Do or Die?
Is this it for the Phillies? They open a three-game series tonight against the Mets at Shea Stadium.
Do or Die?
Todd Zolecki
Is this it for the Phillies? Is this the weekend that makes or breaks their season?
History says it is not. History says there are 19 games to play after their weekend series against the Mets at Shea Stadium. History says anything can happen in 19 games. Like the '64 Phillies collapse. Like the '07 Mets collapse. Like the ... like the ... well, those are pretty much the two greatest collapses in baseball history. The '78 Red Sox had a 7 1/2 game lead over the Yankees with 32 to play. The '69 Cubs had a 9 1/2 game lead over the Mets on Aug. 14. The '87 Blue Jays had a 3 1/2 game lead over the Tigers with seven to play. The '38 Pirates had a 7 game lead on the Cubs on Sept. 7.
The Phillies enter this weekend series three behind the Mets with 22 to play. They've got to win at least 2 of 3.
If they lose 2 of 3, they would be four back with 19 to play.
If the Mets finish 10-9 (.526), the Phillies would need to go 14-5 (.737).
It's not impossible, but the odds of a collapse between the same two teams in back-to-back seasons are long. The Phillies need to show some of that '07 magic beginning tonight and leave Shea -- can't wait for that dump to be blown up, by the way -- no worse than two back.
It's up to Brett Myers to get things started.
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Bob Ford says shame on the Phillies for not making a better effort to improve this team in-season.
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John Gonzalez, aka Gonzo, says get the Jack Daniels ready.
Comments (25)
1— Mark1npt- Jimmymack: better quote is "a waist is an awful thing to mind" Just ask Chollie, Myers or BillyChair. Winner of this series wins pennant....book it !!— mick314
There's no sense in thinking wild card or division at this point. The way to get there is the same: WIN GAMES. This weekend is actually not do or die, but the Phils must treat every game that way from here on in.— bobby- I believe Myers might find beating the Mets and their hot lineup a lot tougher to beat than his poor wife.— The Wizard
- LOVED Bob Ford's article! Someone, finally, (besides the fans) who is willing to blame Gillick. You would think Gillick would have wanted to go out in a *blaze of glory*, but I guess WE all know better. And let's not forget.......Even if we manage to sweep the Mets, we still have to face Milwakee. I'm TRYING to stay optimistic. But I have to start thinking.....Wild card?— Norma
- It's all on Myers... Win tonight, and they are still in it... lose tonight, and, well... uh... Let's go, Brett!!! We need a win tonight, and take tomorrow as it comes. Win tonight. Win tonight. Win tonight. October begins tonight (as Chewy already stated).— RollinsWasRight
- For some reason right now, much like last year, I do not have an impending sense of doom. These next games could either reinforce my confidence or shatter it. The playoffs start for the Phils tonight. Let's see how they respond.— Chewy59
- RWR....you mean I can't boo in Clearwater next spring when Ruiz comes up to bat for the first time, even though he's been el stinko all season this year except for 1 game with the bat? Well, that just takes all the fun out of it! I thought spring training was supposed to be a fun time.....btw, I wasn't booing Ruiz this spring while he was hitting .417....only after he started stinking up the batter's box...I don't boo ahead of time, that's stupid....therein lies the problem....players think we're booing before they had a chance to show us what they can do.....we're just not able to forget past failures (there have been many), and we're booing based on your past success rate or lack thereof.....— Mark1npt
- Path, I'm sorry but it's tough to relax on this one. Gaining 1 game per week should good in theory. But when has this team complied with theory? Undoubtedly, it seems destined for a nail-biting roller coaster ride-- like closing it to 1 game and then having the bats disappear. Heck, the wild card race might end up as our ticket to October! I just hope the Phils are in when the dust settles. Of course, then there is the frustration of how the Phils won't go any where in the post-season... which puts the bulls-eye back on the Front Office.— randy_w
- 1— Mark1npt
- Just my humble opinion: If Myers and Hamels can go 9 this weekend let them. If Moyer can get through the 1st and 3rd without too much damage he might make it through the 6th. Burrell is turning the corner with the slump and Howard's hitting for average is a huge factor right now. The Mets will attack Rollins, Utley, & Werth big time. Werth just needs to be patient he will get good pitches to hit with runners on. The bottom of the order needs to keep turning the lineup over. In games that we have been aggressive on the base paths we look like world champions. Where has that gone? You can't play this game scared, make them throw the ball. Utley and Rollins cannot allow runners to break up DP’s the way they have been, every run counts now. Finally never get beat in the late innings for playing too shallow or not guarding the lines.— Wally 24
