The Phillies: an Antidote for Blood Pressure Medication

The Phillies found themselves in their own version of Win or Die last night. The Dodgers won again at Colorado, and a loss would mean two games out with four to play. In other words, not good. And as I sit here this morning, I am still amazed that ‘win’ was the outcome. Let us take a look at what happens when you are a team that wants to do good but are unfortunately saddled with representing the city of Philadelphia:

The first guy named Nook since Bull Durham came out scored the go ahead run for the Nationals in the second. Some guy named Castro who chokes up more than a girl hit the ball over the Phillies centerfielder. The heart and soul of the Phillies, All-Star Chase Utley, threw the ball into the stands on a double play ball, allowing a run to score. The umps mad a terrible call for the second straight night and called Ryan Howard off the bag and the runner safe at first. (He did leave the bag, but clearly got back to the bag before the runner arrived). After taking a 5-4 lead in the 7th and getting through the 7th and 8th unscathed despite using a bullpen shakier than a piece of furniture that I construct, the closer then proceeds to walk in the tying run in the 9th. They had to endure brutal managing by Jolly Chollie, who must think in a one run game it is better to saveyou’re your pinch hitters so they don’t get tired and also when did they pass the rule that no relievers can go more than one inning? After scoring in the 10th to take the lead again, they let the Nook guy score again to tie it in the 10th. Then they let some guy named Bergmann with an ERA over 7 and a WHIP over 1.7 look like Johan Santana for three innings. They stranded men in scoring position in the 10th, 12th and 13th innings. The guy who they acquired to protect Ryan Howard by hitting behind him, Jeff Conine, went 0-for-7. And looked worse that the numbers would indicate. (Shocking they walked Howard his last three times up). They needed some pitcher named Clay Condrey, who may not be able to get me out consistently, to get through the 12th and 13th innings (someone must have told Chollie there was no such rule against multiple inning stints for the bullpen). Then when they got the lead, they needed Fabian Castro, a Rule 5 player who has not pitched in weeks to get the save. He promptly gave up a hit to the first two batters, including a pitcher who was pinch hitting. He then proceeded to commit the Phils 4th error of the game on a throwing error after fielding a bunt when Washington was trying to give them an out..

All that happened in the same 4 hour and 53 minute game. AND THEY WON! Against all odds and then some, they found a way to win. In a game that was so desperate that I found myself rooting for them to leave Rick White in for more than one inning, they won.

This game was truly exhausting. Will it swing momentum to them and propel them to win out and capture that playoff spot? Will they turn around and lose again today? I don’t know, but at least they made it exciting for one more day. Win or Die, win or die….

Come on Lieber, come on Colorado. As we used to say back in ’83…BEAT L.A., BEAT L.A……