2008 World Series Game 2 Live

8:00 PM Pre-Game:
Welcome to live blogging of the 2008 World Series. I'm This Guy, That Guy will join us shortly. Last night the Phillies depended on their pitching to secure a 3-2 win. Cole Hamels, Ryan Madsen, and Brad Lidge were able to overcome the worst display of hitting with RISP in the World Series EVER (0 for 13). That's not a way to start an important series.

Brett Myers takes the hill tonight, against Rays starter, James Shields. The question of the game is, which Myers shows up? Hopefully the one that wins ballgames.

8:19 PM National Anthem:
Much better, thanks.

8:32 PM Still Pre-Game:
Good God, what was wrong with the 8:22 first pitch of the LCSes? I understand FOX's need to make money, they paid a lot of money for the rights to these games, but they have the rights, why do they determine so much in regards to when games start and are played? I'm sure they make their money back. I would like to make it my initiative to have WS games start at 7:35 on weekdays and 4:30 on weekends. I don't know how to follow through with that, and I'm pretty sure I can't out spend Murdoch.

Phillies 0, Rays 0, 1 Out Top 1:
When did Jimmy Rollins turn into a worse version of Lenny Dykstra? Popping up, striking out, it's like it's 1991.

Phillies 0, Rays 0, 0 Out Bottom 1:
How about we throw some strikes?

Phillies 0, Rays 0, 0 Out Bottom 1:
Brett Myers does not have to prove Square Face right here, does he? By the way, Mrs. That Guy suggested that the newer posts go on top. Your thoughts?

Phillies 0, Rays 1, 1 Out Bottom 1:
Not a fan of blogs that do that. Sorry, if you're used to it. This way you don't ruin the end. Please limit the damage as early as possible.

Phillies 0 Rays 2, End 1:
Ok, that's why you are This Guy and I am only That Guy. Did Ryan Howard almost make another error there? Maybe Charlie should think about benching him.

I thought the same thing (about making the error, not the benching). Looks like he needs some infield work. There have already been some Square Face comments I've let slide, but I just took a look at the slow-mo of Werth's error. He just missed it, didn't take his eye off the ball.

Phillies 0, Rays 2, 1 Out Top 2:
It's the little things that win series. Rays did it in the first, will the Phillies learn to do it anytime soon?

Phillies 0, Rays 2, 2 Out, Top 2:
Would that now be 0-15 with RISP now?

Phillies 0, Rays 2, Mid 2:
No, 0-16. Great job guys. Any idea where I can find out if Shields even throws a cutter?

Phillies 0, Rays 2, Bottom 2:
What you don't trust Square Face? According to his book, he can teach baseball to Brain Surgeons. Oh, and at least Jimmy's defense is still tough. Also, I know that ball was smoked... but have you noticed that Chase's range isn't all that great to his right?

Phillies 0, Rays 2, 1 Out, Bottom 2:
Not sure about the positioning there. His range is pretty decent. It may be the first step that is a problem. What in the world happened there?? When is a strike out not a strike out? When Kerwin Danley is the umpire.

Phillies 0, Rays 2, 1 Out, Bottom 2:
Tonight's game might be even weirder than last night's game?

Phillies 0, Rays 3, End 2:
Jimmy does get around all right. Man this game is just going to be weird.

I can only imagine that wasn't good for a mitocondrian dysfunction.

That is an amazing story. How in the world are you able to play baseball with a condition like that. I mean, I realize it's not hockey or anything... but wow. Let's not let this get too far out of control.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, 1 Out, Top 3:
I think that's exactly what the Red Sox fans were saying in game 2. Wow, did Ruiz ever hit that ball hard. Was that really that hard of a play? I'm just happy they moved the runner.

Phillies 0, Rays 3 2 Out, Top 3:
O-17 with RISP and Werth is 0-8. That's just sad!

Phillies 0, Rays 3, Mid 3:
Seriously! Ok, now I'd like to see how bad it can get. Over/Under of 24. Your pick. And here's what I got about my earlier question about James Shields. I vote for the slider that's not quite right-- see Rob Nen for an explanation.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, Bottom 3:
I'll take the under just because I'm optimistic. Oh great, there's my favorite shot again. Since Square Face has been getting the brunt tonight. I'll focus on Big Head. How is it possible to just look like an ass when you are just sitting there.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, End 3:
It's kind of amazing to me that we thought the exact same thing! If I wasn't out in the web searching for what pitches James Shields throws, I would have said it first. What kind of chair did Square Face have? It had pool table fabric as it's cushions.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, Top 4:
He has a very important ass that must be as comfortable as possible.

