And the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Champions.

October 29, 2008 8:21 PM

And the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Champions.
posted by VicNebulous (108 comments total)

I saw that! Neat!
posted by ORthey at 8:22 PM on October 29, 2008

WTG Phillies!!
posted by brain cloud at 8:23 PM on October 29, 2008

Let me be the first to say, "That sucks". And so does this post.
posted by spock at 8:24 PM on October 29, 2008 [9 favorites has favorites]

Someone call Hell and check the ice thickness.
posted by VicNebulous at 8:24 PM on October 29, 2008

Aw, fuck.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:28 PM on October 29, 2008

Apparently the hordes have overrun and commandeered a CBS news truck so things should be getting extra awesome on local TV pretty soon.
posted by The Straightener at 8:30 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I also like baseball!
posted by rokusan at 8:33 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

We don't have a Major league team where I live so I don't get to cheer for anyone. I guess that makes me a Cubs fan.
posted by nola at 8:36 PM on October 29, 2008 [7 favorites has favorites]

Someone call Hell and check the ice thickness.

It isn't like the Cubs won.
posted by clearly at 8:43 PM on October 29, 2008 [5 favorites has favorites]

MORE LIKE KILLADELPHIA AMIRITE?
posted by bardic at 8:43 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

God willing, we might have something to cheer about on Tuesday night as well.
posted by VicNebulous at 8:45 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Let me be the first to bring up Palin in this thread, since I don't really care about baseball.

Oh, and John Daly got dunk. I know, hard to believe.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:46 PM on October 29, 2008

My prediction
posted by middleclasstool at 8:47 PM on October 29, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

From spring training prank to World Series champions.
posted by netbros at 8:55 PM on October 29, 2008

Not directly related, but I heard this on a podcast today(This American Life) Supposedly James Carville once said "Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between"

I was a student at Rutgers in the late 70's, early 80's and the mix was mostly North Jersey (Yankees fans, including myself) and South Jersey (Phillies fans). Congratulations to all my college friends who moaned in mournful regret while I cheered, while their surrogate team gave up Bucky Dent's home run. Many of us were watching it on a black and white portable with rabbit ears on the Mattia dorm second floor. Good times, good times.
posted by Rafaelloello at 8:56 PM on October 29, 2008

YAY GO PHILLIES
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:57 PM on October 29, 2008

John Daly got dunk.

Now that would have been something to see.
posted by eyeballkid at 8:59 PM on October 29, 2008

Faelloello - I always wondered when the first usage of "Good times, good times." were; was that phrase extant during your college days?

Only 6 to 8 more months until the Stanley Cup gets played for.
posted by porpoise at 9:04 PM on October 29, 2008

McCain is gonna win now. God most certainly does not love me enough to give me a Phillies championship AND an Obama victory.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:10 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

God most certainly does not love me enough to give me a Phillies championship AND an Obama victory.

Perhaps God doesn't...but Hindu might.
posted by brain cloud at 9:11 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

porpoise: "18Faelloello - I always wondered when the first usage of "Good times, good times." were; was that phrase extant during your college days?

Only 6 to 8 more months until the Stanley Cup gets played for."

IIRC, it actually post-dates my college days and is a mid-80's Phil Hartman SNL line. I might be wrong. After all, I'm old, for chrise sakes.
posted by Rafaelloello at 9:12 PM on October 29, 2008

People were going nuts outside my dorm
posted by god particle at 9:21 PM on October 29, 2008

I grew up a Cubs fan so I really don't like baseball anymore.
posted by Sailormom at 9:25 PM on October 29, 2008

We don't have a Major league team where I live

Neither do I, despite the Mariners' protests to the contrary.
posted by dw at 9:27 PM on October 29, 2008 [5 favorites has favorites]

Yes, I know.
posted by ob at 9:43 PM on October 29, 2008

IIRC, it actually post-dates my college days and is a mid-80's Phil Hartman SNL line.

