Another World Series related question of the day
Simply put, do you care anymore?
After the debacle that has lowlighted by bad umping, awful ratings, surly Philly citizens, rain, Bud Selig sitting on his hands during said rain, and the naked truth "revealed" (if it weren't already known) about TV's power over baseball, we arrive at "Game 5: Part Deux." 5.5 innings burned, anywhere from 3-3.5 to go in putting to bed what's shaping up to be the most awkward and anti-climactic potential clincher in sports history. Which brings me back to my original question.
Do you care anymore?
Will the generally good play itself (this series' only saving grace) and your innate baseball fanship keep you engaged in seeing how this bad boy (emphasis on "bad") concludes? Or have you finally thrown up your hands in disgust and decided to devote this evening to watching "Britian's Youngest Grannies" (which, I'm embarrassed to admit, sounds oddly intriguing)?
-AK
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I just want it to be over so we can start talking about the Hot Stove, and what the team will be like next year.
Posted by: Paul Merrill | October 29, 2008 at 02:10 PM
I still care, mostly because I'm a baseball fan, and because I'm pulling for the Rays. Circumstances may have screwed the Series, but at least it will go down as one of the more memorable ones in history.
And if you enjoy "Britain's Youngest Grannies", you're sure to love some of the other recent BBC America docs, like "Brothers and Sisters in Love." You've gotta hand it to the Brits -- they have a way of making these topics come off as high-brow educational material, while we Americans just seem to turn it into Jerry Springer fodder.
Posted by: Eric B. | October 29, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I'm not sure you can blame this one on TV. There hasn't been a World Series day game in over a decade, so now is not the time to expect one. I certainly would be less inclined to watch the game if it were on at 1pm our time.
When I lived on the east coast, I hated the 8:30 start time and the post-midnight finishes, especially if I was AT the game and had to go to work the next day. Here on the west coast, and with tivo, I can start games around 7pm( a very civilized hour) and speed through the THREE MINUTES of commercials between innings and catch the final innings at around 9pm.
I'll watch the game, just because we won't have baseball to kick around much longer (or at all, if the Phils win), but not with much interest or excitement. I'm sure if the exact same games had been played by the Yankees and Cubs, the baseball establishment would be falling all over itself to tell us what a great series it has been. But frankly, the Phillies had to go and spoil the Rays' perfectly good story line. The Phils are a truly dull team to watch. They're so far from being the best team in baseball it's not even funny. They've just done the right things at the right time.
And their bullpen is fantastic.
Posted by: SaMo | October 29, 2008 at 03:27 PM
This year's Phillies remind me very much of the New York Football Giants. They never looked particularly dominant, yet they are ruining the historic season of the Rays/Pats. They may not be the best team around, but they took an easier road to the championship and are executing when it counts. In the end, that's what wins titles, not 100-win regular seasons or mediagenic superstars with "compelling storylines."
Posted by: Eric B. | October 29, 2008 at 04:45 PM
I have absolutely no interest in the game.
Phillies look good, and TB looks overwhelmed.
It's like watching Screetch on a date with Scarlett Johaansen.
Posted by: Benzo Jones | October 29, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Nice to see Jayson Werth come up with a big hit in the 6th (or was it first?) inning. NL wins 2nd World Series in three years, so much for American League superiority.
McCarver is an idiot, spouting off how the Rays were at a disadvantage because they had the pitcher batting 4th, which affected their strategy, because the DH rule wasn't in effect. It's called real baseball, Tim, and that's part of the breaks of having the game at the Phillies home stadium instead of the Rays.
Posted by: neoncactus | October 30, 2008 at 06:39 AM
Did you hear the Philly Phans?? They boo Santa Claus because he missed the landing (parachuting into the stadium) and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt when he struck out near the end of his career. But now they really showed how to be total jerks. They booed Selig and their own GM when they were presenting the WS trophy. Charlie Manuel barely got an ovation worthy of a coach who just brought the first trophy to Philly in 28 years. When Manuel congratulated the Rays on a great season, they booed even louder. The really suck as fans.
At least LA fans boo those who deserve it, like Fatso and Mr. Pinchhitter.
Posted by: Jack in DC | October 30, 2008 at 07:33 AM
SaMo,
Your last sentence pretty well sums it up. Do the right things at the right time and have good pitching. Sounds easy don't it.If you do that you will win. No flash needed.
Of course flash is fun and we know how America loves itself some flash!!
We could have kicked Tampa Bays ASS.They reminded me of last years Rockies, hot, hot, hot,....sucked when it counted the most.
When do catchers and pitchers report?
Posted by: dodgerdog | October 30, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Jack:
You're way off base talking about LA fans booing the appropriate people. These are the same fans who booed Mike Piazza every time he came back to the Ravine. You’ll recall that Piazza wanted to spend his career here, but the team traded him to clear money off the books so Fox would find it more attractive.
These are the same fans who booed Paul LoDuca whenever he returned as a visiting player. The guy CRIED when they traded him away. He w as the heart and soul of the team, and DePodumbass traded him away.
