Phillies finish off Rays to win World Series

Thursday 30th October, 11:18 AM JST

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JohnBecker at 01:51 AM JST - 31st October

@hellokitty: There was no riot. There was celebration in the streets and a few random acts of vandalism. The story you linked to quotes the police as saying everything is under control, no big problems. Only 76 arrests among a crowd estimated by police to be "over 100,000" sounds like a pretty orderly evening in South Philly. If that's your idea of a riot, you must not get out much.

@hotbox: the Phillies played a lot better. That's how they won the Series 4 games to 1.
some14some at 06:28 AM JST - 31st October

Iwamura 4-18, 1 RBI Upton 5-20, 1 RBI Pena 1-17, 2 RBI Longoria 1-20, 2 RBI Bartlett 3-14, 2 RBI Crawford 5-19, 2 RBI Navarro 6-17, 0 RBI Baldelli 1-6, 1 RBI

this 'bat performance' is alright all seem equal but what makes Iwamura unique is 'glove performance' that delievered victory to Phillies.
Hotbox08 at 11:10 AM JST - 31st October

JohnBecker: Actually, the Phillies played just better enough to win. At first glance, 4 games to 1 seems like a blowout, but looking at each game individually, other than Game 4, each one was decided by two runs or less. In fact, according to an AP report on the game:

"Even so, the gap between the Phils and Rays wasn’t enormous. Had Evan Longoria’s late, long drive off Jamie Moyer in Game 3 not been blown back by the wind, the teams might still be playing."

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=AjTdRADWhudGGfKqfZnoGfIq0bYF?gid=281027122

some14some: It wasn't only Iwamura's "unique glove performance" that delivered it to the Phillies. You could also say that the "unique glove performances of Navarro and Longoria, who both had key errors that led to runs for the Phillies delivered this series to the Phillies too.

In fact, Tampa could have won Game 3, if Balfour had not thrown a wild pitch in Game 3. Yes, Iwamura's glove work might have cost them Game 4 (which was actually out of hand in the first place), but Navarro and Balfour cost them Game 3, and Upton's, Pena's, and Longoria's (the no. 2,3,and 4 hitters respectively) silent bats in Game 1 cost them that game. Not to mention, a few key stops at third base that Longoria should have gotten easily, but didn't. Those hits went rolling through the gap between third base and Longoria, just along the foul line. They weren't judged to be errors, but should have been nabbed by anyone who is playing on the grand stage like the World Series.

Overall, you could say the whole Rays' glove work was shoddy. But, in my opinion, it seems that the Phillies just played better, and ended up having players like Lidge, Moyer, and Romero, who have postseason experience.

And let's not forget that these Phillies have learned from last year's postseason debacle, in which they were unceremoniously swept by the Rockies. These Rays will learn too.
barfly08 at 02:37 PM JST - 31st October

To sum up:

Ichiro: Fails to lead the Mariners out of the cellar and misses out on another world series.

Dice K: as an awful season where all he really does is ride the coattails of his fellow teammates.

Iwamura: Makes it to the big series and falls apart under the pressure.

Taguchi: Rides the pines and watches his teammates secure another world series for him. As any real athlete will tell you... disappointing !

In short, all is right with the world.
helloklitty at 04:51 PM JST - 31st October

More out-of-control violence in the city of brotherly lovers:

http://buzzcuts.uproxx.com/sports/4928
Hotbox08 at 06:23 PM JST - 31st October

Iwamura: Makes it to the big series and falls apart under the pressure.

While you are at it, you should also mention Evan Longoria's falling apart in the World Series, which cost his team some runs. I mean 1-17, one measly hit is not what you should expect from someone getting paid the big bucks. Or how about, "Bossman Junior" Upton, who also failed at the plate?

Taguchi: Rides the pines and watches his teammates secure another world series for him. As any real athlete will tell you... disappointing !

Sounds like you are jealous. Why did you only single out Taguchi? You're telling me that he was the only Philly bench player on the 40-man active roster not to make a contribution in this series? How about catcher Chris Coste who had just four at bats with 0 hits? And I've only mentioned the 25-man active roster. It's not limited to that. Others who weren't even on the bench will get their rings too. I mean, Tom "Flash" Gordon will get one; and he's been on the disabled list since July! Very disappointing indeed!

Didn't you know that way back in 2004, Nomar Garciappara got one, even though he was traded mid-season to the Cubs?
helloklitty at 07:09 AM JST - 1st November

In this video, "Crazed Phillies Fans Loot a Luggage Store".

http://buzzcuts.uproxx.com/sports/4965

I nominate this one for best performance in this year's riot.

Isn't it slightly incongruous that the Japanese have metal doors over their windows, but American shop owners don't bother?

Hotbox analysis: Evan Longoria's falling apart in the World Series, which cost his team some runs. I mean 1-17, one measly hit is not what you should expect from someone getting paid the big bucks.

I'm not even going to bother to check, but I do recall that the Rays team received $43 million for the season. Longoria was a rookie, right, so he probably didn't get more than $390,000. You call that "the big bucks"?

