And I thought the Yankee elimination was grand.
Well it wasn’t because deep down, I knew they were going to be First Round Losers. Hey, Yankee fans like to talk a lot, especially in my work place, so I think they expected some ribbing- like a real Met fan, I gave it to them. And all I heard yesterday was how the Yankees are stuck with a 25 million dollar hitter who can’t hit a sac fly. Isn’t it funny, it seems that every team has their version of Oliver Perez-in a some way.
But watching the Phillies lose last night…..priceless….absolutely priceless. I mean, here are the Phillies, who have the team; They had the rotation, the home field advantage, the hitting and the reputation.
This was their year without a doubt.
This was their year to win it all. And winning it all was expected by ownership, the players and the fans. So what did the Phillies do? Lose in spectacular, painful fashion.
I love it.
Last night I saw the Phillies get beat by…. another version of the Phillies.
The Cardinals are the feel good team of 2011-the amazing run to make the post-season, the role players, the gutsy pitching, the never say die attitude.
That’s the Phillies from 4 years ago.
Now the Phillies are a red and white pinstripe version of the New York Yankees. They now have big time pitching with some big time hitting and the big time payroll.
And let’s not forget the big time pressure to win.
I guess the big time hitting didn’t come through this time.
Watching the Phillie fans deflate, watching the rally towels being thrown, hearing the boos either for the Cardinals as they celebrated or for Ryan Howard who lay crumbled 10 feet from the plate is music to my Met ears.
I’m I rubbing it in? Yes I am.
That’s what baseball is all about.
During the past summer I saw a Phillie fan wearing a shirt that read. “Our town, our team, our time.”
But like Met fans, now they get to get to say “Wait until next year.”
Sweet music.
18 comments
Darknova306
10/8/2011-5:06am at 5:06 am (UTC -4)
I still hate the Cardinals so very very much. Still, sitting in a bar tonight in Cooperstown, middle of nowhere upstate NY, I was surrounded by Philly fans. Still, I stayed quiet and tense and watched with hope. Then the Cards won and the guy next to me said “worst moment in Philly sports history” and my respect for their fanbase dropped lower, despite how low it already was.
Then I got drunk on some Duvel. And all was good.
SaltyGary
10/8/2011-7:41pm at 7:41 pm (UTC -4)
Oh the Duvel is good, but isn’t that a conflict of interest with your employer. And I’m with you, too many painful losses to the cards over the years.
Darknova306
10/8/2011-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
Funny story, we’re actually owned by Duvel Moortgat.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-7:04am at 7:04 am (UTC -4)
Let’s be honest. You can’t compare the Phillies season to the Mets season. Being eliminated in the playoffs is far superior to not even being there. Nor can you compare A-Rod on his way to the hof to Ollie. But you can take delight in seeing their fans suffer. But their suffering is a drop in the bucket compared to what we Mets fans must endure. But for a couple of nights we have company.
Adam "Prismo"
10/8/2011-7:22am at 7:22 am (UTC -4)
You could also say our suffering is a drop in the bucket compared to what Pirates fans must endure. So it’s all relative.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-7:35am at 7:35 am (UTC -4)
If you have followed the Mets since their inception then you have suffered through many painful periods. The Pirates go back to 1882 so they have had some successful periods but not recently. BTW you can’t compare the Phillies fans to the Yankees fans. Except for those very young fans the Phillies fans have had some rough stretches in their existence.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
the newer bandwagon fans are bery much like the mid-90s and up Yankee fans.
And even the old timer ones that suffered like Met fans got sucked into the “holier than thou, WS is a given” mindset.
But, i guarantee when I go out today, there will be no Phillies red, just eagles green.
MetsFan4Decades
10/8/2011-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
Last night’s game was baseball at it’s finest. And the ending? Perfect.
Do you think organizations like the Yankees and the Phillies are finally going to realize spending the most money doesn’t necessarily guarantee you anything? Sure, it got them to post season. As Met fans, we’d sure like to be there. But it doesn’t guarantee you advance and it doesn’t assure a WS ring. It all comes down to how you spend the money.
