Re-live September 28, 2011 In One Awesome 12-Minute Video

Has there ever been a more dramatic, chaotic, and improbable 20 minutes in the history of sports?  There have been classic games in the past, but what happened last night, was not just one classic game.  It was the finale of a 162-game season like no finale ever before.  The chaos of last night was more than just one game, it was the frantic switching back and forth between stations ultimately culminating with two historic collapses coming complete in the span of twenty minutes and two walkoffs literally separated by three minutes.  There are few times where it feels like time just stops.  Last night was one of those nights.

Last night was an Fredi Gonzalez incredibly allowing Scott Linebrink to pitch to Hunter Pence who would ultimately hit the game-winning RBI with Michael Martinez on deck.  Last night was a last place Baltimore Orioles going nowhere way too fast celebrating like they won the World Series.  Last night was Dan Johnson, he of the .119/.187/.202 slash line in 31 games in 2011 hitting the game-tying home run with the Rays down to their last out and their last strike.  Last night was Evan Longoria.  Last night was the mathematically improbable coming to fruition.

And this is last night, condensed into one 12-minute, 5-second video.



Given the numbers in the above link, to say this was the most improbable night in sports history is not that much of a stretch.  In fact, it may be a reality.  For the Cardinals and the Rays, it is a comeback they will always remember.  And for the Braves and the Red Sox, it is a collapse they will never be able to forget.

MLB Last Day Of The Season Live Blog

Has there ever been a last day of the MLB Season better than this?  Two races, both tied up, with both the Braves and the Red Sox trying to survive a collapse of Mets-ian proportions.  If not on your regional sportsnet, all these games can be seen on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNJIP, ESPNThe17th, and I am pretty sure ESPN Français will pick up some exclusive footage as well.  Join us for the fun!

Read This Post If You Want A Headache!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the scenarios for the Eagles to earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs!

Q: Can the Eagles still earn the top seed in the NFC?

A: Yes, but it's a longshot. There are two scenarios. The first one requires four things to happen:

1. Eagles beat Vikings and Cowboys.
2. Saints lose to Bucs in Week 17.
3. Falcons lose to Panthers in Week 17.
4. Bears lose to Packers in Week 17.

In this scenario, the Eagles and Falcons both finish at 12-4, and the Eagles get the tiebreak since they beat Atlanta earlier this season.

The second scenario plays out if the Bears beat the Packers and create a three-way tie of 12-4 teams (Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia). If that happens, the Eagles would FIRST need three things to happen:

1. Eagles beat Vikings and Cowboys.
2. Saints lose to Bucs in Week 17.
3. Falcons lose to Panthers in Week 17.

However, even if those three things happen, the Eagles ARE NOT guaranteed the top spot.

The head-to-head tiebreak would be irrelevant because the Falcons and Bears didn't play each other. Conference win-loss percentage is the next step, but all three teams would be 9-3 against the NFC.

Next up would be win-loss percentage in common games, but there needs to be a minimum of four common games between the three teams, which there are not.

And so it would come down to strength of victory - a tiebreak that cannot yet be determined because Week 17 has to play out. In other words, you'd take the combined win-loss records of the teams that the Eagles, Bears and Falcons each beat this season. The team with lowest opponents' win-percentage gets bounced, and the other two teams run through the set of tiebreakers again.

[...]

Basically, you want to root for teams the Eagles have beaten this season to win in Week 17. And you want to root for teams the Bears and Falcons have beaten this season to lose in Week 17.

[...]

It's important to note here that if the Saints, Falcons, Eagles and Bears all finish 12-4, the Saints get the one-seed, the Bears get the two-seed, the Eagles get the three-seed and the Falcons get the fifth-seed (as the top wild card).

I don't feel so good.

Now to the simple scenarios that my feeble human mind can wrap it's head around. There is but one scenario for the Eagles to get the #2 seed. Eagles beat Minnesota and Dallas, and Green Bay beats Chicago in Week 17. If none of these scenarios happen and the Eagles do not get a bye, they will be a #3 seed where they will face either Green Bay, New York Giants, or Tampa Bay. Want another headache? Here are the Green Bay, New York, and Tampa Bay scenarios!