2 for 2, that's a good start to break out of a slump. Um...a 91 mph cange up is impressive. Square Face is in rare form.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, 1 Out, Top 4:
Maybe having Milt Thompson as a hitting coach is finally catching up to the Phillies. I'm just saying... ok, ok, here we go. Need to take advantage of the crazy stuff like that. And it wasn't that great of a play... the ball was trickling.

Okay, so you win the over/under considering that was a hit. Hardly fair, since they didn't score.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, 1 Out, Top 4:
So, Ken Rosenthal basically said it... the Rays are cheaters... and Dobbs sucks.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, Mid 4:
How many times until Big Head got that right? Dobbs is struggling, those were two ugly at-bats.

Phillies 0, Rays 3, Mid 4:
Ken Rosenthal needs a nickname. Rosenthal is just too long to type all the time. I guess if we stick with the theme it would be Short Guy. I guess this isn't why the Rays don't have a drop off after their first starter. I didn't realize they had Bob Gibson in their rotation.

Phillies 0, Rays 3+ O out, Bottom 4:
Let's go with Shorty, I don't want him thinking he has privelages on this blog.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 2 Out, Bottom 4:
Wow, Maddon is crazy... RayHawk and all. Although, I do love the squeeze. Man the Phillies are going to bet beat tonight by a matter of inches.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, End 4
Ok, okay. Um...that kind of pisses me off a little. 1-0, 2-0 maybe. I hope that fires up the Phils too. It's a lot of runs needed, considering there's a future HOFer on the mound.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, End 4:
This Guy, that's an old philosophy that doesn't exist anymore. I am a little conflicted on that one. I wouldn't steal a base in that situation, but the Phillies offense does have the potential to hang a lot of runs on the board. Got to get the runs when you can. But at the same time, it does seem a little excessive up by 3... guess that's why I blog for a living... oh wait, I don't even do that.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 0 Outs, top 5:
I would also steal a base there. It is just an odd situation. 2 Outs up by 3 with a guy that's been on base like every time he's at the plate.
At least Rollins is on base...maybe he can cause some havoc that way.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 1 Out, Top 5:
Run, if you're running Jimmy... guess no free tacos tonight.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Mid 5
They may just run now. I was about to say that PhilsNation.com may have had it right earlier today, when suggesting that Victorino should have moved to the #2 hole. That was until Werth almost broke Shields' femur. Bad, bad, bad baseball (on the Phils part) Nice defensive play by a guy who can't even walk without shaking after 5 innings.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Mid 5:
Ok, I said I was going to be optimistic (Good god, how many times is Chevy Chase going to jump in that damn pool) but I am really starting to get concerned. Now is the time to put my self in the shoes of a Rays fan. Should Square Face and Big Head be heaping a little more praise on Shields. I mean, he is unbelievable tonight and they are pretty much ignoring him.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 1 Out, Bottom 5:
You would think they would say something. Can you imagine if Andy Pettite was throwing like this. McCarver would be practically on his knees in worship.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 1 Out, Bottom 5:
Ok, what the hell is going on? It was a bad throw by Ruiz, but it looked like Howard didn't even move. All that damn talk about rust (and I mean A LOT of talk about rust last night) and tonight's the night that they should break out the Rust Oleum.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, End 5:
Well, you always hope for the split when you're away. I'm not saying this is over, I've watched this team plenty of times late in games this year take care of business. It's just a little frustrating that they're sucking as bad as they are. The 9 year olds I played baseball with way back when, played more solidly than this.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Top 6:
Again, still trying to be optimistic... but I remember and I mean barely remember 25 years ago. Let's break it down for you here. Phils go to the American League park and win game 1... (by just one run with a solid pitching performance) and then they just couldn't get get a win the rest of the series. They lost game 2. 4-1, by the way. Kind of eerie... especially this close to Halloween.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 2 Outs, Top 6:
I'm guessing Milt Thompson doesn't teach to hit the ball the other way. He may talk about it. But this team never does it. Never (At least during the playoffs). I think the Phillies hitters need to take control of the game a little. Call time, make Shields wait on them a little. And if I see one more inside fastball sitting in the catcher's mitt, with a Phillies players' arms above their head, I'm going to throw this computer through the television (upstairs so I don't ruin my nice LCD)

