Game 1 Review

Backstreet Boys harmonize the national anthem.

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver suck for the record.

Mike Schmidt announces the Phils starting line-up(makes comment about Pedro Feliz being the strongest defensive 3B in a long time...Does that doom him to an error?)

TB has the edge at DH with Erick Aybar batting opposite of Chris Coste for the Phils.

Largest crowd ever @ Tropicana Field was for an NKOTB concert.


Top 1: Werth walks. Kazmir looked sharp except for his cock shot fastball to Utley that he deposited in RF seats for a 2-run HR. PHI 2-0

Bottom 1: Miscommunication between Howard/Hamels leads to infield single for Iwamura(trivia question). 6-4-3 double play gets Philly out of a jam and TB goes 1-2-3. PHI 2-0

Top 2: Victorino infield single, Feliz walks. Kazmir starting to miss strike zone regularly. Victorino picked off 2B(umpire calls him safe). Kazmir walks his 3rd batter(Ruiz) of the game. BJ Upton hoses Victorino at the dish to complete the DP on Jimmy Rollins fly ball. Rollins has 2 at-bats/ 3 pitches seen. PHI 2-0

Bottom 2: Hamels goes 1-2-3 with Longoria(K), Crawford(F8) and Aybar(K). PHI 2-0

Top 3: Check swing double for Werth to lead off the inning. Howard K's with runner @ 3rd with less than 2 outs. Kazmir tightens up and K's Burrell to strand the runner @ third. PHI 2-0

Bottom 3: Rays load the bases(2 hits, walk). Upton grounds into an inning ending 5-4-3 DP with the bases loaded. PHI 2-0

Top 4: Ruiz has an RBI ground out to score Victorino who led off the inning with a bloop single. Rollins K's with runner on 2nd to end the inning. Kazmir looks rattled with runners on base. PHI 3-0

Bottom 4: Hamels gets 2 quick outs to start the inning. Crawford hits a solo jack to put the Rays on the board. PHI 3-1

Top 5: Kazmir gets the first 2 batters, but walks Howard. Burrell hits 30 foot nubber to Kazmir-Pena drops his throw for 1st and 2nd two outs. Victorino grounds out 4-6 to end the inning. Why are the Phils hitters not taking more pitches? PHI 3-1

Bottom 5: Jason Bartlett works a 2-out walk and steals second base(earning America a free taco from Taco Bell). Iwamura fouls off 2 pitches in a full count and drives an RBI-Double to LF for his third hit of the game. Ryan Howard snags a foul pop by Upton from the fans to end the inning. PHI 3-2

Top 6: Pedro Feliz gets a lead off single. Kazmir gets the next 3 batters including Jimmy Rollins on an inning ending F8. PHI 3-2

Bottom 6: Pena reaches on E3, but is immediately caught stealing 1-3-6. Longoria follows with backwards K and Crawford grounds out 4-3. Hamels looks to be getting stronger. PHI 3-2

Top 7: JP Howell comes in for Kazmir. Utley reaches on 1-out single(steals 2nd - advances to 3rd on WP). Howard K's with runner on 3rd with 1 out. Burrell reaches on a 2 out walk. Grant Balfour comes in for Howell. Victorino K's making the Phillies 0 for 11 with RISP. PHI 3-2

Bottom 7: Gotta go pick up the GF @ the airport.

2008 World Series

The World Series is upon us. Doesn't matter who you are rooting for because it's going 7 games. The Rays are rolling in with momentum while the Phillies have been resting since the 15th. With both the ALCS and NLCS MVP being a starting pitcher don't expect any batters to get locked in for the entire series. Pitching will dominate. The Phils will prevail in seven.