Zvon

I read this letter in my local newspaper yesterday: ]A win brings out some fans' inner beast Published: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 I leapt for joy as strike three sailed into Carlos Ruiz's mitt. I clapped and hugged and shed a tear. Like everyone else, I have bragging rights in baseball and civics for the next year, and I own a memory to cherish for decades to come. But I'm 41 (the Phillies being kind enough, in fact, to gift me this championship on my birthday). I feel no compulsion to destroy. As the throng of revelers spilled deliriously onto Broad Street, many remained generally well-behaved, intensifying their yells at each exploding firecracker or sporadic piece of tickertape. But a celebration a quarter-century in the making quickly became a reason for many to unleash their id and uncork years of anger, frustration, and anonymity. One man repeatedly dips into a Hefty bag at street side and tosses garbage as high as he can, grinning as if he's the greatest litterbug in history. Several risk their spine climbing lampposts, some to rip down banners adorning them, others just for the thrill of defying gravity. An overzealous 20-something shakes a can of Miller Lite and makes it froth over those in immediate proximity, then launches the still-half-full container into the crowd like a grenade, completely unconcerned that it might well land on someone's skull. Many circle around trash set ablaze, as if they've never before sat in front of a fireplace. What is it about the lax authority of sports celebrations that elicits pyromania? Is it the remote memory of congregating around fire in our ancestral past? It must be, for one partier hangs by his right arm from a tree on the sidewalk as if he were a shaved version of Australopithecus, while others try to shake him down like a coconut. More than a few succumb to such primal urges, striking parking signs as if the slabs of metal had insulted their mother. One inebriated soul repeatedly runs shoulder-first into the transparent, plastic side of a bus stop, egged on by onlookers. A roar suggests that he eventually broke the pane. A parking meter felled. A luggage store looted. Padlocked bicycles smashed and twisted. Cars overturned - one with the driver still inside - as the perpetrators are cheered on like heroes. For the rowdies who had to go to felonious lengths to make their celebration worthwhile, the Phillies victory was merely a trigger on a starting pistol for civil disobedience, a sanction for low-level anarchy. Particularly in Philadelphia, it's easy to realize how important sports is - we live and breathe vicariously through it - but it's harder to realize that sports ultimately isn't all that important: It doesn't tangibly alter our condition. It just gives some of us the opportunity to indulge our inner beast. Had the 1986-87 Flyers - a team I lived and died with as a 20-year-old - won Game 7, perhaps I may have indulged some adolescent need to wreak havoc. But then, how much long-suppressed anger and frustration can a 20-year-old truly have? From what I witnessed, a lot- although many of these disturbers of the peace were far too young to feel the full brunt of life's traumas and frustrations. I certainly have a lot more to be angered and frustrated by at 41 than I did in my 20s. These post-game shenanigans had nothing to do with the local baseball team winning the World Series and everything to do with bloodlust. Because, for some, sports isn't about entertainment - it's about anger, frustration, and anonymity. Maybe I'm too old to revel in the moment, but the most satisfying instant of public celebration proved far less dramatic than all of the screaming and burning and vandalizing: Returning to my car, another fan, also donning a Phillies cap, walked toward me. Without breaking stride, we spontaneously and silently high-fived as we passed. That split-second felt more genuine and worthy of the moment than any of the run-amok antics of Broad Street. Randy S. Robbins lives in Margate. A tip of my hat to Mr.Robbins

If Omar sticks with Castillo and expects him to give us what we need from the position, he is living in a fantasy world where all his moves somehow work out for the best. IMO this was Minayas worst move since he has taken the reigns, and the sooner he sweeps this under the rug and moves on, the better, and the sooner we can all forget it ever happened. Castillos attitude bothers me more than his diminishing health and skills. If he was gung ho in his effort to bring whatever he has left to the game I might feel differently (as far as supporting him at 2nd--it's still Omars worst move). Cripes, even you or I can stand up at the plate and swipe our bat at the ball and do as well hitting as he has done in recent times. I don't care how Minaya goes about it. I like the possibility of Murph at 2nd, and I think I'd rather see him there even if he fails. And I would really hope and pray and root for him not to. When it comes to Castillo, I don't care. I'd rather care.

