The end of greatness: Now the Phillies will try to make sense of it all
Of all the acquisitions Citizens Bank Park has witnessed over the previous three years, the one that spoke the loudest was standing high above right field, it's $10 million facade shining into the warm October night. You can't always expect the scoreboard to tell the story, but as another sell-out crowd shuffled away from the Phillies' first decisive postseason game in 30 years, it more than sufficed.
The end of greatness: Now the Phillies will try to make sense of it all
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies will have another long offseason of questions that need to be answered. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Of all the acquisitions Citizens Bank Park has witnessed over the previous three years, the one that spoke the loudest was standing high above right field, it's $10 million facade shining into the warm October night. You can't always expect the scoreboard to tell the story, but as another sell-out crowd shuffled away from the Phillies' first decisive postseason game in 30 years, it more than sufficed.
Cardinals 1, Phillies 0.
Repeat the score to anybody who has watched this team over the previous few years, and they can tell you exactly how the details played out. There were a couple of loud outs, long drives by Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez that died at the wall. But, perhaps fittingly, the story of the greatest rotation ever built came to a familiar end. Not enough power, not enough baserunners, not enough runs.
For several minutes after it ended, the second-largest crowd in the stadium's history stood silently at their seats, staring out at the empty field as if they could not bare to leave. Even after Ryan Howard hobbled into the dugout, nearly all of his weight supported by a couple of athletic trainers, the fans remained. They had roared at an ear-splitting volume throughout most of the night. After Roy Halladay allowed a leadoff triple and an RBI double to start the game, the veteran righthander turned his dial up to dominant, blanking the Cardinals for the next seven innings. Unlike Game 2, when an uncharacteristic hush fell over the crowd after the Phillies raced out to a 4-0 lead, Citizens Bank Park seemed to gain energy with each inning that passed. But whatever they were carrying, it wasn't contagious.
Much of the credit should go to St. Louis righthander Chris Carpenter, who last weekend allowed the aforementioned 4-0 lead while pitching on short rest for the first time in his career. Last night, he was dominant, pitching a complete game shutout to extend the Cardinals' improbable run into the National League Championship Series. He located his fastball, mixed in his curve, out-dueled his former teammate and long-time friend.
But none of that will provide solace to the legions of fans who packed the stadium all season as the best rotation in Phillies history, perhaps the best in the history of the sport, paced the Phillies to a club-record 102 wins.
"We just didn't get it done," manager Charlie Manuel said.
For the second season, it ended with the middle of the order. One year after Howard struck out looking to end the NLCS, he grounded out to second and then collapsed to the ground, clutching his left ankle. The first baseman had foot troubles throughout the last month, including a case of bursitis that affected the area around his left Achilles tendon. Afterward, Manuel did not have much in the way of an update, saying only that Howard would be examined by team doctors.
The Phillies can only hope that the eventual diagnosis is less severe than the pain he appeared to be in. The last thing they need heading into the offseason is a question about the ability of their highest-paid player. Short stop Jimmy Rollins will be a free agent, and figures to command significant interest after a solid offensive season and a great division series. The only veteran reliever under contract for next season is Jose Contreras, who is coming off of elbow surgery.
While the Phillies cannot over-react to a five-game stretch that amount to three percent of the regular season, their inconsistent offensive performance stretches back through the last three years, with their selectivity, on base percentage and power dropping with each campaign.
It will be tough to upgrade over Rollins at shortstop, given the lack of quality hitters throughout the league at the position. Raul Ibanez will be a free agent, and there are several options the Phillies could pursue to compete for a job that at the moment is John Mayberry Jr.'s to lose. Carlos Beltran might be too old and too pricey, but Nick Swisher could become a free agent if the Yankees decline his option, and Josh Willingham is scheduled to hit the market. Both are high on base percentage guys who see a lot of pitches, two shortcomings that have plagued the Phillies over the last couple of seasons.
They could also look to third base, where Placido Polanco struggled down the stretch and throughout the division series, hampered by a sports hernia that could require offsesason surgery. Polanco is guaranteed $6.25 million next season, but that should not prevent the Phillies from looking for a hitter to compete for playing time. There are no big names available, at least on the free agent market. Aramis Ramirez could be available, but only if he does not exercise a player option. The Phillies also have spent more than their fair share of money on the line-up. They have $107 million guaranteed to nine players in 2012, and perhaps $25 million or more in pending arbitration raises to Hunter Pence and Cole Hamels. They will make closer a priority. Ryan Madson is sure to command heavy interest and a big contract. In a market saturated with other options, it is very possible that he has played his last game as a Phillie.
But free agency is still a month away, the furthest it has been at the end of a Phillies season since 2007. For now, they will sit back and digest how it all went wrong. It could be as simple as the wrong opponent at the wrong time for a second year in a row, a conclusion that would be harder to stomach given the circumstances that enabled the Cardinals to qualify for the postseason. One loss to the Braves in the Phillies' final series and it could have been Arizona instead of St. Louis. And then? Who knows.
It is a question that re-inforces the fickle nature of baseball's postseason, when an entire season of accomplishment boils down to five games of performance. Once again, the Phillies were narrowly out-performed. And now they must spend an offseason reflecting on the emptiness of 102 wins, staring blankly at the present like last night's sell-out crowd.