I don't recall it from SNL specifically, but he definitely used it on NewsRadio.
posted by aaronetc at 9:52 PM on October 29, 2008

Lidge went 48-for-48 on save chances this year, including two this week. He retired two batters with a runner on second, striking out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske to end it.
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:56 PM on October 29, 2008

i have no idea what the above means.
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:57 PM on October 29, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Best of the Web? Really? Why is this still here?
posted by paddysat at 10:13 PM on October 29, 2008

So did Nate Silver predict this? I need to know how his stats hold up, dammit!
posted by sugarfish at 10:15 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I grew up a Cubs fan so I really don't like baseball anymore. FTFme
posted by emelenjr at 10:29 PM on October 29, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Wait,... the World Series just happened?
posted by Hicksu at 10:33 PM on October 29, 2008

They exceeded Pecota's projections.
posted by ORthey at 10:36 PM on October 29, 2008

yawn.

*was hopin for a sox & dodgers matchup
posted by axltea at 10:37 PM on October 29, 2008

Respect to Matt Stairs! Congrats to the Phillies; I am glad you got your WS since ever cell in my body wanted you to lose in '93.

No man is an island - I am a Blue Jays fan, but I understand that loyalty to sports teams, often says more about the regular people in a region more than the politics, artwork, or cuisine ever could... that is why this is an important thread.
posted by Deep Dish at 10:43 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

And the Billy Penn Curse is broken! Yeah Phillies!
posted by medeine at 10:56 PM on October 29, 2008

This is definitely bad news for the Fundies. Now they can't claim that Tampa Bay went from worst to first merely by dropping the "Devil" from their team name.

And I'm a longtime fan of the Ångels (that's supposed to be a halo).
posted by wendell at 11:09 PM on October 29, 2008

Go Yankees
posted by ChickenringNYC at 11:23 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

The way people here behaved I hope this city never has another championship win. Looting? Overturning cars? Fires? Disgusting. I'm really ashamed.
posted by deafmute at 11:27 PM on October 29, 2008

We still call them the DEVIL Rays around here. Matter of fact I make a point of it.

Congrats to Philly (even though Philly fan SUCKS) but you can't take away from what Joe Maddon and the D Rays accomplished this year.
posted by photoslob at 11:33 PM on October 29, 2008

"World" Series. rofl.
posted by Duke999R at 11:37 PM on October 29, 2008

Go Packers!
posted by CitizenD at 12:14 AM on October 30, 2008

Yes, yes. There was a guy several decades ago when the US was the only country with organized professional baseball who came up with a dramatic marketing term. Do we get to have this conversation again?
posted by middleclasstool at 12:15 AM on October 30, 2008

"World" Series. rofl.

"rofl"? Seriously? Is this Prodigy, circa 1995?

Anyways, very well done Phillies. It was a nice game to see, and a nice series. When one doesn't have a pony in the game, one wants to cheer for the underdog, but the Phillies were fun to watch. Congrats!
posted by barnacles at 12:25 AM on October 30, 2008

...aaas our fans proceed to show the world how much they suck arse. Awesome, guys.

That said, YEAH PHILS! We broke the curse!
posted by kalimac at 1:41 AM on October 30, 2008

I'm usually not a sports person, but I got chills at the final moment when they won. It was an extremely exciting and touching moment. They're an excellent team, and they deserved to win. Plus, the Philly Phanatic is the cutest mascot ever. Can't wait to see him with Ryan Howard at the parade on Friday! .. Now, hopefully we won't have to wait another 28 years for this to happen again!
posted by Mael Oui at 1:48 AM on October 30, 2008

For anyone interested in seeing lots of video of a mob of cretins tearing apart gorgeous downtown Philadelphia, here's a good collection:

http://www.youtube.com/user/alexkworld

The scenes of the car being flipped over are great, as are the Cloverfield-like aftermath shots.

Keep in mind that the Phillies WON the World Series.

How ridiculous. The city should leave the overturned planters and wrecked bus shelters there so that people can stare at them during the parade.
posted by deafmute at 1:55 AM on October 30, 2008

They didn't show the game here in Germany. I guess that is just as well.
posted by caddis at 1:58 AM on October 30, 2008

Best of the Web? Really? Why is this still here?
posted by paddysat at 1:13 AM

just to spite you for your arrogant complaint
posted by caddis at 2:01 AM on October 30, 2008

The Spring Training prank is great. "You got traded for a hot dog eater!"
posted by awfurby at 2:05 AM on October 30, 2008

I live and work in philly (I am a DJ). Regardless of all the hate, ridicule, and general lack of enthusiasm this community is expressing I would like to say...