Green Bay clinches a playoff spot:
1) GB win
2) GB tie + NYG loss or tie + TB loss or tie
3) NYG loss + TB loss

NY Giants clinch a playoff spot:
1) NYG win + GB loss or tie
2) NYG tie + GB loss + TB loss or tie

Tampa Bay clinches a playoff spot:
1) TB win + NYG loss or tie + GB loss or tie
2) TB tie + NYG loss + GB loss

Want to avoid these feelings of nausea, headaches, and weakness? Support a 2010 AFC team.

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 6 Live Blog

Giants @ Braves 7:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 3 Live Blog

Game 2: Reds @ Phillies 6:07 (TBS - Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson, SR: David Aldridge)

Game 2: Braves @ Giants 9:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

I'll be at Citizens Bank Part cheering on the Fightin Phils (pssssst, look for me on TBS), but that should not stop you from commenting on the LIVE BLOG OVER HERE

2010 MLB Playoffs Day 2 Live Blog

Game 2: Rangers @ Rays 2:37 (TBS - Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez, SR: Marc Fein)

Game 2: Yankees @ Twins 6:07 (TBS - Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz, SR: Craig Sager)

Game 1: Braves @ Giants 9:37 (TBS - Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly, SR: Tom Verducci)

Live blog is over here.

So You Are A Phillies Fan And You Don't Know Who To Root For On Sunday.....

Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day in sports. There could be some strange bedfellows, awkward celebrations, and utter heartbreak for a baseball team who could possibly lose out on the playoffs on the 163rd day, after holding a massive lead in the division 2 months ago. Before I go into about what Phillies fans should be hoping for, here is a list of the scenarios based on the results of tomorrow's games. The Phillies/Braves game starts at 1:35 whereas the Padres/Giants game does not get underway until 4:05.

1). Phillies win, Giants win: Giants win NL West, Padres travel to Atlanta to play Braves in a wildcard tie-breaker on Monday.
2). Phillies win, Padres win: Padres win NL West, Giants win wildcard, Braves are eliminated.
3). Braves win, Giants win: Giants win NL West, Braves win wildcard, Padres are eliminated.
4). Braves win, Padres win: 3-way tie. Giants and Padres will travel to San Diego for NL West tiebreaker game on Monday, the loser of the NL West tiebreaker will travel to Atlanta to play the Braves in a wildcard tiebreaker on Tuesday.

Now who the Phillies play on Wednesday and what team I will be inches away from at Citizens Bank Park on Friday is not yet determined. Using the same numbers for the scenarios, here is what each of them would result in for the Phillies in terms of their NLDS opponent.

1). Phillies opponent will be based on the tiebreaker results. If the Padres win, the Phillies will play the Padres. If the Braves win, the Phillies will play the Reds, who are starting Edinson Volquez in Game 1.
2). Phillies will play the Giants and a rested Tim Lincecum will be pitching Game 1.
3). Phillies will play the Padres..
4). Phillies opponent will be based on the tiebreaker results. If Giants win/Padres win, Phillies will play the Padres. If Giants win/Braves win, Phillies will play the Reds. If Padres win/Giants win, Phillies will play the Giants. If Padres win/Braves win, Phillies will play the Reds.

As hard as it is to believe, the worst case scenario would be the scenario where the Phillies win and the Padres win, the same result those who have enjoyed the schadenfreude have rooted for the past couple of days. As mentioned above, the Phillies would face a rested Tim Lincecum in Game 1, who would also be able to pitch in Game 4, if necessary, at AT&T Park. And while anything can happen in the playoffs and anyone can beat anyone on any day, this is as close to a disaster as you could possibly imagine for the Phillies. But the counter to that is the LDS series are mathematically speaking the most luck driven series of the playoffs because it is only best-of-5 instead of best-of-7. In other words, it can better to play the toughest opponent in the shorter series, where luck can play a bigger factor.

Perhaps the best scenario for the Phillies would be a scenario where the Braves win. Of course, its counterpart would be having the Padres win and us having a 3-way tiebreaker. And while this does involve the chance of playing the Giants, it would be without Lincecum starting Game 1. The Giants being in a tiebreaker means Tim Lincecum pitches in said tiebreaker. While that certainly gives the Giants a leg up in that game, it leaves them bare and exposed in the NLDS. But because I can't in good faith root for the Braves to beat the Phillies, I'll settle for the Phillies winning and the Giants winning, resulting in a Padres/Braves tiebreaker where the Phillies would either play the Padres or the Reds.

Any scenario where the Phillies play the Reds is fine with me, same with any scenario where the Phillies play the Padres. I am well aware that nobody is a guaranteed victory and I will not be celebrating an NLCS berth before this Wednesday, but I will certainly feel like the Phillies chances to advance will be higher by avoiding a series where Tim Lincecum pitches on Wednesday after a week of rest and in Game 4 in San Francisco on normal rest, even with the prospect of luck, because the Giants could very easily lose out and the Phillies can avoid their strongest adversary this year all together.

MAKE IT 4 AHEAD!

COLE HAMELS! BRAD LIDGE! LOL HEYWARD!

ROYS IN THE HOOD ON THE MOUND FOR THE NEXT 2 GAMES! PLEASE EXCUSE ME WHILE I CLEAN UP THE MESS IN MY PANTS!

Celebrate The Phillies Triumphant Return To 1st Place By Grabbing A Boob!

I'm fucking high on life right now. Wow. What a game.

(Hat tip to The Shibe Times)

Scott Barry Has Pulled This Stunt Before

I don't know when, but sometime during the year, Scott Barry was called up from the minor leagues to umpire MLB games. In the last 5 days, he has succeeded in being on the "hate list" of not just one NL East team, but 2 NL East teams. On August 19, 2010, when playing the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals had their own encounter with Scott Barry. From MLB.com's official write up of the incident.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and manager Jim Riggleman were ejected during the team's 3-2 loss to the Braves on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred in the eighth inning with the game tied at 2. After he struck out swinging to end the top of the eighth, Zimmerman threw his bat and helmet in disgust. He didn't say anything, but home-plate umpire Scott Barry ejected Zimmerman.

It marked the first time in his career that Zimmerman was tossed from a game. Riggleman then argued with Barry for about a minute before being tossed out himself.

[...]

According to Riggleman and Zimmerman, Barry believed the bat and helmet tossing from Zimmerman was directed at the umpire, but that wasn't the case. Zimmerman said he was simply frustrated at himself for striking out.

Let's see, player mad himself....lets frustration with self out externally....ejected by Scott Barry........Where have we seen this story before?

I mentioned above that Scott Barry was a minor league call up earlier in the year. Call me totally nutty, but I have a feeling that he is going to end up back in the minors in no time if this lunacy keeps up.

(Hat tip to The Fightins and Fightins commenter Phils Phan)

Kenny Albert Knows Dedication

Speaking from experience, I can say that pulling an all-nighter and not getting any sleep at all is better than only 2 hours of sleep. Hopefully for Kenny's sake, he was able to sneak in a nap or 2 before this afternoon's game otherwise he might find himself confused as to why Derrek Lee is playing for the Atlanta Braves.

Phillies NL East Clinching Live Blog Part 1

Hopefully this is part 1 of 1!

THE MAGIC NUMBER'S DOWN TO 1!!!

Phillies 7, Astros 4
Marlins 5, Braves 4

HELLZ YEAH, BITCHES!!!!

Possible live blog tomorrow of the potential NL East clincher. I have a paper due on Friday, hence the word possible. If I can get my ass working on it a bit despite my 5 clases, then I'll be satisfied enough to do the blog.

Opening Night Live Blog: Braves vs. Phillies

What: Opening Night
Who: Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
When: 8:00 PM
What Channel: ESPN2
Announcers: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips

Baseball Tonight begins at 7. I'll chime in here and there with thought on the show and the live blog will get under way at 8. Just hit refresh on the computer screen to keep up with the updates. All comments (unless they are deliberately trolling/spam *cough*cough*NathanBrice*cough*cough*) are welcome!

Just turned over to ESPN during the commercial and if you thought last year's women's Final Four court was utterly hideous, wait until you see this one. Words can't describe how bad it is. And, oh yeah, for your audio enjoyment, Mike Patrick is on the call!

I just got goosebumps watching that World Series montage for the Phillies.

"We have a beautiful night here at Citizens Bank Ballpark." - Steve Phillips

It's Citizens Bank Park, Steve, not Citizens Bank Ballpark. And some advice to Dave Winfield: lay off the valium.

Impressive homerun by NBA analyst, Jon Barry. But seriously, waving your hat to an empty crowd?? And do realize, Jon, that a very talented monkey could hit a homerun out of Citizens Bank Park.

Peter Gammons just picked the Mets in the NL East. The analysts always go for the New York teams every year they make a big move or two and it never pans out for them.

