Too Much Drama in Caps Playoffs

The Caps are now down 3-2 in a series they once led 2-0. They've had two overtime losses and now need to win the last two games of the series to advance. Otherwise, the hated Sid Crosby and his whiny batch of Penguins will advance. My theory on this series, the Caps need the drama to motivate them. After coming back from being down 3-1 to the Rangers, they were still riding high enough to win the first two games of the series against the Pens. Yes, the Caps have been playing hard. But they haven't been quite clutch enough.

Now that they face elimination, I think they will step it up again. They will not go down easy on Monday. I expect hard hitting, passionate play and an overwhelming offensive output. The Caps have played their best hockey in the playoffs with their backs against the wall. And hopefully they will do it again. As a fan though I could do without all this drama.

Ideally, the Caps would have completed a clean sweep of the Pens or maybe let them win one game on an off night. But this comeback has me and a lot of other fans on edge. While this is the type of series that the NFL brass have been hoping for, superstar vs. superstar, comebacks, overtimes, controversial plays and exhilarating goals, I don't really care what it's doing for hockey as a game. I want my Caps to advance. They have already gotten farther in the playoffs than any Caps team in over a decade, and I appreciate that. But these games are close. And with a little luck, the puck will bounce their way in the next two games.

The Penguins are managing to get an amazing number of shots off. And its unrealistic to expect this rookie goalie, Varlamov, to block over 40 shots a game. The guy has been great. And usually I'd call for the offensive powers of Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Semin to step up. But now I'm calling for the defense to kick it up a notch. Help this kid out. The offense is trying and scoring. Help prevent a few of these shots on goal.

Really everyone needs to play their hearts out these next two games. Otherwise there will be a long offseasons with even larger expectations looming next season. But right now, I just want to see a little more hockey.

LET'S GO CAP!

Caps Step Up in Game 3, Ovie's Turn in Game 4

The Caps played last night and stepped up their game. They beat the seventh seeded rangers to put themselves back into the competition. The Rangers lead the series is now 2-1 and the Caps play again tomorrow in an attempt to tie the series and show that the slow start in the first two games was not such a big deal. The Caps managed to find their offense last night and their young goalie stayed strong and allowed no goals for a final score of 4-0.

While the Caps came on strong, their star player still isn't living up to all his hype. Alex Ovechkin has yet to record a playoff goal. He had two assists last night. Which is good to see he's not trying to put all the pressure on him and let the team do some of the work in the win. A good leader should be willing to let others help.

But obviously a good leader also needs to lead. He's the top scorer on the team. Now that the Caps have won a game without him scoring he needs to step up and lead this offense. He is a viable threat and should be seen as one. Sure, I'm all for spreading the wealth and doing what it takes to win games. But I don't know how successful the Caps are going to be if Ovechkin can't get his swagger back. He is the spirit of this team.

Hopefully tomorrow he'll find his shot and truly lead his team. I'm not really sure they can win this series without his scoring. But then again, a win is a win. And I'll take it no matter who scores. I just want to see the Caps move on in the playoffs.

Did That Really Happen?

Yesterday was a great day for sports for me. Before the Ravens-Titans game I really believed the Ravens could win. My brother and I discussed how it was pretty much 50-50 and neither outcome would really surprise us. Then we actually watched the game.

I was still in Baltimore and after watching the first round of the playoffs in a tiny bar in Locust Point superstition brought us back to the same bar again. It was ridiculously crowded and hard to move. And by the end of the game everyone was screaming and pushing and drunkenly hoping against hope that we wouldn't find a way to blow it in the last minute. And then there was the eruption of cheers as Stover hit the final field goal and the Ravens stopped Tennessee.

I'm still not really sure how they won that game. Tennessee managed to outplay the Ravens for most of the game. The Titans ran and passed all over the Ravens and totally controlled the clock. They had more first downs and the Ravens defense looked totally incompetent on third down again and again. But Baltimore made the big plays when they needed to. And Tennesse fell short of the Ravens in the most important category, points scored. And in the end that's what matters.

