Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Let me start off by saying I am a Phillies fan.
With that said, I have accepted the fact that we will most likely chock in the big show. It is what we do. Sorry everybody.
The Phillies wont choke. Tampa Bay is simply going to crush them. It isn't choking if the other team is a hell of a lot better.
A hell of a lot better?? Hahahaha, OMG I love these people picking against the Phillies and doubting their abilities but that is such a ridiculous thing to say.
First off, as of right now the Phillies have earned themselves a WS spot and the Rays have not. Secondly, the Rays are much younger and inexperienced then the Phillies and even though they are hot right now and have all the momentum in their favor, the Phillies are on a roll themselves and have been hitting HRs like the team was built to do. Pitching? Cole Hamels > ANY RAYS PITCHER and Myers/Moyer/Blanton are all good, crafty starters who can matchup with anyone Tampa will throw at them. Hitting? 1-9 the Phillies have the better squad by far with more professional hitters, they can also match Tampa's speed on the bases and had the 2 best stealing percentages EVER the last 2 years. Bullpen? Phillies had the best bullpen in the NL this year and they are not blowing any big leads in the playoffs, not to mention a PERFECT closer.
So I ask again.. a hell of a lot better?? You're either biased, clueless, or trolling. The Phillies should be favored no matter who they face, Phillies had an incredible record winning on the road this year and won 3 post-season road games so I don't care about the AL getting home field advantage. Prepare to eat your baseless words.
Quoted for posterity and imminent humiliation when the Phils get crushed.
I'm not really invested either way. In fact, as a Giants fan I've been rooting for the Phillies all week and it was fantastic to see them crush the Dodgers into a fine dust. Especially last night when it was Bad News Bears style - at the beginning of the movie, not the end.
So, let's break this down, shall we?
First off, as of right now the Phillies have earned themselves a WS spot and the Rays have not.
Well, fair enough. I'm not quite sure how this is totally relevant to this discussion but alright, let's move on. Congrats to the Phils by the way, they played very well.
Secondly, the Rays are much younger and inexperienced then the Phillies and even though they are hot right now and have all the momentum in their favor, the Phillies are on a roll themselves and have been hitting HRs like the team was built to do.
Periods are your friend. Yes, the Rays are younger but one could argue that that only serves to isolate them from the pressure of the playoffs. One could also argue that their youth keeps them energized and motivated on a more consistent basis than an older team.
The Phillies have slugged .431 in the postseason and the Rays have slugged .533 - 100 points higher. 100 points. That's a huge margin. You can't build a team around homeruns - ask the White Sox. The Rays have enough speed to manufacture runs on a pretty consistent basis. With a few notable exceptions, the Rays have speed from top to bottom. They also have more speed on the bench than the Phillies do, plain and simple. Sure the Phillies have turned it on a little bit lately and it's good news that Ryan Howard is trying to use all fields again but I don't think it's going to make much of a difference.
itching? Cole Hamels > ANY RAYS PITCHER and Myers/Moyer/Blanton are all good, crafty starters who can matchup with anyone Tampa will throw at them.
Yes, Cole Hamels is a legitimate ace. You know who else is a legitimate ace? James Shields. Scott Kazmir, when healthy, is absolutely filthy. Matt Garza and Andy Sonnanstine have dominated
the entire season. Hell, even Edwin Jackson won something like 14 games this year. There is no way that Blanton/Moyer/Myers stand up to Garza/Sonnanstine/Kazmir. No way.
Hitting? 1-9 the Phillies have the better squad by far with more professional hitters, they can also match Tampa's speed on the bases and had the 2 best stealing percentages EVER the last 2 years.
/boggle
Really? Really, really?
Bullpen? Phillies had the best bullpen in the NL this year and they are not blowing any big leads in the playoffs, not to mention a PERFECT closer.
You know who had the best bullpen in the AL (arguably a tougher league) the Rays. Just because you seemingly haven't heard of their pitching staff doesn't mean they don't exist. JP Howell, David Price, Grant Balfour - the fightingest Australian since Russel Crowe - hell, even Dan Wheeler has been on shutdown mode since Troy Percival got hurt.
Take a step back from your Phillies fan-dom and get a little perspective.
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