Joe Sheehan hits on this on BP unfiltered but it has been a long time since I've seen a slugger like Ryan Howard who I was completely unafraid of if any kind of southpaw was pitching and deathly afraid of if he's facing a righty.

The Rays looked dazed and confused. Clearly they are not playing up to their demonstrated potential, so I am attributing their sad WS performance to jitters and rookie mistakes.

Rays:
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Longoria 3B
Navarro C
Baldelli RF
Bartlett SS
Kazmir P

Phillies:
Rollins SS
Werth RF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Burrell LF
Victorino CF
Feliz 3B
Ruiz C
Hamels P

I'm sure the good people of Philadelphia are enjoying the song stylings of John Oates.

Fortunately, I am not.

2 walks, a hit by pitch and then a hit by the Flying Hawaiian.

Hmm, I wonder what else on tonight?

I am listening to this on-line so I will predict Ruiz breaks the game open.

Victorino

I am rooting pretty hard for the Rays, and for Xeifrank to win his $3k, but if the Phillies are to win the series I would like them to do it tonight, so the home fans can enjoy it in person.

I made several posts in a previous Griddle before I figured out I was alone. LATed and worse. Such is life.

See, I number the games to avoid that problem.

A single Philly PA is taking longer then the entire Rays inning so far... jesus either the Rays hitters are panicing or they're mailing it in.

At least this game won't take long.

I am really sick of the Direct TV ads.

Is MLB selling those caps with the flaps on them? I want one, despite having little chance to ever wear one hear in Southern California.

Pena has now matched Canseco and McGwire (and I think Dave Winfield) with 1 hit in their first World Series.

Some announcer says the Ray's manager is "brave, courageous, and bold"!

14 Do I buy this hat?

http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3302519&cp=1452371.1452621

And now Longoria has tied those other guys.

17
I can think of one good reason for not buying that cap.

It's really ugly.

17
I would suggest no.

8
I 2nd that, if they are going to lose, lose now.

19 For the same reason I resist buying UCLA Final Four gear.

20 If Kazmir can survive for a few more innings, maybe the Rays have a shot.

Perhaps an unfortunate bunt attempt for Hamels?

17
BH, put me down for no on the hat. A shirt is more acceptable though.

14
Bob, I was staring at Maddon for a minute trying to figure out if the flaps were just the hood of his sweatshirt or not. I did notice I have never seen the colors of a hat and sweatshirt match so well! :)

If only this game were being played at Dolphins Stadium...

BH, speaking of shirts, Penn State's victory this weekend greatly increased your chances of earning a Dodger shirt.

This Kazmir effort has not been pretty, but it might be effective, if this game gets cancelled very soon. Sometimes these these thing are built on character.

26 I could also take a Hawaiian shirt bought at a swap meet.

28
You should ask for a Pete Arbogast Hawaiian shirt!

How do you do?

28 I didn't want to use his name, Eric gets mad when anyone uses his catchphrase.

14 - So, I am guessing that you wouldn't here of wearing one in Southern California?

That was a fantastic double play by Utley!

Bob or Eric?

Has there ever been a shortened game to decide a World Series, Division or Pennant?

I know there were two outs with nobody on base, but down by one run, you have to bat for Kazmir there. What does he have < 1ip left?
vr, Xei

33 My guess is no.

Man oh man, not ANOTHER oen of those "could have been" calls!!

*another ONE. that's why we have editors.

They have to do something about playing the most important games of the season during such terrible weather. No, not the Plashke solution, but the season needs to be shortened and or started earlier.
vr, Xei

30
Both 28 & 29 were funny enough to deem the reference acceptable. :)

34 Rays in a tough spot, sounds like they could delay the game so you don't want to waste another pitcher.

Kazmir probably just pitches to Howard.

33
There has never been a postseason game that didn't go at least 9 innings.

Or at least 8 1/2!

40. if he only pitches to Howard, more the reason to take him out. A pinch hit HR and the game is tied. Oh well.
vr, Xei

They'll play until a pitcher throws one to the backstop. Or into someone's skull.

33
I searched B-R, and no postseason games with a team's total innings pitched under 8.

Has a World Series ever been clinched on a game that was called after only 5 innings due to rain?

38 Players won't give up the pro-rated salary and the owners won't give up the gate receipts. (I wonder if there is net gain for the owners in that exchange)

Flaps down! (I just saw that).

