Just Manny Doing PEDs

ESPN is reporting that Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez will be suspended for 50 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Haha.

Stay Classy, L.A.

Philadelphia has been known as a horrid place for visiting teams and their fans for probably close to 30 years now. At times it seems justified. I have been verbally berated by Eagles fans when I went to games at the Vet against the Dolphins (twice), the Redskins, the Patriots, and the Panthers. Words don't bother me so much; I'm a big boy, I can handle it. The only problem is the oldest I ever was at an Eagles game was 12. You usually don't call anyone under the age of, oh I don't know, 16-18 an "asshole"or "prick" or say "fuck you". Classy.

For every jackass Philly fan you find, I'll show you 50 that are nothing like that. Philly fans are fashioned with a bad stereotype thanks to the media. They bring up the age-old story of fans booing Santa. How many of you actually know the truth behind that story? In reality, Philly fans are just so passionate and knowledgeable of their teams that they come off as overbearing and intense. Guilty. But that doesn't make us evil.

Los Angeles is kind the stark opposite of Philadelphia. It is Hollywood in all of its "glory". L.A. fans are more laid back and casual about their teams. They are never perceived as being some of the most beligerent and classless fans in the nation. Well maybe it is time that changed.

I'm not going to get into a full blown "he said, she said" post. I'll just direct you to the evidence. Philly blog The 700 Level and Phillies blog The Fightins chronicle the despicable acts of Dodger fans and the loathesome writing of L.A. Times writer T.J. Simers over the last 3 games.

From The 700 Level
Fan Report: Wearing Red in Dodger Stadium
Finally Some Distatse in the NLCS
In the Belly of the Early Departing Beast
Dodgers Gear Banned in L.A. Bar
Instead of 7th, Dodgers Fans Leaving Before the First Inning Tonight
Fan Report: At the NLCS Clincher

From The Fightins
TJ Simers: A Douchebag Until the Very End

If you don't feel like reading the article on Simers, I'll leave you this quote from his article in today's paper.

SEVERAL DODGERS fans e-mailed complaining about the fan experience in the stadium for Game 4.

"I am not sure I will take my son to another Dodger game any time soon," wrote Ken Gowey. "It makes me absolutely ashamed to be a Dodger fan."

I was afraid of this, knowing some folks born in Philly have probably moved here and become Dodgers fans over the years.

The thing is, you just can't take the Angryville out of them, which obviously explains all the problems in Dodger Stadium.

What!?!? Did he really just say the only way L.A. fans are being assholes is because they had to be originally from Philadelphia and are now Dodgers fans? Wow. Just wow. The Angryville remark is from his pre-NLCS column run in the Philadelphia newspapers.

Simers article ends with this gem.

TODAY'S LAST word comes from Norm Pangracs:

"After the fifth inning I called the number the Dodgers said to call if anyone is causing trouble during the game. I was surprised to get a recorded voice. I thought for sure a live person would answer. I left a message: 'There's a group from Philadelphia making me very uncomfortable. They're the Philadelphia Phillies.' "

Stay classy, Simers and the rest of L.A. While you are finding something else to write about (won't be football, now will it?) or getting yet another plastic surgery, we'll be living it up as the National League representatives in the World Series. Suck on that.

World Series Bound

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Your 2008 National League Champions!

The Phillies finished off the Los Angeles Dodgers last night, 5-1, in game 5 of the 2008 NLCS. With the win Philadelphia advances to the World Series, their first since 1993 and 6th all-time.

Jimmy Rollins got the game started with a lead off home run, his second of the post season, against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley. The Phillies would add two more in the third to take a 3-0 lead. After Cole Hamles struck out, Rollins walked and stole second. Following a Jayson Werth strike out, Chase Utley walked. Ryan Howard then singled to right, scoring Rollins and movinh Utley to third. Pat ("The Bait") Burrell copied Howard with a single, scoring Utley and moving Howard to 3rd. The Phillies would add their final two runs in the fifth, with a little help from Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal.

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins hits a lead off home run, his second of the post season, off of Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley.

With Utley on 2nd and Howard on 1st, with one out, Burrell hit a gorunder to Furcal. Furcal misplayed it with his glove and then booted the ball. Utley headed for home. He scored safely because Furcal's throw home was way off target, his second error in 10 seconds. On the throwing error Howard and Burrell advanced a base. A sure-fire double play ball resulted in a run and two runners in scoring position. Furcal's blunders were not over. After Shane Victorino was intentionally walked and Pedro Feliz struck out, catcher Carlos Ruiz grounded to Furcal. Furcal rushed his throw to 1st and it bounced in the dirt in front of 1B James Loney, allowing Ruiz to reach safely and Howard to score. The inning would finally end with the Phillies leading 5-0. The only other scoring came in the bottom of the 6th. Free agent LF Manny Ramirez homered to right off of Hamels.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Phillies second baseman Chase Utley scores in Wednesday night's NLCS game 5 after a throwing error by Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, one of his three errors in the inning.

Hamels got through 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 run while walking 3 and striking out 5. He was choosen as the NLCS MVP. Ryan Madson worked a strong 8th, allowing one hit and that was it. Up 4, Manuel decided to hand the ball to closer Brad Lidge to shut the door on the Dodgers season and catapult the Phillies to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. Lidge allowed a single to Loney before getting Casey Blake and Matt Kemp to fly out to center. Carlos Ruiz ended the game on a Nomar Garciaparra pop out in foul territory. Game over. 2008 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)
Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels was named NLCS MVP for his superb work in games 1 and 5.

What an amazing series. These current Phillies have written themselves in to Philadelphia sports lore; they will always be remembered. But how good will it be? Will they be remembered like the 1993 team or like the 1980 team? It's up to them to decide. They can become the biggest icons this city has had in 25 years. And that will last forever. Four more wins, boys. FOUR MORE.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino holds the Warren Giles Trophy, which is annually awarded to the National League champions.

FUN FACTS: The Phillies are 86-0 when leading after 8 innings (includes regular season and post season). ... Greg Maddux, who pitched 2 innings in last nights game and allowed 2 unearned runs, also pitched the last time the Phillies won the N.L. pennant, game 6 of the 1993 NLCS for the Atlanta Braves. ... Ryan Howard finally woke up in the last game of the NLCS. Howard went 3 for 4 with a walk in 5 plate appearnces. He had 1 RBI and also scored a run.

Phillies rally in 8th, hold on for NLCS Game 4 win

Wow. If When the Phillies move on to the World Series for the first time since 1993, the top of the 8th in NLCS Game 4 will be replayed for years to come.

After giving up a single to Ryan Howard to start the 8th, Dodgers manager Joe Torre chose to replace reliever Hong-Chih Kuo with Cory Wade. This is significant because Kuo had stymied the Phillies for all but Howard's lead off single. Kuo pitched masterfully in the 7th, striking out Jayson Werth and Chase Utley. Torre decided to remove Kuo after Howard's single in the 8th to play the percentages. Kuo is a lefty and Pat Burrell was coming to the plate, a righty. Lefty to a righty is a no-no in baseball protocol. So Torre took the ball from Kuo and handed it to rookie Cory Wade, a righty. Smart move, at first. Wade got Burrell to pop out to 2nd and the Dodgers were now 5 outs from evening the 2008 NLCS at 2 games. The Flyin' Hawaiian had other plans.

