Philadelphia Phillies Vs Atlanta Braves: The Great Debate

There is something to be said about great rivalries in sports. They change, they go cold at times, and then there are times the rivalry will heat back up like never before.

This year, the Atlanta Braves have put their bid in to be the king of the NL East again as they seek to knock off the new beast in the east, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Packed with superstars, two World Series appearances, and a myriad of household names, the Phillies charge into this rivalry no different then they’ve had any other.

They’ve finished the Mets, knocking them off the map. They’ve sought vengeance against the Colorado Rockies, they ruined “the team that showed promise” in the Los Angeles Dodgers—twice, and they defeated the team of the future, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Now, the New York Yankees are in their sights. The Phillies seek to prove that they are beyond the level of even them.

Who stands in their way? The Atlanta Braves.

This wily team could be a pest. They will certainly put their bids in to win the NL East race, and it could happen. But, the playoffs are a different story. The Braves have young players who may be star struck at the fact that they are on the big stage, as did the Phillies in 2007.

It’s a completely different atmosphere, there’s more at stake. To beat a team four times out of seven…well, that is quite the task.

Can the Braves pull that off against the Philadelphia Phillies? Well, that will be decided. In the meantime YOU place your vote.

Bleacher Report’s Philadelphia Phillies’ Columnist, Vincent Heck, goes head to head with Atlanta Braves’ Featured Columnist, Evan Walker, in a war of words to decide who would win.

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Philadelphia Phillies Bring in the Halladay with a Promise: The National League

On the fourth day of September, our true love gave to us,
four games unbeaten,
three aces pitching,
two straight World Series,
and a game back the NL East.

It feels like a holiday doesn’t it? So I figured a song would be appropriate.

It literally is a holiday weekend, with a Halladay on the mound, and don’t look now, but those guys we voted to be less confident in, even writing them off at one point, are making that surge we knew, deep down, would come.

Of course the polls have switched now, because the Phillies are showing us signs that they are still every bit as resilient as they have ever been.

Four games into the September push, the Phils will not take no for an answer. Heck, they won’t even accept a maybe. They are gunning for the top spot.

They may, in fact, have their eyes set on No. 1 overall in the NL. They’re only a game and a half back, and they’re the hottest team in the National League right now with five consecutive wins.

What we’re seeing here is a beautiful compliment of pitchers and hitters. When the bats were down, the pitchers held down the fort. With Halladay in line to lose his third straight start on September 4, 2010, the bats exploded.

The Phils rallied again, to win another close game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday evening 5-4.

The Phillies seem to love the tight games, boasting a 24-14 record in one-run games. They show us a healthy mixture of long balls like we’ve seen on Thursday night to the small ball comebacks we’ve seen today. This is what the Phillies possessed all of these seasons.

Now on top of that, they’ve got three aces. Is it now apparent yet? These guys have a knack for winning, and it won’t stop until they break up or get too old.

After September 5 2010, the rest of the season is in house—all NL East folks.

I’m going to go ahead and make a bold statement: by time October arrives, the Philadelphia Phillies will be the No. 1 seed in the National League.

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Chase Utley And The Philadelphia Phillies Are The New Philadelphia Eagles

P-h-i-l-l-i-e-s Phillies!

It’s only weird because you’re not used to it. It’s a little long, yes. But it’ll have to do for now.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been the talk of the town for so many years. From Randall Cunningham, to the endless plethora of quarterbacks in between, to Donovan McNabb, they have pulled a big part of this city’s sports weight, if you will, behind them.

The Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies have always played second, third and fourth fiddle to the mighty Eagles.

But, with Kevin Kolb at the helm, McNabb out, Evan Turner joining Sixers nation, and the 2008 championship, it’s now clear that the big-dogs in Philadelphia are your Philadelphia Phillies.

So many questions surround the other teams in Philadelphia: Can Kevin Kolb take the control and lead the Eagles back to elite status. Can Evan Turner adjust to the NBA, and just how good will he be?

Those are just two questions surrounding those particular teams. Two individual columns could be written about the needs and questions of both of those franchises alone.

With the Flyers going to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, and the Phillies going to the World Series, it’s clear that they are the two elite teams in Philly.