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Poll: Is this Phils' season a failure?Comments (156)
Charlie Manuel is going on a hunting trip with Boby Cox next week so Charlie will figure it out for next year and the year after. Don't worry.— frackers- greatness????? they've won 2 world series in 100+ years against the Devil Rays and Royals. they have 10,300 losses. give me a break— brucemines
- yes Lee gets a bit of a pass because he pitched good enough all year to be in top 4 in Cy Young vote and his one mediocre game in post-season still would have been a win if Phils had not simply stopped htting after 3 innings against a vulnerable bullpen and if Charlie would have simly removed him when it was clear he didn't have best stuff and was starting to get hit hard... in addition it was only a game 2 and not the make-or-break game of the series .. if Phils could have simply hit and won 2 of next 3 they still cuold have advanced and Lee could have had another chance...unlike Lee, Oswalt was bad all year and cannot point to a productive year to redeem his awful post-season performance— warbiscuit
- Let's look ahead, realistically, to 2012: 1. Victorino; 2. Utley; 3. Pence; 4. ??? 3B-OF; 5. Howard; 6.. ??? OF-3B; 7. Ruiz; 8. Galvis. 9. Great starters (Cliff Lee is not perfect). I'm sorry, but Jon Mayberry is a slight upgrade over Francisco, and we cannot count on Dom Brown next year.— eman
- Six run in the last 33 innings? And this against a bad bullpen in game 2, Garcia, Jackson, and Carpenter. That is hardly a shut down rotation yet they pretty easily shut down our poorly coached team. Paying hitters in CBP is about as dumb as paying hitters at Coors Field. Bring in some guys who can play decent defense, work the count and I bet they will produce just as much as our overpaid stiffs at 2B, 3B, 1B, and left field. Get rid of Elmer and Amaro...any idiot can bring in blue chip pitchers, but has any other movie Amaro made worked? With our staff this team will be competitive for at least three more years. Lets bring in some guys whose ego wont get in the way of taking a pitch, laying down a bunt or moving a runner over. That means letting Rollins go, frequent off days for Howard against lefties, and using the take sign. I doubt it will happen so better dust off those tapes from 2008...could be the last World Series games we see in Philly for years.— lazyboy
- Six run in the last 33 innings? And this against a bad bullpen in game 2, Garcia, Jackson, and Carpenter. That is hardly a shut down rotation yet they pretty easily shut down our poorly coached team. Paying hitters in CBP is about as dumb as paying hitters at Coors Field. Bring in some guys who can play decent defense, work the count and I bet they will produce just as much as our overpaid stiffs at 2B, 3B, 1B, and left field. Get rid of Elmer and Amaro...any idiot can bring in blue chip pitchers, but has any other movie Amaro made worked? With our staff this team will be competitive for at least three more years. Lets bring in some guys whose ego wont get in the way of taking a pitch, laying down a bunt or moving a runner over. That means letting Rollins go, frequent off days for Howard against lefties, and using the take sign. I doubt it will happen so better dust off those tapes from 2008...could be the last World Series games we see in Philly for years.— lazyboy
- Great regular season, Phillies! Best in franchise history! See you next year and work on solving these playoff issues during the off-season! Get well, Ryan Howard, we're going to need you! Maybe now that all these fair-weather fans are jumping off the bandwagon, I'll be able to find good tickets for more than five games a year!— katie_9918
- Available phillies for 2012: ROLLINS! HOWARD! IBANEZ! POLANCO! MR BULLDOZER OPERATOR! LIDGE! GLOAD! and possibly CHARLIE.
— camp - You dont achieve 102 wins with a bad team. The playoffs is all about management and players stepping up. Its easy as a manager, "Mayberry you earned LF and Worley you earned the 4th pitching spot" "Also Valdez and Martinez played significant roles all season so they earn a start if Palanco is hurt or playing hurt" Shift lineup if Howard struggles and pull Cliff Lee earlier if he struggles on the mound. You cant dismiss the 102 wins. You just cant be everyones friend in the playoffs. You have to make tough decisions for the fans and franchise...its a business— zidane
- Best post. No team entirely (or almost) over 30 has ever won or ever will win. Not enough gas in the tank to win the marathon and the sprint that follows. Adding great pitching can no more alter this fundamental reality than it can repeal death. Amaro's strategy was deluded from day one.— mrnmkr
- Best post. No team entirely (or almost) over 30 has ever won or ever will win. Not enough gas in the tank to win the marathon and the sprint that follows. Adding great pitching can no more alter this fundamental reality than it can repeal death. Amaro's strategy was deluded from day one.— mrnmkr
- Howard is way overpaid and just too FAT! It's embarrassing to call oneself a pro athlete when you can't run one base. Phillies are doomed at $25 million a year with a pillsbury dough boy on 1st base.— Stlbaseball
- Greatest rotation ever, not even close, try the 54 Indians, 66 Dodgers, the Braves of 93 and 98 and how about the 71 Orioles with their four 20 game winners. Hell, this rotation isn't even as good as the current SF Giants who only had a lower winning percentage because of the anemic and injury riddled offense which supplied one of the lowest run totals in the majors ever. With a decent offense there is no telling how that would have affected the staff.
From the tone of your article it would seem as though the Phillies have no up and coming home grown talent and will be back throwing money into the mix and screwing up the game like the NY Yankees and Red Sox or the Miami Heat of the NBA. Here in SF, once Zito, is off the books it will be the last of our over inflated salaries (signed by the previous owner) and that coupled with strong scouting, and a few hot prospects (Gary Brown, CF and leadoff) and a team consisting primarily of young home grown talent we should be set for awhile. As for the Phillies maybe you should go out and pay for a Pujols and another pitcher and bump that payroll over 200mil. A better option for you would be to go off to see the Wizard and get a heart as you have had what little heart you might have had violently ripped away the last two years. Can't wait til next year to make Charlie Manuel give the Giants and their rotation the respect they deserve.
As for you David Murphy I am under the impression the extent of your baseball knowledge does not extend before 2000. Typical East Coast biased journalism.— lump - Amaro must be blind to not see the dysfunctional lineup he's put together, and since we cant turn the lineup over in one off season they need to bring in a manager who will make the stiffs he has play the right way. Howard the best HR hitter in baseball? Lol, stick to teaching Philly Teacher. There are 20 guys in the NL I would take over him against a decent pitcher. 33 in CBP? Be lucky to hit 20 in PETCO. Some take signs on 3-0 counts would be a start, having speed guys lay down a bunt every now and then wouldnt hurt, not swinging first pitch ever ab like Pence. Pathetic display of fundamentals.— lazyboy
- Another Philly 'Dream Team'? Welcome to the off-season.— bostonsox
- I feel like a jilted lover left at the altar. Really you could not command 2 runs...anyone! No joy , just utter shock and sadness in this household. time to blow up the team!— jyteddybear
- Time to get rid of the old ball and chain at 2nd.— Astro Jones
- Milt Thompson is justifiably laughing. Vindication is sweet.— dogman5
- I refuse to hack and chastise my beloved team. I will with them and loose with them. The past five years have been the greatest 5-year run in franchise history and I personally don't see it ending any time soon. Reality...next season's rotation will still be good (Halladay/Lee/Hamels/Blanton/Worely). The line up must get better with Ruiz/Howard/Utley/Polanco/Victorino/Pense all back. Mayberry Jr. will get a shot at a full season. Rollins most likely will not be back as he said "no home town discount" ($9 million). Ibanez ($11 million), Lidge ($13 million), Madsen ($5 million), all come off the books. Lee's salary goes up as does Howard's. The bullpen gets younger, but in the end, this team needs to hit, hit, hit and then...hit. It is now time for Howard to "learn" how to adjust to big league pitching as it has completely caught up to his weaknesses. Utley needs a full healthy season and this team can and will compete at the hightest level again. If Howard can move closer to the plate and work on goin' to the opposite field, his batting average will soar. Again, time for Charlie Manuel to sit him down and work on that swing. I love this team and have gone through worse times and look forward to continue good times. Am I disappointed, heck yeah. Will I bail on my beloved Phillies, Heck NO. Phight on. RAJ...I trust you will make the right moves. In the end, its the players on the field that simply did not live up to expectations.— drhoffman
- @drhoffman...go ahead and choose to "loose" with those loosers!
