# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/101 "2008-10-28T21:55:18Z")
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig] Well guess what, even if they “suspend” it instead of calling it, the point where it becomes an “official game” is still important. If they had halted play before five innings were over, it would have been a restart, not a suspended game. [/QUOTE] Well, four-and-a-half, in this case, because the Phillies were ahead at that point. And I am not arguing that, anyway; I believe that suspending play was the right thing to do (although it should have been done _waaaaaaaaaaay_ earlier in the night). Mostly I was annoyed by his constant repetition of the fact that “this game is now official” because _pretty much everyone watching already knew that the game was not going to be stopped_ and the Phillies declared the winners until a “full” nine innings were played. It’s like – look, I understand there are rules for this kind of thing, but _nobody knows exactly what they are_. I don’t even think Bud Selig knows all the rules; he’s the Commissioner and I wouldn’t be surprised to find that he makes things up as he goes. But I am willing to bet money that a full nine innings of baseball would have been played if the Rays never tied the score. Mostly, though, it was Joe Buck repeating “this game is now official” over and over again that bothered me, because it was like, “Hey! Look! I actually _know_ something! I am not just blabbering and making shit up and trying to sound all fancypants!” (Have I mentioned that _I **hate** Joe Buck?_) > [@Freddy the Pig](#): > > What’s the ticket situation when this game finally resumes? Do people with rain checks get back in to watch the rest? Anybody who has a ticket stub can get in when the game restarts. Some people sold their stubs for quite a chunk of money. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/102 "2008-10-28T22:36:53Z")
**Shibb** hit my feelings for all thing Philly-sports-related right on the head in post #76 (Pssst! Hey Jimmy…if it were actually “nonsense”, then it wouldn’t be “self-perpetuating” – it’d be false). That said, I’m actually becoming ok with the idea of the Phillies winning it all. When the playoffs started, it became like last year to me: “I couldn’t care less what happens; I just don’t want Philly to have anything to celebrate”. After all, I’m not a fan of MLB – I just don’t care for the outrageously obnoxious local fans. But this year, I dunno…things are a little different. I’m seeing a lot less of a “we’re going to win because everyone else sucks” attitude and more of a “man, I hope we can finally get a championship here” one. The shift towards humility is really refreshing. I’d hate to think that having lived close to Philly for a couple of years now is starting to soften my stance, but I’m starting to think “ah, what the hell…everyone deserves a reason to celebrate now and then”. As long as it isn’t the Eagles winning a Super Bowl, what the heck. As to the delay, hey, I think it’s great. There’s a lot of schoolkids who wouldn’t have been able to stay up and see the ending – they might just get to see a series win that they’d have otherwise missed. ---
**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 28, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/103 "2008-10-28T22:52:17Z")
False and self-perpetuating are antonyms. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/104 "2008-10-29T06:15:23Z")
Not being a huge baseball fan, I haven’t followed this Series as closely as I wanted to, since I did grow up a Phillies fan, and was much more into it while I was younger. I was only three when they won their last series, though, so I don’t remember. I do remember 1994, and I remember taking a lighter to a Mitch Williams baseball card and hanging the half-burned card on my bookbag before I went to school. Aaaanyway, I was just reading an article about the Series, and I’m _sure_ somebody has mentioned this before, and maybe even done so quite often, but I have to say that Grant Balfour is the funniest name for a pitcher **ever**! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/105 "2008-10-29T13:13:06Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Aaaanyway, I was just reading an article about the Series, and I’m _sure_ somebody has mentioned this before, and maybe even done so quite often, but I have to say that Grant Balfour is the funniest name for a pitcher **ever**! Definitely a funny name for a pitcher. But as for the worst name for a current pitcher, I have to go with [this guy](http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=407816). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/106 "2008-10-29T13:22:58Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Aaaanyway, I was just reading an article about the Series, and I’m _sure_ somebody has mentioned this before, and maybe even done so quite often, but I have to say that Grant Balfour is the funniest name for a pitcher **ever**! Worse than Bob Walk? And of course, if we can include officially recognized nicknames, I give you [Hugh “Losing Pitcher” Mulcahy.](http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mulcahu01.shtml) It is worth nothing that Balfour, Walk and Mulcahy all pitched for the Phillies, which says a lot about the Phillies. Of course, Walk was on the only other Phillie team to win a World Series, so who know. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/107 "2008-10-29T13:59:59Z")
And right now I am sitting here at work, looking at several Phillies fans having their own mini-rally. Showing signs and getting people to honk their horns. Did I mention my window looks out on the Hotel DuPont? 😃 (That’s where the Rays are staying.) ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/108 "2008-10-29T14:13:33Z")
> [@Carl\_Corey](#): > > And right now I am sitting here at work, looking at several Phillies fans having their own mini-rally. Showing signs and getting people to honk their horns. > > Did I mention my window looks out on the Hotel DuPont? 😃 > (That’s where the Rays are staying.) Quick, put the biggest Phillies sign you can print out in your window! (Seriously, I find the fact that the Rays had to stay in Delaware _far_ funnier than I should.) ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/109 "2008-10-29T15:29:17Z")
