October 2008
Philly Celebrates a Bit Too Hard for World Series
I remember a few New Years Eve celebration in Philly in the mid 80′s where the city used to go nuts and celebrate their hearts out. Nothing was too wild or too crazy, but you always had a few people in the crowd who went against the grain and made a great situation worse by either fighting or detroying something.
World Series celebrations are famous for fires and overturned cars. Sometimes they even get into the looting and the shop window replacement business during the night. I was browsing the online editions of the local Philly newspapers and found out some of the statistics of last night’s wild activities.
Unfortunately in St. Petersburg, we could never have this kind of thing happen close to the stadium. Considering the main party place, Ferg’s is directly in front of the St. Petersburg Police station, it would be hard to have this kind of activity go on without major consequences. But, you never know what some people will do in the name of fun.
Philadelphia Phillies fans celebrated the World Series victory well into the early morning hours and there was plenty of evidence of the party — and destruction – up and down Broad Street on Thursday morning. Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said police made 76 arrests overnight during the disturbances Additional details were expected to be released on Thursday. “I wouldn’t say the city got a black eye, but it was a little bruised,” he said in an interview this morning.
Arrests during last night’s “revelry” included: Robberies: 1; Assault on police: 12; Arson: 1; Theft: 3; Vandalism: 17; Obstruction of justice: 1; Trespassing: 5; Disorderly conducts: 36. Police said the majority of those charged were college students. No homicides were reported overnight.
The emergency room was busier than usual last night at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Hahnemann typically has zero to three trauma cases on a Wednesday night, but last night had 11.
Robinson Luggage on South Broad Street – struck especially hard by hooligan revelers last night — reopened this morning at 10 a.m., though windows remained smashed and the the doors boarded up. Owner Sharon Laudenbach said the shop had been hit by looters and hundreds of upscale bags had been stolen.
The city streets department this morning would only say cleanup crews were out working all over the city. At Citizens Bank Park there were no signs of Wednesday night’s revelry — outside of the manure left by the horses from the Pennsylvania State Police mounted patrols. Fox29 was hosted its morning show at the third base gate.
At Broad and Walnut Streets city employees were sweeping up beer bottles, glass, and dirt from toppled planters. One worker near the Academy of Music quipped, “It wasn’t much worse than your average New Year’s celebration.”
The glass windows and doors of Robinson Luggage were smashed. Oversized planters were overturned and their contents spilled out onto the street. Closer to City Hall, at Broad and Chestnut Streets, a newspaper honor box remained planted in the window of the FYE film and music store. Two of the oversized FYE plate glass windows were shattered. Outside the Prince Music Theater, the 8-foot high sculpture was listing at a 45-degree angle.
At the Modell’s at 1528 Chestnut Street, 50 fans had lined up by 4:30 a.m. to buy World Series commemorative t-shirts, caps, jackets. Though the store wasnt’t scheduled to open until 5 a.m. Mitchell Modell, the owner and CEO of the chain, opened the doors and let them in early.
Modell said the two biggest sellers were the red Phinally t-shirt with the World Series trophy, the locker room championship hats and a gray hooded sweat shirt that the players will wear during the parade. When asked what he would have done with the merchandise and himself if the Phillies had lost the title to the Tampa Bay Rays, Modell joked: “I’d be looking for a new job and on suicide watch.”
Here is another wild story bases out of Philly. I included this story because of the wild end to this caper. You would think if you pulled off a crime in a city you would not go to an area where you might be recognized almost immediately by police. But to the credit of the theft, at least he had the good sense of what was right and wrong at the time and spent his money wisely. Maybe he was trying to buy World Series tickets and could not meet the Stubhub prices?
It doesn’t matter. You take one for the team.
But one fan may have taken his devotion a bit too far when police say he robbed a bank and later allegedly funded a shopping spree for Phillies gear with the stolen cash. About 10 a.m. Wednesday, a man, who police did not identify, entered a PNC Bank on Welsh Road near Roosevelt Boulevard and slipped the teller a demand note.
Shortly after, the man, wearing a red and gray hat pulled down over his face and a beige hoodie, fled westbound on Welsh with an undisclosed amount of cash, said a detective from Northeast Detectives.
About 20 minutes later, cops found the suspect, who police have not identified, a few miles away coming out of the Modell’s Sporting Goods store at the Roosevelt Mall, Cottman and Bustleton avenues. Police did not confirm whether the man was wearing Phillies gear or not. But authorities said they later recovered the rest of the cash in a nearby trash bin.
Witnesses positively identified the suspect and police carted the robber off, assuring that the ardent fan would miss watching the Phillies duke it out against the Tampa Bay Rays in the conclusionof Game 5. He might miss the game, but at least he won’t face federal charges, said Jerri Williams, the Philly FBI spokeswoman. Local authorities charged him with robbery, theft and related offenses.
Guess he is kicking himself now by going to Modell’s. He could have hid out for the day and been a rich guy buying tons of World Series collectibles on Thursday morning, instead of sitting in a cold jail cell waiting to see the judge.
Ray’s Rally on Friday in St. Petersburg
The Rays may have fallen short of a World Series title, but that’s no reason for the region to postpone a party.
St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker said Thursday morning that plans were in the works to host a rally commemorating the Rays’ historic season, which ended with Wednesday night’s loss in Game 5 of the World Series.
The rally is tentatively scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET in St. Petersburg’s Straub Park and will feature manager Joe Maddon and several Rays players.
“We are getting all kinds of calls from fans and media asking where the celebration is going to be,” Baker said in a phone interview on Thursday morning. “So we are going to try to honor that.”
Baker agreed with Rays owner Stu Sternberg’s comments that the club’s successful season has opened up baseball to the entire Tampa Bay area. In fact, Baker was willing to take Sternberg’s assessment one step further.
“It’s had an incredibly positive effect, I think, on the whole west coast of Florida,” Baker said. “There’s been so much bad news right now. This has been such a lift in the sprits for people in the community.”
Game 5.5 Signals the End of the Rays Run
Phillies 4, 
Rays 3
I was told that J P Howell was taking the loss pretty hard last night after the Philadelphia Phillies ended the 46 hour lay-over of Game 5 of the World Series. I do not know why he is thinking it is the end of all things right now. You have to remember that this years’ team went above every expectation set by the coaches’ and management. they flew beyond any goal or lofty intention of every and any fan, and last, but not least, they made us proud to be Ray Fans.