It was ugly and not the best game the Ravens have played all year but I don't care. It's a W and I'll take it. This team that hasn't had a week off since the second week of the season somehow has worked their way into the AFC Championship game. Yes, they got some iffy calls go there way and got some lucky breaks. But this team has been making its own luck all season. They managed to get three turnovers from the Titans and didn't give up any of their own. Flacco played virtually mistake free ball. And everything managed to turn out all right.

I woke up this morning still a little in shock. Every once in a while last night I turned to my brother, my friends, or a random person at the bar and just said, "The Ravens won, they did it." Honestly, it's still sinking in. Ravens 13, Titans 10. I really believed they could win, I just wasn't sure it was actually going to happen. Wow, I feel great right now.

I think a text message I got from my friend after the game summed up perfectly how every Ravens fan was feeling. omfg omfg omfg omfg omfg omfg omfg omfg

Photo: Found at www.japantimes.co.jp

Going to Miami

The Ravens did it. They beat Jacksonville and are now on their way to the playoffs as the last wild card team. WOO HOO! Baltimore will now be playing the Miami Dolphins next weekend in Miami. This to me is just great. I had no thoughts at the beginning of the season of being in the playoffs. And now I think we have a winnable first round game.

I'm glad that Miami won out today. Otherwise, the Ravens would have had to play the Patriots in Foxborough. I think the Ravens got the better game. The Patriots won 11 games this season without their star quarterback and probably feel pretty ripped off right now to be ending their season without a playoff game. But my team gets to go so I don't feel that bad. And Baltimore has beaten Miami once this year so I think they are better prepared to beat them again.

Also, the Ravens have improved and grown as a team since they played at Miami. Joe Flacco is much more comfortable playing and has been given much more free rein. Also, the team is surprisingly healthy right now. With only a few big injuries and backup players ready to step up. This Ravens team is going to be hard for Miami to beat.

Today the Ravens looked like a team that was really having fun. Flacco was launching the ball down field. Mason and Clayton kept coming up big. Reed had two interceptions and there were a bunch of trick plays that kept the Jacksonville defense one step behind the Baltimore offense. Baltimore just dominated this game. It was fun to watch. I'm already excited for next weeks game.

GO RAVENS!!

Sports Czar

So, I've tried to avoid talking about politics on this site despite my mild obsession with it. But this is an issue I feel comfortable weighing in on and espousing my views since it does not seem to be a very partisan issue. Yes, I'm talking about the BCS playoff system and President-Elect Barack Obama's statements that the will through his weight around to get one. Several other sports bloggers have thrown around the idea of a Sports Czar or Playoff Czar. Since I am graduating in the spring and will have a law degree and need a job, I would like to throw my hat into the proverbial ring.

I'm sure when Obama says he's willing to throw his weight around, he actually means he'll tell someone to bug the BCS guys and make them fix this under some imaginary threat and the watchful eye of the president. Hey, if I was president I would use my newfound power to get random things I want done that would also make a bunch of people happy.

I would be happy to fill the role of person who works for President Obama with the BCS to get this playoff system into action. He will have a lot of other stuff to worry about, like fixing the economy, resolving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in a reasonable manner, fixing healthcare, balancing the budget, fixing Social Security, all the while saving the environment, and increasing the standing of the United States around the world. So, I'd say playoff shouldn't be his top priority. However, all those are going to take a long time, so anything that can be done definitively and quickly will remind people that they still like President Obama, and that his administration can get things done.

The problem with the BCS system is that there is no clear champion. There's a championship game, but just some formula and voting system that no one really understands to decide who gets to go the bowl game. However, colleges like bowl games. They generate revenue for the schools and raise awareness for the programs. No one believes that the team that wins the Tire Bowl is a Champion of anything, but schools and alumni like it. They get to feel good about their teams.

