The playoffs have been an umping fiasco. I have seen so many bad calls I can not believe it.
Phillies are off to the NLCS! 
If we could somehow swap this year’s Lidge for last year’s Lidge, I wouldn’t be worried about the Phils’ chances against the Dodgers. As it is, I’m nervous about it, but I think they’ll manage to pull themselves together in time. It’s going to be ugly, though, I bet.
I’m now going to have a nice cup of tea and try to coax my blood pressure back down to something less alarming. Jesus, what a ball game.
So. I didn’t get my wish. Another nailbiter. I cannot complain about the end result, though. It would be nice to think this means Lidge is back.
The Phillies had a couple of chances to break the game wide open. Each time the Rockies came up big to stop them and kept the game within reach.
I think the Phillies can beat the Dodgers. But, it will be ugly and tough if they are able to pull it off. Hamels has had some fantastic games at Chavez Ravine and when the spotlight is on Pedro often seems to come up big. But, the Phillies bench is weak and the bullpen is nothing to write home about. While the Dodgers probably have the best bullpen in the majors (with apologies to the Yankees excellent group.)
Whatever happens I am hoping for a fun series.
Now, I guess I will watch some MNF and hope the game is nice and boring.
Whoooooo! Tell me about it! My knuckles Are killing me. I’m out in LA, and I’ve always liked both teams but I think the Phillies will beat LA. The last two months of dodger ball was ridiculous, yet now they look as good as they were in May.
We shall see…
One of these things is not like the others…
Ryan Franklin, STL, 5 blown saves, 1.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Huston Street, COL, 2 blown saves, 3.06 ERA, 0.91 WHIP
Joe Nathan, MIN, 5 blown saves, 2.10 ERA, 0.93 WHIP
Jonathan Papelbon, BOS, 3 blown saves, 1.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
Brad Lidge, PHIL, 11 blown saves, 7.21 ERA, 1.81 WHIP
So what is it that makes Mr. Lidge not belong? Well, he had 2 saves and no blown saves during the division series games. The other four, meanwhile, combined for one save…and four blown saves.
Garagiola was right–baseball IS a funny game.
MLB for some reason constantly denies giving the assignments on a rotation basis instead of merit, to keep the umps union happy. F’rinstance, CB Bucknor keeps showing up on player polls as the worst umpire, yet there he was in the Bos-LA series anyway.
Great Phil-Colo game - one that truly wasn’t over until the last out.
COULD the New York City metropolitan area support another major league team? In theory, sure. There are more than enough potential clients… I just can’t see it working.
Suppose, for the sake of argument, the KC Royals wanted to move to the greater New York area.
Question #1: Where would they play? They’re not going to share a stadium with the Mets or Yankees, and there aren’t any local jurisdictions who’ll shell out the money to build them a new stadium.
Question #2: Who’s supposed to buy tickets? There aren’t any large pockets of underserved fans. Sure, there are lots of people in New Jersey or on Long Island who COULD become fans of the relocated Royals, but most of those people who care about baseball are already loyal Yankee or Met fans. A baseball team isn’t like a supermarket; people DON’T just go to the one closest to their house! They go to one that’s commanded their (and their families’) loyalty for decades.
That doesn’t mean the NYC metro area wouldn’t be worth a try. All of the Sun Belt cities that teams USED to threaten to move to have teams already. There aren’t any obvious, untapped new markets. If some team MUST move somewhere, New York is a better option than most. But it still strikes me as a desperate gamble.
It is weird that they can not get them to use the same strike zone. Some umps call a bigger zone and pitchers love it. Some call a batters zone where it is setting the batter up for good pitches.
Yes!
What a game! Again Lidge was looking to give us all heart attacks. But, it worked out.
Phillies were patient and did a great job in an up and down game. That Utley error shocked me. Luckily, it did not matter.
I was disappointed in Hamels. He is usually a lot better in Dodger Stadium.
I am looking forward to see how Pedro holds up tomorrow. He’s a big game picture at any age. So, I am hoping for a strong 5 or 6 innings. We’ll see. These teams are really evenly matched. Plenty of offense!
The forecast is rainy and in the low 40s in the Bronx tonight. Not sure if that hurts or helps either team, although maybe it slows down the running game a bit, which may hurt the Angels more than the Yanks. Sabathia v. Lackey. Should be a good one.
That seems to have lessened since MLB introduced Questec. Now there’s an objective means to evaluate umps’ accuracy. The union seems to have been able to prevent any consequences, though.
There used to be much more difference when each league had its own umps. The NL guys looked over the catcher’s inside shoulder, while the AL guys (like all of them now) look over his head. The leagues had distinctly different strike zones and different dominant pitching styles as a result.
Neither pitcher is a cold weather pitcher. You’re right about the running game. Overall I don’t think the weather will make a big difference today. Tomorrow apparently might be much worse. Long rain delays can be deadly and ruin plans the managers made out as far as the rotations. I suspect the Yanks are better off if the game goes 3 and takes a long break then the Angels. Getting 6 quality innings from our bullpen seems more likely.
It’s an advantage for the Yanks for the same reason the 7th inning is. Big bats, fewer hits, tired pitcher. Yankees just need one or two homers. Plus, as little as they like it, it is familiar enough weather for any New Yorker.
Especially this year. I can’t find stats on it but with all the rain this year, I think the Yanks played 30+ games in the rain for some part of the game.
Really bad time for Jimmy Rollins to make a horrible throw to first. Instead of two out and runner on third, the game is tied 1-1.
Even worse time for Utley to do it!
Damn! Pedro really came through today. A shame it has to come down to this.
A shame for Philly fans, maybe. Cliche or not, we had to have this game.
Viva Los Doyers!
Whatever it takes.
Go Big Blue!
Damn do you Dodger fans only come out after a win? 
Stuck in traffic last night?
Great game (mostly) by both teams.
I’m not surprised that the Phils bullpen would lose a game. I am shocked that Utley’s defense would play a part. He’s usually untouchable. Two days in a row! Hope he doesn’t have Knocblauchitis.
Oops. What do you want from an AL fan. :lol:
Great nightcap game so far. Fundamentals have favored the Yanks. Who’s dunkit?