It Was Ten Years Ago Today

[EastFallowfield]

5/1/07

Phils end April 11-14, in 4th place, 5 games back of the Braves. Last year's division champion Mets are a half game back of Atlanta in 2nd.

Random comment I found in a non-game day thread from around this date:

Lidge in Philadelphia would be a bad situation and would end in a ball of flames.

For his sake -- Lidge needs to go to a place where the actual baseball is just something going on during the quiet parts of your conversations. Where a bunch of people just get together to enjoy the evening air: San Diego. Chicago/Wrigley. Baltimore. Texas Rangers. Anywhere but Philadelphia.

Anyway, the series in Atlanta continues, it's Cole Hamels' turn again. Werth in the lineup again, Victorino is benched.

Werth a try: Phillies at Braves, May 1 game thread

[zambonir]

For his sake -- Lidge needs to go to a place where the actual baseball is just something going on during the quiet parts of your conversations. Where a bunch of people just get together to enjoy the evening air: San Diego. Chicago/Wrigley. Baltimore. Texas Rangers. Anywhere but Philadelphia.

He was already in Houston! (Funny how three of those four markets all became high-pressure eventually.)

[EastFallowfield]

Didn't the Cubs win their division back in 07 or 08? Pretty high pressure for them I suppose.

[zambonir]

Indeed, we were theoretically lucky the Dodgers upset them in '08. But they've always had that fan reputation of just wanting sunshine, beer and "Take Me Out..." more than wins. I suspect that will go away now (if it hasn't already).

[EastFallowfield]

5/2/07

Phils are once again 2 games under .500. They're going for either their fourth or fifth straight series win (depends how you count a one game makeup series vs Houston). It's Freddy Garcia vs Chuck James in Atlanta.

Win the Series! Game Thread 5/2 - Garcia vs. James

[Philsmania]

Indeed, we were theoretically lucky the Dodgers upset them in '08. But they've always had that fan reputation of just wanting sunshine, beer and "Take Me Out..." more than wins. I suspect that will go away now (if it hasn't already).

I caught some flack for saying this on another forum but ortune smiled on the 2008 Phillies in that tougher, better-on-paper opponents in the Cubs, Angels and Red Sox were all taken out by other teams before the Phillies had to play them. Yeah, 2008 was the centennial of the Cubs previous title and many thought it was destiny. And yes, I suspect now that Cub fans will become pompous insufferable just like Red Sox did after 2004, and not to mention all their suddenly "lifelong" fans coming out of the woodwork.

[Philsmania]

5/2/07

Phils are once again 2 games under .500. They're going for either their fourth or fifth straight series win (depends how you count a one game makeup series vs Houston). It's Freddy Garcia vs Chuck James in Atlanta.

Win the Series! Game Thread 5/2 - Garcia vs. James

Still on the treadmill. A team going nowhere!

[EastFallowfield]

Better-on-paper usually doesn't win the World Series, it was proven by the Phils in both the happy ways and the sad ways during the streak that started in 2007.

[BostonRoss]

And yes, I suspect now that Cub fans will become pompous insufferable just like Red Sox did after 2004, and not to mention all their suddenly "lifelong" fans coming out of the woodwork.

Did we become insufferable after 2008? Or were we always that way?

[Philsmania]

Better-on-paper usually doesn't win the World Series, it was proven by the Phils in both the happy ways and the sad ways during the streak that started in 2007.

True, especially in the wild card era. I'll have to look it up but I think wild cards have won more WS's than teams which finished with the best record. UPDATE: yes six wild cards have won the WS while only five best records have (and the '16 Cubs are the only one not named called either Yankees or Red Sox).

[donaldorc]

True, especially in the wild card era. I'll have to look it up but I think wild cards have won more WS's than teams which finished with the best record. UPDATE: yes six wild cards have won the WS while only five best records have (and the '16 Cubs are the only one not named called either Yankees or Red Sox).

Read: Florida Marlins. Four wild card teams have won the WS since 1995. Two of those were the Marlins (1997 and 2003). The other two were St. Louis 2011 and the Giants 2014. Interesting that all the wild card winners are from the NL.

[Philsmania]

True, especially in the wild card era. I'll have to look it up but I think wild cards have won more WS's than teams which finished with the best record. UPDATE: yes six wild cards have won the WS while only five best records have (and the '16 Cubs are the only one not named called either Yankees or Red Sox).

Read: Florida Marlins. Four wild card teams have won the WS since 1995. Two of those were the Marlins (1997 and 2003). The other two were St. Louis 2011 and the Giants 2014. Interesting that all the wild card winners are from the NL.

2002 Angels and 2004 Red Sox were also wild cards. Wild cards won the WS for three straight years from 2002-04.

[zambonir]

Not to give it away but IIRC the wild card beat the NL East champion in 2007 too. : )

I definitely recall being relieved the Cubs lost in '08. They'd won 97 games, five more than the Phillies and 13 more than the Dodgers. We had to play a 90-win Brewers team. You're gonna take that best "on-paper" option every time, unless you there are obvious match-up advantages (the Phillies did seem to match up well with the Brewers, including their best left-handed pitcher).

The Rays were better (and won more games than) the Sox but that was more about star power, perception, media hype (and post-season experience).

[EastFallowfield]

Back then I felt about the mighty 2008 Cubs like I used to feel about the Red Sox before they won...I WANT to play the team with the pressure of not winning in forever in the postseason. More pressure on them. Maybe it's from growing up with the 1977 Phillies, who I thought were tough on paper. And the Cubbies certainly lived up to what I expected by quickly departing the postseason.

[zambonir]

Arguably the Phillies were that team!

[LA_s_Shallow_Thought]

One of the craziest stats is that the Marlins habe never won the NL east but have won 2 world series and never lost a playoff series.

[EastFallowfield]

5/3/07

After a disappointing game that left some of us debating whether to watch Lost instead, or to tape it on the VCR or the newfangled TIVO machine, the Phils head out to San Francisco. Phils have shut down Tom Gordon, who last pitched on May Day, probably headed to the DL, so Brett Myers is going to be the closer for now.

As for the game, it's Eaton and his 7ish ERA against Matt Cain and his 1.54 ERA, so things don't look good. Barry Bonds hit home run #743 yesterday, and word is he took time before the game to talk to the struggling Ryan Howard.

5/03 Game Thread Phillies@San Francisco

[EastFallowfield]

5/4/07

So Howard was 0-5, Eaton gave up 6 runs in 5 innings, but somehow the Phils won anyway. Once again, 2 under .500.

Phils called up Yoel Hernandez from Ottawa to replace Tom Gordon.

Jamie Moyer going against the Giants tonight.

Game Thread 5/4 - Friday Night Lights - Moyer vs. Morris

[EastFallowfield]

5/5/07

Well, another step back. Phils look to rebound on the FOX game today, Ryan Howard is on the bench. Ryan Madson goes on the 15 day DL. Clay Condrey headed back to the majors.

Afternoon Delight? - Game Thread 5/5 - Lieber vs. Lowry

[EastFallowfield]

5/6/07

Well, if the Phils are going to split the 4 games in SF they'll need to do something against hyped up rookie Tim Lincecum, who's making his MLB tonight on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Good thing it's Hamels' turn again. And they're resting Barry Bonds.

Weird news pregame though, Freddy Garcia bruised his shin shagging balls after he collided with a vehicle on the field.

Just break even guys.. jeez! GT 5/6 - Hamels vs. Lincecum