44 , 45

ooooooooooooooooooops. Just checked into the Griddle; hello everybody!

I really hope it stays a one run game until the 8th. I would live for that!

44 38 seconds behind.

I think Bob has his screen set up to enter a comment at any given moment.

Supposedly Game 7 of the 1925 World Series was played in a heavy rain in cold temperatures at Forbes Field, which had notoriously poor drainage.

Pittsburgh beat Washington 9-7. Walter Johnson gave up 9 runs on 15 hits in a complete game.

There was even a catcher's interference in the game!

Last night the announcers were wondering why there were not more Ray's fans in the stadium. Tonight they are talking about how less than cordial Fillies fans are, not to speak of attendants.

43 So what passes for sports now in StL, hockey? And are the Blues planning to sue the RNC for injuring their goalie?

49
Being within 38 seconds of Bob is like being an inch behind Bob Beamon.

38 Xei you are so right. I hate to see the decisive minutes of the World Series in such poor weather. Not sure of the solution.

Nothing says the World Series like playing in cold rain.

We have renewed interest in the Rams, now that they're 2-1 under Haslett. Legace's injury doesn't appear serious, no thanks to Palin, so the Blues won't have to use their fourth-string goalie on Thursday. And Mizzou football is just two hours away, they're still ranked, and I'm going to Waco on Saturday! Pinch me.

I would like to file a formal protest against the city of Philadelphia for their poor choice in weather for the evening. Whom do I send that to?

What's the deal with the homeplate ump? Kazmir struck Burrell out twice atleast.
vr, Xei

They have to do something about playing the most important games of the season during such terrible weather.

Wait till next year.
World Series in November!

This umpiring crew needs an off-season badly.

Letting Kazmir hit was dumb. Calling two clear strikes to Burrell balls ... dumber.
vr, Xei

56 And doesn't Majerus's team start playing basketball soon?

I gaurantee you that this game won't be shortened due to weather. My gaurantee is backed up with the promise to watch a whole season of whatever TV show you want me to watch. That's quite a gaurantee!
vr, Xei

The 2001 World Series stretched into November. People seemed to enjoy it.

63 I vote for House.

Maybe the ump needs a personal moisture-wiper-offer between hitters. I'm sure he just can't see the pitches very well and is thus just guessing. Uh...

The Dodgers and Angels can cooperate and make the WS next year to alleviate any weather concerns.

One of the longest weather related delays in a World Series was in 1962.

In San Francisco.

Three days rained out between Games 5 and 6 I believe.

65
We should go for something daily, like The View, to ensure a maximum of punitive damages.

Bob,
Don't know if anyone noticed it but in the previous inning with the bases loaded the home plate ump through the ball back to Kazmir a bit high and he had to jump a bit to get it.

If the throw had been really bad especially with the rain and wet and got past the pitcher would the man on 3rd be able to go home? I know if the catcher throws it the runner can advance, but don't know how it works when the ump throws it.

51 , I definitely saw almost as many Rays fans as offensive Steve Irwin posters at the game on Saturday/Sunday!

I hope the Rays tie it up, then a deluge hits and they have to suspend the game.

72 Now that is in bad taste.

71
It's a dead ball if touched by an umpire.

71
Time is out when the umpire throws the ball back to the pitcher.

Man, those popups look like a chore.

We're fading on the East coast.(at least speaking for myself.)

This game needs John Stuper.

Nice inning for Balfour.

78 Its not even midnight.

68 Weird. Hard to imagine it raining here in October for that long. Usually warm and dry.

Still, to be safe, we should probably make sure that no World Series are held in SF.

69 Ouch. That'd be too cruel. I was going to suggest Extreme Makeover or the new "Crash" series on Starz, which I suppose would be cruel as well.

Rays escape Maddon's not so smart move of letting Kazmir walk the first two batters after not pinch hitting for him. Kudos to Balfour. Field conditions are a joke. Pop flies are an adventure.
vr, Xei

76

Thanks Bob, sorta thought that was the case, but wasn't sure.

79
OK, I tried looking that up to no avail. To quote a guilty man, I gots to know.

68 - Followed by the earthquake and then the rally monkey. Mother Nature doesn't like the Giants either.

Weather radar shows rain all nite in Philly.

