.com/2008/7/15/570246/best-and-worst-umpires

13. Phillies Phan SC Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 2:58 am

    Zack, Good point, never thought of it quite that way.

14. T Marty Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 3:43 am

    great shot!~ i feel like a lil’ school girl, so giddy, so good, this is good!

15. Craig Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 5:29 am

    Uh-Oh, someone’s awoken The Howard. That can’t be good for the Rays.

16. Scotty Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 7:27 am

    Been in the UK for a couple weeks and haven’t been able to follow the game as it’s played. But man, what news this morning. Well done, Jamie, and I miss you, Tugger.

    Keep Phinding a way, fellas.

17. Bobby in Boston Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 7:28 am

    The world series is a great way of determining who’s got the mettle, who’s got the cajones to handle the pressure, and quite clearly the one guy that best thrives in this situation is one Carlos Ruiz. Probably the most unknown starter heading into the playoffs, his performance so far is the one that will stick with people. Bring on the Jason Varitek comparisons. Despite the two errors, his play has been gritty, smart, and clutch. And yes, his game-winner last night was the Phillies’ first WS rbi basehit with men in scoring position.

    Now all the pressure is on TB and if Blanton can pitch like he did against Milwauke, oh boy oh boy….

18. Mark Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am

    Tim, I’m with you on Ruiz, unquestionably MVP to here. And Jamie Moyer for the NL Cy Young!

19. Jeff Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 8:17 am

    I like Werth, but Charlie should slap him. Ruiz made up for the throwing error. If Blanton can somhow win, we can try to close with Hammels.

20. Brian Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 8:39 am

    OK last night was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen. When Bruntlett got to third my screams woke up my 6 year old who watched the end with my wife and I.

    A few observations:

    Is Jayson Werth brain dead in this series or what?

    Great to see Jimmy back

    Moyer pitched the game of his life

    How long was Maddon on the mound in the 9th, why didn’t the umpire try to speed that up

    2 more!!!!!!! Let’s go Blanton!!

21. Bonezy Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 9:26 am

    Well its 9:33 snd I sm supposed to be on the way to hsng out in the parking but here I am waiting for someone to get here to leave. With that said, I will be seeing you guys at the Nation tent in the parking lot today at some point. If we have another game like that, I may not make it home without a stop to the damn hospital. WE ARE PHILLIY NATION…LETS GO PHILS!!!!!!!!!!

22. Phil Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 9:32 am

    Where is the nation tent going to be tomorrow? I was looking for it last night in the pouring rain.

23. R.C. Cowi e Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 9:41 am

    We will be somewhere and we wll let everyone know. You can use your internet enabled phone to check out our mobile site to check updates if youll be down at the ballpark to catch us there.

24. Phil Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 9:51 am

    R.C. Cowie? What is the mobile site?

25. christopher Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:06 am

    i have no words to describe what it was like at the grey lodge last night. that is a game that will stay with me as long as i’m alive.

26. Phillies Diary Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Who would have thought of all people, Ruiz would be carrying this team? Excellent!

27. Rob Cowie Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:27 am

    If u just type our URL into ur phones’ browser u get it. It is a basic mobile site that is all HTML which promotes quick loading times.

28. Rob Cowie Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Grey Lodge = my neighborhood bar. Though I was at reales for the game.

29. Matt Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Zack , a few points –

    1. Moyer always tips his cap toward the ump whenever he leaves, good or bad.

    2. An enlarged strike zone benefits both teams pitchers. Garza got a few calls, and quite honestly, if he had the command to hit the same spots as Moyer, he would have gotten the calls.

    3. A blown call at 1B doesn’t help both teams. There’s a difference.

30. Phil Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Rob, when I type in the website in my phone it gives me the normal version of the site. I have a PDA phone, and I use Phillies nation on it, but it is slow as dirt. Do you have any other suggestions?

31. NEPA Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:37 am

    Yea, the first base ump’s calls are (should be) completely independent of the home plate ump’s calls. So it shouldn’t be a trade off where we’ll take a terrible call at first for an enlarged strikezone.

32. R.C. Cowie Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am

    On PDAs I don’t believe you get the mobile site option. On regular WAP internet phones we give you the choice of Mobile or Regular because Wordpress gives you that choice. On iPhones, Google Phone and PDAs I believe it just goes right to the site. Something we are working on.

33. Phil Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Okay, thanks. Let me know when that is fixed so I can use the mobile version. I tried http://www.wap.philliesnation.com but it didn’t work. I can still use the site, but it is the slowest site that I use on my phone. It also sometimes makes my phone freeze. If you can get a mobile version for PDA phones that would rule.

34. Ryan Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 11:08 am

    That was a ridiculous game. I would have been so pissed if they lost it on that obvious blown call. That “bunt single” is the reason why baseball needs instant replay.