So here is my proposal. First, a playoff system is not going to happen overnight, television contracts and whatnot. So before next year lets make the formula better. I would put Nate Silver in charge of this. He's a stat genuis who happens to like sports and politics and is a big supporter of President Obama. If he was able to predict the popular vote percentages within .1% then he should be able to come up with a better formula for the rankings. And we can keep the rankings. Everyone likes to see their team ranked, even if it doesn't mean much. Right now, there are power rankings for every sport for all sorts of random categories. So if we keep the rankings, we need to make them better.

Next, take the top eight teams for a playoff bracket. The top eight teams are usually pretty easy to figure out. I will talk to some consultants about whether all these teams have to have won their conferences or whether they are the top eight teams. This issue can be fully debated at another time. An eight team playoff will add three weeks onto the season. And only for a few teams. So schools could cut the season by one game and eliminate one of the cupcake teams they play. This will make college football more competitive and fun to watch anyway.

Also, lets keep the other bowls. Colleges still get to keep the promotion and the revenue. Fans still get to say they won a bowl. Those games are meaningless anyway, so why not keep them. They bring plenty of fans such as myself much joy from watching.

That's my platform on changing the college football system. I have already addressed the NFL overtime situation. So if there is anyone out there who would like to appoint me to be the Sports Czar or wants me to meet with the President-Elect, just let me know.

Ravens Are Bowl Eligible

Well, I was wrong. Before the season began, I predicted the Ravens final record to be 5-11. As of right now the Ravens are 6-3 are tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North after a 41-13 win over the Texans. And the Ravens are looking better than anyone I know expected and have compiled four straight wins. The Ravens are taking advantage of the weaker teams they have to play and getting the wins they need to get. They have only beaten one team with a winning record, but two of the three games they have lost were very close. And as the Ravens seemingly get better each week, they will probably have a good chance to make the playoffs.

A lot of this renewed hope in Baltimore is due to the 'three headed monster" running back approach. Call me an elitist if you will, I am going to rename this the Ravens' Hydra. I think it sounds better, and makes sense. Running backs Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le'Ron McClain combine to tear apart defenses week after week. It seems as if a team tries to shut one down just has to worry about another. In a way, if you cut off one head, another grows back in its place.

One reason that the Hydra is so effective is the offensive line good play. This line was suspect coming into this season. Plagued with injury and inexperienced players, the O-line has overcome these obstacles and come together quite nicely. They open running lanes and help to make the big plays. They will however face a big challenge next week against the Giants' defense. And we'll get to see if the Ravens' offense is really coming together or has just capitalized against weak defenses.

The Hydra and the offensive line also allows Joe Flacco to excel. The Ravens are able to run the ball so there is less pressure on Flacco. And the offensive line relieves pressure by giving him plenty of time in the pocket. He's been able to mature from game to game and can lead the team down the field. He can spread the defense by throwing the long ball, man, he has a rocket for an arm. And it turn, this helps the Hydra to succeed. If a defense stuffs the box to block the run, he can throw a long pass and open up the field.

Every part of this team seems to be working together to make the other parts better. The second string quarterback, Troy Smith comes in and runs the option, he creates another threat and adds another highly skilled player to the offense. He enables Flacco to become a receiver, which helps to confuse defenses. And receiver Derek Mason has been running great routes making Flacco's passes look even better because Mason keeps coming down with the ball. Even Todd Heap was getting in on the action last week, reminding everyone why we used to love this tight end.

Cam Cameron has done a great job this year making this offense work. He deserves some type of award for finally giving Baltimore an offense. I'm happy Miami was so bad last year so the Ravens were able to pick him up. I guess something good came out of the 1-15 season.

But this is still a very good defense. Ray Lewis, who people were saying was past his prime, came down with two interceptions yesterday. He continues to be a dynamic force on the field and great leader on the sidelines. Even in his 13th season he continues to be effective in leading the defense which has not allowed a 100 yard rusher in recent memory. Only three teams this season have scored over 20 points on the season and only one team, the Colts, have scored over 30 points. Those are impressive numbers. This is a defense that cannot be overlooked, even though the offense has been shining this year as well.

