Phillies crush the Dodgers hopes in the 9th
Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS. Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. Game 4 of the 2009 Division Series. I want to say that tonight’s game was the best walk-off victory I’ve seen considering the importance of the game – but I realize it’s only the best until they do it again.
Jimmy Rollins has always been my favorite player on the team – he plays the game with a swagger; he not only excels in the big moment, he looks forward to it and embraces it. I can’t say I knew Rollins was going to hit that game winning hit, but I wasn’t surprised. (My neighbors will probably tell you I was – but was jubilation and excitement – not surprise.)
These Phillies are something special.
About that 9th inning: the opposite of red light player is Jonathan Broxton. He pitches around Matt Stairs, a .194 hitter. Before this series Broxton stated that he was looking forward to getting Stairs again – and this was what he does? He’s throwing 101 MPH, and he pitches around a guy that has done nothing, nothing except embarrass Broxton. On the other extreme let’s give Brad Lidge a ton of credit. He comes in and keeps that game in check, giving the offense a chance to come back. Six closers have blown saves this postseason – not one of them is Lidge. Who’d have thunk?
As for Wednesday’s game – bring on Vincente Padilla. He is in no way Cliff Lee, someone who you fear seeing a second time in a series. I don’t think Padilla can repeat last Friday’s performance. Give me Padilla at Citizens Bank Park and we’ll see what happens.
If the 11-0 loss Sunday night was hard to forget for the Dodgers – how do they put tonight’s loss out of their heads?
Vote for Raul! The 2009 All-Star voting results
The first pass of the All-Star results came through and Raul Ibañez is 6th in the National League. He’s behind Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun (663,164), Chicago’s Alfonso Soriano (545,354), New York’s Carlos Beltran (476,843), Los Angeles’ Manny Ramirez (442,763) and Milwaukee’s Mike Cameron (432,034).
How does Milwaukee have two players and one of them Cameron? Soriano is batting under .260 and Manny… well we know about Manny (although my wife refuses to toss her Manny t-shirt).
Chase Utley is leading NL second basemen while Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are third in their respective categories.
Time to vote for Phillies. You can vote your conscience and still vote for Shane Victorino in addition Ibañez, Utley, and Howard.
Time to vote often.
Phils new 5th starter: Barack Obama #phillies
I know the big World Series hangover is hurting us – but how cool is it to see your team with the President?
Send this to all your Mets friends. I know it burns.
More pictures at Yahoo news.
