World Series thread

[raysnbran]

This deserves it's own thread, better late than never.

So far the series has gone according to Hoyle IMO. We all knew Hamels was a beast and that Kazmir was shaky for game one. Hamels did his thing and then Madson and Lidge came in to slam the door. Kazmir pitched better than expected and the Rays bullpen also came up big in game 1. Lost by a run, but it could have gone either way. It could have been a blowout if Philly had capitalized on their RISP opportunities.

Game 2 was Shields vs Myers. Shields had pitched relatively well in rounds 1 and 2 but had no wins to show for it. Myers had a solid September after sinking all the way to the minors in June. The Rays played some small ball and mixed in some solid defense and pitching to hold off the Phils and tie up the series. Again, the Phils lack of RISP scoring doomed them, as they could have easily left the Trop up 2-0.

Now the Series shifts to Philly for the next 3 games. With heavy rain in the forecast for game 3, I feel this really helps Philly more than it helps us. Instead of Blanton vs Sonnanstine in game 4, we would have to face Hamels again a game early. If Philly wins game 3 in the matchup of Garza and Moyer, and Hamels dominates again in game 4, a 3-1 hole would be tough to climb out of. So Game 3 on Sunday if it gets pushed back, will be a series decider IMO.

[Francoeurstein]

GO Rays!

[raysnbran]

I am so very tired. Staying up to 2 AM to watch your team lose sucks. Not only are you exhausted, but then you can't sleep because you are so pissed.

Another must win tonight. Sonnanstine may be our #4 but he led the team in wins. The Rays have faced Blanton before and have had success. He's 2-3 lifetime against them with a 6.05 ERA, and that's mostly against our bad lineups pre 2008.

Our top hitters, Longoria, Pena and Crawford MUST start hitting for us to stay in this series. Moyer is so frustrating, even us fans think we can hit him, so why can't they?

Very strange game last night. The late start, Rays score their 4 runs without the benefit of a hit. Phillies score the winning run without a hit, thanks to a HBP, a WP, throwing error and swinging bunt. I liked our comeback from down 4-1 but this was another tough defeat.

[zengator]

Even when the Rays tied it up, I never felt like they were in control. It would have been nice to steal a win, but they really didn't deserve it last night.

Like you said, gotta get the big bats going or the series might not come back to St. Pete.

[Matito]

Nice homers by Crawford and Hinske, but Im getting worried.

[zengator]

Nice homers by Crawford and Hinske, but Im getting worried.

With good reason.

Y'all realize that the Rays haven't won since this thread was started?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!?!??!?

[mrakbaseball]

With good reason.

Y'all realize that the Rays haven't won since this thread was started?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!?!??!?

A 3 game winning streak isn't out of the question.
It would be awful if a team that employs scum like Brett Myers won the World Series.

[tbng]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/32163019.html

[Imgran]

Ok, Rays, your turn now! Let's see how you stack up to a 3 games to 1 deficit?

At least for you guys winning game 5brings the series home.

[gman5431]

One game at a time. Game 5 vs Hamels is going to be tough but you were a balk/pickoff away from getting him in Game 1. Going to be low scoring, grit it out game. Will be won on an error or solo homer i bet.

G Man

[zengator]

It's odd how much I agree with this post on the DRaysbay blog. An excerpt:

We may very well lose this series, but I refuse to be ashamed or regret anything that happened this season. We survived the group of death, won two playoff series, and slayed the dragon. The Phillies simply caught fire at the right time. So tonight, enjoy it. Don't think about tomorrow, or yesterday, just enjoy those 54 outs because even if the 2008 season ends on the field, the accomplishments should not be forgotten anytime soon.

It feels like the movies (like Damn Yankees and The Natural) - they end with the good guys winning the pennant, not the World Series. Anything more is bonus.

[Matito]

It's odd how much I agree with this post on the DRaysbay blog.

It feels like the movies (like Damn Yankees and The Natural) - they end with the good guys winning the pennant, not the World Series. Anything more is bonus.

