As we sit here, 14 hours from the Phillies possibly being eliminated from the World Series, it’s hard to see just how quickly things can change in the World Series.
The Phillies had the Yankees down to their last strike, and then all of a sudden, the Yanks put up a 3 spot in the top of the 9th against Brad Lidge. The entire game was a back and forth battle, but the end of the game was about as extreme a roller coaster ride as I’ve ever seen. After Pedro Feliz knocked one out to tie the game, it brought the rejuvenated Lidge into the game. Two quick outs and CBP was rocking. Johnny Damon made the heads up play of the year in order to spark the Yankees to 3 runs.
Now, as I was leaving the Bank last night, I heard a lot of people saying, “Well, they won last year, so this is just icing on the cake. It’s OK if they lose.” Who the hell are these people? They obviously can’t be from Philly.
I never understood why, after winning a title, that city’s fans only seemed to want another one even more. I had never experienced that in Philly. However, after the Fightins’ did it last year, it only made this city, or so I thought, wanting a championship even more.
Last year was last year. Yeah, it was awesome and incredible, but this is a whole new season. I’m going to be extremely disappointed if the Phillies lose. I’ll take no solace in the fact that they won last year and then make it back this year. This would be devastating.
Jimmy Rollins predicted the Series would be over in 5 games. With Clifton Phifer going tonight, the Phillies have an excellent chance of not letting that happen. The Phillies have overcome deficits from New York teams before, and the Yankees have blown bigger leads before.
Facing elimination, the Phillies need to pull out all the stops and take this on a game by game basis. Of all the teams in Major League Baseball, the Phillies may just be the team most suited to this position. Playing all 27 outs is how they will get back into this.
If that doesn’t work, how about Cliff Lee pitches the next three games?
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