I did not go out to the Trop last night at 3 a.m., I wanted to cheer and applaud for the Rays for a job well done. But this is private time. I know as an ex-athlete that you need a little space right after a collossial event to get your feet back on the ground. It has been an emotional rollercoaster for the team the last 3 days. And no matter what the outcome, there was going to be some backlash mentally and emotionally.
Just remember guys, on Saturday at the City of St. Pete celebration, it will all seem to fade away. We have 107 days until we start it all over again, and I can not wait personally. Not for the goals and aspirations of 2009, but because the Rays deserve another shot at the title. If Rocco can come back off the canvas, why can’t we get another shot at the ring and the dream.
Congrats to the World Champions
Seriously, it was a great World Series from Game 1-5. The Phillies have been hungry for a title for 28 years in baseball. Heck, Pete Rose was playing third base back then for the Fightin’ Phillies. What was so special was to see 40-something Jamie Moyer go out to the pitching mound and take a pole and wedge that pitching rubber out of the clay and take it home.
It was an exciting series. And do I enjoy the end result………well, no, but I do enjoy the fact that it was settled on the field and not in a boardroom or in a conference call. We got to finish the game, and for that we have to thank Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. He wanted to play these games to their conclusions. He did not want a shortened World Series, or a series that would be questioned. He might still be questioned, but I think it was done with the most respect for both teams and was done as fast and as safe as possible.
Game 5 had to be stopped, and the Rays scoring in the top of the 6th inning on Monday gave him ample cause to suspend it and play it under better circumstances. There were an announced crowd of 44,000 on hand Wed. night. That is about 1,000 less than Monday, but those people might have already been on Broad Street preping for a good time by 8:30 that night. We played out the final 2 1/2 innings and the city got to have a dry and cool celebration after all.
Bullpen Moments
The Rays Bullpen has been a mainstay of this team for so long this season it amazes me that they are taking this loss so personally. If not for the efforts of everyone down there, especially Grant Balfour and J P Howell, we might not have even hit the playoffs at all this season. If you are looking for true MVP’s of this playoff run, you have to consider the entire Bullpen as a whole. They have gone above and beyond themselves all year long, and do not have anything to be ashamed of at all.
Grant Balfour went to the mound in the bottom of the 6th and Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel sent up Geoff Jenkins to pinch-hit for Cole Hamels, who was still the pitcher of record for the Phillies. Jenkins had played with Balfour with the Milwaukee Brewers’ and probably knows his pitching style better than anyone else on the bench.
On a 2-2 count, Jenkins hit a long fly ball into the right-center gap that hit off the scoreboard just out of the reach of a sprawling Rocco Baldelli. The ball fell to the turf and B J Upton went and retrived the ball to keep Jenkins to a double. With Jenkins in scoring position, Jimmy Rollins came up and put doen a sacrifice bunt to move Jenkins less than 90 feet from giving the Phillies the lead in the game.
Jayson Werth then came up and hit a shallow looper to the spot between second base and the outfield. Akinora Iwamura went out to try and pull in the ball, but after trying to catch it via a basket-catch, the ball trickled down from his glove to the turf and Jenkins scored to give the Phillies the lead 3-2. That was the end of the night for Balfour, who went 1.1 innings total in the game, but went 1/3 of an inning tonight, giving up 2-hits and a lone run.
J P Howell then came on to face Chase Utley and got him to strikeout on 3 pitches. Ryan Howard then came to bat and hit a fly ball to Evan Longoria at third for the final out of the 6th inning. In the 7th inning, Pat Burrell came up to start the 7th inning and was hit-less in this years’ World Series. He was currently 0-13, when he hit hanging curveball into the left-center section of the outfield and clipped the high wall to settle for a double.
Burrell was immediately replaced by pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett at second base. That ended the night for Howell as he went 2/3rds of an inning throwing 7 pitches and giving up 1-hit and 1-run for the Rays. Chad Bradford came on and quickly got Shane Victorino to ground out to Iwamura at second base. This moved Bruntlett to third with 1-out in the inning. Pedro Feliz then hit a ball up the middle for a RBI single and the Phillies were up 4-3 at that time.
Bradford got Carlos Ruiz to hit into a 4-6 force out at second, with Ruiz on first on a fielder’s choice. Iwamura made an amazing play behind second base to get the force out on Feliz. Phillies reliever J C Romero the came up and hit a ball to Iwamura that he flipped to Bartlett at second base for another force out to end the inning.
David Price then came on in the 8th inning and got a quick fly out from Rollins and a strikeout of Werth. He then gave up a walk to Utley before getting Howard to strikeout to end the inning for the Phillies.
Rocco Baldelli’s Blast
In the 7th inning, with Ryan Madson on the mound for the Phillies, Dioner Navarro struck out to lead off the inning. Then rocco Baldelli came up and on the first pitch took Madson deep to leftfield on a line drive homer to tie the game at 4-all. The Blast was just the first homer of the World Series for Baldelli, but it put life back into the Rays’ hopes for a Game 6 at Tropicana Field on Thursday night.
Jason Bartlett’s Gamble
You have to be pleased with the effort of Jason Bartlett at shortstop for the Rays this season. He has brought a solid defense and a secure bat to the lineup that the Rays have never had at the position. In the top of the 7th inning tonight, Bartlett hit a single to leftfield to try to keep the rally going after Baldelli’s homer.
J P Howell came up and batted in the inning for the Rays. This was an unsusual play as Rays Manager Joe Maddon could have used a pich hitter to hit for Howell since he had David Price and Chad Bradford warmed up in the Bullpen. But Maddon let Howell take his whacks at the plate for the Rays. Howell put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Bartlett to second and into scoring position for the Rays.
Iwamura then came up and hit a infield single to shallow centerfield and Bartlett was rounding third when Utley faked the throw to first and threw to home to get the streaking Bartlett by less than a foot at the plate. Bartlett was tagged out as he was stretching his hand for the plate and it ended the 7th inning for the Rays. It was a gutsy play by the Rays shortstop, and one that almost made a huge difference in the contest.
You have to credit Utley for seeing Bartlett taking a wide turn at third and streaking for home. If Utley has held onto the ball a split second longer, Bartlett would have scored and tied tha game at 4-all for the Rays. So if you have to find a defining moment in this game……..this was the series clincher fo the Phillies…. at the plate.
The Rays did try amd mount another rally in the 8th inning after Carl crawford lead-off with a single to centerfield. B J Upton hit a ball to short that Rollins turned into a 6-4-3 double play to remove the Rays threat in the inning. Pena then hit a weak fly ball to left to end the inning for the Rays.
In the 9th, Evan Longoria lead off the inning by hitting a fly out to second base. Navarro then hit a shattered bat single to right that fell in front of a hard charging Werth. Maddon then sent in Fernando Perez as a pinch-runner for Navarro. With pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist at the plate for the Rays, Perez stole second base on the third pitch to Zobrist and put a runner in scoring position for the Rays.
Zobrist then hit a shot to right that was caught by Werth for the 2nd out of the inning. With 1-out left in the Rays season, Maddon sent up Eric Hinske to pinch-hit for Bartlett. Hinske went down on three pitches to give the Phillies their first championship since 1980 in the majors.
Welcome Home Rays
The Rays were scheduled to be flying into St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport at 3 am on Thursday. The team did not have a planned greeting at the airport and the team was to quickly get on their coaches’ for the trip to the Trop. Several people were at the airport waiting for the team, but they did not come through the baggage area and loaded straight from the plane on the tarmac.
The Rays then trekked from the airport to the back enterance at the Trop. There they were greeted by a few dozen fans who stood out in the cold to cheer for the hometown Rays. Several members of the team did come out and salute the crowd before heading into the Trop to pack and have some private time with team mates and family.
I will be getting the information on the City of St. Petersburg celebration sometime today or tomorrow. Stay tuned to your favorite Rays blog and I will be sure to pass on all the info I get as soon as I recieve it. Again, remember that this team exceeded all expectations of it during the season and should be roundly applauded for their hustle and determination to even get into the playoffs this season.
The Saturday event will be to celebrate not only the team;s efforts, but the increased support and bonding of the Tampa Bay area this season behind the Rays “Magical Summer Tour 2008″. The region has grown from just a spotty support group for the team, to an increasing fan base throughout the country and the world. The Rays are no longer the loveable losers of yesteryear. We now have tasted the fruits of winning, and it is sweet to our mouths, and we yearn for more……….
Pitchers’ and Catchers’ Report in 107 DAYS.
Congrats Phillies on a Phantastic World Series
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Congrats to the Philadelphia Phillies for a hard fought, clean series. the games on the field were some of the best all-around baseball we have seen played against our Tampa Bay Rays this year.
You deserve the win, and the celebration. The play where Chase Utley threw to Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz at the plate with the Rays, Jason Bartlett barreling in on him was on the money and the play of the game.
Broad Street deserves this win, and the Phillies and their organization can be proud of the way they handled themselves on the field during the World Series. Congrats to Pat Guillick, who kinds wavered a bit there. Maybe he will comer back for another season Phillie fans?
Go celebrate Philly as we plan and have our own party for our boys in downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday, November 1st. It was an end to an incredible season for both teams. We still have a million things to be proud of this season with the Rays.
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I will be posting a World Series Game 5.5 blog in the morning. I think it is only fitting that we let the Phillies celebrate and relish the acccomplishments they have earned this season. In hindsight, it might have taken almost 48 hours more than planned, but the celebration is going on wild in the streets of Philly right now.
So, come back in the afternoon for my wrap-up of tonight’s game and for the latest news on the Rays celebration in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
Again, Congrats Phillies on a great season and World Championship.
Suspended Game 5.5 Tidbits……………The Wednesday Delaware Edition
The Rays are staying at a posh, very romantic resort in Wilmington, Delaware right now, and it is the perfect place for them to relax and recharge before taking on the Philadelphia Phillies tonight and hopefully, extend this series to at least 1 more game……….or more.
Game 5 Tidbits
Scott Kazmir walked 6 batters in only 4 innings on Monday, making him only the 3rd pitcher to walk that many batters in that few innings in a World Series game. The Brooklyn Dodgers’ Rex Barney walked 6 Yankees batters in 2 2/3 innings in 1949 and the Tigers’ “Wild Bill” Donovan lived up to his moniker by walking 6 Pirates batters in 3 innings in 1909.
B.J. Upton stole his 4th base of the World Series in the top of the 6th, and it turned out to be a crucial move, as he scored the tying run on Carlos Pena’s RBI single. Upton’s 4 steals are the most by a player in one World Series since Omar Vizquel had 5 in 1997.
Umpires come clean on two key calls in the World Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies scored in the first inning of Game 4 on Sunday night after Jimmy Rollins scampered safely back to third during a rundown. But television replays showed he was tagged on the backside by Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria and should have been called out by 3rd base umpire Tim Welke.
Longoria swiped his arm in frustration after Rollins was called safe, and Rays manager Joe Maddon came out for a brief argument. “I just saw him swing and miss. I never saw a tag,” Welke explained after Sunday night’s game. “That’s a swipe tag. A lot of times on a swipe tag, the glove will pause. I saw him try to make a swipe tag but I never saw the glove pause.”
Rollins wound up scoring when Pat Burrell drew a bases-loaded walk from Andy Sonnanstine, and the Phillies went on to a 10-2 victory that gave them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Series.
It was the Rays who got a break in Game 3, when speedy Carl Crawford was called safe by 1st base umpire Tom Hallion on a 7th-inning bunt single. Replays showed Jamie Moyer’s glove flip to first baseman Ryan Howard beat Crawford on a close play.
“Bang-bang play, and I tried to get the best angle on it,” Hallion told a pool reporter. “I really didn’t get a sound to be able to judge. It winds up being a great play. And looking at a replay here, they just got him.” Crawford scored as part of a 2-run rally and Tampa Bay tied it later, but Philadelphia won, 5-4.
There were a couple of disputed calls during the first 3 games at Tampa Bay, too. Maddon screamed for a balk on Cole Hamels when he picked off a Carlos Pena in the opener, and Rocco Baldelli drew a key walk on a checked swing in Game 2 that the Phillies thought had been called strike three.
