Repeat!
The Phillies have repeated as National League East champions!
Repeat!
Todd Zolecki
The Phillies are National League East champions.
You've seen the double play.
You've seen the celebration.
You've certainly heard players talk about unfinished business. The Colorado Rockies swept the Phillies in the NLDS last season, which had Charlie Manuel wondering yesterday what in fact the Phillies really, truly had won last year? A pennant to fly in left-center field? Gee, that's nice, but Manuel and his players kept repeating over and over again that they expect more this time.
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Phil Sheridan puts it best: Rollins to Utley to October.
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All Jamie Moyer does is clinch NL East championships.
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In the Phillies Notebook: Cole Hamels gets to rest today. He will start Game 1 of the NLDS on Wednesday against the Dodgers or Brewers. David Montgomery says it's too early to talk about the next GM. And Geoff Jenkins finally makes the playoffs.
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In The Inquirer's Sunday baseball column, Jim Salisbury takes a look at baseball's postseason award winners. Also check out Extra Bases.
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John Gonzalez wonders if this year finally is Philly's turn.
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The Brewers spit the bit and lost to the Cubs, while the Mets rallied behind Johan Santana to pull even in the NL wild card race.
Comments (39)
I actually turned down the TV sound and listened to Harry K & LA call the game in the 9th. It's interesting to do that because the radio broadcast is about a second or two behind the TV. Anyway it added to the thrill of victory to hear Harry K announce that the Phils were NL Champs!— KarenA
By the way, the Poorest Planning Award goes to Fox baseball for sticking us with Tim "spin the pronunciation wheel" McCarver for an entire inning at the end of that game while Tom McCarthy went down to the Phils' locker room. He was totally unprepared and not up to the job. That woudl be like, say, electing the governor of Alaska VP of the USA. Well, it was ugly, that's for sure.— bobby- Got an email from StubHub about play-off tickets. Since I wasn't picked in the *on-line drawing* for first round tics, I thought I'd check it out. Cheapest tickets were $70-$80 for Standing Room! Guess I'll take my chances for the 2nd round! Have fun on Wed.!— Norma
- jimmy....Thanks for the *talented* compliment! LOL! And I agree about Golson. We were sitting in right center field, and me and the guys sitting behind me, kept yelling, "Play deeper!" Guess he didn't hear us. LOL! But he CAN run. He did beat out that double play.— Norma
- I submitted my post earlier, but apparently the protective filters on this 'blog' have seen fit to quarantine it. Well, I'm not retyping now. Suffice it to say that I'm thrilled with the way the Phils wrapped things up. Was at the game today and it was nice to see the young guys in action. Bring on the Brew crew... Go Phils!— bobby
- Here's a little something from the "good karma" department: in 1980, the Phillies won 92 games. They clinched the division on the next to last day of the season against the Montreal Expos, now the Washington Nationals- queue the "Twilight Zone" music- GO PHILS!!!!— KMG
- I met the lovely and talented Norma and since she was there, of course they won. Few opinions: Golson is NOT ready for prime time in the field or at bat (I thought I was watching Jeff Stone, part II). Truth, Howard deserves a raise of a few million and is a serious candidate for MVP, but I think his average will keep him form getting it. Mc Carver sucks. And Chase blew it in the pregame "thank the fans" segment, sometimes being glib doesn't work and it didn't for him today. Any Zo Zoners going to Wednesday's game? Meet up before hand? Now bring on the Brew Crew.— jimmymack
- Sorry, guys, but I have to vent! I'm really annoyed at the local media. At least, channel 6. I know this game didn't mean anything. And none of the starters played. (except for Werth and Howard, who both came in to pinch hit) But the "B" team did pretty darn good. All they mentioned was Marson's HR. And Howard's single and run scored. They didn't even mention that right after Marson's HR, Matt Stairs hit a pinch hit HR! His second! And that Howard scored, because So Taguchi (YES Taguchi!), hit a triple! Can we give these guys a little credit!!!! OK. I'm done. LOL!— Norma
- I for one am very glad the Brew Crew made it over the Mets. I'm not as hard-over against the Mets as many here are; it is just that I think the Dodgers are VERY scary right now, and the Brewers are decidedly less so (though anyone must be considered dangerous in the postseason). I'm hoping that the Dodgers and Cubs beat each other up in their series and get worn out for the NLCS, where their opponent will hopefully be the Phightin's!— marty
- Deb.....The Phils open the '09 season against the Braves. Feel like coming up? You have plenty of time to plan. LOL!— Norma
- jimmymack....Great meeting up with you today! We need to get a few of us together, next season, and sit down and have a beer. Of course, we could do that if any of us get play-off tics!— Norma
- Jeff Gross, I agree with your stmt for the most part. If Howard goes balastic I think it helps him b/c he would draw comparisons to Reggie Jackson only Howard would be Mr. Sept/Oct. If he flops I do think it hurts him but the downside is much less than the upside. Keep in mind he may not get much to hit....— Truth
- How sad for the poor Mutts, back to back years, losing on the LAST DAY- where is the Wizard? I'd like to ask him what it's like to root for a team that in back-to-back years established itself as one of the all time great choke organizations. Wizard? Hallloooooo???? GO PHILS!!!!!— KMG
- Truth: I told myself I wasn't going to argue with you today, and I'm not. I apreciated the three minutes you gave us of not bashing the Management. yes, howard deserves a raise, the question is how much, and that will be dicided in teh coming playoff games. What a season, what a team. What a great group of bloggers. Its been a pleasure to spend a season with you. Now, which of us will Todd pick for the playoff blog roster???— jeff gross