"We'd like to thank Dave Winfield for all that he has brought to us." - Karl Ravech

And I'd thank you very much if you gave Dave Winfield some 5-hour energy!

Um.....a children's story vignette to kick things off?? Okaaayyy...

"You look exactly the same as you did 19-years ago." - Jon Miller
"Thank you." - Joe Morgan

Notice that Morgan did not say the same about Miller. And maybe it's just me, but it looks and sounds like that Miller aged big-time just over this off-season (I did not watch the WBC).

And the banner has been raised at Citizens Bank Park! Damn, I was hoping ESPN would show more of it. I'd rather see that than 3 Winfield, Kruk, and Gammons give meaningless predictions. I'll have to find a YouTube video that someone took in the stands and I'll post it.

Top of the First Inning

The first pitch is a ball by Myers to Kelly Johnson. High pop-up is caught by Victorino. Next up is Escobar and on one pitch he grounds out. Now it's Chipper Jones. Myers works it to a full count. 3-2 pitch is a base hit by Chipper Jones and there is the first base hit of the single. Brian McCann is up next. McCann HAMMERS THE CHANGE-UP TO THE SECOND DECK! 2-RUN SHOT FOR THE BRAVES. And subsequently, they now lead 2-0. Garret Anderson grounds out and that's the end of the top of the first inning. 2-0 Braves.

Bottom of the First Inning

Rollins leads off and he starts off with a 1-1 count. Rollins grounds out to first. Up next for the Fightin' Phils is Jayson Werth. 2 quick strikes to Werth. He hammers the next one foul. And another foul. Ball down low by Lowe and it's a 1-2 count. Werth pops it up and Johnson brings it in. And here's Chase "World Fucking Champions" Utley. First pitch is a ball.

"I don't think that too many people were taking the Phillies to beat the upstart Rays in that World Series." - Jon Miller

Actually if I recall correctly, if anything, more people were taking the Phils. Stop watching Around the Horn, Jon. Utley decides to pop one up deep.....but it's caught at the warning track by Francoeur. End of 1 and the Braves lead 2-0.

Top of the Second Inning

Francoeur leads off the inning for hte Braves. AND FRANCOEUR LAUNCHES ONE! GONE! 3-0 BRAVES! Typical Phillies opening night, so I'm really not surprised.

Myers strikes out Kotchman. Up next for Atlanta is Jordan Schafer, a 22-year old who played in the minor leagues last year. 2-1 count to the rookie and Myers should be going after him more. 3-1 now. And Brett Myers may have to "boom outta here" soon. And wouldn't you know it? On his first at-bat, THE 22-YEAR OLD ROOKIE HITS A HOME RUN! 4-0 ATLANTA! Like I said, the Phillies are infamous for stinking up the joint on the first day of the season.

Myers easily strikes out Lowe. And Joe Morgan is rambling on making no sense. Kelly Johnson is back up at the plate. 2-1 to Johnson.

"Now the question is once you hit a homerun on your first at bat, where do you go from here?" - Steve Phillips
"You retire" - Joe Morgan

Johnson flies out and that ends the inning. 4-0 Braves.

Bottom of the Second Inning

Howard starts out 2-2. Howard foul tips it into McCann's glove and that's a strikeout. Here comes Pat Burrell's replacement, Raul Ibanez. And his first AB as a Phil is a ground out. 2 up and 2 down thus far in the second and here is Shane Victorino. The Flyin' Hawaiian grounds out on the first pitch and it's an easy 1-2-3 for Lowe. Braves lead 4-0 after 2.

Top of the Third Inning

Up next is Drew Escobar. ESCOBAR HAMMERS IT! DEEP.......OFF THE WALL! He gets a double out of it! Here's Chipper Jones now.

"The Braves are teeing off, playing homerun derby at the Phillies expense." - Jon Miller

That's not as much of an exageration as it may seem. Full count to Jones. I'm pretty sure that I just heard Joe Morgan call Jeff Francoeur, Jeff "Francurl". Myers strikes out Jones and he needed that. Here's McCann who got this derby started. Starts out 1-1. McCann pops one up in foul territory. 2 down in the top of the third with Escobar on . Ground ball to first. Howard dishes to Myers who covers and after the lead off double no more hits for the Braves. 4-0 Atlanta.

Bottom of the Third Inning

Feliz leads off the inning and he pops it up. One down. Ruiz sends one to foul territory which is missed and the Phils fans cheer. Too funny.