Wow, Ken Rosenthal was speaking and the next thing I knew I'd taken a brief cat nap. That was cool.

Whats stopping them from just suspending the game and resuming tomorrow?

Thanks for showing us Victorino with his hand down his pants.

John Stuper was the pitcher for the Cardinals in Game 6 of the 1982 World Series. There were two long rain delays in that game and Stuper stuck it out to force a Game 6.

It helped that the Cardinals won the game 13-1.

It is unclear after reviewing MLB Official Rules on Suspended Games if the umpires could suspend the game as opposed to ending the game since it is official.

(56) SLU basketball plays a closed-door scrimmage against Memphis on Saturday, then its exhibition game against Harris-Stowe (an NAIA school across the street) on Wednesday. Then the season opener against Missouri-St. Louis. They've got three seniors, a sophomore who's hurt, and eight freshmen. I'm projecting a long season.

at what point do we say this game is fixed?
vr, Xei

74
This is Philly, you know.
72
I'll bet!
65
I say Oprah for max pain.

The groundskeepers are earning their keep tonight. I wonder if the grounds crew gets voted a full or partial playoff share. I guess it varies from team to team. That would be quite a nice bonus for a crew member. Last year a full playoff share was ~$300k for the WS winner and ~$235k for the runner up.

The A's had a World Series game rained out in 1972. Game 3 was delayed a day.

Phillies fans must be loving this plate ump.
Rooting for the Rays ... he's terrible.

Really sounds like Joe Buck thinks they should stop the game.

Hamels coming back out there seems un-smart. But we'll see.

It should be Mad Men, so that we could look forward to scintillating exchanges between Xeifrank and underdog.

If the game were tied, they would stop this. And if the Rays tie it, they just might do that.

Weird, I swear I posted that like five minutes ago. I blame my nap. Or the weather.

This is ridiculous, they need to finish this game tomorrow.

91
Thanks Bob.

Excellent jump by Upton there. What a crappy field right now. Sheesh.

Slip'n Slide!!!!!!!!

96 I think the clubhouse managers, bat boys, grounds crew and traveling secretary all get voted some type of post-season money.

106
and the fans pay?

102 Does anyone think Pujols should get his surgery this off-season?

101 Xei would have plenty of time to catch up on Mad Men, since it'll be a long wait for season 3. :-(

But the Simpsons is doing a little Mad Men homage in the Halloween episode on Sunday.

107 As Shaq says, excuse me?

If this is the last baseball game of the season, what a hideous (and appropriate) ending.

2-2!

Woohoo!

In Game 3 of the 1998 ALDS between the Yankees and Rangers there was a 3 hour and 16 minute rain delay after the 8th inning.

The Yankees led 4-0. If the game could not have been resumed, it would have been suspended according to all the news accounts of the game.

However, MLB really wanted to wait because if the Rangers had won to force a Game 4, they would have to have played the end of Game 3 and then clear all out all the people who had Game 3 tickets and then bring in the Game 4 people.

And now, with the game tied, the game can be suspended without any shenanigans.

yes!
vr, Xei

I am surprised it sounded as close as the Philly broadcaster made it sound.

Upton sloshing around the bases

Yea!

107
The postseason players' pool is derived from 60% of the gate of games 1-3 of each LDS, 1-4 of each LCS, and 1-4 of the WS. It is split:

36% champ
24% runner up
12% each LCS loser
3% each LDS loser
1% each non-WC 2nd place team

Last year, the Red Sox players' share was ~$18m and the Rockies was ~$12m.

Stupor it is. Oops, there's the ball to the backstop.

It's time to dance!! woooooot!

I love how Joe and Tim were insisting nobody could steal a base and right after that, Upton steals a base. HAH!!!

At least delay the game.
2-2, play the rest of it tomorrow.

Game 3 of the 1997 World Series was played in snow flurries and even colder temperatures.

There were people who thought he should have gotten it this year, there were people who thought he should have gotten it as soon as the Cards fell out of the race this season. He had a minor operation already a couple of weeks ago, and should be back by opening day. If the Cardinals don't acquire a closer, there will be those who think he should do it this year. The Cards maintain he doesn't need it.

117
Any kind of throw would have nailed Upton, but I'm sure even a good OFer would have had trouble setting his feet for a good throw.

That was some excitement! And now that we're tied... I vote they finish the damned thing early tomorrow.

