Cool red socks, big lumber down the Rays

One win away from a world championship. I am so silly-insane-outrageously-excited that I can't stand it.

The bats were on fire in game 4 at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies pounded 12 hits, 4 of which were homeruns. Ryan Howard slugged 2 homers and had 5 RBI in the 10-2 victory. Even Phillies winning pitcher Joe "I Wear Cool Socks" Blanton mashed a homerun to left field off of Edwin Jackson. It was Blanton's very first major league homer. Blanton pitched 6 solid innings, striking out 7 and allowing only 2 earned runs.

Many players contributed in the game 4 victory. In addition to Howard and Blanton...Ryan Madson, Pedro Feliz, Jimmy Rollins, JC Romero and even Jayson Werth all chipped in with key efforts. This has become key for this 2008 Phillies squad to have different heroes and varied contributors each night. When some guys fail to get the job done there's usually someone else coming through with a big performance. And in certain games, like this one, everybody hits (or pitches well)...woo hoo!

The combo of the Rays' 3rd and 4th hitters, Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena, have combined for a dismal 0-for-29 performance in the World Series. The two Rays sluggers have 15 strike outs and just 2 RBI total.

Tim Welke was the terrible umpire of the night in game 4. This time the call went in the Phillies' phavor. In the first inning, Welke blew a call on a run down between 3rd base and home plate when Evan Longoria clearly tagged a diving Jimmy Rollins, but J-Roll was called safe. MLB should seriously consider fixing the replay system during the offseason. A challenge option, like the NFL uses, for safe/out calls really seems most ideal.

Cole Hamels has the chance to become the first pitcher in MLB history to win 5 starts in a single post season. Colbert, should he win game 5, could record the greatest post season a pitcher has ever had. Cole has a 1.55 ERA through 4 starts this post season.

Don't count those proverbial chickens, but Ricky Bottalico said it best on the CSN post game program following game 4...simply put: "It's going to be nuts." I will be at game 5, and there's no other place I would rather be on this Earth. It's been 25 years since Philadelphia has won a major sports championship. All these years of craving and yearning for a winner will result in the hugest eruption of sheer joy and unrivaled bliss that any sports victory has ever spawned.

Watch Out For the Bat Boy

Stop ice grillin' the Phillies players, bat boy. I am watching YOU. I don't know what is on your mind, bat boy, but don't even think about doing something slick. You might wear the Phillies' uniform, but it is clear that you are a Yankees fan. It's all over your pale little "I wanna grow up to be like the Robert De Niro character in The Fan " face. The World Champs should be cautious around this kid. He could be dangerous. ------------------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

What the hell else was I going to write about...?

It will be too late for many people's liking, but it's really about time to NEVER USE BRAD LIDGE IN A SAVE SITUATION ON THE ROAD AGAIN. Lidge in 2009 road games- 0-6, 8.10 ERA, 15 saves, 10 blown saves. One of my favorite statistics that I regularly update here on PhoulBallz is the percentage of games that Brad Lidge has allowed earned runs in this season, compared to the 18% he allowed in 2008. This year, Lidge has allowed earned runs in 43% of his outings. And, as a reminder, in 2007 Brett Myers allowed earned runs in just 21% of his relief appearances. Considering Lidge's season-long struggles, what is the solution when Brett Myers is ailing with a back muscle/shoulder injury, when Chan Ho Park has an injured hamstring, when Ryan Madson looks just as inept in the 9th inning as Brad Lidge seems and when JC Romero is still unavailable to pitch due to a forearm injury? Well, on Wednesday night, with Hanley Ramirez batting with two outs and the tying run on 3rd base, your an...

Greatest Comeback I've Ever Witnessed

I was lucky enough to be in the building for the Phillies' game 4 NLCS walk off victory. I would like to write about it as though I'm reporting on it. I'd love to be able to jot down a story and go off to bed, like I did after game 3, but I don't think that is possible. I feel like I did last year following game 5.2 of the World Series. I was up all night, unable to come down off of that Phillies high. I have the same feeling right now. You all know what happened. I don't need to tell you all a story about the game. It's very likely you've got the image of Jimmy Rollins lacing that double off Jonathan Broxton burned in you brain, frame by frame already. I know I do. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, my lady began to collect her things, strapping her purse on across herself. I shot her a quick look as though to convey, "What are you doing?" She shot back, "I'm getting ready to go." I replied, "I'm getting ready to...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog