It Was Ten Years Ago Today

EastFallowfield 2018-08-29 10:40:33 UTC #603

I 8/29/08

8th inning disaster for Madson and Durbin and the Phils cough up game 1 in Chicago. They do pick up Matt Stairs to help out the bench with Jenkins out even though we're worried the season is slipping away. . The trade for Stairs is called one of the worst moves the team has made in years by a poster who's threatening to stop watching the sport because we traded Fabio Castro*.

Meanwhile, GameThread 8/29/08: Phillies (Blanton) @ Chicago (Harden)

Elsewhere, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain selects Sarah Palin as his running mate. I’m sure that if he passes far off in the future she will have nothing but good things to say about the man who put her into the national spotlight, even if they end up losing the election to the Muslim guy.

*Spoiler: Fabio Castro never pitched in the majors after the year 2007

Philsmania 2018-08-29 15:38:46 UTC #604

EastFallowfield:

I 8/29/08

8th inning disaster for Madson and Durbin and the Phils cough up game 1 in Chicago. They do pick up Matt Stairs to help out the bench with Jenkins out even though we're worried the season is slipping away. . The trade for Stairs is called one of the worst moves the team has made in years by a poster who's threatening to stop watching the sport because we traded Fabio Castro*.

Meanwhile, GameThread 8/29/08: Phillies (Blanton) @ Chicago (Harden)

Elsewhere, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain selects Sarah Palin as his running mate. I’m sure that if he passes far off in the future she will have nothing but good things to say about the man who put her into the national spotlight, even if they end up losing the election to the Muslim guy.

*Spoiler: Fabio Castro never pitched in the majors after the year 2007

A poignant anniversary indeed, re Sarah Palin. The buzz is very positive about McCain's bold choice. She is called a "game-changer" and that is meant as a compliment. Who expects that she will turn out to be McCain's "Frankenstein's monster", a right wing populist who would flame out quickly herself but blaze the trail that another Republican would ultimately follow all the way to the White House years later while consigning McCain to political isolation for the last couple years of his life?

EastFallowfield 2018-08-30 10:27:13 UTC #605

8/30/08

Another painful loss to the Cubs, who look pretty unbeatable here in 2008. Maybe Brett Myers can break this losing streak. Phils are 2 games back.

GameThread 8/30/08: Phillies (Myers) @ Chicago (Lilly)

EastFallowfield 2018-08-31 10:52:33 UTC #606

8/31/08

A nice win yesterday, another today would get us a split in Chicago.

Game Thread 8/31: Moyer (Phillies) vs. Marshall (Chicago)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-01 11:03:28 UTC #607

9/1/08

It's September and the Phils are in second place, a game out, with 3 games in DC to start the month. Have to take advantage of the also rans.

Phils have the best September winning percentage from 2004 to 2007 (.625). They need to do something like that again. But it's Redding time again.

Game Thread 9/1: Kendrick (Phillies) vs. Redding (Wash)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-02 11:17:35 UTC #608

9/2/08

Kendrick rocked by the lowly Nats and the Phils are 2 games back.

Some of us are convinced it's the Mets year.

Phils called up some guys who've been up and down already this year: Walrond, Tracy and Cervenek.

Cole looks to win a game vs DC for the first time in '08:

Game Thread 9/2: Hamels (Phillies) vs. Lannon (Wash)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-03 10:39:07 UTC #609

9/3/08

Hamels gets it done, takes care of the Nats. He leads in NL in innings pitched as his arm will take more abuse in '08 than in any previous season.

Phils have a night game while the Mets have already won. A loss puts us 3 games out.

Game Thread 9/3: Blanton (Phillies) vs. Perez (Wash)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-04 11:05:12 UTC #610

9/4/08

Phils lose, are 3 games behind the Mets. Day off before 3 big ones up at Shea.

EastFallowfield 2018-09-05 10:38:12 UTC #611

9/5/08

Three games out and it's time for "the most important game of the season", as some call it. It's Brett Myers, who knows what we'll get out of him?

Game Thread 9/5: Myers (Phillies) vs. Pelfrey (NYM)

zambonir 2018-09-05 14:34:55 UTC #612

Three games out on 9/5, seems insurmountable.

Philsmania 2018-09-05 17:27:38 UTC #613

But, but, but last year.

Silly you, lightning doesn't strike the same place twice.

It doesn't, right?

zambonir 2018-09-05 17:46:47 UTC #614

I honestly don't remember anything about September 2008 without looking at this thread. 2007 was just so freaking memorable, and since we know how it turned out, whatever stress existed at the time has been wiped from my memory.

Ok, that's not entirely true, I do remember the final weekend of the regular season (no spoilers).

EastFallowfield 2018-09-06 10:28:04 UTC #615

9/6/08

Big game for Myers, and Dobbs chips in again in a big spot, and the Phils are 2 games back of the Mets. Weather forecast does not look good for game 2 though. Tropical Storm Hanna causing havoc. Phils did pick up Tadahito Iguchi again, although he's not playoff eligible.

Philsmania 2018-09-06 15:10:15 UTC #616

This is the Phillies last visit to Shea Stadium, BTW. Many memorable Phillies memories there--both happy and tragic--from Bunning's perfect game, Schmidt's 300th career home run, the passing of Rich Ashburn at his Manhattan hotel room in the middle of a series there and the two dramatic sweeps of the Mets there in 2007 which played a big role in the Phillies acing the Mets out of the NL East title that year.

ButlerBulldog 2018-09-06 21:53:23 UTC #617

Shea was also the site of the fictitious Keith Hernandez error leading to a five-run rally and a Phillies victory, ultimately providing the spark for the spitting incident described in Seinfeld’s third season.

EastFallowfield 2018-09-07 10:51:01 UTC #618

9/7/08

Game cancelled, day/night double header today, going up against the Eagles opener in the first game.

Game Thread #1 9/7: Moyer (Phillies) vs. Martinez (NYM)

Game Thread #2 9/7/08: Philadelphia (Hamels) @ Shea(Santana)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-08 10:28:17 UTC #619

9/8/08

Phils and Mets split the 'doubleheader'. Moyer was clutch and Hamels was not. The kid never comes up big when it really matters. So Phils leave Shea (never to return) 2 games back of the Mets. Mets will be without Billy Wagner down the stretch, he could only face one 'batter' in his simulated game.

Phils start a 7 game homestand...

Game Thread 9/8: Sanchez (Florida) vs. Blanton (Phillies)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-09 11:13:46 UTC #620

9/9/08

Phils win despite Blanton, 8-6. A game and a half behind NY. Kyle Kendrick in game 2, he's struggled more than usual of late.

Game Thread 9/9: Volstad (Florida) vs. Kendrick (Phillies)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-10 10:55:48 UTC #621

9/10/08

After last night's loss, Phans are discussing if we can even win the Wild Card. . 3 games behind the Mets again. Jenkins is active again.

Game Thread 9/10: Phillies (Myers) vs. Marlins (Nolasco)

EastFallowfield 2018-09-11 10:32:06 UTC #622

9/11/08

Phils lose 2 of 3 to Florida. Gloom and doom on the game thread. And in other threads too.

Charlie seemed casual after the game, saying something like 'you never know when you'll get hot'. Milwaukee coming in for 4 as it's now a battle for the Wild Card as division might be lost, with deficit at 3 and a half games.

Metsblog is debating whether to post the magic number countdown again after having it cause much controversy in '07. But playoff ticket registration is on the website. Moyer goes on short rest as it's getting desperate.

Game Thread 9/11: Sheets (Milwaukee) vs. Moyer (Phillies)