Oct
29

World Series Game 5: Rays @ Phils … again

By Mike Axisa

We all know what happened Monday, there’s no need to go back over that. What we’re looking at tonight is a three-and-a-half inning mad dash to the finish, almost a sudden death baseball game.

The game will resume in the bottom of the 6th inning, tied at two. The pitcher’s spot is due up for Philly, so they’ll presumably announce a pinch hit for starter Cole Hamels. Grant Balfour is still in the game for Tampa, and was already announced in the 5th inning, so if Charlie Manuel goes to a lefty pinch hitter, Joe Maddon can counter with a lefty reliever without Balfour having to face one hitter first.

When the Rays come to back in the top of the 7th, Dioner Navarro will lead off, with the pitcher’s spot due up fourth in the inning. Philadelphia has a major advantage tonight because they have 12 outs to play with while Tampa only has 9.

The game should be a blast tonight, all the excitement of a postseason nail-biter finish without the drag of he first six innings. Brad Lidge hasn’t thrown more than one inning in an outing all season, but with everything on the line tonight, I suspect you’ll see him out there at the first hint of trouble in the 8th. David Price is available for multiple innings, and it’s pretty much a forgone conclusion that Tampa’s season will be decided when he’s on the mound.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:37pm, and this one might be over by 10. Imagine that.

Tampa Bay
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Rocco Baldelli, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Pitcher
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. BJ Upton, CF
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Evan Longoria, 3B

Philadelphia
9. Pitcher
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C

Posted on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 at 8:00 pm in Game Threads.

RSS feed | Trackback URI

257 Comments »

Ivan says:

I’ll juggle this game with the Knick game.

Go Knicks!!!!

Gallinari: 0/2 FG, He’s a bust. BUST!!!

Mike A. says:

I’m trying to sit through the Knicks so I can avoid this Barack Obama commercial, but it’s a lose-lose situation. My eyes … the goggles do nothing!!!

Mike A. says:

I don’t support McCain either. I dunno which idiot I’m going to vote for this year.

Steve says:

Write in “Derek Jeter”

Works for me.

 
 
 
 
Mike A. says:

What’s up with Marbury? Why isn’t he playing? He’s the only player on the team I know anything about.

Ivan says:

Marbury is allright, it’s just that he’s not D’Antoni’s fav player lets say. Plus, after that debacle last season with Marbury they really want him gone as possible. That is much easier said than done considering his contract status.

He’ll probably play, hell he’s there best PG. Nevertheless, Marbury is Isiah Thomas seeds that need to be gone.

 
 
 
Ivan says:

One more thing, big shout out to Shaun Livingston who is making his season debut with the Heat. Good to see him back from that injury playing again.

Whether your basketball fan or baseball fan, as sport fans we should be rooting for a guy like Livingston who came back from one of the worst if not the worst injuries I,ve ever seen. Good for him.

And Greg Oden’s out a month.

That’s what happens when you draft a 40-year-old 20-year-old.

 
 
A.D. says:

Game over by 10pm!!! wow now if only they could start ws games at 7 like normal and they could all be over around then

 
Ivan says:

Hey Mike, Who the hell is Mike Jones? Pete Abe brought his name up and he was some Wide Reciever for Arizona State. Can ya tell me about him?

Mike A. says:

Org. guy, nothing to see.

 
 
E-ROC says:

Hydroplaning!@**!*!!!@@@!!!

 
mustang says:

Not everyone loves those cute lovable Rays Game 5 received an 8.2 rating and 12 share the previous low for a game 5 -10.0/17. It was the rain? NOT
This World Series is 20 percent behind the current record low for a full World Series.
Looks like most of American wants this shit to end to night.
LOL

mustang says:

Good job BUD !!!!!!

Mike A. says:

It’s not Bud’s fault. It was a no win situation. If they don’t start the game, people would complain. If they stopped it earlier, people would complain. Stop blaming him for everything that’s wrong in baseball.

A.D. says:

George W. should have been given the commish job

The MLB may have ended up like the NHL if George W. was the commish. Let’s just say his track record of success hovers in the Isiah Thomas/Scott Layden range.

 
 
 
mustang says:

It’s not the time its who is playing. I think in general Bud has done a good job, but helping to support teams that can’t even support themselves is stupid. I could see it if you had 20 teams in the league, but you don’t. The Rays are not what is right in baseball they are what is wrong with it.

GG says:

What the hell is Selig supposed to do about a rain storm that happens? Fine Mother Nature?

mustang says:

“It was the rain? NOT
This World Series is 20 percent behind the current record low for a full World Series.”

Read the whole comment

 
 
 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

It interesting that baseball popularity is suppose to be at an all time high, but WS ratings so low

 
Ivan says:

Jamal Crawford is just bustin that ass.

