World Series Game 4 Live-Blog
Sunday, October 26, 2008
So, it's time for another World Series game, and it looks like this one will start on time tonight. Andy Sonnanstine is starting for the Rays; Joe Blanton will take the hill for the Phillies. I'm taking the Rays to even it up at 2 a piece tonight.
"The Day The Earth Stood Still" looks awful based on that sole promo.
Far be it for me to hate on Patti LaBelle, but could she get the words to the national anthem right? It's "twilight", not "skylight", and it's "perilous fight," not "flight."
Now it's over, and that was bad. Not Roseanne bad -- at least Patti was on pitch, but the Star-Spangled Banner does not need that much melisma. As some of you have suggested, more of you aspiring anthem singers ought to take Whitney Houston's take in mind.
That's the way to do it. Or, if you want to reinvent it, go the Marvin Gaye route:
Much, much better.
Top 1st Inning
Aki Iwamura, after taking a few pitches and fouling off a few more, flies out deep to left.
Bossman Junior fouls the first pitch from Joe Blanton back. He takes another strike and then Blanton gets him looking on a pitch right down the middle.
Carlos Pena pops up the first pitch behind the plate to Carlos Ruiz, and we're done. Fox cuts Joe Buck off, mercifully.
Bottom 1st Inning
So Harry Kalas does the Phillies lineups, his son Todd did the Rays for the top of the inning. What a voice, Harry Kalas.
"If I had that voice, I'd just sit around all day and talk to myself." - Joe
Man, I think that's the first time Joe and I agree on anything.
Jimmy Rollins takes Andy Sonnanstine's first two pitches for balls, then a strike. He smokes a 3-1 pitch down the right field line, and he's at second to start it off.
Ah, there's my hero, the reason I got into broadcasting...Harry the K. I think he's had at least a six pack today. In other words, a light drinking day for the Voice of the Phillies. - Jim Williams
That voice is as smooth as a good single-malt scotch.
Sonnanstine is down 3-0 to Jayson Werth. The Phillies right-fielder hits one to right, where Ben Zobrist catches it and Rollins tags and makes it to third easily. He then proceeds to go 3-0 to Chase Utley, which is a BAD IDEA -- and we have ourselves a four pitch walk, runners at the corners with Ryan Howard on his way to the plate.
Howard takes strike one a little inside, while I'm wondering why hitters who get the shift don't hit it to left, almost ever -- and a dribbler to the mound, which Sonnanstine throws to third to get Jimmy Rollins in a rundown when the double play would end the inning. But they should have had Rollins, because Longoria tapped him on the butt for the out and the ump totally missed it.
Bases loaded, one out, Pat Burrell up. Sonnanstine digs a 2-0 hole. Breaking ball just misses for a 3-0 count. Strike one with a high fastball. Burrell takes ball four and Rollins comes home, 1-0 Phillies. Not the most auspicious of beginnings for Tampa.
Shane Victorino takes strike one, then knocks one in front of the pitcher that he flips for the force at home. 2 outs.
When did Tim Welke get traded for Ed Hochuli? - 49er16
Good question. Pedro Feliz is up with a strike and a better question is why he's playing when Greg Dobbs is hitting the cover off the ball. Feliz flies out to end the inning.
As for the ump missing the call, it's a classic case of the man in blue not being an ass man. - Jim Williams
OK, that's a +1 too.
Top 2nd Inning
Evan Longoria has two strikes on him after taking one and fouling another Blanton pitch. Ball one is up and away. The Desperate Infielder goes down swinging on a sinker.
Timmeh can't get over Sonnanstine not going to second last inning. Carl Crawford is the next victim, as he gets him on another slider low and in to whiff.
Blanton looks like he'd be a truck driver if he wasn't pitching. Fastball over for strike one to Dioner Navarro. Bunt fouled for strike two, and why? Navarro is not as slow as molasses, but close. Ball one out of the zone, ball two is high and inside. Ball three is borderline, and Navarro takes the high pitch to right field for a single.
Ben Zobrist pops the first pitch up, and Victorino calls off Utley to snag it for the third out.
I hate these Bud Light "drinkability" ads. I think I might have mentioned that yesterday. All "drinkability" means is that it tastes like water with grain in it. There's nothing interesting about the taste of Bud Light, but if you wanna get ripped, chug a half dozen to start and see how it goes.
It looks like the strike zone is the exact opposite of last night/early this morning. - JFein
Christie Brinkley, still gorgeous at 54 in those DirecTV ads. She went through a divorce recently -- her rich ex was cheating on her with an 18-year old chick and had an extensive porn collection. I can only chalk this up to "some people don't know how good they got it."
Bottom 2nd Inning
Carlos Ruiz flies out to the warning track in right, where Zobrist tracks it down.
Blanton's got a 1-2 count on him after taking two pitches and fouling off another. Goes down swinging on a high fastball.
J-Roll's up again, takes strike one down the middle. Ball one, a bit low. Timmeh calls him "an eye-opener," as if we know what that means other than it's a reference to him being the lead-off hitter or spark-plug of the team. In other words, Cliche 101. Rollins smacks a single that lands in front of Zobrist.
Werth has a 1-1 count now, then flies to right to end it.