Your 5 year dynasty has died. The phils are old and tired, and you and their fans are an obnoxious and disrespectful group who are on their way to YEARS of disappointment. Couldn't happen to a "nicer" group of "loosers." Go NATS, CAPS, & SKINS!!! Oh, and Penn State, too!— havercat -
"We just didn't get it done," manager Charlie Manuel said. I also gave a green light to a 3-0 count in a 1 run, must win game. I realize I'm a hillbilly, dumber than a sack full of rocks, but I think, like, that was really dumb no matter what Chris "Wheels " Wheeler said after the gamje.
— Wilhelm Von Humboldt - Willie Dumboldt with his stupidities! — BEMiller
I prefer "old school baseball" where the two best teams via won-loss records at the end of the season would represent their respective league in the World Series and do away with all the playoff structure. It would of been the Yankees & Phillies this year (Yanks probably would have won anyway) and the long season would of been over next week.— Bummy Davis- I agree, B. D., but unless you can figure a way for a World Serious to make as much money for MLB as all the extra, idiot playoff series, what we will see is more and more LOSERS in playoff schemes. I shall not easily forget when MLB announced there would be a wild card, and the much over-rated Tony LaRussa said in an in the stands NLCS interview that he didn't like the wild card, the "Baseball never needed LOSERS before this!" Bet that tune is changed!
And, as you remark, having the season end at a reasonable time in October is a PLUS!— BEMiller - This is only directed to the few Philly fans that poored into SFGate.com and spouted trash as the Giants season came to an end...
BUWUWUAUAUAUAUAAAAAAAA!!!!!!— StaunchGiantsFan - As a Ranger fan, it was nice to see Cliff Lee not get that World Series ring he expected by signing his name. Even when he struggled during the season and World Series last year, Ranger fans and his teammates never threw him under the bus. Management gave him the utmost respect. He was like a big brother to so many of the young pitchers on the staff. Then he left the way he did and made those snide comments, it was a big slap in the face. No one blames him for doing what he thought was best for his family and himself, but the condescending attitude wasn't warranted. Now he gets to watch the team he was better than play in a championship series.— scattershoot
- I think RAJ realizes(as we all have)that great starters alone, and spending a lot of money, and continuously trading with good friend Ed Wade, don't always lead to a WS title. Sure, a lot of criticism will fall to familiar targets like Howard and Charlie Manuel, but Montgomery and RAJ run this team. They decided to trade Lee in 2009, and used decent prospects to acquire Oswalt to replace him. Moves like that, as well as keeping Blanton for 3 more years, were completely unnecessary, and stood in the way of improving the Phils' lineup and bullpen. It took guts for Holmgren and Snider to admit their mistakes and trade Carter and Richards; perhaps the Phils should consider shaking their core up as well.— 76erfn
- Manuel needs to be replaced. That's it, There is no more discussion. He's mismanaged this club that for years has won despite him and not because of him. No one readnig this can tell me 1 move he's made to help win us a game. I on the other hand can tell you countless things he's done that have cost us games. To allow this club to take their eyes off the prize and mail in the last 2 weels of the season was a blunder of astronomical proportions. For this 102 win team to drop 8 straight (4 to Wash 2/3 Mess) isjust unacceptable. it should have send a loud alarm to RAJ. Yes, we won 102 games... barely.. but in reality, should have won 108 and gone into the post season making a statement and firing on all cylinders. Sorry Charlie, it's NOT a 162 game schedule it's more like a 175-180 game schedule.
Big deal, we won 102 games...what we needed to win was 113.— dedhed - yeah dedhed, the NATS were the beginning of the end for you guys, and the NATS and especially the fans couldn't be happier about that! We definitely got the best of the phils this year, and sent you on your way to LOSE! With all our youth, talent, pitching, and power in 2012 + past, maybe you and all your obnoxious fans will stop coming down into OUR house to lose season series! WTH, bring it, we'll take your $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ANY time! Jump ship and head down 95 South!!!! — havercat
- Any chance our manager resigns, lets some new blood take a crack at it before the team gets too old, like our manager. Just wishing. We are now officially the Braves of the 90s. Isn't Manual the hitting coach? Isn't hitting our top issue, plus the likelihood we pitch our starters too many innings during the regular season. Okay, some new relievers too...
I can't imagine this team can get Albert Pujols, but that would be okay too...
