5.5 and Still Alive: Rays-Phils WS Gamer V (Cont.)

When last we left the World Series, in the frigid rains of a Philadelphia night, the score was knotted at 2, the visiting American Leaguers having just finished their at bat in the top of the sixth. Play resumes this evening in the bottom of that inning, the homestanding Phillies at the plate. Cole Hamels, the starter for the Phils, is due to lead off, but it is safe to say he will be watching someone else take his swings from the comfort of the bench. Who will this mystery batter be facing? Grant Balfour was minding the dampened hill for the Rays when play was suspended. Will he be replaced by super-rook David Price? We shall see. Tampa has 9 outs to work with, more if it remains tied, and if they can't take a lead in that time, they and this series will be done. Contrary to some of the carping, and notwithstanding the low ratings, Part I of this game was a real humdinger of an affair, exciting and dramatic as only baseball in October can be. We hope Part II is just as swell, if dry. Comment away here, and enjoy the pregame. 

Comments

[YF]

missed the bottom of the 6th, but the phils put up 1. dire for the rays now.

[YF]

dioner a k to madson. 8 outs left.

[YF]

TIED!!!!!!

the woonsocket rocket!

Baldelli launches one to left! Inside fastball.

[YF]

Bartlett lashes one to left for a single.

[YF]

Howell stays in???

Gotta wonder about not ph'ing in this situation with Price in the pen.

Howell lays down the sac bunt, Bartlett to 2nd.

On comes JC Romero to face Iwamura.

[YF]

CRAZY!!!!!!

Iwamura grounds into the hole but Utley snares it, fakes the throw to first, and then goes home to get Bartlett who tried to take 2 bases even though the ball never got out of the infield. Awful play by Bartlett (was he faked? did he think the ball got thru?), and great by Utley and a nice tag by Ruiz on a slightly errant throw. WOW!

Tampa gives away 2 outs that inning and now down to 6.

[YF]

And i'll just note that this is yet more supergreat exciting baseball and WHERE IS EVERYONE????

[YF]

Replays show what a great play that was from Utley and Ruiz. Tough break for Bartlett, who was that close--||--to scoring.

[YF]

Decision to leave in Howell looking even worse as Burrell takes him off the cf wall to begin the bottom 7th. PR for Burrell. Bradford in for Howell to face Victorino.

Maddon really burned here by his bad decision.

[YF]

Victorino looks to bunt here, another dubious call but maybe less bad than the Howell sac.

Victorino fouls off his first try.

[YF]

now victorino whiffs on a bunt attempt to go 1-2.

that's one way to get out of it.

then he grounds out 4-3, so mission accomplished. blown chance.

[YF]

feliz singles up the middle for the rbi 4-3, and all across america, bloggers are wondering what the eff bradford is doing on the mound with david price, a starter, sitting out there on his thumbs in the pen.

maddon???

[YF]

the last inning has been a festival of questionable decision making. how'd these guys get here?!?

[YF]

HANG A STAR ON THAT ONE!!!

Iwamura brilliant diving play to his right for a 4-6 fc, and then another to end the inning. WOW.

6 outs for the rays, and they need 2.

[LocklandSF]

I thought I wouldn't get in to this, but how couldn't you?

Wow.

I love this game.

[attackgerbil]

Finally.. get to watch some game.

[YF]

Rays best batters up here. Let's go!

[YF]

Crawford rips one up the middle. Gotta believe he's a threat to go.

[YF]

Oy. First pitch 643 dp.

[attackgerbil]

Crawford on with a single, but Upton grounds into the 643.

[attackgerbil]

I really want a game six. Pleasepleasepleaseplase.

[YF]

Pena a fly the opposite field. Down to 3 outs.

Double-play was a killer. Sort of ironic that Crawford never had the chance to run, when that's been their game all year.

[YF]

maybe, you know, price would have been right before they were LOSING!

[YF]

2 out bb to utley

[YF]

Okay, Price works out of it.

Longoria, Navarro, Baldelli, or bust for the Rays.

[attackgerbil]

Stupid Blackberry commercials not showing the stupid Blackberry I don't want.

[YF]

Lidge on.

[attackgerbil]

Here we go. Lidge Longoria.

[attackgerbil]

Evan's in trouble quick.

[YF]

Longoria:

heat 0-1
heat 0-2. big cut there
slider down and away 1-2 no chase
heat hi and tite 2-2
heat outside, fouled off 2-2
longoria lifts a flare to 2nd. 1 down way out front of that one.

[YF]

Navarro

slider/curve over the middle, 0-1
slider big cut right over it, 0-2
not looking good for dioner here
but he gets a slider right down the middle and pulls a broken bat single to right!

