Phillies season ends with a metaphor

I picked the Phillies to win the World Series.
Chances are you did too.

Chances are you thought the Cardinals were a punching bag for the Phillies on their way to at the very least the National League pennant.

This was a Phillies team that won more games than any team in franchise history.
This was the team that kept Cliff Lee from the Yankees.
This was the team that had Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels in the best rotation since the Braves of the 1990s.

This was the team that was going to solidify itself as the greatest team in Philadelphia sports history.

The Cardinals were the nice story of a team that stumbled into the playoffs. But even that had as much to do with the Phillies beating the Braves at the end of the season.

So it came down to Ryan Howard at the plate. And I STILL didn't think the Phillies were losing. I thought he was going to park one.

And alas not only did he not park one, he collapsed out of the batters box.

This has to be one of the great upsets in Division Series history.
Right up there with the dual shockers in 2002 (the invincible Yankees and the winning streak A's getting knocked off by the Angels and Twins.)

This might even be bigger. This Phillies team was suppose to have no peer.
Now they have 2 big ones: The Red Sox and the Yankees.

The three big East Coast giants have been slain (not the mention the defending champion Giants).

If you can't win a playoff series where you start Halladay twice and Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt then there is something wrong.

There is no longer a prohibitive favorite to win the World Series.
They collapsed... figuratively and literally.

We haven't seen a day like today since October 15, 2001

OK, who is playing in the NLCS.
We have no clue at this point.

It could be Brewers vs. Phillies.
It could be Diamondbacks vs. Phillies.
It could be Brewers vs. Cardinals.
It could be Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals.

And we will find out by the end of tonight. For the first time since October 15, 2001, both Division Series of a league are going the full 5 games.

For the first time in 10 years the right to go the LCS is basically a one game affair.

In 2001, like this year, there were actually 3 game 5's.

The Diamondbacks and Cardinals played a thriller that ended with Tony Womack's walk off hit in the bottom of the 9th, making Curt Schilling a complete game winner.

The Mariners, who won 116 games that year, forced a fifth game after coming from behind and winning the 4th game in Cleveland. Jamie Moyer out pitched Chuck Finley to give the Mariners the 3-1 win.

In New York, just 2 days after Jeter's flip to Posada, the Yankees looked to come all the way back from the 0-2 hole. They fell behind in the game 2-0 but an error by Eric Chavez put the Yankees up for good in the third. They would hold on to the 5-3 win.

Who will be the heroes tonight?
What will the match up be?

One team playing tonight will have home field advantage in the World Series eventually.
Two teams will become obscure playoff participants.

We've been waiting 10 years for a night like this.

Two wins away from quieting the complainers

What are the biggest complaints you hear fans say about the state of baseball?

Two I constantly hear are "The Northeast Bias" and "If you don't have a huge payroll, you don't have a shot."

OK... now look at the current playoff situation.

Let's say the Tigers beat the Yankees tonight. It's one game. Anything can happen in one game.
Let's say the Cardinals are loose and take advantage of a tight Phillies team. (Like YOU thought this series was going 5 games!)

Those are two games, each being won by the visiting team. Not anything outrageous (like both the Braves AND Red Sox flopping down the stretch.)

Guess what would be the result?

No team east of Detroit would be in the post season.
St. Louis... Texas... Detroit... and either Arizona or Milwaukee.

And guess what would ALSO happen?

The top 9 payrolls in baseball would all be playing golf during the LCS.

If these two events happen, the Yankees and Phillies (1 and 2 in payroll) would join #3 Boston, #4 Anaheim, #5 White Sox, #6 Cubs, #7 Mets, #8 Giants and #9 Twins on the links.

No coast teams.
None of the top 30% of the top payrolls.

If that happens, I expect a LOT of people who complain about the state of baseball to be watching... and cheering... and realizing the myths of the inequity of balance in baseball is just that.

I talked about it before the Super Bowl this year. I stand by everything I said.

Michael X. Ferraro returns to The Sully Baseball Show

Author, TV producer and friend of Sully Baseball, Michael X. Ferraro stopped by the Sully Baseball Show podcast tonight.



We discussed the Red Sox collapse, the Phillies hopes and why Cub fans should get more grief than Phillies fans.





It is the second hour of the Seamheads block on Monday night after What's On Second, the flagship show of the Seamheads National Podcasting Network.

Listen to internet radio with Seamheads on Blog Talk Radio

What Fox Wants For The World Series... 2011 Edition

It has become a tradition at Sully Baseball. For the fifth consecutive, me and the staff try to figure out what Fox wants for their World Series match up and rank them from biggest ratings potential to absolute disaster.

We did it in 2007.

We did it in 2008.

We did it in 2009.

We made a video for it in 2010.

And now we have 2011.

Now keep in mind, this is not what I want nor what would make for the best baseball. This is solely taking into account what media markets and fan bases Fox wants to tap into.

And seeing that nobody in baseball seems to know how to market a team that doesn't play in Boston, New York or Philadelphia, there will be a lot of East Coast Bias.

Teams like the Rays, Diamondbacks and Brewers should be media darlings. But they aren't. That would take effort.

And of course Fox Sports executives wet their pants when the Red Sox stumbled out of the playoff picture. Lots of transplanted Red Sox fans are around the country which means lots of eyeballs on the TV. Now they have to do that thing that all TV networks hate to do: Make an effort to find an audience.