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 2 Outs, Top 6:
Ok, let's not let This Guy resort to violence. We need a little 2 out magic... at least Shields is out.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Mid 6:
Okay, since no one chimed in to answer my movie quote question last night. The answer is here. I was going to give away a car, but no one wins that.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Bottom 6:
Ok, I knew they would go there at some point. But why tonight? Why go there when the Phillies are losing and make their fans feel even more like s(*&?. Too bad about the car. I could have used that.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Top 7:
Let's hope Maddon makes at least 1 move too many. I'm starting to dislike everything about this team, and I'm not really sure why.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Top 7:
Gee Square Face... I thought baseball was losing African American players to hockey. Brilliant deduction as always. GREAT at bat by Ruiz.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, Top 7:
Why is Wheeler doing his best Jim Eisenreich impression? What's with the glove twitch before he pitches?

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 1 Outs, Top 7:
Whatever it is... (maybe he's applying vaseline) it seems to be working. Man, Jimmy Rollins is just bad tonight.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 2 Outs, top 7:
U-G-L-Y. Probably wasn't a strike, but too close to take with 2 strikes.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 2 Outs, Top 7:
That wasn't a strike either... Do you see that huge iron pipe that Howard swings on deck. Is it possible for that guy to be any bigger?

Big is a word of many meanings. Let's see if he can live up to his size.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, End 7:
Kerwin Danley definitely did not lose this game for the Phillies (they did a good enough job of that on their own), but man... he is just awful. How is it possible that you have guys like that working the biggest games of the year. That's just plain bad!

I'm not really sure that's his actual name, by the way. But yeah, it's not Kerwin's fault the Phillies are on their way to a tied series. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's every Phillies' players fault on that one. 1 for 26 with RISP. Sounds like a team meeting is in store.

No, that's his name... and maybe this explains why he's just not good.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 1 Out, Bottom 7:
Big Head, let it go. They are down four runs and Myers has actually looked pretty good here the last few innings. There's no rule out there that you have to use 15 different pitchers.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, End 7:
Have you noticed that Fox Trax isn't that accurate? I'm not sure the last time I've seen a double-play turned when the runner was going. Nice play.

Phillies 0, Rays 4, 1 Out, Top 8:
Fox Trax is a joke... and yes that was an amazing play. Didn't believe he even tried for second on that one. Man, this Phils line up is making the Rays pitching staff look like they are all Bob Gibsons. They're not THAT good are they?

Phillies 1, Rays 4, Mid 8:
No, they're not, as Eric Bruntlett just proved. I kind of wish Chevy Chase would just drown already. I freeze-framed the double play. He was actually out too. At least the Phils did something right tonight.

Phillies, 1, Rays 4, Bottom 8:
Please, please, please, please stop talking about the Mohawk.

Phillies 1, Rays 4, End 8:
Ok, thanks to Big Head for explaining Joe Maddon's 9=8 to me. If you would allow me the time to discuss this theory. 9 players playing hard for 9 innings equals being one of the 8 teams in the playoffs. Remember that card game we used to play when we were younger, yeah, I'm calling bullshit. Especially coming from a guy who manages a team that MUST HAVE 10 players in the line up. Retarded. Sorry to the mentally challenged, but that's how I use that word.

Phillies 1, Rays 4, Top 9:
Ok, Kerwin Danley may actually lose this game for the Phillies. Great sound work there from FOX.

Phillies 1, Rays 4, 1 Out, Top 9:
So imagine this. Instead of Jimmy Rollins, it's This Guy at bat in that situation. I stand there--on home-plate and just don't move. Ever-- until he at least talks to another umpire. This is rediculous. I hope he breaks his jaw again.

Well, a split isn't that bad. Let's hope the offense warms up in the cold weather in Philly on Saturday. Thanks again This Guy for a fun night. Sleep well.

It was my pleasure. Let's give credit to Shields, Wheeler, and Price. They were definitely lights out. From nowhere near St. Petersburg, FL the final score tonight was Tampa 4, Philadelphia 2. Thanks for reading. Goodnight.