"He put the glove on it but he could not put the squeeze on it." - Jon Miller

0-2 to Ruiz. Ruiz launches one along the left field AND THAT'S A FAIR BALL! A fan interfered with it but Ruiz will take 2 anyway. Myers swings at the first pitch and he grounds out. Here comes J-Roll back up for the Phils. Rollins skies one and that's caught and it ends the inning. Third of the way through the game, and the Braves still lead 4-0.

Top of the Fourth Inning

"You have to go back to almost 1980." - Jon Miller on when the Phils last won a World Series before this year.

Err, Jon, it was 1980. 3-2 to Francoeur. He lines out to J-Roll. And Myers looks like he is finally settling in. Now if only the Phils offense can wake up. Casey Kotchman is up to bat. 1-2 to Kotchman. 2-2. Kotchman grounds out. Meanwhile I miss how the inning ended because I was watching the womens' game but it's still 4-0 Atlanta.

Bottom of the Fourth Inning

2-1 the count to Jayson Werth as Jon Miller dropped in a WrestleMania reference. Werth grounds out. Up next is Chase Utley. Kotchman makes a diving stop and he dishes to Lowe who gets Utley out at first. Meanwhile, I'm trying to find a good WM stream. Taker's streak is one of my favorite WWE stories. Howard grounds out. 4-0 Braves after 4.

Top of the Fifth Inning

2 straight strikes to Kelly Johnson. The 0-2 pitch is fouled off. Ground to Rollins at short and apparently I missed what happened to Johnson I was too fixed on WrestleMania. Chipper Jones launches one....Victorino trying to make a play misses it! It bounces off the ground and into the seats for a ground-rule double. Brian McCann is up and he gets down 0-2 real fast. McCann strikes out. Still 4-0 Atlanta.

Meanwhile at WrestleMania, Taker and Shawn Michaels are battling it out. Oh! Missed moonsault by Michaels and that was ugly!

Bottom of the Fifth Inning

Raul Ibanez gets real quick . And the off-season acquistion is yet to produce. Here's Shane Victorino. HOLY SHIT!!!! UNDERTAKER JUST FLIPPED OVER THE TOP ROPE AND TOOK OUT MICHAELS, THE REFEREE, AND A CAMERAMAN!! 2-2 to Victorino and he sends it foul. Victorino strikes out. Meanwhile, Undertaker is still down and he is commanding the ref to count Taker out! Feliz is up for the Phillies. REF'S AT 8!.......9!!!!! AND TAKER MAKES IT BACK IN! AND THE STREAK IS ALIVE FOR NOW! Full count to Feliz. And Pedro Feliz strikes out. And it is still 4-0.

MICHAELS TRIES FOR SWEETCHIN MUSIC BUT TAKER CATCHES HIM AND GIVES HIM A HUGE CHOKESLAM!!! BUT MICHAELS KICKS OUT! AND MICHAELS TRIES FOR THE SWEET CHIN MUSIC AGAIN AND HE NAILS IT! TAKER KICKS OUT, THOUGH!

Taker tries for the last ride....NO! MICHAELS TURNS IT INTO THE SUNSET FLIP BUT TAKER CATCHES HIM AND GETS THE LAST RIDE AFTER ALL! AND HBK KICKS OUT AFTER THAT!!! WOW! I thought that was it!

Top of the Sixth Inning

WTF?!? Since when does Taker use a flying elbow? Meanwhile, Anderson gets a basehit to first. Francoeur grounds out but Anderson advances to 2nd.

MICHAELS TRIED TO SKIN THE CAT BUT TAKER CAUGHT HIM AND GAVE HIM A TOMBSTONE! AND MICHAELS KICKED OUT AFTER THAT!!!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!

And somehow Anderson got to 3rd. I'll be honest, I am focusing way more on WM than this Phillies game. Make that 1st and 3rd. Must have walked.

Undertaker goes for the Tombstone again but Michaels counters into a DDT!!!

Runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out for the Braves.

OH!!! FLYING ELBOW BY HBK!! Full count and I felt that that last one should have been strike 3. And he does strike him out!

SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!!! TAKER KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

MICHAELS GOES FOR THE MOONSAULT AND HE'S CAUGHT!!!! TOMBSTONE!!!! 3!!!! TAKER'S 17-0 AT WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!!!

Back to baseball full time. They are sure to follow this up with some stupid gimmick.

