Strange Bedfellows

With the Phillies' success and the Eagles being the early-season Eagles (2-3 for the third time in five or six seasons), I haven't focused too much on them yet. But a friend, BBoz, brings up an interesting observation about the Eagles, the Cowboys, the Super Bowl, and political history. All of what follows comes from him:

Who will you vote for on November 4, 2008?

A vote for a Republican President is a vote for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981, and Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005. In both of those years, the President was a Republican: 1981 – Ronald Reagan; and, 2005 – George W. Bush.

Conversely, a vote for a Democrat for President is a vote for the Eagles' nemesis, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have played in and won a Super Bowl during every Democratic presidential administration in the Super Bowl era. The Cowboys have appeared in eight Super Bowls: Super Bowl V (1971), VI (1972), and X (1974) were played during a Republican administration.

However, subsequent to 1974, the Cowboys were in Super Bowl XII (1978), XIII (1979), XXVII (1992), XXVIII (1993), and XXX (1995). In those five years, the President was a Democrat: 1978/1979 – Jimmy Carter; and 1992/1993/1995 – Bill Clinton.

Remember, when you throw that switch for President this November, you are deciding more than the direction of the nation, you are sealing the fate of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia Eagles:

Super Bowl	Opponents	Score	Date	President
XV	Oakland Raiders (win) vs. Philadelphia Eagles	27-10	January 25, 1981	Ronald Reagan, Republican
XXXIX	New England Patriots (win) vs. Philadelphia Eagles	24-21	February 6, 2005	George W. Bush, Republican

Dallas Cowboys:

Super Bowl	Opponents	Score	Date	President
V	Baltimore Colts (win) vs. Dallas Cowboys	16-13	January 17, 1971	Richard M. Nixon, Republican
VI	Dallas Cowboys (win) vs. Miami Dolphins	24-3	January 16, 1972	Richard M. Nixon, Republican
X	Pittsburgh Steelers (win) vs. Dallas Cowboys	21-17	January 18, 1976	Gerald Ford, Republican
XII	Dallas Cowboys (win) vs. Denver Broncos	27-10	January 15, 1978	Jimmy Carter, Democrat
XIII	Pittsburgh Steelers (win) vs. Dallas Cowboys	35-31	January 21, 1979	Jimmy Carter, Democrat
XXVII	Dallas Cowboys (win) vs. Buffalo Bills	52-17	January 31, 1993	Bill Clinton, Democrat
XXVIII	Dallas Cowboys (win) vs. Buffalo Bills	30-13	January 30, 1994	Bill Clinton, Democrat
XXX	Dallas Cowboys (win) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	27-17	January 28, 1996	Bill Clinton, Democrat

The Magic Number: 103

It’s safe to say no one considered the 2008 Phillies a threat to tie a franchise record for victories in a season after the Marlins beat them, 7-3, on September 10. The Phillies were 3.5 games behind the Mets and clinging to hopes of a wild-card berth at 79-67.

That was then, this is now: “We can get to 103. That’s the number.” That’s what Jimmy Rollins said after the Phillies’ NLDS victory over Milwaukee, which just happens to be the opponent that kick-started the Phillies’ turnaround a month ago.

The Phillies are 16-4 since that four-game September sweep of Milwaukee. And, even more amazingly, if they beat the Dodgers in the NLCS and then win the World Series, a team that looked dead in the water on Sept. 10 will go down as the winningest in team history, tied at 103 with the 1993 Phillies.

After 92 regular-season wins and the three playoff victories over Milwaukee, the Phillies are on the trail of the ’93 team that won 97 regular-season games, four NLCS games over the Braves, and two against the Blue Jays in the World Series. Their 103 tops the 102 total wins of the 1976 and 1977 Phillies, who each won 101 regular-season games and then just one NLCS game.

Now, granted the 2008 Phillies picked up three wins in a divisional series that earlier playoff teams didn’t get to play in. But it’s amazing what the Phillies have pulled off within the last month.

103 wins? Who’da thunk it, Harry?

Picks of the Weak

Here’s a new regular feature I’ve roped a few of my poker friends into playing. Now, to be fair, I call them my friends—but they’re really only guys who don’t run screaming in the other direction when they see me in public, though that may be only because they’re not coordinated enough to run and scream at the same time.