 
Ivan says:

Man this game feels so odd. Really odd.

Mike A. says:

Agreed. Balfour’s gonna fuck this up, Howell will have to bail him out.

 
Ivan says:
 
 
 
Ivan says:

Why the hell you are bunting with Rollins?

Mike A. says:

Especially in the first inning!!!

 
 
Mike A. says:

Walk Werth to set up the DP?

Ivan says:

To get to Utley? Nah.

 
 
Mike A. says:

Not enough AkiGrit.

God I hate it when managers play the infield in.

 
Ivan says:

This game just got wierder.

 
E-ROC says:

So much for this vaunted defense, even though that pop up was tough.

 
GG says:

How does Maddon not put in his best arm to start the inning or at least a lefty?

There are 12 outs to go! Hes a disaster as an in game manager.

Mike A. says:

He’d lose Price in the next inning when the pitcher’s spot came up though.

Ivan says:

Then why he didn’t he save him if that’s the case?

 
 
Ivan says:

And you guys complain about Girardi.

GG says:

Why would he lose him? He could bat him unless it was 2nd and 3rd 1 out or bases loaded no out. He’d bunt him with anyone on anyway.

Mike A. says:

It’s the seventh inning already, you gotta get a pinch hitter in there, especially in a close game. A pitcher is an automatic out, and they can’t afford to give those away for free at this point.

Ivan says:

True, Im just saying I hope he doesn’t watse Price knowing that the pitcher spot is coming next inning.

 
GG says:

And they are going to lose Howell anyway here.

So why not just start your better pitcher?

One run here can mean the game.

 
 
 
 
 
GG says:

I cannot believe they will lose this game because he doesn’t go for the lefty again. Didn’t he learn from his past mistake in the ALCS?

Plus Howell and Price are better than Balfour.

 
Steve says:

I’m sure Joe Maddon has a Dr Suess or Steven Covey quote on his wall that covers this situation.

 
Dan says:

Price should have been “Starting” this game. Its do ordie, and I think he chose die.

Steve says:

I’d chose “ordie” myself.

GG says:

Maddon isn’t managing like its or die.

You go with Price and smoke them 1-2-3 than you deal with the pitcher spot coming up in the top of the inning when it happens.

 
 
 
Ivan says:

It’s been that type of series for the Rays, Werth was potentially picked off instead steals second.

Steve says:

Yes, the Rays execution of simple plays has been hideous in this series.

 
 
Steve says:

Werth has such long legs he gets to 2B in about 5 steps.

 
Ivan says:

You go Madson two innings here?

Mike A. says:

Hells freakin’ yeah.

 
 
Mike A. says:

I wonder if Charlie has the balls to use Lidge for two. He hasn’t thrown more than one inning at the time all year.

 
GG says:

9 outs between Madson, Romero and Lidge.

That is why you start Price in the btm of the 6th. Worrying about the pitcher batting and pinch hitters is worthless.

 
E-ROC says:
 
 
Steve says:

Geez. Maddon gets off the hook.

 
GG says:

Baldelli just made all of the greater Philly area throw up their cheesesteaks. After McCarver just gave Madson announcer sex.

Steve H says:

Announcer Sex. Awesome.

 
 
Ivan says:

The Italian Stallion Badelli.

 
Mike A. says:

Jeterian swing by Rocco. Pulled his hands in and catapulted it.

 
Mike A. says:

WTF, why is Howell still in there?

Mike A. says:

Here you go, free out. We only have 8 left, but it’s okay, you can have it as a gift.

 
 
Steve says:
 
Ivan says:

You know if the Yanks were in the situation the Phils were in, would the yanks ever let Mo pitch 3 innings?

Christian says:

He pitched 3 innings in the Aaron Boone game

Mike A. says:

That was pure necessity. The only guy left in the pen after Mo was Contreras.

GG says:

This is Game 7 for the Rays.

Price should have got the ball right away and got 9 outs.

 
 
 
 
E-ROC says:

You know, you just had consecutive hits and now you have your pitcher bunt the runner over with one out already in the books? The Phillies are on their heels after the Baldelli HR, sort of, and ya let them off the hook. Gotta love Maddon.

 
Ivan says:

Lets be real here, how many managers are good in-game managers?

Mike A. says:

I swear, none of them. Maddon’s out-thinking himself.

GG says:

This post season has seen a huge number of bone head in game managerial decisions.

From Scioscia’s to Manuel to Maddons to Torre to Pinella.

Scioscia may have had the worst in game decision in years in a post season game. and hes considered the best in the biz.

 
 
Steve says:

Girardi’s good.