Now of course what they SHOULD want is a 7 game intense World Series. Short of that, let's see what they want to sell.

1. Yankees vs. Phillies

Once again, this is what they REALLY want. Two Northeastern teams and recent champs with lots of fans sprinkled across the country. Lots of recognizable names on both teams. A rematch of the 2009 series, which was one of the highest rated series in recent years. This would require the least amount of effort to sell and probably be the most popular. And of course, as fans bitch and moan about big budget East coast teams dominating the press, a meeting of two northeastern powers with the two biggest payrolls in baseball will undoubtedly draw the biggest ratings. Go figure.

2. Yankees vs. Cardinals

If any team can match the passion of the northeastern baseball fans, it is the Cardinals. With one of the biggest and most loyal fan bases in the country and many transplanted fans, this has the potential of being a great draw. The Cardinals didn't draw any viewers outside of their fan base in 2006, but against the Yankees there would be a clear villain.

3. Yankees vs. Diamondbacks

Normally any series involving Arizona wouldn't get much buzz (even though it should because they are a young exciting and energetic team.) But having the Yankees and Diamondbacks meet again on the 10th anniversary of the Post September 11th World Series would be pretty special. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera are still suiting up for the Yankees 10 years later.

4. Yankees vs. Brewers

The last of the Yankee match ups, which means the last potential match up that Fox would possibly want. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun coming to Yankee Stadium would be sweet. So would Bob Uecker calling the games on the radio. Plus there are enough midwesterners all across the country who would adopt the Brewers.





Now after this, sadly, the match ups would require baseball and Fox to market their sport and not just rely on the fans they take for granted. Which will NEVER happen. So even though virtually every single OTHER match up would include young superstars, solid pitching and potentially exciting baseball, Fox and MLB are dreading each and every one of them.

Let's list them anyway.

5. Rays vs. Phillies

A rematch of the 2008 World Series best remembered for a prolonged rain delay. I put this one high up because if the Rays get this far it would probably mean they would have slain both the Red Sox and Yankees. The little team that could would take on all three Northeastern Goliaths and win. That would be an amazing story. Too bad you can't sell a story like that.

6. Tigers vs. Phillies

The Phillies are the only potential National brand in the National League. And Detroit has a lot of fans living across the country because... well... a lot of people wanted out of Detroit. A Verlander vs. Halladay Game 1 would be amazing. So would Hall and Oates singing the National Anthem in Philadelphia and Eminem singing in Detroit.

7. Rangers vs Phillies

Can Texas become a baseball haven? They are incredibly likable and exciting. But that's football country. Just ask any fan of Friday Night Lights! And this could be a little Good Ole Boys vs. South Jersey rivalry. Sirloin vs. Cheesesteaks.

8. Tigers vs. Cardinals

Because EVERYONE loved the 2006 World Series. It's the "Maybe Leyland will have the pitchers take infield practice before the Series" Series.

9. Rays vs. Cardinals

The "If you put money on this being the World Series match up on September 1st you will be a millionaire" Series. The two teams that stormed into the playoffs after being left for dead going head to head would be great TV. So would seeing the fun and loose Joe Maddon square off against hard nose by the book written about him Tony LaRussa.

10. Rangers vs. Cardinals

The "To Hell With Either Coast" Series. Pujols hitting in the launching pad of Arlington. Hamilton, Young et al taking aim in St. Louis. A city of great baseball tradition against a team with a budding tradition. The Cardinals will bring out Ozzie Smith, Stan Musial, Bruce Sutter, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson. The Rangers will have Nolan Ryan and... um... Toby Harrah?

11. Tigers vs. Brewers

Nothing like two franchises that have never met square off against each other in the World Series. Sadly that isn't happening here. Here you have two teams that not too long ago were in the same division. I guess the fans of Detroit and Milwaukee will have fun driving through Chicago and honking at Cub fans on the way to the World Series games.

12. Rangers vs. Brewers

It's the "We both got rid of Carlos Lee before his contract became a behemoth" Series. (Seriously, what other history do these two teams have?)

13. Rays vs. Brewers

The "Maybe we can convince everyone it is a Buccaneers vs. Packers game" Series. Again, the teams will be filled with some of the most exciting players in baseball each fighting for the franchise's first ever World Series title. But something like that can't be promoted or used to get fans attention. How can that? It's not New York, Boston or Chicago?

14. Rangers vs. Diamondbacks

The "Is it hot enough for you?" Series. Or perhaps the "It's Hot but it's a dry heat" Series. You certainly can't claim East Coast bias in a series played in Texas and the desert.

15. Rays vs. Diamondbacks

Ironically, THIS is the series that fans should be hoping for. Two low budget, small payroll team with home grown stars made smart moves and made it to the World Series with guts, determination and smart baseball. You stick Brad Pitt in the middle of this World Series and people would pay attention. Instead it will probably be a ratings disaster... which is a disgrace.

16. Tigers vs. Diamondbacks

The World Series will be shown regionally. The rest of the country will see "The Making of Terra Nova."



So I will be watching no matter who is playing. I don't think there is a bad match up in the bunch. But what do I know? I'm not at Fox.

10 Reasons why the Philadelphia Phillies winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

The latest entry for the Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game series will be for the Philadelphia Phillies.