[QUOTE=NinjaChick] Seriously, I find the fact that the Rays had to stay in Delaware _far_ funnier than I should. [/QUOTE] On the upside: no sales tax for them! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/110 "2008-10-29T15:35:22Z")
It’s supposed to be a nice hotel. Must have been a bitch to find that many rooms on such short notice. An article here said they almost went to their standard place for road trips in Baltimore. That would have been a real drag. On a more somber note, just saw this article about a [Rays fan who is not going to get find out how it ends](http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/article879372.ece): > [@](#): > > My late mother’s best friend, Baseball Betty Leone, was granted part of her dying wish. She got to see her beloved Rays make it into the World Series. > > But she won’t get to see how the story plays out. > > She died Tuesday morning at 86, surrounded by her Rays caps and bobblehead dolls, T-shirts, and her latest acquisition: a ball autographed by her favorite, Rocco Baldelli, who reminded Betty of her late husband, Fred, once a minor league pitcher. > > Betty was the most devoted Rays fan I knew. She was at their first game in 1998 and attended until arthritis made climbing steps impossible. After that, she camped herself in front of her television and refused to budge. > > When her family insisted she join them in North Carolina two years ago, Betty resisted until she was promised a cable TV package with Rays games. Sounds like she was a pretty cool lady: > [@](#): > > A God-fearing woman, Betty couldn’t bring herself to hate anyone; she was extremely happy when the Rays beat the Red Sox to qualify for the World Series. > > "That’s good enough,‘’ Betty told a hospice nurse. "I’m happy. I’m satisfied. They don’t have to win another game. They’re in the World Series now.‘’ ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/111 "2008-10-29T16:17:35Z")
> [@regginbrow](#): > > It’s not like anybody’s watching this series on the west coast, anyway. Well, all of the games used to be in the daytime up until the '70s and until the '90s they always had at least one day game. I can’t see why moving the start to 4pm west coast time would be so horrible. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/112 "2008-10-29T16:30:32Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Well, all of the games used to be in the daytime up until the '70s and until the '90s they always had at least one day game. I can’t see why moving the start to 4pm west coast time would be so horrible. I suppose some folks would not be able to see the game, but delaying it as long as they have screws up the scheduling of the remaining two games in Tampa, if they have to be played. So this dogged insistence on playing the games past a normal working person’s bedtime might also screw up the plans of people who had tickets and travel plans to see those games. The weather in Philly is apparently fine now. Why aren’t they getting read to play some ball this afternoon? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/113 "2008-10-29T16:37:50Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The weather in Philly is apparently fine now. Why aren’t they getting read to play some ball this afternoon? Because Fox told them they have to wait until 8:30. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/114 "2008-10-29T16:59:50Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Because Fox told them they have to wait until 8:30. That isn’t the reason. The reason is that they announced the game would resume at 8:30, so that’s when the public expects it will resume. How would you enjoy driving home this evening with anticipation to watch the game and then hearing on the radio that the Phils won an hour before? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/115 "2008-10-29T17:03:29Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > That isn’t the reason. The reason is that they announced the game would resume at 8:30, so that’s when the public expects it will resume. How would you enjoy driving home this evening with anticipation to watch the game and then hearing on the radio that the Phils won an hour before? > > –Cliffy The reason it was ORIGINALLY scheduled for 8:30 was to meet Fox’s schedule. If they wanted to make sure that the game was played today, they would have scheduled it for two in the afternoon. Then if you have some delays, no biggie. Selig has tried to explain that the reason that they’re scheduling all games for 8:30 is that is what the public demands. IMO this is pure bull, since that means every game concludes midnight or later, especially with all of the extra commercials that they squeeze into the post season games. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/116 "2008-10-29T17:33:30Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Selig has tried to explain that the reason that they’re scheduling all games for 8:30 is that is what the public demands. IMO this is pure bull, since that means every game concludes midnight or later, especially with all of the extra commercials that they squeeze into the post season games. I’m with you. What “public?” I’m part of the public, and I actually have a dog in this fight, and I think that there is no good reason why post-season games can’t start at 7:00 ET. Are they in cahoots with the Wheel of Fortune / Jeopardy! people? _What?_ ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/117 "2008-10-29T18:16:47Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > The reason it was ORIGINALLY scheduled for 8:30 was to meet Fox’s schedule. Sure, but that’s not what you said. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/118 "2008-10-29T18:35:39Z")
Game is apparently on for tonight, weather be damned. ---
**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 30, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/119 "2008-10-30T00:57:54Z")
At least the Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the sixth as the longest game in the history of the World Series resumes. ---
**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 30, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875/120 "2008-10-30T01:59:21Z")
And that’s it. Phillies WIN. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-2008-world-series-thread-phillies-vs-rays/468875.md?page=7)