Shane Victorino has undoubtedly been the Phillies postseason MVP. He has been masterful and energetic, exciting and clutch. When he stepped to bat last night versus Wade something was in the air. Victorino is a switch hitter so whoever Torre through out there he was able to counter. Torre stuck with Wade. Mistake. Victorino drilled a pitch down the first-base line. It was long enough. It was high enough. Home run, game tied 5-5. Wade would get Pedro Feliz to line out before facing Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has been hitting better of late. Ruiz singled on the first pitch from Wade. Torre had seen enough; time for the closer. Enter Jonathan Broxton, an imposing man standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing in at 290 pounds. And his stuff can be electric. And also a bit unpredictable.

Associated Press

Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino celebrates his game-tying 2-run home run in the 8th inning of game 4 of the 2008 NLCS.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sent up a pinch hitter for pitcher Ryan Madson. His choice? 17-year veteran Matt Stairs, acquired from the Blue Jays by Pat Gillick in August. The Phillies are Stairs' 11th team. This was an obvious decision by Manuel; Broxton was a righty, Stair batted left. Good match up. This was only Stairs' 7th postseason game and 13th postseason at-bat ever. He had 0 runs and 0 RBIs in the postseason. Until last night.

Stairs worked Broxton. After throwing a 1st pitch strike Broxton got in a hole, throwing 3 straight balls. With the count 3-1, Stairs waited for the fastball. And he got it on the 5th pitch of the at-bat. Without hesitation Stairs unloaded on the ball. Suddenly the Phillies had the lead, 7-5.

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Phillies pinch hitter Matt Stairs belts this pitch deep to right field, giving the Phillies a 7-5 lead in the top of the 8th inning of Monday's game 4 of the 2008 NLCS.

Matt Stairs is congratulated by his teammates as he enters the dugout after his 8th inning home run.

J.C. Romero would get the 2 batters he face in the bottom of the 8th out but it wasn't without a little drama. He walked Rafael Furcal, bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of Andre Ethier. Fortunately for Romero and the Phillies, Ethier grounded into a double play. Next up, Manny Ramirez.

The Phillies have been a perfect 79-0 this season with a lead during the 8th inning (74-0 regular season, 5-0 postseason) thanks in large part to Madson, Romero, and closer Brad Lidge. Manuel turned to Lidge for his first 4-out save of the year. And it would start with Ramirez. Things would get a bit shaky. Ramirez drilled a 3-2 pitch to center field for a double. With 2 outs and a man in scoring position, the Dodgers could tie the game with one swing of the bat. Lidge would strik out the next batter, catcher Russell Martin, on 3 pitches. Despite the strike out, technically the 3rd out of the inning, the 8th wouldn't end. Lidge's slider got away from Ruiz and Martin easily made it to 1st while Ramirez trotted to 3rd. Crap. The next batter was first baseman James Loney, who was having a great day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a single, double, and a walk. He has the power to put the Dodgers back in front and shift the pressure back to Philadelphia. Loney tried. Boy did he try. After a first-pitch ball, Loney fouled off 4 straight pitches. On the 6th pitch of the at-bat Loney flied out to Eric Bruntlett, who was a defensive replacement for Burrell. Inning over. One more to go.

It would be nice to get another insurance run plated. Utley got things going in the top of the 9th with a single. Howard stepped to the plate and grounded into a fielder's choice to second base, rendering Utley out. The same thing happened to Bruntlett during the next at-bat. With Shane Victorino up, and down in the count 0-2, Bruntlett attempted to steal second on the next pitch. The Dodgers nailed him on an out pitch, inning over. No insurance runs. Lidge back to the mound to close out game 4 and secure a 3-1 Phillies lead in the series.

Things went surprisingly easy for Lidge in the bottom of the 9th. Pinch hitter Nomar Garciaparra flied out to center on his 2nd pitch, Casey Blake struck out on 3 pitches, and pinch hitter Jeff Kent lined out hard to third baseman Pedro Feliz. Game over. 7-5 Phillies. 3-1 series lead.

Brad Lidge went 1-2-3 in the 9th inning to save the win for Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels will face off against Chad Billingsley in Wednesday's game 5 in Los Angeles. A Phillies win sends them to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.