See you next year.— JRum - I've never been a Phillies fan and never will be, but I do kind of feel sorry for them. Complaints that the Phillies are overrated and chokers after a 5-game playoff that could easily have gone either way? "The End of Phillies Greatness"? I'd say Philadelphia fans and sportswriters are the overrated ones, except I don't think anyone rates them very highly. Today's stories and comments are why.— Crozier
- Phils were 'narrowly' outperformed? The Cards played with more consistency, drive, and palpable hunger. The Phils played with the complacency that has characterized their offense this year. "We'll turn it on once the playoffs start" was obviously an exercise in self-delusion and hubris. Nice that Charlie respects his players. However, he should respect his team and the city who supports the Phils a lot more. He was badly out-managed by LaRussa.— DameB
- It would have been nice to face the Braves had we punted the last two games. Leading up to the playoffs my heart said they would beat the Cardinals but my mind said it was a coin flip.— KINGOFZED
- Let's see.....Philly sports teams....Flyers - 37 years and counting, Sixers - do we even want to go there....and the Eagles - 51 years and counting. Oh, our tiddle-Winks Team did win four consecutive titles, but that was in non sanctioned play, as ruled by Milton-Bradley.— STEPHEN1988
- the legend has ended.....two World Series won in.....128 years, wow what a dynasty.— STEPHEN1988
- RAJ enhanced an aging (30 something) lineup with pitching aces (Halladay, Oswalt, then Lee) under the theory that 2011 was a last, best chance the hitting core to win a world championship. It worked (NL East Division) partly. Now it's time for a 3-to-5 year plan, if the minor league affiliates are not entirely depleted. Mature people call it delayed gratification.— Syd
- Where are the ones who said La Russa was overrated? Plain and simple he outcoached Charlie. He didn't panic the whole series and used almost his entire team. In game 4, after Greese hit the homer in the sixth inning and before he had a 2 RBI double, he replaced him with Descalso at 3B, a better defensive player. Charlie would have never don that. He replaced Theriot in game 4 after he hit 4 hits in game 3 and put Chumaker at 2B, and he rewarded him with a few hits. Last night he played Punto at 2B and he made a nice play. Our manager kept throwing Polanco (.105) and Ibañez (.200) outthere. Mayberry, our second best hitter since the second half, only got to play one time. You can't justify that when the team had no life offensively.— EL Zorro
- Hey sour, bitter fans. Instead of spending all your time, energy, $$$$$, and dispicable behavior in DC to disrespect the NATS and their fans, try routing for a team who schooled you this season, and whose time has come. 2012 NATS!— havercat
- Things can go back to normal now as the losingest team in the history of professional sports will gradually return to reality. They will lose more players and games with each coming year until we have the old frustration back. I don't know how they won 102 games this year, the consistency they had all year in winning series after series was amazing to me considering their lack of consistency scoring runs. Much like the Eagles, it is so painful to watch a team that puts together a phenominal collection of talent in one area of the team while leaving a gaping hole in another. I hate this so much, but this is what it's like to live in Philly. Go Eagles!— EagleEye61
- Most of your comments are spoken like the true Philadelphia sports fans that you are!! Losers that hate losers! Hope you can enjoy your hockey season since football is over for the fans too!— havercat
- The sheer ingratitude of so many ‘fans’ posting here is something to behold. Somehow this is the greatest team that ever played, and should win championship after championship as a default. Never mind that there are three rounds of playoffs against teams that are only fractionally (record-wise) less able than the Phillies and can, if regular season play is any indication, stand a very good chance of besting us in a series. Very good baseball teams, often the best according to their record, fail to win championships all the time: a fact that has been proven for over a hundred years, and will occur for the next hundred years as well. It happens. Wait til next year, you know? Get on with your life. No need for the hatred. I’m a season ticket holder and I don’t feel any. I’m grateful for these guys chasing down the Mets two years in a row, winning a magical world championship in 2008 (only the second for a Philadelphia baseball team in the last 75 years), and the excellent play since.— P2will
- It's remarkable how quickly this turned. The infield used to be such a huge advantage over other teams. It's now the anchor of the team and I mean anchor in the negative way.— Steve Jeltz
- My kind of team is one brimming with talented young players pushing for playing time. There's absolutely no one anywhere in the system pushing any of our position players.
That won't get it done.
Blow up the team and get young talent. The rotation is set but it would still be nice to have young players pushing Cliff and Cole. And I'm ready to see what Galvis et al have, even if it means not winning the division. We won the division 5 times already with a record number of wins this year.
Great. Lets move on to fielding a deep team that wins championships. Youth brings energy and drive. Couple that with a fine veteran rotation and sometimes magic happens, like San Fran last year.— Cameiros - Look- the offense did enough to win the series. The offense is what it is and the pitching staff is what it is. You score 4 runs, you win the game. The blame for the series loss falls squarely on Cliff Lee's shoulders. You HAVE to win the game when your $20 million/year man is on the mound. Cliff Lee is the goat of the series- should have been a 3-0 sweep - PERIOD.— terb
- Ah another moron heard from:
ryan howard 2 for 19
polanaco 2 for 19
ruiz 1 for 14
Yeah right genius it was all on Lee. Do me a favor if you don't know what you're talking about just shut up and listen you may learn something.— ziggy26 - I think the first moron makes sense than you moron. Cliff Lee put a curse on your team the moment he turned down the Yankee offer. I am so damn glad he failed and because of it you guys get to squirm about what could have been!! ha ha ha ha ha! I love it! What a wonderful weekend. — phillyjoker
- Fire the entire coaching staff and start fresh. We "had" the team to play Whiteyball, speed at the top with Rollins, Vic and Utley, plus nice middle of the top hitters (Utley, Howard and Werth, etc.) and great defense, but the chewing knucklehead instead kept waiting for the 3-run homer with no strategy of game plan whatsoever. We were lucky in '08. But since then, we have been outplayed and outcoached when the games were on the line, period. And look at the players' decline under Charlie, the self-proclaimed hitting guru. They should be at their prime. Instead they are a bunch of over-the-hill-injury-prone underachievers. Yes they won 102 games, who cares? For the second consecutive year they had the best record in baseball and now they'll be watching the WS again. The Phillies organization have wasted all this talent with a manager who has no clue on how to win important games. Period, and it's going to get uglier from now on if they don't do something about it.— EL Zorro
- They definitely need offense. There are too many beat up, aging and under achieving position players on the roster. It's a no brainer. What to do about Howard? He produces a lot of runs in the regular season, but has been a liability in the last two post seasons.— m_rob611
- Now we all know the phillies are not great. Let's move on , I honestly feel relieved now without anymore stress. I could've killed someone a few games ago but this one was almost expected. Time to get younger and really try to get rid of Howard somehow.........anyhow for real— RexAdelphia8
- I feel sick. Just sick. 2008 was so magical and euphoric because it ended years of suffering for Philly fans everywhere. They won it with one ace, Hamels, and roster that was balanced and hungry and surging at the right time. Since then, the payroll has exploded with fat contract extensions and big free agent signings via RAJ designed to feed our Championship Fever. Winning a title in a team sport is incredibly difficult, especially at the professional level. So many variables in the mix that it's nearly impossible to formulate. Unfortunately, we've become the NL version of the Yankees and Red Sox. And the irony is that it's all because of that magical 2008 season when we were "World F***ing Champions". I don't know what's worse: losing when it's expected or not winning when it's expected. Either way, I need to step back and put all this into perspective because investing so much of myself into all of this is going to be the death of me. Seriously. Besides, nothing could ever be better than the way I felt October 31, 2008 at the Championship Parade anyway. At least I'll always have that. And for that I'll always be grateful.— crosseyedcat
- You can't say its the end of greatness after they won 102 games this year. Yes their core is getting older, but there is room for younger productive players. Pence will be here the whole year. Their starters are still intact. Their stratgey just has to change as they are not a big home run hitting team anymore, although a power hitting third baseman would help a lot.— watsonmr
- Amazes me how PHILLY rhymes with SILLY! What a joke Philadelphia!— phillyjoker
- The Phils have wasted 3 straight postseason opportunities with an offense that can't hit a beachball when it matters most.