He’s like the Anti-Torre. Good in game, good with the bullpen, horrible in dealing with the media.

GG says:

How is Girardi good? Because he handled a bunch of average middle relievers?

That makes him good?

You can come up with a laundry list of the bonehead moves he made.

Steve says:

Not really. You can nitpick any move, especially after the fact if it doesn’t work out. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right move.

The only huge problem I had with him in-game was early on when Moose pitched to Manny. Other than that, I thought he was good.

Mike A. says:

The “PR Pudge & PH Melky” move in Texas is #1 on the dumb managerial moves top 10 list.

GG says:

Pitching to Manny with 1st open showed he was out of his element. How many here would have done that?

How many would have continued to play Melky after April 20?

Girardi also didn’t have any “wow” moments where you go “this guy gets it and really knows how to manage”.

 
Steve says:

I’m sure everyone has a fave with every manager.

At least this Joe is trying . . . .

 
 
 
 
 
 
GG says:

This just makes Maddons move of leaving in Balfour all the more head scratching. He’s going to be critiqued on that one win or lose this game.

And Manuel not going to Durbin or Romero in the 7th like he did all yr will be as well.

 
Ivan says:
Mike A. says:

I … I … I dunno.

 
 
E-ROC says:

WTF is Bartlett doing????? There is the Rays most indispensable player. MVP.

Mike A. says:

I think the 3B coach sent him. I didn’t get a good look during the replay.

GG says:

For a team that played the fundamentals so well this yr the Rays have looked comical in this series and in the LCS.

 
 
 
Mike A. says:

David Price had a good view of that shot.

 
E-ROC says:
 
Steve says:

Apparently, David Price walked into Maddons office and told him that under no circumstances will he pitch tonight. No matter how much Joe wants him to.

 
Ivan says:

Jamal Crawford is a pretty good player when he plays under control and smart.

GG says:

Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the last remaining Knick fans in the world. They are rarer than bald eagles. Take a good look and cherish it.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. For the 79 minutes per year that Jamal Crawford plays under control and smart, he is indeed a pretty good player.

Ivan says:

Be fair though, he has alot of talent, it’s the reckless plays that have held him back. I think D’Antoni could help him somewhat.

He was the Knicks best player last season, which isn’t saying much but still.

 
Steve H says:

Meaning he gets over 100k per productive, under control minutes. Technically it might be more than that as he can hurt the team outside of those 79 minutes.

 
 
 
Ivan says:

I will say this, I am surprise didn’t go for three. If he gone hard out of the box, despite his subpar speed he could of been on 3rd base no.

 
Ivan says:

Wow even McCarver is saying the bunt doesn’t work here.

 
GG says:

Why do these boneheads insist on giving away free outs??

He can’t hit a fly ball or a ground out to 2b? Why not go for the base hit and get a big inning?

I just don’t get it.

 
BigBlueAL says:

Guys, i know its only the first game against a bad Heat team, but if nothing else the Knicks will be fun to watch and root for this season!!!!

Ivan says:

At least the knicks will be interesting. You got Danilo Gallinari, who’s got potential.

Crawford is a good player when he plays under control and smart.

D’Antoni system will improve the offense.

If the Knicks can win, 35-38 Games, I’d take that no?

BigBlueAL says:

Id take it in a heartbeat.

 

I’d be utterly shocked if the Knicks won 35-38 games. A McCain victory coupled with the Republicans regaining both the House and the Senate is more likely than the Knicks winning more than 33 games.

Gallinari has potential. Crawford is a good player when he plays under control and smart. D’Antoni’s system will improve the offense. And they’ll still give up 117 points, get absolutely murdered on the boards, and give up at least 10 SportsCenter highlight-worthy fastbreak dunks for their opponents every single night.

Ivan says:

Yea but the Eastern Conference is still the Eastern Conference. Has it improve yeah, but not much. You really got 5 legit really good teams in the East. Bos, Cle, Det, Phi, Orl and oh yea Tor. The rest of the competition is lousy.

The Hawks won less than 40 games and made the playoffs.

Hey, winning 35 games shouldn’t really be an uphill climb no.

Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Philly, Orlando, Toronto, Miami (with Marion, Beasley, and a healthy Wade), and Chicago with (Rose, Gordon, and Deng) will all annihilate the Knicks. And we’re probably not better than Indiana, Washington, or Milwaukee either. And we’ll also probably go 0-for-the Western Conference. Every single team in the league that has at least one actual scorer is a potential loss, because we will turn 25ppg guys into 40ppg guys. Only the Bobcats and Grizzlies are legit wins.

Seriously, if you ranked all 30 NBA teams in order of their defensive ability, where would the Knicks rank? 27th? 28th?

