The Zo Zone

Not so great. Not gonna pile on the team, no need at this point. I don't think Kendrick needed to get pulled and would have liked to have seen Coste hit for Ruiz with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Bottom line is: the Rockies are a better team right now. They're getting the breaks, but also taking advantage of opportunities. The Phils did look looser offensively, if that's any consolation.

Hopefully Moyer pulls one out and Hamels is back on the hill Sunday. Loved seeing the fans who stuck around. My dad thinks grown men should be forced to wear shirts at games; I'm with him.

Go Phils!

It’s not over. I’m not giving up on them. The Phils can come back. Need a big game from Moyer and then go from there. This team has been resilient all year long, no need to stop now. I think they still have a lot of phight in them and they’ll win on Saturday.

NOT OVER! Haven't we learned anything from this team yet? 7 back with 17 to go?

One win. That's the goal. Win on Saturday. Then take it from there. Maybe Moyer works some magic, then maybe back to Hamels.

Come on boys. Get 'em.

IS THIS THE END?

YES!- Luck cant last forever. They are back to being the lovable lousy Phils!

We can lend you Wagner if you want?

Oh well- think of all the cheesesteak and beer you had this week.

I'll give him credit, to still have the energy to gloat after the biggest collapse in, what, 140 years of MLB history...

WE DID CHOKE - AND WILL MAKE CHANGES -BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOSE THOUSANDS OF MORE GAMES TO MATCH THE PHILLIES HISTORIC STANDING AS THE LOSINGEST FRANCHISE IN PRO SPORTS.- AND THE YANKS HAVE HOLD ON THE BIGGEST CHOKE JOB IN NY

SO- ENJOY THE EXTRA 3 GAMES- 3 more losses in the books!

Tell ya what-to make peace- we will give ya Glavine to start on Saturday! (TAKE HIM PLEASE!!!)

Now excuse me while I refill my prescriptions!

Mr Met, I guess your amusing yourself, while were coming up short in first (2) games. I'm not embarrassed in the least. Colorodo is without question, the hottest team in baseball. The Rockies, are no fluke. They're very, very good. If we do not advance, to the LCS. I would hope, our fans will show some class in defeat. Yankees faithful, for years have said Met fans, were lacking in class. Why don't you go do your laundry. The stench is offensive. GO PHILS !

You think the Philles arent toast?

You think Yank fans are faithful?-check out their blogs tonight. They are murdering their team already.

The Rockies bite- they just look good against Philly Phlemballs!

So get ready to say "Go Flyers" and dont worry about getting to the dance and having the clock strike midnight before you even saw the band play!

As`was stated in a column..what was the rush to get to THAT bullpen!@

That was really where they missed Geary when they brought in Kyle L. Did I miss something or did the Phila media hardly mention all series (well, since Monday) that he was unavailable and that he could be a key loss with THAT bullpen.

If Charlie just HAD to yank Hendrick there - thought a bad move when he did it - then at least - please - NOT MESA in the sixth when they still had a chance.

Granted, Rollie Fingers was not available but, frankly, my choices in the sixth would have been Condrey maybe for two innings, or Alfonseca (ugh) for one, and then go back to the big three or two (heck, they've got tomorrow off) but certainly NOT Mesa. What was he thinking??

I know Charlie is a loveable guy and the players like him.

I still don't think he manages very well...period.

As`was stated in a column..what was the rush to get to THAT bullpen!@

That was really where they missed Geary when they brought in Kyle L. Did I miss something or did the Phila media hardly mention all series (well, since Monday) that he was unavailable and that he could be a key loss with THAT bullpen.

If Charlie just HAD to yank Hendrick there - thought a bad move when he did it - then at least - please - NOT MESA in the sixth when they still had a chance.

Granted, Rollie Fingers was not available but, frankly, my choices in the sixth would have been Condrey maybe for two innings, or Alfonseca (ugh) for one, and then go back to the big three or two (heck, they've got tomorrow off) but certainly NOT Mesa. What was he thinking??

I know Charlie is a loveable guy and the players like him.

I still don't think he manages very well...period.

There, now I feel better.

Mr. Met- Can you lend us Willie Randolph instead of Wagner? We know that the Phillies have more heart than the Mets... If they only had a brain.

On another note...
I'm convinced that Phillies are never comfortable being favorites. Now that they have been left for dead, I expect them to play much better. Making it home for game 5 would not surprise me.