Jim Williams brings up an important point: the redhead in the tailgate Drinkability ad is cute, but my verdict says: not enough to offset the inanity of the ad campaign. As usual, beer companies think you're a moron when they advertise on sports telecasts.
Top 3rd Inning
Blanton's on a roll. A ball followed by 3 straight strikes to get Jason Bartlett to sit down.
Sonnanstine takes the first two pitches, is at 1-1. Ball 2 in the dirt. Sonnanstine smacks a single into left, taking a decent Blanton pitch the other way.
Iwamura takes a low fastball for a strike. He bunts the next pitch foul for strike 2. Ball 1 high, as is ball 2. He hits a chopper to force out Sonnanstine at 2nd.
B.J. Upton went down on three straight pitches last time, think he can do better this time? He grounds to Rollins, who forces Iwamura out at 2nd, but I gotta say, I think they rush those force calls way too often. It looks like Utley came off the base a little, but EVERYONE does that anyway because the umps never call it.
Bottom 3rd Inning
Chase Utley takes ball one and two high. Sonnanstine threw a strike, and then another ball to make it 3-1.
"There are different forms of wildness, and throwing a 3-1 count to a home run hitter in a small park is one of them." - Timmeh
Full count. Iwamura bobbles a bad hop off his glove, and that's the 10th error for the Rays this post-season. Again, why is the shift on for Utley with nobody out? He can hit it the other way and has done so.
Howard takes the first pitch down the line and smokes it towards Zobrist. Utley moves over to third on the single. Runners on the corners, no outs. Burrell takes ball one outside. It's gone up to 3-1 after another ball way inside.
In comments, John informs us that Grand Rapids has lost the feed. Fun!
Burrell takes strike two to make it full, then gets the worst of all possible options that aren't striking out: a pop fly to short. One out. and an easy double victim at first in Howard. However, Victorino is up. Maddon visits the mound quickly.
Sonnanstine gets strike 1 outside. Up and away to even it up. Victorino fouls it off for strike 2. He pops out too, again to Bartlett.
Feliz waves at strike 1 in the dirt. Barely inside for ball 1. Feliz comes through with a single to left, and Utley scores to give the Phils a 2-0 lead.
Why couldn't Feliz ever do that for the Giants? - 49er16
I was gonna crack that joke, but I figured I'd check the comments first.
"The second one, a backup slider, begging to be hit hard." - Timmeh
Ruiz takes the first two pitches for balls. He then grounds up the middle, and Iwamura keeps it on the infield, but no play. That's OK, make Blanton help himself. Blanton pops out to Pena, but they get that hit in scoring position.
If you had "Gonna Fly Now" after the bottom of the 3rd in your office pool, you are a winner. Seriously, Bill Conti better be getting major residuals for his work being played so often. - Jim Williams
Jim Carrey Movie Formula = One part flimsy plot device + two parts wacky faces + a pinch of raunchy scatological humor. I don't think Yes Man will move away from that too much.
Top 4th
Carlos Pena takes strike 1.
"Blanton is the type of pitcher that Pena and Longoria can break out of their streaks of because he's standardized. He's not left handed and he doesn't have the stuff that Brett Myers has." - Timmeh
Down goes Pena, swinging at another sinker for Blanton's 5th K.
Longoria grounds to Jimmy Rollins, who throws him out at first. I'm not sure that's the way he wanted to get the bat on the ball, Chris Myers.
Crawford takes the first pitch for a ball. Blanton throws two straight strikes, then Crawford cranks one out to right field and GONE, now it's 2-1, Phillies. These are the effects of a band box like Citizens Bank Park -- that's a long fly ball in a few parks.
Navarro grounds out to Rollins, and the inning's over.
Those Burger King ads for the Mushroom and Swiss Steakhouse Burger are just as annoying as the Saved by Zero ad now.
Bottom 4th
As you have no doubt noticed, it's the Rocky theme when the Phils score and Tom Petty when the Rays do.
Rollins grounds through the right side under Iwamura's glove, he's on base for the third time after Iwamura's 2nd error.
Man, it's really awkward hearing Ken Rosenthal's reports from the first base camera deck. The guy comes off like he's a recent graduate of the William Shatner School of Pause Speaking. - Jim Williams
Werth takes a walk after four pitches. Edwin Jackson and Trever Miler are getting up in the Rays bullpen.
"I don't think you can say [the layoff] has affected his effectiveness, but you can say it's affected his control." - Timmeh
Well, if it affects his control, it make shim less effective, doesn't it, Tim? Sonnanstine responds by striking out Chase Utley swinging on three pitches.
Howard's at 2-1 after Navarro guns it to take a shot at Rollins at second. Howard gets all of it and takes it the opposite way, 5-1, Phillies.
I think Sonnanstine's night is done.
Well, they let him get Burrell out, and they're going to have him finish the inning, I suppose. Victorino up, pops it out of play -- and Sonnanstine stays because the bottom of the Rays order is due up anyway come the top of the 5th. Victorino pops out to Evan Longoria at third, and that will be the last we see of Andy.
Hey Fox: STOP PLAYING "GONNA FLY NOW", OKAY? It got old realy quick.