- Reality time. We must win all three games this weekend. If we do then starting Monday there is a new race to the finish for the Phils and we have a slight schedule advantage. Anything less than a sweep is just a delay of the inevitable for this team.— Wally 24
- Nice comment on Randolph, Pat. I wish we had the other managing Manuel. He's really held that mess together over there despite all of their injuries. ZO - any change in pitching plans if Saturday gets rained out, (looks like a ton of rain coming), or would we still get Moyer first and Hamels second? ESPN has Kendrick scheduled to start on Monday...is that really the plan? Don't they have to do some shuffling there to get everyone back on regular rest? Can't see Myoer pitching Sunday and then again on Thursday.— B in DC
- I feel a little better about the Phils chances after seeing how the Brewers were humiliated by the Padres yesterday. That could mean that the Mets aren't as good as they think they are. We'll just have to wait and see...— Erich H
- Thre is a report that the Phil's may be looking at bringing Iguchi back (I guess Tony Taylor wasn't available). First Blanton, then Stairs, now Iguchi, talk about stepping up for the pennant race. WOWSERS!— jimmymack
- Relax, I know it's not easy. The Phils have (22) games left. Three full weeks of baseball. Gain one game per week, and their in the play-offs. Every night they play is just as important as the heads up match up match up against the Mets..The offense better step up or they're done. The bullpen is cooked. I miss Willie Randolph.....— pat h
- 6 weeks ago, who would've thought I would be HAPPY that Brett Myers is starting this must-win game tonight? Especially against Pelfrey, who was been awesome for the Mets since early June. This is do or die time. They have to take at least 2 of 3, or the season is over. Mark, I have no issue with what this team will "hear" if the offense is MIA again... I only have issue when guys have to "hear it" BEFORE they have a chance to fail.— RollinsWasRight
- I agree Mark. Myers can set the tone. Maybe other that Victorino (and I know he sometimes makes stupid plays), he seems to be the only player playing with fire. It's a shame he is a pitcher. If we don't win tonight, don't be surprised if we come out empty the rest of the series.— EL Zorro
- Brett can set a great tone for the series....I have held back on proclaiming him anywhere near the stud pitcher he should be since his recall from the minors, even though he has pitched well and even beaten the Cubs. Those games were all nice but this kind of game with the season on the line is the kind that matters. If he can dominate again tonight and the offense can score runs, I will give him all the praise and kudos he/the team deserves. If he implodes or the offense is MIA again, well...let's just say Truth and RollinsWasRight, er, I mean Jroll and Howard...... won't like to hear it.......— Mark1npt
- Have to agree with Todd Z that it's do or die this weekend. I don't think we can expect the Mets to fall apart like the did last yr. That doesn't happen very often. Let's hope Burrell wakes up out of his slump and continues to increase his avg. against the Mutts. GO PHILS!— KarenA
- After this team wins its 86-89 games and finishes 2 games out in the division, I think they need to make some big changes in the offseason. Starting with the manager and general manager, both need to go. Charlie loses us 8 games by himself each season, and Pat Gillick is already retired. I would also explore trading Ryan Howard for an ace and moving Pat Burrell to 1st. This team needs more proffessional hitters. It's bad enough we have Shane Victorino, who has a baseball IQ of about 0.— Matt
- Do or Die?........How about Done?— Mark1npt
- Looking ahead, although I am in no way giving up on this season (quite the contrary, I still expect the Phillies to win their division), I hope Phillies management will take a look at Feddy Sandoval in the Angels systems. The Angels have so much talent that it has begun to pile up at the upper levels of their system. Sandoval, an infielder who can also be turned into an outfielder, is the kind of player the Phillies could pick up affordably, say, by trading someone like Andrew Carpenter. He batted .335 this year at the Triple A level and has hit well in the current PCL playoffs.— JayW
- I agree, do or die. This is where it all starts. These next three game are going to be like playoff games. There is nothing I like to see more then the Mutts fans faces after they get swept. Lets go PHILS!!!— Beef69
- "A chance in time is an awful thing to waste". Yep, pretty much says it all about our team. Again.— jimmymack
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