Just another crushing loss to drink away
...and I've got a long long way to go— Fan74 - The Phillies are good NOT "great" if you go with Charlie Manuel's definition. 1 World Series championship against an average Tampa Bay team in 4 years and you are labeling them great? What a joke.— jaybellojr
- pattymac3
24sdad
drhoffman
stan_the man too
lobo
seaonasdad
Look at you people. Rats abandoning the ship...shameful. When the bright lights go on, and we storm to the WS, I CAN'T WAIT to see the parade of people jumping back on the wagon. A whole bunch of faithless losers will be showing up with new screen names, THAT's for sure.
— Grazman
Just another shout out to the above morons who insisted that everything was fine and chastised those that pointed out the obvious limitations of this team.
Where the F are you guys now? Hiding in your closet? Come out of the closet and admit who you really are.
Oh...and next year just shut up and listen.— ziggy26 - Than you Mr. Murphy!!! Finally somebody with a forum mentions the fact that this poor, inconsistent Phillies offense is NOT a recent problem. For three straight years this has been a problem that has been building and building, and Ruben, for the most part, did NOTHING to turn that around. The easiest way to win is by having a complete team. This was not a complete team. Great starting pitching and inept, weak-hitting offense = early exit from the postseason. Yes Lee should have been able to hold a 4-run lead, but in four games of this series, the offense was a joke.— MrPhillie
- Phils and Igles are dead until they replace their leaders. Cholly and Andy must go before there is any chance to win the big games. I'm sure Cholly is a big ball of love in the clubhouse but he sure is useless on the field— ziggy26
- For all of saying "but what a great regular season", I would simply tell you to enjoy mediocrity.
Do you know what winning in the regular season means? Nothing.
Let me ask you mediocrities (and without looking on Google):
What team won the most games in a single season? You can't even name it. Do you know what they did in the playoffs?
But let me help you a bit... the Phils have nowhere as many games won as the teams with the record.
Proving my point that you only need to get in the playoffs. Anything else is MEANINGLESS.— fmMD - Has Howard at least had the decency to apologize to the fans for yet another failure?— fmMD
- WHY DID A CRIPPLED POLANCO BAT LATE IN THE GAME? WHY NOY USE MAYBERRY OR FRANCISCO HERE AND TRY TO GET OFFENSE IN GEAR. VALDEZ OR MARTINEZ CAN PLAY DEFENSE FOR LAST COUPLE OF INNINGS— DONDEN31
- Carpenter laughing when Howard flew out on a 3-0 green light down by one run sums it all up.— billro33
- CHOKE....CHOKE....CHOKE...CHOKE— Trot
- All year this offense was shut down by top quality pitching. The game was a microcosm of the season. Great pitching, no offense.— ej610
- It's a game folks. Don't make it more than it is. Amaro will make some more moves and with this pitching staff they will be right back in it next year. The hot team in the playoffs is usually the winner. They ran into hot teams two years in a row. Charlie shouldn't have let them take their foot off the accelerator after clinching the way he did. But again, it's a game. After 50 years of watching I'm getting better at putting it all in perspective. Now I will switch to the Flyers who I think will get me through the winter. The Eagles are a lost cause until they get rid of Reid. Go Flyers!!— djlen
- Thanks, but in the real world, you either perform or you're fired.
If the Phillies would let people come to the ballpark for free, if the players were playing for a hotel room and a hot meal, I'd be right there with you.
But all of these guys are multi-millionaires, and you hold them to a much much higher standard than "its just a game".
Its time to get rid of the underperformers.— fmMD - What I find fascinating is how the Yankees and the Phillies courses have run exactly parallel for the last two years.
Last year, both teams swept the division series then played in the league championship series. And both teams were down by three games in game 5, and won, forcing a sixth game. Both teams lost the sixth game and were eliminated. And not only that, for both teams, game 6 ended the same exact way: their number four hitter (Howard for the Phillies, A-Rod for the Yankees) striking out looking.
Then this year, both of them were the best teams in their respective leagues, and both of them made it to a game five in the division series, and both got eliminated in game 5. And would you believe, the last out was once again made by the same two guys, A-Rod and Ryan Howard. Although this time A-Rod swung, and Ryan at least made contact...— Jamesallen - It's time the Phils stop attempting to buy a championship through relentless trades and ever-larger payrolls, justified by "the time to win is now" mantra. The "win now" window has closed for the 2008 Championship team's core. The Phillies need to rebuild with home-grown, younger (and affordable) talent.— davecherryhill
- For as well as Carpenter pitched last nite, the Phils still had a few chances and squandered them. Utley, you have to make it to second on the steal attempt. He doesn't and takes the bat right out of Pence's hands. Howard getting a 3-0 green light? Guy's pitching a gem and you need base runners. Brings me to my point: approach at the plate. It's not very good and hasn't been for a few years now. You don't have the hitting youth of 2007, yet the approach stays the same. Charlie, we love you, but your time has past. Let's not let Sandberg get away a 2nd time.— beegal99
- That's all on Chollie's shoulders.
I say you fire him and Amaro calls the players and asks them if they're tired of playing.— fmMD - Managers don't win or lose ballgames. Players do. The Phillies players stunk. That's not Charley's fault. And what did Bochy do this year?
The Cardinals won because they are a great hitting team. Even their bench players hit. They did it all year. LaRussa doesn't hit. The Cardinals are a great hitting team and their pitching is good enough. That's why they won.
The Phillies couldn't hit good pitching and they couldn't hit mediocre pitching. So they lost.
The Cardinals are a better balanced team than the Phillies. They are a better team period. They were 6-3 vs. the Phils during the season. This series proved that that was no fluke.
Not Charlie's fault. He didn't assemble an old, broken down team. It's not even the players fault. They were old to start the season, and they got older and more broken as it went on.
If great baseball strategists make such great managers, how come Gene Mauch never won squat. Nope, I'll take Charlie every time. I love the guy. He didn't lose this series. Ruben lost it by putting together an old, injury prone lineup with declining skills. The Howard contract is a shining example. Without steroids, power hitters decline steadily in their 30s.— WallStreetExaminer - Well one could argue that GAme 5 was not necessary. Cliff Lee had a 4-0 lead in Game two that would have been a stick a fork in em done but that lead got coughed up. There will be many questions this winter about the direction and make-up of this team— surfbear
- I can't believe all this excuse making for the Philles. "Cards were the hottest team in baseball" LMAO, you people are truly sad and pathetic.— brmorgen81
Comment removed.- When has a team with a starting lineup all over 31 years old ever made it through the post season? I wrote it here and elsewhere in spring training. The Phillies are old and will break down. Ending steroid use makes players brittle and more susceptible to injury. It's worse when they are in their 30s.