A lot of these entries have been for long shots or teams that are pretty much dead right now (I'm looking at YOU Indians, Giants and White Sox.)

But now it is time for one team that not only has a shot, but should be the prohibitive favorite against any team.

The Phillies were picked by many people (including yours truly) to win it all. And frankly it would be stunning if they didn't. Now if you are the kind of person who doesn't like offense, pitching and power, then the Phillies aren't for you.

Today they clinched a playoff berth.
With 95 wins and 16 games left, they are a cinch for 100 wins.
If they win 102 games, they will have the best regular season record in franchise history.

And with the memory of last year's stunning loss in the NLCS against San Francisco fresh in their minds, they have gone all in.

The Phillies are the Big Bad Wolf. They could turn the Red Sox or Yankees into underdogs.

So they are another big market Northeastern team with unruly fans using their deep pockets to buy another championship!

What could there POSSIBLY be to root for with a Phillies World Series title?
PLENTY!

10 Reasons why the
Philadelphia Phillies
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball

1. Another World Series title would make Charlie Manuel's Hall of Fame candidacy very compelling.

Charlie Manuel seems like a cool guy. A classic "Gold Ole Boy" Southern manager who has tamed the wild Philadelphia fanbase and delivered the city's first Championship in a quarter century.

While the classic Hall of Fame manager seems to be a strategist or a fiery, who can deny the results. With a clinched playoff spot this year (and assuming the Division is inevitable) he will have 5 straight Division Titles, back to back pennants and the 2008 World Series title.

Throw in the fact that his Phillies zoomed past the Mets in the wild 2007 Division race and Manuel could be the best manager in the team's history. Who is ahead of him?

(He also has another Division Title as a manager of the Indians.) If he wins another World Series title, his Cooperstown resume would start to look convincing.


2. Another title would shine light on the new "Core."

Jimmy Rollins has been a Phillie for 11 plus seasons. Chase Utley has been a Phillie for 9 seasons. Ryan Howard has been a Phillie for 8 plus seasons. Cole Hamels has been a Phillie for 6 seasons. Ryan Madson has been a Phillie for 8 plus seasons. Carlos Ruiz has been a Phillies for 6 seasons.

They are all home grown players who have been together for all 5 Division Champions. Throw in Shane Victorino who came over to Philadelphia after making his big league debut with the Padres and you have a core of players who have been together through many different Octobers and give the Phillies a sense of stability with the franchise not seen since the Joe Torre Yankee days.



3. The redemption of Ryan Howard's contract.

Speaking of that core, Ryan Howard has been much maligned since signing his long contract extension. I understand the deal emotionally. Having him play the bulk of his career in Philadelphia would mean that Phillies fans could invest some emotion in the big guy. And he is no doubt one of the more likable stars in the game.

But with his numbers declining (except RBI... the REASON he is paid so much) and the age of sluggers suddenly getting good again seems to be over, the deal looks like it might be an albatross for the next 5 years.

Ahh but what if he helps the Phillies earn ANOTHER World Series title? You could say "Sure he's over paid and slipping, but that's the price for an MVP, 3 pennants, an NLCS MVP and being part of 2 of the only 3 World Series titles in team history."


4. Speaking of redemption, Philadelphia fans can show themselves in a better light.

You might not like it, Phillies fans, but you have one of the worst reputation in sports. I know not ALL of you booed Mike Schmidt... or Santa Claus for that matter. I know not ALL of you got tased or threw up on a little girl. But enough of you have to give Philadelphia sports fans a bad rep.

Want to change that? When the Phillies win the World Series, cheer. Clap. Stomp your feet. Have a great time. But don't riot. Don't flip cars over. Show some class. And you can say "Yeah, I'm a Philly fan. At least I'm not a Vancouver fan!"


5. Roy Halladay is great for baseball and deserves to be a champion.

As we move past the Steroid Era and pitchers are becoming more and more dominant, it would be nice to see the BEST current pitcher get a ring.

Halladay could win his third Cy Young this year (although it will probably go to Clayton Kershaw) and last year showed his greatness with a regular season perfect game and a playoff no hitter. Today he threw a complete game shutout to clinch a spot in October. He's already a Hall of Famer. He is lacking the ring and he'll join Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter as current aces who are also World Champions.


6. Cliff Lee's bad ass-ness needs to be celebrated.

In 2009 World Series against the Yankees, Cliff Lee casually caught a pop up while barely moving his body. He just was so cool and non chalant. That's how he plays the game. He is good. He KNOWS he is good. And he'll just shut you down on HIS terms.

And those terms also means being a cool customer after being traded from the Indians to the Phillies to the Mariners and to the Rangers in two years. And cool in saying "Thanks but to thanks" to the Yankees money and declaring Philadelphia the place to win.

Like Halladay, Lee is one of the stars of post steroid pitching. And save for his two games in the World Series last year, has been as exciting a big game pitcher as you will see in baseball. He should be a champion.



7. Juan Samuel would get his World Series ring.

In the mid 1980s, Juan Samuel was the best second baseman in the National League not named Ryne Sandberg. He was part of the 1983 National League Champion Phillies and looked like he was going to be a staple in Philadelphia for a long time.

Then he went to the Mets, fetching Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell, which turned out to be one of the best deals in Phillies history. Samuel is a baseball lifer. He's been a coach and briefly managed the disastrous Orioles last year before Buck Showalter arrived.