I think this is just what the Mets needed. A lil motivational kick in the ass. I would have thought 2007 was enough, but not so. I would have thought Santana would make the difference, but not so. I would have thought a managerial shakedown would kick start em....almost. I hoped for Shea Stadiums last season they would step it up,....nope. Now if the team can focus and stay focused, and Omar does his job and fills in the gaps, I do believe we knock the Phils off their lil perch next year. Personally, for me, this scenario is the only thing that could quite possibly make the last two season endings bearable experiences.

="Willets Point"]="metirish"]Bud gets booed by his own family , he's used to this. "Hi honey, I'm home!" "Booooooooooo!!!" __________________

Wonder if they are gonna show a shot of my reaction at the last out. They've just shown everyone elses.

How dare Lidge pull an Orosco! Gratz Philly.

I want a Met hat like one a those they are wearing,...where you can pull the flaps down over the ears.

Could Maddon be suffering from brain freeze?

WOW. You gotta take a few pitches there Upton. You have to give Crawford a chance to try and steal one. Thats a BIG dp.

That was an exciting inning. So far this whole resumed game has been. I hope the ratings for this telecast are not really high. Then TV might try making all baseball games 3 innings.

seawolf17 wrote: That was a great play by Utley, and a great play by Ruiz. Tim McCarver showing his Mets roots, referring to Howell as "J.C. Martin." lol. That was caaaaarazy. Wooo-Burrell finally gets a hit. If that had left the park I would have been like....WOW.

WOW. Rocco hits a rocket. Tie game. WOW.

I do think you've out-managed Maddon as well as the booth Seawolf.

Frayed Knot wrote: Listen to the Philly crowd and then try and argue for neutral site games. That neutral site bullshit is.... bullshit. To me the big show is the ultimate way to repay your fans.

WOW. Jenkins knocks one to the wall. Lead off double. WOW

Good call with Jenkins Seawolf17. But Maddon does not counter.

This was in the Atlantic City Press. I found it amusing. ]A wet and wild night:Reliving Game 5, part one Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 First inning: A light mist is in the air and fans around the park wonder why the tarp isn't on the field. Perhaps it won't rain even though they get text messages from friends saying the weather will be bad. Obviously, they don't know as much as Major League Baseball because the game starts and Cole Hamels gets the first three batters out. Philadelphia loads the bases with two outs and even gets a hit with runners in scoring position. The Phillies take a 2-0 lead on Shane Victorino's single to left. Fans start calling their bosses asking for today off to attend the World Series parade. Second inning: Hamels' perfect game is ruined with a walk to Dioner Navarro. But it doesn't matter because fans believe he could throw a complete-game shutout in what is sure to be the second of many, many World Series appearances for him. Third inning: Hamels blows the no-hitter to Akinori Iwamura, who Hamels has gotten out only twice in the World Series. No worries because Aki was the only problem in the inning. In the Phillies' half, Ryan Howard strikes out. All is right in Philadelphia. Fourth inning: It's beginning to rain harder and the fans who paid the most for their tickets are heading for cover. Those sitting in the outfield and upper deck haven't moved an inch from either nerves or frostbite. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria break their 0-for in the World Series with back-to-back hits and the Rays score. Hamels' shutout is ruined. Longoria's hit stopped the fans chanting 'Eva' (in reference to actress Eva Longoria), which he heard throughout Games 3 and 4. When Hamels comes to bat, he gets hit on his left hand while attempting to bunt. The crowd nearly passes out. But it's not as bad as Hamels running from second to third three times before Chase Utley hits into a ground-ball out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Fifth inning: Philadelphia's grounds crew is working the field and everyone wonders when the tarp is coming out. Bud Selig checks the field and decides it's too early to make the call. The criticism won't be as harsh yet even as Jimmy Rollins drops Rocco Baldelli's pop-up in the swirling wind. Ryan Howard and Pat "I don't have a hit in the World Series" Burrell draw back-to-back walks and Joe Maddon calls on Grant Balfour to pitch. Shane Victorino has to wait nearly 10 minutes as the grounds crew carries sacks of a drying agent onto the field in an attempt to clear up the muddy mess. The wait wasn't nearly as bad as watching Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz all pop out. 6th inning: Most fans celebrated the World Series becoming an official game. Fans in the Hall of Fame Club, a lounge inside the stadium, high-five each other at the thought. But no one told the fans, the players, the media or anyone outside of Selig's mind that the "official-game rule" isn't going to apply in the World Series. The game will go nine innings no matter what. Yet, Selig allows the Rays to bat in the first half of the inning despite harsh weather conditions. B.J. Upton reaches on an infield single as Rollins has trouble controlling the slick baseball. As Upton steals second, he slips on the mud and puddles spray across the infield. Selig still isn't ready to call the game. Pena gets his second hit of World Series, scoring Upton, which ties the game at 2-all. Longoria flies out to end the inning. The tarp is on the field. Fans call their bosses asking for Tuesday off to finish watching the game. -Susan Lulgjuraj