GO PHILLIES! FINALLY FIIIIINALLLY. oh it tastes so sweet (kinda makes me want to flip a car)
posted by Addiction at 2:29 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

"World" Series. rofl.

The Phillies have players from the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Japan on their roster. Tampa adds Australia, Cuba and Venezuela to that list. That's more countries than the men's 100m final at the last Olympics.
posted by thecjm at 2:44 AM on October 30, 2008 [6 favorites has favorites]

deafmute,
Please grab a google and look up "championship riots"

It's disgusting, I hate it, it's a fact of life. It's a few dozen assholes in any city when several thousand are happy, peaceful, and full of pride for their team.

I was at broad around city hall and everyone I met was great. There were transplants from other cities who were happy for our win. There were kids in their 20's who'd never had a championship. There were guys telling us how it was in '80 when they last won. There were people from all walks of life who just came down to celebrate our phils. I've never had a night in this city where I've hugged/shook hands/high five'd more random strangers.

I'm a bit upset that Baldelli got his bat on that pitch from Madsen to kill the win for Hamels. He deserved a win after pitching in that rain on monday.
posted by cmfletcher at 3:07 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

That's more countries than the men's 100m final at the last Olympics.

Oh, man... burn.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:23 AM on October 30, 2008

Jamie Moyer gets a much deserved World Series ring.
posted by Jazz Hands at 3:37 AM on October 30, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Jazz Hands -- that was the first thing I thought upon waking up this morning and reading the news :) Love that man.
posted by kalimac at 4:09 AM on October 30, 2008

I don't know shit about baseball. Which other nations are involved in the World Series?
posted by gman at 4:28 AM on October 30, 2008

That question's already been answered.

MLB is undeniably the Major League worldwide. It is the top tier, and players from all around the world come to play the game. The league happens to span only 2 nations, but Major League Baseball is not a nationalistic entity. While there are baseball tournaments that have specific teams from specific nations, MLB is beyond that. It's not about Japan playing against Cuba, it's about Japan playing with Cuba. Simply put, it's the best players in the world, all working together.

That said, MLB team names could be better. Philadelphia Phillies? That's like the Boston Bosties, or New York Yorkies, or the Los Angeles Angels. Oh wait a minute...
posted by explosion at 4:52 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Christ I need more sleep... I opened this thread wondering how the hell anyone called the "Paedophilia Phillies" could win anything...
posted by twine42 at 5:13 AM on October 30, 2008

"Yes us can!"
posted by qldaddy at 5:31 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Which other nations are involved in the World Series?

Ask the Phillies who they lost to last time they made the World Series.
posted by oaf at 5:33 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

That said, MLB team names could be better. Philadelphia Phillies? That's like the Boston Bosties...

Not exactly. A Filly actually is, you know, a real thing. They're just being cute with the spelling.

And, that said, might I just add: Go Phillies!!!
posted by dseaton at 6:00 AM on October 30, 2008

All sports which are not bloodsports are pointless and dull.
posted by baphomet at 6:01 AM on October 30, 2008

Yay Phils! Well deserved, and it was great that for once kids (and people who don't stay up late, like me and my wife) could see the end of a Series game.

Philadelphia Phillies? That's like the Boston Bosties, or New York Yorkies

The Phillies were founded in 1883. In those days, teams were routinely called by the name of their cities: "The Philadelphias will play the Bostons this evening." "Philadelphias" understandably got shortened to "Phillies." Think of it as a remnant from a time when sports teams didn't have to have snappy names suitable for marketing and mascots.

Best of the Web? Really? Why is this still here?

If you don't like baseball, stay out of the fucking thread.
posted by languagehat at 6:06 AM on October 30, 2008 [6 favorites has favorites]

A Filly actually is, you know, a real thing. They're just being cute with the spelling.