John, your dad is wise, wise man, I'm still laughing through my tears into my crying (rally) towel at his observation.
The odds are against us but what the hell, they have been all year. Tell ya what, this Rockies team is pretty good. Man, do they pounce on mistakes and have a killer instinct. They beat us, I'm gonna root for them, I like their style.

I have been a Charlie defender in this space but not for the decision to pull Kendrick, he blew it. He tends to overmanage sometimes and that was a great example. Kendrick is our #2 starter, you let him try to pitch out of that jam, not give him the Adam Eaton treatment.

Hamels has said he doesn't want to pitch 4th game, wants to stay on his scheduled start. I can't say what I'd like to about that mind set except here kitty, kitty.
Mr.Met, funny, we didn't hear from you after the Mutts collapse, had to wait for us to lose a game to post? See Hamels reaction above for what I think of you also.
Let's get them Saturday, it's not over.

First off, I want to ask you all a favor: If I ever get so desperate that I spend my time visiting better teams' blogs so I can post idiot remarks, please shoot me. I would never want to make such an ass of myself. Thanks.

Now, as for the Phils, John in LA said it right up front: Pulling Kendrick at that point was a mistake, especially for Lohse, who is NOT A RELEIVER. He is used to being able to withstand giving up a hit or even a homer. But you can't throw him in with bases loaded. Kendrick was your best option there. Pulling him was a panic move. Going to the bullpen so soon was a fatal mistake. (I seriously thought I was having a nightmare when Mesa entered the game!)

And allowing Ruiz to bat late in the game with bases loaded? This has happened numerous times recently, and none was bigger than this. Hey, I love Carlos behind the plate and he's occassionally come up with a clutch hit or walk, but here you HAD TO HAVE A BAT AT THE PLATE. Ruiz is young and not a good hitter overall. Coste has been around and has shown himself to be smart at the plate, with much more potential to get a hit or even knock one out.

As I write this, I just heard that Hamels will NOT pitch on short rest Sunday if there's a Game 4. I officially open nominations for a starter Sunday. Do you run Lohse out there?

This is not over! Go Phils!

Jimmymack, nicely said about Cole. I almost threw my cereal bowl across the kitchen table this morning when I read his comments about Game 4.

I appreciate everything Charlie has done this season to get us to October baseball, but you just knew that he would cost us a game or two. I already commented about pulling Kendrick yesterday, so I won't beat that drum again.

I would have liked to have seen Nunez in there yesterday at third. Playing Helms on Wednesday was the right call (up until then, he had hit Francis pretty good) but how can you start a guy two days in a row in the playoffs when you buried him on the bench in September? Doesn't make sense to me. Bottom line is that Nunez likely makes that play on the dribbler to third and we don't even need to think about pulling Kendrick.

I will be watching on Saturday and hope that Moyer has another strong start. We win Saturday and the pressure is on them to close it out at home. One game at a time.

Go Phils!

why is jose mesa pitching in any kind of meaningful game at this pt? he should do us all a favor and hang up that red glove of his now and forever.

"The Rockies bite- they just look good against Philly Phlemballs! - From Mr. Met"

Uh ... regarding New York teams this year ... against the Yankess - 3 and O; against the Mets 3 - 0 (July 2 through 4) and 4 - 2 for the season although those first 2 losses came in an abysmal April. Also, versus the Red Sox, we went 2 and 1 at Fenway with one of those wins against Beckett.

Mr. Met,

Now, who bites?

Oh and Todd, I sure hope you brought warm clothes. Forecasts are for it to turn cold Saturday (perfect football weather for my Colorado Buffaloes!) with the low on Sat night of 38 degrees and a chance of light snow. And Sunday's forecast is even worse. With the ridiculous starting time on Saturday, it will get progressively colder as the sun sets here at 6:30.

Weather updates here:
http://www.9news.com/weather/forecast/default.aspx

Lohse was good down the stretch, out of the pen and starting.
The big mistake was not going after Torreabla.
Mesa's appearance just proves how thin the BP is, even in a short series.

The Rockies have a smart plan of attack on the Phillies hitters. Fastballs early in the count, fluff and garbage late. They have been getting ahead early, letting the Phils chase junk and get themselves out.

Like Kevin Millar said about the Sox down 0-3 in 2004: Don't let us win one. That's all it takes to get the Phils back in a groove.

Based on most of Todd's travel adventures, he'll just be happy if his bags make it to Denver before he has to fly back. Maybe him getting off the plane WITH his luggage will be just the omen for a Phils's sweep.