We each have to pick one weekly winner—straight up, no point spreads, any game, any sport. Sounds easy, right? Not to anyone who has ever played such a pool before; if you get it right for five straight weeks, you’re on a great roll.

So, enough blah, blah, blog, onto the picks and the reactions:


I'll pick the Phillies in Game 3 on Saturday in Milwaukee. Jamie Moyer gets the start and all he's done in big games for the Phillies is win the division title-clinching game in two straight seasons. He's older than me—and that's saying something!—but he still went 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA. The Phils were 22-11 in Moyer's starts, and he was 9-1 with a 3.22 ERA over his last 15. Plus, one more big-game stat: He's 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his four career playoff games. The guy is clutch. — John


Normally I would be all over the Sunday Birds/Skins game, but we've got playoff baseball and for the first time in 15 years the Phils have not blown their first 2 playoff games. However, much as I trust Jamie Moyer in the pinch, he's going to need help on offense and defense, and I just don't think this team has the discipline to run the sweep after winning the first two in such dramatic fashion.

If Larry Bowa were the coach, I wouldn't worry, but Manuel's aw-shucks approach to coaching won't keep the giddiness in check; expect some sloppy play. Get ready for a let-down on Saturday, but—the good news—expect a Mike Schmidt e-mail or dugout visit afterward to inspire the gang one more time, and they'll shut this thing down in Milwaukee on Sunday. — Carnac the Magnificent


Good pick if Hamels is pitching. The Brewers looked like me golfing—big swings at the dirt, but no contact. — John


The Eagles win by at least 2 touchdowns on Sunday. Washington will be very flat after beating the Boys last Sunday.

The Phillies close out the Brewers on Saturday, as they will be swinging like wild at Jamie Moyer’s changeup.

I don't believe St. Joe’s plays this weekend. So my top play is Pennsbury beating Harry S Truman Friday night by 5 touchdowns. Pennsbury will not throw a single pass (just as they didn’t 2 weeks ago in beating Council Rock) but rush the ball up and down the field. Not the prettiest of teams to watch but very efficient.

I need to get a life. — Dave


I'm happy to join in the football discussion, boys.

Things don't look great for Chelsea hosting Aston Villa on Sunday. Several of the Blues' best are injured (Drogba, Deco, Carvalho, and Essien), while Villa has gone five straight Premier League matches without a loss in this matchup. Kiss your sister, we're looking at a draw here between two of the Premier League leaders.

Back in the states, bank on the defending national champions and undefeated Demon Deacons (2-0-0 in ACC, 9-0-0 overall) to easily handle the Hokies (0-3, 3-5-1) Saturday night in Winston.

Cheers! — Phil


Soccer and Wake Forest football? The only thing more boring is golf without Tiger. The things you put your poor kids through.... — John


Um ... both of my predictions are "soccer." Wake doesn't play American Football until next week. I'm thrilled/frightened that you thought Wake's football was "defending national champions!" Nice editing, editor! Sheesh. — Phil


They play for a national championship in college soccer? Wait, someone actually plays college soccer? I thought everyone outgrew that once they turned 11. And I thought you were being delusional about the "national champion" Wake football team. An Orange Bowl appearance every century or so can do that to a guy. — John


John, this is what you get when you “give an inch” and give Phil complete latitude on what he can write about! — Carnac the Magnificent


You guys need to get a life, too. — Dave


I had a feeling the college soccer line would get a reaction from our reigning triathlete champion, Dave. And before anyone asks, yes, they did actually have a hoops team at D-III De Sales. It had the excitement factor of D-II badminton. — John

Am I to infer you don't think badminton is a real sport? — Carnac the Magnificent

Hooton Hears a Boo

Paging Burt Hooton. Burt Hooton, please pick up the white bullpen phone, you have a collect call from C.C. Sabathia regarding a new outbreak of Phillie fan stress syndrome.

If there’s one person who could appreciate what happened to Sabathia in last night’s raucous 5-2 Phillies win—particularly during Brett Myers’ second-inning at-bat—it would be Hooton. The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher became similarly unhinged, also in the second inning of a Phillies playoff game, in this case, the 1977 National League Championship Series.

Having attended both games—each now legendary for the unofficial “fans’ interference” that rattled opposing pitchers—I can attest to the eerie similarities.