I agree wholeheartedly and was thinking the exact same thing last night after the game. If you had told me at the beginning of the season that we would win half of our games, I would have been skeptical. If you had told me the Rays would win the AL East, beat the Red Sox in the ALCS and make it to the World Series, I would have said "Yeah, and McCain is gonna pick the governor of Alaska as his running mate."

[raysnbran]

First off, I give the Phillies and their pitchers all the credit in the world. And if their hitters had driven in half their RISP in game 2, we very well could have already been swept in 4 games.

That being said, I think it is obvious to all who have watched this team the whole season that what we are witnessing is not the same team. To me, their "World Series" was beating the Red Sox in the ALCS. The hitting is definitely not the same as we saw vs Boston (16 HRs), with the two guys we need the most to come through in Pena and Longoria, a combined 0 for 29. ALCS MVP Matt Garza was mediocre versus 45 year old Jamie Moyer, and our leading wins pitcher Sonnanstine, was less than mediocre. His claim to fame is no walks, yet that's what repeatedly got him in trouble last night.

Yes, we should be proud of how far they've come in such a short period of time. But dammit, when you get to the World Series and lay a huge egg, that's the last thing you remember through the long off season. That's the visual that you give all baseball fans who didn't follow your team until October 21st. That's what the shame is in falling flat at the worst part of the season.

Hamels can be beaten, but Kazmir isn't a stopper that can be counted on to shut down the Phillies tonight and bring the Series back to St Pete. Last night was so disappointing with its uninspired play and seemingly lack of effort. The team knows what it has to do. Doing it is another matter.

[zengator]

And a surreal season takes a surreal turn...

Great to see Longo and Pena getting the bats going again. Hopefully they keep it going whenever the game continues.

[Matito]

I feel like Im watching a golf tournament.

"OK, well, we got off to a slow start yesterday but we came back and made it close, so today we'll go out there and finish the comeback in this one, singular event."

[Boston Boxer]

you guys have just been saved by the rain. Ends the game and the next one is not due to start until Wednesday. That pretty much just takes away all the MO that Philly had. Wednesday starts a new series and you can build from there.

[Matito]

you guys have just been saved by the rain. Ends the game and the next one is not due to start until Wednesday. That pretty much just takes away all the MO that Philly had. Wednesday starts a new series and you can build from there.

I dont know that anyone had the "MO" at the point of suspension last night, but I think the best case could be argued for us, not against us. We scored a run to tie the game in the top of the 6th, not to mention the first run a few innings earlier, but Philadelphia had not scored since the first inning.

[raysnbran]

I had really felt this morning we would be in good shape, if they played the last 3 1/2 innings (or more) tonight. But now that it's been pushed back again until Wednesday, that adds a new dynamic. Now if it goes to a game 7, Hamels can pitch on Friday on 3 days rest, instead of Moyer. That's an advantage to the Phils, though Garza was clutch in the ALCS Game 7. Last night was a prime example of the ridiculousness of playing baseball this late in the year, especially in the northern climes. And to think a WS Game 7 in 2009 would be on November 5th...what is Selig thinking?

[Boston Boxer]

I dont know that anyone had the "MO" at the point of suspension last night, but I think the best case could be argued for us, not against us. We scored a run to tie the game in the top of the 6th, not to mention the first run a few innings earlier, but Philadelphia had not scored since the first inning.

maybe not the game...but the series. Philly had the MO...now it starts over

[Matito]

maybe not the game...but the series. Philly had the MO...now it starts over

Oh, definitely. Im looking at it like a new series, with the only exception being that we cant afford to lose even a single game.

[PhilliesPhan22]

If Jimmy Rollins wants to see what front-running fans look like, all he needed to do was look around the Trop during games 1 and 2.

[zengator]

If Jimmy Rollins wants to see what front-running fans look like, all he needed to do was look around the Trop during games 1 and 2.

Nice to meet you, too.

[Judway]

A 3 game winning streak isn't out of the question.
It would be awful if a team that employs scum like Brett Myers won the World Series.

Scum? Why the name calling?

[PhilliesPhan22]

Nice to meet you, too.

Just a little good natured banter. TBH, I don;t want this series to go back to Tampa, it would not be good for us.

[raysnbran]

Scum? Why the name calling?

He's a Mariners fan, so don't blame us...