And then there is the strike zone. Fox and its announcing team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver have also pointed out several inconsistencies throughout the series.
Moyer seemed to benefit from Fieldin Culbreth’s calls behind the plate in Game 3, when Fox’s tracking system registered several pitches out of the strike zone that went in the Phillies’ favor.
In Game 5, the tracking system showed that Rays starter Scott Kazmir received at least three ball calls from Jeff Kellogg that looked to be strikes. Two to Pat Burrell, with 2 strikes, in the fifth inning led to Kazmir’s 6th walk, and he was pulled thereafter. In the previous inning, the Rays’ Akinori Iwamura struck out on a pitch that appeared several inches out of the strike zone.
This is the first postseason in which baseball is using replay–though only to review home run calls.
Game 5 to Resume on Weds. Night
Welcome to uncharted waters. We’re moving forward, but it’s definitely still very murky. But to the people in Florida, murjy is not always a bad thing. You know we do have swamps and bogs and underwater caves to explore in this state.
With the first suspended game in World Series history now scheduled to resume on Wednesday. Major League Baseball officials ruled that Tuesday was out of the question after logistics and the current weather was put to senarios and complications of playing in the weather.
The implications stretch beyond tickets and travel. The Rays and Phillies have baseball questions to answer with 3 1/2 innings left to play. It gets interesting right from the top, as Philadelphia will send a pinch-hitter to the plate to open the bottom of the sixth inning. Starting pitcher Cole Hamels’ work is done
Manager Charlie Manuel confirmed what was already a formality on Tuesday. But Hamels would be in line for his fifth victory of the postseason if the Phillies could push across a run in the 6th and hold on to the lead for a win. Hamels would be the first starter in postseason history to win five games in five starts.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said on Monday night that Grant Balfour, who pitched the fifth for Tampa Bay after starter Scott Kazmir was pulled, is his pitcher to start the sixth.
But there’s an excellent chance that will change quickly.
Most of Philadelphia’s dangerous pinch-hitters bat from the left side, most notably Matt Stairs. So Manuel likely will summon a lefty as his first hitter once the game resumes, and Maddon likely would counter with a southpaw on the mound.
In fact, Maddon would be wise to warm up a lefty at the same time Balfour warms up. I am guessing that Rookie phenom, David Price will be warmed and ready to go by game time if Maddon inserted him into a long reliever’s role to take over the lasdt 3 innings of the game for the Rays.
Both teams have well stocked Bullpens that will have plenty of rest. No pinch-hitters have been used, and the switch from Kazmir to Balfour is the only pitching change. So both managers have a full complement of tactical options once the game gets back under way. Both, meanwhile, downplayed the possibility of using a starting pitcher as a reliever in Game 5.
So in the practical sense, there’s no real advantage going forward. Yet Tampa Bay has to feel on some level that it has pulled something of an escape. The Rays outlasted Hamels, and they’re not behind. They may have the starting pitching advantage in Games 6 and 7, should those occur, and they’d also have home field.
That starting advantage in a potential Game 7, however, could go completely out the window if baseball adds a travel day after Game 5. The possibility is still in play that following a game Wednesday, the teams would travel on Thursday and play Game 6 in St. Petersburg on Friday. That would put Game 7 on Saturday, which would allow Hamels to pitch on full rest.
Additionally, the dynamics of Games 6 and 7 change in other ways. If Game 6 is held until Friday, then every starter on both teams save Hamels and Kazmir would be available to pitch on full rest in that game.
Game 4 took place on Sunday, so a Game 6 on Friday would provide four full days of rest for Joe Blanton and Andy Sonnanstine. At the very least, Blanton and Sonnanstine would be available to pitch in relief as much as needed in that game. Both of these bullpens are excellent, though Philadelphia has at least one advantage in that it needs 3 fewer outs. The Phils also have all of their end-of-game options intact, while the Rays do not have a shut-down closer this postseason.
It all starts with the Rays and Phillies getting through Game 5. That could be Wednesday — or later. It could start with Chris Coste against Balfour, and it could start with Stairs facing David Price .Whatever the course, each team will steer itself towards a clear and presnet advantage.
If the Phillies find that safe portage, the series is over and the celebration will start on Broad Street immediately. And if the Rays can pull off another miracle, we get to go to a closed dome stadium where weather and the elements are not a concern once you head into the doors of the Trop. So we get a night to relax, recharge and rejoice th fact that the World Series will take a few more days to complete, but then again………..Febuary is coming fast.
Uncharted waters, indeed. ..
Rain Extends Rays Stay in Philly
I have to give it to Bud Selig and his committe last night. After the top of the 6th inning the infield and the surrounding foul area were beginning to look like a quagmire of dry-all and clay. I commend the fact that the took in consideration the players and the fans in the decision to suspend the game in the bottom of the 6th inning last night. As Philly shortstop Jimmy Rollins could have told you, looking up into that rainsoaked sky was like letrting daggers hits your forehead and eyes. Something could have happen to a player, and that would have been the worst thing for baseball.
So we have to wait another day to see Philly either throw it’s hats or celebrate. The extra day might be a blessing to teams. I am seeing a set of long relievers from both teams come out and start the bottom of the 6th inning as a start. My guess is that David Price will take the mound for the Rays and just go out there and get the business done tonight.
Worst thing is that FOX will not be able to premire “Fringe” tonight. Bummer, I like that show and was looking forward to a night of paranoraml instead of baseball. But I will take more baseball, do not get me wrong. When this World Series ends, I will not see any until Feb 2009, so let’s play 16 more if we can. Still the best thing about Selig’s decidion was that it showed some moxie considering what city he was in at the time.
Phillie fans might not be into this decison as much as Selig, but in the end, it was the right move for everyone in that stadium that night. So bundle up tonight and start the hot cocoa machine early, we still have baseball to play in Philly.
Kazmir, Lightly Squeezed, Not Stirred
To say that Rays starter Scott Kazmir was being squeezed at the plate by Home Plate Umpire Jeff Kellogg would be an understatement. Several times the FOX Broadcast showed the ball breaking the box for strikes in the inning and nothing was called by Kellogg. I understand that Kazmir will be facing some backlash to his argument earlier in the year to Darryl Cousins, but not during the biggest game of the year by his club.
