Phillies Nation

63 Responses to “Tonight Is Game One …”

1. Cole Hamels Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 am

   I’m pumped. and nervous. The phils haven’t played a game in almost a week.

2. Chase Mutley Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:19 am

   I woke up this morning like it was Christmas. The first thing I did was reach for my PDA to read any new stories the major sports outlets had. First stop, Fox Sports. Two articles, one saying the Rays will win; the other about how gross Philadelphia fans are without a single reference to anything that has happened this century. You know what?! F ‘EM!!! LET’S GO PHILLIES!!

3. Cole Hamels Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am

   Seriously. What is this Media love fest for the Tampa bay rays.

4. Craig Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 am

   Cole – Cause they went from the very worst team in baseball and the world series in the space of a year.

   If there anything you Americans like it’s a story like that

5. Manny Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am

   I’ve been pumped for over a week now. I need a shot

6. Gavin Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 am

   I’m nervous and I cant concentrate. I wish they played at 8:35am. This is killing me. I still cant believe we’re in the WS. It really was like Christmas morning this morning. The excitment of anticipation is only surpassed by that which comes from victory.

   I’m kinda worried if I can handle it. I lose it when they are playing the Reds on a Wednesday in June for God’s sake.

7. Rich Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 9:56 am

   Go Phillies!, I am down in Tampa, and if you think it’s nervewracking in Philly, try being down here!

   I need a cheesesteak !!!

   Rich

8. maxhole Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 am

   just for fun, remember jaws helped the soul to a championship. not a major sports league, but im fine with believing our sad sports wide losing streak came to an end with that win. no more curse, bring the trophy home guys.

9. NEPA Says:
   October 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 am

   maxhole, if there is a curse – it didn’t end with that win.

10. Chase Mutley Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am

    Another reason the Rays are the media favorite (aside from being a REALLY good team) is that the major sports media lives and dies with the Yankees and Red Sox. They’re the two largest markets for baseball. They have to pander to them to pay the bills. You keep hearing about the “toughest division in baseball” even though the Yankees, Blue Jays and Orioles all stink because it’s playing up to that audience. I work in North Jersey any most of my co-workers are NYY or Sox fans. They’re rooting for the Rays because they want justification for their own teams not being there. That’s sort of the reasoning behind the love fest. Again, not to take anything away from the Rays because they are VERY good but if this was an AL Central or NL Central team that went worst to first, the feel-good-story aspect wouldn’t be so in your face.

11. Matt S Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am

    Tim, that was rude…I’m sitting at my desk trying to work, as if that wasn’t hard enough, now I’m all pumped up…But it did send chills down my spine.

    I woke up at 4am ready for this day, we’ve all been waiting. Now it is time….WHY CAN’T US.

    Good luck all

12. MP Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 am

    I now have no respect for anyone on ESPN. Did anyone watch the World Series special on Comcast last night?? Kurkjian basically admitted what a hack he is. He was like I’m picking the Rays in 7, but I also thought the Cubs would win the World Series, and I’ve been wrong in every playoff predictions so far, so the Phillies could win it in 7 too.

    Just laughable. Last night was totally Christmas eve like feeling. My dog is rockin’ a throwback Ryan Howard tee. And to mark the anniversary of the greatest day in Phillies history, watched Game 6 of the 1980 World Series. (If you don’t have the 25th Anniversary 3 disc DVD of the 1980 World Series – it is so worth it – espcially for those of us not around in the glory years!)

13. ashley Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 am

    Can’t wait! Bring it on!

    Watching all the coverage has been great, even when the “experts” aren’t picking the Phillies. We don’t need bandwagoners! Go Phils!

14. Fran Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am

    This might be the longest 10 hours of my life, luckly I have a busy day until about 7:40 so that should help a little.

15. Robbi P Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am

    10:35 less than 10 hours away from the first World Series game for Philadelphia since 1993, when I was too young to understand what was going on. I dreamed about the Phillies game yesterday but don’t remember the score damnit! Anyway did anyone else read the article where Clint Hurdle said the layoff is an impossible hurdle(no pun intended) I hate this guy. First his team steam rolls us last year, then he makes our closer throw 100 frickin pitches in the bullpen during the all star game and now has the nerve to say O well they can’t win. Watch us you jerk!

