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!

Opening Day Part 2 Live Blog

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)

"Left Fielder, Roy Oswalt!"

Well that was a bizarre 5 hours of 20 minutes of baseball. In the bottom of the 14th inning, Ryan Howard was at the plate with 2 outs. After Ryan Howard got mad himself for swinging at a ball, 3rd base umpire Scott Barry (who just so happens to be a minor-league call up; I think I know where he will be finishing the year) took odd exception to it. 4 pitches later, Howard checked his swing, Berry said he went around, that was strike 3, Howard was visibly upset, threw his helmet, and for it was ejected by Scott Barry. By this point, the Phillies were completely out of bench players. When push came to shove, the Phillies moved Raul Ibanez to 1st base (Ibanez played some 1st base in the early 2000s, so the position is not totally new to him) and inserted their most athletic pitcher remaining, Roy Oswalt, in left field. It does not take a scientist to figure out where the 1st batter of the top of the 15th inning hit the ball.....

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HOWARD'S EJECTION, ROY OSWALT'S PLAY IN LEFT FIELD, AND RAUL IBANEZ PLAY A MEAN 1ST BASE!

The Phillies ultimately lost the game when Roy Oswalt, batting in the clean-up spot, grounded out to end the game after fighting valiantly to work the count. Tough loss, maybe one of the worst of the season. Alleviating that fact a bit, for the 9th consecutive the Phillies and Braves played on the same day, they earned the same result.

Brett Myers Will Remain A Phillie After All. Sort Of.

While it is true that Brett Myers won't be a Philadelphia Phillie, he will still be playing for a team with Phillies as their franchise name. Only these Phillies are located in Houston and have Ed Wade as their GM. Yes, what I am dancing around is that Brett Myers has signed a deal with the Houston Astros Former Phillies! From the Houston Chronicle.

Myers, 29, comes to the Astros from Philadelphia, where he went 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA in eight years with the Phillies.

Astros general manager Ed Wade, then with Philadelphia, drafted Myers in 1999.

As a matter of team policy, the Astros do not discuss deals that are pending, and Wade had no comment Friday.

The Associated Press, quoting a person on condition of anonymity, put the one-year deal at $5 million. Myers made $12.1 million in 2009.

Myers was 4-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 18 games (10 starts) last season, when he was sidelined for a significant portion of it after undergoing hip surgery.

When healthy, Myers, who also has experience as a closer, has the stuff to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.

His previous full season came in 2008, when he went 10-13 with a 4.55 ERA as a No. 2 starter, then went 2-1 in three postseason starts in helping the Phillies win the World Series.

Myers’ signing adds punch to a rotation that is set to include Roy Oswalt as the anchor and Wandy Rodriguez as the apparent No. 2 man.

The addition of Myers means Rodriguez will have competition for the No. 2 spot and three pitchers — Bud Norris, Felipe Paulino and Brian Moehler — likely will be vying for the final two spots.

Ed Wade strikes again! If he can't coach these people to a World Series in Philadelphia, then he's going to die trying to coach these same guys to a world championship with Houston. Okay, so Feliz came to Philly after Wade was fired, but you get my point.

Besides, I have read rumors that the Astros are close to a deal with Mike Lieberthal, Andy Ashby, Doug Glanville, Desi Relaford, AND Rico Brogna, so Wade will get his wish of managing the Phillies to a championship in Houston after all.

In all seriousness, though, he may have his personality problems, but Brett Myers was a crucial part in the Phillies taking the title in 2008 and you can damn sure bet that his heroics won't be forgotten. Consider the following videos to be a tribute and a fond farewell to Philadelphia's favorite wife beater, Brett Myers!




Best of luck Brett in Houston and if and when you ever take the mound again at Citizens Bank Park, you'll get a rightfully deserved standing ovation from the crowd and the city and the people that loved you.

FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR, THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST CHAMPIONS!!!

Actual moment of clinching in the Marlins-Braves game (complete with depressed Braves announcers!):
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200909306936149

Seconds later, here are Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler on the Phillies winning:
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6936311&c_id=mlb

Scott Franzke and Larry Anderson on Phillies radio:



Tribute to Harry Kalas:



If you're a Phillies fan and don't at least have a lump in your throat after watching that, then I'm not sure what to tell you.

Thanks to The Fightins for compling these!

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.