A Phillies Thread!!!!!!

[PirateLover]

I know we have some Phillies fans on these boards and I decided to start a thread celebrating our team, especially after the amazing sweep we just had against Atlanta. I also welcome back and forth with our division rivals as long as it doesn't get TOO out of hand

This team is just downright fun to watch. For once we left April behind with a winning record, and we haven't looked back. Burrell is hot, Utley is on FIRE, Werth is becoming a force to be reckoned with, Coste seems to have significantly picked up on defense and of course his offense is still great, and surprisingly our pitching rotation has been solid (not spectacular but solid) all the way through... not to mention the bullpen!

Looks like Chase Utley is headed towards his 3rd straight All-Star start, and also could be up for the MVP if he continues on this path. The ballpark has an atmosphere reminiscent of 1993, the year I finally went to my first baseball game (won tickets from Inquirer), the Phillies captured my 7 year old heart, and my father realized that he could share sports with his little girl too, not just his son. (it was also the year I was cruely exposed to losing in Philadelphia sports but we won't go there in this thread... this is a happy thread!)

This year we have a 6 pack of tix and have bought many more here and there... we didn't like the options of the 15 game plans, but we will most likely buy one for next year to get playoff options this year, because I just KNOW the Fightins will be there again

Right now my fiancee and I, along with another friend, are making plans to go to D.C. for the series against the Nationals at the end of July and I'm very excited about it. We are going to sightsee during the day and go to the games at night.

So, Phillies fans unite! Maybe we could even meet up at a game sometime!

[DAKustodial]

Tough couple of games against Florida so far this series. Last night was really tough but you can't get on Gordon's case too much...yet. It was just a shame that the offense didn't get Cole more than a couple of runs.

Anyway, hopefully tonight they'll get back in the win column. Gotta get as big of a lead as possible over those Mets!

[mitchsfan]

THEY ARE A TEAM OF DESTINY this year.

There is nothing else to say.

They came out with a winning April and May. Since Memorial Day they have won 75 percent of their games.

They have the past 2 reigning MVPs. They have this year's MVP.

Rollins goes down and Bruntlett plays out of his mind.

Victorino goes down and Jayson is werth every penny.

The bullpen is playing out of their mind. The closer has an ERA of under 1 and has yet to blow one.

But the most important thing they have going for them right now is the fact they don't have Billy Whiner closing their games anymore. How sweet it is to watch him blow game after game after game (and that is just this week)

My perdiction from Day 1 was that the NL EAST will be wrapped up by September 15. They still are the team to Beat!

[Ian]

I'm enjoying the run, but I'll remind everyone of two things:

1. It's only June. Talk to me in September about how they're playing then.

2. Pitching wins championships and, well, we saw last night how good the Phils pitching can be.

I think they'll most likely win the division, but I can't see them doing much more than that. I just don't think they're pitching is good enough. When their bats go cold they get beat.

[Ian]

Okay, to be fair I just checked stats on MLB.com and the Phils do have the 7th best team ERA in baseball right now.

So maybe their pitching has been better than it looks like it should be on paper.

[PirateLover]

The pitching has been the surprise story of the season actually. Myers has been the only inconsistant pitcher. Even Eaton has had quality starts. Heck, Moyer was taking a no hitter into the 6th inning yesterday. Cole has pitched 2 shutouts, and Kendrick has been holding his own.

On another note, if anyone plays instant lottery tickets, I recommend getting the Phillies/Pirates scratch off tickets. If you save 3 losing tickets you can mail them in for a second chance drawing. 2 people a month win season tickets and 600 some win prize packages. I won a prize package of official MLB liscensed Phillies goods including a jersey (choice of Utley, Rollins, or Howard), embroidered jacket, windshirt, cap, duffel bag with water bottle and t-shirt. Very exciting

[Missy_Mouses_Dad]

As a Brewer fan, Ned Yost despiser, and Sheets hater, I agree, you do have a very good team. Lucky for you the Mets are the classic chokers and under-achievers...gee that sounds like the Brewers. I couldn't stomach Ben Sheets cry-baby whiner panty boy performance last night. Good Luck Phillies fans...btw, I am/was a huge Mike Schmidt fan...aging myself.

Watch out for the Rays...another team of destiny.

[DAKustodial]

I agree, the Mets have a reputation for choking at the worst possible time. But, the Phillies have to hold up their end and win, and they've won six in a row.

I'm not buying my playoff tickets yet though, there are still eleven games to go! They need Hamels to step up and be an ace tonight...he needs to shut the Braves down and give the pen some rest.

[Ian]

I wonder if NYC will have lookouts stationed on the bridges after the Mets collapse again this season?

