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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>7 runs in the top of the 1st- are the Mets kidding!!

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>How would you like to be Hall of Fame bound Tom Glavine and decide if you want to come back one more year after this? Is there any team that would take him? This has to be the worst last start by any HOF pitcher.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>It would be sad if the Mets collapsed. But there's still hope, the Phillies could lose today. They've had a collapse or two in their day.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>7 runs in the 1st is a bunch...<br /><br />Sicker dogs have gotten well, as they say here in the Bluegrass State. But it's looking pretty bad. Both the Phillies and the Mets may well lose today. That will give us an extra game...

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Delgado has a fractured hand and is done...Milledge loafs in right field and allows a Willis triple...just going from bad to worse.<br /><br />And whoever heard of a pitcher hitting three triples in one season?

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Posted By: <b>Cat (ret.)</b><p>My two cents:<br /><br />I wouldn't give up on this game just yet. Most blow outs occur because once you get a 7 run lead you face the bottom half of the relief staff for the rest of the day and pile on the runs. The Mets don't have that "luxury" today. They have to pitch anyone and everyone (even starters) to try and stay in this thing.<br /><br />It's up hill but it's a different situation than a mid-season blow out.<br /><br />That being said, I am rooting for the Phils since the only player in MLB I know personally is a member of the Phils.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>The Mets have had nine base runners in the first three innings and have one run to show for it. Willis was yanked in the 3rd inning with a 7-1 lead. Wacky game. And Phils up 3-0.<br /><br />Mets better start dusting off their golf clubs.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>I feel bad for Glavine...he's such a gamer and a pro.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>i'm watching the game now...<br /><br />IF the mets lose, and the phillies win, do the mets have a chance at the wildcard?<br /><br />what are the scenarios?

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>No, because the San Diego Padres would have the wild card wrapped up.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>is this the biggest choke since the "64 phillies? it would have been nice if espn would have televised the mets and the phils games today,and switched back and forth between games. edited to add...at least have baseball tonite on during this great last day instead of the crap they have on now that they try to pass off as sports.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I'd say the Mets season is over. What a shame.

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>the greatest meltdown in the history of baseball.... in the history of sports???<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>No..it's not that bad even in baseball. 6 1/2 game lead with 12 games to go (64 Phillies) was worse than the Mets 7 game lead with 17 left. That being said, as a Mets fan, the hubris of this team is truly nauseating and I have to say that part of me is happy that it occurred as perhaps they'll get off their asses and make some moves in the offseason.

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Posted By: <b>Matthew</b><p>The Padres don't have it locked up yet. I believe they have to win today or hope for the Rockies to lose to be the wild card team.

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Posted By: <b>Jimmy</b><p>Glavine is from the Boston area so there maybe some interest next year with the Red Sox. This maybe the last year for Curt Shilling, and feel Glavine still may want to play another few years. We will have to wait and see after the playoffs are over.<br /><br />Jimmy

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Posted By: <b>Scott L</b><p>Matt is right, the Padres have it far from locked up. They are currently losing 9-4. If they go on to lose and Colorado wins the Rockies host the tiebreaker game tomorrow.<br /><br />Go Fightin's!

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Glavine will either pitch for the Mets or no one next year. The Braves have repeatedly shunned him and no team in their right mind would bring him in considering his age and the fact that two of the worst starts of his career were in the biggest games of the year for the Mets. If you want a guy to go 11-15 with a 5 ERA next year you could find cheaper players.