Bottom of the Sixth Inning

Greg Dobbs is up with one out.

"Charlie manages people." - Joe Morgan on Charlie Manuel

BRILLANT!!! Dobbs kills it but it's caught by Francoeur at right-center! Not enough. Rollins with a basehit up the middle! And that's their 2nd hit and 2nd base runner. No walks by Lowe thus far. 1-1 count to Werth. Now it's 2-2. Werth smacks one that's caught by Lowe and that's the end of the inning. Does the same score need repeating?

Top of the Seventh Inning

Ex-Giant Jack Taschner comes on in relief of Myers. 2-2 count to Kelly Johnson. Taschner gets Johnson to ground out. Escobar grounds to Utley who dishes to Howard for the ground out. Here's Chipper Jones at the plate with 2 out and nobody on. 2-1 count. Taschner gets it up to a full count. Struck him out. And Taschner looks impressive in his Phillies debut. Utley, Howard, and Ibanez are due up in the bottom of the seventh.

Bottom of the Seventh Inning

Utley launches one into centerfield and Schafer makes the catch. Here's Ryan Howard now. Nice stop by Escobar and that's 2 quick outs of Utley and Howard. Here's Ibanez now. He gets out and that's another quick inning.

Top of the Eighth Inning

Scott Eyre comes in for the Phils. He strikes his first batter out. Garret Anderson is at the plate for Atlanta. Ibanez brings in that pop up from Anderson. Commercial. Pitching change? I missed the reason but I'm almost positive the inning was not over. Once again, I was more so focused on WrestleMania (it's been a helluva lot more entertaining than this game, that's for sure). Durbin comes in and he strikes out Francoeur.

Bottom of the Eighth Inning

Let's see if the Phillies can get some sort of rally here. And John Cena is the new World Heavyweight Champion after FUing the Big Show, FUing Edge on the Big Show, and then pinning the Big Show. Seemed a bit anti-climatic for WrestleMania to me. Victorino gets out, I missed how (again, WM). 3-2 count and Feliz gets out. Another lackluster inning for the Phils offense. Still 4-0 Atlanta.

Top of the Ninth Inning

Brad Lidge comes in for the Phillies. I'm not sure why the Phils have him in in this game, but be that as it may.

"His success will buy him some time if he does blow a save." - Steve Phillips on Brad Lidge

Um, Steve, if it happens in Philadelphia, Brad Lidge will probably be one of the first people ever to be given a standing ovation for doing so. Schafer strikes out. Greg Norton is pinch hitting for Lowe. And he strikes out. Bottom of the ninth coming up, 4-0 Atlanta Braves.

Bottom of the Ninth Inning

Bruntlett comes in to pinch hit for Brad Lidge. Bruntlett drives one down the left field line for a lead off double! Here's Jimmy Rollins. 1-1 and the fans don't like that latest call; thought it was too much on the inside. Called strike 2. 1-2 to J-Roll. Rollins pops one deep to Francoeur. 1 down but that allowed Bruntlett to advance to 3rd. Strike 1 to Werth. 1-1 now. Base hit for Jayson Werth and Bruntless scores from 3rd! 4-1 Atlanta but Utley is up! Werth only got to 1st on the hit. 1st pitch is high to Chase Utley. He is 0 for 3 on the day. Count's now at 2-0. 3-0!!! That one was way outside. Strike called on the outside corner. 3-1 now. WALKED!! And Ryan Howard, the tying run, is at the plate! Ball 1. Howard chases one and boy, he was swinging for the fences on that one. 1-1. 2-1 with Ibanez on deck. Howard waves at a slider and it's 2-2. Just a tad bit low and if this were in Atlanta, the ump would be read the riot act. Full count now. AND HE GETS HIM WITH A FASTBALL DOWN THE MIDDLE! 2 down and on comes Ibanez. 1-1 to Ibanez. 2-1 now. Make that 3-1. And Ibanez chases one to make it a full count with the game on the line. Tying run at the plate. 2 on and 2 out. STRUCK HIM OUT AND THE BRAVES WIN! 4-1 Atlanta.

Well, no need to panic. The Phils lost their opener last year and look what happened. Once Lowe left in the ninth, the Phils really looked like they got some mojo back. Thanks for joining me. I'll be watching the end of WrestleMania 25.

I'll have the hanging of the banner once it gets posted on YouTube. Hopefully later tonight or tomorrow.