Last night, down 0-2 in the count, Myers managed to foul off enough pitches and wait out Sabathia long enough to draw a nine-pitch walk. Halfway through the at-bat, as Myers walked back to the dugout to get a new bat after breaking his, the crowd began to reach Hooton-level hysteria, and kept it up until Sabathia had walked Myers, Jimmy Rollins on four pitches, and surrendered Shane Victorino’s grand slam, the first ever in Phillies postseason history.

And somewhere in Texas, where he’s now the pitching coach for the minor-league Round Rock Express, Hooton probably unfurled his never-ending scowl that earned him the sarcastic nickname “Happy” from Tommy Lasorda, and muttered something under his breath about Phillies fans.

What happened to Hooton was worse than what Sabathia endured.

It was Game 3 of the NLCS, the series tied 1-1 after two games in L.A. Hooton had been handed a 2-0 lead when he began the bottom of the second inning. With men on first and second and two outs, Hooton faced weak-hitting eighth-hitter Ted Sizemore, whom he walked on four pitches to load the bases.

Next up, just like for the Phillies last night, the pitcher, Larry Christenson, who promptly fell behind in the count, 0-2. A ball, a foul ball, another ball, and the Vet crowd was in full frenzy as Hooton threw two more balls to walk Christenson and allow a run. Bake McBride drew another walk, which added another run, and, amid absolute bedlam, Hooton then walked Larry Bowa on five pitches to make it 3-2 Phillies thanks to four straight walks.

Hooton, pulled for Rick Rhoden, left the mound just as “Happy” as ever.

A Game for the Ages

Cole Hamels delivered more than just a dominating outing in the team’s 3-1 NLDS Game 1 victory. He pitched arguably the best game in the franchise’s 61-game postseason history.

His two hits allowed were the lowest in Phillies’ playoff history. Curt Schilling, Steve Carlton, Charles Hudson, and Jim Konstanty each allowed four hits in other standout gems, though each of them allowed at least one earned run (see chart below).

Hamels finished with nine strikeouts and only one walk in eight shutout innings, while throwing 101 pitches, 67 for strikes. He retired the first 14 hitters he faced, as well as the last eight, and only one runner reached second base in Hamels’ first postseason victory.

It’s easy to say that his numbers top any previous Phillies playoff performance. The question becomes, does hurling a standout game in the NLDS trump a top pitching effort in the rarefied air of a championship game or the World Series.

It’s hard to look past the two previous top playoff efforts: Steve Carlton’s 1980 Game 6 victory over the Royals and Curt Schilling’s 147-pitch complete game in the ’93 Game 5 win over Toronto. Carlton’s win gave the Phillies their only title, while Schilling’s win came after a bruising 15-14 Game 4 loss that depleted the Phillies bullpen. Incidentally, Schilling’s win was the Phillies’ last playoff win.

My pick: Carlton’s clincher, with Hamels a close second and Schilling third. But isn’t it nice to be mentioning Hamels at 24 alongside the two greatest big-game playoff pitchers in Phillies history?


Here is my ranking of the Phillies’ top 10 postseason pitching outings, with World Series games in bold; all others were in the NLCS or NLDS and all were victories, except Konstanty's Game 1 loss.

1980 Carlton: 7 IP 4 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 7 K 110 p (72 strikes)
2008 Hamels: 8 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 9 K 101 p (67 strikes)
1993 Schilling: 9 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 3 BB 6 K 147 p (99 strikes)
1983 Denny: 7.2 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 5 K 109 p (73 strikes)
1980 Carlton: 7 IP 7 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 3 K 105 p (66 strikes)
1950 Konstanty: 8 IP 4 H 1 R 1 ER 4 BB 0 K no pitch count
1983 Hudson: 9 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 2 BB 9 K 120 p (84 strikes)
1993 Schilling: 8 IP 4 H 2 R 1 ER 3 BB 9 K 131 p (79 strikes)
1915 Alexander: 9 IP 8 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K no pitch count
1993 Jackson: 7.2 IP 9 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K 112 p (70 strikes)

Here Comes the Fun

There’s nothing like two straight division titles to start Phillies fans on a dangerous path; we just might start to become optimistic about the team. “Wait ‘til next year” is out, "Can't wait ‘til next year!” is in.

The back-to-back titles brought references to the great Phillies teams from 1976 to 1981. That’s where the giddy optimism kicks in. This Phillies group could enjoy similar success thanks to a strong, young core group entering their prime.

