October 29, 2008
Phillies World Champions
Congratulations to the Phillies on winning the 2008 World Series. Despite all the runners left on base, despite all the outs with runners in scoring position, the Phillies kept putting men on base. They came into these last three innings with a .370 OBA, the kind of number that should mean lots of scoring. When you keep putting batters on at that rate, no matter how poorly the team hits with men in scoring position, they're going to push runners across the plate, and that's what the Phillies did.
The Phillies pitchers shut down the heart of the Rays offense. Iwamura and Upton did a poor job of getting on base. Pena and Longoria barely hit, let alone hit for power. With nothing from their stars at the top of the lineup, the Rays struggled to score. They failed to put together big inning because they just couldn't put enough batters on base.
Congratulations to the Rays, however, on a great season. They just didn't get better as a team, they got great. With the youth on the squad still maturing, their future is very bright. I would not be surprised to see them back in contention in 2009.
Tonight, however, belongs to the Phillies. The town waited many years for this moment, and right now I believe the extra two days was worth the wait. Party hardy, Phillie Phanatics!
I forgot to ask earlier... did you ever buy the Tampa Bay Rays WS tickets off of yoonew.com? I remember you making a post about it and I actually flirted with buying them myself when they were around the $50 mark. I sure wish I had, would've been nice to be at their first ever WS Game.
No, I didn't. I should have had more confidence.
congrats to the philly fans!
but how are they the WORLD CHAMPIONS when they beat out teams in north america. i dont see them beating any teams in JAPAN to have themselves called the WORLD CHAMPSIONS
http://jib-sports-culture.blogspot.com/
JH, and why to you drive in a parkway, but park in a driveway?
Get over it. It's called the World Series because that's just what it's called. Is this seriously what is being discussed here?
Congrats to the Phillies. Unlike many years when a lucky or hot team makes it in, like the Cardinals or the Rockies, it can truly be said that the World Series hosted the two best teams in baseball. I thought it was a pretty good series, myself.
One thing that disappoints is that the Philadelphia fans have this to cheer for. The most brutal, animalistic, unsportsmanlike fans on the planet.
Maddon and Rays fans have to wonder why he held onto his most dominant pitcher until it was too late.
Denton, it's a shame that the loud, moronic, usually drunk Philadelphia fans ruin things for the rest of us. I guess it's similar to the world thinking all Red Sox fans are unbearable since 2004. We're not all like Franny from Fishtown or Vinnie from the Nort'east.
As a Phillies fan, I can say that the whole world seems like a different place now.
Thanks to Baseball Musings for so many great posts over this season and all of the seasons before it.
If you'll excuse me, I'm now going to do another shot.
And to Denton - thanks for letting some bad apples spoil the bunch, for letting a few speak for many, and for painting with broad strokes. I sure hope no one pigeonholes you in the future as you have just done me and many others.
Champs. Has a nice ring to it.
Hey Denton...I've worked in that park for four years, and I can tell you this...You don't know what you're talking about.
And do not forget your oldest pitcher Jamie Moyer. who is also a fine man who we wish all our kids would choose to be like. Frances George age 88!
Congrats to the Phils - they went 11-3 in the playoffs - easily running the table
TB had a great season - came up 3 wins short - but a lot to look forward to.