The three time All Star has been in professional baseball since 1980 but has never been part of a World Series winner. The current member of the Phillies coaching staff has earned it.


8. A World Series ring for Brian Schneider, the last Expo.

There are very few Montreal Expos left in baseball. Schneider is one of them and he played for the team as MLB was screwing the franchise sending them to San Juan, not letting them call up players in September even while Frank Robinson was putting a winning product on the field. When baseball sent an All Star team to Japan after 2004, the Expos last season, Schneider represented the team. When he returned, they were the Washington Nationals. So by definition, Schneider was the last ever Expo.

He's now Carlos Ruiz's backup and probably won't see any action in the post season. But it would be nice to see one of the remnants of that lost team be rewarded.



9. Another title would make this the greatest Philadelphia team in history

If the Phillies win the World Series this year, which Philadelphia team would be better in history than this squad? The Dr. J/Moses Malone 76ers? The Broadstreet Bullies? The Jimmie Foxx/Lefty Grove Connie Mack led A's?

This Phillies team might be better than them all.

And sometimes it is GOOD to see greatness unfold and the best of something emerge.



10. Sometimes it is good to have the best team win.

Yeah, underdogs are fun to see win. A little team that could like last year's Giants or the 2006 Cardinals beating the odds can be appealing. But there are other times it is cool to see a team that is clearly the best in the sport take the title and the crown.

Sometimes seeing a champion who was the best from start to finish can be more satisfying than simply honoring whichever team happened to get hot over three weeks. This Phillies team was designed to win the whole damn thing and they played like it since April. There is something to be said for that.

Is there any doubt who the best team in baseball is? Then by definition they deserve to win the World Series!



Oh I know this will be a hard sell for a lot of you. Philadelphia is as bad as New York and Boston in terms of gluttony in many people's eyes. (The Phillies payroll is now bigger than the Red Sox!) But trust me, the world won't end if the Phillies win the World Series. And in many ways, it could be a very cool thing.

Show some brotherly love, my dear readers.


If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
CHICAGO WHITE SOX

CLEVELAND INDIANS
DETROIT TIGERS
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
NEW YORK YANKEES
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

This could be baseball's worst September in 25 years

September is shaping up in a very unique manner for baseball and trust me... it isn't pretty nor is it good for the game!

Since the expanded playoffs were first executed in 1995, we have seen some truly tense pennant races. In 1995, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2009, a one game playoff was needed to decide with the Division or the Wild Card.

Down to the last weekend chases have been the norm and last year we were one game away from a three way tie.

Going back each complete year since before the Wild Card...

The Braves and the Giants had their epic chase in 1993.

The Blue Jays and Brewers went down to the last weekend in 1992.

The Braves and Dodgers fought until the last weekend in 1991.

The Red Sox won the Division on the last day of the 1990 season with Tom Brunansky's sliding catch.

The Blue Jays finally held off the upstart Orioles on the last weekend of the 1989 season.

The Red Sox staggered into the 1988 playoffs by one game over the Tigers.

The Tigers and Blue Jays squared off in the memorable end of the 1987 season 1-0 clincher for Detroit.

In other words, for the past 25 years, we have been assured that at least ONE pennant race will be a nail biter.

With the Diamondbacks win tonight over Tim Lincecum (who knew that Ian Kennedy would get to 18 wins?) and the Tigers furious come from behind win over the White Sox, it is clear that it won't take much to have the current leaders make the post season.

Let's take each currently leader and see what their record would be if they just went .500 the rest of the way. (For teams with an odd number of games left, I'll put them at one game UNDER .500 for the remainder of the season.

The Phillies... if they go 13-14 the rest of the way, they will finish at 101-61.

The Braves... if they go 12-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 93-69.

The Brewers... if they go 11-11 the rest of the way, they will finish at 94-68.

The Diamondbacks... if they go 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 90-72.

The Yankees... if they go 12-13 the rest of the way, they will finish at 96-66.

The Red Sox... if they go 12-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 96-66.

The Tigers... if they go 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 88-74.

The Rangers... if they go 11-11 the rest of the way, they will finish at 90-72.

In order for the Cardinals to catch the Braves, they would have to go 19-4.

In order for the Cardinals to catch the Brewers, they would have to go 20-3.

In order for the Giants to catch the Diamondbacks, they would have to go 17-6.

In order for the Rays to catch the Red Sox or Yankees, they would have to go 21-3.

In order for the Indians to catch the Tigers, they would have to go 16-7.

In order for the Angels to catch the Rangers, they would have to go 15-8.

Which of those teams strike you as being capable of such a winning streak? And all of these are under the assumption that the leaders will be .500.

There is a real danger, especially with the AL and NL Wild Cards all but secure, that September will be totally dead for baseball.

No pennant races. No buzz around the league. No spoilers. No reason to go to the park.

And with football starting up, interest in baseball could be staggeringly low in October. I hope not. But unless a leader falls on their face, the playoff teams might all be wrapped up with 2 1/2 weeks to go.

The bright spot?

The last time there was no real pennant race down the stretch?

1986.

And that was one of the great POST seasons of all time.

Let's hope if October 2011 is as great as October 1986 that people are watching.

