Phillies: Grudging congratulations
No one should be surprised that Pat Gillick has built a world champion in Philadelphia. He has been known to do that kind of thing and, God knows, the baseball fans of Philly have waited a long time for this night. I hope the downtown area is still standing in the morning.
Of course, I knew it all along. That's why I picked the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series in six games and made a bet with one of my bosses that now will require me not only to buy him lunch, but also to sit and watch him eat it. I also assured my Sun deskmate Glenn Graham that his Phillies had "no chance" to beat the pesky Rays. Guess I better stick to picking NFL games, since I seem to have no trouble fleecing the football guys on a weekly basis.
Now that the Rays have been vanquished, the only thing left to do is rationalize the whole thing away, so here goes. I'm happy for both teams and both teams should go away happy. The Phillies are a fun team that deserved to win and the Rays cannot be disappointed after going from the worst record in baseball a year ago to the World Series. The question now: Can the Rays continue to compete with the big guys in the American League East?
I think they'll be a decent team for awhile, but I'd be surprised if they win the division again next year. This was a very special season and one that will not be easy to repeat.
Getty Images
Comments
Peter, you're removing all doubt again. If either of these teams comes back, it's the Rays. All of the pre-Series head-to-head assessments were right on in every respect except the outcome. The Rays will be back next year, and several years after that. As for the Phillies? I'm happy for Philadelphia, for Howard, Utley, Burrell and Rollins and even Fat Charlie the Archangel, because I don't see them fighting their way through the NL crowd again.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I agree that it will be tough for the Phillies. It's pretty unusual for either team to get right back.
Posted by: john in south bend | October 29, 2008 11:08 PM
For all of the criticism Bud Selig took about suspending the game after 5-1/2 innings, it was a great chance for people here on the East Coast to actually see the end of a World Series game as well as a celebration before 10:00. Selig should institute this policy on a more regular basis.
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: You know, I've heard that a lot today.
Posted by: Scooter | October 30, 2008 6:00 AM
Finally...I see it takes the Phillies winning the series for you to 'eat crow'. I am loving every moment of this. But still...I love that you and another blogger here believe that you eliminate the Phillies (almost immediately) from being a contender to deal with next year. Still in denial I guess. Gillick put together a winner (like he did for the O's if anyone remembers that far back) and I say if they remain healthy - they will have to be the favorites to win again. I can't believe the bull-crap I see in the media on how bias it is to the Rays. It is nausiating. Oh, I am another one that can't stand your boys on Fox broadcasting from the booth. We really need to see different networks handle the Series. Lets say that Tampa is good, and they have the pitching to be a force next year as well, but you have to give the Phil's their due. And...there is no reason whatsoever to say they could not fight through the same teams again to get back to the post season - and possibly the World Series.
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I didn't write a word about the Phillies next year. I said the Rays would have trouble winning the AL East again. No mention at all of the Phils. They should be fine...You Philly fans can get pretty paranoid. Open another bottle of champagne and relax.
Posted by: Jami | October 30, 2008 7:12 AM
Seems that Pat Gillick and good teams are highly correlated. It is also very instructive that a bumbling Syd Thrift was more to Peter Angelos' liking. I can't hold a grudge against Philly for making good moves while I sit in Baltimore baseball purgatory. We've had a baseball moron running the show. Now that stirs up feeling some feelings of grudge.
Posted by: dignam | October 30, 2008 8:16 AM
I think that the wear and tear of additional baseball will show on the Rays next seson. I think Kazmir's elbow is still bothering him and I will be very suprised to see the Rays rotation avoid injuries after the amount of innings logged by the young starters. That being said they are loaded in the high minors with pitching so they have tools to reload.
The Rays can compete with the 2008 Red Sox and Yankees in 2009, the question is what will those two teams do in the offseason?
Posted by: Jeff V. | October 30, 2008 8:42 AM
No question the Rays will be good next year, but I also don't think they'll make the World Series. Depends on what they do in the offseason, but their offense lacks depth (Ben Zobrist in RF in the World Series? seriously?) and I think their bullpen greatly over-achieved. Of course, their front office has now shown it's smart enough to recognize the same things and move to address them.
Posted by: sheets | October 30, 2008 8:43 AM
Hey Pete, what's the over/under on weeks/days/hours/minutes before the "passionate" and "long-suffering" fans of Philly stop being satisfied and start booing a local team? I think the Sixers and Flyers should be safe, but I give them until midway through the first quarter of the next Eagles home game when Andy Reid punts on a third-and-short play or mismanages the clock again toward the end of the first half.
Posted by: Pat O. | October 30, 2008 10:09 AM
Upstarts repeating? Just ask Rockies' fans (including me) about that. From NL Champs to 74 wins in one year. Since 9 different teams have won the WS in the last 10 seasons, it's reasonable to think the Rays will fade a bit; two of their top pitchers will get hurt (like Jimenez and Morales for Colorado), somebody under-appreciated by the team will leave (Kaz Matsui), some veteran will get injured (Helton), a rookie who had a phenomenol year will slump badly (Tulowitski). Enjoy the AL Trophy, Tampa Bay, because my best guess is that the Rays will be playing for 4th place with the O's next year.
Posted by: Noel Johnston | October 30, 2008 10:58 AM
Pete.... you are a piece of work, you really are. The eternal pessimist. Your implied rationalization is irrational at best. There's nothing to suggest that the Rays will be weaker. And besides, the big boys aren't so big anymore and definitely not so young.
They've earned their wings and provided proof enough that they can play with the big boys and come out on top. They are the AL champs... the rest of the league is looking up at them.
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I gotta tell you, if you're saying I'm a pessimist, I just might have to reassess some things.
Posted by: a fan with delusions of grandeur | October 30, 2008 11:08 AM
It is tough for a either World Series team to get right back to the Championship, but the Rays may be better prepared than any recent World Series team aside from the Yankees of the late 90's:
-Pretty much every single significant player is coming back next year.
-They have six solid starting pitchers, which could put Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson in the bullpen.
-Rocco Baldelli has an entire offseason to figure out a new training regimen based on his mitochondrial disorder. If Baldelli can't be an everyday player in 2009, Gabe Gross isn't a bad platoon mate.
-They have the resources to trade for/sign a closer that will better define the bullpen roles of J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour, Chad Bradford and Dan Wheeler.
-The have the resources to trade for/sign a DH if they're not happy with Cliff Floyd/Eric Hinske/Willy Aybar.
This team is going to be around for a loooooong time.
Posted by: b | October 30, 2008 12:01 PM
All AL East teams will improve themselves over the offseason (and some quite significantly), meaning that 2009 may prove to be the most fiercely competitive (and hence most entertaining) season in divisional history. As good as Rays were this year, they can't afford to be complacent or they could run the risk of being out of the pennant race by the end of August.
Posted by: Ken Francis | October 30, 2008 1:43 PM
I will disagree with you Ken, I do not see the Blue Jays improving, in fact I think they will regress next year.
Posted by: Jeff V. | October 30, 2008 4:03 PM