I haven’t enjoyed a division series as much as this one in quite awhile.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
I’m sure both teams thought they were spending it wisely. From the Yankees point of view they will over-spend for players such as Jeter and A-Rod for reasons other than pure baseball considerations. The incoming resources are increased on YES, Yankees merchandising and attendance and so it’s a good business decision. The Phillies probably thought it would enhance their chances of playing in the WS. But again with their increase in popularity they probably can cover the contracts from the incoming resources. The contracts are a problem when the fans lose interest in the team.
Here’s a question. Suppose Howard had hit the ball out of the ballpark and then crumbled to his knees and couldn’t circle the bases. Do you know what the ruling would have been? BTW Howard believes he tore the Achilles tendon in his left ankle.
The games were baseball at its best and the right teams won.
MetsFan4Decades
10/8/2011-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
I looked around for that very same answer last night. From what I read, he would have only been awarded a single. Either that, or he would have had to crawl around the bases to get to home.
Agree about the business end of it. Yankees really had no choice on that Jeter contract. No one else though was giving a 35 year old SS 15 M for 3 years.
Phillies have sold out just about every game for the past few years. However, given the progression they’ve taken:
2008 WS winners
2009 WS losers
2010 NLCS losers
2011 NLDS losers
I’d say they’ve got about one more year of sell outs probably guaranteed. They don’t make it to post season next year, I can see attendance falling off after that. Look at the Mets attendance after 2008. If it wasn’t for the new stadium, 2009 would have been worse than what it was.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-4:28pm at 4:28 pm (UTC -4)
interesting too if you graph that against payroll. Every year was a big jump over the last.
Adam "Prismo"
10/8/2011-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
Pretty sure he only would’ve gotten a single, unless Cards players dragged him around the bases.
But honestly, if it was out I bet he crawls around the bases, which possibly would’ve been the greatest post-season moment of all time. Thank god it didn’t happen.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-4:21pm at 4:21 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, that booing was for Howard. no doubt about it.
I actually enjoyed reading both local papers today (Philly paper, and SJ one). The panic is setting in, after 3 years of the offense disappearing.
And even better, they are stuck with Howard (for better or worse) for another 5 years at Johan money., and he has now taken over for Donovan Mcnabb as the reviled choke artist they take frustrations out on.
Will be an interesting off season for them if nothing else.
but for now, it is satisfying to see them gag away the series (from up 2-1), and listening to the fans piss and moan.
Oh, even Challllleeeee is getting reamed out in the papers, for being a “do nothing” that had managerial rings run around him by Larussa. Offense worthless for 3 games? Only thing to do, run the same lineup out there again!
Howard you see having to ride with. But polanco? he looked liked a A ball call up, and they had no one to replace him?
Mr North Jersey
10/8/2011-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels and still not enough to win. Thank you Cardinals.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
Considering the Cards lost Wainright in preseason, I think it is a testament to the mad scientist manager they have. LaRusso, while a egomaniac, proves all you need is lemons to make lemonade. Or lemon drops. Or lemoncello. Helps having a semi-diety as a pitching coach too. But hey, we got Uncle Warthen.
Anonymous
10/8/2011-6:46pm at 6:46 pm (UTC -4)
Besides Howard becoming the new whipping boy (they call it Mcnabbing down this way now!), there is starting to be a lot of rumbling about old charlie being part of the problem. Doing absolutely nothing while the offense cratered is not sitting well. It seems he is not on a short leash going from benevolent bumpkin genius, to old man without a clue.
MF remembers this, but Charlie was as good as fired at the end of 2007 if the last 2 weeks didn’t go the way they did. he knew it too. At least he admits he isn’t any smarter than he was 4 years ago!
Phillie can go for a 2-fer. Fire Reid and Charlie the same week!
SaltyGary
10/8/2011-7:43pm at 7:43 pm (UTC -4)
Yea I think Charlie could be gone after this. He was never liked and that WS bought him time.
Anonymous
10/9/2011-2:49am at 2:49 am (UTC -4)
from beerleaguer. Overreact much? But I hope he is right! Though I do agree about doing that deal so early!
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Thank heaven we signed Howard to a huge albatross of a deal way in advance for no reason.Oh well, it’s been a fun run. Maybe they’ll be contenders again in 2040.