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Congratulations to the long suffering Philly Phanatic Mike Peich as his boys make the playoffs. <br />It's interesting that all year long the posts about "their" team have come from guys (and gal) who support the Red Sox and Yanks (tons of them), some Twins fans, a couple of Tigers and Injuns fans, even a Royals, Pirates, Angels, D-Backs and Giants fan, but I don't remember anyone ever saying they were a Mets fan here.<br />Barry, are they your team?<br />Somewhere in Heaven Gene Mauch is finally smiling <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>i think the favorites to win the world series has to be the yankees and they are the wild card? any contrary thoughts to this?<br /> ODDS TO WIN THE 2007 WORLD SERIES <br /> Team Open Current <br /> New York Yankees 4/1 3/1 <br /> Boston Red Sox 12/1 7/2 <br /> Los Angeles Angels 15/1 11/2 <br /> Chicago Cubs 75/1 6/1 <br /> Cleveland Indians 30/1 6/1 <br /> New York Mets 5/1 7/1 <br /> Philadelphia Phillies 18/1 7/1 <br /> Arizona Diamondbacks 60/1 10/1 <br /> San Diego Padres 20/1 10/1 <br /> Colorado Rockies 75/1 25/1 <br /> <br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Dennis, I would disagree that the Yankees are the favorites -- not with the suspect pitching and having to possibly play the Angels, a team they cannot beat. I'd put the favorites at the Sox and Angels even, Yankees next and then the Phillies.

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Posted By: <b>Ralph</b><p>The Red Sox will host the Angels & I hope the Sox can defeat them as they hopefully would play Cleveland for the A.L. Title as Cleveland I hope is too much for the Yanks.Hoping it is Boston Versus The Cubbies in the World Series & if so Boston in 5 games <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Joann</b><p>Sigh. And the Tigers are done.<br /><br />I have a Tigers flag (not a banner that hangs vertically but a real horizontal flag) that I put out each summer. Every year on Opening Day morning before I go to work it goes up the flagpole. Every fall it comes down in the evening just after the Tigers finish their last game of the season.<br /><br />It was nice last year I got to leave it up a little longer. Oh well. I'm on my way out to take it down for the year now. It's a nice little tradition I like to keep, so I'll take it down and drink a toast to the Tigers and wait for next season.<br /><br />But I'll enjoy the heck out of October baseball in the meantime. Best time of the year, bar none.<br /><br />Here we go!<br /><br />Joann

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Posted By: <b>Dan Koteles</b><p>Shumbuddy should lose their job over the Met situation. They led their division all but the last day of the season. I would look seriously at whomever did not play well or manage right. The Tigers nearly fared the same. <br /><br /><br /><br />by the way ,who cares about any NY TEAM ?<br /><br />Yankees overpay<br />Mets can do nuttin in the clutch <br />Knicks?....anytime you have a tard like Marbury on the team ,need I say more?<br />Giants and Jets are rarely recognized<br />haint herd much of the Islanders since Trottier or Brad Park....so I enjoyed taking the pokeshots at the Ny's teams. Thank you very much and Happy Sunday to all.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Padres and Rockies in one game showdown. There was a tie after all.<br /><br />Bob- I like the Mets but I don't have that strong of an allegiance. I have to say though what occurred over the last two weeks is shocking. The team must be devastated. They were invisible today. To have the most important game of the season and to lose it in the top of the first inning is inexcusable.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Dan, two observations: Brad Park never played for the Islanders; and last time I checked, the Red Sox spent like 100 mil on Dice K this year.

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Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>Go Diamondbacks!

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Posted By: <b>John Kalafarski</b><p> Red Sox fans will know that things are coming together for the Sox as we head into the postseason. Matsuzaka looked very good last start and Shilling's improvement has been steady. Okajima has gotten some much needed rest and has looked close to his old self lately. Manny just came back from an oblique and David Ortiz has been hitting the ball well (took a cortisone shot to the knee and will have surgery come the off season). Youkilis just came back from being hit on the wrist and appears ready to go. Health is a good thing to have at this time. However, I think any of the four AL teams could take it. Too bad about the Mets; I was rooting for Pedro's return to Fenway.

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Posted By: <b>J Levine</b><p>Simply put...go Phillies!<br /><br />Joshua

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Posted By: <b>Dan Koteles</b><p>I knew who Park played for , just forgot to finish that line. How would I mention Park not knowing?...I am not Peter.C for Pete's sake !<br /><br />The R.Sox have rarley spent like the Yankees....please allow for others to do something once in a while.<br /><br />Enjoy having your Yanks .There are more exciting teams then they.<br /><br />The RSOx and Phillies look like the series teams and just think Jeff, you can take the A-train or the Iron pimp out of NY!