The teams that reached five playoffs and won a World Series from ’76 to ’81 featured four everyday players who started each of those seasons—Bob Boone, Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, and Garry Maddox—and four pitchers who were regularly used: Steve Carlton, Larry Christenson, Ron Reed, and Tug McGraw. (Schmidt, Maddox, and all four pitchers also played on the ’83 World Series team, but those Wheeze Kids were a different group in a fluky season.)

So which Phillies regulars of the last two years figure to anchor the team if there is to be a string of playoff appearances—and which will be hitting the road?

Among everyday players, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins are the only locks. Pat Burrell, Carlos Ruiz and Shane Victorino also started both seasons, but it’s unlikely Burrell will be back, Ruiz hasn’t hit well enough—especially with youngster Lou Marson looming—and Victorino is annual trade-talk fodder.

Jayson Werth, Greg Dobbs and Chris Coste were the other significant contributors in both seasons. Coste, 35, is too old to last too long, though Werth and Dobbs, both 29, could factor in the Phillies’ future.

The pitchers who’ve taken part in the last two and could be around for a five- to seven-year run: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Kyle Kendrick, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and J.C. Romero. The others are either too old (we’ll miss you, Jamie), not good enough (adios, Adam), or Johnny-come-latelies (welcome to the fun, Brad).

But perhaps the most significant change that could affect the team’s repeat chances: the expected departure of GM Pat Gillick. His ability to fill in the missing pieces the last two years demonstrates what a successful GM can do for a team with such a talented core group of players.

It’s also worth remembering that things change quickly in pro sports. The 1976 playoff team’s everyday regulars included Dick Allen, Dave Cash, and Jay Johnstone, plus starting pitchers Jim Lonborg, Jim Kaat, and Tommy Underwood—none of whom were around for the 1980 title.

High gas prices and a split MVP? Is it 1979?

With pennant fever raging, who wants to talk about the National League MVP race? One problem: there is no pennant race without Ryan Howard and his monster September, which brings us back around to … the MVP balloting.

Plus, it’s the Phillies' off-day, so why not?

If you’ve followed baseball since the emergence of two recent plagues—steroids and fantasy baseball—you know that one is a bad addiction corrupting the games we follow and the other is a banned substance.

Which is why the current arguments over the MVP race include a few too many arguments by numbers geeks. One writer says plainly, “There is no good statistical argument that could possibly favor any other player in the league as more valuable this season.”

Could he be referring to the major-league leader in home runs and RBIs—by a wide margin in both categories—whose team is in first place? Or is he talking about a player who missed a month of the season to an injury but whose stats are impressive even if his team is in fourth place?

The thing is, baseball is not solely about statistics, or else it’d be hard to argue with the writer’s push for Albert Pujols for MVP. The guy, once again, is having a great season in what is almost surely a Hall of Fame career. His numbers across the board are impressive, he’s a good guy, and he likes puppies—what’s not to love about the guy?

But in sports, a little thing called winning actually matters. And when one player gets hot, boosts his own and his teammates’ productivity, carries them into first place, and leads the league in several categories, that’s the very definition of a most valuable player. And this season, that person has been Ryan Howard.

First off, let’s make it clear: there are just two legitimate MVP candidates, with apologies to fans of Carlos Delgado and Chipper Jones. Delgado rebounded from a lousy start to produce a very good season on a wild card-hopeful team, and Jones, when healthy, has hit for a high average—though low power numbers—on a fourth-place team 18 games out of first place.

But neither stands out the way Pujols and Howard have. That’s why it’s time to break out the Sister Sledge, pretend it’s 1979 all over again, and let first basemen from St. Louis and Pennsylvania share the award. 1979 co-MVPs Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez, meet proposed 2008 co-MVPs Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.

The similarities are eerie. In 1979, Stargell was the power-hitting anchor on a playoff team that would ultimately win the World Series. Hernandez was a high-average hitter and all-around team leader. In 2008, Howard is the ball-crushing fulcrum of Philly’s most likely playoff-bound offense, while Pujols provides a .350 average and solid defense.

Granted, Howard, at .248, would be the first NL MVP with a lower batting average than Marty Marion’s .267 in 1944. But if baseball rewarded numbers only, A-Rod would have seven MVPs instead of three. Again, winning actually matters in baseball.

Pujols and Howard already each have one MVP award, so why not a shared one, just like old times? At the ceremony announcing the award, MLB can even break out the “We Are Family.”