Post by MikeGrim on Oct 30, 2008 12:00:17 GMT -5
Philadelphia: City of Champions!
by: Jeff Bradley
The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 Major League Baseball World Series Champions!!!!
In a World Series that consisted of five very well played games, the Phillies defeated the Rays 4 games to 1 to bring home the crown. Brad Lidge capped his perfect season (48 for 48 in saves) by striking out Eric Hinske to end the game. The Phillies showed it takes a team effort to win the title as they got key contributions from their stars, as well as people like Pedro Feliz (Series winning hit), Eric Bruntlett (scored winning run and had a pinch homer in the Series), Geoff Jenkins (pinch double to restart Game 5), Matt Stairs (game winning pinch homer in the NLCS), and Joe Blanton (remains undefeated as a Phillie). Cole Hamels was named the MVP of the World Series and finished the 2008 postseason with a 4-0 record, 1.80 ERA, and 30 strikeouts. Chase Utley showed that he is as good defensively as he is offensively, turning a key double play in the 7th, and throwing someone out at the plate as well on a perfect throw. J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, and Scott Eyre made Lidge's job easier by providing impeccable relief. Charlie Manuel made all of the right calls from the dugout in winning his first crown. When Jimmy Rollins said the Phillies were the team to beat, he sure knew what he was talking about, he was just a year ahead of his time.
The Tampa Bay Rays big hitters were shut down throughout the series by the Phillies pitchers, but the team did not go as easily as the 4-1 result seems to show. They were in every game and have a bunch of young stars that will keep them in contention in the AL East for years to come.
The World Series was set to be Pat Gillick's farewell to the Phillies as their General Manager with Ruben Amaro Jr. set to replace him. However, Gillick would not comment on this after the game. If Gillick leaves the Phillies, the Pat Gillick Curse may replace the now deceased Curse of Billy Penn. Pat Gillick has led all of the teams he has built deep into the playoffs and has now won 3 World Series titles. But none of the teams have made it back to the playoffs once he left the franchises (Baltimore, Seattle, Toronto).
The national media outlets will surely continue to mention the snowballs at Santa Claus and probably bring up a car or two being turned over in celebration, but what they will also have to mention is "the Team to Beat" was not beaten. After picking the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series in the preaseason on the carltonprescott.com Beta site (over the Boston Red Sox), I picked them in 4 over Brewers (check!), 5 over the Dodgers (check!), and then 6 over the Rays (kinda check! -- did say if Moyer pitched a good game it would be 5). You don't get baseball coverage and insight like this anywhere else! And with the MLB Channel starting 1/1/09, watch out! Make CarltonPrescott.com your home for baseball! But also check out PhilliesNation.com for the best team blog on the web.
This wraps up the 2008 baseball season, the way it should end, with the best team winning it all, on their home field (thanks to J.D. Drew!). Go Phillies!!!
by: Jeff Bradley
The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 Major League Baseball World Series Champions!!!!
In a World Series that consisted of five very well played games, the Phillies defeated the Rays 4 games to 1 to bring home the crown. Brad Lidge capped his perfect season (48 for 48 in saves) by striking out Eric Hinske to end the game. The Phillies showed it takes a team effort to win the title as they got key contributions from their stars, as well as people like Pedro Feliz (Series winning hit), Eric Bruntlett (scored winning run and had a pinch homer in the Series), Geoff Jenkins (pinch double to restart Game 5), Matt Stairs (game winning pinch homer in the NLCS), and Joe Blanton (remains undefeated as a Phillie). Cole Hamels was named the MVP of the World Series and finished the 2008 postseason with a 4-0 record, 1.80 ERA, and 30 strikeouts. Chase Utley showed that he is as good defensively as he is offensively, turning a key double play in the 7th, and throwing someone out at the plate as well on a perfect throw. J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, and Scott Eyre made Lidge's job easier by providing impeccable relief. Charlie Manuel made all of the right calls from the dugout in winning his first crown. When Jimmy Rollins said the Phillies were the team to beat, he sure knew what he was talking about, he was just a year ahead of his time.
The Tampa Bay Rays big hitters were shut down throughout the series by the Phillies pitchers, but the team did not go as easily as the 4-1 result seems to show. They were in every game and have a bunch of young stars that will keep them in contention in the AL East for years to come.
The World Series was set to be Pat Gillick's farewell to the Phillies as their General Manager with Ruben Amaro Jr. set to replace him. However, Gillick would not comment on this after the game. If Gillick leaves the Phillies, the Pat Gillick Curse may replace the now deceased Curse of Billy Penn. Pat Gillick has led all of the teams he has built deep into the playoffs and has now won 3 World Series titles. But none of the teams have made it back to the playoffs once he left the franchises (Baltimore, Seattle, Toronto).
The national media outlets will surely continue to mention the snowballs at Santa Claus and probably bring up a car or two being turned over in celebration, but what they will also have to mention is "the Team to Beat" was not beaten. After picking the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series in the preaseason on the carltonprescott.com Beta site (over the Boston Red Sox), I picked them in 4 over Brewers (check!), 5 over the Dodgers (check!), and then 6 over the Rays (kinda check! -- did say if Moyer pitched a good game it would be 5). You don't get baseball coverage and insight like this anywhere else! And with the MLB Channel starting 1/1/09, watch out! Make CarltonPrescott.com your home for baseball! But also check out PhilliesNation.com for the best team blog on the web.
This wraps up the 2008 baseball season, the way it should end, with the best team winning it all, on their home field (thanks to J.D. Drew!). Go Phillies!!!