Look, work with me here, I'm desperate.

Todd:

Here's a feel-good story idea for when you hit the ground in CO.

How did playing the Rockies impact Coors Light sales at The Bank?

Like the fake John Denver the Phanatic abused, Coors beer is a symbol of all that is wrong about Colorado.

We tried to pressure everyone in our section to buy Bud Light instead.
We had about as much luck as the Phillies on the field.

(Aramark bused in extra vendors from Baltimore to work the games.)

Jimmymack,

Hang in there, buddy.

Re: Hamels comments... bizarre, to say the least. Even the fact that he was so adamant - if he's hurt, okay. But if it's just a zen-like scheduling/moon-cycle/rhythm thing, you're playing in the wrong town. Leave that nonsense in the dojo, pal.

Yeah, the Rockies are tough. But maybe with the Phillies' backs against the wall they'll bring a little more magic. Add your own cliche. Stranger things, right?

PS: JM, in fairness, my little sister tells me the shirtless guy did have a Phillies cape.

I am extremely impressed by the Rockies. But this isn't over yet. No way.

Hey, how about Jamie Moyer - in less than one week's time he finds himself twice pitching the biggest game of the year, pitching to extend the season. I say he's up to it.

So who goes Sunday? Loshe?

I love Charlie, but I agree with the sentiment that pulling Kendrick for Loshe was hasty. 2 outs, 3-2 lead - the kid deserved a chance to try to work out of the jam. Even if Loshe had gotten Matsui, I would still think that. Oh well. I'm still stickin' with Charlie.

I'm not gonna pound Charlie, either. The Rockies LOOK like the better team right now, so even if Lohse doesn't take all our breaths way... 4 hits Weds, 7 or so up until the 9th yesterday just ain't getting it done. Can that change? Absolutely.

Am I the only one starting to miss Mr. Met?

The Rockies pitcher on Saturday is Ubaldo Jimenez. This kid may be the player that the Rockies organization is most excited about (even including Tulowitzki).

He's only pitched 6 games for the Rockies. But consider his last outing in the pressure-packed Sunday game on 9/30. Jimenez had a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings before allowing a single. He ended up pitching 6 1/3 innings and gave up one hit and one earned run. And, this was against the Diamondbacks.

Oh, and he has a 100 mph fastball and a good breaking ball. He's change-up is a work in progress, but then again he's only 23.

More here:
http://www.minorleaguenews.com/baseball/features/articles2006/08/fab50/24.html

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?? NOthing is over!!!!
GO Phils, Bring it Back to Philly.

Todd,

If you're looking for a good story out here in Denver, check out today's Post on the Rockies voting a playoff share to the widow of Mike Coolbaugh (Rockies' minor league 1st base coach killed earlier this year by a foul ball): http://www.denverpost.com/popular/ci_7083562

Also, heartbreaking picture here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/the_bonus/09/18/coolbaugh0924/

Why thank you John in LA.!

As a return token of kindness and as part of my rehab from the misery cast upon me by my Muts, I am temporarily lifting the spell that I cast BEFORE this series began!

So enjoy your WIN on Saturday!

Besides- I am too busy hexing those Bronx Bums!

So Go Phils!- Go Tribe!

seriously, don't new york (or north jersey) and colorado have their OWN news/sports websites??

don't care about a rockies fan's point of view.

fortunately, if the rockies do end up beating the phils and somehow make it to the world series, we won't have to hear about it much because no one cares about the rockies - with the exception of lumberjacks and umpires that are paid to call matt holliday safe when he's really out.

SCRAM!

Ali

Yes, we do, but it's fun to mix it up with the notoriously obnoxious and vulgar fans from Philly. After the abuse you heaped on the Rockies over the last couple of days, you've lived up to your national reputations of being the worst fans in one of the worst cities in America (is "Philadelphia" latin for "decaying industrial armpit"?)

You guys DESERVE to get swept for all the abuse that you subjected the best thrd basemen to over the. And by the way, you can have Iverson back as he eptomizes Philly fans - weak, tiny and whiny.

And by the way, I've been to your city and the people are obese and the food sucks! I mean, really, steak with Velveeta cheese is your crowning culinary achievement? What a joke!

Last one. I like your ballclub. It's the fans that suck.

