After Jimmy Rollins walked, Shane Victorino singled, and the go-ahead run came to the plate in the form of Chase Utley to face the seemingly unbeatable Mariano Rivera during the eighth inning of game two, I turned to the New York fan sitting in the seat next to me at Yankee Stadium and said with a smile, "This is fun, isn't it?" She looked at me like I was crazy.
That game didn't end as Phillies fans would have liked, but the Fightins' were in position to come back with Chase Utley at the dish. Our team may be down a game, but they've got plenty of fight left in them. A game like tonight is pretty much why we are fans. I feel confident in this group to win tonight and set up perhaps the biggest game this city has ever seen tomorrow.
Two seasoned playoff veterans with huge wins all over their resumes will square off in the greatest example of how evenly matched these two clubs are right now. This is not only great theater—it's great baseball. At least it should be. Both teams are fundamentally good enough to go out there and play their games without totally blowing themselves up. Of course, as we've already seen, they're not without their demons, which can emerge on any given pitch.
We already know what it feels like to lose this series. We felt that the moment the lead was blown in game four. Since then we've also known what it feels like to win it all—combine game 5 with all we went through last year, minus the 30-year itch.
So now it's all about just watching what should be a great game, in the tightest world series in recent memory on the biggest stage of them all in the Bronx.
The Phillies have already shown they can get to Andy Pettitte. Joe Girardi isn't likely to have a long leash on him tonight, so the Phils need to be patient and hit him early. We all know what happens if the Yankees middle relief comes into the game. Girardi has also said that AJ Burnett would be available out of the 'pen if needed. His last outing wasn't very long, and it's his day for a bullpen session anyway. Yes. Please.
Otherwise, it'll probably be Joba Chamberlain, who strikes fear into the hearts of no one. If it's close or the Yankees are leading late, Girardi could use Mo Rivera for a two-inning save. On this date in 2001, Joe Torre used Rivera in just that way, and Mo blew it in the ninth, surrendering game 7 to the Diamondbacks
The Phillies pen has at times had its problems, but, other than the obvious chasm between our closers over the course of this season, the relievers coming out of the visiting 'pen are head and shoulders better than their hosts.
Many people are predicting a high scoring affair. I'm thinking we see a gem from the old goat wearing red tonight.
Enjoy the game, folks. Hopefully we can come back tomorrow and do this all again.
Pedro image via amandanyc
Original Story:
http://www.the700level.com/2009/11/20...
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