Please do not spread urban legends.
posted by languagehat at 6:07 AM on October 30, 2008

All sports which are not bloodsports Bloodsport are pointless and dull suffering from a severe lack of Jean-Claude Van Damme.
posted by educatedslacker at 6:09 AM on October 30, 2008

Told you so.
posted by fixedgear at 6:28 AM on October 30, 2008

I live just a few blocks away from where the car-overturning scene took place in Philly. Last night we let our kids stay up to watch the game, and when the Phillies won, we ran upstairs to the roof deck to see the fireworks, and the kids literally shouted from the rooftop. People were running in the streets shouting and hollering, cars were driving by with horns honking and people hanging out the windows, and my 6-year-old son, who is congenitally loud and is always being told by adults to be quiet, screamed joyfully at the top of his lungs along with all the grown-ups who were screaming in excitement. From the roof we were able to see and hear the sounds of the entire city celebrating. Once we finally got the kids to sleep, we drifted off ourselves to the sounds of drunken fans whooping, honking, and breaking bottles. I am not a huge sports fan, or a fan of destroying public or private property, but I have to say, it was an acceptable lullaby, if only for the way it stoked my hopes about literally shouting from the rooftops next Tuesday.
posted by mothershock at 6:36 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Go Phillies!

Too bad I had to experience it with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck, though.
posted by inigo2 at 6:49 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Jamie Moyer gets a much deserved World Series ring.

Not to mention the Citizens Bank Park pitching rubber!

The soft-tossing Moyer pitched well in Game 3 but wound up with a no-decision in his World Series debut. He cried on the field after the clincher, and teammates chased him through the clubhouse to soak him in champagne.

“My heart was racing,” Moyer said. “I don’t know if we really believe it yet. I do know that we won this game. I know we’re the World Series winner.”

After the game, Moyer went to the mound with teammates and dug up the pitching rubber.

I can't wait for the parade!
posted by gladly at 6:54 AM on October 30, 2008

Best part is that due to the resumption of the rainout it ended 10ish, instead of 1:30.

More proof that God hates the owners but loves the fans (esp. the kids). My family and I got to watch the whole thing together, popped real and fake champagne afterwards, and it's a memory we'll have forever.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:01 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Since when do the Phillies have a curse?

Oh. 1987.

Y'all should find a new word for those 21 years.
posted by lunit at 7:05 AM on October 30, 2008

Since when do the Phillies have a curse?

They've always had a curse, it's called Phillies fans. Really, I can think of no one who deserves to see their team win than the fine people of the City of Brotherly Love.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:09 AM on October 30, 2008

Official time for Game 5: 3:28 (Plus a 46 hour rain delay).

Well, as a Mets fan I congratulate the Phillies. They earned it and I certainly cannot begrudge them their second championship in 125 years as a franchise.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 7:13 AM on October 30, 2008

Phillies fan robs bank to pay for gear

By DAFNEY TALES
Philadelphia Daily News

[e-mail] 215-854-5084
Phillies fans are known for their diehard, drastic and often drunken support for their team.

Crazed Phanatics paint the team's logo on their lawns or imbibe the same amount of shots as the number on favorite player's jersey.

It doesn't matter. You take one for the team.

But one fan may have taken his devotion a bit too far when police say he robbed a bank and later allegedly funded a shopping spree for Phillies gear with the stolen cash.

About 10 a.m. yesterday, a man, who police did not identify, entered a PNC Bank on Welsh Road near Roosevelt Boulevard and slipped the teller a demand note.

Shortly after, the man, wearing a red and gray hat pulled down over his face and a beige hoodie, fled westbound on Welsh with an undisclosed amount of cash, said a detective from Northeast Detectives.

About 20 minutes later, cops found the suspect, who police have not identified, a few miles away coming out of the Modell's Sporting Goods store at the Roosevelt Mall, Cottman and Bustleton avenues.

Police did not confirm whether the man was wearing Phillies gear or not. But authorities said they later recovered cash in a nearby trash bin.

Witnesses positively identified the suspect and police carted the robber off, assuring that the ardent fan would miss watching the Phillies duke it out against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5.

He might miss the game, but at least he won't face federal charges, said Jerri Williams, the Philly FBI spokeswoman.

Local authorities charged him with robbery, theft and related offenses.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:18 AM on October 30, 2008

I'm just so thrilled for Brad Lidge. He was one of my favorite Astros who in 2005 looked to do for us what he's done for the Phillies. A homer from Albert Pujols during the playoffs then totally shook the guy, and he never came back for us. A change of venue and BAM, he finds perfection, redemption, and a World Series championship. An amazing comeback for an awesome pitcher, a fantastic athlete, and a great guy. Way to go Brad!
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:21 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Can't help but feel bad for the Rays on this one. Game 5 shouldn't have even been attempted on Monday, and it's not particularly cool that our last dose of baseball this season was just a few detached innings.

