Pre-game excitement: World Series Game 1

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Not only do the Phillies start Game 1 of the World Series with their best pitcher, they also start it with their hottest pitcher.  *swoon*  Tonight's matchup (provided the rain doesn't prevent this game from actually happening): Lee vs Sabathia.  Hmmm, I remember seeing Sabathia during last year's playoffs...Sabathia was a Brewer pitching against the Phils in the NLDS.  He lasted a little over 2 innings pitching (granted, he was exhausted, but still), gave up a grand slam to the Flyin' Hawaiian, and allowed pitcher Brett Myers to terrorize him at bat.  (Hey, is Myers on the roster for this series?  Could he DH tonight--y'know, to bring back some fond memoris of last season?)

I think this is gonna be a crazy, epic series this year.  These are the two best teams in baseball.  This series could go either way.  Want predictions from the experts?  Asked and answered...  And it's not just experts who are weighing in, of course.  Jimmy Rollins also has an opinion--he seems pretty confident in the Phillies!  Also, if I believed in omens, I would totally love this one...

Here's the obligatory article containing various references to and comparisons between Philly and New York culture. This one, unlike ones I've seen in certain newspapers lately, is actually objective.

I've already painted my fingernails red (with glitter), am wearing red underwear, and will be wearing my new red feather boa tonight while I watch the game.  Phillies pride, baby!  I hope Game 1 is an unbeleevable game...


*droooooool*

This is a seriously awesome photo gallery.  I think if I'd been at Penn Station when the Phillies showed up, I would have died of happiness. 

Cole Hamels (picture 5) looks like a freakin' GQ model.  I swear I got weak in the knees when I saw that picture, and I was sitting down.  The picture of the Madsons (picture 9) is so cute.  Cliff Lee (picture 10) is total studliness when he's dressed up.  But I've gotta say, as much as I love Jayson Werth's home runs lately, he looks like a total tool in picture 2.

Also, it's nice to see that Newsday isn't trash-talking the Phillies like the Post is.  Now that's good journalism there.

You stay classy, New York Post.

Y'know, articles like this one are what give New Yorkers a bad reputation. 

Really, New York Post?  Was this topic even article-worthy?  That New Yorkers have been looking down on Philly for years?  We already knew that.  (By the way, it takes a special skill to make everyone you quote in an article sound like an asshole.  Nice work.)

I'm hoping the Phillies beat the hell out of the Yankees.  And if that happens, I already can't wait to see the Post's article about that.  ;)

I'm not sure which article I like best--

This one, in which a bunch of Mets fans admit that they'll be rooting for the Phillies in the World Series (oh, you Mets fans--you're actually starting to melt my icy little heart and make me not loathe you so much...temporarily, at least)...

Or this one, in which there are ten reasons why the Yankees should fear the Phillies.  (Let me add my own reason #11: Because the Phillies are hotter and have more BILFs on their team.  OK, not sure how this makes them more fearsome, but just go with it, OK?)

Game #1 of the World Series is Wednesday evening.  Let's hope that Cliff Lee (#3 on that fearsome list) pitches in an appropriately ferocious and BILFalicious manner...

NATIONAL LEAGUE PHUCKING CHAMPIONS!

Nlcs

OK, so after being up 3-1 in the NLCS, I can't say I didn't expect the Phillies to win, but I kinda did.  Still, though, I'm in a bit of a state of shock about how my boys are headed to the Fall Classic for the second consecutive year.  Look, I've been a Phillies fan for 28 years now; this shit's unheard of.  I remember how often this team disappointed me when I was younger.  They're more than making up for it in recent years, and I'm still adjusting to it.

These Phillies have stepped up their game in the postseason.  They've wanted to win.  The offense has shown up (holy 10-4 win tonight!).  The bullpen's gotten less shaky.  Several of our starters have absolutely dominated.  They're playing as a team.  Manuel's taking risks with the pitching staff, and it's paying off.  They had a scary little slump toward the end of the season, but right now this team's en fuego, and I couldn't be more thrilled--or be more proud of them.

I'm glad to see some of the most important folks from the 2008 World Phucking Champions going back to the Series this year--Howard, Werth, Victorino, Lidge, Hamels, etc.  But I'm really happy for some of the Phillies who weren't on that team.  Like Raul Ibanez, who has been with this team for the entire 2009 season, playing his ass off, not having a World Series ring like the rest of the guys on the team have.  Now he has his chance to earn one.  Like Cliff Lee, who wouldn't have been anywhere near the postseason while he played with the Indians, but he's become the Phillies' ace pitcher.  Like Pedro Martinez, who was the Mets' trash and our treasure--he wanted a major league club to play with this year, and now he just happens to have one that's on its way to the World Series.  I'm happy for those new Philly team members who have been kickin' ass and takin' names ever since Philly acquired them.  They've earned this chance.

During tonight's game, the commentators kept mentioning how the Phillies have an American League offense.  I certainly hope so, because the Yankees and the Angels are both very talented teams, and whichever team the Phillies will have to face will certainly be a challenge.  We'll need every ounce of strength from our so-called American League offense...and every bit of strength from our pitchers, too.

Things you might dig:
MLB.com's take on tonight's game
Crazy Philadelphians being...well, kinda crazy, and very excited!


HOLY CRAP.

Jimmy

Seriously.  Holy crap.

That was completely unexpected.  I've been a firm believer in keeping the phaith and all, but really, I thought we were doomed.  Until J-Roll worked his magic.  In the last out of the last inning of the game, naturally, since these Phillies games have really been nail-biters as of late.

It was awesome to see such a massive pile of happy Phillies at the end of tonight's game.  I want to see more of those...and soon.  :)

I'm still kinda speechless.  I should have known better, though.  Anything can happen in October baseball...there's magic in the air.

And, obviously, tonight there was magic landing in right-center field.  Love it!