Phillies=Underdogs
The Phils are not favored to beat the Rays in the World Series.
Phillies=Underdogs
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The Phillies are likely to be underdogs here. That's fine.But it could have been worse.
This is the way I figure it: had the Red Sox come back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Rays, the Phillies would have been facing a runaway steamroller with winning experience and a winning pedigree. To me, that would have been the worst case.
Now, think about the Rays. Through the first couple of games of the series against Boston, they looked frightening. Ican remember sitting in the dugout in Dodger Stadium and Charlie Manuel looking over and saying, "How about those Rays?" And me replying, "I think they scored four more runs while I was eating breakfast this morning." At which point, Manuel caught himself and said, "I'm not talking about them. I've been talking about us, and one game at a time, and I'm sticking with that."
Since then, the Rays have stopped murdering opposing pitching. They also had the one epic collapse in their bullpen and another game where they probably wanted more. Their are vulnerabilities. And there is no winning history.
So, yes, they're likely favored and should be. But there are areas the Phillies can probe. That's all.
Comments (34)
ESPN's panel of analysts, Kruk included, picked the Phils to finish 3rd in our division at the beginning of this season. What little creditability they had is gone as far as I'm concerned. The Phils have earned the right to be NLCS Champions and they will do the same with the World Series. The big money Analysts for ESPN & Fox are little more than media whores who are not free to express their own opinion. My advise to all the great Phils Fans is just look at what is in front of you and make your own analysis and you’ll come out ahead every time.— Wally 24- Lots of ground balls to shortstop by both teams could give the Phillies the edge.— Scoop
- If the Rays are favored, it is only slightly and it is probably because they have the home field advantage. That being said, and as someone else pointed out very wisely, Hamels goes against their #3 (I think it's Kazmir), then we get their #4 against Myers...Advantage: Phillies...Then Shields and Garza have to pitch in Philly...Better pitchers have faltered in that atmosphere! Second, why anyone thinks the Rays' starting pitching is deeper than ours is a huge question...Hamels is better than Shields; Myers is as good as Garza; Moyer is one of the best #3's in baseball and Blanton has been awesome...This series will not be won or lost by the starters, IMHO; it will be won or lost by the bullpens... Watching the Rays celebrate here in Tampa last night looked like they already won it all...I'm not saying they are happy just "getting in" - that would be silly - BUT the Phillies definitely have the psychological edge going into the Series... They won 97 games, playing in the AL East; We won 92 in the NL East - Slight advantage to the Rays for their division schedule... I like the Phils in 6... GO PHILS! PK— PhillyTheKid
- Hamels wins both starts. The Phillies split Myers 2 starts and they split the Moyer/Blanton starts = Phillies in 6. Parade October 30.— GO PHILLIES!!!
- Who cares who is favored? If you look at so-called experts' predictions, you'll find that they are just above .500 across all sports. This should be a great series. GO PHILS!!!— dlscholt
- Phils starting pitchers have to do job. AL teams are much better hitters then NL. Now you have the best of the best. Not LA lineup anymore. Pitching=victory. Myers and Moyer will have to come up big. LETS GO PHILS— Reggie92
- not to be a blind homer but i see this as a 5 game win for the phils....look at pitching, the rays best starters, kazmir and shields have not exaclty been lights out, plus shields, sonnanstine and garza are hard throwing rightys, phils feast on them, see chad bilingsley. offense is a wash probably excep the phils have probably more pop, the wildcard is moyer. If he gets a win, then i think philly takes it. I thikn he will as he seems to handle free swinging, young teams, see the marlins— TR
- "But why should they be favored? Already, everyone's picking them to win." Ahh, because they won 97 games in the toughest division in baseball. They beat the best team over the last four years to get to the WS. Thay are the favorite and rightfully so. I hope those bats get a few termites before Wednesday.— bRUski
- Thoughts on winning it in 5, at home, the way it should be done? we'd need to split in tampa, at worst, but more likely to win both b/c hamels and myers against their 3 and 4. then win 2 out of 3 here! i'll take it any way I can, but it would be nice to win it here...paint Philly Red!— g$ is an idiot
Comment removed.- Yeah, I believe the Dodgers were favored in the NLCS. That worked out real well for LA didn't it? The Phillies can take these young punks down. They need to take one game in Florida and then these guys can have a nice visit to the Bank. They have no idea what they are in for there. Go Phils!! I know they can win this thing.— Drummerboy79
- My prediction, what I am hoping for, i was shocked we got it in 5 games against in LA when we were 0-4 there all year, but that was incredible, Im predicting 6 or 7 game Phils world series victors, id love to see em do it in 4 or 5, but thats what im Hoping, for , GO PHILS !!— Will.i.Am
- Comment removed.