Eric Gordon of the Clippers and Kevin Durant of Oklahoma will both drop 50 on this team. Watch.

Ivan says:

Disagree with ya there. Miami has a big hole at the PG position and a bigger hole at C.

Chicago has no interior presence and rely too much on Guard play. Pretty Flawed team.

Mil outside of Redd and Jefferson are not good period. Indiana are not that good and Wash are not gonna have Arenas and Heyward for a couple months.

And those teams teams I,ve mention play poor D too.

Again outside of Bos, Cle, Det, Philly, Orl and Tor, the East is pretty flawed. Hell Im not to fond of Orl and Tor but hey they are a legit top 6 team in the East.

 
 
 
 
 
 
BigBlueAL says:

BTW, i dont think you could rip Burrell’s effort on his double. He wasnt busting it but he wasnt doing a Manny or Soriano either. Nevermind his run scored anyway….

Steve says:

I could have sworn I saw the ump signal ground rule double. Why, I have no idea.

 
 
Mike A. says:

Bringing the IF in again. FAIL

 
GG says:

The Rays only got themselves to blame. An elimination game and they use 3 pitchers before their best and most electric arm.

They probably should just have used Shields at this point since lose and go home.

Man on 3rd 1 out and they leave in a ground ball pitcher who can’t strike anyone out with an electric arm out in the pen against the btm of the order.

RichYF says:

On a scale from 1-10 I’m pretty sure “electric” is the most over-used description evarrrr.

GG says:

Give me a word for Price’s arm and stuff.

Great, fantastic, unreal, nasty

But hey keep him in the pen because they may need him in extra innings or in 2009.

RichYF says:

It’s not the 8th inning yet. Jeez. GET WITH THE TIMES.

You only use your youngest/best/most electric arms IN THE 8TH INNING. He’d be a waste in any other inning.

Steve H says:

How come the Price in the bullpen or rotation debate doesn’t lead sportscenter 3x a week? Oh wait, is it because it’s so obvious that he belongs in, and will be a part of the rotation, even though they already have a deep rotation? And considering they don’t have God as their closer, where is that debate?

Price isn’t a Yankee. So the MSM has no compelling reason to try and convince the Tampa organization and fanbase to make horridly stupid moves, because they’re okay with Tampa winning.

Steve H says:

Thanks for clearing that up, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
Steve says:

Arm-Greatastic

Stuff-Unrealsty

 
 

On a scale from 1-10 I’m pretty sure “electric” is the most over-used description evarrrr.

On a scale of 1-10, I’m pretty sure that “on a scale of 1-10″ is the most overused phrase ever evarrrr.

I’m also pretty sure that your comment didn’t really make much sense since “most over-used description evarrrr” isn’t really a number that can be quantified on a 1-10 scale.

RichYF says:

That was the point.

I was going to follow it up with a “Yes I know…” but I figured the “evarr” would handle that.

 
 
 
 
Mike A. says:

Holy Schnikees. The Akimeter:

Low Effort …………………….|…. Balls to the Wall

 
 
Steve says:

Damn, that Iwamura has almost as much range as Jeter.

 
RichYF says:

Game is on the line, who do you use?

Chad Bradford, that’s who.

Mike A. says:
 
 
GG says:

I like seeing 24 promos much more than Frank TV.

 
Ivan says:

If Im Manuel, I’ll get Lidge ready as soon as trouble brews up.

 
Mike A. says:

He just went 3-1 to Crawford, why bother taking a pitch BJ?

Mike A. says:

And he went 3-0 to Pena too. Sigh.

 
 
GG says:

Way to take a pitch there BJ!

Way to let the fastest guy in the game get to 2b!

Does Maddon have money on Philly or a flight to catch?

 
GG says:

Maybe now he’ll use his best arm.

 
Mike A. says:
Ivan says:

It gets me everytime lol.

 
 
GG says:

Bad time for Upton to pull his 2008 Cano impersonation.

Steve H says:

Also known as the 2008 BJ Upton regular season impersonation.

 
 
RichYF says:

EIGHTH INNING WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 
giselle says:

david price looks like a younger and less blind version of governor paterson.

Both of those things are awesome, since he’s a baseball player. Old, legally blind baseball players tend not to be good.

Steve says:

BTW-Gov Patterson is a HUGE baseball fan. Calls in to WFAN on occasion and actually knows his shit.

 
 
Alex says:

Thats a pretty fantastic observation. They have similar dispositions too.

giselle says:

yea, i couldnt quite figure out who price reminded me of… but it just came to me so i thought i’d share.

 
 
Steve says:

Don’t you find it a bit poetic that we have a blind Gov in NYS?

But compared to the governors we’ve had before, he’s AWESOME. Both Dems and Reps love him, because he tells the truth to everyone and demands that the state be fiscally responsible.