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Since the worst team in the playoffs in either league won it all last year, maybe the Cubs have a chance this year.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Dan, I agree the Sox and the Phillies would make for a great WS. Hard to imagine that the Phillies' pitching will prevail in the end, however.

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Posted By: <b>Dave S</b><p><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1191196756.JPG">

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Posted By: <b>Dan Koteles</b><p>IT would be thr most exciting. Who has better pitching, Ariz?<br /><br />I think the youngsters there couldnt hit with that pressure on them...could be wrong. Cubs dont have enough to win it all. The twinkies won it with an identical record ,but just do not see it. Red Sox have to be the favorites.<br /><br />Utley ROllins and Howard....gonna be fun to watch. Much congrats to them.

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>I will be rooting for a Cubs / Yankees World Series.<br /><br /><br />Jeff and Barry....<br />how the heck could two vintage card guys root for a team (the muts) outside of the vintage 16 teams?!?!<br /><br />and Jeff - Chase was a Yankee.... c'mon!<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>Barry and Jeff, and New Yorkers et al.....first, I will say I'm sorry your Mets lost to the Phillies. But, it's only pure justice that when it<br /> came down to a contest between these two teams, the better team won.....don't take my word for it......the Phils were 12 - 6 over<br /> the Mets this year.<br /><br />As one who rooted for the Phils, I had low expectations due to their lack of pitching. But, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Rowand and Burrell<br />proved to be a formidable hitting crew. And, there was anothet bit of "magic" that carried this team.....to steal a past expression<br /> from your Mets...."you have to believe". And, they did, as the Phils came back from deficits 50 times this season....that was the best<br /> comeback performance of any other team in the majors.<br /><br />Yankees and Phillies....a repeat rendezvous of the 1950 season.<br /><br />TED Z

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Ted- you don't have to convince me. The Mets got exactly what they deserved. Reyes had an awful final two months; the bullpen was generally dreadful; they has too many injuries; and in today's biggest game of the year, they were sleepwalking. Glavine had nothing, and the stadium was like a morgue after half an inning.<br /><br />Hope the Phillies make it to the series. They played big when it counted. Look at the year Ryan Howard had after a terrible start.

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Posted By: <b>Tony Andrea</b><p>GO D-BACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />Who woulda thunk it with this group of young kids this year.<br /><p>Regards, Tony Andrea, proudly from Chandler, Arizona.....

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Posted By: <b>Darrell</b><p>Looking forward to the playoffs - nothing like 3 home fields this year - <br />nice run by the Phillies - they have me watching the NL -hoping we play one of them<br /><br />by the way -- I don't consider this OT at all -- good luck to all !!<br /><br />Darrell

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Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>I'm with you Tony, Go Dbacks!!! Amazing mix of AA, AAA, & veteren players.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Koteles</b><p>who leads off for you, little Walter? You may be my pal , but...a 278 obp will have you in trouble. Good pitching staff though.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Jimmy Rollins a classic lead-off hitter type, I'm sure that he's going to shine. I'm looking forward to ARod and Yankees choking again this year. Cubs, there's no doubt that lots of people are rooting for them this year. It's only fair that a team wins a World Series at least once in a 100 years.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I'll be rooting for a Cubs v Red Sox WS, but it's probably going to end up Padres v Angels for the most boring WS in the history of the game.

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Posted By: <b>Ralph</b><p>I don't care who wins well I don't want the Yankee's to win,I hope A-Rod has his usual play-off slide & the Tribe scalp's them,C'mon Indians <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>As a Yankee fan I enjoy the Met/Yankee interleague games every year but it is unfair that the Mets have to play the Yanks six times each season. The Mets played a somewhat tougher interleague schedule than the Phillies did and this may have been the difference in deciding the division. I don't think a pennant race should be influenced in this way.<br /><br />That being said, I was strongly rooting for the Mets to collapse. I took a lot of abuse from Met fans for the first 3/4 of the season : ) <br /><br />Howard<br /><br />Go Joba!

