'09 MLB World Series

[DotKritic]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

I actually got called for a balk for receiving the signs from the catcher before I was on the rubber.

Never had that problem and I was a catcher and a pitcher.

[All_That_Chaz]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

We all came to a consensus on page 2 that delossantos has no ****ing clue what's he's talking about.

I felt a need to show more proof that the Phillies rule.

[fireking550]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

I thought the rockies were going to win this series and honestly they should have, in games 3 and 4 they have the lead or were at least tied in the 8th and 9th respectivly, and the rockies closer street gave up like 5 runs in 2 inning of work and had 2 consecutive losses. I won't dismiss that the phillies are a good team but if the rockies can work on their bullpen because they seemed to struggle though the series, they could be contenders next year.

[Loyal2Death]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

I still feel as though it is going to be a Dodgers Yankees world series. I think that although the Dodgers faltered a bit at the end of the season, that the crazy events that occurred during the NLDS between the Cardinals and the Dodgers really juiced them up. Blame it on an error all you want, you cannot take away momentum. It's just really my thought though, I do believe the Dodgers/Phillies might actually go the full 7 games, but will ultimately fall upon Brad Lidge. I say this because the Dodgers have a history of coming back this season and The Phillies offense can straight up contend with the best, but I'm afraid that the Phillies bullpen just can't stand stride for stride with the Dodgers in the later innings. That will ultimately be their downfall.

As for the ALCS, I feel like though the Yankees did struggle with the Angels this year, that being at home to begin the series is critical. The Achilles heel of the Yanks typically fal unto the Angels, but I think the Yankees finally figured out a way to play close tight games with them, and as long as you can do that, the Yankee offense SHOULD be able to outdo the Angels.

If all else fails, seeing how poorly umpired these games have been, the Umpires will give wins to the Dodgers and Yankees so we can see another classic World Series, because god knows that Baseball really needs help, although I'm impressed with how quickly the steroid issues of this year were quickly swept under the table.

[foilman8805]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

Brad Lidge has never been the same since Pujols rocked his ****.

[Vanilla Mnm]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

They didn't call him for one balk in the entire series. He balked on every pitch I saw him throw.

Video of proof and analysts describing how they're balks.

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=7047233

I watched it. Obviously, analysts know more than I do. I still don't think he balks. His hands come up into the ready position as he moves his front foot up once. Those other times he's just moving his foot, they said that it can't come up off the ground the other times. It only comes up once and that's the first time as he's getting into the ready position. As he's moving front foot his foot isn't coming up off the ground completely. Just the back of it. I don't know if that still counts as a balk if the whole foot doesn't come up off the ground.

[All_That_Chaz]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

I thought the rockies were going to win this series and honestly they should have, in games 3 and 4 they have the lead or were at least tied in the 8th and 9th respectivly, and the rockies closer street gave up like 5 runs in 2 inning of work and had 2 consecutive losses. I won't dismiss that the phillies are a good team but if the rockies can work on their bullpen because they seemed to struggle though the series, they could be contenders next year.

How does being tied in the 9th inning mean the Rockies should have won. Over the 18 innings played in games 3 and 4, the Phillies were tied or had the lead over 13 of them. They deserved to win, and they did win. Having a closer blow a save doesn't excuse a loss. The Phils would be 3-0 against the Yankees would have been 6-1 against the Dodgers this year (instead of 3-4) if it weren't for blown saves by Brad Lidge. But so what, they lost. Even with 11 blown saves, we managed to win the NL East Division.

I still feel as though it is going to be a Dodgers Yankees world series. I think that although the Dodgers faltered a bit at the end of the season, that the crazy events that occurred during the NLDS between the Cardinals and the Dodgers really juiced them up. Blame it on an error all you want, you cannot take away momentum. It's just really my thought though, I do believe the Dodgers/Phillies might actually go the full 7 games, but will ultimately fall upon Brad Lidge. I say this because the Dodgers have a history of coming back this season and The Phillies offense can straight up contend with the best, but I'm afraid that the Phillies bullpen just can't stand stride for stride with the Dodgers in the later innings. That will ultimately be their downfall.

The Phillies led the NL in comeback wins this season (43). The Rockies were second (41). I think our late-inning heroics have outdone anything the Dodgers have done. Also, I'd like you to note that of the 6 blown saves in all of the division series, none of them were committed by Brad Lidge. He was a perfect 2 for 2.

