I'm pulling for the Phillies- I admit it, I'd like a little revenge here, to see the yahoo cowbell Rays fans be silenced once again.
I'd also like to see something positive happen for a city of Philadelphia sporting team. I feel their pain and they could really use a break since the last 25 years has been like one long Smiths song for those folks...So please please please/Let me, let me, let me/Let me get what I want/This time


Gm 1 PHI @ TB Wed Oct. 22 8:00 PM FOX
Gm 2 PHI @ TB Thu Oct. 23 8:00 PM

Gm 3 TB @ PHI Sat Oct. 25 8:00 PM
Gm 4 TB @ PHI Sun Oct. 26 8:00 PM
Gm 5 TB @ PHI Mon Oct. 27 8:00 PM

Gm 6 PHI @ TB Wed Oct. 29 8:30 PM * Obama-delayed
Gm 7 PHI @ TB Thu Oct. 30 8:00 PM

Tampa in 5. Philly is a solid team that is capable of winning against anyone on any given night, but Tampa is just the best team in baseball and there's really no arguing that. They have the edge in pitching, defense, athleticism, base running and if Upton and Longoria are even 75% of what they were in the ALDS and ALCS, they probably have the better lineup.

I can see Philly sneaking away with a win in one of the games, but not more than that.

Philly will win every game Hamels pitches in. Unfortunately, that'll only be 2 games at most.

Game Six is an 8:30 start. Politicians need airtime too.

Oh, and Rays in 6. I'm pulling for the Phillies, but I just don't see it.

I think the Rays will probably win but I'm rooting for the Phillies. I have no real problems with the Rays or anything but they are a divsion rival and rooting for a division rival to win the WS is a sin in my book. Winning it all gives them more bandwagon hoppers which leads to potentially more $$ to spend on locking up this wealth of young talent they have.

Tampa fans on the other hand. Not that Maddon could really just come out and rip the fans but I got a kick out of him talking about there support and how important it was. The fans didn't show up til it was clinch time in September. Screw them.

ifmanis5 - Were you intentionally making a Yahoo Serious reference? If so, well done.

I doubt the yahoo cowbell Rays fans will give alleged wife beater Brett Myers the same reaction Fenway fans were ready to give in Game 2.

I predict the Rays in 6, with the Phillies taking Hamels' starts in games 1 and 5. Otherwise, I agree with Snodgrass' assessment.

Over 162 games would Philly finish in 3rd, 4th or 5th in tha AL East?

TB should win in no more than 6 games.

Tampa should win. Philly will win. I don't see Utley, Howard, Burrell, Rollins, Lidge, Myers and co. losing in what could be their only shot together. The Rays will be in the World Series probably 3-4 more times in the next 10 years. But this Phillies team will become instant heroes if they get it done. Let's not underestimate how important it is that Hamels pitches Game 1 on the road. Split those, and you can conceivably win the series back in Philly. Plus, I'm rooting like hell for them. Go Fightin's.

When is the NL going to add the DH?

Apparently this was in the Globe last week and I missed it, but I think it's worth pointing out this useless fact. If TB wins, the Phillies will have lost in the World Series 5 times, once to each team in the AL East.

'15 Sox
'50 MFY
'83 O's
'93 BJs

I love goofy stats like that...like when the Canadiens had won the Cup every year ending in a 6 (until '96 anyway).

Key for the Phillies is, can they steal one of games 2, 3, or 4 while avoiding good Kazmir in the Hamels starts? I assume Kaz is starting games 1 & 5? I'm guessing they do. Rays in 7, Garza sacking up again.

I think Tampa Bay wins it. They have better overall pitching.

Normally I would always root for the AL, but I am a little torn here. The Phillies are a soft spot for me, as I can identify with an old time team with tortured fans.

I have a hard time disliking Maddon, I like the Phillies, so, rooting wise, 50/50. I am just hoping for seven games.

Everyone thought the Rays would struggle against Jon Lester (myself included), but all in all they hit him pretty well and I think they will take the same approach against Hamels.