You don't expect a star to hit 1-17? Babe Ruth did so in 1922 (they threw him curveballs in the dirt only). Barry Bonds was .196 in the post season until he redeemed himself in 2002 going 8-17 with four homers and 13 walks. Hornsby, Williams, Musial, and A-Rod have all sucked in the Series. I expect their will be more flops and disappointments. If Longoria gets another chance he may or may not do great. Doesn't mean he didn't earn his salary. They would not have gotten as far as they did without him.
helloklitty at 07:11 AM JST - 1st November

should have written "there" instead of "their" in third line from the bottom

JT: Please install an editing function for posters.
Hotbox08 at 04:30 PM JST - 1st November

helloklitty:

Longoria was a rookie, right, so he probably didn't get more than $390,000. You call that "the big bucks"?

Wrong. Didn't you hear about the 17.5 million dollar, six-year contract he signed in April of this year? He's guaranteed $500,000 dollars this year, which will incrementally rise over the following years. Thus, he would average approximately 2.9 million a year. So yes, I'd call that big bucks. I don't know about you, but I'd be happy to get paid that much.

If Longoria gets another chance he may or may not do great. Doesn't mean he didn't earn his salary. They would not have gotten as far as they did without him.

Good point helloklitty. Which is why everyone shouldn't harp on Iwamura, just because he made a couple of errors in his first postseason, and in fact only in his second season in the majors. And if you think it's about the age, then think this; Carlos Pena is the same age as Iwamura and has been in the majors longer. Yet Pena also didn't have a great series at the plate and with his defense. I'm just pointing out that you can't pin the failure of not winning the World Series on one player. Now wouldn't you agree with that?

And since we are on the topic of baseball, here's an interesting fact: DiceK Matsuzaka has more postseason RBIs (2) in the two years he has been in the majors, than Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees has had in the past three postseasons (2005-2007, 13 games played in, and 44 at bats). DiceK is a pitcher, and Rodriguez plays third base and is paid for his hitting. In fact, DiceK has gone 1-3 hitting in the postseason, compared to Alex's 7-44. How do you figure that?
helloklitty at 05:34 PM JST - 1st November

that is good for longoria - he deserves it ~ thanks for getting the info ~ i was too lazy to spend 17 seconds looking for it

i bet arod could throw fewer walks than mr. gyro ball; after 44 abs matsuzaka would have 3 hits imo

arod probably plays with too much urgency in the post season ~ he needs to loosen up like the rays; maybe if he took a lower salary he could relax as expectations would be much lower

After getting this far, I wouldn't harp on any of these players. Iwamura was a great spark plug for the rays all season. Longoria is going to be a big star for a long time. Balfour will bounce back.
Hotbox08 at 05:41 PM JST - 1st November

arod probably plays with too much urgency in the post season ~ he needs to loosen up like the rays; maybe if he took a lower salary he could relax as expectations would be much lower

Yeah, you're probably right.

I'm sure the Rays will bounce back too. All in all, they had a terrific season and I'm looking forward to what they have in store next season.
helloklitty at 12:51 AM JST - 3rd November

More video of the massive riot in Philly after the city of losers finally wins another World Series.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=bph0MBWGf3c&eurl=http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=318441
helloklitty at 06:52 AM JST - 4th November

helloklitty: Longoria was a rookie, right, so he probably didn't get more than $390,000. You call that "the big bucks"? Wrong. Didn't you hear about the 17.5 million dollar, six-year contract he signed in April of this year? He's guaranteed $500,000 dollars this year, which will incrementally rise over the following years. Thus, he would average approximately 2.9 million a year. So yes, I'd call that big bucks. I don't know about you, but I'd be happy to get paid that much.

He is getting less than the league average: $3.1 million. (research time: 8 seconds)

He's getting the less-than-average bucks even with the extension. Needs a better agent.

P.S. "rise incrementally over the years" is redundant.

You say you'd be happy with the salary, but would you be happy to put in the training required to become a professional baseball player? I know there are some accountants, pilots and construction workers out there who could become pros if they were willing to do the physical training required. But would you really be happy to spend hours in the batting cage, more hours running and lifting weights. Watching film. Just think, once you've made it, you have to live with a bunch of animals for 8 months of the year.
Hotbox08 at 07:10 PM JST - 4th November

But would you really be happy to spend hours in the batting cage, more hours running and lifting weights.

You bet I would. But unfortunately, I was born short of stature and realized that no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn't be more than a varsity second-string player. I love the game, but had enough smarts that I couldn't make a living of it. Now I am just happy coaching youngsters. As for lifting weights? I loved it. I spent six days a week in the gym, for about two hours a day. One day upper body, one day lower, and repeating it every other day. Nothing can match the feeling after a good workout and a shower after that. It is no different than a police officer, firefighter, doctor, teacher, etc. who like the job they are doing. Yes, there may be baseball players who don't like what they do, like there are workers of other occupations who don't, but there are so many out there who do like their job. And when they do like it, the hard work they put into it doesn't seem so hard after all.

Just think, once you've made it, you have to live with a bunch of animals for 8 months of the year.

That's pretty low. I guess you haven't played team sports, have you? Yes, your teammates may smell like animals after a long, hard game (tell me about it), but they are still humans and your teammates, after all. Most of the guys I played with; I would go to war for them and would never trade them for anybody.
Hotbox08 at 09:50 PM JST - 4th November

P.S. "rise incrementally over the years" is redundant.

How is this redundant? It's like stating what you said: " I expect their will be more flops and disappointments. " is also redundant, since when someone flops, another gets disappointed. And by the way, if you are correcting my grammar, then look no further than your use of the word "their". You should have written "there".