Speaking of which, has anyone seen Scar?? Do we need to call the authorities to bring him down from whatever tall building he's perched on the edge of?

[Scar]

Not yet. They’re only one back in the loss column and two up on Milwaukee for the Wild Card. The next four games are against Chicago and Pinella has already said he will rest regulars and his starters will go no more than 5 innings. I’m still pretty confident.

Of course, last year I was pretty confident too.

[Ian]

I dunno about that ... I just read that Pinella plans on playing his normal starters for the whole series. He said something to the effect of, "The last thing I want is a call from MLB headquarters reminding me that I have an obligation."

Here's a quote from a story I found on the topic, "Manager Lou Piniella used only one regular in his lineup Sunday but promises to go back to his starters in the final week because the Cubs are playing two wild card contenders, the Mets and Brewers."

On a related topic, I found this stat amazing ... the Phillies are 75-0 this season when leading after 8 innings. Lidge is a flat out stud. He should be a serious contender for the Cy Young, IMO.

[Hammer]

I was at the game and Hamels was amazing. He definitely learned from his mistakes in last year's playoffs. Lidge had me nervous, as you figure he is going to blow a game (law of averages), just thankfully not yesterday! No tickets for today's game, so I'll be hurrying home to watch !

[Ian]

I'm trying not to get too excited about the win itself (which is not at all intended to diminish what Hamels did!), only because I think the Brewers sort of looked at this game like a wash. They knew Hamels was a tough pitcher to face and they trotted out a guy who's pitched like four games all season. If I'm them, I come away feeling encouraged to only have lost by 3 runs.

Really I think their plan all along was to roll Sabathia for one of these two games and steal a win on the road. That's really their only job in the first two games is to steal one, so we'll really need the bats to come alive today and for Myers to bear down and give his all.

[Jeff G]

It was a win for the Phillies but should have been much closer if the Brewers fielded their positions. Weeks drop at first and Cameron's drop in CF were the changing points of the game, if either of those plays are made they could have gotten out of the inning with no runs. Gallardo pitched admiraly considering it was only his 2nd start since what was thought to be a season ending injury in May. The Brewers gave up no earned runs the entire game and made it close in the 9th. It was a fun game to watch.

Even as a Brewer fan I must admit Hammel was amazing yesterday. He looked to be unhittable the first couple innings as he mowed down the meat of the Brewers order effortlessly on his way to eight strong innings.

[PirateLover]

We don't have tickets until the NLCS so I hope we get out of this series! Yesterday was interesting. I think there are more positives to take away from the game then negatives. Having the win is huge coming into tonight's game vs Sabathia. I think they will be less tense.

[Ian]

I agree that getting that first playoff win under your belt is huge. But I'm not sure the intimidation factor of going up against Sabathia isn't going to more than offset that.

I think the concern you have to have after last night's game is the bats. They were pretty much silent and Jeff is right ... barring a couple of Brewers' errors it would have been a different ballgame. You can't count on that every night.

From what I saw I didn't think Gallardo pitched very well. He seemed to lack control to a degree and wasn't really overpowering with any of his stuff. It kinda scares me that the Phils hit so poorly in terms of how they'll handle Sabathia tonight.

Overall, I just thought the lineup struggled ... they swung at bad pitches a lot (Howard's one strikeout in like the sixth was horrible ... the ball was in the dirt!) and didn't really work the count all that well, outside of that 3rd inning.

I may need to buy a dog ... I'm a little scared of tonight's game. But then again, you have to wonder just how long Sabathia can keep this up. Tonight could be the night his arm finally rags out and he gets yanked in the 4th.

[Tinkerbella16]

Now thats what I've been waiting to see in this series!!!! We swept them outta the ballpark...LITERALLY!!!!!!

Blanton with that homerun...I was just speechless!!! He was phenomenal tonight. Howard was amazingggggg!!!! I know its not over till its over...but man, Hamels is going to close it out tomorrow night. The Rays showed their inexperience tonight, and I loved every minute of it!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy right now..WOW!!!

Parade baby...I won't be comin to work that day!

GOOOOO PHILLIESSSSSS!!!!!

[PirateLover]

We'll have to wait til next year to see whether the Rays are a fluke or not.

oh and by the way.... ONE MORE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ian]

10-2 ... that's as close to a complete punch in the mouth as you'll ever get in the World Series. Domination.

So the Phillies will be winning the World Series tomorrow night and that begs the question ... who's going to the parade with me???

[PirateLover]

So the Phillies will be winning the World Series tomorrow night and that begs the question ... who's going to the parade with me???

Umm I am very superstitious and I don't like to put the cart before the horse but... if they win tomorrow, i am marching directly down from our bar on 2nd and south to broad st and parking my butt there (assuming the parade is tuesday). Oh man...