Ratings note: Sports Media Watch reports last night's delayed game got a 6.1 rating, a record low, obviously influenced by the 10 PM Eastern start.
Top 5th
Another asinine ad: the one for Jack in the Box's pita snacks with two grown men acting like babies.
Ben Zobrist takes a 2-2 count, and Victorino yells off Burrell to make the fly ball catch. Is he miked or is he just that loud? I'd vote latter.
Bartlett knocks it off Blanton's leg, and then Feliz makes a nice barehanded throw to first to get the runner.
Eric Hinske will pinch-hit for Sonnanstine, and it looks like we'll see Edwin Jackson in the bottom of the frame. Hinske jacks it to center field, and it goes out, 5-2 Phillies. Not bad for your first playoff at-bat.
"I think Joe Maddon pulled the right string right there." - Joe
"I should say so!" - Tim
Iwamura grounds it to Blanton, toss to first, frame over.
"If the Rays lose tonight, they will not, I mean they will, they will face elimination tomorrow night" - Tim McCarver completely forgetting the situation of the series. (via JFein)
Bottom 5th
Edwin Jackson gets Pedro Feliz to pop-foul out on the first pitch. The home umpire is yelling at the Tampa dugout. "IF I HEAR ANY MORE CRAP FROM YOU YOU'RE GONNA GO!" Maddon goes out there to make a peace offering.
Ruiz grounds out to Longoria, who guns it over to Pena.
OK, you know it's the Phillies' night when Joe Blanton goes yard to left. 6-2.
I'm not gonna say it's over tonight, but if the starting pitcher's gonna jack it, your line-up is feeling it. Rollins grounds out to Iwamura to end the inning.
Goddamnit, stop with the fucking Rocky music.
"He's doing it with his arm. He's doing it with his bat." - Joe Buck not realizing what he just said. - JFein
Top 6th
Upton's at a 2-2 count. He flies out to right field, Werth's got it easy.
And Buck says the Flyin' Hawaiian is wearing a mike. No wonder. 1-2 to Carlos Pena. He keeps fouling pitches off, eventually taking a walk instead of waving at a pitch out of the strike zone.
Longoria is caught looking at a fastball right down the middle on a 1-2 count.
Crawford swings and misses for strike one. He then gets plunked on the ankle.
"Now with Dioner Navarro up, with one swing of the bat, the Rays could be right back in this." - Joe
Navarro ain't exactly a home run threat, guys, but this is Citizens Bank Park. Obviously, Blanton has wiped enough sweat on his brim to the point where it's obvious to see. Ball 1 is in the dirt. Strike one, way outside on that corner. Curve floats for a ball. Another breaking ball on the outside corner for a strike. Navarro chases and misses the high fastball for Blanton's 7th K, and the truck cuts off Buck early again.
"This month's Gillette Rookie of the Month, for June..." - Joe Buck
Get that man a calendar and a shot of talent, stat! - Jim Williams
Oof.
If you're buying a cheesesteak from Subway, kill yourself now.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm almost positive when Buck said there was a "Let's Go Joe" chant, the crowd was saying "Tam-pa Sucks." - Bazooka Jones
Bottom 6th
Werth up, 1-1 count now. He knocks that one far and off the wall for a lead-off double.
"The Who has been together as long as Jamie Moyer has been alive." - Joe Buck
Utley strikes out swinging, here comes Howard, and they'll intentionally walk him to pitch to Burrell -- and they're talking about Jamie Moyer having a major case of the shits last night. Burrell complies by grounding into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Here's that full Rosenthal column on Moyer's stomach bug, if you'd like to spoil any appetite for a late snack.
Top 7th
Blanton gives up a lead-off walk to Ben Zobrist, and we get shots of Chris Myers being driver over from the Linc to the Citizens by the Phillie Phanatic -- and the producer gets a shaivng cream pie in the face.
Joe Blanton's night is done.
Chad Durbin is in. Bartlett flies out to Victorino. Willy Aybar pinch hits for Edwin Jackson, takes a strike. Aybar lines one into right center, drops for a single and it's first and second. Scott Eyre comes up to pitch to Iwamura.
"Here's the 1-0....strike 1." - Joe
"Two-strike breaking balls from Eyre to Iwamura." - Tim
Uh, Timmy, check the count, please, which is now 3-1. Iwamura flies out to Bruntlett, who's subbing for Burrell in left. Charlie Manuel goes for Ryan Madson to face B.J. Upton.
Strike one to Upton, 1-1 count....we eventually get to a full count, of course, and Madsen gets Upton swinging with a 3-2 change-up that most definitely would have been called for a strike if he hadn't swung.
Honestly, guys? It's been seven years after it started. Do we still need to do "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch. At least this guy sings it better than the woman who was a half step flat last night.
God Bless that it wasn't Patti LeBelle singing it. - Rob in WI
Bottom 7th
Dan Wheeler in to pitch to Shane Victorino, and he flies out to right. Zobrist makes a nice catch, sliding a little to bring it in.
Pedro Feliz grounds to third, and Longoria boots it after sliding to his left. Wheeler paints strike one to Ruiz on the outside corner.