That said, either Boston took all the piss out of the Rays during the ALCS, or the Phillies were just better all along. Once the Phillies went up 3-1 with a Hamels start scheduled, playing out the games was a formality.

Congrats to the Phillies!
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:47 AM on October 30, 2008

The exuberance on Ruiz's face as he ran to embrace Lidge on the mound was infectious. Wow. The whole team has such great chemistry. (If you want to talk about Phillies fans being Phillies fans, I must say that we whooped a little harder when we heard the stadium booing Bud Selig in the postgame speechifying.)

I was at Broad and Tasker last night, standing in the middle of the street, drinking beer and cheering. For the most part, it was a giant love-fest of hoopin' and hollerin'. Brotherly love was indeed running high, pretty much obliterating the typical race and class dividing lines. My high-five got worn out.

Yeah, there were some jerks. The self-policing worked for awhile, but it did get rowdy enough for the cops eventually, whose handling of the situation was pretty great -- they broke up the hot spots, kept their cool, moved people out of the middle of the street periodically, but didn't actually stop the party.
posted by desuetude at 7:50 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I now hate Jimmy Rollins more than PJ Brown or Reggie Miller. I hate him even more than the '99 Braves.
posted by ericbop at 7:55 AM on October 30, 2008

Too bad I had to experience it with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck, though.

I will never understand the hate for this pair. McCarver is the most knowledgeable person I've ever heard discuss baseball on the air; I considered myself privileged as a Mets fan to have him broadcasting their games for so long. He always told it like it was, whether that was flattering to the team or not (which is why management got rid of him).
posted by languagehat at 8:49 AM on October 30, 2008

Philadelphia Phillies? That's like the Boston Bosties, or New York Yorkies

In 1877, the Hartford Dark Blues (National League) moved to Brooklyn, NY and became the Brooklyn Hartfords.
posted by kurumi at 8:55 AM on October 30, 2008

McCarver's analysis is interesting, my only bone to pick with him is that he so often will anticipate what happens next and be wrong. However, he'll always own it and often the explanation will be enlightening.

Joe Buck is as bland a broadcaster as you will find. I know that because it's national they have to play it straight down the middle, but listening to him is like having the ESPN play by play read to you by a $400 haircut.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:58 AM on October 30, 2008

Please do not spread urban legends.

Not spreading urban legends, just stating facts.

I would submit that there is a reasons why other teams whose named evolved organically (or sort of organically) are named for articles of clothing (Red Sox, Reds, etc.) or for the characteristics of people in the town in which they played (Quakers, Beaneaters, Yankees, etc.) and not nonsense words like Bosties or Chicagies. Phillies works because it's a pun, even if it's not explicitly intended to be so. Bosties does not. It seems a little silly to argue that nobody involved in the official or unofficial naming of the team considered this fact.

(But, then it seems equally silly that I've just written a paragraph to argue the opposite point. So let me just say again: Go Phillies!!!)
posted by dseaton at 9:00 AM on October 30, 2008

Philadelphia Phillies? That's like the Boston Bosties, or New York Yorkies

and yet still so much better than the Utah Jazz or the LA Lakers
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:01 AM on October 30, 2008

dseaton, Philadelphia doesn't have some sort of understood association with horses that would make a Phillies/Fillies pun made any sort of sense.
posted by desuetude at 9:04 AM on October 30, 2008

I will never understand the hate for this pair.

Articles tagged with Tim McCarver on firejoemorgan.com

I don't hate him as much as many others seem to, but I would definitely put him in the bottom half of all broadcasters I've heard. As stupidsexyFlanders points out, he tries to look into the crystal ball a lot, and it doesn't work well. Does anyone predict with better accuracy? Probably not, but I would posit that he'd be better off describing the things that either are happening, or have already happened.

