One weekend decides everything.
It's hard to believe, huh? The Phillies opened spring training in February. They have played 159 games. They overcame a 4-11 start. They overcame injuries to Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber, Chase Utley, Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, Ryan Madson, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and others. They overcame one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball. But after seven months of playing, traveling and practically living together, they find themselves tied with the Mets in the NL East with just three games to go.
Best weekend takes all.
The Phillies beat the Braves last night at Citizens Bank Park, 6-4, to move into that first-place tie with the Mets. The ballpark had an incredible atmosphere. Fans waved their white rally towels. They roared whenever the score from the Mets game changed on the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. Those same rally towels later rained upon the field after Myers struck out Kelly Johnson to win the game.
The Phillies control their fate.
It's exactly what they wanted.
Now they just have to take advantage.
Update: I just heard this weekend's series against the Nationals is SOLD OUT.
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The latest Philliescast is up.
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Jim Salisbury talks about the Phillies waking up this morning in first place in the NL East.
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Willie Randolph got vocal with his players after last night's 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium.
According to the New York Daily News, The players, clearly shaken but trying to stay optimistic, were whispering about "fighting" and "not giving up" when Randolph cruised through and spoke loud enough to make sure everyone heard him.
"We're gonna win this thing!"
Gotta try something, right? The Mets could be the first team in baseball history to blow a seven-game lead with 17 games to play and not make the postseason.
The Mets look like beaten men. But they still have a lot of talent, and one weekend to turn things around. They host the Marlins this weekend. It's not over yet.
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Pat Burrell hit a two-run home run in the third inning that ultimately proved to be the game-winner. It has been a remarkable roller coaster season for Burrell, who was hitting .201 on July 1.
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Cole Hamels starts tonight against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. He said he is not worried about his pitch count. Charlie Manuel would not say how long he would let Hamels pitch -- that makes sense because if he removes Hamels before his pitch count he is ripped for a quick hook, if he pulls him after his pitch count he is ripped for potentially blowing out his elbow -- but I would guess somehwere around 100 pitches.
The pitching match ups for this weekend's do-or-die series against the Nationals.
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Here's what the NL contenders faces this weekend. And here's what would happen if there is a five-way tie.
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Phil Sheridan and Bob Ford talk about the Phillies' bullpen.
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Betty Santagada and Rose Rivello have been at every game at the Bank this season, but have not seen one pitch. Talk about torture.
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Photos from last night's game.
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The Phillies just sent out a news release about ticket availability this weekend. Click the link below to read that release.
PHILLIES’ WEEKEND GAMES ARE SOLD OUT
All tickets for the Phillies’ three-game weekend series with the Washington Nationals are sold out, John Weber, Vice President, Sales & Ticket Operations, announced.
Ticket windows at Citizens Bank Park opened at 9:00 this morning and within 45 minutes, all remaining tickets were sold for the 7 o’clock game tonight, 3:55 p.m. game tomorrow and Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, 1:35 p.m. start. Sunday was actually sold out in advance of this morning.
A total of 500 standing room tickets for each game will go on sale each day. Today, the SRO will go on sale at 4:00 p.m.; tomorrow, 1:00 p.m. and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. SRO tickets will be limited to TWO per person.
With tonight’s sellout crowd, the Phillies will surpass 3 million for the third time in club history: 3,250,092 in 2005 and 3,137,674 in 1993.
Tonight’s game will be televised by CW Philly 57; tomorrow, a national telecast on FOX TV and Sunday, CW Philly again.
Games will also be broadcast by WPHT, The Big Talker 1210 and the team’s 21-station network. The games will also be aired on the Phillies’ Spanish Baseball Network on WUBA (1480 AM).
Comments (23)
I love the link to the Kernan article, T. I think Randolph has the same type of short-sightedness if he is guaranteeing the Mets to win the NL East.
Posted by Civil Negligence | September 28, 2007 8:33 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 08:33
Love the thought of a potential 5-way tie. However, it now cannot happen, since the Rockies and Diamondbacks play each other in the final 3 games, and the closest the two of them can now come is 1 game apart.
Posted by JJ | September 28, 2007 8:48 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 08:48
WOWSERS. I've lived thru '64,'80 and '93 and this team has the same vibe as the '80 LCS team, whatever it takes, they will do it.
I don't think the Mets will lose all of their remaining games and I am leery of the Nationals, they are smoking hot right now. But I think that Hamels and Moyer have the makeup to come up big and hope beyond all sane reasoning that Eaton can give us something resembling a big league effort.
How cool is it that nobody is talking about what is usually a big football game this Sunday?
This is the Phillies town right now and rightfully so.
No matter how this weekend turns out, I've had more fun rooting for this team than any other since 1993. Nice job boys, thanks for a great summer, now let's make it a memorable fall. Yes we can!
Posted by jimmymack | September 28, 2007 8:52 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 08:52
LETS GO PHILLIES *clap clap clapclapclap*
Posted by B Dub | September 28, 2007 9:06 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 09:06
Awesome game last night... WOW. 3 more to go!!
GO PHILS!
p.s. What was the deal with the "rally towels" last night, no Phillies logo? just a white towel? Seemed like they went to bed bath and beyond and just got hand towels to hand out.
Posted by RJ | September 28, 2007 9:11 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 09:11
First and foremost (and unlike the Mets apparently thought back in August), this thing is not over! I know we're all fired up about the way things have gone the last few weeks, but the Phillies need to keep their collective cool and realize that they have 3 games to win. If Jimmy Rollins' comments after the game are any indication, they have their heads on straight.
Every pitch, every play, every move counts.
But from a fan's perspective, in the immortal words of Flounder from Animal House, "Boy is this GREAT!" I'll quote my own post after the Phils came back to beat the Nats a week ago last night:
"That sinking feeling was gone. Replaced by another feeling, this one not so familiar. This was a feeling that the Phillies can actually do this. Not only make the playoffs, but (gulp)... win the division! And in the process, eliminate the Mets (the team to beat?) from the postseason altogether!
Ah, that's a good feeling."
A good feeling indeed.
Go Phils!
Posted by bobby | September 28, 2007 9:23 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 09:23
This just in out of BaseballProspectus.com:
Phillies' chance of winning NL East: 50.3
Mets' chance of winning the NL East: 49.7
I like those odds. Go Fightins.
Posted by V | September 28, 2007 10:07 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 10:07
I HEARD THAT IF THE PHILLIES WIN THE EAST, THE RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A "FOIE GRAS NIGHT" THROUGHOUT THE CITY!!!
Posted by D. Ocean | September 28, 2007 10:22 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 10:22
It all starts tonight with our ace on the mound. He looked very very sharp the last few innings on Sunday.
We got 8 hits off Redding in DC but only one run in the last series. Let's get those runners home and complete step one in taking the division.
Go Phils!
Posted by Murph | September 28, 2007 10:24 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 10:24
Man... hard to say what's more amazing: the Phils' surge or the Mets' collapse.
Amazing, watching the highlights of the game on TV, seeing all those towels going. Reminds me of the Angels in 2002 (?) Love the fact that the City is so fired up.
Kendrick has been a stud, up and down. What poise. Rollins is ridiculous. My biggest concern for the weekend is the fact that on the ESPN radio broadcast last night, Dave Campbell said both Gordon and Myers' arm slots were all screwed up (I'll assume he knows more about it than me), and consequently both looked like they were going on fumes. Did seem like we dodged a few bullets. Romero, on the other hand...
Incredible next few days. And great piece on those 2 concession ladies. I'm jealous I'm not back there - hoping for a Phils/Angels WS.
PS: Like others have said, totally lame how Grady Little played all youngsters against the Rockies. Oh well. Go Brewers and DBacks.
Posted by John in LA | September 28, 2007 10:34 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 10:34
Yes John, I thought the same thing about Gordon and Myers last night - that we dodged some bullets with good defense. But that's part of what this team is all about. I'm really starting to appreciate Abraham Nunez - that was a big time grab of that line drive in the 9th. Myers' first pitch to Franceour was up and right out over the heart of the plate. Scary territory... He was better the night before. He's gotta keep that ball down. The final strikeout... That was much better stuff.
If the Mets and Phils both go 2-1 this weekend - not an unrealistic scenario - can you even imagine the pressure and intensity of a one-game playoff on Monday??? Wow. I'd like to avoid that! Let's take 3 and wrap this thing up.
To show you how even things are... The Phils are 10-5 vs. the Nats, and the Mets are 10-5 vs. the Marlins.