He’s the Maverick that McCain pretends to be.

Steve says:

OK, OK.

I was just trying for the old “Blind leading the blind” line without being too obvious.

 
 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

Got here late but all that knick talk bout them playoff team…maybe next year once they draft curry out of davidson

Ivan says:

I didn’t say they make the playoffs.

Curry isn’t all that period. Knicks can do Much better. Much Better.

Mike Pop says:

Ya probably another European who will be as good as Danillo

Ivan says:

Iight. Just watch. Danilo will prove the doubters wrong.

Mike Pop says:

What he will score 8 points a game ?

Ivan says:

Ha, Ha, Ha, you’ll eat crow soon. Well Hopefully.

 
 
 
 
 
 

If Lidge ices them out right here in the 9th, who’s the series MVP? Howard? Hamels? Lidge? Joe Maddon? Dan Uggla, for booting grounders in the AS game and giving the AL home field advantage? Vacant?

Mike A. says:

Gotta be Hamels I’d think.

 
Mike Pop says:

Ryan Howard but Uggla could be the wildcard

 
 
Alex says:

Alright, while we’re waiting for Brad Lidge to strike out everyone while throwing only sliders….

Prince Fielder for a package headlined by Philip J. Hughes… (I don’t know whats in the rest of the ‘package’)

What do we think?

Ivan says:

Hells no. I wouldn’t trade Hughes for Fielder’s fat ass.

 
Mike Pop says:

Keep Hughes, get Dunn or Tex to man first

 
Mike A. says:

No. Fielder’s fat, can’t defend, and his SLG dropped over 100 pts this year.

 
Steve H says:

no. prince will be a dh very soon or a horrible fielding 1st baseman. plus, it’s always easier to find position players on the free agent market, not young cheap pitching.

GG says:

Why is Hughes included in trades for 1b?

He wasnt moved for an ace in his prime. Now he goes for a 1b?

 
 
Alex says:

Im on board, I only worry that Im among those that overvalues Phil 150X.

 
 
GG says:

Yea, terrific call Joe Maddon with making sure Price finally got in. Managers can choke too. Ask Grady Little.

 
Mike A. says:

It all comes down to this. Oy vay.

RichYF says:

Don’t worry, Price handled the 8th. TB should be set now.

Steve H says:

Most important inning of the game no? If not, it’s at least much more important than the 1st seven innings.

RichYF says:

I’d have to say so. If Price weren’t there to hold them down in the 8th, this could very easily be a 5-3 or even 6-3 game instead of 4-3. He kept them in there, no doubt about it.

Steve H says:

So if the Yankees do get Sabathia, it’s for the 8th inning correct? Move Joba to the 7th. Leave God in the 9th to mop up.

RichYF says:

Negative. If they sign Sabathia, you alternate him with Joba everyday to make sure the 8th inning is locked down.

I know, I know, it makes too much sense. You’ll be thanking me for clarifying in no time.

Steve H says:

I smell 162-0. No matter what happens in the first 7 innings, with that kind of usage of your best pitchers, like Parker Lewis, we can’t lose.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ivan says:

So Mike, what you gotta saw about the Phils winning the WS?

Ivan says:
Mike Pop says:

Even the best prophets can be wrong sometimes but everyone knows I called Phils to win it in 6. So I might be half right

 
 
 
GG says:

Navarro wouldn’t be bad in pinstripes since we could use a catcher who can actually throw.

 
Mike A. says:

Get Perez in there AfuckingSAP.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

Lidge pulling a 01 Mo

 
GG says:

One hit is all it takes. Perez should steal 3b and make Lidge be cautious of the slider.

Ivan says:
GG says:

So if he throws a 58 foot slider they tie the game without a hit. At least it would have put it in his head.

 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

Hinske is clutch as hell tho we all know that

 
 
Alex says:

And thus ends the 2008 World Series, the worst of the modern era.

Ivan says:

Nah there were much worse.

Ivan says:
Steve H says:

I think the Chicago Cleavage were one of the teams.

 
 
 
GG says:

2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

 
 
 
RichYF says:

Wow, THAT was a swing?!?!? Pretty sure the ump got a little too over-zealous there…

Grats Phillies nonetheless

 
Mike Pop says:

Hinske pulled an A-Rod

 
Ivan says:

Phillies are WS Champs.

Congradulations Phillies.

 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Ha. Sucks to be a Mets fan.

 
Mike A. says:

Why are they celebrating in the 3rd?

 
E-ROC says:

Do I win anything for predicting the Phillies would win in 5?

Steve H says:

You get to drink from the firehose!

 
 
Mike A. says:

Congrats to the Phils. Congrats to the Rays for the great season.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Congrats Congrads to the Phils. Congrats Congrads to the Rays for the great season.

(I had to, sorry.)

RichYF says:

I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or not so I’ll just agree.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Pay better attention, son.

RichYF says:

Hopefully you’re mocking Mike for the old “me fail English? That’s unpossible!” routine.

My cat’s breath smells like cat food.

GG says:

I bent my Wookie.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steve H says:

Agreed. Now hunting season starts, CC hunting.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

Im glad the Rays lost they are gonna be our rivals for a long time and we will all learn to hate them

GG says:

It ain’t easy to win yr after yr. Ask the Indians this yr. Tigers the yr before.

 
 
Alex says:

Everyone looks like they expect Bud to come out and tell them to keep playing, FOX’s coverage isn’t over.

 
Mike A. says:

Rosenthal: “How does it feel, Brad?”

Lidge: “Jesus Christ, it feels great!”

“Brad, I heard your mentor Bill Walsh was the first to call you tonight to wish you congratulations. What did he say to you?”

Steve says:

Ouch. That’ll bruise a career.

GG says:

Not her first time f’ing up.

 
 
 
 
Steve says:

BREAKING NEWS-ALEX RODRIGUEZ HAS OPTED OUT OF HIS CONTRACT!!

REPEAT, ALEX RODRIGUEZ HAS OPTED OUT OF HIS CONTRACT!!

 
GG says:

If only Moose pitched like Moyer…

Mike A. says:

I wonder if Moyer retires now.

A.D. says:

nah, man is pitching till 50

 
Steve says:

He says he wants to poitch a few more years, I just have trouble imagining that teams will keep giving him a job.

PREDICTION-Moose signs with Philly, replacing Moyer as part of their youth movement.

 
 
 
E-ROC says:

The Phillies let Cashman off the hook for this season.

-Steve Lombard-

 
GG says:

The Phils should give Joe Maddon a ring for that showing.

 
LiveFromNewYork says:

Nothing like gracious fans… eesh.

 
Mike Pop says:

Burnett just opted out says he wants to come to New York for a cheap incentive deal…. Ivan Knicks D lookd great

 
Mike A. says:

Today we spell redemption L-I-D-G-E.

Steve H says:

He’s one of the people I definitely feel good for. Especially with that picture that gets posted around here once in a while. I feel bad for Myers’ wife, at some point she’s going to end up with a 2008 WS ring imprint in her face. Did you hear that dickhead defend himself today?

Jamal G. says:

How is he a dickhead? Did you ever hear his side of the story? I don’t see how you can completely believe one side over the other. Both he and his wife say it was wildly blown out of proportion. I’ve studied Battered Woman’s Syndrome, so I know that women sometimes defend their husbands who are in the wrong. However, that does not mean that every time a woman defends her husband in a situation like this, she is not to be believed.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

He pulled his wife’s hair and hit her, in the middle of the street no less. There is no justification.

Jamal G. says:

I don’t believe in making blanket statements like, “he’s a dickhead” when two reports come out that are significantly conflicting with each other. Could Kim Myers be protecting her husband, Brett? Sure. Could the witnesses be over-exaggerating as witnesses tend to do at times? Sure. Could the witnesses not have seen what happened clearly seeing as how it was at night? That could be the case as well.

According to Brett’s side, both he and his wife were quite inebriated. No part of either story can convince me completely of what happened. Thus, I think it’s unfair for people to harshly judge Brett Myers for what took place when they themselves have not a clue what really did or did not occur.

Steve H says:

His report isn’t very conflicting as he leaves details out. And by the way, he is the only person who says he didn’t kick the shit out of his wife that night. The only one. And he doesn’t even deny everything. Her quote, “I’m not going to let you do this to me any more” leads me to believe, as in most cases, this was not a one time thing.

Jamal G. says:

Her quote, “I’m not going to let you do this to me any more” leads me to believe, as in most cases, this was not a one time thing.

I would agree with you if that statement was in fact true. However, it wasn’t. An eyewitness said he heard Kim Myers speak those words. Like I said before, witnesses tend to exaggerate things (or sometimes completely make them up to sound useful).

And he doesn’t even deny everything.

These are quotes from Brett Myers in the USA Today article:

“They say I dragged my wife by her hair,” Myers says. “Never happened.

“They say I kicked her and threw her around like a rag doll. Never happened.

“I never did anything to her. There was nothing on her face.”

Sounds like a complete denial to me.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Steve H says:

“I never did anything to her. There was nothing on her face.”