16. Manny Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 am

    Each minute feels like an hour…

17. JimC Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am

    Espn had a big story on evan longoria. It was complete trash on how him and eva longoria have almost the same name. How low do you have to go to get a story out there. Espn is all rayd up but I’m pumped baby I can’t wait for them to eat their words and analyze why the rays lost it and why the phillies didn’t win it

18. Fran Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/extramustard/10/22/phillies-rays-links/index.html

    lot of cool links at the top about the world series to kill some time

19. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 am

    I woke up this am thinking “Chase Utley”, don’t know what that means, but I do get these weird feelings at times that usually pan out.

    I haven’t been watching any WS coverage other than csn, it just ticks me off too much to hear those jerks busting on our boys all the time. Let’s hope Joe Buck and Co. have done a little research for this series and actually know what they’re talking about.

    OMG, I’m so freakin’ excited, must keep busy until tonight.

20. Bonezy Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am

    I think I am gonna Bang out early today just to get the party started around noon. Damn.. the boss caught me. Ok I am Definately Banging Out at noon!

21. Chuck Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am

    JimC, ESPN can “Analyze That.”

22. Chuck Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am

    Georgie, I refuse to listen to Buck and McCarver. It will be sound down and Harry and the boys on the radio for me. My 11 year old thinks I’m nuts when I do that. Oh, well…..

23. Phils2611 Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 am

    Is it just me or does anyone else really want to watch Rocky IV now?

    I have to say, I’m very excited for tonight… It’s going to be hard to keep myself busy until the game starts!

24. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Now Chuck, when you do that, is the tv in sync with the radio, is there a delay or anything? Because seriously, I’m afraid if I listen to Buck and Co, I may get violent and throw something, and I am by nature a completely non-violent person. My poor cats have taken to running upstairs these past few weeks, my loud outbursts apparently hurt their ears.

25. Chuck Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Georgie, there is a sync problem. I noticed by the 5th game of the NLCS it was better but still off. I don’t care. Actually, in game 4, I laid on the couch with my eyes away from the muted TV and only looked at it when I wanted to see a replay. The radio was so much better and it brought me back to my youth when I would lie in bed with my transistor.

    As for your cats, I have the same problem. My two have been completely spooked and my two poor dogs just look up at me and stare as if to say, “Have you gone completely mad??!!”

26. dan Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 am

    I had a dream last night that I was at the World Series. For some reason, the infield was covered in seats. I didn’t realize as I was dreaming that baseball couldn’t be played with seats covering the infield. Every hit went to the outfield. Someone on the Phils hit a 2-run homer and I went nuts but people just looked at me. I might have been in Tampa but there was certainly no roof on the stadium. Just really strange. Somebody tell me what it all means.

27. MikeB Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am

    I think the reality with the Rockies last year was that they played way over their heads before going into the World Series against the Red Sox and got swept by a superior team that was on a roll. Their layoff might have had a minor affect but you would think that a good team could overcome that after a game or two. Sounds like Clint Hurdle is using the layoff thing as an excuse to justify his team’s WS loss to the Red Sox.

    It is hard of course. to simulate an actual game situation in practice and especially a game with significance like a World Series game but yet practice has to count for something. The Phillies have had four or five days of practice since the Dodgers series and a intra-squad game. The way this layoff thing is talked up, it is made to sound like the Phillies have been totally idle for the past week. Just more fuel for the fire to justify the prediction of a Tampa Bay World Series win

28. Chuck Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am

    dan, I’m not a dream specialist, but if I had to make a guess as to what it means, I would say that you have an ability to predict the outcome of a particular event, this one being the World Series. Translation: THE PHILLIES ARE GONNA WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!

29. Phils2611 Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 am

    Dan, certainly it means that in order to beat the Rays, we need to remove their dome somehow… And we need to sit on their field.

    Hmmm… Any suggestions?

30. dan Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 am

    Hahaha I will bet you that a Phils infielder falls on his rear making a play tonight. And the dome? I’m not sure what that means.

31. Cole Hamels Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am

    ITS OVER.

    ESPN reports that it ran 2000 simulations on the WS and the Rays are HEAVILY favored according to the simulation. Rays came out on top over 1550 times.

32. Chase Mutley Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 am

    “I guess the American League East is always the talk of the town any time baseball season comes, because of Boston and the Yankees. Any team that can beat Boston and the Yankees is pretty impressive. . . . I don’t know what they’re really looking at, but I just think we’re very equal. I can’t say who to favor, but I’m going to pick my side, no doubt.”

