Phillies, Howard Power Their Way to 10-2 Win in Game 4

by Taj Adib on Oct 26, 2008 9:21 PM PDT Comment 46 comments

I know they still need to win one more game to make it official, but the Phillies sure as hell looked like champions tonight. Every part of the team seemed to do their jobs well. The top of the order hitters got on base (Rollins/Werth were 5-for-9 with a walk) and the clean-up guy (Howard) wiped the slate clean with not one, but two monster homers to tally 5 RBIs of his own. Former Athletic Joe Blanton tossed a solid, quality-start, going 6 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts en-route to earning the win. Good to see Big Joe step up in the spotlight and come up big for the Phils, especially after the uninspiring regular season he had.

The Phillies bullpen tossed 3 scoreless innings in support of Blanton, even though All Star closer Brad Lidge wasn't even utilized due to the big lead. All of those contributions added up to a very convincing 10-2 win for the Phils.

Now up 3-1 in the series, the Phillies will have a golden opportunity tomorrow to secure the championship at home with virtually-unbeatable Cole Hamels taking the mound. The Rays will hope to send the series back to the Trop for at least one more game and will be pinning their hopes on young lefty Scott Kazmir. I would say that I'm expecting a low-scoring pitcher's duel, but in Citizen's Bank Park and with Ryan Howard swinging a hot bat, I would not be surprised if we see another homer-bonanza tomorrow.

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The one thing "going for" the Rays is that

their toughest challenge, by far, is the first of the three they must win – facing Hamels in Philly versus facing other pitchers in Tampa.

There’s a good chance they’ll lose it in five games now, but if they can survive tomorrow, they have a real shot to come back and win the series. Best to have your hardest game first, IMO.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 26, 2008 9:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ya, it's far from over.

It’s not like it’s 7-0 in the 7th inning of Game 5 or anything.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 26, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great point.

And I agree. This thing is not in the bag yet, and what it would surely do for the Rays’ confidence going back home after beating Hamels. Stranger things have happened. In fact most people thought that the pitching would surely favor Tampa after Game 1, and yet here it is 3-1 Philly.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 27, 2008 5:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about props

to cupcakes for the lumber

and I wonder what will come out of the gunk on his hat. probably nothing

Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

by closetasfan on Oct 26, 2008 9:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if anyone has noticed,

but Joe has always had some sort of thing on the top of his hat, just like he had tonight in the World Series. Every game he pitched he had the same sort of thing going on top of his hat. I really don’t know what it is, but have honestly thought it was pine tar for years, but figured if it was they would have figured it out by now. I just think they are blowing things out of proportion because it is the World Series, but why would Blanton have a big hunk of dirt on the top of his hat at all times? Also, if you watch him closely as he pitches, he almost always touches this little portion of his hat before throwing out his next pitch, I really don’t know what to make of it though.

by mattman on Oct 26, 2008 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i noticed it too

it’s like huston street adjusting his hat after every pitch. joe just pitches more innings, so he’s sweating more and his hat gets grimier.

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Oct 26, 2008 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

pine tar.

The Dirty Canuck of the now.

by Blicks on Oct 27, 2008 6:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You forgot to mention Blanton's round-tripper

The unlikeliest hit in recent postseason history.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Oct 26, 2008 9:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps the unlikeliest hit since...

…1988, Game 1? The hit that lasts an excruciating lifetime for us A’s fans.

I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"

by Jackson23 on Oct 27, 2008 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In case you missed it...

the evening started with Patti LaBelle doing one of the worst butcherings of the Star Spangled Banner in recent memory. Here’s a link which includes a YouTube video of that disaster, if you want to torture your co-workers on Monday morning.

by Soaker on Oct 26, 2008 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh.My.God!

Disaster is an understatement…

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by ZeroIndulgence on Oct 26, 2008 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Want to torture someone?

Start with that.

by VORP is too nerdy on Oct 26, 2008 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then start the game and feature

the A’s offense.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 26, 2008 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good lord.

The one word they kept of Buck’s sums it up; “Wow.”

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Oct 26, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blanton's HR was no cheap foulpole dinker

as he said “sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good”

he pitched very well, I was happy for him!

by OaklandSi on Oct 26, 2008 9:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's the video of ...

