World Series, Game 2

On to Philadelphia, 1-1

NEWSFLASH

David Price is apparently human. And in a related note, I'd find it hard to chuck a World Series homer back onto the field even if it was hit by Darth Vader.

Again it seems ...

... the Rays need to take a punch to get going in a postseason series. Remember how they were dominated by Dice-K in Game One of the ALCS.

Just passed ...

... a woman who was so drunk she had to walk with one eye closed and follow the yellow lines that run through the Party Deck. She might have lost a contact, but I doubt it. The yellow line thing will be good practice for her trip home.

Feels a lot different tonight ...

... without Hamels on the mound for the Phils. And the Rays and Shields have done a good job keeping them from chipping into the lead. Myers is hittable. On the ominous side, Ryan Howard appears to be heating up, but he's not ripping homers yet. As the MLB leader, he's supposed to do that.

End of 1: 2-0 Rays: That was a bottom of the first that would make a hitting coach proud. Proverbial ducks on the proverbial pond, and well-struck grounders to score them.

Post Cole Series

Now begins the real World Series, when the Phillies otherwordly left-hander, Cole Hamels, is not on the mound. Even with admittedly not his best stuff last night, he pranced through the Rays lineup, avoiding a couple jams and earning his fourth win in the postseason. Now the Rays are under pressure to scrounge a win tonight so they don't go into the box of angry wildcats that is the Phillies' home park, down 0-2.

Hamels' stuff was so dazzling it knocked out the WiFi in the auxiliary pressbox in the last few innings so we couldn't blog. Not. Cool.

Oh, and how did all those Phillies fans get in here? Clearwater, are you cheatin' on your baseball team?

Inphiltrated

There may be more Phillies fans in Tropicana Field on Thursday night for Game Two than in Game One on Wednesday. A crumbled old cloth “Welcome Philadelphia Phillies” banner was erected behind the visitors dugout during batting practice.

Urine trouble

MLB officials were disconcerted by the ominous tricking in a pipe above the interview stage before Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel held his daily briefing. The gurgling resumed in the middle of the session, but he seemed to stay dry.

Comments

[CTJ]

Nice game, a bit scary at the end

[MikeD]

so 3 4 5 still aren't hitting, & Rays are winning. Good.

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

Ruiz??? Seriously? Longo needs to make that stop. I know it's tough; but it's the WS.

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

I heard Andy Reid actually threatened to eat T.O. if he didn't GTFO of Philly. Iggles still sukky sukky fi dollah, though.

Sincerely,
Eric Cartman
"I'm Not Fat, I'm Big Boned"

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

"You'd want him on your team though. And thanks for checking in Robin. Loved Dream Police."

Dude, I'd take a team comprised of Garza, Victorino, and Pedroia. Gamers and hard players. I freking LOVE Dustin Pedroia and, yes, I DO hate the Red Sox.

Please check out Cheap Trick's last effort, "Rockford." Brilliant. Given that Robin is a Rays fan and lives in Safety Harbor, I thought he might to the Anthem for one game. He did a Bolts game in the Cup run.

I think "I Want You to Want Me" should be the team's theme song.

[harold]

Upton is back to his old ways now that he hit a couple homers. He is just playing for the payoff with Free agency-arbitration.I had his back on these blogs all year but to see him trot to first in the World series is terrible. He thinks that he will get this chance again anytime he wants. I am not an Upton hater but I am disappointed to see this.

[harold]

Thats the big philly rally: a solo shot off of Price. Like I said before they have one pitcher, they play in the National league. They will be lucky to win another game. But at least they're not Boston.

[CTJ]

Bummer, The Phillies just showed up

[Jim Nagle]

When is Upton EVER going to hustle? He drives me crazy. Jogging back on the ball Howard hit over his head, and now allowing an inning-ending DP that took about ten seconds to complete. I am admittedly an old guy (61), and maybe I need to get with the stylin' and profilin' approach some guys have today, but a guy like Upton disrespects the game, his teammates and the fans. I can't stand it. I think Utley was about to eat the ball because the play was unfolding so slowly, but kind of did a double take when he saw BJ halting down the line, then threw him out by fifteen feet. Blood is squirting from my eyeballs. This kid is so talented, yet I can hardly watch him.

Joe, don't you know bragging about the Eagles in Tampa is like a paraplegic making fun of Michael Phelps?

[tom]

phillies has to step it up
and play like the champs they are

[JOE]

yeah i like phillies and im from florida
eagles and phillie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[zeus]

rays suck
thats all that's needed to know

[CTJ]

I'll buy Price a beer

[boyle]

Was God bless America a little short?

[BRANT]

David Price may never pay for a beer in this town again.

[BRANT]

He's a wily catcher.

did the catcher carlos ruiz just steal second??

86 on that 2-0 fastball from wheeler

They can't get local media a decent internet connection? What a professional operation

you can bet that price will pitch to utley and howard

COME ON WHEELER

[MikeD]

there is a fair bit of red in here tonight, but Phils fans are MUCH quieter

[CTJ]

Keep Myers in, he's doing a great job for us.

DAVID PRICE UP IN THE PEN

let's knock myers out!!

and zero + zero equals?

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

Let me add, that I'm not happy about getting out-hit 7-6, but I'll take 0 runs on 7 hits any day.

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

"Is this the same team we played last night? Wow! This should shut some of the naysayers up tonight."

Anyone who knows baseball and studied the Phillies knew they HAD to win Game 1 in order to have any real shot at winning the Series. Myers is, eh, Moyer is AWFUL, and Blanton is hit or miss. They easily could be going into Game 5 with Coles trying to get only their second win. Assuming we win tonight and against Moyer and Blanton, the Phillies will face an elimination game with Hamels in Philly. Let's say they make it a 2-3 series, they've got to win both games back at the Trop with Myers in Game 6 and Moyer in Game 7.

sorry for the double posts - Internet ain't so good in here

[BRANT]

You'd want him on your team though. And thanks for checking in Robin. Loved Dream Police.

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

I'm getting REALLY tired of Shane Victorino!

[BRANT]

Word to chill your soul: Dan Wheeler up in the pen.

mr. brant ... didn't you used to do an outdoors column in hernando county?

[Wow]

Is this the same team we played last night? Wow! This should shut some of the naysayers up tonight.

[BRANT]

Jayson Werth is killing his chance at Player of the Game.

phillies in the pen already

phillies in the pen already

huh - Phils didn't score any runs, again. Was that Howard's first hit of the Series? leadoff man on again - is that 4 times now?

huh - Phils didn't score any runs, again. Was that Howard's first hit of the Series?

I know, what the hell is it with Philly and their coaches/managers? Andy Reid, Ken Hitchcock, Charlie Manuel. It's like a casting call for the Biggest Loser.

Fitting for Philadelphia.

[RN]

Does anyone know a good surgeon to refer the Phillies coach to? He needs a hernia repair BIG time!!!

yeah Brant - joe's going for the jugs tonight

[MikeD]

threat- neutralized . . .

[BRANT]

Times Staff writer Joe Smith just ate the biggest hot dog I've ever seen.

[MikeD]

At the Trop CTJ - s@@@'s bazooka so far

[BRANT]

Do you like that aggressive decision to send Baldelli when the hit parade was in order against Myers?

[BRANT]

Wow, Baldelli came in like a jack-knife tractor trailer.

[Rick Carey]

Apologize for my earlier comment, everyone. Clearly I am an idiot for overlooking the fact that Shields not only did not give himself that nickname (it came from his teammates) but that even though he lost both ALCS games, it was more due to his teammates' bats going silent rather than his pitching (which was actually stellar, including the game 1 duel with Dice K).

I'll try to remove my head from my rear next time I try to make an informative comment. My mistake!

[CTJ]

Myers looks a bit overweight.