Expect the defense to play a big part next week against the Giants, the defending Super Bowl Champions are 8-1 this season and are pulling away from the NFC East, considered the best conference in football right now. They are looking to be serious contenders again this year, and a win by the Ravens would be a big statement about how far this young Baltimore team has come.
It should be an exciting game next week. We'll see if the Ravens' Hydra combined with new dynamic offense and brutal defense can shut down the Giants' own three headed monster. It'll be a good test for the Ravens who have so far this season exceeded expectations. While playoffs this year would be great, knowing that we are able to compete with the best teams in the league will be a good enough result for me.

Talkin Bout a Ray-volution

Last night was Game 2 of the World Series. The Phillies played roughly the same game as they did in Game 1. But this time they did not have their ace, Cole Hamels pitching and as a result, the game had a very different result. Neither team was very good at getting hits with runners in scoring position. But Tampa Bay managed to get people on early and then score on ground outs. So they managed to drive in runs without hits and win the game 4-2. Jamie "Big Game" Shields managed to live up to his name and pitch 5 2/3 scoreless innings. And the young pitching star Price came out and stopped Philly for the last few innings. He even helped to increase the drama by throwing erratically to walk Utley on four pitches only to strike out the next batter, Howard.

But that kind of play was the standard for the Phils all night. The Phillies are now 1 for 28 with runners in scoring position this series. They were 0 for 13 in the first game and 1 for 15 in game 2. The Rays had similarly bad numbers but managed to score anyway. And they showed that they will keep finding ways to win. While it seems like the Phils are trying to find ways to lose.

There is one positive for me about the Phils loss. It now means that the Phils cannot sweep the Rays and end the series on Sunday night. I have an exam on Monday and therefor would not be able to join in the raucous celebration on Sunday. So thank you Ryan Howard for going 50 at bats without a home run. I know you just want to let people savor this series. The city of Philadelphia would like to enjoy this moment for as long as possible.

Tomorrow the series moves to Philly. Hopefully the home crowd will help inspire the Phightins to get some hits and actually get some runners home. This team left 11 runners on base last night. That's just sad. I can already hear the boos if this keeps up. And with the ALCS MVP , Matt Garza, taking the mound tomorrow, the Phils are really going to have to find their swing. We'll also get to see if Jamie Moyer can use his experience to shut down this young Rays lineup. Or maybe the Rays will break out like they did in Boston? If so the Philly bullpen better be ready to come out early and work hard.

I'm still pulling for the Phillies. But as I said before, I'm an Orioles fan and consequently no stranger to heartbreak. Anyway, GO PHILLIES!!

Side Note: I wrote most of this post on the way back to Maryland for the Maryland Homecoming tomorrow on the Chinatown bus. I know, it's crazy to think that cheap crappy bus now has free Wifi. But I forgot one crucial lesson when riding the Chinatown bus, never sit near the back unless there are no other seats available. The closer you get to the back the closer you get to the bathroom and the more it smells. I had forgotten this and just wanted to pass on the word. For anyone not familiar with the Chinatown bus, its a cheap bus that will take you up and down the northeast corridor from Chinatown to Chinatown. It costs $15 to go from Philly to DC or Baltimore and even less to go from Philly to New York. Despite its sometime smelly nature, its cheaper, more reliable and faster than Greyhound. I figure with the way the economy is looking, cheap transport is in pretty high demand. Plus now they have free internet. So its not all bad.

Phillies Win Despite Trying to Blow Game

Last night was Game 1 of the World Series featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. And despite the Phillies attempts to lose the game, Cole Hamels' amazing performance propelled them to a win. While Kazmir pitched a great game, Hamels was the more dominant pitcher. He has now won 4 games in the post season. Which is a feat few others have attained. It sets the stage for a Hall of Fame career. He's young and has a great upside.