Plate ump needs to get it together now.
Just call the game the same way blue/red please.

The logistics for a suspended game would be ...

challenging.

When do you play it for starters? Fox has a very special episode of House to show tomorrow!

124 Thanks for all the insight.

Philadelphia has rain in its forecast for the next 2 days and nights.

Rain Delay.
This is gonna be a LONG delay if they do resume it today.

I would say that the Phillies better hope that the game is continued and they win tonight or that there is at least a one day delay so Hamels can pitch on 3 days rest for Game 7 if needed.

Huh. Weather's supposed to be worse tomorrow?

This could be a cursed ending! Just in time for Halloween.

Why don't they just play a game of guitar hero to decide it? Then on to Tampa Bay if need be.
vr, Xei

Will this end later than the 1:47am or whenever Game 3 ended?

If the Phillies win at some ungodly hour, I'd like to see another Rick Camp moment.

I suggest they go finish the game in a domed stadium. Say, the one in Tampa.

135 - Over?

So what's the rule about the game reverting back to the last full inning if suspended?
vr, Xei

137
That rule was taken off the books in 1979.

138. Good, I am all for making up the rules as we go along as long as they help the Rays.
vr, Xei

Greatest hits in The Griddle's writings about suspended games:
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/713883.html

https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/969074.html

https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/623467.html

https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/648453.html

https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/592663.html

Checking my Philadelphia Farmers Almanac, the next date with good enough weather to resume Game #5 will be next March 28th. Still only a 20% chance of rain that day.
vr, Xei

I think the only postseason game to have started but not finished was Game 1 of the NLCS in 1982. The Braves were up 1-0 over the Cardinals with 1 out in the 5th when the game was stopped, and it was called after a 2 hour, 28 minute delay.

It was the first rainout in St. Louis all year. The second one came two days later.

However, it did rain really hard that day in St. Louis. When it started raining, it RAINED.

Extremely dumb question:

If MLB knew there was going to be awful weather at this time tonight, why didn't they just emergency start the game earlier? Perhaps at 6pm ET or 7pm ET?

College football does this all the time. If they sense a hurricane or monsoon they'll move up the start time as a precaution.

Baseball never prepares; only reacts.

144 At the very least, cut out the half-hour pregame or move it to 7:30 on a cable affiliate.

144 If MLB wasn't beholden to the almighty ratings, they might. But that's just crazy talk, like playing day games during the World Series.

So 73 , we can send all of the angry Philadelphians who were denied our WS victory to meet you...where?

I've heard of regular season game times moved up, but I assume that with a postseason game, Fox doesn't want to have give a lot of sponsors "make goods."

Here in L.A., they're showing the "Jazz Singer" episode of "The Simpsons."

My rain-delay theater: the local Fox news.

For the record, it's "Like Father, Like Clown."

In SD, I had Two and a Half Men followed by Family Guy.

According to the the local news, we should stand by for an important message from "the explainer:" Joe Buck.

I got George Lopez and King of the Hill up in SB.

All bad weather team:

1B J.T. Snow
LF Tim Raines
P Josh Fogg

That's all I can think of without nicknames (sorry Storm Davis) off the top of my head.

MLB website says the game has been suspended and will resume tomorrow.

154
CF Curt Flood

An ESPN special on Ugueth Urbina in Mexico City.

SUSPENDED ANIMATION!

Is FOX going to come back to explain to the people without internet (or other channels) when the game will resume?

158
Good album by Fantomas.

159 Joe's on right now.

I guess KKFX Santa Maria missed the memo.

8 PM Eastern tomorrow, according to Joe.

They say 8/5 pm ET/PT, although I hope they dispense with pregame shows.

Of course, I work tomorrow night which means this World Series would wrap up on Gameday.

Balfour could go back out there, but the Phillies will need a new arm.

There's a Jazz Singer episode of the Simpsons?

161
Still no announcement on San Diego's Fox5.

162 ,165 : I wonder if they're holding the announcement for the top of the hour. Since KXRM was already into the local news, they just ran it live.

165
It was in 1991.

Yes, rest of the world, this could only happen to us :(

Well, my laptop battery is ready to die, so I'll see you tomorrow.

159
but first, these important words from our sponsors!

162
you have to watch that garbage too? Fox in the sticks! At least some one else to share the misery with....

