There's not much left to say.
Win today and the Phillies, who lost 4-2 yesterday to the Nationals to drop them into a first-place tie with the Mets in the NL East, are guaranteed at least a one-game playoff tomorrow against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Lose and they could be eliminated from the playoffs on the final day of the season for the second time in three years.
The Phillies have made countless preparations for the postseason. They had to. They have ordered the champagne. They have printed the tickets. They have figured out how to handle the extra media. I asked Aaron Rowand yesterday if he thought the rolled up plastic sheets suspended over their lockers -- they will unfurl them during a champagne celebration -- could be a distraction or add to their burden.
He said not at all.
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One thing is certain: the Phillies need a good start from Jamie Moyer. Jim Salisbury writes about how much Moyer can relate to the fans in the stands as he takes the mound today.
Salisbury also takes a look at baseball's postseason awards.
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Like some readers mentioned yesterday, one more Chico tries to spoil another Phillies pennant run:
Chico Ruiz.
Matt Chico.
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Charlie Manuel showed just how much faith he has in Adam Eaton when he pulled him with runners on first and second with one out in the third inning:
None.
And why should he? Like David Aldridge writes today, Eaton has shown the Phillies nothing this season. Certainly not a knack for pitching well in a big game. He finishes the year 10-9 with a 6.29 ERA. His ERA would be the worst in baseball, if he had enough innings to qualify. He has not had a quality start since July 3, a stretch of 13-consecutive starts. There's no question the Phillies coaching staff is very, very frustrated with Eaton, who Pat Gillick signed to a three-year, $24.5 million contract in the off-season (a contract that almost everybody in baseball considered a bad signing at the time). That's the sickest part for Phillies fans. Eaton makes $7.635 million next season and $8.5 million in 2008. Of course, the Phillies and Eaton also have a $10 million mutual option for 2009 with a $500,000 buyout. He will not be easy to trade, but can the Phillies look their fans in the eye and tell them they expect to compete next season with Eaton in the rotation?
Because of the money he is guaranteed, they might have no choice.
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Phil Sheridan was up in New York watching the Amazin's.
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If the Phillies have a playoff tomorrow, Rich Dubee hinted that they might have Kyle Kendrick pitch on short rest.
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The Nationals are trying to be spoilers, even though they don't like to be called spoilers.
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Kyle Lohse said he would like to pitch today if he can.
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Comments (11)
Why hasn't anyone posted the link to Phillies tie-breaker tickets?
Phillies tie-breaker tickets!
metsblog.com has the link featured prominently.
Get out the word!
Posted by Tim B. | September 30, 2007 11:05 AM
Posted on September 30, 2007 11:05
I buy my tickets off the Phils site all the time, but when I use this link it tells me that it can't process my request because cookies are not enabled. They sure as hel arr! Anyone else have this problem?
Posted by Anonymous | September 30, 2007 11:15 AM
Posted on September 30, 2007 11:15
I've got my tie breaker tix.
[BLATANT ATTEMPT AT PRODUCING GOOD KARMA FOR PHILS]
I want to take a second and sing the praises of the ticket office.
They must be going nuts behind the doors, but in my dealings with them over the last 36 hours, they have been helpful and extremely accommodating.
I am a partial-season ticket holder but they treated me like a Diamond Club guy when I had technical trouble getting tix via email/Web.
Thank you.
No go get 'em Phils.
Posted by Joe in Haddonfield | September 30, 2007 11:19 AM
Posted on September 30, 2007 11:19
David Aldridge's piece makes me feel sorry for Eaton, but he's absolutely terrible. For $8 million a season, I'm sure there's another Kyle Kendrick out there who can give up three runs in six innings and get the ball safely to the 'pen. Eaton = Waste. End of story.
OK, now onto the positive, it's go time. Must-win doesn't even begin to describe today's game. GO FIGHTINS.
Posted by V | September 30, 2007 11:43 AM
Posted on September 30, 2007 11:43
Eaton's been terrible, sure, but baseball is strange in that guys will have entire awful seasons, and then come back renewed the next year. Definitely happens. With Eaton, who knows? We can only hope.
As to the other small matter of the game today...
Scary. Amazing. Nauseating. Thrilling. Every other time the Phils have been counted out, they've responded. Plus, I like the local guy on the mound. Doesn't hurt that it should get pretty ugly up at Shea. Go D-Train!
Posted by John in LA | September 30, 2007 11:57 AM
Posted on September 30, 2007 11:57
i can't take much more of this. if there's a game tomorrow i don't know if i'll make it. but it's better than the alternative of being eliminated today i suppose. it's almost done one way or another- what a thrilling season so far. hopefully the phils have one more good surprise up their sleeve for today.
Posted by mike | September 30, 2007 12:21 PM
Posted on September 30, 2007 12:21
7-0 MARLINS IN THE FIRST? CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?
Posted by V | September 30, 2007 2:00 PM
Posted on September 30, 2007 14:00
WOW WOW WOW!!! YES YES YES!!! They did it! FABULOUS! What a game, what a week, what a season. WHAT A TEAM.
JRoll for MVP.
Uncle Charlie for Manager of the Year.
Jamie Moyer for President.
Posted by Louis DeVizia | September 30, 2007 5:02 PM
Posted on September 30, 2007 17:02
Looks like I'll be in Philly this week for some playoff games. God Bless the Marlins.
Posted by V | September 30, 2007 5:19 PM
Posted on September 30, 2007 17:19
did anyone else catch the FOX baseball playoff promo during yesterday's game? it featured the 4 AL teams that had clinched, the cubs, and the mets. so much for that one.
great job by the phils.
Posted by mike | September 30, 2007 6:20 PM
Posted on September 30, 2007 18:20
Yes Mike, I did catch that! It was very quick, but I remember thinking to myself how stupid that was.
Also ironic was how the inning including Ryan Howard's error was immediately followed by a Subway commercial with Howard and Jerrod, where the latter quips, "you're defense is underrated". Heh heh...
Glad it can all be laughed at now! 2007 NATIONAL LEAGUE EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS, THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES. Wow.
Posted by Louis DeVizia | September 30, 2007 6:44 PM
Posted on September 30, 2007 18:44