Friday, October 03, 2008

Phillllllllieeeeeees

Phillies 2, Brew Crew 0. On Wednesday we smacked em up good in the middle innings and rode a dominant pitching performance to victory from the ace of our staff, Cole Hammels, who we were able to pitch to open the series thanks to the laughable Mets being unable to win a frigging game to save their lives in the last three weeks of the season. Then on Thursday night it was a much tougher matchup on paper, with our inconsistent Brett Myers getting the start in front of the hometown Philly fans, but facing the at-times unbeatable C.C. Sabathia of the Brewers. But last night CC was just not on his game, as he walked a ton of Phillies in only lasting till the 4th inning. We managed to load the bases twice against Sabathia, one time failing to score when they took him out to face should-be NL MVP Ryan Howard, but the first time saw little Shane Victorino unload on a high and inside pitch to dump it well into the left field seats for the grand slamarama. Myers cruised on, shutting down a not-very-potent Milwaukee offense for the second straight game to give the Phils a 2-0 series lead as we head back to Milwaukee for two road games.

It feels so foreign being in this position as a Phillies fan. I mean, we made the World Series in 1993, but that year we faced the West-winning Atlanta Braves in the playoffs and were heavily favored to lose against that dominant mid-90s pitching staff that included Glavine, Smoltz and of course you can't forget Greg Maddux in his prime. So even though we ended up winning that series -- I went to two of the games in Philly, including one where the Phils took it down and then Braves manager Bobby Cox went home and got arrested for beating the tar out of his wife (one of my great claims to fame in life) -- you just never got this feeling that so many other cities get to experience, at least more than once in a generation. You know the feeling, where your team not only makes the playoffs but is actually the favorite to win? It feels quite foreign here in Philly, let me tell you. But we are so outclassing this Brewers team making their first playoff appearance since 1982. It's like the tables are turned this year from what happened last year when the Phillies miraculously overcame that sick deficit to win their first division crown and first playoff appearance since that 1993 team -- now it's the Brewers who are just happy to be here, playing against the Big Boys after finding a way to come back from a sickening late-season slide to inch into the wildcard. Thanks again to the jokers known as the Mets, who yesterday btw made it official and extended GM Omar Minaya through the 2012 season. They're the best.

Anyways, being a Philly fan in New York City, you really can't describe what it's like turning on sports radio in this city and hearing everyone talking about the Phillies, comparing the Mets to the Philies, and generally just hating on them like their name is Hoy. And there really is just nothing like seeing everyone reading the New York Post on the train this morning, looking smack at the back page sporting the headline "Phillin' Good!" Eat your heart out, New York baseball fans. Enjoy your first year with no baseball in October in New York in 15 years.

Labels:

4 Comments:

Blogger Memphis MOJO said...

"facing the at-times unbeatable C.C. Sabathia of the Brewers. But last night CC was just not on his game..."

Even thought he's a horse, working on three-days rest finally got to him.

Before I moved to Memphis, I lived in Wilmington DE and was only about 30-40 minutes from the ballpark (the old vet). I would typically go at least once a week -- the team wasn't any good back then (besides Schilling and Abreau), but still fun times!!

11:15 PM  
Blogger Hammer Player a.k.a Hoyazo said...

Memphis, I'll never forget seeing Schilling pitch a 2-0 complete game shutout against the Blue Jays at the Vet in the 1993 World Series. Schill was out of energy by probably the 6th inning, you could just see it, but he pitched on all the way through on nothing but heart.

11:21 PM  
Blogger StB said...

So disparaging that the Brewers have left the bats in Milwaukee. Hopefully they find them and use them tomorrow.

Go Brew Crew!

1:49 AM  
Blogger Riggstad said...

Too late STB... Phils win on pure momentum.

Sabbathia had thrown 84 pitches through 4 innings, on three days rest. How do you expect anyone to be able to handle that?

Myers got his walk from him on 14 pitches??? Thats huge right there.

This will certainly be a fun ride through the rest of the playoffs.

2:43 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home