The rest of the Phillies kind of bumbled there way to the 3-2 win. They stranded eleven players on base and had a pretty bad communication with at a play at first in the first inning. Somehow no Phillie made it to the bag after a routine grounder. Luckily B.J. Upton hit into double play to erase the mistake. But for a the first few innings I really thought Philly was trying to screw it up. I mean they are cursed. And I am cheering for them now, and everyone knows I'm a sucker for a heart breaker. Yeah, having me rooting for the Phillies might not be what the city wants right now.

The other shining star of last night was Chase Utley. His first inning two run home run created a lead the Rays were never able to overcome. And the run Victorino managed to score was enough to keep the Phils on top for the game. But man, are those guys going to have to play better tonight. It'll be hard to win a lot of games playing like that. Especially if the Rays find their swings. Hopefully the bats of the Phillies will come alive tonight and help propel them to a 2-0 game lead heading back to Philadelphia.

Side Note: Jayson Werth looks like a meth addict. I must have said this about 50 times last night. But every time I saw him I was just as shocked. Does he really think he looks good? Really? Really?

The Rays have feed off adversity all season long. They lost the first game of the ALCS to Boston and then managed to split in Tampa and then took two in Boston. So Philly needs to watch out for this scrappy team. They don't have any playoff loss history to bog them down. The Rays can come back and will try to tonight. It should be fun to watch. The Rays don't have as big a drop of from their number 1 to number 2 pitchers as the Phils do. Both the starting pitchers can be brilliant but they can also be a little shaky. Pitching is the key to this series, just like every series. But with two teams with big bat potential, its the pitcher that can keep the other team in check that will dominate this game. (I should be a TV sports commentator with obvious statements like that...Networks I'll be waiting for your call.)

Game 2 is about to start, so I'm going to watch and I'll try to get back here tomorrow with more pithy commentary about the state of the series.

Can Both Teams Win?

I've said several times that I was glad there was going to be a Rays-Phils World Series. And while I am excited to see two fresh faces in the line up, it leaves me with a slight dilemma. Which team should I root for? My team's season is long over. So that leaves me a free agent of sorts. I have no plans on being loyal to this team after the season, but it's more fun to watch sports when you're cheering on a team. My sister and I used to watch Monday Night Football together, each pick a random team, and then cheer as hard as we could against each other. In competition, you have to pick a side. Here are the arguments.

Rays Pros: They're a miracle team. They went from last place to World Series in one season. This brings hope to all those other fans of terrible teams. The Rays are also a group of young athletes playing for way below the league average salary. I think the average Ray makes $414,000 a year. It seems like a lot of money to me, but in baseball thats petty cash. Also, this scrappy team bonded together and even got their manager to get a Rayhawk. Add to that, they kept the Yankees out of the playoffs and Boston out of the World Series. Also, I just think the American League is inherently better, mostly because its the league that the Orioles play in. Yes, I'm a homer. Oh yeah, I also love the way this team celebrates. They want to mark every minor milestone with a party. And that's a mentality I can get behind.

Rays Cons: They play in the same division as the Orioles. I wouldn't exactly call them division rivals because until this year, they were mostly just competing for the last spot in the division. But still, I shouldn't like them because of the whole same division thing. Supposedly, they also have no fans. I don't know how true this is, they do have terrible attendance, but they were terrible until this year. And most of the people in Tampa Bay are over 80, so it's hard for them to stay up for a 7:30 start time. The thing that really bothers me most is that Dickie V is their biggest fan. I had a hard time cheering for US Mens Basketball because Coach K was their coach. Well, that and I don't like pro basketball in any form. My hatred of Duke runs really deep. And while Dickie V is not nearly as bad as Coach K, he is probably the biggest Duke fan ever. On the other hand, Dickie V does talk up the ACC as much as possible, which I do appreciate since it's the best conference in College Basketball. Regardless, Dickie V still annoys me.

Phillies Pros: The Phillies haven't been to a World Series in 15 years, they haven't won in even longer and well the city is starved for a championship. Philadelphia has all 4 major sports and has gone 25 years without a championship in any of them. That's just sad. It makes you kind of want to cheer for them. Also, Phillies fans seem to be slightly optimistic this year, and less mean. Less booing, more cheering, more happiness. It's weird to see the city like this. Last year when the Phils made the playoffs, people were excited but then the Phils got swept by the Rockies in the first round and people seemed resolved to their fate. Really, the biggest thing Philly has going for it is that this is where I live. I get to celebrate with this city if they win. And this city knows how to party.