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Posted By: <b>Tony Andrea</b><p>Dan, Danny, Dano -<br />We might have a leadoff hitter who isn't your "A" typical<br />guy at the top the order, but we have a secret weapon:<br />Micah Ownings. Our fourth starter.<br />Batting .339, with 4-Hr's, 7-2b's, and 15-rbi's.<br />Look out baby...... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><p>Tony<br />

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Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p>Tony<br /><br />I'm certainly rooting for the Rockies because of Jeff Francis, former University of British Columbia pitching star. <br /><br />Max<br />Vancouver, BC

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Posted By: <b>Mike</b><p>I would rather have another 1994 Strike season instead of another Subway series. Also, Glavine is perhaps the worst 1st Inning HOF pitcher in the history of the game. Who knows how many WS the Braves would have won if it wasn't for Glavine's 1st Inning meltdowns in the big games.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Well that's the problem with control pitchers like Glavine...when you have your pinpoint control you have the hitters eating out of your hands. The problem is sometimes it takes a while for them to warm up. So your best shot at hitting Glavine is the first couple of innings when he's still looking for the strike zone.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Tony Andrea</b><p>Hi Max -<br />Jeff Francis definitely had a wonderful year.<br />Pitching in Colorado, anytime you win close to<br />20 games and can keep your era around .400, that's<br />phenomenal. Tough place to pitch.<br />They should have the edge going up against the Padres<br />at home monday evening in the one game playoff.<br /><p>Tony

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Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p> Jimmy Rollins just finished with one of the most interesting stat lines:<br /><br />Season1627161392123820309441.296.344.531<br /><br />He set the records for most AB's in a season, and most hits for a batter finishing under .300. And he became not just a 20 2b, 20 3B, 20 HR batter, but a 30-20-30, with 41 steals as well.<br /><br />Max<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>A strange thing about Francis is that for his career he actually has a better ERA in Colorado than he does on the road. Go figure.<br /><br />Gotta love that Rollins line. He's like an improved version of a young Juan Samuel.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Jimmy simply had an incredible year. He's still young enough to improve.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Cat (ret.)</b><p>The line came out heavily favoring the Padres tomorrow...or to put it better heavily favoring Peavy.

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Posted By: <b>Tony Andrea</b><p>Hi Cat -<br />There's no doubt Peavy is an overpowering pitcher<br />but that Rockies lineup is scary, and they will be<br />in Colorado. I like the Rockies 7-3 in this one.<br />You won't see me puttin' any money on it though.<br />I'm to chicken. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><p>Tony

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Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>MAX W<br /><br />As great as Rollins' numbers are this season....what they don't tell us is that once he reaches 1st base, there is a very high probability<br /> that it is an automatic RUN. Take today for example, he hit a single.....immediately stole 2nd base....next he stole 3rd base.....then he<br /> scored without the benefit of a hit. In this case it was a sacrifice fly to the outfield. At other instances, he has scored on a slowly exe-<br />cuted OUT play, or one of his teammates bunting him home, etc., etc.<br /><br />He is one of the best lead-off hitters that I have ever seen; and, I have seen many since the late 1940's.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Ted, I'm blown away by Rollins: first opening up his big mouth in spring training and backing it up not 90 percent but 100 percent; the power, the RBI, the triples. Keep in mind that at the beginning of the season Jose Reyes was thought of, arguabley, as one of the top 5 players in baseball (and certainly the most exciting). Rollins blew him away this year and deserves the MVP.

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Posted By: <b>kenneth McMillan</b><p>Cubs / Angels world series........Go Cubs Go........

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Posted By: <b>Cat (ret.)</b><p>If I am correct, if Peavy wins tomorrow he does get credited with being a 20-game winner. No?<br /><br />Tony, I wouldn't put money on either team tomorrow. How could you bet against Peavy? How could you bet against a team that has won 13 out of the last 14?<br /><br />MVP? Holliday had a monster year. He would get my vote.

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>I may have misunderstood but I thought I heard the Rockies announcer say that Peavy was 5-5 lifetime against the Rockies. <br />If Colorado wins tomorrow don't bet against seeing the Indians and the Rockies in the Series as both teams were playing great when they needed it.