It is a disgrace if that is the intention of Kellogg. Of course, he is the only one who knows the truth here. But you have to admit, at least he is calling the one over the heart of the plate.
Kazmir got into trouble early tonight by walking Jayson Werth and hitting Chase Utley with a pitch. This gave the Phillies 2 men on base with only 1-out in the inning. After striking out Ryan Howard, Kazmir then walked Pat Burrell on 5 pitches to load the bases for the Phillies.
Shane Victorino then hit a soft liner into leftfield that scored both Werth and Utley to put up an early 2-0 lead for the Phillies. After issuing a single to Pedro Feliz, Kazmir calmed down and got Carlos Ruiz to fly out to Carl Crawford for the 3rd out of the inning.
The 2nd inning went smoother for Kazmir as his only blemish was a single to Werth to left before getting Utley to pop the ball up to Evan Longoria for the 3rd out. Kazmir got the Phillies to go down in order in the 3rd, with 2 strikeouts.
Kazmir then had a bumpy 4th inning after striking out Feliz to start the inning. Ruiz got a single to left, and Cole Hamels hit inot a fielder’s choice that forced out Ruiz at second base. Kazmir then walked both Rollins and Werth before getting Utley to hit a grounder to Akinora Iwamura who quickly threw to Carlos Pena at first to end the inning without incident.
Kazmir came out in the 5th inning and got into early trouble as he walked both Howard and Burrell to start the inning with 2 men on base and no outs. He was the replaced by Grant Balfour who quickly got 3 fly out to get out of the inning. Balfour was the pitcher of record when the game was put under a rain delay on the field by Umpire Crew Chief Tim Welke at 10:31 p.m. last night.
Balfour can resume his position on the mound in the bottom of the 6th inning if Rays Manager Joe Maddon wants him to finish out the contest. I think he will take the mound and be replaced immediately by Maddon for another pitcher at that time
Another Umpire Miss?
In the World Series this year there have been a number of plays that have passed not only my eyes, but the Fox boradcasters’ as a bit of funny plays. They showed a short montage of the susepcted plays and some evn had close-ups to suggest the calls might have been blown by the umpires.
During last night’s contest, there was a play involving Rocco Baldelli in the 5th inning. After getting on base on an error by Rollins, Baldelli was running to second base in front of Utley when he lunged out and mysteriously tagged Baldelli on the bottom of the shoe for a tag-out, throw to first double play. The replays showed that Baldelli’s stride did not change, he showed no chane in direction or motion on his way to second base. It was inconclusive by the video angle if he did indeed touch the shoe of Baldelli, but a good indication might have been Rocco breathing heavy on second base looking back towards first in amazement at the call.
Pena’s and Longoria’s Coming Out Party
Finally there is joy in Mudville, because the mighty two did not strike out. How wild was last night’s game after the change in the lineup by Maddon putting Pena and Longoria back one slot and moving Crawford to the 2-hole for the Rays. Earlier in the season, Crawford was hitting out of that hole alot, but since his injury, he has been behind Longoria.
It was a gutsy move by Maddon, but it sparked a great response out of his sluggers as they both ended their hitting holes and contributed alot to the Rays comeback. In his first at bat, Pena put down a ill-timed bunt towards first base and did a head-first slide, but was still out by a matter of inches. It showed that he was trying to do anything to get the ball rolling for himself and the Rays last night.
Longoria came up and hit a long fly ball to victorino for an easy fly out. Then in the 4th inning,Pena again came up and hit a monster shot off the rightfield wall that had Werth plastered against the wall facing. Pena did not immediately sprint to first and had to settle for a double on the play. If he had sprinted to first, he would have easily gotten to third without sliding on the hit.
Longoria then came up and hit the seond poitch he saw from Hamels into centerfield to score Pena and erase their scoring drought as a duo. Longoria did get doubled up on Navarro’s grounder to Rollins, but the Rays were only down one at the time 2-1 to the Phillies.
In the 6th inning, the duo again got to make a contribution to the Ray’s cause. After B J Upton singled and stole second base, Pena hit a nice crisp ball through the hole at short and third for a single to score Upton. With the score now tied at 2-all, Pena and Longoria were a combined 3-6 on the night with 2 RBI’s. Pena and Longoria might have a combined average of .125 and .053 respectfully, but they were contributing again, and that could be trouble for the Phillies.
Rain, Rain Go Away
If you have never played a sport with a consistant rain coming down you will never know the pain and the concentration needed to just catch a ball in it. The rains pelts on your skin and eyes and forces you to re-adjust all the time to the elements. During last night’s game both teams had a incredible time just seeing the ball off the bat during the downpour.
The Phillies Rollins even had an error charged to him on a fly infield ball hit by Baledelli that he could not see in time to get firmly into his glove. the ball ended up dropping to the wet clay with Baldelli on first after the error. In the 5th inning, Pena made two fly ball plays in the infield that saw him sway and move with the ball before they finally popped into his glove for outs. Peering up into the rain was difficult for infielders and outfielders alike last night.
My Prediction:
Here is my personal prediction for tonight’s game. I think that Maddon starts David Price and let’s him finish off the game if there is not trouble. This will free up the Bullpen for a possible Game 6 at the Trop on Wed with a fully rested Bullpen ready for anything. I think the game will come down to the 8th inning, and then the game will turn for the Rays. Ryan Madson will probably be on the mound for the Phillies and a few runs will score to force a Game 6 in St. Petersburg.
We shall see.
MLB Rule Book Concerning Game Suspensions
The following passages are taken directly from the Major League Baseball Handbook distributed to all members of the MLB and it’s clubs. I got a copy of this manaul this year from someone within the Rays organization, and it is pretty informative if you ever get a chance to read it. It might not great bedtime reading, but if you have a lazy day and just want to learn something trivial and might be useful one other time in your life…………this is the book.
4.12 SUSPENDED GAMES.
(a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons:
(1) A curfew imposed by law;
(2) A time limit permissible under league rules;
(3) Light failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment);
(4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on;
(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead; or
(6) It is a regulation game that is called with the score tied.
National Association Leagues may also adopt the following rules for suspended games. (If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 4.10(e) would not apply to their games.):
(7) The game has not become a regulation game (4½ innings with the home team ahead, or 5 innings with the visiting club ahead or tied).