    I’m going to the game today – hopefully I can break my personal Phillies curse. Whenever I go to a game, they always lose. I can feel that streak breaking tonight.

    LET’S GO PHILLIES!!!

35. NEPA Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    Ryan, I speak for all of us when I say stay home.

36. Phil Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Yeah, scalp your ticket dude. Don’t jinx them.

37. Bill H. Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 11:57 am

    Some random thoughts…..

    Why is it that FOX needs to remind the viewers every 2 minutes how futile the Phillies hitters have been with RISP in these 3 games? Yet, they praise the Rays for their wonderful ability to manufacture runs via ground out or sac fly (combined with fortunate calls from the umpires)?

    By my count, the Rays have hit about 5 balls real hard the whole series. They’re not exactly the ‘27 Yankees.

    Comparing the position players of each team after 3 games:

    C – Ruiz and Navarro each made costly throwing errors in last nigfht’s game. Navarro’s was devastating. Ruiz has clearly out-performed Navarro so far.

    1B – Howard has struggled mightily with RISP, but he’s hit the ball hard the last 2 games. Pena has played good D but no offense. Edge to Howard.

    2B – Iwamura had 3 hits and an RBI in game 1 (which the Rays lost); has done nothing since. Utley has 2 HRs and 3 RBIs in both wins for the Phils. Edge to Howard.

    SS – Rollins really struggled in St. Petersburg, but collected 2 hits last night. Bartlett has 2 hits, 2 RBIs and has played good D. Edge to Barlett.

    3B – The great Evan Longoria has done zilch in these 3 games and his defense is suspect. Feliz has 2 hits and always plays great D. Edge to Feliz.

    LF – Burrell has done nothing. Crawford Has two hits – a HR in game 1 off Hamels and that fortuitous bunt single in the 7th last night. Edge to Crawford.

    CF – Upton and Victorino each have 4 hits in the 3 games. Both have played well defensively. Although Upton has more steals he also came up tiny in game 1. I would call this one a draw.

    RF – Zorbrist, Baldelli and Gross have a combined 1 hits between them, while Werth has 4 (including 2 doubles). However, Werth made a key fielding error in game 2 and 2 bad base-running mistakes in games 2 & 3. Despite those muscues you gotta give the edge to Werth because the Rays need more than 1 hit from their rightfielders in 3 games.

    DH – Combined, each team’s DH has one hit to show for the 3 games. Coste and Dobbs came up real tiny in games 1 & 2, especially Dobbs. By default the edge goes to the Rays.

    Starting Pitchers – Their really hasn’t been a SP who’s been truly roughed-up in this series so far. And although the Phils had plenty of opportunities agisnt James (big game) Shields in game 2, he gets credit for keeping them in check. Hamels out-duled Kazmir; Shields did a little better than Myers; but Moyer out-performed Garza last night. Edge to Phillies.

    Bullpen – Although FOX is already campaigning for money for the construction project to build a separate wing in the Hall of Fame for the annointed David Price of the Rays, I’m not THAT impressed. Balfour and Howell have pitched well for them too. But the Phillies’ Bullpen has been stellar by comparison.

    Is it me, or does Tim McCarver make a bigger deal out of Howard’s slump as compared to Longoria’s? Yeah, Howard has left a ton of men on base – especially with a runner on 3B and less than 2 outs – but Evan The Great has done nothing at all offensively. Yet FOX keeps reminding us of his 6 post season HRs. That’s old news, FOX. Besides, Howard has been seeing and hitting the ball better the last 2 games.

    HRs by team – Rays (1 – Crawford); Phils (5 – Utley (2), Howard, Bruntlett, Ruiz)

    Interesting, poignant stat that FOX showed late in last night’s game. In 27 innings, the Rays’ pitchers have retired the Phillies’ hitters in order only FOUR times so far.

    I am real happy for Carlos Ruiz. It’s easy to see that every member of the Phillies loves this guy, and his defense is underrated. He never shows up the umpire and never hangs his head. And di you notice his HR last night, he knew it was gone when he hit it but just dropped the bat, lowered his head and RAN around the bases. Class guy. Glad to see “Chooch” succeed in the national spotlight.

38. Chuck Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 11:57 am

    Just read the running blog entries from last night’s game. Couldn’t participate cause the wireless was down where I was but really enjoyed reading what you all had to say as it unfolded. WHAT A GAME!!!!

    NEPA…..I echo you’re plea to Ryan……..RYAN, STAY HOME!!! (Seriously, Ryan if you go, please at least act differently, sit differently….do a bunch of things differently to change your bad luck!!!)

39. mikemike Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Interesting tidbit to game Ruiz hits a slow chopper and is the hero. But why was he swinging at bad pitches with bases loaded. and no outs. he would have walk and won the game. Offensively he still is nothing, even though he has had a better series .