Phillies Cons: Philadelphia sports are heart breakers. They lose, they choke, and they crash and burn. They have a history of not being able to close. The Rays have no playoff history, except the one they are writing now. And that so far has been a winning one. Philadelphia sports are cursed by William Penn. It's hard to get behind a team that seems so likely to fail. Also while Phillies fans this year haven't been that bad, Philadelphia sports fans in general are among the worst. And it's hard to want the people who boo Santa to actually get a championship. Plus, I like to think he National League is inferior and if they lose the World Series again, I can believe that for another year.

Well, in the end I'll be happy for either team. But after living in Philly for a little over two years the Phillies have started to grow on me, kind of like a cancer. And I as much as I like the upstart Rays, I get to party in Philly if the Phils win. So, I guess, GO PHILLIES!

Good Day for Ray Ray and the Rays

This was a great sports weekend for me. But since I already addressed the total madness that is the Maryland football team, I'll limit this post to the events of Sunday Funday. It was a really good day for the Ravens. In a game that they needed to win to keep the faith for this season, the whole team stepped up and played solid football. Also, the Tampa Bay Rays restored hope to all the perennial cellar dwellers by holding off another Boston comeback to go from last in the division to ALCS winners in one season. Thank you for that.

The Ravens had to win this game. They had lost three in a row and were beginning to look like the team everyone thought they were going to be this season. Hell, I couldn't even bring myself to write about last weeks game. It was just too painful. But after throwing just one touchdown and seven interceptions this season, Flacco came back with a solid performance with a TD and no interceptions. He seemed to still be confident even after a being picked apart last week. I met another Ravens fan at the bar yesterday while watching the game who said he lived in the same building as Flacco. He told me that after last weeks game, him and his wife wanted to get a cardboard cutout of Troy Smith and put it in from of Flacco's door as if he were knocking. I think this is hysterical. But after Sunday's game, Flacco really doesn't deserve it. Oh well, I'll take a win and a solid showing over a good prank almost any day.

What was really great about the Miami game though was the Ravens' defense. They managed to contain Miami's wildcat offense that had wreaked havoc on other teams. They were also responsible for a TD that helped the Ravens put Miami away for good. The Ravens scored 27 points and could not have done it without the brilliant play of the defense. The Ravens are known for having their defense carry them. And this game was a good sign that defense will continue to shoulder some of the weight as Joe Flacco continues to improve into the future of this football team. With every game he should be able to rely less and less on the defense, but as long as they are contributing, it takes some of the pressure off of him and lets him play and mature without the whole weight of the team on his shoulders.

With the Ravens playing the lackluster Raiders next week at home, they should be able to garner an above .500 record. The Raiders star rookie, Darren McFadden will have to contend against a defense that has not allowed a 100 yd rusher in 25 straight games. The best in the league. And while the team managed to earn its second win against the Jets on Sunday. They'll have a very different team to contend with this coming Sunday. Let's hope the Ravens step up to the task and continue to shut teams down and win.

The other great story on Sunday was the Tampa Bay Rays managing to keep Boston at bay and win the ALCS. Matt Garza got the MVP for pitching two solid games. Last night he continued to throw strikes and get players out even after pitching the magic number of 100 pitches. This makes me question the seemingly widely held belief that pitchers should be taken out after 100 pitches. Every pitcher has his own limit and if he's in a groove or 'settled in' and doing well, why bring in someone new. Will pitching an extra 15-20 pitches make it that much harder to recover and be able to pitch again four days later? I am asking this sincerely as I really don't know anything about pitching and how much it tires you out.