(8) If a game is suspended before it becomes a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be limited to seven innings.
(9) If a game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be a nine inning game.
EXCEPTION: Optional Rules 4.12(a)(7), 4.12(a)(8) and 4.12(a)(9) for National Association Leagues will not apply to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season or league playoffs.
No game called because of a curfew (Rule 4.12(a)(1)), weather (Rule 4.12(a)(5)), a time limit (Rule 4.12(a)(2)) or with a tied score (Rule 4.12(a)(6)) shall be a suspended game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game pursuant to Rule 4.10(c). A game called pursuant to Rules 4.12(a)(3) or 4.12(a)(4) shall be a suspended game at any time after it starts.
NOTE: Weather and similar conditions–Rules 4.12(a)(1) through 4.12(a)(5)–shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. If a game is halted by weather, and subsequent light failure or an intervening curfew or time limit prevents its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game.
If a game is halted by light failure, and weather or field conditions prevent its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game if stopped for any of the six reasons specified in Rule 4.12(a).
(b) A suspended game shall be resumed and completed as follows:
(1) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game between the two clubs on the same grounds; or
(2) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader between the two clubs on the same grounds, if no single game remains on the schedule; or
(3) If suspended on the last scheduled date between the two clubs in that city, transferred and played on the grounds of the opposing club, if possible;
(i) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game, or
(ii) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader, if no single game remains on the schedule.
(4) Any suspended game not completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season shall become a called game. If such game becomes a called game and
(i) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and one team is ahead, the team that is ahead shall be declared the winner;
(ii) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and the score is tied, the game shall be declared a “tie game.” A tie game is to be replayed in its entirety, unless the league president determines that playing the rescheduled game is not necessary to affect the league championship; or
(iii) has not progressed far enough to become a regulation game, the game shall be declared “No Game.” In such case, the game is to be replayed in its entirety, unless the league president determines that playing the rescheduled game is not necessary to affect the league championship.
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A suspended game shall be resumed at the exact point of suspension of the original game. The completion of a suspended game is a continuation of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules governing substitution.
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Any player may be replaced by a player who had not been in the game prior to the suspension. No player removed before the suspension may be returned to the lineup.
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A player who was not with the club when the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if he has taken the place of a player no longer with the club who would not have been eligible because he had been removed from the lineup before the game was suspended.
Rule 4.12(c) Comment: If immediately prior to the call of a suspended game, a substitute pitcher has been announced but has not retired the side or pitched until the batter becomes a base runner, such pitcher, when the suspended game is later resumed may, but is not required to start the resumed portion of the game.
However, if he does not start he will be considered as having been substituted for and may not be used in that game.
(d) Rain checks will not be honored for any regulation or suspended game that has progressed to or beyond a point of play described in Rule 4.10(c).
World Series Tidbits……….The Sunday Edition
I was reading an article today where the some of the Philly fans’ were tormenting the families of the Rays and a few members of this elite fraternity of boorish behavior decided to vent their comments on the pages of some of the other blogs.
First off Philly fans, I worked the Chinatown area of your city for 2 years and I do know the type of fans you have after 6 Rolling Rocks. I also know what kind of fans you are after a game in the surrounding parking lots and on the SEPTA buses’ carrying all of you away from the games.
I am not going to sit here and tell you I have probably arrested a few of you near me tonight ( I have), but this doesn’t mean that all Philly fans share your love for the dark side of the sport. Most of the people at the game goe for the entertainment and love of baseball.
But like any sports, there are the small gangs of fans and hooligans who can make a crowd get uptight and angry at a moments notice. I can honestly say I saw the Philly fans knock the food out of the hands of 2 Rays fans, but Phillies reps came to their rescue before I could get out of my seat. They re-furnished the food for them and walked them to their seats. theye were not hassled the rest of the night as a uniformed police officiers monitored from the top of the stairs.
Nothing the last 2 nights has diminished the way I feel about the brash minority in Philly. Because of the Eagles game earlier in the day, a few fans did double duty, both at the beer carts and at the games. This is a world stage for your city and your fans. How you use it is your own problem.
We have been called soft and lifeless as Rays fans because we have not gotten in your face or tossed food or drink your way in our home stadium. Maybe we know that the best PR is good PR. Make it a great experience to come to a game and you get more fans. Make it a hostile enviorment and you just get more fans with that mentality. By the way, remember, you come down yo OUR house for an Interleague play series next year in the middle of the week…………….See you then, come down to Section 138, I will show you some Southern hospitality, not boorish complaints and behavior.
It was pretty cool to see old Terry Bradshaw in a Rays cap on the Fox Football program right before the start of Game 4. Bradshaw has always been a favorite of mine since I played against him in the mid-80′s. I remember hitting him once on a corner blitz and the guy just chuckled and picked me up and said I was like a runaway train coming in on him. Always love it when a Eastern Penn., icon puts on the cap of a Phillies rival……………….classic move on his behalf
Love the guy, and he has given me another reason to enjoy watching him and respecting him……….He is a Rays fan.
I did not get the pleasure of seeing this myself, so I have to take a fiend’s Email as the proof it did happen last night. As I was sitting there freezing in my Florida Gators’ sweater, I was told that Fox had the Kalas’ read the starting lineup for both teams.
As Philly fans all know about Harry Kalas, their legendary voice for ions, they got their first view of the young straping lad Todd last night. Todd had the honors of introducing his hometown Rays, while Dad did the honors for the Phillies. It was a great moment in television as people got to hear both of their announcing skills and Todd’s dads amazing voice.
I was told that John Buck, broadcasting the game for Fox made a comment, “If I had a voice like that I would talk to myself.” about the elder Kalas’ amazing persona.
Elias Sports Moments from Last Night
Joe Blanton‘s fifth-inning home run was the first extra-base hit of his career. Blanton is the first player in major-league history whose first extra-base hit-whether in a regular-season or a postseason game-was a World Series home run.
Ryan Howard, whose three-run home run to left field gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, has led the majors in opposite-field homers in each of the last three seasons. He hit 22 home runs to the opposite field (left or left-center) this season, six more than the MLB runner-up, Adrian Gonzalez. Only five players, Gonzalez included, hit even half as many opposite field HRs as Howard.