For all the credit that Amaro deserves for assembling this pitching staff, you don't win without balance. He let the lineup get old, and he decimated the farm system to build the pitching staff. Bad move in the end. Now his hands are tied with oversized contracts to players who cannot produce now and whose performance will only decline in the years ahead.
Utley, Polanco, Ibanez, finished. Ruiz, Howard, rapidly declining. Victorino, erratic, unreliable in the clutch, and entering his declining years, Rollins, gone. Madson, gone.
If the Phillies get lucky and manage to get into the playoffs next year, the outcome will be the same, barring something unforeseen, like breakout blockbuster years from Mayberry and Domonic Brown. Can Mayberry learn to play third?
If they get there, somebody has to show up for the playoffs. And if the younger guys don't have breakout years the Phillies will be lucky to finish third.
For all his brilliance and guile, Amaro has put the Phillies in a bad place. He needs to pull a couple of young rabbits out of his hat, or next season will be a lost cause.
And he better start looking at the age of this pitching staff he has assembled. I'm less worried about that. Phils seem to be bringing along some good young arms. But this year proves that you need hitting, especially clutch hitting. Amaro's bet that pitching alone would do it has failed. It's time for him to go out and get some mashers who can take advantage of those short porches at Citizens Bank Park.— WallStreetExaminer - Excellent post. No team entirely (or almost) over 30 has ever won or ever will win. Not enough gas in the tank to win the marathon and the sprint that follows. Adding great pitching can no more alter this fundamental reality than it can repeal death. Amaro's strategy was deluded from day one. He need to make this team younger and he did not. It's that simple. Maybe he'll wake up.
— mrnmkr— mrnmkr - Comment removed.
- Is it possible that Charlie can no longer get a National League team to hit like an American League team? I can remember during the season when people like Utley and Howard and a few other hitters were out of the lineup and the Phils played small ball. What happened? Is it maybe time to go to Sandberg and let him have a go? Not to mention the fact that this team might be the oldest. Maybe a guy like Sandberg can reach these guy's, not being so far removed from the game. Charlie won a Title and that can't be denied, however, you can only get so far on the long ball.— rbecker1963
- world series win...world series loss...out in second round....out in first round. don't look now but that's a trend.— abacab
"...as if they could not bare to leave." [excerpt]
Thank goodness. That would have been quite a sight.
On a serious note, sad ending but great season. Lots of baseball magic on many summer nights.
- At home. Your best pitcher on the planet has great stuff that night. Down one. Power hitting gone for years now. Play for one, then let the rest play out. An OHHH for ever should not be swinging 3-0. When the manager learns how to adjust, the team might win the tough ones. You can't expect a shutout from your pitcher every night. The other guys want to win just like us.— twoandout
- there is a reason that Swisher will be let go by yanks. His postseason numbers are horrible.— mikemaddog
- Maybe RAJ should let Madson and Rollins walk. Phils will get possibly 2 number one picks in the MLB draft to rebuild their farm system.— zeke128
- This early ouster hurts, but the Phils have bigger problems. They have an old lineup with no trade value and huge long term contracts, so we will be stuck with this team for a long time, long after our Aces are gone, sadly. Howard, Utley, Polanco all have NO TRADE value; NOONE will want them unless we eat salary. Rollins is not worth the $ he's going to command. Our bullpen is shite, and RAJ should unload everyone not named Madson/Stutes/Bastardo. Same with the useless Bench players. RAJ, you have ALOT of work ahead of you this offseason— Tracer41
- Unfortunately the season played out just like last year. The pitching and hitting failed in the postseason.— 4thand10
- It's real simple.....you can't win if you don't score. The Phillies have no one to blame but themselves. If you can't score two runs in nine innings you don't deserve to win.....it's that simple!— dsg00
- CHARLIE MUST GO!!!!! WORST Manager in the National League....THAT is why we lost. plain & simple.— pcjoeyd
- 2 words folks: Money Ball!!— joedoc3
- Greatness is measured by championships. This team has won only one of those, so I don't consider it 'great' in any sense. It's a very good competitive team but by historical measures nothing special.— owl87
- Don't get me wrong, Carpenter pitched well, but Murphy you should know as well as any of us that once they couldn't get to Jackson the game before, they weren't going to hit in this game regardless of the pitcher. They are not a good hitting team anymore. So what Halladay did was more impressive because he managed to keep a hell of a lineup that was brimming with confidence to only one run. I really feel bad for the guy, to pitch a game like that and his teammates couldn't scratch out a couple of lousy runs for him. That is the very definition of feeble.— Hemingway
- I had so much hope. Now so disappointed!!!
Miami Marlins are going to dominate our division next year.
We will be in the rebuilding stage....— Lindahorton - miami marlins, ha! — snakeplissken
- Epic fail. The biggest blame goes to the highest paid player. Howard had the dumbest at-bats imaginable. He should give his money back.— eaglephanatic
- And what is Charlie's fascination with Ross Gload, you send him up to pinch hit. Zero HRs in forever, basically swings a wet noodle, and John Mayberry is sitting on the bench with our 2nd highest SLG %, including 7 HRs of RHs this year. We only needed a one run moron. I think all 50,000 fans would have loved to give Mayberry a shot there. 4 ABs in 5 games....pathetic.— reinpro
- i never thought the phils weren't trying! they try. i just think as hitters they're stupid! look at carpenter laughing! how embarrassing as a fan to watch an opposing pitcher laught at a player on your team! he couldn't hold it in.
It's a shame that the stupidity of the teams mantra of all year saying when they lose that we'll be ok tomorrow is another day! that might work for a 162 game schedule but not in the post season. this time of year you run out of tomorrows— Ryne Duren - Same old thing! I knew when they went into that 8 game loosing streak at the end that they were in trouble. People said nothing to worry about, the games realty didn't mean anything, but they did. They foreshadowed what was to come, and actually were a repeat of what had happened before.
Oh well, wait till next year, as we say in Philly. At least now the pressure is off Reid and the Eagles. If the Phillies had won the series, the Eagles pathetic season would have looked even more pathetic!— Colonel Klink - Yeah, Charlie, "Line up the best! Champions beat everybody!" Looks like we aren't the champions. Way to reward your loyal fans, Phils. Clean house and let Sandberg take over. Time for some serious changes.— Shibe1970
- ibanez needs to run out of town. guy was on juice his first half season and stole money the rest of time. and he should've been hit for in the late innings no matter who was pitching.— snakeplissken
- wah, wah, wah.... there's more to this game then failed expectations. that was a great baseball game. we lost. happens. the players are out there trying while we're sitting on the couch rooting. I've thought all along that the cards were the hot team and had the psychological edge. How can we still be shocked that baseball favorites get knocked out of the playoffs. No disgrace. Series came down to a couple big moments. Wasn't in the cards... Why can't we just take a loss and move on. Never was one to publicly bash men who were out there trying their best. I've watched how many playoff games over all these years...and only two times was the last game a victory. It's heartbreaking. I think I'll survive. Let's savor those special moments and the fact that this is a great game.— retzlaff
- Enjoy mediocrity.