DenverDan: go back to the Attytood blog will ya, this is a serious baseball blog. And do us a favor and never come back to Philadelphia either, since your cosmopolitan review of the city only consist of 8th grade name calling. So original.
Now back to the basement till Mommy calls you for dinner. If you are good I'm sure she'll let you log on to dork.com, your home page.

Wow! Imagine that, someone from Colorado with a backbone!

And still, no one cares about YOU, YOUR OPINION, or YOUR BASEBALL TEAM.

I've been to over 15 games this year and haven't seen one philadelphia fan do anything vulgar. At least we have passion, good or bad for our teams. I'd lump Colorado in with the rest of the west coast teams that have fans that golf clap through an entire game.

Perhaps you're operating on suspect and stereotype?

Wouldn't that just be typical... Maybe you'd like to bring up Santa and the Snowballs? What a class act.

My advice to you is to spend some time here and to soak up the history and rich culture this city provides. Only a moron would presume that the only thing a city like Phila. has to give is the cheesesteak.

And by the way, if you've been here and have thought that you were going to get gourmet items from a place named Geno's (seriously, no offense to Geno's) you're probably retarded anyway. Try Morimoto or any number of the nationally applauded restaurants the city has to offer next time.

Really, become a free-thinking individual. Stereotypes lead to bad, bad things, my friend.

also, I'm guessing you're refering to mike schmidt in your non-sentense about the best third baseman?

FYI - There's a fair amount of hero worship for that man in this city, and always has been.

Don't EVER try and understand the mechanics of the relationship of the philadelphia sports fan and our players. A closed-minded individual like yourself could never comprehend. Besides, it's none of your damn business.

Ali

Jimmymack pretty much meets the sterotype of a Philly fan. Thanks for making my point, Jimmymack. Now get back to your hole.

Ali

Out here we spell it "sentence". But, given your domicile, I can understand.

my regrets for hitting the wrong key. I'd say it's fairly obvious that I know how to spell sentence.

kudos to you for pointing out my mistake!

don't you have a denver.com you can pollute with your idiotic nonsense?

p.s. todd helton looks like a serial killer and tulowitzki will be on a much better/more promotable team within two years!

bye!

also - what you said is worse than what jimmymack said, since we're keeping track.

Who would have thought that we would actually miss REALMETSFAN? Thanks DenverDan, you have really outdone yourself. At least he knew something about the game of baseball and provided some decent banter.

Your team is white hot now and I give them all the credit in the world. However, I'm sure they would love to see the passion that we have showed our team all season. When the Rockies beat San Diego on Monday night, it looked like the ending of a game in early April. Really, really sad. By the way, Matt Holliday still hasn't touched home plate.

Just be sure to come back here Monday when we are talking about Game 5.

Go Phils!

Gee, thanks Dan, it means a lot coming from such a urbane and cultered person.

But just think, we now see you as the sterotype Denver fan. Wear the mantle proudly.

I was at that game Monday night and it was more passion than the Phillies fans could ever muster. And much less vulgar, thank you.

A photo of the Matt Holliday play was sent to a crime lab, blown up, and exhibited that his hand did swipt a corner under the catcher's cleat.

You all will have to find a new mantra. How about, "Get rid of that bum Manual."

You know the best part of living out here, is that I don't live THERE.

And I leave you with the following Pew survey from this year regarding your fair city, my witless friends: (heh, heh)

"The high tax burden and cost of doing business in Philadelphia remain economic drags.
School test scores, while improving, are still among the worst in the state with double digit disparities between whites and African Americans. Since 2002, retention and graduation rates have increased, and more schools are meeting the standards of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation.
Philadelphia is still losing both people and jobs. The city’s population of 1.5 million declined by 55,000 between 2000 and 2005, and 37,000 jobs were lost in that same time period.
A quarter of the population lives in poverty, up by 2 percent since 2000.
Recent data indicates that crime is rising again in Philadelphia. 2006 was the city’s worst year for homicides since 1997, with 406 murders, up from 380 in 2005."

Yea, but we don't have the model of urban sprawl like Denver (think that National Geographic cover of that awful hellhole, Highlands Ranch) and Phoenix.

jimmymack writes: "from such a urbane and cultered person"

I see jimmymack must be a product of Philly's fine school system.

Heh, heh.

it's a blog idiot, not the sat's. people are entitled to a misstep from time to time when it comes to spelling.

I live in the suburbs and am in no position to defend the actual city itself, but I'd bet anything that I could go on any statistics website and find some discouraging numbers about your fair city also.