[attackgerbil]

Broken bat single by Navarro to right... looks eerily familiar. Why is that?

[YF]

Perez PRs. Baldelli up from the left side.

[Atheose]

Lidge gives up a broken-bat single to Navarro. Meltdown? Shades of 2005 ALCS?

[Atheose]

Tying run on 2nd. Ruh roh.

[YF]

PEREZ STEALS 2ND ON A SLIDER!!!

[attackgerbil]

Maddon is juggling.

[YF]

Excuse me, btw, that's Ben Zobrist hitting for Baldelli.

[Atheose]

Two down, our old boy Hinske batting.

Part of me wants Hinske to come through here--I always liked him. Plus, if they tie it here then we could see some walk-off magic.

[YF]

And he drills one to Werth in left!

So close!

1 out to go and the tying run in scoring position.

Hinske bats for Bartlett.

[attackgerbil]

So close indeed.. just a few feet left or right.. that was ripped.

[YF]

Hinske first pitch fouls one wide of first.

[jmSF]

HINSKE!

[YF]

Called strike on Hinske on the check swing.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Allow me to be the first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAW-zGeffAo

[attackgerbil]

Oh well.

[Atheose]

Suck it, Tampa!

Congrats to the Phillies.

[YF]

WHIFFS ON THE SLIDER

PHILS WIN THE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jmSF]

oh well.

[attackgerbil]

Now what am I gonna do?

[YF]

The Sox reign is over. Congratulations Philadelphia, 2008 World Champs.

[Atheose]

Congrats to Lidge, especially after the 2005 postseason pretty much destroyed his confidence. What a great season for him.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

In the spirit of Dan "More Days in First Place" Duquette, I also wish to point out that the Red Sox (6-5, .545) had a better post-season winning percentage than the Rays (8-8, .500).

[I'mBillMcNeal]

"The Sox reign is over."

Where the hell you been, YF? That happened a week ago.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Let the hot stove season begin.

[Atheose]

Technically no Bill--we were still the reigning World Champions until about 5 minutes ago.

Great note about the Sox winning percentage. That actually takes a little bit of the sting away. Enjoy the long off-season, Rays.

[LocklandSF]

Congrats to the City of Brotherly Love.

I already miss baseball.

[Atheose]

Okay, it's officially the off-season. Let's get this over with.

*Deep breath*

AL MVP: Pedroia
NL MVP: Pujols
AL CY: Lee
NL CY: Lincecum

I will understand if Pedroia doesn't get the MVP, but the other three should be locks. If Lincecum doesn't win the Cy Young it's a f*cking travesty.

[attackgerbil]

Bud booed boisterously by Philly phans.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Oh, OK, ath and YF. I was thinking that we were the DEFENDING champs until we lost. (Sorry about the "we.")

And the winning percentage thing was meant tongue in cheek.

[attackgerbil]

Now they are booing the Rays for no good reason.

[LocklandSF]

Wow, booing Bud. God bless Philadelphia!

[Atheose]

Cole Hamels gets the MVP. That kid is going to be good for a LONG time.

[dc]

congrats phillies and fans, if any of you happen to stumble onto a sox/yanks site...anyway, rest in peace to another myth:
the supposedly inferior national league wins one, without home field advantage, thanks to bpud's all star genius...

or, they got hot at the right time and won the tournament...either way, the national league has bragging rites...we'll get 'em at the game that really counts...go AL all stars...

[LocklandSF]

Booing him again?

[attackgerbil]

Hamels is WS MVP.

[dc]

rites=rights
sheesh

[dc]

imagine how philly fans would have booed bpud if the philly's had LOST thanks to his changing the rules about suspended/cancelled games on the fly, and apparently not telling anyone...yowza

[LocklandSF]

In his defense DC, Bud did say before the series that there was no chance a World Series would be decided by weather.

I hate you for making me defend that guy! :-)

[I'mBillMcNeal]

I'm still booing Bud.

[YF]

Those crazy Philly fans. Bud's lucky the Phanatic didn't pee on his leg.

[dc]

i heard something about that lockland, but i can't imagine that making a difference to phillies fans...and i hate you for defending him ;)

thanks yf, i just spit a mouthful of wine all over my keyboard and monitor...

[YF]

I'm here for your amusement, dc, just don't send a repair bill.

[rootbeerfloat]

159 days until Opening Day

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Soooo ... we doing this on election night?

[Paul SF]

I have to actually cover Election Night, so I won't be on the interwebs, but I can't imagine we wouldn't have a thread up. Why not, right?

[Devine]

Great third of a game!

[dc]

what does this 3.5 inning "game" do to madden's 9=8 math?
3.5=0
?

[dc]

technically, i guess it was 9=3=0
does it matter?