Just accepting losing by saying "oh well, great game last night".
Please. The opposing pitcher was laughing at how oafish Howard was at the plate.
That's what you call a great game?
It is a disgrace, and the biggest collapse in Philly since '64. I hope you enjoy overpaying for Phillies tickets next year, I suspect there will be a lot of empty seats, because generally people don't cheer on bad or mediocre teams.
This team is supremely mediocre— fmMD - Howard is on of the best paid choke artist in the game— boppa2
- Biggest 2 losses since 2008 Jimy Williams and Davy Lopes— DSU
- For the 2nd year Charlie has shown no insight or ability to make lineup changes to match the real situation as it unfolds. This team won 102 games with great contributions from Valdez & Martinez. Palanco is too hurt and Chooch needed a day off.
Please RJ do not let Sandberg get away again. Charlie should be promoted to the front office and Sandberg made manager. - Yes!!! Just as the Flyers realized they could get NO further with their signed "stars," Ruben should do the same and clean house!!! This core will never get over the hump again!— lifelongphilliesfan
- We have a smaller window than people realize with this staff, RH and CL are heading into their mid 30's. This offense needs to be overhauled now. Howard is brutal, can't be counted on, ever. .277 5 HRs 50 RBI will not cut it Polanco, sorry your time is up. Ibanez, wasn't terrible, but Mayberry is better by a lot. Need to bring JRoll back, because there is zip out there to replace him. We need to pray Utley's arc isn't heading down the diminishing bat speed/skills slope. First and foremost, our 'hitting guru' manager to needs to be fired immmediately, if not sooner. You don't start mailing in the season with 12 games to go, and then sweep the team that will let the Cards back in. Manuel's expertise is our glaring weakness. Have we wrapped our minds around the fact that Howard is owed $125M still. He's getting worse every year. We have our very own Mo Vaughn. Gongrats Ruben. Get some O this off-season.— reinpro
- Window opened in 2006 and closed in 2009. It's impossible to win with a team that almost entirely over 30. Never happened. Never will. The notion that great pitching can alter that fundamental fact was, is and will always be deluded. Amaro should have been rejuvenating the minute he took over. He's wasted three years. He'd better get on with it. — mrnmkr
- What goes Around comes Around Phillies Fans. Phillies could not wait to eliminate the Braves and risk injuries to their starters by playing them all in game 160, 161 and 162. Your days in the Sun are over. You traded away much of your future, Oswalt will be gone and so will Madson. Losers! Congratulations on beating the Braves in 2011 and by the way, they will be back with a new owner, Mark Cuban and many young talented players.— frackers
- Fire the Gm! It took this clown until the deadline to get Pence on a team that couldn't hit it's weight last year in losing. 3rd baseman that's brutal, SS that's below average now, slumping/hurt 2nd baseman and a 1st baseman having a down year hitting.— twpman
- Cliff Lee should be eating a big piece of humble pie. He left Texas to go where he had the best chance to win and he got beat badly in his only start and Texas is still going strong. Bad karma.— Sewellmatt
- AHHHH more of LOSERDELPHIA FREEDOM WE LOVE YA!!!!!!!— quadgator
- wouldn't have mattered who they played. They were shot. Too old. Time to pull a Holmgren on this roster and remake it.— scootch
- Hey Murph-- the only thing that stood between a NLDS series loss in 4 games and 5 games was.... a friggin' three run homerun from... Ben Friggin' Francisco.
That's all you need to know about the putrid offense.— Wiseman6 - Hey losers...one word for you! CHOKE!— MRD
- Murph, Gotta give you credit. You called this series about 4 months ago on Daily news Live. I remember Ben Davis was on the panel and you said the Cards would be the "scary" team to meet in the playoofs because of Carpenter and Garcia and Ben Davis laughed you off and said the Phils easily beat the Cards. You stayed cool and said the #'s show that both those starters own the Phils and you were right on.— Sewellmatt
- Just brutal. Big Piece is just that.
Disgraceful that Halladay has to pitch for that pathetic offense. They should show him some mercy and let him walk. How can anyone in that locker room even look at Halladay.— Wiseman6 - Murph- quit spinning the myth that Rollins would be hard to replace. Furcal just schooled the Phillies and he'll be available to spell Galvis. If it isn't Furcal, anyone who has the fortitude to run down to first base every time he hits a grounder will do.— jtj06
- This series fell apart whe Lee couldn't hold a 4 run lead. The Phils would love to get rid of Howard's $25 million a year contract but no one would take him. He should only be platooned. Left handers make him look sick. Utley and Polanco never did much after they were injured and Ruiz looks overmatched. The only top player now is Pense.— farley
- This series fell apart whe Lee couldn't hold a 4 run lead. The Phils would love to get rid of Howard's $25 million a year contract but no one would take him. He should only be platooned. Left handers make him look sick. Utley and Polanco never did much after they were injured and Ruiz looks overmatched. The only top player now is Pense.— farley
- I wish that we won instead of lost.— proLogic
- Wow....best record in baseball and what happens they lose! Its great! Hope you fans are crying! See ya next year! What a Failure Phils!— MRD
- Ryan Howard has now officially entered the Philadelphia Boo Birds Hit List with a bullet, right to #1. His ineptitude in playoff games, beginning with the 2009 World Series has come full circle. Never have I seen a player do so much in the regular season become such a non factor like RH. I would like to hear from this writer what kind of routine behind the scenes Howard is regarding film study of his at-bats. I've heard it said from an insider that while Utley is a consumate film study freak, Howard is not. However, according to his Verizon FIOS commercial, RH is able to use his DVR to watch his home run swings over, and over and over and over........Good article by Murph, there are many questions to come in the coming days and weeks.RAJ has his job cut out for him thanks to the exorbitant Howard contract......all options should be on the table, no untouchables, including the manager (retain Sandberg before he is taken) in order to make this team young and hungry, like the 2007-2008 teams.........— DelawareRiverRat
- Is that you, Missanelli?
I swear he made these exact comments on his show.— dmn - I thought Polanco was 18 million a year (idiot that I am). At 6 million a year maybe he could be moved? I like the guy but he was a huge offensive liability. He's not getting any younger.
