# The Definitive 2008 World Series Thread: Phillies vs Rays **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875 "2008-10-21T12:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/61 "2008-10-26T20:39:05Z")
It’s cool that the umpire admitted he missed it. > [@Incensed](#): > > I don’t have a dog in the fight, but agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. > > Did anyone else think Longoria could have made a better play on the game ender? I know it’s asking alot, but his 30 foot horrid shovel toss had about an 0.01% chance of success, whereas if he had tried the standard horizontal body/sidearmed throw that 3rd basemen implement on bunts and slow rollers, his chances would have been much better, say 5-10%-especially with the force in order. > > I am by no means trying to mete out blame, after all, the bases would still have been loaded with 1 out if he (and the catcher) had made that spectacular play-it would have been amazing if the Phils hadn’t scored-but I just thought it really strange that he chose to play that ball the way he did. Am I alone on this? Longoria would have had to throw it through the base runner. Maybe if Navarro and Longoria both had the presence of mind to go around the runner, but even then, it just was going to fast, I don’t think he had time to move to the side, cock his arm and make a throw. As for blame, you really have to go back to Balfour’s wild pitch and Navarro’s errant throw that put the runner on third in the first place. Without that the bases don’t get loaded and who knows what happens? Those last couple of innings were pretty wacky, starting with the bad throw to third by Ruiz that caromed off of Upton’s leg and allowed the tying run to score. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/62 "2008-10-26T23:06:00Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > It may be because my team sucks dick and failed out instantly but I’ve barely even noticed the WS going on. It seems to me like the playoffs are the most exciting time of the season now adays. The WS is just an extra series. I’m not a Cubs fan but there is a lot of truth to that statement. I’ve noticed that after a dramatic play-off series (e.g., the Cubs-Marlins and Red Sox-Yankees in 2003 and the Red Sox-Yankees in 2004), the World Series seems like an anticlimax. Although, I think the fact the following WS was usually either a 4-game sweep or a 5-game near-sweep had a lot to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/63 "2008-10-27T00:55:28Z")
Philly gifted a one run lead by the third base umpire. Also not thrilled with the plate umpire’s strike zone. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/64 "2008-10-27T00:56:36Z")
You’d think, BTW, that Patti LaBelle would know the words to the National Anthem by now! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/65 "2008-10-27T01:07:42Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > You’d think, BTW, that Patti LaBelle would know the words to the National Anthem by now! That was pretty awful. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/66 "2008-10-27T01:11:12Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Philly gifted a one run lead by the third base umpire. Also not thrilled with the plate umpire’s strike zone. That was a terrible call. What’s up with the umps this series? Going bad both ways. Also, that seemed to be a serious mental error on Sonnanstine’s part. Could have gotten out of the inning with a DP. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/67 "2008-10-27T02:16:52Z")
Home Run by Blanton!!! Whodathunkit??!! ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Quack\_s\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f0a364/32.png) [@Duck\_Quack\_s\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Quack_s_Echo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/68 "2008-10-27T03:43:04Z")
That was bit of a rout for the Phils. One to go and the Phillies can start celebrations. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/69 "2008-10-27T03:44:00Z")
YAY!!! Go Phils! Blanton shocked me. Well, his home run shocked everyone, of course. But, how he was able to mow the strong Rays lineup down really shocked me. I loved it! But, I was surprised! One more game! Let’s go Phils! ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/70 "2008-10-27T03:59:59Z")
Wow. 10-2, now _that’s_ the Phillies I love! The bad news - I once again have a class I cannot possibly skip during the game tomorrow. The good news - We are _one game_ away from winning the World Series, and that is unspeakably awesome. GO PHILS! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/71 "2008-10-27T04:50:07Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Wow. 10-2, now _that’s_ the Phillies I love! > > The bad news - I once again have a class I cannot possibly skip during the game tomorrow. > > The good news - We are _one game_ away from winning the World Series, and that is unspeakably awesome. > > GO PHILS! I’m really hoping the Phils win it at home. being approxiatemly 40 miles away, i can just imagine the good time we’ll have here. I really wish i could be in philly tomorrow to enjoy game #5. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/72 "2008-10-27T11:59:00Z")
The umps have been horrible this Series. I am still rooting for the Rays, but the Phillies look like the better team. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/73 "2008-10-27T15:34:29Z")
I thought Tampa would kill them. Philly is better than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/74 "2008-10-27T16:45:26Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > The umps have been horrible this Series. I am still rooting for the Rays, but the Phillies look like the better team. Yeah. I’m usually not too down on umpiring on the field, because as indicated above, umps have to get in position for the expected play, and so if the fielders make a great, unexpected play, it’s just the nature of the beast that you might not see it. (That said, there seems to be more of that going on in this series than in the season.) But the strike zone last night was terrible – not just too short, but very inconsistent to the sides. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/75 "2008-10-27T18:40:07Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I thought Tampa would kill them. Philly is better than I thought. This quite literally gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I am so, so, so excited for tonight, even though I won’t be able to watch it (unless I waver and skip the first meeting of a new class). This literally hasn’t happened before in my lifetime, and I’m ridiculously happy about it. Not saying any more because I don’t want to jinx anything. Let’s go Phillies! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/76 "2008-10-27T20:04:01Z")
The main talk here in Tampa (and the rest of the area) has centered on what’s wrong with the Rays. The Phillies and the country aren’t seeing the Rays that we saw all season; they seem almost a shell of themselves, like they spent it all on the seven game series with the Red Sox. This wasn’t as evident until last night when the country got to see what the Phillies can do when they’re firing on all cylinders. Blanton pitched well and the bats woke up, which you had to expect sooner or later. I hate to say it but this series is over. Our 4-6 spots are ICE cold and we’re up against the best pitcher on the Phillies staff. I hope Philadelphia has the champagne on ice for tonight’s game. My cap is off to the club. That said, the other thing being talked about here is what total jackasses Philly fans are. Got a taste of this at the first two games down here, where there weren’t nearly as many Philly fans as there were for Chicago or Red Sox, but what they lacked in numbers they made up for, mostly, in mean-spirited asshattery. So now Maddon’s and other Rays families that had the audacity to go the game were rained with obscenties, threatened with physical violence. One nine year old kid had a beer dumped on him. Maddon’s granddaughter was pelted with opened mustard packets. Because of the Eagles and the Flyers, there is a special spot reserved in our bile ducts for Philadelphia. They’re behaviour is sort of like “Manny being Manny”. We know it’s going to happen, but that doesn’t excuse the boorishness of it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/77 "2008-10-27T20:49:49Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > That said, the other thing being talked about here is what total jackasses Philly fans are. Got a taste of this at the first two games down here, where there weren’t nearly as many Philly fans as there were for Chicago or Red Sox, but what they lacked in numbers they made up for, mostly, in mean-spirited asshattery. Just curious – how were the Red Sox fans perceived in Tampa? I know we have a reputation for being insufferably smug, but were we obnoxious like that? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/78 "2008-10-27T20:55:08Z")
What a self-perpetuating load of nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/79 "2008-10-27T21:06:39Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Just curious – how were the Red Sox fans perceived in Tampa? I know we have a reputation for being insufferably smug, but were we obnoxious like that? Sox fans are slowly becoming Yankees fans, now they seem to think that they are the team of destiny, but most of them are okay. It’s just annoying. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/80 "2008-10-28T01:31:41Z")
This could be a real stinker in the ratings if we get another rain delayed game when the World Series is up against Monday Night Football. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875.md?page=5)