Pepper Spraying the World Series - Russakoff Rules - Comcast.net Sports

The Phils got a HUGE win in Game 1 and now turn around and play a bigger game tonight. Sure, as a Phils fan I’d be satisfied with a split at the Trop. But who wants to just be satisfied. I’m looking for elation. And Brett Myers can deliver that elation with a big performance in Game 2.

So much to say, so little time. I’ll hit you with my thoughts pepper-style:

Can we please make these balk rules less subjective? Supposedly, Cole Hamels “balked” (though it wasn’t called) because he “deceived the runner.” Isn’t the whole idea of a pickoff move to deceive the runner? If he knows you’re throwing to first, what’s the point?...

The last five teams to win Game 1 (and 10 of the last 11) went on to win the World Series. The last team to win the first game and then lose the next four was the ’83 Phillies...

Cole Hamels is now 13-1 in the last 14 games the Phils have given him a lead...

Did you catch the ground rules at Tropicana Field? If the ball hits catwalk A and then ricochets onto catwalk B, then it’s a do-over….Who do these guys think they are? The Hackensack Bulls?...

The national media has to rethink the whole “Philly fans are evil” angle. Mitch Williams, the man who almost single-handedly lost the ’93 World Series (if you’re Lenny Dykstra, you can take out the “almost” in that phrase) is currently Philly’s top baseball analyst and absolutely beloved. Contrast that with the way Boston treated Buckner or the way Chicago still treats Bartman. Maybe we aren’t the bad guys after all...

I have to go back over the tape, but I’m pretty sure B.J. Upton accounted for all 27 of the Rays’ outs in Game 1...

I feel bad for Ryan Howard right now. He looks like Pedro Cerrano up there. Anybody got a live chicken?..

Jimmy Rollins, on the other hand, should have done 20 push-ups after each of his Game 1 at-bats. Jimmy, you may run like Hayes but you hit like his sister (full credit to the USA network cut of "Major League.")

The Chris Coste fairy tale didn’t feel so happily ever after last night...

Is it me, or did Joe Buck try to jinx Brad Lidge in the ninth inning by mentioning his ’08 save perfection (47-for-47) 4,567 times? I won’t go so far as to say Buck is rooting for the Rays, but I will say it’s quite obvious that Fox’s play-by-play man didn’t announce that game for the soldiers...

Speaking of the announcers, anyone catch McCarver’s latest gem? McCarver felt it was important to mention that Lidge throws a lot of sliders, which can put a lot of pressure on the catcher to block the ball. It would have been a good point, had there been anyone on base at the time...

Remember five months ago when every time Ryan Madson came in you could expect him to give up at least one run? Suddenly, the cat is throwing 97 m.p.h. and looks like a young Tom Gordon. Don’t worry Philly fans, I’m talking about the Yankees’ Tom Gordon, not the Phillies’ Tom Gordon.

“Heart and Cole”? Lame headline, Daily News...

Don’t get overconfident, Philadelphia. Tampa lost the first game at home in the Boston series too. The Rays aren’t buried yet...

That being said, the Phillies took Game 1 despite going 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Maybe Brett Myers can relax now and look at the plate—rather than the dugout—when he lets go of his pitches...

Any chance Charlie lets Brett Myers bat for himself? He is hitting .800 in this postseason (4-for-5) with three RBIs. And we all know how good he is at drawing walks. He can’t do any worse than Coste did in Game 1, right? (I’m only half-kidding...I think.)...

Phils are 87-0 when leading after eight innings. In case you missed the 4,567 times Joe Buck mentioned it...

Ryan Howard…just toss the ball to the pitcher. It isn’t a hard play. You know what? Scratch that. Just stand in foul territory and let Chase cover the entire right side of the infield...

Who does Akinori Iwamura think he is? Ichiro Suzuki? And am I racist for even making that comparison?...

Free Tacos!...

I love this whole “don’t test the gun” anthem Upton is playing. Dude, you were basically on the infield dirt (if you can call that stuff dirt) when you caught the ball. Usain Bolt couldn’t have scored on that play...

For my local Philly audience: Anyone watch Post Game Live on Comcast SportsNet? Is there any doubt Hamels is crushing a bit on Leslie Gudel? Who would have thought Cole would be into the cougars?...

I’ve been saying it for years, folks. Chase Utley is a golden god...

Charlie picked the perfect time to pull Hamels. Cole probably could have pitched the eighth, but 9-1-2 were due up and he struggled all night with Bartlett and Iwamura...

When Lidge has gotten into trouble this year, it has usually been when he hasn’t gotten enough work. So coming in off a layoff, he was my biggest concern. Shows what I know. Lidge was unhittable—despite Buck’s attempts to jinx him...

Tampa, I have to double check with the dude in my fraternity who buys $30 dollar “funny” T-shirts, but I’m pretty sure the whole “More Cowbell” thing is like eight years old...

Three more wins…


Can Brett Myers take Game 2? Are the Rays done? What's wrong with Howard and J-Roll? Sound off here.

Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 10-23-2008 11:11 AM