Amazing that we got the pitching to compliment to offense and now the offense has quickly aged itself to the liability. It will be interesting to see what RAJ does in the offseason to address this.
— s - we fail where we always do......at the plate— the juke
- 3-0 count, all they need is a one run rally.....what a jerk.— steve1970
- Comment removed.
- You need to find a windmill, jerkxote!
Actually, the were a HORRIBLE performance by the highly paid lefty free agent from having it over in THREE.
Why do all you donkeyboys want to give Cliff Lee the free pass all the time?— BEMiller - You are right. They were very, very lucky to stretch it to 5 games and with the line-up they sported, I don't imagine they would have scored in 15 innings no matter who was pitching. Mix their staff with equally disciplined and scrappy position players, you will have something. — jtj06
- Phils won the world series withntheir lowest payroll and 'least' talented pitching staff. Since that season they've progressed one less round per year and exploded their payroll. Time to clear some payroll and get some clutch hitting.— owl87
- Can't blame the pitching. They carried the team for the whole year. The offense is what cost the team, last year and this year. Big changes are needed on offense, and that's the bottom line.— lefty1117
Looking forward to next year with manager Ryne Sandberg and a real pitching coach and leadoff hitter. And at least we won't have to watch Raul overmatched by any fastball over 90 mph. Polly and Chase should be healthy. Trade Howard to the AL and sign Albert. The Cardinal brass thinks they can win without him and they may be right. But we need a miracle now before the nucleus of this team hits Medicare age.- 5 game series are a joke....Selig is an idiot.— jjjimjjj
- How does a team with poor hitting and a lack of power go through a 5 games series without hitting with one of their only guys who can hit and second best slugging percentage, John Mayberry, getting only 4 at bats?? Is Manuel even trying? You'd think with the pitching they have you scratch out a run here and there and get a few HRs and you should be OK, but the entire line up has no mental clue how to put pressure on pitchers and take what's given to them. If there isn't a major shake up, I don't see any reason to expect anything different. I hoped for more but expected the same because the problems that killed them last year were never addressed.— jtj06
Looked forward to your article - not that it makes me feel better.
It's amazing how next year seems so different than it did before, because of 2 unscored runs tonight. Seems like the run has thudded to an end. Is it just the closeness of the loss or is all not so bleak?— COskier- failure. Charlie failed in the post season. Polly never should have started any game. He hasn't hit since July.— palmyra21
- Yep, same old problem exposed by the Giants and never appropriately addressed. I feel bad for the guys who signed here thinking it gave them the best chance to win.— n62
- Would that same old problem exposed by the Giants be the highly paid free agent lefty who couldn't hold a four run lead? — BEMiller
- Agreed. It isn't a playoff issue. The line up is feeble and for the last two season gets 3 runs or less half of the games. The fact that they won only 102 games and had zero 20 game winners (instead of 3) should be a flashing red light that it isn't a championship caliber team. — jtj06
- They won only 102 games? You people are unbelievable... — JoeyMax
- they only won 2 games. The regular season is irrelevent as long as you make the playoffs. They had to win 11 and they won 2. They're a bunch of over paid, under achieving losers. Fire Charlie, dump Howard and sign Puhols, Dump Polly for a #b aquired in Howard trade and replace Jroll with Galvins or whatever his name is in AAA. let the kids play-they, and pence at least want to win! — jeff gross
- joeymax just another philly fan to embrace mediocrity. If you can't get out of the first round it wouldn't matter if they won 162. Joey you should move to Pittsburgh or Kansas City so you can really wallow in meh. — ziggy26
- Garbage Pure unadulterated garbage. CL welcome back thanks for nothing. RH welcome to McNabb status as we HATE on you for the rest of your worthless career in Philadelphia. Really 2-18 and you swing at a 3-0 pitch you worthless pile. You darn well take your patheticness personal when people WALK to get to. When you deliver nothing. Garbage Garbage Garbage. Can't even deal with the rest of the Eagles type choke artists. And Halladay gets no blame, he did what he needed to do, one flippin run at home and no one can get squat. PATHETIC.— zonaindie2
- Get off and stay off the bandwagon. Cards were the hottest team in baseball. Tough stretch. It was still a great regular season and a fun ride. If you listen to the national media you prove your philly ignorance. Howard always has a green light. The guy could barely run and you want him to take a walk. The best homerun hitter in baseball has the right to swing in a fastball count. Taking a shot and missing is far better then leaving it to the rest of the lineup that couldn't touch carpenter. — philly teacher?
- Hopefully RAJ was smart enough to take out an insurance policy on Howard's contract so he can spend the $$$ to get some younger players who are hungry to win.— derFluge
- Complete and utter failure of a season.— Muckdog68
- Complete and utter failure of a life. Go back to your MUCK! — BEMiller
- Two years in a row. They must make big changes in the lineup if they want to win world series next year. Ouch— pkrainik
- Can't win if you don't score. Unbelievable— rickm
- Can't win if your highly paid free agent lefty can't hold a FOUR Golden de Luxe lead! UNBELIEVABLE! — BEMiller
- "The last thing they need heading into the offseason is a question about the ability of their highest-paid player"
Are you kidding me? That question has been answered.— blaqjaq - Ryan Howard did NOT lose this series. It took a team effort.
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Most responsible was Charlie Manuel. He is totally out of it anymore. Just look at his news conferences. I wouldn't let Charlie drive my car, let alone manage a ball club. We needed 1 or 2 runs and where is our best power hitter of Aug. and Sept.? Mayberry was nailed to the bench. Raul was obviously helpless against Carpenter and Charlie is sticking to the left right thing. He could have made a change after 2 ABs.— LenDyk4 - Once again, I'll ask:
Why does Cliff Lee ALWAYS get a free pass?
He was lights out in June and the for six weeks or so beginning in August. Other than that, he was so-so to AWFUL.
He didn't hold a FOUR RUN lead in the second game and that makes three rather terrible post season games in a row.
I might not want Charlie Manuel to drive my car, but I'd let him be manager of my ball club--anytime.
Insofar JMJ, he may be the starting left fielder next year.
— BEMiller - Well-stated, Murph. See you in the spring.— wooderice
- Another offensive choke...What else is there to say, you know?— outta work
- IF YOU CAN'T WIN WITH BIG ROY ON THE MOUND AT HOME IN A DO OR DIE SITUATION THEN GUESS WHAT YOU DON'T DESERVE TO GO TO THE WORLD SERIES. PERIOD.
TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW. BUT HELL THAT'S SPORTS. AND YES THIS IS SPORTS. I WAKE UP TOMORROW THE SAME GUY WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS.— broadstreetbullynyc
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