It would be a pisser.

seawolf17 wrote: No, they save Dobbs for a big spot. They announce Jenkins, forcing the Rays to counter with a lefty, and then bring up Taguchi. OOO, I like the detail. I'm thinking with being like a 3 inning game getting something started right off the bat makes the lead off situation a big spot. Can get a bloop or a blast from him, even a walk.

Using baseball cards in that way to frame that quote:

So who pinch hits for Hamels? Place your bets! I think this is bench listing is accurate: G. Dobbs 3B C. Coste C S. Taguchi LF G. Jenkins RF M. Stairs RF E. Bruntlett SS Will Balfour stay on for the Rays? If so I'd go with Dobbs.

Edgy DC wrote: ="Zvon"]I doubt that model still exists but thats something I'd bid on if they auctioned it off. Let's make our own. Better yet, make your kids do it. Ive been recently considering (more like toying with the idea of) creating a pretty big scale model of the entire stadium. It would all hinge on if my brother wants to get involved cause it would be built in his basement, lol.

This is a great piece of film. Are those guys tossing around a football in the "standing room only" area? I've been surfing the net the last few weeks collecting images of Shea for my Met photo collection. Even with its limited clarity/quality that look at the model of the scoreboard is worth a screen grab. I've always been fascinated with that scoreboard from the first time I walked up the tunnel to view the field and I saw it. I was very disappointed when they changed its look (this is reflected in my '86 Met tribute drawing where I drew the scoreboard the way I wished it looked at that time [shown below]). I've seen artists renderings of the scoreboard before it was constructed, but I don't think I ever came across pictures of a model like that. I doubt that model still exists but thats something I'd bid on if they auctioned it off. I see I colored the batters eye blue instead of black. I don't recall if I did this on a whim or if thats the way it was in those days. I was working from a picture of Shea that was part of a pullout calander/schedule from an issue of "Inside Pitch". Was it ever blue?

SteveJRogers wrote: Even more reasons cities like NYC, Boston, Cleveland, Philly, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincy and Baltimore should have domed baseball stadiums. That, or severe tightening of the postseason schedule. But I say, why not both! Not severe tightening, post season wise. Having off days in the middle 3 games of the NLCS, that should have been just 3 games in a row, would help a little. This series could have been over a few days ago. These games have to start sooner in the month. Last time the Phils were in a World Series the games were already over like a week ago. The way the post season is structured these days, its the season they have to tighten. If they weren't such money grubbers they'd go back to having more double headers, and make them one admission price like they used to be. How many double headers did they have back in the 70s,80's? Im thinking like 15 or so. OE: 20 is kinda much,lol. I just checked an old schedule from the 60s and there were 19 double headers scheduled.

Watching the local news weather report regarding the game. Tomorrow calls for lottsa freezing rain and 55mph winds. Wind chill in the 20s... Possible snow? lol. I love how what TV contracts have done to the game is coming back to bite em.