VERY NICE PLAY BY IWAMURA. Ruiz hits a rocket to to second, which Iwamura spears and throws to first to double off Feliz.
Guhhhhhh....working in an American Idol promo into the World Series. I can't wait to ignore another season of Idol until really late, when all of my co-workers are talking about it and I watch just to see what kind of crap passes for singing talent.
Top 8th
Pena is down 1-2 against Madsen, looks at ball 2, then goes down on strikes again. He's still hitless in the World Series.
Longoria hits one hard foul for strike one. Fouled off the fists for strike 2, and he goes down swinging too. 0-29 for Pena and Longoria combined in the Series so far.
Crawford takes strike one on the outside corner, then grounds to Utley and Howard scoops up the throw.
Methinks Eva Longoria would stand a better chance at the plate than Evan Longoria. - Jim Williams
I think Role Models will actually be funny. I base this on the Paul Rudd Rule. Most movies I've seen with Paul Rudd have been funny in the same, kinda juvenile way. (Notable exception: The Object of My Affection. I don't know why I saw that, but it sucked even for a rom-com of sorts.)
Bottom 8th
Matt Stairs hits for Madsen against Wheeler, and strikes out after tagging one just foul that would have been good for a double, but we did get a highlight of his NLCS homer.
Rollins knocks one off the wall, and heads into second with his third hit of the night.
Jayson Werth adds on more pain by hitting a 2-run job out to left center. 8-2, Phillies.
Question: do the Phillies need to bring in Brad Lidge in the 9th? Really?
Trever Miller comes in to pitch to Utley and Howard. Utley takes a four pitch walk.
Lord have mercy, Ryan Howard got all of that. 10-2.
That's gonna come down with ice on it. Bruntlett grounds out for out #2. Victorino flies out to center for out #3.
STOP WITH THE FUCKING ROCKY THEME. JUST. STOP.
That ball made it all the way to Scranton. Yes. That ball was Schruted. - Rob in WI
get the extra cops ready and start those parade plans out, Mayor Nutter. - James Craven
To use a popular line around here: DAGGER! - Jim Williams
Stop with the Rocky crap already. Its getting annoying as the USC fight song - Anon
J.C. Romero to finish, Cole Hamels to start tomorrow. Tampa, meet the rock and the hard place.
Top 9th
Romero starts off with Navarro. He grounds it back to Romero, who makes a bad throw to Howard at first, but if there's a first baseman who can't really save you on a bad throw, it's Howard. Not great defensively. Error rightfully goes to the pitcher, though.
Ball one inside to Zobrist, Utley short hops a grounder and only gets the force on Navarro at second. Bartlett takes ball 1 up. He quickly gets two strikes into the count, one off a foul ball. Down and away for ball 2, gets him for the strikeout on the next pitch.
Rocco Baldelli comes up, pinch-hitting for Miller. Outside for ball 1. Romero comes back with two quick strikes. Ball 2 low and away. Fouls off the next one. Romero gets him swinging at high heat, and the Phillies take Game 4, 10-2, with a 3-1 lead heading into Game Five tomorrow. The Rays are officially up against the wall, and Philly fans are going ape-shit in anticipation.
Thanks for hanging around, folks. Joe Blanton has a flat-top fade straight out of the early 90s. Beautiful.
"Forget Joe the Plumber, it's Joe the Pitcher...or Joe the Hitter!" - Chris Myers
Fuck you, Chris. We almost made it without that dumb, obvious joke on air. Asshat.
194 Comments:
Someone should arrest Patti LaBelle for murdering a cat on the field.
I just watched the original "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) the other day and it was awesome. This new one is going to ruin it. Death to remakes!
Oh, and Pattie LaBelle just sounds horrible!
Patti Labelle seemed to not know a few of the words to the Star Spangled Banner.
Patti LaBelle?
Is that the national anthem she's singing??? Oy ve.
MLB 1 for 4 on the national anthem singers (Taylor Swift being the 1, of course)
Worst. Anthem. Ever.
I agree... sounds horrible. The fans should have booed her like Dallas did a few weeks ago on MNF.
Was anyone else saved by zero today?
Jesus Christ, the Star-Spangled Banner is not a freaking cover song! You don't get to put your own personal touch on it -- you sing the goddamn original or nothing at all!! ARGH!
Can someone just sing the damn song please? One of the best renditions ever was Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl and she did not need to add her own syllables to words or change the rhythm.
Well, let's give Patti credit...at least she didn't go into a diabetic coma. *Rewatches the end of the anthem* Oh, wait, she did.
Lord knows what the great Jack Buck would have said if he had the call.
Was that really the National Anthem. That was terrible.
Do all the anthem singers have to wear that ugly jacket in hopes of selling some more merchandise?
"Wow, Philadelphia's Patti Labelle with the national anthem?" - Joe Buck, almost as if to say, "Wow, that was the national anthem?"
Roseanne? Was that you?
Move over Roseanne and Carl Lewis.
@ Bigface: It seriously got to the point that whenever those "saved by 0" commercials came on I changed the channel. A-noy-ing.
Harry Kalas must be so proud of his son...