    - Cole Hamels

    Words to live by.

33. Gavin Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:35 am

    Gosh, I’m surprised they’ll even play the damn thing now. You cant simulate heart.

34. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am

    Gavin- “you can’t simulate heart”. That just about sums it up.

35. Gavin Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am

    I tried listening to XM radio during the game ( I live in SC) and there’s like a 10 second delay. I cant handle that. I jsut mute it or turn it way down otherwise I’m distracted form the game because McCarver will want to talk about some extraneous topic.

    How many “Lidge is perfect on the season and the playoffs!!!!!!” can one sane person take? God almighty. It absolutely makes my heart sink and stomach turn when they beat that into the ground.

36. Gavin Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am

    Although I can listen to 1210 down here on a nice night.

37. Cole Hamels Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 am

    I realize everyone outside philly is up on the Ray’s jock strap but how can anyone bet against.

    Jimmy Rollins (MVP)
    Chase Utley (best 2nd baseman in the game)
    Ryan Howard (MLB leader in HR’s and RBI’s)
    Pat Burrell (Mr. Clutch when it counts)
    Shane Victorino (Mr.October so far)
    Jayson Werth/Dobbs/Stairs

    Cole Hamels (Ace) Brett Myers (2nd half – just nasty) and the sickest bullpen in baseball.

    How much better can the Rays be?

38. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 am

    McCarver is no doubt aware of how superstitious the Phillie fans are, and gets a big kick out of trying to put the jinx on us whenever he gets the chance. I wonder if he feels slighted because he was never a real big fan favorite here, probably because we knew back then he was an a$$hole.

39. NC Jason Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am

    Did anyone else the article on Pat’s leadership in the Inquire today? Really well done. I could not be happier for Pat, anyone else know of a Phillie who was booed harder and then received more cheers?

40. NC Jason Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Gavin ~ I am NC and I also have XM. If you have DVR pause the game for and sync up the radio with what is happening during the game. However, Fox (at least where I am) does not have the best reception so sometimes it jumps off of DVR and goes back to live.

41. Chase Mutley Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:55 am

    Gargano is trashing his boy at Fox Sports who wrote that article about Phillies fans right now.

42. Joel Michalec Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 am

    I agree about the news entities giving so much pump for the Rays. It’s only because they had nine terrible seasons then come alive this year..good for them. ESPN Radio says that they are now the biggest success story in MLB history…PU-LEASE! The Phillies are going for it all and you know how I know? My brother has predicted their reign throughout the post-season successfully so why should I stop believing now..

    GO PHILLIES!!!!!!

43. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am

    NC Jason- and handled the boos with more class than anyone I can think of. He never trashed this city, the fans, his teammates, coaches. I am so happy for Pat, he deserves to play left field, and as Mitch Willims said, he needs to be in the game to play at his best. I don’t think DHing him at this point is in the teams’ best interests.

44. MikeB Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am

    McCarver got traded from the Cardinals to the Phillies and became Steve Carlton’s designated catcher. Trying to remember way back then, I think that Carlton was the only pitcher McCarver caught and only played in those games that he caught him. McCarver was never the impact hitter in Philly that he was in St. Louis.

    Was McCarver an announcer for the Mets at some time after he retired from baseball?

45. NC Jason Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    Georgie ~ That is why I really like him. Yes, he is mechanical, his swing is too long, he could not win a race against anyone, but all of that he has never had a bad word to say – something that most players do not do. I have all of the respect for someone like that.

46. Chase Mutley Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    McCarver did announce for the Mets and the Yankees I believe. He’s never had anything good to say about any of those teams or the Phillies.

47. NC Jason Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    People tend to get on Joe Morgan but who is worse McCarver or Morgan?

48. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Ugh, I just realized I haven’t eaten anything today, but my stomach is in knots already, basketcase by gametime, I imagine! I’m going to go eat some cereal or something.

    PS, I will probably be posting some stupid stuff in the next few hours, I’m home with no one to yak to but the cats, and when I’m nervous I just tend to ramble on and on and….. Please feel free to skip my posts today.

49. MikeB Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    McCarver, by far.

50. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    Agreed, McCarver. It’s the arrogant attitude.