Cupcakes’ homer.

In the dugout, Werth and Utley looked stunned (jealous?)

Pumpkin

by Ice Cream on Oct 26, 2008 9:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I just want to point out

that Ryan Howard is really overrated. This is the guy they still compare to Pujols? Come on.

by VORP is too nerdy on Oct 26, 2008 9:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who compares Howard to Pujols?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 26, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stephen A. Smith

Sportswriter extraordinaire.

by VORP is too nerdy on Oct 26, 2008 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He writes too?

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 26, 2008 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If by "writing"

you mean he strings together words that form rambling, nonsensical things that he thinks are sentences, then yes. I used to have to edit that dude’s columns, and let’s just say I had a more enjoyable time listening to Patti LaBelle sing the national anthem.

"We are a complete freak show." -- Billy Beane

by day-to-day on Oct 27, 2008 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't he the angry little Napoleonanic

NBA analyst?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Oct 27, 2008 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup!

by mrod on Oct 27, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's the guy

who wrote that Ryan Howard should win the MVP in 2006 because black people never win the MVP.

I guess he forgot about Barry Bonds.

by VORP is too nerdy on Oct 27, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i woulda expected this more

if he didn’t hit two moonshots tonight

by flipgatey3 on Oct 26, 2008 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overrated? How do you firgure?

He has the most HRs and RBIs of any player over the last 3-4 years. I would trade any and every player in our organization to get Ryan Howard. Yeah he strikes out a lot and hits for a low average, but so does every player on the A’s roster.

President of the Brent Gates Fan Club

by SoCal As Fan on Oct 27, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then wouldn't Howard have to play all 9 positions,

and pitch every game? Hardly seems worth it.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 27, 2008 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No. Howard plays 1B

Ellis and his unicorn cover everything else

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Oct 27, 2008 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMG my ears are still ringing

Stick a fork in it and see if it’s done. That was the worst National Anthem ever. I had always thought Anita Bryant’s version at the Coliseum before the Red’s/A’s World Series game in 1972 would never be equalled, but this one took the prize.

by Flamethrower on Oct 26, 2008 9:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I liked it

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Oct 26, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was hardly the worst I've heard...

Rosanne Barr

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Oct 27, 2008 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Blanton

21 strikeouts in 33 ab’s. The league’s first two true outcome player.

by Future Ed on Oct 26, 2008 11:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He was just swinging for the fences all those times.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Oct 27, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Swing hard in case you hit it!

by mikev on Oct 27, 2008 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe!

"We are a complete freak show." -- Billy Beane

by day-to-day on Oct 27, 2008 12:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Blanton, I'm happy to see him do well

I always felt the Blanton haters set the bar too high for him. He’s the quintessential #3-4 starter that’ll give you 6-7 innings of 3-4 run ball with the added bonus of 200 inning durability that you ordinarily don’t get from a #3-4 starter. On a team that struggles to score 4 runs (A’s) not-so-great, especially on the W-L record, but on a team that averages nearly 5 (Phillies), I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pull in 15 +/- 2 wins next year.

His ‘problem’ while with us, if you could call it that, was that he is what he is, and our offense is what it is.

by Rickeyfan on Oct 27, 2008 2:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ken Holtzman, meet Joe Blanton

And a great quote from Joe’s teammate, Brett Myers:

“You know, I told him after his first couple of at-bats that he was trying to hit the deep ball,” Blanton’s buddy, deadpanned. “So I told him, ‘Just try to stay short and sweet, like you do in BP. Try to go back up the middle.’ Well, I don’t think I got through to him.”

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 27, 2008 7:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Blanton's 12 losses in 2008 were all for the A's

he has been a good pitcher for the Phillies, so I wouldn’t call his season “uninspiring”. As for pine tar, surely some opposing manager would have demanded that his cap be checked before now, if there was anything illegal suspected.

by OaklandSi on Oct 27, 2008 7:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

AND a lot of his losses for the A's

were of the 4-3 3-2 variety. He is a very good pitcher with any type of offense behind him. Not the sucky type the A’s displayed this year. Go Phils! One more! It’s about time the NL fielded a winner!

by A'sfansince1970 on Oct 27, 2008 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs