Commentary: Will Of A Champion Returns

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, June 11, 2009 11:59 AM

PhilsMetswin1 Remove yourself, for a moment, from attached, obsessed, clinging passion to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Now think about last night’s victory over the Mets. Split it into two halves. The first – innings 1-6, showcased the Phillies at their decidedly worst: A band of offensive nothings who flail at bad pitches, hit weak ground balls and barely take pitchers’ offerings. The pitching was mediocre to say the least – Cole Hamels let his pitches find bats, and Mets hitters punched bloops into play. Management seemed poor, as Jimmy Rollins came right back to the leadoff spot and right back to bad baseball. It all seemed so lost.

But you never know when the Phillies can turn those burners on, and they did so in the second half of the game.

It started innocently enough in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Hamels was rocked by the Mets, Jack Taschner entered in a pseudo mop role. His mission wasn’t quite to dominate the Mets, but to at least subdue them for a turn. The top of the New York order succumbed, all grounding balls right to Ryan Howard. Three outs, three Howard plays, as if someone was telling the Big Man to do his work.

He did work, starting the Phillies comeback with a lined single in the seventh. Then the fight returned. Raul Ibanez singled. Jayson Werth rocked one that Carlos Beltran just missed. And Pedro Feliz brought one home. The tide had turned – suddenly the Mets played like the lost, pathetic group, as Carlos Ruiz squibbed one that David Wright couldn’t handle. Another run scored. And Rollins, finally getting his, put it in play and got the tying run home.

From there, the game became a classic case of Texas Hold-em. The Mets put ‘em on, the Phils cleaned it up. Chad Durbin battled, Scott Eyre came up large. JC Romero put two on, but as always, the pressure-loving lefty put a zero on the board. Red-clad hearts raced, but on the field, the gray-shirted Phillies showed their hearts. Pitching was no longer pitching, but a test of wills, a battle on the front lines. Chan Ho Park took the mantle in the ninth and got into two-out trouble, but a comebacker sealed the deal. Then, in the 10th, the real guts spewed out.

Again with two outs, Park allowed a quick hit from Fernando Martinez. And with Wright stepping up, Park’s night seemed doomed. Martinez could score from first on a single if he had his way. And Wright worked the count, waiting for his chance. He took it, lacing a ball that seemed destined to have Citi Field rocking. But Werth, oh Werth, made the most valiant play a Phillie has made in 2009: An incredible, reaching, diving, body-escaping play. Mets fans screamed, whooped, then – all at once – sighed. The noise in Citi Field was like an air conditioner coming to a halt, a balloon deflating. Phillies fans leaped. How the heck did Werth get that?

Inning over.

And just like Taschner’s inning signaled a Phillie comeback, Werth’s catch told the offense to put one on the board. Who else but Utley, then? Who else but the team’s field general, the silent but deadly work-a-day wonder, whose quick swing seemed tailor-made for the right-field patio in Citi Field? He got a hold of it, we all breathed in, then let out an excited roar as the ball landed fair, just over the fence, and our man strode the bases like it was any other night. They did their work, alright. Just like last year.

That Ryan Madson threw away the Mets 1-2-3 was an afterthought. His was easy work. The hard work came before, toiling in the trenches against a hungry team losing its blood with every great catch, every missed opportunity. You could see the Mets dying as the Phils grew ever stronger. Like years past packaged in one tiny game – the symbol of everything the rivalry has represented played out on the field.

But that’s what you see if only you, for a moment, take yourself away from being so passionate about the pinstripes. Try it some time – you’ll see a team that may not have it some times, but will always – repeat, always – be ready to win.

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30 Responses to “Commentary: Will Of A Champion Returns”

ryan Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Rich Hoffman wrote in his blog on philly.com about a very similar subject today. This team just seems to “have it”. they get it. whatever it is. they just have a whole team full of gamers. guys who will lay it on the line and guys who play hard and have fun while doing it.
Dan Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
ESPN continues to suck. They placed Werth’s catch 2nd in the top 10 plays, just behind some stupid play where a basketball player throws an over the shoulder basket in PRACTICE. An insult to Werth imo. This, my friends, is why ESPN continues to suck. Stupid novelty plays nobody cares about get #1 top plays over insane game-saving catches?
Bruce Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
“It ain’t over till it’s over” with the Phillies. Among the league leaders in comeback rallies, there is no quit in the team. It would be nice once in a while to see the Phillies take a lead and hold it for entire the game but hey..the bottom line is a W in the win column.

Let’s go Phillies!
Doug Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Aside from the fact that game should have been over before extras even started since Beltran was called out at first. But forgetting that, yeah, heart of a champion!
Philly Geoff Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I agree 100% about ESPN and this team having “it”. It is a pleasure to watch this team, although it wasn’t much fun the first month with the horrendous pitching.

Also, Jack Taschner is pretty good… A nice little move by Amaro this preseason.
Phlorida Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
“..field general, silent but deadly work-a-day wonder” great description of a great player. keep up the great work!
Eric Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I’d watch the boasting, phriends.

We all know the Mets really turn the heat up at the end of the regular season.
Miles Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Doug, the fact is that you can’t look at calls like that one because there have been so many awful ones in this series. We also were on the other end of a bad call at first when they called Castillo safe.

While the win was nice, I would like to see a little bit less drama from our bullpen guys. Two 1-2-3 innings in 11 innings (one by our mop up guy) will lose you the game the majority of the time. Aside from that it was a thrilling win and I can’t wait for tonight’s game. It would be huge to pick up the W going into the big weekend series.
Mark Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
How bout that first base ump last night? He was forced to make some real tough calls last night which affected both teams positively and negatively. He messed up a few calls but, it’s apart of the game unfortunately.

I remember hearing one guy on an ESPN TV show talk about how he enjoys the missed call aspect of baseball. Politely, I have to say I don’t agree.
Keith E Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@Dan; … but we’re talking about practice, practice!!

Tim, another nice read from you. GO PHILLIES!!!
Dan Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I swear it was almost as if ESPN couldn’t bear to put a Phillies play as the #1 top 10 play of the day, so they filled in the #1 with whatever they could find. Which happened to be nothing spectacular at all. That’s like saying, Werth’s catch is #2 and here is our #1 play of Manny Ramirez hitting a home run in batting practice, isn’t that so superior!?
Dan Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Then the ESPN people laugh it off afterward “Oh but that’s not really a top 10 play, there was no defense” Uh, Duh, no shit, then why put it on the top 10 then? Can’t even give Jayson the credit he deserves. He deserved #1 not some shmuck making a backwards circus basket in practice. Guess what? The Globetrotters make baskets like that all the time, it’s nothing spectacular.
Manny Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Love the piece, hate the photo.
Tim Malcolm Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Well there were three available Phillies photos: One of Utley (which I used), one of Hamels and one of Park, who at least epitomized what I wrote about.
Eamonn Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
When I was watching top plays this morning in the 6 am hour of sportcenter, Werth’s play wasn’t even #2, it was something like #4 and the Tatis dp on Rollins’ liner was #2. Talk about total B.S.
beta sigma shag Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
You can get on the Pen all you want about no 1 2 3 innings except for Madson, but outside of Durbin, Park gave up his hits with two outs, as did JC i Believe. That is going to happen, would rather see a two out hit than a two out walk. Or any hit over a walk, they throw strikes for the most part which is encouraging. Tashner did a great Job, and as much as I know most of you hate to here it so did Park. He came up big when he had to, plus made a decent defensive play to end the inning.
As for the bad calls I think they were pretty even, and you can not say what would happen if those calls were reversed.
Oh and by the way Chase is the MAN
The Little Guy Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Dan, while i agree Werth play was number 1, but i would give that fan in Cleveland that caught 2 homerun balls a little credit too.