The Phillies and Giants are an NLCS Preview? Not if the playoffs started today

The Giants won a series in Philadelphia.
The Phillies won a series in San Francisco.

The two teams have looked like a pair of locomotives ready to crash in the NLCS.

Here's the problem.
If the playoffs started today, the Phillies and Giants would indeed meet... in the Division Series.

The Brewers have passed the Giants in the win loss columns. That means that the Defending World Champs would open on the road in Philadelphia.

That's right, the great rematch would NOT be for the NL Pennant but for the right to play either Milwaukee or Atlanta in the NLCS.

Lincecum vs. Halladay... Cain vs. Lee...
If a team wins both of those games, they will be just one win away from eliminating the other.

Or the two could clash and tire each other out and suddenly we have the National League Champion Milwaukee Brewers.

And before we assume ANYTHING, keep in mind the Giants spot in the playoffs is thin indeed.

The Diamondbacks are 1/2 a game back and tied in the loss column.
Can you imagine a Milwaukee/Arizona NLCS?

You KNOW TBS execs would be hanging themselves if that happens.

Get back in gear, defending World Champs.
We have a dream NLCS rematch we want to see and you guys aren't holding up YOUR end of the bargain!!!

Brawls don't impress me

I know I am supposed to get all Quest For Fire excited when I see a bench clearing brawl in baseball.

I know it is supposed to show that the players really care and are passionate and will make it clear that losing is not an option and respect should be shown.

But I don't that. Brawls and bean balls don't impress me at all.

If you want to show me that you don't like a player hitting a homer off of you, then strike them out the next time.

You want to show me that you care and hate losing? Then win!

I remember when Mets fans got all over Shawn Estes that he didn't hit Roger Clemens when they faced off. It was supposed to be revenge for hitting and chucking a bat at Mike Piazza. "He should have hit him. Send a message" etc.

Do you know what he did instead? He hit a home run off of Clemens.
Now what is a bigger humiliation for the Rocket?
Being hit by a pitch or letting up a tater to the opposing pitcher?

If he hit him, then Clemens would be on base with the top of the order coming up. Congrats. You've shown what a macho man you are... now you are facing a potential rally.

I always thought the A-Rod - Varitek fight was overrated. Sox fans pointed to that game as a turning point in the season, and it was. NOT because Varitek punched A-Rod while he was wearing his catchers mask. It was a turning point because Bill Mueller homered off of Mariano Rivera to win the game.

Putting their men on base and having players up for suspension isn't impressive to me. It feels desperate. Like you are ACTUALLY saying "I can't beat you, but I can be petty and try and hurt you."

Did the Giants show any fight last night because they brawled?
Hell no. They got their butts kicked and need to win today to hopefully salvage a split in the serious.

Want to impress me?
Win the next to two games.

The whole hitting stuff? Forget it. Tip your cap to the opposition when they do well and get their butt out the next time you face off.

The Javier Lopez - Brian Wilson win total challenge

The Giants very strange defense of their World Series title continued yesterday in San Diego. Once again a starting pitcher (this time Matt Cain) pitched well.

Once again the starting pitcher got a no decision and it went into extra innings.

Once again a reliever got the win.
I am convinced that Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong and Jonathan Sanchez will continue to put up wonderful numbers... except in the win column.

The Giants are going to win the West. Right now they are tied for the Phillies for the biggest lead in any Division. And the Giants rotation is the only one in baseball that can match up with the Phillies.

But I would LOVE to see the Giants finish the year with their aces winning 12-13 games, thus creating the illusion to those who just glance at the win-loss record that San Francisco's rotation is inferior.

Right now Brian Wilson has 6 wins, just 2 fewer than Cain and Lincecum.
Javier Lopez has 5 wins (including yesterday) and that is one behind Vogelsong.

I want Wilson and Lopez to each get to double digit wins. Preferably more than their All Star pitchers.

Imagine at the end of the year hearing "Brian Wilson led the team with 13 wins and Javier Lopez was second with 12. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain had 11 wins. Ryan Vogelsong and Madison Bumgarner each had 10."

Then you get to smoke out which commentators are lazy and say "A down year for the Giants starters" etc.

Think that is crazy?
Have you been WATCHING the Giants?
Have you been noticed how many times the announcers say "A great start for [INSERT GIANTS STARTER HERE] but no run support"?
Have you seen how many games end with a mob at home plate after a walk off win?

Have 6 more walk offs go as wins for Brian Wilson... bam! There's 12 wins right there.
5 extra inning wins go to Lopez... and that's 10 for Lopez.

And that's 11 decisions NOT going to the rotation.
Throw in a fluke win here and a vulture win there and they could get up to 12-13 wins.

All that matters to a Giants fan is to pile up wins, no matter how odd they come about.
The Giants have played 15 extra inning games and 38 one run games.

So pile up the wins, Javier and Brian.
Lead the team... and make the other teams feel complacent

It's a hell of a way to defend a title.

Vance Worley got the rug pulled from under him

Since being recalled from the minors and starting on June 18th, Vance Worley has made 4 starts.
He's averaged about 6 1/3 innings per start to a 0.72 ERA.

He had 6 innings of 1 hit shutout ball against Oakland. He had 7 innings 1 run against the Red Sox and just yesterday threw 7 innings of 2 hit shut out ball against the Marlins.