Todd Kalas sighting! I might be one of the few people that didn't mind him when he was calling PRISM's Phillies telecasts in the mid 1990s.
i missed the national anthem, please post a video of it ASAP
Anon - if AA feels like torturing everyone come Monday, maybe he'll have it.
I do not have the necessary equipment.
Man, Marvin Gaye was cool as hell.
The keyed in sponsor behind the batter looks extra shitty with the conditions as such at the start of the game.
Patti Labelle sounded like she was being strangled. Not that that's a bad idea. *wipes blood from ears*
First good move of the night: the director cutting off Buck in mid sentence at the middle of the 1st.
Was it just my local Fox or did the commercial break completely cut of Joe Buck as he was in the process of saying "Sonnanstine"?
And Buck speaks as they fade to commercial.
Nice work, asshats.
Ah, there's my hero, the reason I got into broadcasting...Harry the K. I think he's had at least a six pack today. In other words, a light drinking day for the Voice of the Phillies.
Why do so many singers insist on disgracing themselves and our country by slaughtering the singing of our National Anthem??? Patti LaBelle was awful, but certainly not the only one who ruins it!
Harry Kalas. God what I wouldn't give to have him calling these games, I don't care how biased he'd be to the Phillies. Of course, he's a professional, so he'd not be biased, but I guess the point is, Harry Kalas good, Joe Buck bad.
And Wayne Messmer's National Anthem is still my favorite of all time, and used to be the highlights of a lot of Cubs games. His anthem at Chicago Stadium during the NHL All Star game is still my favorite.
how many runs have they scored via the home-run? 3 times in 30 seconds.
Rob, Google around and I'm sure you'll find a free (see also illegal, lol) feed of the Phillies radio call in which Kalas handles select innings (including the final 2).
Looked like he got him, and replay proves it.
However, I don't care having no rooting interest in either team.
When did Tim Welke get traded for Ed Hochili.
Wow, bad decision making, bad officiating. Rays should have gone for the double play and I really don't want to see any more close-ups of Eva touching Rollins' ass.
"And, the Rays do not get the call again." - Joe Buck
Uh, Joe, the Phils got robbed on a few calls in this Series too...your father in heaven is disowning you.
As for the ump missing the call, it's a classic case of the man in blue not being an ass man.
Putting my Phillies bias aside...or semi-aside: The Rays are literally handing this series to the Phils on a silver platter, but the Phils aren't taking it. Yes, they've scored runs with runners in scoring position, but not one of them is via what I would deem a legitimate hit. The walk this inning...the throwing errors in Game 3...the Rays are giving it away. But, alas the Phillies don't want to take the initiative.
"Your father in heaven is disowning you".
Ouch.
"Cement mixer"
I'm calling fifth inning from McCarver.
It looks like the strike zone is the exact opposite of last night/early this morning.
Anyone else waiting for one of the players in the dugout to "accidentally" knock over the guy with the roving cameraman on the field during dead ball moments of a broadcast?
@utkman: Whitney Houston did not sing "The Star-Spangled Banner". She LIP-SYNCHED! just like Milli Vanilli.
Who knew a man with so much HD was such a turn on?
@S2N: Drinkability has one redeeming quality. The gal in the football tailgating drinkability ad. She's easy enough on the eyes to cut through the BS Anheuser-Busch is spewing.
MLB is finally getting their own network. Like usual they are late to the table.
Um... and none of those people were Kevin Youklis nor Aramis Ramirez.
WTF?
The Phillies Ball Girls won the Hank Aaron Awards in both leagues.
I can only chalk this up to "some people don't know how good they got it."
David Justice and Eric Benet are in that category as well.
McCarver's man crush of the night: Sonnestine.
And, Blanton is just plain dealing tonight!
Joe Buck has seen an advance of the 24 movie?
Just another reason to hate.
Thinking about that Lincoln ad with "Major Tom" in it, I saw a guy dressed as Major Tom at a Halloween costume contest yesterday (10/25) in Newtown, PA. of course, for shiggles, I was dressed as Alice in Wonderland.
Cal Ribken is horrible in that Holiday Inn commercial.
Odd. Most people just pass out during Cal Ripken Jr. analysis in the playoffs.
grand rapids michigan has lost the fox feed. both on directv high def and OTA.
thanks for the blog to keep me posted.
I never knew that one form of wildness was worse than the other....
I'll be damned! Howard gets a hit with someone on base! Mine eyes have seen the glory! *Insert other random quotes from Jack Edwards here*
"I don't want to see any more closeuips of Eva [Longoria] touching [Jimmy] Rollins' ass."
Only of you were the real Eva Longoria, then you could get to touch Tony parker's derierre any time you damn choose.
Pat Burrell has just been awful this World Series for the Phillies. Everytime he bats, I can feel the impending out.
I'm only guessing but Joe Buck must have money on the Phillies.
Hey john in Grand Rapids. Blame the outage on the Lions.
the Phillies if they win the Series will become the 21st Century version of the 1906 Cubs, the "Hitless Wonders."
49er16, your comment reminds me of an interview Joe did with Comcast SportsNet's Michael Barkann prior to Game 2 in which Buck mentions that no matter where he goes, every team at one time or another fans think he's rooting against their team.
So, at least Tampa's fair weather fans and the hardcore Phils fans have something in common, disdain for Buck.