There are plenty of guys who are worse. Ken Harrelson of the White Sox is INFURIATING. As far as national broadcasters go, though, McCarver is pretty much at the optimum point of bad and prominent. When I learned that the AL playoffs would be on TBS through the ALCS, I was incredibly happy, and it wasn't because I'm a particularly big fan of these guys. Except for Don Orsillo, who has the voice of a golden god. I think it was their fear of making Boston's commentators look to good that made them bring on Eck as an analyst.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:13 AM on October 30, 2008

Wow, I didn't expect people to take that comment seriously. It was just a joke! I did throw in tiny text and mention the Angels.

Yeah, I live in Red Sox territory. Our team is named after socks. I'm over it. What really amuses me is the Chicago Cubs. Not that socks are particularly threatening either, but I struggle to think of another team in major league sports named after a baby animal rather than the adult version.
posted by explosion at 9:17 AM on October 30, 2008

Philadelphia Phillies? That's like the Boston Bosties, or New York Yorkies

Or the New York (k)nick(erbocker)s.
posted by piratebowling at 9:39 AM on October 30, 2008

...or the Houston Texans.
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:49 AM on October 30, 2008

...or the Houston Texans.

Plus I hear the team's slogan is a threat!!!
posted by inigo2 at 10:03 AM on October 30, 2008

Somebody take inigo2's comment seriously! I want to have this debate again!
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:08 AM on October 30, 2008

McCarver is the most knowledgeable person I've ever heard discuss baseball on the air

This is a joke, right?

Every once in a while you get a former player or manager show up on a broadcast who really knows his stuff and contributes effectively. Orel Hershiser was good the few times ESPN has let him do color, and the year Lou Piniella took off from managing he did a great job on Fox.

But McCarver is almost as much of a blowhard as Joe Morgan. He shares the disdain for statheads, which just makes it worse.

Ken Harrelson of the White Sox is INFURIATING.

He is, by far, the worst MLB PBP guy working right now. And he'll never be fired, either.

Give me Dave Niehaus. Give me Jerry Coleman. Give me Jon Miller. And if Ernie Harwell can still get up to it, have him call the middle three. But Joe Buck? So milquetoast compared to his father.
posted by dw at 10:09 AM on October 30, 2008

my only bone to pick with him is that he so often will anticipate what happens next and be wrong

So last night, Joe Buck was pouring praise on to Brad Lidge all 3.5 innings, exuding that the guy was the indestructible final bridge to a Phillies World Series championship. In the 9th inning, he really started laying it on... all talking, all singing, all dancing, all the time.

But where was Tim McCarver chiming in with a "That's right, Bucky-boy!"? Maybe I wasn't listening close enough, but McCarver in that crucial inning was comparatively reserved on the subject of Brad Lidge.

What McCarver may have--surprisingly--remembered (and what I know I was salivating over the possibility of repeating) was his history with Brad Lidge.

Go back three years to Buck and McCarver covering the 2005 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. Actually, go back a little further to Lidge giving up a monstrous series-sustaining home run to Albert Pujols in game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Now, go forward to Game 2 of the World Series.

Bottom of the 9th, 1 out, light-hitting speedster Scott Podsednik comes to the plate against Lidge. Buck wonders if the Astros should have given Lidge some work to get the bad taste of that Pujols home run out of his mouth. He asks McCarver's opinion if the taste could still be there.

Without missing a beat, Tim McCarver says, "I don't think that taste is there." //CRACK!// Scott Podsednik rockets that very pitch over the wall for a walk-off home run.

And one of the truly epic foot-in-mouth sports commentary moments of all time was born.

So anyway, congratulations might be in order for both Lidge and McCarver for exorcising the demons of their past last night.

While Joe Buck was in rare form for the 2005 World Series as he called for riots over every close call (granted, there were a few), Tim McCarver was his full caricatured-self one year prior during Boston's big march to victory. In 2004, McCarver dropped nuggets like "The thing about ground balls is they don't go out of the ballpark" and "A walk is the same as a home run."
posted by pokermonk at 10:53 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

as a philadelphian, i have nothing to add besides: w00t!
posted by gnutron at 11:08 AM on October 30, 2008

Will you stop with this "World" thing already. It's just in the US.
posted by zouhair at 11:14 AM on October 30, 2008

FOUL! Starting a sentence with a conjunction. Penalty, 15 yards.
posted by Eideteker at 11:32 AM on October 30, 2008

Will you stop with this "World" thing already. It's just in the US.