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Posted By: <b>Eric Brehm</b><p>My understanding is that the Padres-Rockies wild card tiebreaker game is considered an extension of the regular season, as opposed to the beginning of the postseason. The players' performances in the game will count against their regular season statistics. For example Matt Holliday, who was leading the NL in batting average as of the end of today, will need to do better than 0-for-5 tomorrow in order to retain the crown.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>If Bud Selig has done anything right as commissioner it was the Wild Card.

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Posted By: <b>CN</b><p> I just got in the door and as a long time season ticket holder who went to today,s game it was horrible especially for a Glavine fan. The start of the game reminded of game 6 of the 1999 NLCS when Al Leiter gave up 5 runs w/o retirering a batter,but the mets came back and took the lead twice before Kenny Rodgers issued a bases loaded walk to lose the series. At least I made today a doubleheader and saw the Giants beat the Eagles. CN

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Matt Holiday was the RBI leader for virtually the whole season but Ryan Howard passed him yesterday. Holliday can tie or take it back in tonight's game.<br /><br />I didn't realize Rollins' stats were that extraordinary, and he does look like the MVP. Those 716 at bats are eleven more than the previous record. That alone is amazing.

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Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>We can laud the season Jimmy Rollins had....ad infinitum. But, let's look at the bigger picture. The Phillies put together a team effort<br /> after Labor Day that is just unbeatable, as they won 13 games while losing only 4....in the final stretch.<br /><br />There's no way you can beat that type of September performance.<br /><br />TED Z

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Go Phillies! They deserve it. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />And where were the Colorado Rockies two weeks ago? In oblivion. Now it's a one game sudden death.<br /><br />And let's not forget the Cubs. Can they break the hex?<br />

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Posted By: <b>ramram</b><p>Ugghhh! After 161 games and some 7,900+ points, it came down to the last day of our Fantasy Baseball League. I only needed 7 points from Glavin in his last start to put me in the money. The ^*^&%* took a -17.5 points. I will forever hate Tom Glavin!<br /><br />Rob M.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Looking at the NL West in July -- did anyone think the Rockies and the Dbacks could make the playoffs? Either of them? Now it may be both.<br /><br />As for the Phillies, they gave the Mets tons of opportunities to run away with the NL East but the Mets refused the gifts day after day. As well as the Phillies played, the Mets' actions contributed the most to the Phillies winning the East.

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Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>i didn't follow the early season head-to-head Mets/Phillies games. But, the overwhelming 12-6 dominance of the Phils over the Mets<br /> is mind-boggling to me.<br /><br />Can you elaborate on this.....were some of these Phils victories close games ?<br /><br />TED Z<br /><br />Gee, look even the DOW is rallying to the Phillies victory as it's over 14,000......HA !

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Ted, the Mets choked away so many of the Phillies games it would curl your hair. How about this scenaio: first and third, bottom of the ninth for the Mets, tying run on third base. One out. Shawn Green hits a slow tapper to short stop, way too slow to double him up. Tying run crosses the plate. Marlon Anderson, the Mets runner at first, for some inexplicable reason goes way out of the basepath in an attempt to break up the double play (which could never have happened anway due to the ball being hit too slow). Umpire calls a double play due to the interference - game over. And there were at least 3 more games which the Mets blew to the Phils equally as dopey as that.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Tony Andrea</b><p>Jeff L -<br />I'm telling you, it's that damn "Mookie Wilson Curse".... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><p><br />Go D-Backs.<br />Tony<br />

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Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>October is here!<br />Dave S, well said with that gorgeous logo!<br /><br />Regarding the Mets:<br />They have become my local interest since moving out East from Chicago, because I am a NL guy.<br /><br />BUT!!!<br /><br />I am satisfied that they lost, and here's why:<br /><br />What would it mean to you as a baseball fan to sit down and watch the Opening Game of the World Series, and right there in the first inning, Jose Reyes squibs one down the third base line, and stand at home plate as he watches himself get thrown out at first????!!!<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, he is terribly exciting to watch, but if he doesn't get himself a work ethic, his flame may burn out real quick at the Major League level.