Welp, it looks like they ran the "Joe explains the game suspension" piece about 5 minutes ago, in the middle of the final break of "King of the Hill."

The piece was a lot shorter than I thought... probably 30 seconds max.

Now I have ten straight minutes of PSAs. Fun fun.

On ESPN, Ravetch, Gammons, and Phillips are pontificating how this will come down to a "two and a half inning game" tomorrow. They made the point at least two or three times.

Ummm, there are 3.5 innings left (maybe 3).

I wonder what a logistical nightmare this is for the Rays (and the Phils somewhat). I would have thought the team had already checked out of the hotel with plans to fly back home right after the game. Now they have to find rooms for tonight (and maybe tomorrow night too depending on the weather).

..and we'll see you..........................
.............................................
.............................................
..........

...TOMORROW NIGHT!!

Meanwhile, their stories filed, a hundred or so sportswriters are now frantically rebooking flights from Philadelphia to Tampa on Wednesday morning.

I figure a lot of people will be scalping ticket stubs to see the rest of this game. How weird.

Stormy Weatherly CF
Von Hayes RF
Hurricane Hazle RF
Rich Gale P
J.T. Snow 1B

Who does this help? I'd say Philly because Maddon had basically said his plan was to use Price for multiple innings tonight, rest him tomorrow, and then have him good to go again for Game 6. Now that won't happen.

I'm confused. Karl Ravech was saying, if not for the 2007 rule change, a 2-1 win could have been awarded to Philly (assuming Tampa didn't tie it). I thought the 2007 rule change only applied to weather-shortened tie games.

Read the links in 140
That explains the rule changes.

Karl Ravech is right only if you are like Tim McCarver and Joe Buck and think Panama and Venezuela are the same country.

McCarver thinks Venezuela is a lefthanded pitcher and Panama is a hat worn by the scout who signed him.

Do you know how many regular season games this year were called before 9 innings?

Three. And two of them were between Baltimore and Toronto in the last week of the season.

The other was a game on August 4 between the Astros and Cubs.

Bob, if the game is suspended, does that mean this thread is suspended too, and we can return to it tomorrow???

154

Tim Raines Jr
As a PR Mickey Rivers

185
That will be my plan.

Uh oh... it's everybody's favorite Nelson, Amy K. Nelson on ESPN radio, as we speak.

What stories will she fabricate this time?

Americans are geographically hopeless. Even the AP has now basically given up.

"I'm disappointed, but you can't control the weather," Murtha said, walking through Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia. "It would have been nice to see them win today, but I'm confident they're going to win it anyway, that they'll do it tomorrow or in Tampa."

Perhaps they moved Game 6 to George M. Steinbrenner Field when I wasn't looking.

http://www.botecomm.com/bote/ball/

The press conference "explaining" tonight's events and decisions can be downloaded from the above page.

Noto bene the car salesman's response when asked whether it was a rule or his judgement that determined the disposition of this game under the circumstances.

OK so answer me this... under normal circumstances (meaning no Selig intervention) if Tampa had scored 2 runs in the 6th to lead 3-2, this would have been a rain-shortened 2-1 Philly win. And the 2007 rule change did nothing to change that sort of outcome where runs scored in a partial inning are wiped out.

OK that NY Times link in 140 cleared it up. I was mixing up the 1980 rule change involving partial inning scoring and the 2007 rule change for rained out ties in official games.

More weather names:

Chuck Rainey
Gene Freese
Juan (or Melvin) Nieves

Vegas Watch Blog has a post showing the pre-game line for Game #5 was -172/+164 and the current live line taking into consideration 2-2 B6th inning is -159/+151. Fangraphs is at ~58% favoring the Phillies, solely based on empirical data. So Vegas thinks that the Phillies chances of winning are now less than they were prior to the start of Game #5, but not by much. They also are giving the Phillies a decent bump over the empirical number even with Hamels most likely out of the game. It could be that Vegas is trying to get some extra bets made on the Phillies (who knows). So yes, it looks like the Phillies are slightly worse off now than they were prior to the start of Game #5, based off of what Vegas shows. And of course, Vegas could be off... but that's a whole nother topic. :)
vr, Xei

When play resumes the lineups are:
Rays
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Longoria 3B
Navarro C
Baldelli RF
Bartlett SS
Balfour P

Phillies
Rollins 2B
Werth RF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Burrell LF
Victorino CF
Feliz 3B
Ruiz C
Hamels P

Hamels will be the first batter in the game. The Rays first batter in the seventh will be Navarro.