- Too many Phillies are in hitting slumps. Rays hitters look like they are on a roll right now. They got to Lester who was pitching a great game. How are we going to ever beat Garza. You think Moyer is going to suddenly find his game again. He may have hit the wall. You can't pitch forever.— Drew777
- Here's the comparison to 1980 - 1980 and 2008 - "08" in both years. Kansas City and Tampa Bay - each city has two words, Kansas City Uniform's blue and white, Tampa Bay's uniform's blue and white.....HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.— thomasg
- I have been watching the Alcs ...the Rays can beat you any which way....long ball ...and they can run. Plus they have really good starting pitchers. I would think they will beat the Phillies unless Howard and Rollins really start to hit....Sorry guys but thats whats going to happen— deldog64
Tampa wins, Tampa Wins, and no one cares...they deserve nothing. Phils in 4- FYI: AUCTIONING WORLD SERIES TICKETS! The Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter has 2 tickets to each of the 3 World Series games to be played at Citizens Bank Park. At this time we are auctioning off tickets to Game 3 ONLY Saturday, October 25 {bidding closes Thu, 4:00PM} Winner will be contacted immediately after close of bidding for credit card payment >These are baseline seats: Section 113, Row 15 < Opening Minimum bid for each pair of tickets is $2,000.00 Comparable tickets have been purchased for much more on Stub Hub Amount paid above face value of tickets is considered a charitable donation and is tax deductible!!!!!! Email bids to Wendy.Campbell@alz.org or fax to 215-561-3924 Please include telephone number along with bid— EL Zorro
- Hey, remember when the Phillies were considered the "laughing stock" of the Philly sports franchises? And one team's owner proclaimed his franchise to be the "gold standard." Well, guess who's in the World Series? Those fightin' Phils!! Go Phillies!— walt1
- Im sorry but the ESPN people picking the Phils to finish 3rd is not at all losing credibility. Predicting is not an easy thing to do and being wrong does not reflect lack of knowledge.— 93phils
- Im sorry but the ESPN people picking the Phils to finish 3rd is not at all losing credibility. Predicting is not an easy thing to do and being wrong does not reflect lack of knowledge.— 93phils
- Maybe the Rays will give the Phils all they can handle but the Devil Rays wouldn't. I propose we start calling them the Devil Rays again to jinx them. GO PHILS BEAT THE DEVEL RAYS!!!— towman
- Wally 24, you posted 4 times actually. Patience my friend, patience.— Tommy2Tone
- Keep picking the other team-it has worked for us thus far. Mets were supposed to win the division. Dodgers were supposed to win NL. Now the Rays are supposed to win the World Series! Luv it and can't wait for the party in Philly!— simplyamazed
- Keep picking the other team-it has worked for us thus far. Mets were supposed to win the division. Dodgers were supposed to win NL. Now the Rays are supposed to win the World Series! Luv it and can't wait for the party in Philly!— simplyamazed
- Comment removed.
- According to Billy Preston "The world goes around in circles"...... .......................80-08....................... Get out your brooms and prepare for a party at the Bank. Phillies in 4— quizzmo
- Philadelphia teams cannot beat anybody from Tampa. The Bucs and the Lightning broke our hearts. Now it will be the Rays. I would have rather played Boston. Without Manny and with Ortiz doing his best impression of Ryan Howard's disappearing act, I liked our chances.— Bama
- There is no sport where postseason favorites mean less than baseball. It's almost a curse. But the prognosticators will keep on picking teams. I'm happy the Phils are the underedogs again. Go Phils!— misteripi
- I keep hearing how the Rays have a good defense - but there were at leat two plays last night where they did not get off a double play relay - one with Ortiz running to first. Not a good sign at this stage of the season.— misteripi
- hamels is probably the best starter in the series...the next three best starters are all rays; myers is not even close. that's why the rays are favored. phils big advantage in the bullpen....if the phils can make the rays use their middle relief, phils win; if they don't, rays win.
- The "experts" can pick anyone they want...they don't play the game in between the lines...the players do. Go Phils!— Phront_Runner
- Tommy2Tone ... Sorry about the multiple posts. It gets confusing at times. I just love the way the Rays fans have to post to the Philly papers. Whats the matter doesn't anyone down there in Fla. care about baseball? Where did you truck in all the supposed fans from up north here some where. Talk about front runners there's a lot in the Sunshine state.— Wally 24
- let everyone pick the rays...all the pressure is on them...we don't even have to win the first two games....they have to win and win convincingly or they will end up facing 3 tough games at the Cit..we'll see how this young team handles the pressure.— jackalot
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