Scott Kazmir (24 years old), James Shields (26), Matt Garza (24), and Andy Sonnanstine (25) are the first set of four pitchers, each under the age of 27, to start for a team in a World Series since 1955, when both the Dodgers and Yankees started four pitchers who were not yet 27 years old.
Dodgers: Roger Craig (25), Billy Loes (25), Johnny Podres (23), and Karl Spooner (24).
Yankees: Whitey Ford (26), Bob Grim (25), Don Larsen (26), and Bob Turley (25).
Evan Longoria is the second rookie to go hitless in his first 16 at-bats of a World Series. The only other rookie to begin a World Series with an 0-for-16 streak was Flea Clifton of the Tigers in 1935. (Clifton was 0-for-16 for the entire series.)
Phillies Bombard Rays 10-2
Phillies 10, Rays 2
I thought I might not hear that familiar wail or whine in this series. I was hoping it would be the wind and not some fan shoving doubt into people’s minds, but sure enough I heard the words I have been expecting from bandwagoners’ for about 3 months now. “we are done, stick a fork in us.”
I would love to stick a fork in the bandwagon fans and people about to jimup off the boat becuase things are not going your way. I would really like to be alone in a room with some of them and s cold them like a little chid for being so fake, and so unreal for younger fans to see. This is the time in a series, and in your lives that you stand tall for what you believe and hope, prays, meditate, whatever gives you good karma to send the boys’ some luck.
Some of the guys have been suffering during the season, others have been playing and hustling like it was still Spring Training. But tonight is the night. As the expression goes, “It’s all or nothing.” The White Sox have ebbn in this spot this year, the Red Sox still believe the series is playing in their heads and they are winning, but Tampa Bay fans now have to believe.
Even if the worst happens tonight, we have to be focused and know that the boys’ did their best and that there will be more chances in the future to secure the prize. This season opend alot of doors for the Rays and we will see them in the poststseason again in less than 330 days. The winning spirit is new in this part of the baseball world, but the true fans will be the one still wearing Rays gear tomorrow. And the true fans will be the ones counting down the days until pitchers’ and catchers’ reposrt in the Spring.
But best of all, true fans will be wondering how the boys are doing.
Four Blind Plays
You have to admit, the umpires have been pretty colorful in this years Wotld Series. They have been animated behind the plate and have made some unusual, and down right incredible calls. But, the ones that stick out on our minds are not the calls over the corners of the plate, or even seeing through a play and calling out a baserunner, they are the wild and zany plays that were missed by replays and by fans all over baseball.
Every game has had its own one play that has defined the game. Take Game 1, when Cole Hamels apparently went towards home, but threw to first base. His foot was not facing the plate, but his momentum was shifted forward, not to the side……….Balk or great play? Or how about the play in Game 2, where the phantom bat did not break the plane for Rocco Baldelli and we strooled to first…………checked swing, or did he break his wrist on the play?
And then you get to the really fun ones up here in Philly. You know, rain on Sat. night blurred the vision a bit just 6 feet from the bag. In Game 3, it must have been the mist that made the umpires miss the pplay where Jamie Moyer was sprawled on the wet turf and uses his glove like another appendage to twirl the ball to a bare-handed Ryan Howard to ctach speedy Carl Crawford a nano second before he hit the bag. I will admit that one got me. I was expecting the hammer to come down for an out, then the umpire just threw the safe signal and the Phillies bench went bananas.
Then there was the play in the 1st inning of last night’s game. Jimmy Rollins camped at thrid base and a ball gets hit into the infield and taken by the pitcher, Andy Sonnanstine. Everyone in the ballpark thinks the ball is going to 2nd, but he twirls around and catches Rollins mid stride between 3rd and home. The chase is on and Sonnanstine gets him to within about 6 feet of the bag and throws the ball to Evan Longoria.
Longoria pops Rollins on the booty and leaves a red clay mark on the poor guys butt. We then hear the words that will reverb in our heads for a week……..”safe”. Are you kidding me, did you not watch the ball, or were you watching the hand go towards the bag and not the ball and the possession and progression of it to the posterior of Mr. Rollins. It has been a small upgrade nightly into the insane and the blind that has led people to wondering about the state of the umpire world. Last night’s blight was an oversight and an embarassment to umpires everywhere..but maybe there was a raindrop still in his eye from Sat night.
Top of the Lineup
There has been talk this entire series of guys trying to force things to happen for the Rays. That the firsy 4 guys feel it is their duty to carry this team. Some of the top 4 have done a great job getting into position to score or even pop the occasional needed blooper or double to get some action going in the game. Others have just had a slump from which there will be no exit this poststeason.
Carlos Pena was getting into a great groove when the ALCS ended. He seemed to be fianally seeing the ball and finding his storke at the right time for the Rays. It looked as if the series would be his playgorund. But instead it has become his own personal hell into the slight adjustments and overswining of the post injury Pena who’s timing and stride were lacking. He might find his way, but will it be in time to save his young team’s dream of hoisting the Commissioner’s trophy this year.
Evan Longoria is another story. I do not think there has been another rookie who has had so much pressure on him in the poststeason to lead his team into the promised land. I know he has won 2 championships at Double-A, but this is far more pressure and far more talented pitchers’ than he ever saw at Montgomery.
For the World Series, Longoria has a dunkin Doughnut, a gooseegg, and “o” for offensive. Evan Longoria is the second rookie to go hitless in his first 16 at-bats of a World Series. The only other rookie to begin a World Series with an 0-for-16 streak was Flea Clifton of the Tigers in 1935. (Clifton was 0-for-16 for the entire series.)
I have been watching his at bats the past few games and the kid is pushing his strikezone outward. Players et their own personal strikezones as to what pitches they feel they can smash or take to the oppositie field. Right now, Longoria is searching for that one flare, blooper or even a ground ball with eyes to make his mind free up and play more relaxed. He had better find his spot soon, or not only is he going to have all Winter to profect it, he might be on the bench for Game 5 to relfect and waork in the under the stands cages for a few inning tomorrow.
C C Has Found the Power Button
When you are known for your speed sometimes you get a gift out over the plate and you just have to jump on it. That has got to be the mindset of Carl Crawford right now. The baseball are becoming bigger and bigger every game, and yet he is hitting the cover off the ball and stealing bases. Last night he might have only gone 1-3, but that one hit sparked a few smiles in the dugout.