These are the same fans who booed Shaun Green after he too was traded away for reasons I still don’t understand—what, to clear space at 1B for Hee Seop Choi? The guy gave his batting gloves away to kids every time he hit a homer, and because he wasn’t wearing our shirts anymore, the fans booed him? The Dodgers continued to pay his salary even after trading him. Why?
I root for the Dodgers as much as anyone, and I’m sure there are some great fans who go to lots of games, stay past the seventh inning, and really follow baseball. But as a whole—and I’m sure I’m not going to make any friends by saying this—Dodger fans are pretty lame. They still do THE WAVE, for goodness sake, regardless of the score, the count, or any other situation. They cheer shallow fly balls, boo sac flies and other productive outs, and think Juan Pierre brings an essential dose of speed to the game.
The best thing that can be said about Dodger fans is that they fill up the stadium, 3.5 million per year. But I suspect that has a lot more to do with the weather than anything else. It’s lovely at the Ravine in April and May, months when it’s disgusting in places like Seattle, Chicago, and Boston. It’s a beautiful ballpark, and a delightful place to watch a baseball game. It has real authentic old-time dirt and grit, and a great tradition. I even like the beach balls, which most baseball purists detest. But you’re barking up the wrong tree when you suggest that the Dodger fans are on par with those in cities like Philadelphia, New York, Boston, or Chicago, where they literally live and die with the team’s fortunes. In L.A., if the Dodgers lose, it’s still a beautiful day, and Plaschke will still be more concerned with the off-season moves of the Lakers.
Posted by: SaMo | October 30, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Bud Selig deserves the boos of all baseball fans everywhere.
Posted by: WBB | October 30, 2008 at 09:45 AM
SaMo:
Regarding Oompah LoDuca, my recollection is that he was applauded the first few times he came back, then booed heavily only AFTER it finally came out that he was the team's steroid dealer, and that DePodesta traded him because he became aware of this fact.
Incidentally, that story really changed my entire impression of DePodesta.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | October 30, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Almost forgot: Would Britain's hottest grannies be GMILFS?
Posted by: SaMo | October 30, 2008 at 11:40 AM
VA Blueblood:
You're remembering wrong. LoDuca's steroid use didn't become common knowledge until the Mitchell Report, which was last December. (I don't recall him being fingered as a dealer, merely a user).
But Dodger fans booed him the very first time he came back to the Ravine, and all subsequent times. They also booed Gagne each time, even though you had to be doing the wave instead of paying attention to the game not to know that he was on steroids. I guess that kind of proves my point.
The Mitchell report changed my opinion about LoDuca, who I used to love, but it didn't do anything for DePodouchebag, He traded LoDuca because he STOPPED using steroids. You'll notice he didn't trade away Gagne.
Posted by: SaMo | October 30, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Meanwhile, with the raging conflict about the fans in the background:
(1) I hope McCourt has tended to his crowd control issues and glaring liquour control violations, or there will be a whole lot fewer fans to yak about.
(2) Anybody notice that Colletti was making noise about wanting to settle the Manny issue before moving on to any other decisions? In choosing not to choose--well, in therapy, we call that.. who care's. But, in business, it's a mess & Colletti's just messin' with us. All the dough will be gone be the time Bora$$ has shopped his Man around.
But, at least the stove is on, and it's out of the frying pan & into the fire...
Posted by: lizzieinsb | October 30, 2008 at 05:43 PM
SaMo.
I don't think VA Blueblood is remembering wrong, at least about the very first game. I was at the game when Paul Lo Duca first game back after the trade. He certainly got an ovation the first couple at bats. I was there, I saw it, and I was part of it.
But it didn't take long for the Dodger fans to forget. I was at games either later than season or early the next one, way before the Mitchell report, where he and other former Dodgers were booed. I agree that Shaun Green certainly didn't ever deserve it.
Posted by: Cleo MG | October 31, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Phillies are dull? That's a good one. They only have the last 2 MVPs (and Howard should win it again this year), a future Hall of Famer in Hamels, the best 2nd baseman in the Majors and a PERFECT closer. SaMo, you must be high on smog, dude.
Posted by: JunkyardE | November 01, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Junkyard
You're right that Howard should win the mvp this year, but Rollins' mvp last year was a crime. Holliday had him beat in every offensive category, but lost out because Coors Field is considered a hitters park that inflates offensive stats. Take a look at the bandbox where Philly plays its home games, and you see why Philly offensive stats are so good. It's barely bigger than a high school field. Ryan Howard's all or nothing swing is tailor-made for that park. They should call it the house that Ryan built.
Posted by: SaMo | November 01, 2008 at 11:52 AM
SaMo, That's such a tired argument. Since 05, Howard hit 104 HRs at home and 97 on the road. Not a big difference. Holliday's stats are more than 2-1 for HR at Coors Field. You're also forgetting Rollins won a gold glove last year. Holliday had good stats but Rollins led the league in runs and did so much on offense and defense that you can't say it was a crime. Let's be real.
Posted by: JunkyardE | November 02, 2008 at 11:20 AM