[rodge827]

Wilson Valdez for "Fireman' of the year !!

+1 

[zybar]

Interesting game in Philly last.....early this Am !!

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110526&content_id=19594508&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Wilson Valdez for "Fireman' of the year !!

And he only needs 999 more appearances with the Phillies to match the great Mariano Rivera.   

George

[twitch54]

I got an idea............Charlie Manual and Andy Reid switch positions........hell for that matter take the starting Eagles defense and swap them with the Phillies starting '8' !!

Phillies and Eagles.............both in a word.......pathetic !

[zybar]

Very disappointing end to the baseball season.

Congrats to the Tigers on their victory. 

Simply put the Yanks couldn't hit (especially with runners in scoring position). 

It's going to be a very interesting off season in NY, Philly, and Boston given the way things ended.

George

[Freo-1]

This round of baseball proves that players on the field decide games, not sports writers.   The two "best teams evea" are both out (Phillies, Red Sox). 

It's always about pitching in the post season.  That is why the Yankess in the end lost.  The Tigers overall stating pitching out dueled the Yankess.  End of story.

Here's hoping the Tigers go all the way!

[kingdeezie]

This round of baseball proves that players on the field decide games, not sports writers.   The two "best teams evea" are both out (Phillies, Red Sox). 

It's always about pitching in the post season.  That is why the Yankess in the end lost.  The Tigers overall stating pitching out dueled the Yankess.  End of story.

Here's hoping the Tigers go all the way!

Completely disagree here. Statistically speaking, the Phillies clearly had the better pitching staff.

The problem was that the Phillies failed to hit the ball the entire series, much like last post season.

Doc gave up one run last night.

The Phillies couldn't respond. The bottom of the lineup of Polanco and Ruiz was an embarrassment, combined they had an average of less than 300 when everything was said and done.

The entire Cardinals lineup was capable of hitting, and they played smart baseball to generate runs.

As a Phillies fan, they really need to clean the lineup up. I don't care how many RBIs Ryan Howard has in the regular season, he is a playoff choke artist two years running.

The whole offense should be ashamed of themselves. Millions of dollars, and they can't do their jobs, pure and simple.

[Freo-1]

Completely disagree here. Statistically speaking, the Phillies clearly had the better pitching staff.

The problem was that the Phillies failed to hit the ball the entire series, much like last post season.

Doc gave up one run last night.

The Phillies couldn't respond. The bottom of the lineup of Polanco and Ruiz was an embarrassment, combined they had an average of less than 300 when everything was said and done.

The entire Cardinals lineup was capable of hitting, and they played smart baseball to generate runs.

As a Phillies fan, they really need to clean the lineup up. I don't care how many RBIs Ryan Howard has in the regular season, he is a playoff choke artist two years running.

The whole offense should be ashamed of themselves. Millions of dollars, and they can't do their jobs, pure and simple.

With all due respect, the results do not match your arguements.  The Cardnials (in this series) outpitched the Philles, period.  The scoreboard proves it. 

Again, players decide these games, not asseeements on paper.

Sadly, even if the Phillies did come back, losing Howrard would have sunk them.  Very unfortunate.

[jackman]

Very disappointing end to the baseball season.

Congrats to the Tigers on their victory. 

Simply put the Yanks couldn't hit (especially with runners in scoring position). 

It's going to be a very interesting off season in NY, Philly, and Boston given the way things ended.

George

Sorry George, but baseball season has not ended.  I could not be happier with the outcome of the post-season so far:

1.  The Yankees are out!  Two of the most arrogant players I have ever seen.  A-Roid and Jeter could not be more arrogant.  Seeing that pathetic choker A-Roid choke so many times in key situations with men on base was priceless.  The announcers for the last game must have been on the Yankee payroll.  They completely ignored how well the Tigers played and just focused on what the Yankees were not doing.  Give Detroit some credit.  The world doesn't revolve around NYC.

2.  The Red Sox choked and didn't make the post season.  Massive payroll didn't buy them entry into the dance.  Too bad Tito didn't wind up here in Chicago.  Regardless of what is being said about that guy, he's a winner and a great coach. 

3.  Another Philly "Dream Team" underperforms.  Now all of the obnoxious Philly fans can go away until next year.  How can a team with an all-star pitching staff not get by a team that barely made the post season?  Oh, I know, the Phillies can't hit.  Another massive payroll team who will be watching the Series on TV.  Good riddance!  How many times do we have to watch that fat slob Howard strike out?

4.  The Brewers and the Tigers are moving on in the playoffs!  Hey, I'm not a fan of either team but I admire the way they have played so far and really feel good for their fans.  The Brew-crew haven't been here for 30 years and Detroit is a town that is easy to root for.  NOt much good news out of Detroit.  Now they have the Lions and the Tigers.  Good luck to both.

Cheers Everyone!

Jack

[jackman]

Hey, come on, the Phillies had the best pitching staff in baseball (starting staff at least).  The Cardinals better hope this series goes long because they need to pitch Carpenter at least twice in the next series. 

It's going to be hard for me because I like several times and don't know who I will pull for.  I hope Detroit beats Texas and would like to see Milwaukee go to the series because they haven't been there in a long time.  Detroit-Milwaukee World Series probably won't please the networks but I will watch every game.   

[kingdeezie]

With all due respect, the results do not match your arguements.  The Cardnials (in this series) outpitched the Philles, period.  The scoreboard proves it. 

Again, players decide these games, not asseeements on paper.

Sadly, even if the Phillies did come back, losing Howrard would have sunk them.  Very unfortunate.

Again completely disagree. The results exactly match my argument.

When the Phillies offense was functional, we scored 11 runs against Cardinal's pitching.