Why did he have to add there was nothing on her face, if he never did anything to her? Obviously there would be nothing on her face if he never did anything to her. Why didn’t he deny hitting or punching her? He denied dragging her by the hair, he denied kicking her an throwing her around. He NEVER denied hitting or punching her in the face. And then points out there was nothing on her face. Not a total denial by any means.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Dude, all I’m saying is reserve your judgment. You remmeber the Kobe Bryant-Colorado incident some years back? Everyone rushed to judgment calling Bryant all sorts of things, saying these high-profile superstars get away with too much. What happened? He denied it, vehemently, and nobody wanted to hear a word.

So what do we find out when both sides have their say? Oh nothing, except for the fact that the alleged victim was a mess of a woman who wore the same semen-stained panties from a previous sexual encounter that took place not even 24 hours from when her sexual encounter with Bryant at the infamous Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Edwards.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Steve H says:

And if Kobe had been upfront from the start, things would have been much better for him. But lying about the sexual encounter altogether made him much less believable. Myers’ semi-denial 2 years later, without much of an apology does not make me sympathetic.

 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Ugh. This isn’t very similar to the Kobe Bryant case.

I’m not saying you have to agree with people who think Brett Myers hit his wife in the face and is, therefore, an asshole (or at least someone who acted like an asshole one night). But people have every right to hold that opinion. You’re not the arbiter of the opinions people can hold, especially when those opinions are reasonable. You can disagree, but you can’t tell people whether they can have an opinion or not. Witnesses (PLURAL) said they saw the guy hit his wife in the face and pull her hair. Being of the opinion that Brett Myers is an asshole based on the fact that witnesses reported seeing him hit his wife in the face is not unreasonable.

 
Jamal G. says:

Even though I agree with you guys, I still have a question. How can you say my point is that people can’t have their own opinions? How can you say that I’m calling the opinions held by you and Steve, “unreasonable” when the first sentence of the post you just replied to – and my entire point in this discussion – was:

Dude, all I’m saying is reserve your judgment.

 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Because someone expressed an opinion based on an established fact pattern and you told them they can’t do that, that they have to “reserve their judgment.” You also said “I don’t see how you can completely believe one side over the other,” and “I think it’s unfair for people to harshly judge Brett Myers.” Taken in context with the rest of your statements on this topic, you’re effectively saying “I don’ think it’s reasonable for you to think Brett Myers is a dickhead based on the fact pattern presented.” I agree with you that it’s best to reserve judgment until all the facts are out there. I think that’s an admirable trait. But if people are presented with a fact pattern and make a perfectly reasonable conclusion for themselves, whether you agree with that conclusion or not, it’s not your place to tell them they can’t have that opinion. (Sorry for the extremely late response, I checked out of the discussion last night and just checked in now. This thing is now sufficiently beaten into the ground and tedious. Always fun to argue about a wife-beater though! Just kidding.)

 
 
 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

I don’t know the “other side” to this story, if you could provide a link that would be great (not saying that in a facetious way).

Here’s the thing though… Unless the “other side of the story” is something about someone pointing a gun at either him or his wife and saying “punch her in the face or I’ll shoot,” I don’t care what the other side of the story is. You don’t hit your wife. I appreciate that you question people/ideas, I’m all for independent and reasoned thought. But we’re talking about a guy who beat up his wife in the middle of the street. It doesn’t matter if she said something he didn’t like, or if he (or she) was drunk.

Saying someone who hits their wife in the face is a “dickhead” isn’t a blanket statement, it’s perfectly reasonable. There’s no question whether he hit his wife or not. He did. Thus, it’s not a blanket statement. It’s a direct statement about a specific person based on a specific incident.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Ok I just saw the article E-ROC posted below. I’ll take the word of the witnesses and the police over the guy accused of hitting his wife in the face. Sorry.

Myers doesn’t help himself any by saying: “People say, ‘Well, he should have gone to jail and done this and that,’ ” Myers says. “Don’t you think I was beat up enough in the national spotlight? Don’t you think I was crushed? I’m still living it.”

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
Jamal G. says:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports.....titialskip

Read my comment above about the portions of the article where Brett Myers completely denies beating his wife like a “rag doll”. The other side of the story is that he did not do the things that were alleged. I don’t see how people can just dismiss it as some inconsequential notion.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Do you not see how people might say “well, there were numerous witnesses who said they saw the guy hit his wife in the face, and that sounds pretty credible to me?” Really? That, to you, is a completely unreasonable and indefensible position?

 
Steve H says:

Police responded to a 911 call and found Myers’ wife crying and with a swollen face, prosecutors said. Officers found Myers nearby and arrested him.

So should I believe Myers when he says nothing was on her face, or the police report?

 
Steve H says:

An abuse charge against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers was dismissed Thursday after his wife said she did not want her husband prosecuted for hitting her in the face during an argument near Fenway Park.

