World Serious
Yep, the Phillies are going to the World Series!
World Serious
Todd Zolecki
The photo speaks for itself.
The headline? I've been covering the Phillies for six seasons, and I've been joking for years about putting the phrase "World Serious" into one of my stories. You know, something like, "The Phillies are World Serious." Of course, it's way too cheesy to put in the paper. But the good news is that it's too cheesy to use as a headline for this blog.
World Serious.
Wow.
The Phillies beat the Dodgers last night in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, 5-1, to clinch their first World Series berth since 1993. Ready or not, folks, the Phillies have a chance to win their first championship in 28 years. And the city has a chance to win its first championship in 25 years.
"This is going to be the year," Charlie Manuel said. "I can feel it, yeah."
I'm not sure what they showed on TV last night, but it was a very cool scene after the game as Phillies fans lingered behind the visitor's dugout and chanted everything from, "Four more wins! Four more wins!" to "We want beer! We want beer!"
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Phil Sheridan talks about the chance of finally bringing Philly a championship.
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Bob Ford writes about NLCS MVP Cole Hamels.
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Jim Salisbury takes us Inside the Game, and also talks about the very select group Manuel has joined.
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John Gonzalez can't believe what he just saw. Gonzo, Ford and Sheridan talk about the LA experience.
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Dodgers fans are terrible. I actually saw a trail of tail lights in the parking lot in the fourth inning. No joke. Dodgers fans were leaving the game in the fourth inning. Even at their loudest, they couldn't match the enthusiasm I've heard in Philly in the NLDS and NLCS.
Manuel said he expects the Bank to be noisy as hell during the World Series.
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Jimmy Rollins got things going in the first inning. ... Geoff Jenkins had a hell of a day. ... If Hamels wasn't NLCS MVP, it would have been Shane Victorino. ... Bill Giles talks about this fantastic feeling. ... World Series begins in six days. Are you ready? ... My advice: try to enjoy the moment as much as possible. You know how rare these moments are.
Scooter is a loser and the PHILLIES are NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!! All the way this year!!! WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!— James TL- Eagles Fans:Santa Claus::Dodgers Fans:Arrive late, leave early Time for new story lines all around. Let's begin with a WS win for the Phillies.— Joe in Haddonfield
- I think its funny that the haters have disappeared now that we are in the Final dance. No big aquisitions, still a "cheap" team, idiot for a manager. The Phillies wont go out and sign the big name player. But they still got here. Take that to all the Know it Alls and haters.
- Cholly's learned to be a very good NL manager with the help of Jimmy Williams the last couple of years, but better than that he has the respect of 25 other men who would just as soon take a bullett for him....that's the true reflection of the man, our manager. The team, warts and all as we know they have, are coming together and jelling at just the right time....who'd have thunk the tallest midget in the circus could get this far?— Mark1npt
- got to love it. Is anyone having a lousy Post Season so far (except for Moyer) What a great team. I think we can call them Front Runners!!!!— jeff gross
- Congratulations to the Phillies for making it this far. While in grad school, I followed the '93 team from beginning to end (no mlb.com then, so a lot of games on radio), and that team was similar to this one -- likable and good despite some flaws. This team has a better chance of winning (IMHO) because they aren't going to be meeting a juggernaut like the '93 Blue Jays. Some game notes and other thoughts ... Rollins and Howard finally got it going on offense; hopefully Howard and Utley can both be hot in the World Series (it's been rare this year that they've been hot at the same time). Utley showed how good a player he is by making a huge contribution despite going 0-4 (two very good DPs, one excellent diving catch in the 8th, great baserunning on the Furcal boot). Furcal, yikes -- imagine if a Philly player had made those errors? The throw home was even worse than the boot. Loney may be almost as bad as Howard at first base (promising batter though). Madson was really bringing it in the 8th; 97 might have been the fastest any Phillies pitcher has pitched this year. Just speaks to how hot Ramirez was that he still grounded a single up the middle off Madson. Phillies fans can be really thankful for Russell Martin batting behind Ramirez (plus Blake DeWitt). For once in the series, the Phillies got the benefit of a couple borderline ball/strike calls (Martin, Kent). Looking to the World Series, one big question is who is going to DH vs. LHP (Kazmir or Lester)? Coste is the best RH bench bat, but he's also the backup catcher. Options are better vs. RHP (Jenkins, Dobbs, even Stairs). Here's hoping the Phils don't get 'cold' waiting for the Series as the Rockies did last year. Go Phils!— Statman
Good stuff, Statman. As excited as I am that the Phils are the NL Champs, I'm even more excited that there's more baseball to come. It's a bizarre riddle: I can't wait for the games to start and the next pitch to be thrown, but I also know that every pitch brings us closer to it being over with. Soak up every moment of the next 2 weeks, because this is the stuff of legends and folklore. Remember folks, it's the journey that's magical, and this team is still en route.— bobby- Two things: 1) it has been great so far riding this ride with all of you here. Alot of us have been here at least since the beginning of the season (Norma, KarenA, jimmymack, davegas...Truth). So I feel as if we are all friends who watch the games together. 2) Since I can't get the Philly papers down here, I love going to http://www.newseum.org/ and clicking on "Today's Front Pages" to see the headlines. I even printed 3 of them out! Makes me feel as if I am there...almost.— Deb in Dixie
- DH against RHP is Howard!! Against LHP it's Burrel. The question is who plays first or LF?— jeff gross
- Deb in Dixie - but this would have been more fun on the old ZoZone.........— timm2
- Deb in Dixie--thanks for the shout-out. Enduring this roller coaster ride of a season has been even more fun w/all the Zone folks. I was away at college when the Phils won their lone WS. Can't wait to experience it "firsthand". GO PHILS!— KarenA
- It has definately been an experience with everyone this year. The question is, what do we do in the off season??— jeff gross
- I made this last night in under an hour or so...but feel as though I've been waiting 15 years to make it! It's for all you great Philly Phans. Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l4qQbZ3mlw— hayes9
- Karen, like you I was away at college (in Atlanta) when we won in '80....and with this roller coaster, I've almost exhausted what's left of my valium prescription......there might be one week's worth left, I dunno......I watched the Rays completely school our Phils during each spring training meeting this year down here in FL, it was clear that early on, that they were for real.....I was actually hoping the Red Sox would come back.....here's hoping.— Mark1npt
- Talk about a letdown. I didn't even make the 'Deb in Dixie' veterans list.— bobby