I was worried after the Rays blew game 5 in the last few innings and then couldn't seem to get their act together for game 6. But those scrappy Rays came out ready to play yesterday and even after going down by one run in the first inning never gave up hope. They fought back, held on, and managed to strand Red Sox base runner after base runner. Every time a Red Sox player came up to bat, I thought this was it, this was the batter that was going to swing the momentum back to Boston, this is the one thats going to end it. But that never happened. Even after errors and a bunch of pitchers. Tampa hung on for all 27 outs.

After the last batter grounded out, the team rushed the pitcher. There was giant mound of celebrating Rays. I was actually worried that the pitcher, Price, would get hurt. Afterwards he said he couldn't breathe at the bottom of the pile, but wouldn't change it for the world. I love the way the team celebrates. The players were soaked before they even got the ALCS Champ trophy. Their Rayhawks were dripping. This is a team that really treasures the victory and appreciates how far its come. They are a team that gives hope to all the other losing disheartened teams out there.

It'll be great to see two new teams in the World Series. I know the Phillies are not a new team but they haven't been in a World Series in 15 years. So they're not the teams we've seen in the playoffs year in and year out for the last few years. And the Rays have never been in a playoffs before, let alone a World Series. I'm still deciding who I really want to root for. But I think I'll be happy either way. Wednesday should be fun.

Seriously, Again?

OK Boston, I was wrong. I was wrong to count you out even though it was the 7th inning and you were down 7-0. I was wrong to think the Rays could hold you off for 7 more outs. I had written you off by the fifth inning. But somehow you came back. Even when you scored four runs, I still was confident the Rays could keep you at bay. I don't know exactly what happened because I turned off the TV and went to bed. But I can't say I was all that surprised when I woke up this morning and saw you had come back to win.

Maybe it was the idea of losing three in a row in the playoffs at Fenway. Maybe, it was because the bandwagon fans left in the 5th and only the true fans remained. Maybe Tampa Bay got complacent and let the momentum slip your way. Maybe the Red Sox can only win when they truly believe they are the underdog and can summon an us against the world mentality. Maybe it's a combination of all those things.

What I'm wondering is how gut wrenching is it to be a Red Sox fan? Yes, comebacks are great when they happen, and the Red Sox are better at coming back in the playoffs than any other team, but the fans still have to sit through the three agonizing losses and resign themselves to the idea that the Sox could get eliminated. I guess the highs are higher when you've had to face the lows, but still doesn't it annoy Boston fans a little to have to go through this every year now. And if they lose tomorrow, was it all just false hope?

Are the Rays destined to become the next Cleveland Indians, a byline in the Red Sox unbelievable but now predictable comeback story? Will there be another swarm of gross little insects? Or maybe some other plague like frogs or the water in Tampa turning to blood to show us that the Red Sox are truly destined to win this?

Can't anyone put these guys away? The Rays still have the upper hand when it comes to games needed to clinch the series, but after last night, will their faith be shaken. They are a pretty resilient team. They lost the first game at home and then came back to win three in a row, two of those at Fenway. So they can rebound, they have in this series already, but are they mature enough to do it again. I hope so.

I don't know if I can deal with the Red Sox fans if they are able to pull this off. And it'll be worse if they pull it off and then beat the Phillies in the World Series. The Patriots fell last year in the Super Bowl and then had Brady go down in the first game of this season. When will this collapse happen to the Red Sox? Cause I'm ready for Boston to go down. So come on Rays, you're 29 outs away from a World Series. Imagine what the party for that will be like.

Why Can't Us?

There's something about these Phillies fans that is overwhelmingly entertaining to me. They qualified for the World Series and still there not cocky. My friend wanted a NLCS sweatshirt even before they won "just to prove they were in the playoffs in his lifetime." Now, that they've won, I wondered if he wanted a World Series sweatshirt, not just a NLCS champion one. His response, "Don't be ridiculous, you're going to jinx us." Even though they soundly beat the Dodgers and are playing great ball, there's still a cautious feeling about the World Series.