40. mikemike Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    Can’t believe how madden complain about non balk call. Yet philles have got screw of out two runs last night and in second game and nothing said. This umpire crew is inconsistend. they are all over place with there strike zone and out of position on base calls,

41. Zack Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Matt,

    1. Did not know that, what a class act.

    2. Agree about the enlarged strike zone benefiting both pitchers, and that Garza and Navarro didn’t take advantage like Ruiz and Jamie did. But if it’s a tight strike zone, and assuming that Moyer NEEDS that expanded zone, then maybe Moyer doesn’t shut down the Rays’ offense as well as he did. But you’re right, there’s something to be said about being able to take advantage when the opportunity is presented, as opposed to not taking advantage.

    3. A blown call does not help both teams, I agree. But the way I was looking at it was, let’s say that before the game starts, you’re given a choice between:

    A) a blown call that would cost you two runs plus an enlarged strike zone that would help your pitcher more than the other guy

    B) no blown calls, but the home plate guy is gonna call the strike zone exactly as it should be called

    You could even argue that Brett Myers was even better in game 2 because he had to deal with a home plate ump whose strike zone was very inconsistent, and he went longer and gave up the same amount of earned runs as Moyer.

    Just trying to explain myself, not really looking to get into an argument about this, I’m happy as hell about the win last night, just like you.

42. Greg F. Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    I was as pissed as hell at the Hallion blown call as anyone else. He was flat out of position, slow to react and had no line of sight. It cost Moyer a well-deserved W and nearly cost the Phils the game.

    I guarantee you nobody feels as bad about that call as Hallion himself. MLB front office reviews umpiring with the crew, and the crew chief reviews the game with the rest of the crew. Hallion knows full well he blew it. And there but for the grace of god, he could have joined Don Denkinger in the hall of shame for the blown call at first in the 85 WS. There was a special on that call on ESPN, and that umpire still gets hate mail to this day from Cardinal fans.

    I fear baseball is going in the wrong direction with instant replay. As soon as baseball dips a toe in those waters it won’t be long before we find ourselves alll the way in the pool with electronic strike zones and infra-red motion detectors in fences and foul poles, etc., just like professional tennis. That’s not a game I want to watch.

    Close bang-bang calls will sometimes go for you and sometimes against, but over the longer haul they will even out. Championship teams will shrug these things off and go get the run back. That’s what the Phils did last night, and that’s why I believe the Phils will win this in the end. And if that happens, nobody will be more relieved than Hallion.

43. Don M Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    I don’t know that the umpire was out of position on that call… howard just happened to catch the ball directly in between his body and crawford (crawford, right??)… and the umpire gets into a position at a 45-degree angle from the bag.

    that was a freak play, if Howard stretches out towards Moyer, its not as bang-bang.. and the umpire would have seen it..

    BUT.. that is baseball.. if they go to instant replay there. it would only be a matter of time before people want managers to have challenge flags a few times a game for ball-strike calls..

44. Jim Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    Ruiz is the MVP at this point, I agree. However, keep in mind, after they win again tonight, Hamels will have his chance to
    A) Be the first pitcher in history to win 5 games in a single postseason
    B) Win the first and last game of the WS
    C) Clinch the LCS and WS on the mound

    So, if all that happens, you know that will lock him up the MVP.

45. Matt Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    Zach – It’s cool, we’re all on the same team here (or most of us are anyway!) I can see you’re logic in your arguement. Sometimes I forget that some posters on here actually have some rational thoughts.

46. mikemike Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    Don M use didn’t watch post game live. Mitch williams was going nuts about the umpire being out of position. so did ricky bo.

47. Don M Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    The single most important thing for an umpire is to have the correct angle on the play, and to be set.. so that your eyes and head aren’t moving as you’re trying to read the play.

    Of course there are going to be freak plays like that one where you can’t see… he was in the right position, which happened to put him OUT of position for THAT particular play.. Of course mitch and ricky bo are going to say that because he butchered the call.. but it was because of where Howard caught the ball that he missed it, not because he wasn’t in the right spot

48. mikemike Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    Don M He was behind the play, out of position . How can you call a play when you are behind the fielder with no angle to see, He went on the assumpition that you look at the bag and hear the ball hit the glove. But howard barehanded it so no sound. But I am just repeating what was said by everyone who saw it like vino, on espn, and others, plus sportnite, plus the guy on baseball wrapup.

49. mikemike Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    Excuse me if he is in right position what does it matter where howard caught the ball. That means he couldn’t see the play then.how is he in right position.This isn’t little league this is the major league with supposingly the best umpires. but we haven’t seen that.

50. SJ Mike Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    I think the issue is that too many umpires base their calls on sounds. Since Howard barehanded it, there was no distinct sound like you would hear a ball hitting the leather glove.

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