Besides, the entire midwest doesn't have the culture, diversity (that's a big one - since that area is mostly white, hey, do you have some racial stereotypes you'd like to share also?) and history one block of center city philadelphia has.

you're a disgrace of a human being and I'd like to point out that you NEVER responded to a single point anyone made rationally - rather you responded with hate and vitriol. why is that?

Il mAk shore 2 spEel cHek fuTUree pOsts as to not offend your superior intellect, idiot.

and as far as your matt holliday crime lab garbage goes - no one gives a shit, okay? it's the colorado rockies. TBS's biggest nightmare. rockies v. diamondbacks. PUTRID RATINGS for sure!

Hey folks, the great thing about this blog has always been that it has not fallen into all the garbage that so many message boards do, which is low class name calling and accusations. It's always been about the baseball, specifically Philadelphia Phillies baseball. So listen, all you regulars, just ignore the bozos from other cities who want to get their jollies by posting idiotic rants. Posting a response just gives them a reason to post again. (I think in blog parlance, they call it "feeding the troll".)

So when you read one of these moronic posts, just chuckle and move on. The poster will try to get you riled up again, but just keep ignoring them. They'll go away, and even if they don't they end up just wasting their time.

Back to baseball...

Sorry gang, I didn't mean to post as anonymous. That was me with the anti-rant post.

And now, we return to our regularly scheduled programming...

Todd have a nice time out there in Denver. It must be a thrill to have such a great job as following the Phillies and writing about them.

The Phils may actually play better now that they know that the have to win or be eliminated. I don't see them getting swept, they may just push this series to Game 5 if they get it together.

Manuel was a hero a week ago, now he's facing big criticism from the very fans who praised him as the manager of the year. Such as the season goes for the Fightin's - they can beat the Rockies just like the Nationals did this years sweeping them, along with the Cubs and Toront who also swept the Rockies already this year.

Don't give up the faith just yet.

Rich

hey Denver fan!

Stay off this site. Nobody cares about Colorado except for the Coors. Just go to a Lanche game and listen to sappy John denver songs. You make me madder than a Glavine playoff performance!

Now Phils- Good Luck Saturday!- Hope your old man doesnt have a first inning like our old man did! YIKES!

Hey Ali

You're geographically challenged, too. Denver's not in the Midwest. What a maroon.

Moyer's career numbers in the postseason:
3-1, 2.66 ERA, 17 K, 4 BB

I like our odds. Being in the crowd for those first two games was rough (sure made the roadtrip back to Virginia a long one) and I'm hoping they can bring back some of the magic.

Go Fightins.

DenverDan,
Go dig yourself a ditch to wait in until AI and Carmelo bring your town a title. Denver sucks and so do the Rockies.

"Baseball been very very good to me" GO PHILS...

Phillies, have played good baseball, on the road all year. If they can win game (3) ,the pressure goes back, to Rockies. One game at a time. " YES WE CAN " Let's enjoy every pitch, we all spent a great amount of time, to get here, now let's savor it..Denver, I hear, is a beautiful city. The problem is we have a small percentage of fans, in all cities, that give their city a bad name. Denver Dan, is a perfect example . GO PHILS !

Sadly, but mercifully, it will end this weekend. Probably in a sweep, although a glimmer-of-faith restoring win with Moyer is plausible. Of course, it'll natch then be followed by a crushing one run loss, or a blown-out rout in oh-so-typical-Phillies tradition on Sunday nite. In the end, it can simply be chalked up to lack of experience with playoff pressure, poor pitching, and yes-- Uncle Cholley. So please....getting the division crown can't shroud the way ahead. Playoff jitters can certainly get overcome the second time around, if you get there again. But counting on a favorable schedule to set up a 12-5 finish helped by another historic collapse is shortsighted. We desparately need better pitching and upgraded leadership in the dugout to seriously compete for a world championship. Mind you, I'm not targeting Uncle Cholley for losing. But look at the rest of the playoff teams this year, especially Cleveland, Arizona, and Colorado, who are now flourishing with similar caliber talent. Would you not trade managers today with any of them? Uncle Cholley is no doubt a good guy, who does a good job. But can anyone see him in the picture if we are to realistically go from good to great?

So far my hex is working wonderfully 4 losses for 4 tries by the Phils and Yanks.

But- as promised- a reprieve, and a Phils win today!

Watch out for the gnats out there! - (now where did they come from? LOL!!!)