Stop saying give Werth the credit he deserves, you really think he lost sleep last night because he was NUMBER 2 instead of number 1 on ESPNs top 10?

Give me a break.. lol
little man Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
yes he lost sleep over that catch not being number one
FillyP Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Man, negative people just brood negativity. Who gives a shit about ESPN and what they consider a top 10 play? We know which one was the best, and that’s all that matters.

Really nice piece, Tim. Kudos. Well-written and it gave me chills.

Go get ‘em tonight Phils!!
beta sigma shag Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
As much as I agreed with Tim yestarday about JRoll, he seemed to swing the bat better even though he was 0-5, no pop outs one strike out, and was robbed once if now twice, So I think he is ready to get on a J Roll (Sorry about that)
Also I think our pen should be in good shape for tonight if we need them, except for maybe Park, JC only pitched one inning, Durbin throw a lot of pitches last two days so he may be out, but Tashner, Condrey, Eyre and Madson should be all good right.
Where as the Mets pen will probably be missing it’s closer, and Green.
The Little Guy Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
ESPNs priority is the NFL, then NBA, then MLB and they really don’t care about Hockey, so it’s no surprise that shots like that get on top plays that are during PRACTICE lol.

Who knows how many times he tried that show until he made it, then they just sent the video to ESPN or whatever? Ya know? Maybe if it was truly his first shot, then maybe like play 10 or something.
beta sigma shag Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Yes it was very well writen piece Tim, sometimes I forget to say that, cause I am too busy laughing at Geoff about trading guys.
Didn’t Redding get rocked last time out and pitch 3 innings or something like that, and after that game last night, it is kind of nice Ruiz got an early exit, cause I think if had played all 11 Coste might have gotten the start. And who knows he still might. Also I keep hearing that Raul played every game in Seatle last year think Charlie will give him a day off sometime soon, or maybe DH him in american league parks.
LH Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Good passionate story Tim. Can tell you were hanging like a young cat off a towel waiting to see the slumbering players awake. The game has been added to my growing list of top ten games of the year. It felt like a Friday night watching it. I’ve re-watched Werth’s catch about ten times thanks to game replays, Comcast sports, and ESPN. I agreed with the fans above that ESPN forgot what a top-ten is in this case. I expect the Phils station to add it to the opening game trailer for the rest of the year.
Adam Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Has Chooch patented that dribbler up the third base line? It seems with runners on third, he hits a squibber that the third baseman can’t handle. W.S. hit, had one in LA, and now last night.
Chuck Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
That squib DID look strangely familiar for the WS one, didn’t it?? Wright should have had it though….in my opinion.

And…speaking of errors….did anybody think that Beltran should have gotten an error on that bomb hit by Werth? Not to take a hit away, but I feel that an MLB centerfielder needs to make that play.
Dave M Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
very well written. Madson really did make it look easy in the last inning. I’m very interested in seeing how Madson does as a closer for the stretch that Lidge is on DL… Also, something totally not related… but did anyone catch how the announcer for the 1st mets phillies game this Tuesday mispronounced a few of the players names during his announcing over the game. I also remember Howard hitting a home run and him saying something like “wow, Home Run for…???”… then about 10 seconds later… “Howard, yes Howard”. Maybe i’m just rambling.
Keith Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
just saw an ad on MLB Network for The Pen!
Georgie Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Yes, Tim, one of your best articles, but then the ones where your passion of the game comes through always are.
Mets fan from Jersey Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Beta, I doubt that K-Rod isn’t available. If it’s a save situation, J. Manuel would get killed by the media if he didn’t use him. I have the feeling that this will be a high scoring game with Redding and Moyer throwing tonight, so both bullpens will get a lot of work. Now that I said that it will probably be a 2-1 final.
maxhole Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
i saw the game, knew all the great plays. but that didnt keep my heart from racing as i read thru this entry. good woork

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