51. Chase Mutley Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Joe Morgan will put you to sleep and gets lots of things wrong but Tim McCarver will basically root for one side and back things up with made up ideas.

    i.e. Pat Burrell not having a good arm.

52. MikeB Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    I am sure that many do not know of or remember Curt Gowdy and Joe Garagiola who announced the World Series back in the 1960’s and 1970’s and I think with Curt Gowdy, even back in he late 1950’s. Garagiola played in the Majors as a catcher with either the Red Sox or Cardinals. Gowdy often talked about his love of being a sportsman; fishing, and hunting pheasants in Nebraska and Wyoming.

53. Don M Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    So yesterday I emailed some writer because while talking about DEFENSE.. he didn’t once mention Rollins.. but gave the Phillies the edge because of Utley’s skills… which, while good, are probably the weakest part of his overall game..

    Today.. mlb.com goes position by position.. and gives Tampa Bay the edge in CF because Upton “could break Barry Bonds’ record for most home runs in a single postseason.”

    Nevermind that Victorino hit for a a higher avg. (.293 to .273), More HRs (14 to 9), and more runs scored (102 to 85) Upton had more RBIs (67 to 58) and had more Stolen Bases (44 to 36) but was Caught Stealing 16 times to Victorino’s 11.

    If THAT isn’t good enough… Victorino had a .994 Fielding % with only 2 errors, Upton had only a .983% with 7 errors..

    Yea, again, I know i’m a nerd for checking those stats… but I guess hitting more HR in the playoffs makes somebody a better CenterFielder?? Defense isn’t important?

54. Phils2611 Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    Dan, a hard 1-out inning ending DP ground ball to Jimmy Rollins will knock him back, causing him to throw to Utley while sitting.

    This DP will swing the momentum to the Phillies as they will be down 2 – 1 in the 6th inning.

    When the Phillies come up to bat, Burrell will hit a high shot that puts a hole in the Dome, fortunately for the Rays, the ball will go foul. Burrell will be walked from a 3-2 count, bringing up Victorino to hit a 2 run HR to put the Phillies ahead 3 – 2. No more runs will be score in the game, Phillies win.

55. Chuck Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    Three things:

    McCarver’s the worst. At least Morgan has Jon Miller, one of the best play-by-play men, to offset him. Who does McCarver have?……Joe “Pretty-Boy” Buck. Nuff said on that topic.

    Secondly, Upton vs. Victorino? Give me a freakin’ break!! Upton is a dynamic kid, no doubt. But to compare him to Barry Bonds and then give him an edge defensively because of his offense??? All one has to do is watch Victorino when he approaches the fence in making a spectacular catch and how he feels for it and the argument stops there.

    Third, Georgie, get somethin’ to eat already. It’s a long afternoon we are in.

56. RK Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Lets Go Phil’s This is damn exciting I cant do anything but think about the game.

57. ryan Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    only problem, the phils are more like drago than rocky in this series.

58. Tim Malcolm Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    Underdog, from Philly, going to a strange new place while everybody is hyping the other guy … can’t see the Phils being Drago.

59. Georgie Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Tim, isn’t Ryan a Mets fan or Dodger fan? Maybe not, but I seem to remember a ryan doing some trolling a while back.

60. Don M Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    What are Mets fans watching on TV tonight?

    http://www.versuscountry.com/tv-schedule.aspx

    maybe some fishing or something…

61. Richie Allen Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Tim the Rocky stuff is very good…but yesterday on Comcast Phila,they played the story of the 93 Phils..it was on for about 1 hr.
    Not only good for Pumping up but Funny to boot…they called Eisenreich..(Jeffrey Dahmer),even asked him if he ate anybody that day.his response”no,but I am very hungry”.
    Those guys were hilarious.

    Lets Go Phils…cant wait!

62. HEY CHOLLY Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    why the rays lovefest?

    it has nothin to do with the rays.. it has to do with the pundits said the phils couldn’t beat cc sabathia and they did; the phils could not beat LA/ manny & they did… the anti philadelphia pundits are in disbelief – how did this team get there? according to the nonbelievers, the phillies never win, its the other team that loses or the other team’s big player who fails in the clutch…neve about philadelphia talent or prode and heart..

63. HEY CHOLLY Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    sorry about the spellin’ (espn said it’s those philadelphia schools – haha..)

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