For those of you on the West Coast, the Barack Obama infomercial will run on Fox AFTER the conclusion of Game 5. On all the other networks (except ABC), it will be shown at 8 pm PT.

I mention the Obama informercial because it would be funny to see the Phillies whooping up a celebration and spraying Champagne on each other and then moving on to what promises to be a likely sober political commercial.

197. Well, then hopefully the game goes 25 innings.
vr, Xei

For those keeping score, the six Rays who campaigned for Obama in Tampa last week were David Price, Fernando Perez, Cliff Floyd, Edwin Jackson, Jonny Gomes, and Carl Crawford. Jason Bartlett was also supposed to be there but didn't show up.

198 Yes, please.

No pregame show? I'm deeply impressed.

...and we're back!

The crowd sounds PUMPED!

203 Their enthusiasm hasn't been dampened.

I thought Baldelli had a bead on that one.

I think it would be funny if the Phils have Hamels wait until he's no longer the pitcher of record, then go take a shower. Treat it like normal. :)

Some mighty fine fielding from the Rays so far tonight.

The biggest effect of the suspension: Both teams are playing like it's the bottom of the eighth, not the bottom of the sixth. The Rays never should have had the infield pulled in.

I think Balfour would agree, Mark.

So, I assume no national anthem tonight?

Werth out of the baseline there?
vr, Xei

Not that I saw.

212 was in response to 210.
I make no opinion on Werth's running.

I forgot we were over here. But I always wish well to Werth. As well as Navarro and Jackson.

Actually excellent running by Werth. I remember Wills doing that often. If he was picked off, it seemed like there was only a 50/50 shot at getting him out.

Buck said Baldelli was "0 for 2 tonight." These guys are on such autopilot.

ND for Hamels. That must be a bit disappointing.

Moose, Rocco, help the judge find his wallet.

This series has been a godsend to lovers of the well-executed sacrifice bunt.

219 Clint Hurdle, for instance?

Is there any reason to let Howell bat there? He's facing Burrell next inning.

221
Yeah, I didn't get that.

That was pretty stupid.

Would have been nice to see a clear camera shot of that play at the plate live.

That play at the plate was embarassing for the runner.

Clear on the replay. He was well and truly out.

This is why I should never get my hopes up. Stupid Rays, making me believe in something again. How did I not know better?

Where is all the outrage from Buck & McCarver that Burrell didn't hustle right out of the box?

It would have been very appropriate if someone lost an arm there.

228 Guess McCarver was reading . . .

Are those earflap caps standard issue? I'd kind of dig a Rockies version.

I'm starting to suspect that Eric Stephen is from the very near future. He's like forty, fifty seconds ahead of the rest of us.

I bet he has a flying car.

I bet he has a flying car.

...And then the ROOGY comes in after Burrell bats.

Six outs to go for the Phillies.

Was I imagining it, or is there some guy wearing a chicken costume behind the first base dugout?

Timestamp:

I'm going to hit submit as I see the 0-2 pitch to Ruiz reach the plate.

Is there a way to watch the game online?

210 I listened to the Japanese broadcast on XM188 and they sang GBA to open the game, for some reason.

So much the better, since we don't have to interrupt the game for it in the 7th.

238 So what if we pick and pitch and everyone does that?

Would that be interesting?

Can't really say.

240 Some explanation: while all the other networks were doing their pre-game/in-game shows before the start of play, the Japanese network simply played the natural sound from the ballpark.

Then I switched over to ESPN to listen to Jon Miller and that other guy.

pick a pitch

Four outs to go.

239
No idea if this is safe or legal, but this is via D4P:

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=22617&part=sports

Noooooo . . . I want more baseball!

Everyone hit submit as the first pitch to Longoria reaches the plate?

Three Lidgian outs to go.

Carlos Ruiz for MVP!

works for me - that'll be the first pitch top of the ninth.

can it still be a one run game then please baseball gods?

Fox 11 in L.A. is going to have a lot of time to kill before their Obama infomercial.

Bob was brought on to be an apprentice for Death, once, many years ago, but they let him go for taunting people with a countdown before taking them to the underworld.