And, there's a hit with RISP. Someone break out the Pennsylvania Polka or Kalas' leftover booze...it's happy time!
Why couldn't Feliz ever do that for the Giants?
Pedro Feliz gets the first out field base hit with RISP in this World Series for the Phils. Who saw that one coming?
Reverse Jinx: Fox posts the stat "Phillies are 0-for-12 with a runner on 3rd." Bingo, Feliz gets a single.
"The Phillies would love to stop hearing about their troubles with runners in scoring position." - Joe Buck
Well, Joseph, stop mentioning it...and in fairness, team, start getting bat on ball.
If you had "Gonna Fly Now" after the bottom of the 3rd in your office pool, you are a winner.
Seriously, Bill Conti better be getting major residuals for his work being played so often.
"Sonnanstine has been a little erratic" - Joe Buck
If you have XM radio, go to channel 183 and listen to Harry Kalas.
And Jim, they've played the "Theme from Rocky" almost every time the Phillies have scored.
Talk to the Bears' DJ about that on a third down in the 2001 NFC Divisional Playoff in Chicago's Soldier Field when Da Bears were on defense on a critical 3rd down and the Eagles went on to score on that drive. Next thing you know, the Dj was fired. Turns out he was the same guy who played "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake when Chuck Finley was at Cominskey II (wasn't U.S. Celluar Field back then) for the Angels against the White Sox because of his wife (Tawny Kitean) and the spousal abuse story.
Yeah, I know, craven...I mean I'm a Phillie fan, and I'm sick of hearing the Rocky Theme. I'm also sick of hearing "Running Down a Dream" after every little positive for the Rays.
Then again, as their promos should state: "You're watching FOX Sports. Proudly making songs you love quickly become songs you loathe since 1994."
Man, it's really awkward hearing Ken Rosenthal's reports from the first base camera deck. The guy comes off like he's a recent graduate of the William Shatner School of Pause Speaking.
So Mr. Williams, remember that Soldier Field audio faux pas?
I seem to recall it, yes.
Jim Williams said...
Well, let's give Patti credit...at least she didn't go into a diabetic coma. *Rewatches the end of the anthem* Oh, wait, she did.
Lord knows what the great Jack Buck would have said if he had the call.
-----------------------
Jack would have said, "I don't believe what I just saw!"
If the Phils win tonight, they will have the Rays right where they want them. Cole Hamels pitching, a chance to end the long curse of William Penn's Statue, and the game time temprature is expected to be below 50 degrees, where the Rays are 0-6.
And it will truly suck to be a Rays fan at that point.
The biggest problem in baseball announcing today: Buck, Caray, Albert, Brennaman. Where are all the p-b-p who are not legacies? Stuck in the minors like Orsillo was for years?
There's the Ryan Howard we all know.
Alas, all the Phils' RISP futility talk ends now. Howard smoked that thing.
@49er16
The Ryan Howard we all know would have struck out.
As Stuart Scott once pointed out on Howard's three-run bomb, "He was harder than [The Wu-Tang Clan] on steroids with a migrane [headache]."
All right more Rocky theme music.
Well 49er16, jim williams is upset even more.
Ugh. Saved by Zero. Again. I swear I will never buy a Toyota in my life, just because that ad has annoyed me so much.
Off the shrubbery of the knights who say "NI!"
"If the Rays lose tonight, they will not, I mean they will, they will face elimination tomorrow night" - Tim McCarver completely forgetting the situation of the series.
jfein, I'm with you.
"Saved by Zero" is to Toyota's slumping sales as Sponsoring "The Tim McCarver Show" is to Chevrolet's slumping sales. And, one wonders why the economy is in the crapper.
Ugh... thanks Eric Hinske, you'll keep me from watching Mad Men at 9... I'll stick with the game for a few more innings while the DVR works it's magic.
And jim williams, we all know who to blame for the economy, stupid.
Adolph Bush XLIII.
Edwin Jackson, wow, Tampa trying to pull out all the stops tonight.
Of course, jamescraven, you're right. I was just trying to make a funny.
anon@9:49: Gary Cohen is stuck at SNY because the Mets won't let him call playoff games for ESPN or TBS.
Then again you've never heard The Voice of the Yankees, John Sterling.
I just heard that a Chevy Traverse will be given to the World Series MVP. just what the world needs, another gas guzzler...
A Blanton Bomb! If this isn't destiny, I don't know what is, folks.
Holy Shit! CC Blanton!
I'm just in shock. Jim Williams will atest to this I'm sure, this kind of stuff does not happen to Philadelphia sports teams in championship games. I don't know what to say right now. Wow...
Cupcakes!
Well Blanton never has to buy beer in Philly again.
"He's doing it with his arm. He's doing it with his bat." - Joe Buck not realizing what he just said.
Hey, it's destiny I tell ya jfein!
There are other musicians with Philly ties other than the Rocky theme. It needs to stop NOW!
rick james bible owner, with Tastykakes, you better have Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes, not Kupkakes, bay-bee!
jfein
I don't know... this seems like exactly the situation a Philly team would find itself in... just about to clinch and losing 3 games spectacular fashion?
jfein, I shall indeed testify, if you will. It's mind boggling. It's madness. It's long overdue in the City of Brotherly Love.
rob in wi, Hamels pitches tomorrow.