Here's how amazing this team is: Coming into the Braves series, the sentiment was that the Phils really needed the first game because Hudson and Smoltz were pitching games 2 and 3. Sound reasoning. And completely irrelevant with this team. I've gotten to the point where I DON'T CARE who's pitching for the opposition. OK, well, Jake Peavy maybe, but that's it.
Has anyone else noticed that the Mets are only two games over .500 at home for the year?
Kyle Kendrick is gold. That's all I can say. Came out of nowhere and became the Phils' most consistent starter. Wow.
Posted by Louis DeVizia | September 28, 2007 11:31 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 11:31
Great points, Louis D. I think Myers really let that macho thing go to his head on that first pitch last night. He tried to walk in there and overpower Franceour with heat and got burned himself. Luckily, he seemed to calm down after that. Hopefully, that will be a lesson we'll benefit from moving ahead.
You also gotta love the way Chase Utley handled himself after the rare throwing error in the 8th. He's a true pro. It's a treat to watch him and Jimmy turn the DP.
I also agree about the other team's pitcher... who cares?! I'm much more concerned about our pitcher! Let's hope one Cole and two Kyles will carry us.
One final thought: Tomorrow and Sunday will be "pull out all stops" games. If Eaton or Moyer get into trouble early, Charlie had better be prepared to do whatever he has to to settle things down. And I don't mean Geoff Geary. "Unavailable" should not be in the Phillies vocab this weekend. I'll be there Sunday and I can't even think about it yet...
Pass the pepto, Go Phils!
Posted by bobby | September 28, 2007 12:06 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 12:06
Doesn't sound like Randolph actually did or said much of anything.
Posted by David | September 28, 2007 12:37 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 12:37
Nice catch, David. Just added a couple graphs from the New York Daily News, which explains it.
Posted by Todd Zolecki | September 28, 2007 12:50 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 12:50
If the Phils and Mets go 2-1 this weekend, which I think is a very good possibility, there will only be a tie breaker game if one of the teams is up for the wild card. Otherwise, they go by head to head record from the season, and the Phils would win the division.
Let's Go Phils!!!
Posted by Jason | September 28, 2007 1:23 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 13:23
RJ: the rally towels are white towels with a red box with the white 'P' in the middle of it and the sponsors logos on the bottom. Some people weren't sure if they were handing out rally towels and brought there own white towels. I have three from the past three nights, going for number 4 tonight!
Posted by Ed S. | September 28, 2007 1:50 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 13:50
As per usual great writing Todd. By the way, I always enjoy your guest spots on Comcast Sportsnet.
Anyway, these are exciting times. I went from a non-believer to full-throtle subscriber. I just purchased 3 tickets to the first home game of the NLDS...Go Phils!
Posted by GM-Carson | September 28, 2007 1:59 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 13:59
Todd: you have to be having a blast with all this happening to a team you cover. How about some insight on the next post?
Posted by jimmymack | September 28, 2007 2:29 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 14:29
Todd-- Great job as always. If Phillies make playoffs, which Inquirer columnist would you most like to see sitting next to you at the games?
Posted by B.Ford | September 28, 2007 2:44 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 14:44
If the Phils somehow don't pull this off I can handle it. No Walt Whitman plunge for me - I made it through '64. Gotta feeling Charlie will be keeping Lohse in reserve for Eaton or Moyer. Wake me up when it's over!
Posted by Dino | September 28, 2007 3:01 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 15:01
todd- any stats as to the number of times that a team led the majors in comeback wins in a given year and also made the playoffs? i'm curious if that stat is a good predictor of a playoff team. does it mean the team is resilient, or that they are bad enough to fall behind alot?
i'm nervous about tonight. one phils loss and one mets win, and all that work is lost. they'd be down 1 in the division, and at least 1 in the WC with 2 to play. the mets are facing B.Y. Kim so there's nothing to celebrate yet i guess.
Posted by mike | September 28, 2007 4:21 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 16:21
Regarding the towels - they ran out of the towels with the logos - they gave out one's that were plain - got there around 7:10 last night! Very disappointed - must not have ordered enough! Hope they got more for this weekend's series!! Go Phils!
Posted by Amy | September 28, 2007 4:26 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 16:26
This is the greatest surge from behind of any Phillies team in the past, they alone are in first as of tonight Friday !
I'll be there to cheer them on Sunday, sold out and rocking the Bank!
Tune into one of my podcasts at my website:
www.phillywebcast.com
Posted by Rich Baxter | September 28, 2007 11:02 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 23:02