The baseball jammies didn't work. Yesterday's game couldn't have ended any worse - a walkoff win off of Roy Oswalt, who is scheduled to pitch Game 6* on Saturday.
Trent is back to his elephant PJs tonight as the Phillies attempt to join the 1986, 2004 and 2007 Red Sox on the short list of teams that came back from a 1-3 deficit in an LCS. (I have to remind readers that the 2004 Red Sox came back from an 0-3 deficit against the Yankees.)
Being keenly aware of two of those comebacks (and nearly another one in 2008), I feel comfortable with the Phillies' chances. Roy Halladay came to the Phillies for a situation exactly like tonight's game (he's leading 3-2 in the 6th), and then the series will swing back to Philly. I'm a bit concerned about Oswalt in Game 6 because he threw a side session before pitching in relief last night. But if the Phillies can survive that, there's no way Cole Hamels, and the vocal Phillies fans, will allow the Giants to win on Sunday.*
*if necessary
Showing posts with label 1986. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1986. Show all posts
Oct 21, 2010
Apr 8, 2008
Just like last year
A day after the Red Sox and Phillies appeared to be more chump than champ, they each invoked happy memories of 2007.Bearing gaudy new rings, the Red Sox, behind 2008 ace Daisuke Matsuzaka, handled the Tigers with ease after what seemed to be a typical Red Sox championship celebration: Banners draped the Green Monster; a parade of champions displayed trophies won in New England from all four major professional sports; and Bill Buckner returned to Fenway for the first time since 1990.
(I always blamed John McNamara for Game 6, but in retrospect, with Roger Clemens' aversion to the truth, maybe the pitcher did ask out.)
Dan Shaughnessy captioned the carnival atmosphere, while the Globe posted a couple pictures.
In Shea, the Phillies kept streaking against the Mets. Although Chase Utley kept getting bopped like a whack-a-mole and Jimmy Rollins limped off the field, it was the Mets who were once again left punch drunk.
That's nine straight for the Phillies over the Mets, but don't tell David Wright - he must not remember the first eight:
It’s one straight loss in 2008. Done, over with. We can’t change anything. It’s a new year, a different team, and I think we’re a better team.
I never believed in curses or jinxes, but if I did: The Phillies are now 4-0 when Christine can't watch them, 0-4 when she can. Tomorrow's game is on CN8, which means Phillies win.
Jan 19, 2008
Through the years
Yesterday's post got me thinking. Growing up, 1986 was always the year for me. Being sort of young and not living in Boston, I don't remember much, but I've felt close to that team from reading lots of books.
But now that we're entering a dynasty of Red Sox baseball, I've been treated to some great years, so where does that first exciting year for me and the Sox now rank? Here's my top 5:
5) 1986: The year it all started for me. Even though Game 6 will be forever etched in history - though somewhat less thanks to '04 - the better team did ultimately prevail.
4) 1990: Sneaks ahead of 1986 for two reasons - the team cobbled together was a surprise division champion. The race went down to the wire and ended with a Tom Brunansky catch hidden in the corner that even I, a blatant Red Sox apologist, still can't say 100% that he made. And huge bonus points for the Empire finishing dead last. Got to love Andy Hawkins, Tim Leary and Mel Hall.
3) 2003: Yes, it ended painfully. But it was the year that proved '04 was possible. The team didn't back down. It came back from 0-2 against Oakland. And it ended the "mystique and aura" of the Empire, even though was shot in the foot by Grady Gump.
2) 2007: The year the Sox won a World Series without all the extraneous crap. It had a young nucleus that shows the promise of repeat that the '04 squad didn't quite have. Plus bonus points for the Phils actually winning, but that's really for another list.
1) 2004: No doubt. Curt's heroics. Ends the "curse." Humiliates the Empire. Can't add anything that hasn't already been said.
Honorable mentions:
1988: "Morgan's magic" rallied the team from a slow start to division champs where they began a habit of losing to the A's in the playoffs.
1995: The last division champs until 2007. And Clemens' last clean year and another 20 K game.
1999: The first glimpse of the Sox as a gutsy playoff team. Rallied from 0-2 against Cleveland. Pedro proved legendary in the All-Star game and playoffs.
I'd rank the Phils years, but other than 2007 and 1993, I really don't have much to go on. (I was rooting for the Phillies in 1993, but I had no connection to them then, just an anti-Blue Jay thing.)
But now that we're entering a dynasty of Red Sox baseball, I've been treated to some great years, so where does that first exciting year for me and the Sox now rank? Here's my top 5:
5) 1986: The year it all started for me. Even though Game 6 will be forever etched in history - though somewhat less thanks to '04 - the better team did ultimately prevail.
4) 1990: Sneaks ahead of 1986 for two reasons - the team cobbled together was a surprise division champion. The race went down to the wire and ended with a Tom Brunansky catch hidden in the corner that even I, a blatant Red Sox apologist, still can't say 100% that he made. And huge bonus points for the Empire finishing dead last. Got to love Andy Hawkins, Tim Leary and Mel Hall.
3) 2003: Yes, it ended painfully. But it was the year that proved '04 was possible. The team didn't back down. It came back from 0-2 against Oakland. And it ended the "mystique and aura" of the Empire, even though was shot in the foot by Grady Gump.
2) 2007: The year the Sox won a World Series without all the extraneous crap. It had a young nucleus that shows the promise of repeat that the '04 squad didn't quite have. Plus bonus points for the Phils actually winning, but that's really for another list.
1) 2004: No doubt. Curt's heroics. Ends the "curse." Humiliates the Empire. Can't add anything that hasn't already been said.
Honorable mentions:
1988: "Morgan's magic" rallied the team from a slow start to division champs where they began a habit of losing to the A's in the playoffs.
1995: The last division champs until 2007. And Clemens' last clean year and another 20 K game.
1999: The first glimpse of the Sox as a gutsy playoff team. Rallied from 0-2 against Cleveland. Pedro proved legendary in the All-Star game and playoffs.
I'd rank the Phils years, but other than 2007 and 1993, I really don't have much to go on. (I was rooting for the Phillies in 1993, but I had no connection to them then, just an anti-Blue Jay thing.)
Jan 18, 2008
1986
One of my favorite seasons in baseball is 1986 -- the year I became a Sox fan and first tasted the curse. (I didn't believe in the curse but I don't have a better word for the Billy Buckner, Grady Little and Don Zimmer type experiences.)
So, given this context, and my fascination with Baseball Mogul, I don't know why I haven't been following more closely Sporting News' 1986 Take II. Especially since it features SoxPhils as managers -- the World Series Hero, and Doug Glanville, a fellow North Jerseyan. Christine and I were at the game where his retirement was officially announced. He signed a one-day contract to retire as a Phillie and the team had him throw out the first pitch.
Anyway, they're apparently not doing so well. Fine, Glanville's got a bum hand with the '86 Phils, but Curt, c'mon, no excuse to have the '86 Sox 10 games under .500. Glanville's having the better season, and he's probably got the better blog.
So, given this context, and my fascination with Baseball Mogul, I don't know why I haven't been following more closely Sporting News' 1986 Take II. Especially since it features SoxPhils as managers -- the World Series Hero, and Doug Glanville, a fellow North Jerseyan. Christine and I were at the game where his retirement was officially announced. He signed a one-day contract to retire as a Phillie and the team had him throw out the first pitch.
Anyway, they're apparently not doing so well. Fine, Glanville's got a bum hand with the '86 Phils, but Curt, c'mon, no excuse to have the '86 Sox 10 games under .500. Glanville's having the better season, and he's probably got the better blog.
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