Throw in his 6 innings of shutout ball against the Mets on April 29th and 6 innings 1 run against Washington on May 4th and he looks impressive.

He is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA with only one poor start on his ledger. With the injury to Oswalt, he has allowed the Phillies to not miss a beat.

He is a big leaguer!

So naturally less than 24 hours after a 7 inning 2 hit win in Florida last night he was sent back to the minor leagues.

LOOK! I understand intellectually why they did this! I understand that he wouldn't get a start before the All Star break and why not let him make a minor league start and have John Mayberry Jr. give them depth on the bench for the next week.

BUT COME ON! The symbolism of that is just too cruel.
He couldn't throw a simulated game? He couldn't throw a few innings out of the pen?

What if the Phillies have another 19 inning game?

Can they really count on another stellar performance by Wilson Valdez?

Baseball can be kind of cruel.

Vance Worley? He's not a minor leaguer.

Lowered expectations won the night

When you consider the fact that over the first two games against the Phillies, the only Red Sox player who showed any pop was John Lackey, then I guess I can take avoiding a sweep as a victory.

Let's face it, when Cole Hamels got hurt the Red Sox got lucky. Sure Lester pitched like an ace, but Lackey was terrific yesterday and that didn't get the Red Sox anywhere.

And Varitek is NOT getting those two homers off of Hamels. It was nice to wake up Papelbon long enough to get a win.

Let's update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 23

April 8 - 9-6 win against the Yankees. (The Sox end their 6 game losing streak with a slugfest. John Lackey stinks but Phil Hughes stinks even more.)
April 10 - 4-0 win against the Yankees. (Beckett and Sabathia duel in a game that was 1-0 until the late innings.)
April 20 - 5-3 win in Oakland. (Red Sox survive a lead off homer and two bases loaded situations and facing the tying run at the plate to win their first road game.)
April 21 - 4-2 win in Anaheim. (The Red Sox stranded 15 men on base and Josh Beckett's went 8 strong with no decision. But the Sox rallied in the 11th to win.)
April 22 - 4-3 win in Anaheim. (Peter Bourjos makes a 2 run errors and the Red Sox survive a bizarre passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia that let a run scored from second.)
May 1 - 3-2 win against the Mariners. (Ichiro loses a ball in the sun that turns into a 9th inning triple for Lowrie. Crawford singles him home for the win.)
May 8 - 9-5 win against the Twins. (Dice-K lets up 3 runs in the first but settles down as the Red Sox clobber Carl Pavano.)

May 9 - 2-1 win against the Twins. (A bullpen breakdown cost Beckett the decision but Cark Crawford ended the game with an 11th inning walk off hit.)
May 13 - 5-4 win in the Bronx. (Youkilis homers off of Joba and Bard and Papelbon make it more interesting than it needed to be.)
May 15 - 7-5 win in the Bronx. (Sox fall behind 4-1 but come back as Youk, Papi and Salty all homer.)
May 16 - 8-7 win against the Orioles. (Down 6-0 after 6 innings, the Sox rally and win it with a 2 run walk off double by Adrian Gonzalez)
May 18 - 1-0 win against Detroit. (With 2 outs in the 8th, Salty doubles home Crawford from first for the only run. Papelbon gets himself in and out of 9th inning trouble.)
May 19 - 4-3 win against Detroit. (Bard blows Beckett's lead but Carl Crawford wins it with a walk off hit.)
May 24 - 4-2 win in Cleveland. (Varitek throws two runners out and homers as the Red Sox win their first game against the Indians.)
May 29 - 4-3 win in Detroit. (The Red Sox blow an early 3-0 lead but David Ortiz wins the game with a pinch 9th inning homer.)
June 3 - 8-6 win against Oakland. (Buchholz lets up 4 runs in the first but the Sox come back thanks to Carl Crawford's 2 run single.)
June 4 - 9-8 win against Oakland. (Red Sox blow a 4 run 9th inning lead and trail in the 11th before Ellsbury ties it and Drew wins it in 14.)
June 7 - 6-4 win in the Bronx. (Papelbon strikes out A-Rod to end the game with a runner on base.)
June 9 - 8-3 win in the Bronx. (Down 2-0 to Sabathia in the 7th, the Sox score 7 runs as Papi exacts revenge after getting plunked. A 3+ hour rain delay pushed the game past 1:30 AM)