Just to give you folks an idea of how crazy things are at the Sports Complex in South Philadelphia, and if this was mentioned by the national outlets, forgive me, a staggering number of people actually stayed overnight in RVs or other vehicles in the parking lot of Citizens Bank Park after the end of Game 3 earlier this morning.
Some presumably went not just to Game 3, but to the Eagles game at the Linc, and then across the way to tonight's Game 4. This series means so much to the city and its fan base.
The fans heading to the Iggles game was mentioned in passing at the beginning of the telecast -- but not the mass campout from last night.
"This month's Gilette Rookie of the Month, for June..." - Joe Buck
Get that man a calendar and a shot of talent, stat!
@ Rob in WI: Believe me, I know exactly what you mean, but this just feels different. Maybe I'm naive, but if the Phils can hang on tonight, Hamels is pitching tomorrow night as James Craven said....
Joe the Pitcher > Joe the Plumber
HA! They cut off Joe Buck in mid-sentence again! This truly is a great day in Philadelphia sports!
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm almost positive when Buck said there was a "Let's Go Joe" chant, the crowd was saying "Tam-pa Sucks."
Jim, I was wondering if Joe was gonna go there.
S2N, of course he won't. He works for the sports department of Rupert Murdoch's right wing spin zone.
I'm surprised Chris Berman isn't across the street from CBP indulging in 222s while listening to The Who.
Hey Joe,
only 2 original members of the Who left.
And Ted Baxter's Evil Twin is writhing at jim williams' comment. I'm an Olbermann man myself.
I think you guys are being harsh on Joe Buck. He has a great voice and while his knowledge isn't there, he has tremendous passion and enthusiasm in his calls. I think he's a fantastic announcer and is going to be better than his dad.
your mom - Joe Buck has made a career out of being bland and boring. I would like to see or hear this passion on display some time.
Thanks for the Moyer link, S2N.
/cancels trip to Taco Bell
Grand rapids still has no feed from fox. directv tells me to go to one of the other fox channels (channels 88 or 399), but both of those channels are blacked out.
fuck my life.
Record-low rating for Game 3 ... which got beaten in the Nielsens by Penn State-Ohio State. Sweet!
signal to noise - Super Bowl XLII.
jamescraven, I, too, am a Countdown fan...shocking, I know.
your mom, the only credit I'm going to give Buck is the fact that he knows when to shut up and let the crowd say it all.
I have to tell you, the DirecTV blimp is in the Northeast Philadelphia Airport for the series, and it flies over my neighborhood throughout the stay it has here. And there might be some major league air congestion tomorrow night if the Phils win with helecopters from CBS 3, 6 ABC, NBC 10 and Fox 29 over the corner of Frankford and Cottman Avenues and the blimp. just need an air traffic controller around my house to direct traffic I guess.
Chris Myers getting high fiveage...that's just plain funny right there. The high fives he received were from drunk fans trying to high five the Phanatic and aiming poorly.
Jamie Moyer probably has the most coveted toilet seat in America right now.
you guys can eat a fat dick, you don't know shit about talent. Sorry, but it had to be said.
jamescraven, with the recent news of another news helicopter crash causing fatalities in the Houston area, I'd certainly hope that someone will be monitoring the potential air congestion.
your mom - I'll have to go find clips of his call for Fox, see what he did for Tyree's catch again. He really does not stick in my head at all.
your mom, know your role and SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
my role is to say how good Joe Buck is, but since that didn't work I'll go on about how you haters should eat a fat dick.
So begin the eating jamescraven4cock.
And I'm also a Countdown fan...
@ Jim Williams: That would certainly explain a lot...
jamescraven, layeth the smacketh down, on your mom's rudy poo, candy...oh I'm sorry, I just had a flashback to when pro wrestling was halfway entertaining.
your mom, the bottom line is that Joe Buck is where he is because of nepotism. Are there plenty worse than him? Of course. Are there announcers better than him? Absolutely.
So jim williams, you live in Philly or Houston...?
S2N... Buck's call on the Tyree catch was typical Joe Buck. Bland and impassionate.
If you want to hear someone who has passion behind the mic, look for the Radio Call on the Tyree Catch from Westwood One...
Man Behind the mic on that one? Marv. Fucking. Albert.
I guess Rosenthal's column on Moyer's flu-like symptoms gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "the drizzling shits".
jc, I'm from the Delaware Valley. I heard about the Houston story I referenced earlier on a message board. Apologies for any confusion.
This Super Bowl call from Buck, guys (first video)?
It's everybody gets to throw night at Citizens Bank Park.
Thanks, jim. What part of the Valley of the Delaware, a/k/a the Phillies Red Planet?
@rob: Better yet, get the DVD of SB42 and hear the call from Bob Papa as heard on WFAN.
South Jersey...and I'm literally halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
Stay classy, your mom.
Phillie Phantic. Best. mascot. Ever. That is all.
Note to FOX: The God Bless America singer probably could have also sung the Star Spangled Banner upon request.
God Bless that it wasn't Patti LeBelle singing it.