Will you read the thread before posting what is now the third version of the same pointless derail comment? We've been over this.
posted by letourneau at 11:34 AM on October 30, 2008

as a phillies fan, i have to second gnutron's w00t!
posted by zorrine at 12:02 PM on October 30, 2008

Not spreading urban legends, just stating facts bullshit you pulled out of your ass.

Seriously, you have no idea what you're talking about. Read up on 19th-century baseball and learn some actual facts.

This is a joke, right?

No, it's not. I listened to McCarver call Mets games for over a dozen years and was always impressed by the depth of his knowledge and awareness of what was going on on the field. I repeatedly heard him make prescient comments about how a team should have its infield further in (or whatever) and be proven right very quickly. He probably has lost a few steps since then; I haven't had regular exposure to him. But it pisses me off when people diss him just because he's talkative, likes the occasional dumb joke, and... what? I really don't know what it's about. And don't give me that Lidge anecdote, because that's bullshit, as stupid as blaming Lidge himself for giving up the home run. I remember it well, and sure it was embarrassing for both men, but both pitchers and announcers are going to have embarrassing moments over the long haul. If someone prefers an old fool like Phil Rizzuto who just babbles about the linguini he had for dinner last night, that's their affair. Me, I'll take McCarver, with his knowledge, experience, and willingness to take risks and suffer the occasional blooper.
posted by languagehat at 1:26 PM on October 30, 2008

The league happens to span only 2 nations

Well, three, if you count Texas.
posted by sixpack at 2:00 PM on October 30, 2008

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley made a sweet play in the top of the seventh when the Rays had two out and a guy on second. He faked a throw to first and threw the runner out at home to end the inning. It's about halfway through the video on ESPN's recap.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:02 PM on October 30, 2008

What really amuses me is the Chicago Cubs. Not that socks are particularly threatening either, but I struggle to think of another team in major league sports named after a baby animal rather than the adult version.

It's preferable to most of their earlier names (White Stockings, Colts, Orphans; the team was known as the Orphans when the American League entry in Chicago came along and used the team's former name as their own). One good thing about the Cubs' name is that it helped the relocated Decatur Staleys of the NFL adopt a new identity for themselves.

Ken Harrelson is not only a horrible announcer, he's a hack golfer as well...or at least he was when I watched him tee off at the Butterfield CC during my one and only summer as a caddy. I wasn't his caddy, as I would have undoubtedly wanted to give him horrible advice.
posted by stannate at 4:07 PM on October 30, 2008

I'm sad my team lost, but I'm kind of used to it. I just wish it wasn't to the Phillies. Well, not so much the Phillies, as "a team that employs Brett Myers".
posted by nulledge at 5:54 PM on October 30, 2008

Well, not so much the Phillies, as "a team that employs Brett Myers".

Huh?

Wait, do you mean that you wish your team had not lost to any team that counts Brett Myers on its roster (presumably because he's kind of a jerk) or are saying that your team did not lose to the Phillies per se, they lost to Brett Myers?
posted by desuetude at 7:24 PM on October 30, 2008

[i]Huh?

Wait, do you mean that you wish your team had not lost to any team that counts Brett Myers on its roster (presumably because he's kind of a jerk) or are saying that your team did not lose to the Phillies per se, they lost to Brett Myers?[/i]

Yeah, I phrased that poorly. I was trying to say that I wish my team had not lost to any team that had Brett Myers on it's roster. And you are correct as to the reasoning, plus he's a wife beater.
posted by nulledge at 9:11 PM on October 30, 2008

Tim McCarver was his full caricatured-self one year prior during Boston's big march to victory. In 2004, McCarver dropped nuggets like "The thing about ground balls is they don't go out of the ballpark" and "A walk is the same as a home run."

And during that same series (and many many other times) I can't think of the number of times he got a player's name completely wrong.
posted by inigo2 at 10:43 AM on October 31, 2008

What a hell of a parade, wow. The entirety of Broad Street from City Hall to the stadium was like Times Square on NYE.
posted by desuetude at 6:52 PM on October 31, 2008

Will you stop with this "World" thing already. It's just in the US.

Poor guy's never even heard of Canada.
posted by oaf at 8:12 PM on October 31, 2008