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Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>If you ask me, the reason the Mets lost is because the team has decided not to take the Big Apple to the new stadium. That apple looked after them for a long time and for all time forward this will be known as the "Curse of the Big Apple".

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>While you have to give kudos to the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins for playing so hard the last 2 weeks when they had absolutely nothing to gain, the real credit should be given to the Milwaukee Brewers. Having their hearts broken when they were eliminated, they could have simply folded their tent and gone home but instead played like demons the last week to knock out the Mets. <br />Watching the Marlins late in the year, they look like a team which could bounce back and contend next year if they develop their young pitching. Another bounce back team next year could be the Twins. Santana and Nathan are in the final year of their contracts and will want to have career years next year for the bidding teams. Soriano comes back healthy and he was better than Santana in 2006. Baker, Garza and Slowey matured and all pitched well this year. If they would loosen the purse strings (if they don't sign Hunter and they have let Castillo's, White's, Cirillo's and probably Silva's contract go) and spend a little of the money they have been saving up, maybe they sign a 3rd baseman and DH and if Mauer, Morneau and Cuddyer stay healthy for a change, they may be tough.

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Posted By: <b>boxingcardman</b><p>I am not a Dodgers fan (I am a Yankees fan) but I do enjoy the game and have generally made it a point to buy a small ticket package each year for the Dodgers. I was so disgusted with the Dodgers in the offseason that I decided not to attend any games this year. I was not wrong--it was obvious to me that they were assembling a team just good enough to put cans in the seats but not good enough to win a pennant--but I did miss the pleasant summer evenings at Chavez Ravine. First time in years I haven't attended a game.

O/T: Last day of Season
 

Posted By: <b>Tony Andrea</b><p>Adam -<br />I thought one of the big reasons the Dodgers didn't meet expectations this <br />year was due to manager Grady Little. I thought he was horrible.<br />I scratched my head time and time again with his lineup he put on the field<br />and pitching moves he made throughout the year.<br />They had the talent to go further, although some key injuries to their pitching<br />staff didn't help the situation.<br />By the way, they have a rookie who is pretty good in Andre Ethier who happens to<br />be my neighbor. I've met him a couple times now and he's a very nice guy.<br />Cant believe Grady Little had him batting 7th and 8th in the lineup towards the end<br />of the year. <br /><p>Tony

O/T: Last day of Season
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Adam, I grew up a Dodgers fan and loved the team more than any other professional team I pulled for. Once they traded Piazza I pretty much was done with them. I've been a Mets fan since. I didn't think it was possible to change allegiances midstream but the Dodgers really stuck it to their fans for a long time now.

O/T: Last day of Season
 

Posted By: <b>boxingcardman</b><p>since the parking lot attendant bought them always get guys who are not quite A list. They won't spend for a big bat and won't spend for established veterans who are at their peaks. They insist on structured contracts that defer large amounts of money, which A list guys won't take. They end up with guys like Kent (just over the hill when he signed) or Drew or Garciaparra (injury prone). It puts butts in the seats and makes money for the team but doesn't really compete. Just watch, when the young players "mature" (i.e., get to arbitration and free agency age), they will all walk.

O/T: Last day of Season
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Imagine what it would be like to root for a team that can't afford its best players and then lets them get away without trading them or getting any compensation:<br /><br />Jack Morris<br />David Ortiz<br />Tori Hunter<br />And soon to come:<br />After 2008<br />Johann Santana 2004 and 2006 Cy Young winner<br />Joe Nathan (best closer in the game despite what Bosox fans think)<br />After 2009<br />Justin Morneau 2006 AL MVP<br />Michael Cuddyer<br /><br />Sometimes I think Connie Mack is running the Twins! The insane are definitely running the asylum in Minnesota. Their new ball park in Minneapolis will feature the world's worst sluggers and possibly the league's best pitchers. Damn shame...

O/T: Last day of Season
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Bob, since when can't the Twins afford to keep their best players? They've got by far the wealthiest owner -- Carl Pohlad is the richest owner in baseball history -- but he's a cheapskate. I only wish the NY teams had an onwer as rich as Pohlad. At least our guys spend whatever it takes to win instead of keeping the cash in their mattresses.