Darryl Hall will sing the National Anthem tomorrow. What, no John Oates?
I actually had the opportunity to work with the Phanatic a few years ago at a local baseball tournament. The guy who "provides the mascot's motive powers" was the ultimate professional and was nice enough to sign some autographs for my little brothers.
S2N: I couldn't agree more. I mean, it's not unpatriotic to not sing it during the 7th inning stretch, at least last time I checked.
Jim, make sure you don't go to the new Yankee Stadium any time soon, then.
Heck of a double play there. When my team is up 4 runs, I can give a little more credit where credit is due.
@ James Craven: They're not having Boyz 2 Men sing the anthem? I figured for sure they would do it one night...
American Idol just took a dump on the World Series... I had almost forgotten about that show, damn them for reminding me during a game.
S2N, I don't intend to be heading to the house that Jeter built any time soon.
Wow, I never thought I'd see Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest, and Joe Buck being whored out in one commercial.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince booked? I mean, I can see the rapper being busy, but not the DJ.
Methinks Eva Longoria would stand a better chance at the plate than Evan Longoria.
Methinks that Eva Longoria married Tony Parker too soon. I bet she didn't know that Evan was out there, idolizing her, waiting for her, taking her name in marriage.
Missed it by that much.
J-Roll, has stepped up his game. This is the exact kind of productivity that this team really needs from their leadoff hitter.
That's Three!
You can forrrrrrrrrrrrGET ABOUT IT! What a blast.
I just do not believe this. Wow.
"Phillies now have their biggest lead of the night" - Joe Buck
Thanks, Captain Obvious!
The cautious optimism that goes with being a Philadelphia sports fan is coming into play here a little. Historically, the game after a big offensive output, the Phillies tend to lay an egg. Here's hoping with Cole on the mound tonight, that trend will get bucked.
@ S2N: With all the heartbreak and curshing defeats that Philadelphia has suffered in championship games, yes, it may be necessary to bring out Brad Lidge.
Errr, Cole on the mount tomorrow night. Hey, my excitement makes me skip important words in dialogue.
Errr, errrr, Cole on the mound...ah screw it, you know what I meant.
To use a popular line around here: DAGGER!
HOWARD....DEEP.....GONE!!! UNFUCKINGBELIEVEABLE!!!
Long drive, right field WAY OUTTA HERE HOME RUN RYAN HOWARD AND NOW IT'S A 10-2 PHILLIES LEAD!
That ball made it all the way to Scranton.
Yes. That ball was Schruted.
get the extra cops ready and start those parade plans out, Mayor Nutter.
Turn out the lights...the party's over...they say that, GOD DAMN IT WITH THE ROCKY THEME!!!
Stop with the Rocky crap already. Its getting annoying as the USC fight song.
In fairness, S2N, in 1980, the Phillies Television Network used and abused the disco version of the Star Wars theme by Meco for every scoring situation for the Phillies in the regular season and NLCS, so it could be worse, but not by much.
That half inning was as awesome as the national anthem was bad.
Roll of stamps...check.
Mailing it in...check.
A temprature of 47 degrees at the start of Game Five with Cole Hamels pitching...check.
No longer being called the 2008 Hitless Wonders...Check.
Holy crap, Joe and Tim are sitting at the same level. I was just getting used to Joe slouching 2 feet lower than "Chevrolet's Tim McCarver".
And at jim williwams, that was WPHL-TV (now MyPHL 17).
*liver spots explode on hands*
Or at jim williams in English...
Yep, 17 The Great Entertainer, indeed. Though I wasn't alive in 1980, I've seen the clips of the division and NL clinchers enough times in my young life to appreciate them (and to have vial hatred for McCarver ruining Kalas' call).
And let's not forget the other curse, the Curse of the Rocky Statue...it used to stand at the soon-to-be-imploded-in-December-2009 Spectrum, and is now near the Art Museum.
So why do you think they've played the Rocky theme?
Oh no.
"There is David the 23-Year Old." - Joe Buck
I was hoping Buck would avoid any reference, subtle or not, of Joe the Plumber. I was wrong.
And now, there are 27 more outs to go to end the drought.
A great end to a great weekend in Philadelphia sports.
27 outs to vindication...so near, yet so far away!
3 games to 1 for the Phillies in the World Series. Wow, I'm...I'm still speechless.
Don't forget... If the Phillies win Game 5, then we'll be spared of the Game 6 Obama infomercial.
"Forget Joe the Plumber, it's Joe the Pitcher..or Joe the Hitter." - Chris Myers
NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Let's see. Tampa Bay Buccaneers runied the football closing of The Vet in 2003 and went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII...Tampa Bay Lightning beats the Flyers in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals and win Lord Stanley's Cup...and now the Phightin' Phillies are 27 outs from revenge being the sweetest dish best served to Tampa sports fans cold...below 50 degrees.
And alex, it would be Obama followed by Bones and an exciting episode of 'Til Death. Of course, I'll be recovering from the parade earlier in the day.
One other note: The Philadelphia daily News went one level dumber than the tired Chris Myers citing "Joe The Lumber".
Stop it.
He's telling Bill Conlin to leave his sandwich alone.