The Rays have a total starting pitching advantage and I think that will make the difference in this series. Rays in 5.

You're right, MLB.com was wrong... That Phillies v. AL East WS stat was positively bizarre!

Price closing for the Rays really eliminates one of their glaring deficiencies. Hoping against hope I'll pick PHI in 6 anyhow.

Rays' roster discussions

I was in Philly for Game 7 of the ALCS. That city is absolutely hopping in anticipation of the WS - gear is being sold on every street corner.

At lunch with some business colleagues, one native said the town will be drunk for a month after, regardless of the outcome. The feeling is that there is a huge amount of pressure on the fightin' Phils to win this one.

I'm going with Phillies in 6. I just have this (quite possibly irrational) vibe about them.

Lineups

Blanton should be starting Game 3 ahead of Moyer. I really don't understand this move.

You guys are right. Tampa Bay fans are awful. Booing the shit out of the Phillies. I mean, come on, act like you've been there. Were people really booing the Rockies at Fenway last year? I have my doubts.

I'm not sure what song the Backstreet Boys are singing, but I'm pretty sure it's not the Star Spangled Banner.

Nice to see they fixed the Tropicana sign in time for the World Series.

I wonder who the hell chose the Backstreet Boys to sign the Star Spangled Banner? that sucked

You mean that didn't pump you up for the start of the game?

At least with NSync, it eventually became cool to like Justin Timberlake...

Is Tim McCarver wearing Sarah Palin glasses? Why would he need to see Russia from the dome?

Zobrist over Baldelli is an interesting call. Maddon says his swing mechanics are better suited vs. Hamels.

I wish FOX would show a recap of last week's House for the first few seconds on the commercial. I want to know if he revealed that secret about his father at the funeral. Not so much that I watched the show or anything, but if they're going to run a commercial every break, they should at least maintain the narrative.

Go Rays!
Pound those pathetic Senora Circuit losers into the turf!

I am totally rooting for the Rays. Philadelphia fans being miserable is just right somehow.

Is Zobrist a switch hitter or just a lefty? Going to him over Baldelli might be just trying to negate Hamels' changeup.

I like how the game hasn't even started yet.

what game?

That and those damn cowbells Thankfully we get to listen to Joe Buck now...

I am afraid our glorious half-hour of commercial messages has come to an end. Oh no!

I want Philly to win so that they can make an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" around the Phillies winning the WS. Or one can hope right? Kerwin Danley returns!

not a fan of that camera angle

Thank god they got rid of that bullshit camera view from way over to the left field side so that you couldn't judge whether any of the pitches were inside or outside. Kind of cool to see lefty Kazmir from this view.

Not too knowledgeable of the Phillies roster but Chris Coste at DH? Is that the best they can do to put an extra bat on the lineup?

The Red Sox shifted like that against Utley, too.

Tropicana Field...."America's Most Detested Ballpark"

I agree. I am glad that Fox is taking a page out of NESN's book and giving us this kind of angle. It is so much better than the left-center camera. We can actually see where balls are. It's a little off center. I'm not a fan of that part. I feel like I'm missing half the screen here!

I think Shawn Dunston (Giants?) was the last NL DH to hit a HR in the WS.

Go Rays, wear that target next year.

Nice start Kaz!

This sux. RS should be playing tonight. I feel the gm7 loss more now than I did on Sunday....


Yeah Utley! Go Phils!

BLAU!

GO PHILLIES!!!!

BOMB BOMB BOMB, BOMBADIER

Best way to beat the shift. Tee hee!

Most of their bench bats are lefties. The only other right-handed options are Bruntlett and Taguchi.

Did someone cut off 4 of Navarro's fingers? What's up with all the fastballs?

Sounds like a Philly home game after the homer by Utley.

I cannot remember a WS where I felt so much indifference for both teams.

No hate. No love.

I guess I can hope for brawl where Gomes gets his clock cleaned by Howard.