Years ago last night, at SkyDome in Toronto, Joe Carter hit the home run off Mitch Williams that broke Philadelphia's heart.
80: Years since a team went hitless in as many at-bats with runners in scoring position (13) as the Phillies did in Game 1 and still won a postseason game. The Yankees went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in Game 4 of the 1928 World Series and still beat the Cardinals at Sportsman Park, 7-3. Research courtesy of Stats LLC and the
Detroit Free Press.
Lidge for president
Phillies closer Brad Lidge probably has just about as much chance outpolling Barack Obama and John McCain as he does becoming the third straight Phillie to win the National League's Most Valuable Player Award this year.
For one thing, first baseman Ryan Howard is sure to get some support because of his torrid September, diluting the Philly vote. For another, there's an innate prejudice against pitchers winning the MVP; some voters reason that they have the Cy Young.
However, it was learned behind the batting cage last night at least two of the 32 members of the Baseball Writers Association who will determine that award have cast their ballots for Lidge.
"If the Mets had him, they would have won," explained one.
Here's an interesting side note to that. Lidge has a clause in his contract that's worth $100,000 if he wins the Cy Young, or $75,000 if he finishes second or $50,000 for third. He would get $100,000 for being named the World Series MVP. The Phillies don't owe him a penny, though, if he's named Most Valuable Player of the entire season.
However . . . in the 3-year extension that he signed at midseason, beginning next year, he'd be rewarded on the same 100-75-50 sliding scale for winning the MVP as the Cy Young.
Here's the catch
When Charlie Manuel started Chris Coste at designated hitter in Game 1, the Phillies manager was taking a chance that starter Carlos Ruiz wouldn't get hurt. Since Coste is the only backup catcher on the World Series roster, if Ruiz had to leave the game, the Phillies would have lost the DH and the pitcher would have had to bat.
It came a lot closer to happening than most people know.
"Chooch [Ruiz] was having dry heaves in about the sixth inning," Manuel revealed before last night's game. "He's fine now but somebody said he was coughing and I'd better check him out because he might be really sick."
As it turned out, Ruiz was able to stay in the game. "I don't know what happened," he said. "It's hard to explain. I was feeling something bad in my chest. I felt like I was going to throw up."
Clarification
There still seems to be some confusion about the designated-hitter rule. Some seem to believe that Charlie Manuel could have simply had Chris Coste move to catcher and replaced Ruiz with a new DH. That's not how it works.
Section 6:10, 2 (b) reads: "The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position of the batting order, but the Pitcher must bat in the place of the substituted defensive player."
Shift insert
The Rays continued to utilize a radical shift against Phillies second baseman Chase Utley last night with third baseman Evan Longoria only a few feet from second and the other three infielders packed on the right side.