Game 2 we were in the lead on carpenter 4-0, and when the Cardinals battled back, our offense froze and failed to generate runs to back up Lee.

Game 3, we got lucky on a Ben Francisco pinch home run.

See a pattern?

Despite what you think about the pitching match ups, the Phillies offense if notorious for choking in the post season.

They did it in 09 against the Yankees, they did it in 10 against the Giants, and they did it again this year against the Cardinals.

You can chalk it up to the Cardinals' pitching if you'd like, or you can chalk it up to the Phillies since its the same every year regardless of what pitching staff they are facing. 

[cujobob]

Best of 5 series was an awful decision.

[thunderbrick]

Either way it was great baseball last night.   

[Scott F.]

Best of 5 series was an awful decision.

Only if you are rooting for the team that lost.

[Freo-1]

Again completely disagree. The results exactly match my argument.

When the Phillies offense was functional, we scored 11 runs against Cardinal's pitching.

Game 2 we were in the lead on carpenter 4-0, and when the Cardinals battled back, our offense froze and failed to generate runs to back up Lee.

Game 3, we got lucky on a Ben Francisco pinch home run.

See a pattern?

Despite what you think about the pitching match ups, the Phillies offense if notorious for choking in the post season.

They did it in 09 against the Yankees, they did it in 10 against the Giants, and they did it again this year against the Cardinals.

You can chalk it up to the Cardinals' pitching if you'd like, or you can chalk it up to the Phillies since its the same every year regardless of what pitching staff they are facing.

No your argument does not hold water.  It simply does not matter if a given game is a blow out score or not.  Each game stands on it's own.   Your position gives no credit to the winning team, and that is just wrong (IMHO).  That's why I keep going back to the position that players, not sports writers or stats, decide the outcome of the games.  If you want to complain about the makeup of the Phillies, fine.   At the end of the day, the Cardinals (and the Tigers) won three games without home field advantage. 

Sometimes, instead of throwing one team under the bus, how about we give a tip of the cap to the winning team instead?  After all, they earned it, did they not? 

[twitch54]

No your argument does not hold water.

It most certianly does........he simply stated that the Phillies offense was dismal at best
 

Each game stands on it's own

Agreed.   

Your position gives no credit to the winning team,

I believe his position pointed to the obvious Phila wekaness

That's why I keep going back to the position that players, not sports writers or stats, decide the outcome of the games.

again.....agreed

Congrats to the Cards, they're superior hitting (best in the NL, .273 avg) proved to be more than adequte against Phila pitching, of which I will stand behind as the best in baseball.

The off season will prove interesting for the Phils with several contracts ending, alarge starting pitching staff (ripe for trades ??)...........and an aging lineup, one of if not the oldest starting infields in baseball

myself, I'm rooting for a Tigers / Cardinals WS

[cujobob]

Only if you are rooting for the team that lost.

Nah, my Tigers won...but I just dislike 162 game season with short first round, especially in a game where players can go hot and cold so easily. Take my particular series...ARod was awful (likely due to injuries and pressure), but Mark Texiera (sp?) was downright terrible, as well. For the Tigers, Miguel Cabrera and Martinez were pretty bad, too...but at least in a seven game series, you'll see more contributions from more of the team. As such, the Yankees used what...three relievers and almost none of their bench. Some was just putting the best players out there, but there's also the number of games that becomes a factor in that.

Anyways...
The Tigers are now out Boesch and Delmon Young in this next series...hopefully they get enough runs to support them.

I also want to take this time to complain about ballparks. New Yankee Stadium is just awful. I don't love Comerica's dimensions by any means, but when they made rules for minimum dimensions, they knew what they were doing. They allow teams to ask the league to waive the requirements and that's just silly. Playing there was awful.

Major League Baseball rule 1.04(a) says, “Any Playing Field constructed by a professional club after June 1, 1958, shall provide a minimum distance of 325 feet from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on the right and left field foul lines, and a minimum distance of 400 feet to the center field fence.”

Maybe as a home fan you can appreciate it, but as a guest, it's just irritating...home runs are supposed to be rare events. A cheap fly out should not be a home run. IMHO, of course.

[jackman]

Hi Cujo,

I don't think I agree with you regarding a 7 game series in the first round.  Baseball season is too long as it is.   If the Tigers make it to the WS, the weather will likely be very cold in Detroit.  Milwaukee has a retractable dome so it's not an issue.

Even though some people don't like the results, it's pretty cool how many games went to a deciding 5th game.  And each deciding game was close!  Brewers/D-backs went to extras, Yankee/Tigers was decided by one run, and the Cards beat the choking Phils 1-0 in a brilliant complete game pitching performance by Carpenter (and a very impressive performance by Halladay, who is not a choker).  I don't think you can ask for more than that in terms of exciting baseball. 

The next round is goiing to be less fun for me because all the teams I hate are out of it.  I'll be pulling for Detroit and Milwaukee.  That would be a fun series...for me at least.

Cheers,

J

[milford3]

For me the WS will be a total loss without the Yankees.  Me and a zillon other Yankees fans are going through a withdraw.  I wish it was April 1st already.  Opening Day.

[zybar]

While I didn't like the results of the first round, I agree that all four series were close and well played.  These last two weeks of baseball (counting the end of the season) have been thrilling, dramatic, and some of the most entertaining baseball I have seen.

I am not in favor of making the opening series longer.  Playing a best of five is the right approach.  I am also not in favor of expanding the playoffs.  If they do, I hope that they at least figure out some way to give more of an advantage to the teams that win their division and to the team with the best record.

George

[cujobob]

Well my tigers are missing three of their best hitters...this series may already be over.