The Sound of One Thunder Stick Banging
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The Sound of One Thunder Stick Banging
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
There were a few moments that stuck with me yesterday in the aftermath of the Phillies' 6-2 win over the Brewers in the fourth and final game of the two teams' National League Division Series. First, there was the deafening silence that enveloped the crowd at Miller Park after Jimmy Rollins gobbled up a ground ball by Jason Kendall and threw to short to record the final out. Just seconds before, the place was about as loud as a stadium can be. Geoff Jenkins, a former Brewers, said afterward that the past couple of days are the loudest he has ever heard a baseball game in Milwaukee. And then, after Kendall's swing, the place just shut down. It was a really weird experience watching the Phillies stream out of the dugout and celebrate to absolute silence.
The second moment came in the clubhouse after the game. The scene was pretty much as you'd expect. There was champagne and Bud Light and all that alcoholic goodness. But the party died down pretty quickly. Everyone seems to realize that a loss in the next round will relegate this season to a failure, at least from the eyes of the players and coaches. But the moment that stuck with me involved Pat Burrell and Phillies chairman Bill Giles. Obviously, after his two home run effort yesterday, Burrell was the man of the hour, and everyone took turns congratulating him. But Giles took it once step further. He kissed him. Granted, it was on the cheek, and not on the lips. But it was a very long kiss.
"My hero," Giles said after the man-kiss.
Here's the game story from last night. . .
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A running debate throughout the past 24 hours has revolved around the Phillies and Eagles head-to-head television match-up yesterday. Most people seemed to believe the Eagles would top the Phillies in the overnight ratings. I have yet to see them, but I think that's how it will shake out. Funny story: was out with a group of people Friday night and we ran into one of the Phillies' players. He joined in the debate and agreed the Eagles would win the ratings war. I'd love to hear which game you chose to watch, or at least what strategy you used when it came to the remote control.
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I still don't have many details on the Phillies' plans for the next few days. Game 1 of the NLCS is on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. and will likely feature Cole Hamels against Derek Lowe. Game 2 is on Friday at 4:15 p.m.. Game 3 is Sunday at 8:15.
The Phillies won't workout today, but I expect them to hold a workout both Tuesday and Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park.
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Rich Hofmann had a great moment with Charlie Manuel yesterday. As the party raged inside the visitor's clubhouse at Miller Park, the manager was nowhere to be found. Rich found him sitting in his office by himself. For 10 minutes, they talked about the significance of the Phillies NLDS win. Rich asked Charlie how he wanted to be viewed by people.
"You know?" Manuel said. "Know what I'd like people to call me? A winner, that's what."
From my perspective, it's hard not to attach that title to Manuel. He was on my ballot for National League Manager of the Year. I didn't put him No. 1-- that honor went to the Marlins Freddy Gonzalez -- but I think he deserves to be in the conversation. In a year in which Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley all hit below their career batting averages, Manuel has found a way to keep this team a float.
Here's the column. . .
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I'll try to get back at the blog when I land in Philly. Right now I'm sitting in the Milwaukee airport. Which, come to think of it, looks exactly how you'd expect the Milwaukee airport to look. One interesting note about the Milwaukee airport: It has an official name for the area where you put your shoes back on and your laptops back in your bag after passing through security: the "Recombobulation Area." I like that.
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Finally: Milwaukee's Corey Hart had a horrible series. One of the worst playoff series a guy can have. Some people have asked me who the Phillies MVP was for the series. It might have been Corey Hart.
But here is why I like Corey Hart: His walk-up music during his at-bats is International Harverster by Craig Morgan.
I dig it.
All I can say about that game schedule for the next round is - BOO!! 4:15 on Friday? That sucks!! I have tickets to that game, and I was hoping for a nice 8:00 game on a Friday night. Now I have to take a half day of work and it just makes it so inconvenient.. Getting screwed again by the national tv coverage. No respect.— Gary Varsho- Mr. Varsho - While I can sympathize, I look at it from an entirely different perspective. I can't let my son stay up so late to watch the postseason baseball games. I always wish they were on EARLIER. If we lived out west, it would be perfect timing to let a child watch the game. Just another way to look at it.— gbrettfan
- gbrettfan - I could agree - but its a Friday night!! 8:00 isn't too late, it would be over by 11:30. I understand that these nationally televised games are too late for kids sometimes, but 4:00 on a Friday?— Gary Varsho
- Gary Varsho - Where did you find the time schedule for the NLCS? I've been looking for it, but I can't find it yet.— chopper
- Ignore me. It would have helped if I actually read the entire blog entry instead of skimming it.— chopper
- one thunderstick banging...lol!— oz
- chopper - this blog is the only place I found it, so hopefully its not official - but my guess is they are going to give the AL prime time on Friday. In that case, I really hope they end up with the White Sox and Angels. Even thought Tampa is a smaller market, I am sure they would draw the "its a good story crowd". But I'm guessing the tv folks are counting on the Red Sox for a prime time draw.— Gary Varsho
- Varsho - 8:00pm game will end at 11:30pm??? Did you watch the Red Sox game last night? It started around 7:15pm and didn't end until almost 1:00am - in Boston. Playoff games do not last 2 and 1/2 hours. That wouldn't leave enough time to replay thousands of Frank TV commercials.— Charlie Mustgo
- I too will be interested in the ratings. I watched the Phillies and checked on the Eagles between innings. I and my circle of friends are avid sports fans. Usually by mid-August most of our coversation is about the Eagles. Not so this year. They were barely mentioned. The same was true this weekend. It seems that people are excited about the Phillies and the Eagles are an afterthought!— rspiegel
- Charlie Mustgo - by your name, I can tell what an idiot you are. The Red Sox game went into extra innings last night. A normal 9 inning game would take 3 to 3 1/2 hours, even in the playoffs.— Gary Varsho
- I was watching the Phillies yesterday, then would switch over to the Birds. Just about every time I did, Washington had the ball. Called my neighbor and asked if the Eagles were on the sideline watching the Phillies. The Skins had the ball like 11 minutes of the second quarter. Pretty much gave up and watched the Phillies the rest of the day. Loved that Comcast gave most of its time to the Phillies post-game show rather than the eagles.— mike l
- Varsho, I was checking the schedule on FoxSports website and they have a TBD for Friday. Also, on this same blog on the Phillies plage, they don't have the time yet. Murph, I watched both games going back and forth after pitches, commercial, time-outs, etc. I didn't miss much more.— EL Zorro
- Isn't Craig Morgan country? Yuck...........anyway, watched the Eagles mainly in the first half, mainly Phils thereafter. Bill Giles has kissed a lot of guys on the cheek. Not being funny, but he really has. You see Daulton do it now. Bill Giles, supernice man, but glad he's not in charge anymore.— wingslax35
- I watched the Phillies game and switched over to check on the Eagles when the commercials came on. I had the same thought as Mike, every time I checked the Redskins had the ball and were shredding the Eagles defense. Thanks Phils for saving my Sunday.— bigtbone
- Mainly watched the Phils and just switched to the Eagles to see the score. Along that note, Cole Hamels made a comment, for the second time I can recall, about the town being "painted Red instead of green". He also commented last year that "maybe we'll hear Phils cheers in an Eagles game instead of Eagles chants during Phils". My friend was at the Eagles game yesterday (she's more of an Eagles fan) and said it's the first time in her life she heard "Let's go Phils" during an Eagles game.— nephillychick