In the 4th inning, with 2-outs in the inning, Crawford took an 1-2 count hanging high fastabll into the rightfield stands to put the Rays on the board. The run pulled the Rays to within 1 eun, 2-1 at the time. It was Crawford’s second homer of this series since he hit that game 1 blast off Cole Hamels in Tropicana Field/
Akinora Iwamura’s Wild Ride
When you only committed a handful of erros all eyar at your new position, and have solidified the position for your team, you never expect a night like this can happen on such a huge scale. Aki has been one of the most consistant infields’ this season for the Rays. You could count on him day and night to make the plays and get the outs without hesitation.
But what happened to him on Sunday night is not suppose to happen to Iwamura. Chase Utley was at the plate to lead off the 3rd inning for the Phillies. Aki was back in his role in the shift used all series long against Utley for the at bat. Utley hit a nasty ball that took a bad hop on the clay and came up and hit Iwamura’s glove on the heel and rolled into rightfield. Aki was charged with an error, only his 1st of the World Series.
Then in the top of the 4th inning, Jimmy Rollins hit a hard ball up the middle and shaded a bit to right that caught Iwamura flat-footed and popped in and out of his glove wihtout a throw to first. Another error for Iwamura.
And it did not matter that he made an impressive and outstanding play on a hard liner hit right to him by Carlos Ruiz in the 7th inning. That Iwamura turned and fired to Carlos Pena at first and Pena had to go crosshand style and get the ball to double =up Pedro Feliz at first and end the inning for the Phillies. It was na amazing play, but it was also an inch away from another disaster of heading to the Phillies dugout and another error get charged to Iwamura.
The Mind of Joe Maddon
You have to admire a guy who can quote and attribute so many lines and sayings in his daily life. Rays Manager Joe Maddon is an intelligent manager to say the least. But what he did Sunday night can not go unnoticed either. He sent up three pinch-hitters on the night, and 2 came away with hits, one of them an exciting moment for Maddon and Hinske.
Eric Hinske was told as few days ago by Cliff Floyd to be ready to play. He was not sure why he was told this, but being the pro he is……he worked hard to get his timing down in the batting cage. On Sunday, the Rays made a move on their 25-man World Series roster taking off Floyd, who had a bad shoulder, and putting on the hard-hitting Hinske.
Hinske saw no action while on the ALCS roster, and he did nor expect anything different for the World Series roster. But in the 5th inning he came on to hit for Sonnanstine and hit a monster deep into centerfield. The ball was hit so far it hit the ivy-covered centerfield wall beyond the playing field. This wall was about 20 feet further than the wall where Shane Victorino stood looking up at the blast. Iy started a upward slow rally for the Rays.
Then in the 7th inning, Willy Aybar came up to pinch-hit for Edwin Jackson and hit a nice single into rightfield. He was stranded on base for the inning, but it made Maddon 2 for 2 tonight with his pinch-hitters. Maddon pressed his luck in the 9th inning when he sent up Rocco Baldelli to pinch-hit for Trever Miller, and Rocco struck out to end the game for the Rays.
Andy Was Not Dandy Tonight
Coming on and pitching with alot of pressure can work both ways in a baseball game. Sometimes it worls to your advantage and it pumps you up to the point of giving you some extra speed on your pitches and makes you believe more can happen on the mound.
Then sometimes you have what happened to Andy Sonnanstine on the mound tonight. You can have your stuff tonight and just get rocked by a team that is well scouted and prepared for you that night. you are not pitching any better, or any worse than normal, they just have your number that night.
Both of the above could be found in Sunday nights game, but the end result is that the Phillies exploited Sonnanstines weaknesses to their advantages. They set him up on a few pitches and the result was the umpire giving Andy a new ball while they made their ways around the bases for homers. Pair that with a reduced strike zone and you have the firm recipe for disaster on your hands.
Sonnanstine started out by giving up the first bases loaded walk of his career in the 1st inning to score Rollins, who should have been sitting on the bench becuase of an earlier blown call by the umpire at thris base, Tim Welke. So he gave the Phillies an early 1-0 lead, and the Rays never got close again. He went pretty smoothly from there until he watched as Utley was on base because of an unsual error by Iwamura behind the first base bag.
Then Ryan Howard got a single to right to put 2 Phillies on with no outs in the inning. Feliz the hit a RBI single to left that scored Utley cleanly and the Phillies had a 2-0 early lead on the Rays. The 4th inning started with Rollins again getting a single to rightfield to lead off the inning. Sonnanstine then walked Jayson Werth, but got a quick out on Utley.
Howard then stood in the box and smashed a 3-run shot to right to put the game out of the Rays hands at that point.Sonnanstine got through the inning with no more damamge, but his night was ended with the Rays down 5-1 at that point. Sonnanstine went 4 innings and gave up 5-runs on 6 hits and only 1 home run to Howard.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Bullpen Blues
For the most part of 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays Bullpen has been the linch-pin to a majority of their wins. they have ebnt and not broken and have been a consisitant cog in the Rays victory machine. In the Wrold Series, this part of the Rays magic has been tarnished a bit by hitters getting the bestter of the unit.
In tonight’s game, Edwin Jackson came on the in t 5th inning to releieve starter Sonnanstine and threw 2 inning of ball for the Rays. During his time on the mound, Jackson gave up a homer to newly found blaster Phillie starter Joe Blanton to leftfield. For Blanton, it was his first major league homer and came on his last at bat of the season. Blanton actually bookmarked his season getting a single in his first at bat, and now a homer in his last 2008 at bat for the Phillies.
Dan Wheeler came on to pitch in the 7th inning and did not fare any better for the Rays. Wheeler was the recipient of the amazing play by Aki at first in doubling up Feliz to get Wheler out of a jam in the inning. In the 8th inning, Rollins hit a double off the rightfield wall to put a man early in the inning in scoring position for the Phillies.
Werth then hit a 3-2 count hanging breaking ball out if the ballpark for a 2-run homer to futher put the Phillies ahaed, 8-2. Trever Miller came in to relieve Wheeler and walked Utley before giving up a colossial shot to left by Howard for a 2-run shot of his own to put the score at 10-2 Phillies
Rays Renegade
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