mozartpc27 wrote:The 2007 Rays remind me most of the 2003 Marlins, with much better hitting and only somewhat worse pitching. That's the problem I am having right now. I can feel my hatred rising... rising...

FTN wrote:

momadance wrote:Heh, Neyer thinks we're screwed. I love it!

Why? Neyer was the only one to pick us to beat LA.

JFLNYC wrote:This is going to be a real challenge for the Phils..... I can see the Series going in pretty much any direction, from a sweep by either side to 7 great games. I suspect we'll learn a lot in the first game.

ek wrote:

momadance wrote:

FTN wrote:

momadance wrote:Heh, Neyer thinks we're screwed. I love it!

Why? Neyer was the only one to pick us to beat LA.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=23136

"I won't go so far as to predict the outcome of each game, but I think Hamels will beat the Rays once and the Phillies will lose everything else."

"I think the Rays will win the first two, then Game 3, then lose Game 4 to Hamels on short rest, then finish off the Phillies in Game 5."

one plus two plus one plus one

JFLNYC wrote:This is going to be a real challenge for the Phils. Tampa's starting pitchers are really good. And, although their bullpen can be erratic, they've got 3 LHP's who could give Utley and Howard fits. The Phils' starting pitchers have been iffy. Hamels has been great and Blanton's been very good. But Myers has been inconsistent and Moyer has been bad. They'll need to deliver decent starts and J-Roll, Utley and Howard -- esp. Howard -- need to show up. It's certainly doable, but the Rays will be tough. I can see the Series going in pretty much any direction, from a sweep by either side to 7 great games. I suspect we'll learn a lot in the first game.

Tim (Wilmington, DE): Hey Rob, You picked the Rays in 5. Care to explain? I just can't agree with you there. The only edge the Rays have over the Phils is their starting rotation. And even that is ever so slight. I'd take Hamels over Kazmir, Myers and Shields are a stalemate, Garza over Moyer, Blanton and Sonnanstine are pretty close. That actually seems like a push now. Phils in 6.

Rob Neyer: Really? The only edge I see the Phils having over the Rays is defense up the middle, and that's just because of Utley. If the Rays and Phillies played 162 games the Rays would win 90 of them.

Warszawa wrote:If the Phillies win game 1 then they win the series

Barry Jive wrote:

mozartpc27 wrote:The 2007 Rays remind me most of the 2003 Marlins, with much better hitting and only somewhat worse pitching. That's the problem I am having right now. I can feel my hatred rising... rising...

Good thing we aren't playing the 2007 Rays.

drsmooth wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:This is going to be a real challenge for the Phils..... I can see the Series going in pretty much any direction, from a sweep by either side to 7 great games. I suspect we'll learn a lot in the first game.

plz take a seat next to Tenured V on the "so excited I can't see straight" bench

Tim (Wilmington, DE): Hey Rob, You picked the Rays in 5. Care to explain? I just can't agree with you there. The only edge the Rays have over the Phils is their starting rotation. And even that is ever so slight. I'd take Hamels over Kazmir, Myers and Shields are a stalemate, Garza over Moyer, Blanton and Sonnanstine are pretty close. That actually seems like a push now. Phils in 6.

Rob Neyer: Really? The only edge I see the Phils having over the Rays is defense up the middle, and that's just because of Utley. If the Rays and Phillies played 162 games the Rays would win 90 of them.

BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) - In a region experiencing World Series fever, Republican John McCain questioned Democrat Barack Obama's character Tuesday after he expressed support for both teams playing in the upcoming baseball championship.

gusmoney wrote:"Can't lose: Obama backs Rays, Phillies"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14750.html

Barack Obama, campaigning in the key swing state of Florida, is seeking to capitalize on the excitement over the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays, telling a Tampa crowd he was “showing some love for the Rays,” several members of which joined him onstage.

Only problem?

Obama, a self-avowed Chicago White Sox fan, declared his allegiance earlier this month for the Rays’ National League opponent in baseball’s championship, the Philadelphia Phillies.

gusmoney wrote:"McCain hits Obama for varying World Series support"

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php_id=D93V00GG0&show_article=1

BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) - In a region experiencing World Series fever, Republican John McCain questioned Democrat Barack Obama's character Tuesday after he expressed support for both teams playing in the upcoming baseball championship.

gusmoney wrote:"Can't lose: Obama backs Rays, Phillies"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14750.html

Barack Obama, campaigning in the key swing state of Florida, is seeking to capitalize on the excitement over the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays, telling a Tampa crowd he was “showing some love for the Rays,” several members of which joined him onstage.

Only problem?

Obama, a self-avowed Chicago White Sox fan, declared his allegiance earlier this month for the Rays’ National League opponent in baseball’s championship, the Philadelphia Phillies.

TenuredVulture wrote:

drsmooth wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:This is going to be a real challenge for the Phils..... I can see the Series going in pretty much any direction, from a sweep by either side to 7 great games. I suspect we'll learn a lot in the first game.

plz take a seat next to Tenured V on the "so excited I can't see straight" bench

You might not want to get too close. In all the excitement, I've developed some spastic tics.

mozartpc27 wrote:

BigEd76 wrote:J.R. Reed wore a BJ Upton jersey since he's from Tampa

CUT HIM.