June 15 - 3-0 win in Tampa Bay. (Youkilis homers in the 7th for the only runs in Beckett's 1 hit masterpiece.)
June 16 - 4-2 win in Tampa Bay. (Papelbon wiggles out of a 2 on, nobody out jam in the 9th thanks to Youk's diving catch.)
June 26 - 4-2 win in Pittsburgh. (The Pirates make 4 errors and the Red Sox score 2 in the 7th to avoid a sweep by the Bucs.
June 30 - 5-2 win in Philadelphia.(An injury to Cole Hamels leads to the Red Sox bats waking up.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 5 - 3-1 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox drop their 4th straight as the bats are dead in Cleveland.)
April 7 - 1-0 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow a great Lester performance on a squeeze bunt and Darnell McDonald overrunning the bag to end the game.)
April 12 - 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay. (A solid Lester performance is wasted as Kyle Farnsworth of all people shuts down the Sox.)
April 15 - 7-6 loss to Toronto. (Bobby Jenks implodes with a 4 run seventh inning as the Red Sox waste Pedroia and Youkilis homers and a clutch RBI double by Scuatro.
April 19 - 5-0 loss in Oakland. (Pedroia gets picked off, the Sox bats go dead and waste a solid Lackey start.)
April 26 - 4-1 loss in Baltimore. (Buchholz pitches tentatively and the Sox let Kevin Gregg of all people to close out the 9th.)
April 27 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (The Sox tie the game with a 3 run 8th only to have Bard lose it in the bottom of the 8th.)
April 29 - 5-4 loss to Mariners. (Bobby Jenks blows a 7th inning lead, wasting 2 Mike Cameron homers.)
April 30 - 2-0 loss to Mariners. (The Sox strand 11 runners and let Milton Bradley double home the go ahead run.)
May 4 - 5-3 loss to Angels. (7 hours with rain delays and stranded runners. Marco Scutaro was thrown out at the plate in the 12th)
May 10 - 7-6 loss in Toronto. (8th and 9th inning heroics, including a homer by Adrian Gonzalez, are undone by a walk off sacrifice fly by David Cooper.)
May 21 - 9-3 loss to Cubs. (Up 3-1 in the 8th inning, the bullpen and defense implode. The Cubs score 8 runs while both teams wear their 1918 uniforms.)
May 23- 3-2 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox blow a 2-1 8th inning lead when the Indians rally with 2 outs. Crawford ends the game on a double play.)
May 29 - 3-0 loss in Detroit. (Verlander keeps the Sox off base and prevents the sweep.)
June 1 - 7-4 loss to White Sox. (Konerko drives in three, spoiling a game tying Ortiz homer.)

June 14 - 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay. (Wakefield's solid outing is spoiled. Longoria scores on a passed ball.)
June 18 - 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. (The Brewers hit three homers early off of Lester and hang on.)
June 21 - 5-4 loss to San Diego. (Ortiz hits a double play in the 9th to stifle a potential winning rally.)

June 24 - 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox strand 7 runners in scoring position.)
June 25 - 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox fall out of first as Pedroia's error leads to a Pirates run.)
June 29 - 2-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Vance Worley duels John Lackey and slumping Raul Ibanez drives in both runs.)

Up to +1.

Hopefully the Red Sox WILL play the Phillies again this year... in October.
Meanwhile they travel from Philadelphia and the best team in baseball to Houston and the worst team in baseball.

Let's make up some ground.

The Phillies outfielders looked good to me

Going into the "World Series Preview" series, all I heard about was how the Phillies had outfield issues.

Domonic Brown was a bust and Raul Ibanez was a shell of his former self.
Not from what I saw so far.

Both homered in the series and both help sink Josh Beckett and John Lackey.

Meanwhile where the hell are the bats? If it weren't for Lackey, the Sox would have zero runs this series.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 22

April 8 - 9-6 win against the Yankees. (The Sox end their 6 game losing streak with a slugfest. John Lackey stinks but Phil Hughes stinks even more.)
April 10 - 4-0 win against the Yankees. (Beckett and Sabathia duel in a game that was 1-0 until the late innings.)
April 20 - 5-3 win in Oakland. (Red Sox survive a lead off homer and two bases loaded situations and facing the tying run at the plate to win their first road game.)
April 21 - 4-2 win in Anaheim. (The Red Sox stranded 15 men on base and Josh Beckett's went 8 strong with no decision. But the Sox rallied in the 11th to win.)
April 22 - 4-3 win in Anaheim. (Peter Bourjos makes a 2 run errors and the Red Sox survive a bizarre passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia that let a run scored from second.)
May 1 - 3-2 win against the Mariners. (Ichiro loses a ball in the sun that turns into a 9th inning triple for Lowrie. Crawford singles him home for the win.)
May 8 - 9-5 win against the Twins. (Dice-K lets up 3 runs in the first but settles down as the Red Sox clobber Carl Pavano.)

May 9 - 2-1 win against the Twins. (A bullpen breakdown cost Beckett the decision but Cark Crawford ended the game with an 11th inning walk off hit.)
May 13 - 5-4 win in the Bronx. (Youkilis homers off of Joba and Bard and Papelbon make it more interesting than it needed to be.)
May 15 - 7-5 win in the Bronx. (Sox fall behind 4-1 but come back as Youk, Papi and Salty all homer.)
May 16 - 8-7 win against the Orioles. (Down 6-0 after 6 innings, the Sox rally and win it with a 2 run walk off double by Adrian Gonzalez)
May 18 - 1-0 win against Detroit. (With 2 outs in the 8th, Salty doubles home Crawford from first for the only run. Papelbon gets himself in and out of 9th inning trouble.)
May 19 - 4-3 win against Detroit. (Bard blows Beckett's lead but Carl Crawford wins it with a walk off hit.)
May 24 - 4-2 win in Cleveland. (Varitek throws two runners out and homers as the Red Sox win their first game against the Indians.)
May 29 - 4-3 win in Detroit. (The Red Sox blow an early 3-0 lead but David Ortiz wins the game with a pinch 9th inning homer.)
June 3 - 8-6 win against Oakland. (Buchholz lets up 4 runs in the first but the Sox come back thanks to Carl Crawford's 2 run single.)
June 4 - 9-8 win against Oakland. (Red Sox blow a 4 run 9th inning lead and trail in the 11th before Ellsbury ties it and Drew wins it in 14.)
June 7 - 6-4 win in the Bronx. (Papelbon strikes out A-Rod to end the game with a runner on base.)
June 9 - 8-3 win in the Bronx. (Down 2-0 to Sabathia in the 7th, the Sox score 7 runs as Papi exacts revenge after getting plunked. A 3+ hour rain delay pushed the game past 1:30 AM)

