city of pain

Can you feel it? Can’t you just visualize what is going to happen in the next week of our lives? The fucking Phillies are going to win it all. It’s finally going to happen. Six or seven years ago the Phils were the last team in this city you’d think would finally break the curse, but here we stand on the door step of a championship. This time is no joke either. The last four opportunities this city had they were underdogs every single time. The Blue Jays were better than the ‘93 Phils, the Red Wings were better than the ‘97 Flyers, the Lakers were better than the ‘01 Sixers, and the Patriots ‘dynasty’ was better than the ‘05 Eagles. This time around (even though Vegas has them as +110 underdogs), the Phils don’t face a better team. Nope. People are enamored with this Rays team, and rightfully so considering they beat two pretty good teams to get to the World Series, but they are young and still playing with house money. Their luck will finally run out.

Vegas odds makers aren’t dumb. They understand how stupid public bettors will throw away their money. The fact that the Rays are close to -140 favorites with little to no line movement tells us everything we need to know. Vegas knows the public thinks that any team that beats the Red Sox should win in all. Vegas knows the public loves to bet on the ‘underdog’, even though they make the Rays the favorites. Think about how smart Vegas is. The know the public is still convinced that the Rays are the underdogs, the young team of destiny, and they make them a decent sized favorite and people still bet them! It’s a joke. Vegas wins when the underdog, odds-wise, wins. And a World Series win by the Phillies gets the money going into their bank vaults.

Why else are the Phillies going to win this thing? It’s simple.

1. Just like in the NLCS, the Phils have the best starting pitcher, the better offense, and the better bullpen. Sounds like a good start doesn’t it?

2. Youth, or lack there of. There always seems to come a point where youth ends up biting you in the ass. This isn’t college sports anymore. Younger players, not to discredit their skills and ability, lack an element of urgency and belonging. The Phillies began this season with one goal in mind: win a championship. While the Rays have an excellent team who has performed at a very high level this year, there is no way they began the season with a World Series in mind. Sorry, didn’t happen. Guys like Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, and Brad Lidge know this is time to get the job done. They have an appreciation for what’s at stake, and the Rays think this is just a time to “go out and have fun”. Take fun and shove it up your asses, Tampa.

3. The Ray’s best pitcher, Scott Kazmir, is not 100%. His fastball doesn’t have its usual velocity. He’s hurt, and it shows. And if your best pitcher isn’t throwing at his highest level, you’re in big trouble.

4. Ryan Howard. The guy has taken a giant shit during these playoffs. Have you ever gone to the Zoo and watched an elephant, a giraffe, or a rhinoceros take a giant, steamy shit that lasts two full minutes and piles a good three feet in the air? Yea, well what Howard has done in these playoffs is double the size of that. He is too good of a player to continue this. He’s going to turn it on when it all matters. His teammates have carried him so far, and now it’s his turn to step it up. He will hit at least three home runs during this series.

5. The fans. For the first time in a very long time, we believe. We finally understand that it’s our time, and we finally understand what it’s like to be the better team and expect to win. Tug McGraw was right, you gotta believe. Just like the last time (and only time) the Phillies won it all, it was the Tugger who sealed the deal. His teammates believed in him and he believed in them. Two quotes about Tug McGraw seem very appropriate right now, because they apply to this team and how they certainly believe in themselves right now.

“The guy was a consummate professional on the mound, but he relaxed in his own way. He had his own way of doing things. There are more than one way to do things and Tug certainly had his own way. He was always ready. I think the one thing that might be the greatest legacy that you can have as a teammate is to be always be ready and Tug was.” - former Phillies teammate Tim McCarver

“Tug and I drove to the ballpark together before that final game (Game 6 of the 1980 World Series) and I made him promise that if he was on the mound for that final out to wait for me. Both of us knew whoever was on or near that mound for the final out would probably be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Sure enough, it worked. Tug struck out (Willie) Wilson and then turned to look at me at third base. Of course I came running in and jumped on him.” - Mike Schmidt

These guys are fucking READY. Bring it on Tampa you lowlifes. Phils in 5 you pussies.