Phillies finish off Rays to win World Series
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Hotbox08
Congrats to the Phillies. Both teams played hard, but in the end Philly was too much. Their bats, good pitching and experience did the young and inexperienced Rays in the end. Every game except Game four was close, but overall, the Phillies played a bit better. The future looks bright though, for Tampa. With a starting pitching staff, whose oldest player is only 26, they have a great chance of getting back to the big stage. At times, I was a bit frustrated because the Rays were too loose. They didn't seem to play with the urgency and fire that Philly was playing. Even after they lost Game one, they were all laughing and having fun in their own clubhouse. Well, I'm sure that will change come next year.
Anyway, congrats to both teams: To Philly being the best team in baseball, and to Tampa Bay for having a great one-season turnaround with one of the lowest payroll in the Majors.
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terebiko
Taguchi is a lucky boy, even though I don't think he played. Congrats to the Phillies for the win. Also otsukaresama to both teams for playing so well under crap conditions (late starts, delays, rain, etc.).
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some14some
I would say yes Taguchi is a lucky boy because he did not stand in the batter's box, look at Iwamura once again a bad start for the team and this is all Philies wanted to win WCS ! Also otukaresan to NHK and hope they will renew broadcast contract with MLB for next season also.
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helloklitty
Now for the tear gas riots.
Peak performance can only be achieved by being loose. Maybe the Phillies won despite playing with unnecessary urgency.
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Hotbox08
hellokitty. It seems that there won't be any riots, since in my opinion, this was a well-played and clean series. Yes, I agree with you that the conditions were not good, but the Phillies just played a little better than the Rays did and thus was the outcome. Why can't you just accept that? Both teams will be back next year, and it would be good to see them again in the World Series. Kudos to both and good luck to you too.
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freakashow
Good for the city of Philadelphia. This city has been so hungry for a champion that a fictional character like Rocky Balboa ended up becoming its hero by default, for the past couple of decades. It's about time they win something. Now only if the Eagles, Sixers, or Flyers could win something (but I guess I won't be alive to see that happen).
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barfly08
So where are the final series stats for Iwamura ??? JT, lets be fair. When the guy plays well you boldly plaster his name all over the headlines. But when he stinks up the joint, not one freekin mention ! Losin some respect from the fly. In any case, anyone know how Iwamura finally faired ?
0
Sarge
"Once known as a city of champions"
Also once known as The City of Brotherly Love.
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Hotbox08
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
The whole Rays lineup sucked. But it seems to be two side of the coin here. JT (aka AP) will praise DiceK and Ichiro (not much attention to Iwamura, until the postseason), and then there are posters out there who fail to say anything at all, UNTIL a J-player does bad. Where is the fairness in that? Like I've done in my posts. I condemn the J-players when they are bad, but praise them when they do good. And not only the Japanese or Dominicans but all players.
For instance, Longoria (aka "The Chosen One" as Tampa fanatics will call him) had an excellent series against the Sox, but failed miserably (with only one hit) against Philly. Iwamura too, had a great series against Chicago in the postseason, a decent outing against Boston, but could only get on base six times against the Phillies. Fair is fair. You praise them when they do good; and you bash them when they do bad.
Nonetheless, Tampa had a fine season, and have no reason to feel ashamed of themselves. There are a ton of other teams in the majors that should feel much more ashamed of themselves, having high payrolls with nothing to show for it. The Cubs especially should be humiliated after having bragged that they would wow the world, but ended up being swept away like "flies" by the LA Dodgers. Then there is the Yanks that didn't even make the playoffs, even though they spend more money than any other team, and all that hype about their own "chosen one" called Joba, who by the way was caught drunk driving. Talk about a so called franchise player. Then there is the Milwaukee Brewers who were huffing and puffing about their acquisition in the form of C.C. "good in the regular season, but sucks in the postseason" Sabathia. When was the last time he won a game in the postseason?
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helloklitty
I never said the conditions were not good. I can accept that the Phillies played a little better. What makes you think that I can't? I couldn't give a rip who won as the Twins were knocked out a day after the regular season ended. Do you enjoy putting words in people's mouths?
Dear Hotbox, here's a report on the ongoing riot:
http://cbs3.com/topstories/Philadelphia.Phillies.Tampa.2.852091.html
Windows were smashed at a bank and luggage store in the downtown shopping district. At least two cars were overturned, the windows of a TV van were smashed, dozens of huge streetside planters were flipped over and some bus shelters were damaged or destroyed.
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JohnBecker
@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.
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some14some
this 'bat performance' is alright all seem equal but what makes Iwamura unique is 'glove performance' that delievered victory to Phillies.
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Hotbox08
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.
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barfly08
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.
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helloklitty
More out-of-control violence in the city of brotherly lovers:
http://buzzcuts.uproxx.com/sports/4928
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Hotbox08
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?
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?
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helloklitty
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?
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.
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helloklitty
should have written "there" instead of "their" in third line from the bottom
JT: Please install an editing function for posters.
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Hotbox08
helloklitty:
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.
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?
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helloklitty
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.
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Hotbox08
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.
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helloklitty
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
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helloklitty
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.
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Hotbox08
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.
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.
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Hotbox08
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".
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