Would this be considered three-fo-fo?

Dammit Joe Buck, Werth is not two for two on the NIGHT, he is two for two on the game. Stop trying to convince people this is the same game as Monday!

That was a lame interjection about Penn.

So...why didn't Price pitch to Jenkins?

These guys are gonna have to work pretty hard to convince that it made sense to let Howell bat so that the could face one batter as we sit here in a three inning game.

254 Isn't it?

258
I thought he meant same day but had a typo.

The Dodgers could have had this Price guy for breaking slot? How many of the other good teams kiss Selig's butt.

Too bad Price wasn't in earlier to do that!
vr, Xei

Well, this is just about all you can ask for: your closer coming in to get 3 outs to win a world championship.

260 Everyone except Boston.

251. Barney will be on in our household.
vr, Xei

No not really, because in the game that should've been played the Rays would have had to pitch in that crap and Hamels would have thrown more than 70 pitches...

/Mike C'd

Ahem. THREE MORE OUTS!!

Allright then, about time for the great time stamp experiment.

Tee up your "Timestamp" comment and hit submit when you see the first pitch of the top of the ninth cross the plate.

Again, not really sure why . . .

83% championship probability (for tonight) for Philadelphia Phillies now.
vr, Xei

263- Aren't the Indians notorious nose-thumbers, too?

260
I'm pretty sure Price was set on going to college.

timestamp

Timestamp

Submit.

I win, I guess.

I forgot.

I'd say Eric abandoned us, but he's right there not playing along!

2

Two outs to go.

TWO more outs!!

Ya gotta be minimalist here.

oooo not cool!

269 Eric, I didn't know it went back so far.
Maybe I'm thinking of someone in the last two years.

Nando Perez for Dioner?

I had forgotten where George Hendrick was these days.

283
So he's not talking to you anymore either, huh?

281
Alex White?

That was a heck of a jump.

that's okay Lidge, just worry about the batter. Because the batter is Ben Zobrist...

Zobrist, followed by Hinske! And then Aybar.

1

I thought that one had a chance for a moment there.

A brief moment.

If I were Bud Selig, I'd declare that line drive a home run. He hit it hard, and wouldn't we all rather there be more baseball instead of no more baseball?

ONE!

Looked good off the bat.

291 (All - 411)

Two 1998 draftees going at it here.

I'm guessing that Eric Hinske is really bad with two strikes.

I'm a little disappointed in the Rays, but at least they showed up for the Series. Unlike a certain team I can mention from the last WS.

Congratulations, Phillies.

Congrats das.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Xeifrank.

Cheers, das!

And another team becomes more successful than the Dodgers in recent history.

Good for Davey Lopes.

To the Senior circuit. Yeah

Gee whiz, Lidge signaled a fair catch. Why'd they tackle him?

I want so badly to make an "Even the Losers" joke on Mike's Baseball Rants but I won't.

304
Just for that, the NL should get home field in the All-Star game next season! :)

Why don't we get to see the replay of what Robothal did the instant the last out was recorded?

awww thanks guys, farewell Rays, you will be back next year and hopefully against the Dodgers.

NOW time to go party like we've been waiting all our lives to do!!!

Although he went to Notre Dame, I'm guessing that Brad Lidge isn't Catholic. We don't go in much for thanking Jesus for winning.

310 Correct. We'd say "Saints be praised!"

And no horses on the field.

And even better. No Pete Rose!

ESPN2 is showing the streets of Philly. I fear 2000 NBA Finals atmosphere.

Congratulations to the Phillies...I guess this makes them the team to beat in all of baseball, not just the NL East :)

307 Amen to that.

"You had trouble in your first postseason..."

Umm, Rosenthal should have known Lidge's first postseason was 2004, not 2005.

Fire up the Hot Stove, baby!

YESSSSS way to boo the Commissioner Philly phans!!

Classy, Philly fans, you boo the team you just beat.

I live in a suburb 10 miles from the city, and there are fireworks going on all over the place. It feels like New Years here.

Congrats to the Phils. I think it's safe to say that the Rays were definitely outcoached and outplayed in this series.
vr, Xei

I'm getting tired of this Cole Hamels nice guy stuff. Can't he be more villainy?

Cole Hamels has a flying car that runs on moonlight, but he keeps it in a bunker in order to keep the price of oil (and tires) high.