Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 3:54 PM | 110 comments |
 

Here's another reason for you to hate Tampa Bay
options
 

I know most Phillies fans out there don't need any more provocation, but I feel obligated to point this out. The Rays have announced the identity of the performers who will sing the Star-Spangled Banner prior to the start of Game 1 of the World Series.

Drum roll please. . .

The Backstreet Boys.

Not sure how they arrived at this choice. But apparently, O-Town was not available. I, for one, am excited by this choice. It isn't every day that I get the opportunity to scream like a teenage girl from the press box. In honor of this momentous occasion, I invite loyal readers of this blog to answer the following questions:

1. Who is your favorite Backstreet Boy?

2. If you could be any Backstreet Boy, which one would you be?

3. If Charlie Manuel were forced to use a Backstreet Boy as his designated hitter, which one should he choose?

4. If the Backstreet Boys were forced to add a member of the Phillies to the band, which one should they choose?

^

Now, onto some baseball news.

I know a lot of you are clamoring for the identity of the designated hitter that Manuel will use for the first couple games of the series. But you probably won't know until the line-ups are announced tomorrow. Manuel would not divulge his plans when he met the media today. He did seem to indicate that he would indeed hit a right-hander against lefty Scott Kazmir tomorrow and a lefty against righty James Shields in Game 2.

Back-up catcher Chris Coste is one candidate, but he said earlier today he had not heard whether he would be the guy. Other options include So Taguchi and Eric Bruntlett. Manuel could also DH Pat Burrell and start Taguchi or Bruntlett in left. But I don't think that will happen, given Burrell's dislike for DH'ing. During interleague play, Manuel used a DH against a right-hander six times. Lefties Ryan Howard, Greg Dobbs and Geoff Jenkins both filled the role twice.

UPDATE: Cleared up the Ryan Howard faux paus.

^

The pitching match-ups are set:

Game 1: LHP Scott Kazmir vs. LHP Cole Hamels

Game 2: RHP James Shields vs. RHP Brett Myers

Game 3: LHP Jamie Moyer vs. RHP Matt Garza

Game 4: RHP Joe Blanton vs. RHP Andy Sonnastine

 
Posted by David Murphy @ 3:54 PM  Permalink | 110 comments
110
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:01 PM, 10/21/2008
    It's Rays big guy. We dropped the "Devil". Guess news travels slowly up to philly
    — olafberserker
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:09 PM, 10/21/2008
    Dont know which Backstreet Boy I'd suggest for DH, but I'm sure a few of them have either played pitcher or catcher before!
    — alaver
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:25 PM, 10/21/2008
    Was Clay Aiken not available?
    — Gary Varsho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:25 PM, 10/21/2008
    Was Clay Aiken not available?
    — Gary Varsho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:01 PM, 10/21/2008
    Hey Takeit, how long before you fans start booing your own players....
    — leftyslider
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:27 PM, 10/21/2008
    "During interleague play, Manuel used a right-handed DH on two occasions. Both times it was Ryan Howard." Huh?
    — Jeffrey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:00 PM, 10/21/2008
    Hey takeit. You should check out the Phillies' attendance at the Vet from '97 until 2001, then get back to me. I'll just stop at those years. Phillyfan is really smart.
    — olafberserker
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:03 PM, 10/21/2008
    The DH section has been fixed
    — dmurph003
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:56 PM, 10/21/2008
    Awesome. Two of the nine Rays fans are going to be trolling us this week.
    — psuflyers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:01 PM, 10/21/2008
    Um this is too easy, Nick Carter, Nick Carter, Nick Carter, Chase Utley...I guess you could go with Brian Littrell for DH, because he has the whole God thing on his side, but that is a little too cliche. Whereas Aaron Carter once beat Shaq in basketball when he was like 6 years old. I am just that most of that can be placed on the fact Shaq has no real athletic skills, but maybe, just maybe there is some athletic ability in the Carter family.
    — scuba
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:10 PM, 10/21/2008
    That is an awesome picture of the BS Boys...that might be the gayest picture ever taken... reminds me of that shirt that says "you may no tbe this gay, but you're sure trying"....
    — kjuggs77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:11 PM, 10/21/2008
    That is an awesome picture of the BS Boys...that might be the gayest picture ever taken... reminds me of that shirt that says "you may not be this gay, but you're sure trying"....
    — kjuggs77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:16 PM, 10/21/2008
    Who the heck is Brian Lettrel??? And if you know who he is, you are either wrong, or gay...
    — kjuggs77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:27 PM, 10/21/2008
    Baseball should be outlawed in Florida... The Rays and marlins have no fan base... a terrible market... I've been down there many times and there are more Yankees fans there than fans of the Rays since the yanks play spring ball there and have offices down there... joke...
    — EndTheDrought


110 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  | 
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
XML
 
RT @Green4Philly: We want to make it as easy for citizens to appeal an enforcement action as it is for the PPA to issue the ticket. http ... - 9:29am
 
@xEgan @JonathanTamari @teacherman76 That's my point - doesn't matter what anybody says. Look hard & everyone is loved or hated by someone - 02/15/2012
 
@JonathanTamari @teacherman76 Kiper's been watching whole games all year and had him as #2 LB until recently. Work ethic, FB IQ the big ?s - 02/15/2012
 
RT @LesBowen: Mayock unimpressed with Vontaze Burfict, even putting penalty issue aside. Gets enveloped, not great instincts, not first ... - 02/15/2012
 
@GeoffMartini @CrashburnAlley Oh yeah, good point. - 02/15/2012
Get Your Philadelphia Phillies Gear Here
    Latest Phillies Videos