Don't get me wrong, the city is the happiest I've ever seen it. The sound of cheering filled the night last night and the celebrations went on til the early hours of the morning. But this isn't like Boston where even though they're down 3-1 in the ALCS, they still think they're going to come back and not just go to the World Series, but win it. Phillies fans know what heartbreak feels like. And while they are giving their whole hearts to their team, they're not still not really sure it's going to work out. They're wishing and hoping and praying, but not bragging. I admire that.

So congratulations Philadelphia. It's been a long time but if any Philly team deserves to make it to the big stage it's the Phillies. And I wish you hopeful, grammatically challenged fans the best.
Maybe this really is the year Philadelphia breaks their curse.

On a slightly unrelated note, I think the entire city of Philadelphia smells like cheese steaks right now. I swear to god, I live on the 18th floor of my building and my apartment right now smells like I have 10 cheesesteaks sitting on my table. The odor of cheesesteak is wafting in my window. I think this is a good sign for the Phils.

After soundly defeating the Dodgers 3-1 in the series and clinching it with a decisive 5-1 win by NLCS MVP Cole Hamels yesterday, the Phils are well situated for this series. They've shown that their pitchers can stay calm not get flustered by even big hitters like Manny. Yeah, he had a lot of hits, but he really didn't get to score that often. They were able to neutralize him as a threat. That should serve them well in the World Series.

The Phils also had solid production from their line up. Everyone on the team seemed to come up with big hits at the most opportune time. Whether it was Matt Stairs with the two run homer to take the lead in game four or Jimmy Rollins homering to start off game five. Everyone played a part. And that team mentality is important. I think Pat Burrell might have even smiled. Though I can't confirm that.

Right now the Rays are leading the Red Sox 5-0 in the fifth, so it looks like there will be a World Series of two underdog teams. I can't wait.

Maybe This Year?

I know that I usually hate all sports things Philadelphia. Mostly because of the booing. But I can't help but wonder if maybe this is the year for the Phillies. And I hate to admit it, but I'm happy for them. Maybe over two years of living in this city has worn me down or maybe I just like to see the team that never wins have something good happen to them for a change. I know what baseball heartbreak feels like, and I can sympathize.

The Phillies are by far the most likable team in Philadelphia. And the fans seem to have moved past the days when they threw batteries at players. Sure, they still boo. But it seems like it happens less often. Maybe it's just the optimism of Philly this year. It seems like for the first time, people actually believe the Phillies can pull this off. While watching the game last night, I was pretty sure it was all over. Lowe was pitching like a machine. He looked unhittable. But then an error on a throw to first base, a home run and two batter later another home run gave Philly the lead they wouldn't relinquish.

I was surprised by the stat the Phillies are perfect when leading at the end of the 8th inning. Maybe that's not that weird. But as an Orioles fan, I wish I could say that. Because, I usually go into the ninth inning with a sense of dread. No lead is ever safe. But the Phillies are a different matter. They played a great game and didn't get rattled when they were down by two.

So could this be it? Could this be the year the Philadelphia sports breaks the curse of building higher than William Penn on City Hall? It doesn't look like the Eagles are going to do it. Not in the brutal NFC East. The Flyers looked good last year but hockey season is long and just getting started. So who knows what's going to happen. I have no idea what the predictions for the Sixers are. Frankly, its the NBA so I don't really care either. But the Phillies, I find myself rooting for. They really are fun to watch.

I don't know what I'll do if it's a Phillies-Rays World Series. Which underdog team to cheer for? It might be the Rays. I admire the way they've turned things around. And I like the way they celebrate every win and every milestone. They seem to really appreciate that just getting this far is great. But somehow this seems like the Phillies year. I can't explain it. But the feeling is palpable in the city. For the first time since I've been there, it seems there's actual hope.

This team and city have faced so much heartache. Last year they made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, only to be swept in the first round. Now this year could end crushing defeat, the AL East has a way of doing that to hopeful teams. Look at the way the Red Sox dismantled the seemingly unstoppable Rockies last year. But I know one thing. If the Red Sox beat out the Rays. I'm becoming a Phillies phan. Even if it's just for these playoffs.