June 15 - 3-0 win in Tampa Bay. (Youkilis homers in the 7th for the only runs in Beckett's 1 hit masterpiece.)
June 16 - 4-2 win in Tampa Bay. (Papelbon wiggles out of a 2 on, nobody out jam in the 9th thanks to Youk's diving catch.)
June 26 - 4-2 win in Pittsburgh. (The Pirates make 4 errors and the Red Sox score 2 in the 7th to avoid a sweep by the Bucs.

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 5 - 3-1 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox drop their 4th straight as the bats are dead in Cleveland.)
April 7 - 1-0 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow a great Lester performance on a squeeze bunt and Darnell McDonald overrunning the bag to end the game.)
April 12 - 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay. (A solid Lester performance is wasted as Kyle Farnsworth of all people shuts down the Sox.)
April 15 - 7-6 loss to Toronto. (Bobby Jenks implodes with a 4 run seventh inning as the Red Sox waste Pedroia and Youkilis homers and a clutch RBI double by Scuatro.
April 19 - 5-0 loss in Oakland. (Pedroia gets picked off, the Sox bats go dead and waste a solid Lackey start.)
April 26 - 4-1 loss in Baltimore. (Buchholz pitches tentatively and the Sox let Kevin Gregg of all people to close out the 9th.)
April 27 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (The Sox tie the game with a 3 run 8th only to have Bard lose it in the bottom of the 8th.)
April 29 - 5-4 loss to Mariners. (Bobby Jenks blows a 7th inning lead, wasting 2 Mike Cameron homers.)
April 30 - 2-0 loss to Mariners. (The Sox strand 11 runners and let Milton Bradley double home the go ahead run.)
May 4 - 5-3 loss to Angels. (7 hours with rain delays and stranded runners. Marco Scutaro was thrown out at the plate in the 12th)
May 10 - 7-6 loss in Toronto. (8th and 9th inning heroics, including a homer by Adrian Gonzalez, are undone by a walk off sacrifice fly by David Cooper.)
May 21 - 9-3 loss to Cubs. (Up 3-1 in the 8th inning, the bullpen and defense implode. The Cubs score 8 runs while both teams wear their 1918 uniforms.)
May 23- 3-2 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox blow a 2-1 8th inning lead when the Indians rally with 2 outs. Crawford ends the game on a double play.)
May 29 - 3-0 loss in Detroit. (Verlander keeps the Sox off base and prevents the sweep.)
June 1 - 7-4 loss to White Sox. (Konerko drives in three, spoiling a game tying Ortiz homer.)

June 14 - 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay. (Wakefield's solid outing is spoiled. Longoria scores on a passed ball.)
June 18 - 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. (The Brewers hit three homers early off of Lester and hang on.)
June 21 - 5-4 loss to San Diego. (Ortiz hits a double play in the 9th to stifle a potential winning rally.)

June 24 - 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox strand 7 runners in scoring position.)
June 25 - 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox fall out of first as Pedroia's error leads to a Pirates run.)
June 29 - 2-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Vance Worley duels John Lackey and slumping Raul Ibanez drives in both runs.)

Break Even.

I for one hope this is a World Series preview.
Because that would mean this crazy up and down team would have won the pennant.

May we all wish such a fate for this club.

JOHN LACKEY... SLUGGER!

Am I high or did John Lackey just tie the game with a double?

I may not like him much as a pitcher, but maybe he can hit.

Come on Sox! Let's see some of the HITTERS drive in a run!

Hey Red Sox... it's Vance Worley pitching

The Sox aren't facing Roy Halladay... or Cole Hamels... or Cliff Lee... and Roy Oswalt it hurt.

They are facing Vance Worley. And yes, he's had a few good games and he has talent. But if this is a World Series preview then guess what? The Red Sox will have to beat an elite pitcher or 8.

How's about teeing off on Vance Worley?
And John Lackey... do yourself and all of us a favor: Don't suck.

Thanks a bunch.

Sometimes the other team is just better

Seriously, what else can you say?
Cliff Lee was just unreal. He was the man on the mound AND at the plate. This was a classic tip the hat and realize that a win wasn't in the cards.

I'm glad that if Beckett had a lousy game, it might as well be in a game where the other guy was dominating.

It's better than Beckett losing a 1-0 game or a 6-5 games.

If it is a World Series preview then hey... at least they made the World Series.

Cliff Lee's no hitter was broken up

I can't help but feel partially responsible.

I should NEVER have mentioned he was throwing a no hitter in my last post.

It would be a shame if Cliff Lee lost the game.

(Am I pushing it?)

CLIFF LEE IS THROWING A NO HITTER!!! RIGHT NOW!

I'm not one for superstition... but just in case, I am going to scream the fact that CLIFF LEE IS THROWING A NO HITTER over and over again.

I will be happy to be the man who jinxed THIS one!!!