If all else fails, seeing how poorly umpired these games have been, the Umpires will give wins to the Dodgers and Yankees so we can see another classic World Series, because god knows that Baseball really needs help, although I'm impressed with how quickly the steroid issues of this year were quickly swept under the table.

I think The Defending Champs vs. the $208-million-dollar Yankees would be a better series than one involving the Dodgers.

[foilman8805]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

You're so anti-Dodgers, it kind of sucks and makes me hate your posts. :/

EDIT: In before "I don't care" because I know you don't, but I just wanted to say it.

[All_That_Chaz]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

Brad Lidge has never been the same since Pujols rocked his ****.

Perhaps you don't recall a little thing I like to call...



Perfection.

EDIT: I'm not anti-Dodgers. I have nothing against the Dodgers except that their fans are ignorant clods and MLB fellates their giant market. The team itself I have no problems with and have a lot of respect for. This is the NLCS I wanted because it will be an awesome series. When have I said anything anti-Dodgers?

[foilman8805]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

Well, for one, the Dodgers market is successful and their fan base is huge, so I can understand why the MLB would 'fellate' them, but from what I've seen sports broadcasters and analysts all around the country can't suck enough east coast team dick. Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, etc. Cubs and Cardinals too.

And just today, I read an article on MLB.com and watched a video where Harold Reynolds basically said that the Dodgers won't beat the Phillies, and that Hamels and Lee will dominate the Dodgers.

I can understand Lee shutting us down...he's capable of shutting down any team because he really is a quality pitcher, but Hamels? 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA? Granted there's a lot of no-decisions in that record, but I'm not intimidated by him at all. He really didn't have that good of a season.

[Vanilla Mnm]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

Maybe it'll be LA VS LA.
Subway series

EDIT: Yeah, I don't understand why they would ever say Hamels is going to shut down the Dodgers. For one, the Dodgers had the best record in the NL, they had the top hitting team (At least I think) and they aren't ever going to be completely shut down, not even against Lee. Look what they did against Carpenter who had I think the best NL ERA.

[foilman8805]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

We don't have subways over here, man.

It'd be a Freeway Series, and yes, I want a Freeway Series.

[DotKritic]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

Perfect in '08 until he blew 11 save opportunities in '09.

[All_That_Chaz]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

Hamels is certainly the x-factor in this series. He was resurgent at the end of the season and looked like 2008 post-season Hamels, but he wasn't all that effective in his start against the Rockies. If Hamels comes out and wins game one, I like the Phils chances in the series. If he gets shelled, it's going to be tough to pull it out against an admittedly strong team in the Dodgers. However, even though the Dodger's starters' season ERA is better than the Phillies', right now I like the Phils' rotation more. I think Happ will rebound from his poor start (in which I think he was playing hurt). If Lee starts twice you can punch those wins in. Blanton can compete with anyone you have. Our offense will take care of the rest.

Perfect in '08 until he blew 11 save opportunities in '09.

He was referring to how Lidge got hammered by Pujols in '06. He seemed pretty unaffected by that in the 2008 season, so I doubt it's that hit that caused the problems in 2009. He was playing hurt through most of the beginning of the season. And many of those blown saves (I watched them, I know) were caused by costly errors and cheap little flare hits. There's not much you can do about that. He got guys to pop up but it landed where nobody was. He served up game-ending double-play ground balls but Howard threw it away. That's the way it goes sometimes. But it happened to Brad a lot this year for whatever reason. For the most part they weren't 2-run homers that you think of when you think of blown saves. Brad Lidge looks worse on paper than he is now.

[foilman8805]

Re: '09 MLB World Series

I just think there's a different approach here for the Dodgers, especially since the rotation we have now will actually help us out here. We've got two lefties in our rotation this time around whereas last year we started all righties against the Phils and got lit up.

I think you're right about Hamels, though. The momentum of the series will definitely lie in Game 1. If he shows up and pitches like an ace, then the odds will shift to the Phillies side because Lee will step up the next day and likely push Philly to a 2-0 lead.

On the other hand, I saw quality starts from all of the Dodgers staff against Cardinals, and now consider that Kuroda could be in there pitching a game as well as Billingsley (who, if on his game like Hamels, can be devastating). No one had a bad outing and the bullpen slammed the door every game. Phillies gotta score early and on the starting pitchers to make it happen. Like I said earlier, there will be no rallying on the Dodgers bullpen.