Judge Raymond Dougan acknowledged that Myers struck his wife June 23 but dismissed the charge over the objection of prosecutors because Kim Myers agreed to an affidavit showing she did not want the charge pursued.

His wife did not want him prosecuted. FOR HITTING HER IN THE FACE. Again, he never, ever denied hitting her in the face. He denied kicking, pulling hair, and dragging.

 
Jamal G. says:

I know we are discussing his case in a court of public opinion, rather than a court of law, but anybody with basic knowledge of case-study can tell you how easily an eyewitness can misremember accounts of what they saw. From lawyers to police officers, everyone is aware of the propensity of which eyewitness can basically “create” their own memories and have their memories influenced by others around them.

Again, we are discussing this matter in a court of public opinion so these points that I am making aren’t exactly relative to the topic at hand. However, it does not mean that it is OK to completely based your opinion on the accounts of eyewitnesses.

Brett Myers said he and his wife were highly intoxicated. So that could lead me to believe they were in a neighborhood with a high volume of bars or establishments that serve alcoholic beverages. Last time I checked, cops do not administer breathalyzer exams before recording the statements of eyewitnesses. So maybe some of these eyewitness were inebriated themselves. Maybe these guys did not get a clear vision of what actually occurred because they were inside their respective establishments and was attempting to see what happened behind a glass, at night.

There are too many variables that could account for a misrepresentation of what actually occurred by these eyewitnesses.

 
Steve H says:

Ok, but the sober cops reported that her face was swollen. Every single witness reported that he hit her. Even if every witness were intoxicated, why did 100% say he hit her, including her, and none said, “no, I didn’t see that.” And again, he has never denied hitting her in the face. Never.

 
Jamal G. says:

http://riveraveblues.com/2008/.....ent-194003

OK, I was not aware of this fact. Now that I am, yes, Brett Myers is a fucking douchebag.

 
Steve H says:
 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

You’re right, this isn’t a court of law, which is precisely why you shouldn’t be telling people they can’t be of the opinion that this guy hit his wife and is an asshole because of it. Maybe he was drunk, maybe she was drunk, maybe everyone within a 5 block radius of the incident was drunk. As Steve H quoted above, “Judge Raymond Dougan acknowledged that Myers struck his wife.” Now, I actually am an attorney, and I think that’s a pretty strong statement right there. If this were a court of law, I think Brett Myers might be in some trouble if his wife didn’t sign that affidavit. If someone wants to be of the opinion that Brett Myers hit his wife based on the story from that night, the police report, and the statements of the presiding judge, that seems pretty reasonable to me. Again, I’m not saying you have to agree that he hit his wife… But it’s BS to tell people that to hold that opinion is unreasonable and to tell them they can’t be of the opinion that Brett Myers is an asshole based on that belief.

 
 
 
 
 
Steve H says:

How does his side defend punching his wife in the face twice? Those were her words. There were several witnesses, who described the beating in detail. He outweighs her 2 to 1. He’s a dickhead.

 
 
 
 
 
GG says:

Manuel was in Deliverance playing a banjo.

 
Mike Pop says:

Gillick dodged that question like Clemens dodges steroid accusations

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:
 
 
Mike Pop says:

Hamels swept the awards, give em CY YOUNG !!!!

 
GG says:

Met fans now know what we felt last yr and in 2004.

 
Mike A. says:

A Camaro? What, no Ford Edge? It’s got a cool panoramic vista sunroof.

 
Steve says:

Rays win 88 games next year.

 
Steve says:

Hey Mike, just saw the Venditte thing about the award.

What do you think of Pat? Interesting prospect or gimmick with below average stuff from both sides?

Mike A. says:

The latter. Not so much a gimmick, just a guy without enough stuff to make it.

 
 
Mike W. says:

Congrats to the Phillies.

Now let’s get it ON for the offseason. Couple of tweaks here, a couple hundred million in free agents there, and it’s gonna be us next year.

Mike Pop says:

Ya all we need is CC Tex Dunn Sheets Burnett and Garland because you can neve have to much pitching!!!!!! oops and Manny

 
 
Ivan says:

Well the Baseball season is over, and the start of the Hot Stove Begins.

pat says:

hah im pretty sure we started hot stove like 4 weeks ago :(

 
 
Bryan says:

Whats with the Phillies (tv/radio?) announcer, he didnt seem excited what so ever! lol. Hes like, “the Philadelphia phillies are the 2008……..world champions of baseballlllllllll. lol

 
Name (required)
E-mail (required - never shown publicly)
URI
Your Comment (smaller size | larger size)

You may use <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> in your comment.

If this is your first time commenting on River Ave. Blues, please review the RAB Commenter Guidelines.

Trackback responses to this post