- Great game. Excellent defensive game by Jimmy. Let's root for the Brewers now. I'll love facing them. They are running on fumes. Sabathia is pitching today on three days for the third consecutive time and Ben Sheets is done.— EL Zorro
- Can they just sign Jamie Moyer for the rest of his life now? What a great catalyst this home town guy has been.— s
- Honest question, is Howard worthy of a raise? How much of his current hot streak will YOU/Phillies mgmt remember in come arbitration time? Is he worth a long term deal? Or should the mgmt trade hime now at his potential peak and get a stud pitcher and and a couple of pieces?— Truth
- The Phillies deserving NL Eastern division champs! This team has battled adversity and overcome. Today I will applaud the players and not bash the mgmt in honor of their accomplishment!! I do think if they rise to the occasion and the bats stay hot they can be competetive in the first round and probably win..... Lets go R. Howard way to carry the team when it most counted!!— Truth
- Well gee whiz... that game was fun. :) The players are right...champagne does burn the eyes. ... ... ... Zo, are you off your typing game, or making bold predictions?— RollinsWasRight
- McCarver is so yesterday. Phils are so TODAY and 'tomorrow and tommorow and tomorrow, creeping on their petty pace to the last syllable of recorded major league baseball' (in '08) GO Chollymen !!!!— mick314
- I was hoping the phils would stop the 9th and put Coste in just so McCarver wouldn't say Ruiz anymore!— robjan
- Congrats to the Phils...but Todd, you can do better than this. the other writers give us some good stuff like Harry's call and the status of Victorino etc.— ronin32
- What a team! How appropriate that the last out was recorded by Rollins-Utley-Howard? I think the Cubs clinched too soon, that might come back to bite them.— 4 for 4 Guy
- I love baseball and I love the Phillies. I have a funny feeling that the MVP trophy is staying in Philly.— B Dub
- As I said in the last thread (the one that was up during the game) THey gave me a heart attack--again- but what a win. GO PHILLIES!! I smell a repeat of 1980 coming--BTW Where's Truth??— jeff gross
- MrPhillie....I was SCREAMING at the TV everytime Ruiz' name was pronounced wrong!!! That drives me crazy! And Fox and ESPN guys do that all the time!— Norma
- I'm ecstatic over the Phillies win, but I was getting tired of hearing McCarver. Does he seriously not know how to pronounce Carlos Ruiz' name? Also, he said at least three times in the last nning that Bonafacio was on base and ultimately scored a run in the ninth, when it was Bernadina. You would think a professional like him would catch his mistakes or a producer would catch his mistakes so he does not coninually make them. Anyway, just an observation. Thanks again Phils!— MrPhillie
- They certainly don't make it easy, but at leat they made it. Congrats and thank-you to the Phillies for coming through at the end of a roller-coaster season....let's continue through the end of October! And congrats to all Phillies fans, even those who were sure the team would fold again. I admit I was bracing myself for a possible letdown, but I thought we'd at least get the Wildcard. No, this team never seems to make life easy for itself and it's fans, but at least we can cheer during postseason baseball, unlike so many other fans of doormat clubs out there. I know the Phillies will not be favored to win the N.L. let alone the World Series, but stranger things have happened. Go Phils!— MrPhillie
Comment removed.
Zolecki is way ahead of himself. He needs to add East in his story.— Hazy- Who else had the death threats already written up with a certain announcer's name on them? It was like he's trying to jinx Lidge. How many times do you have to mention him being perfect in one inning? They kept us hanging on to the end again. J-Roll was right in Philly you can't have it easy.— cg
- jimmymack....See you tomorrow at 1:00 at the Ashburn statue!— Norma
- What better way to end the game than with the bases loaded, and a double play! My son had great idea for a new Phillies tee shirt. 6-4-3....2008! And according to the pic above, Chase got to Lidge first. Who does he think he is? Pat Burrell? LOL!— Norma
- I can't add much more, Bobby. They sure didn't "back in" this year. Great to see them step up and take the division. Now let's make some noise in the playoffs.— bski
- WHAT A GAME!! I think that's the best double play I have ever seen! Rollins defense today was Golden Glove worthy. Moyer was outstanding. He is just amazing. GO PHILS!— KarenA
- What an awesome game to end the suspense and clinch the division! I have tickets for tomorrow, but am just as happy they took care of business today. So many key plays: - 3 great defensive plays from Jimmy (amazing catch, amazing reaction to the bad hop grounder, and of course, the incredible DP to end the game), - huge double from Feliz to drive in Shane from 1st for what became the winning run, - huge K from Madson to end the 8th, - just another superb performance by Jamie Moyer, - and despite making things more dramatic than we're used to, another save from the master, Brad 'Lights Out' Lidge. How appropriate that the final play had the ball moving through the hands of the core of this team, Rollins to Utley to Howard. Even though there were many ups and downs for these 3 guys this season, they remain the heart of the Phillies. Well done, team! See you at the ballpark tomorrow... Go Phils!— bobby
- Wow. Jamie Moyer does it again. Just marvelous. And what a play to end the game. And I love the Phils' chances this time around better, though I hope Brad Lidge's saves aren't this adventurous in the playoffs. Congratulations Phillies, hard-earned and well-deserved.— NJLouis66
- Outstanding, what a play by Rollins and another jem from Jamie. Now we can relax tommorrow and watch the kids play. Let the playoffs begin, no repeat of last years 3 and out.— jimmymack
The only thing sweeter than this victory will be the series win over Milwaukee or LA. And then the series win over the Cubs. And then...
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
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