Of the two teams, there is no doubt who are the beloved—you’ve got it.

It’s definitely hard-earned, and well deserved. They took over the town in 2008, a year that was not, by any means, a quiet one in Philadelphia sports.

The Sixers, for one, had a decent run, giving the third-seeded Southeastern Division champion and eventual Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic, a run for their money. The Sixers were able to push the series lead to 2-1 and in game four, they stretched their lead to over 15 points—to no avail, however.

Orlando magically, pulled off the comeback win, beating the 76ers 84-81.

The Flyers, in that same year, advanced a bit further than the Sixers, going to the Eastern Conference semifinals, only to lose the the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Eagles, after a season which looked to promise that the Eagles would finally win a Super Bowl, with everything falling into place for Donovan McNabb and the gang, failed to deliver. Unfortunately, their run ended one game before the big dance.

Despite all of these teams vying for the championship in their respective sport, the Phillies were the only ones to accomplish their goal.

The following season worsened for everyone except for the Flyers and Phils. The Eagles ended their season in the wild card round with back-to-back loses to their bitter rival, the Dallas Cowboys, while the Sixers came nowhere near mattering.

Each of the other teams have moved into a new era, and with the solid core of the Phillies being the premier in the majors, it solidifies your Philadelphia Phillies as the new face of Philadelphia Sports.

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Philadelphia Phillies Locked and Loaded: World Series Bound Again

They say around 90 percent of the things we get anxious about, are things we never have to experience. The majority of what’s left of that 10 percent, doesn’t kill us.

So why are we so jumpy Philly?

The reason we panic, as Phillies fans, may have to do with a lot of things. Our nerves may be jumpy from previous trauma involved with our other teams.

Take the Philadelphia Eagles, for instance. Almost every year for the past decade, really, they’ve been an elite team. At times, they looked like a well oiled machine. Other times, well…not so much.

More times than we could bare, it was a crucial game, against a team that we’re favored to win against. Then came the colossal breakdown.

McNabb couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn, linemen couldn’t hold the defence, everybody dropping the football, Andy Reid won’t run the ball, and when he did, the exchange from quarterback to running-back is faulty, ending in a turnover.

It’s making your skin crawl isn’t it?

Then, like abused dogs who receive new owners, it seems we carry that same trauma across the street to our Phillies.

What we need to remember, Philadelphia, is that our Phillies are proven and tested.

We’ve had a team that has moved forward for nine consecutive seasons.

In 2001, the Phillies had a winning season for the first time in eight years.

The next year, 2002, the Phils had a losing year. After 2003, however, the Phillies followed a winning trend that has, since, never regressed.

After the 2004 season, the Phillies took on Charlie Manuel as the new manager in  the beautiful new venue of Citizen’s Bank Park.

Each 162 game season after another, the Phillies continued to fight.

Remember in 2007, after J-Roll opened his mouth and declared us the team to beat and the Phils opened the season 4-11? I, for one, thought they would have a terrible year. Then they battled their way through the season and had a great second half of September, clinching their playoff spot in the last game of the season.

Then in anticipation of the following season, the Phil’s opened up with a 1-0 loss to the lowly Nats. Followed by a June which involved a 5-11 stretch, that we panicked about also.

How about 2009? When Brad Lidge couldn’t close the cap of a ketchup bottle, to save his life. Everybody doubted the Phillies with that struggling bullpen.

Well guess what folks—we’re here again. Another season, another struggle, and more doubts.

The Phillies, this year, have been relatively consistent for the most part. They’ve had some injuries leading to hitting slumps, they’ve had some ups and downs as is to be expected in a season of 162 games.

Only difference now is different competition—totally different.

It’s highly possible, there will be no Dodgers, no Manny, no Cardinals, no Cubs, Rockies, or Brewers.

The Braves look very solid, and they will prove to be tough, but remember the Cubs of ’08 who were favored in the National League? They got swept off the planet.

Same with the St. Louis Cardinals of ’09—nowhere to be found.

Not saying the Phillies can’t be beat, I’m saying—calm down.

The Phillies have experience under their belt, they have confidence in their heart, but they are by no means any strangers to losing.

In 2007, they were “honored” with the privilege of being the first organization to 10,000 losses. And while that wasn’t anything the current team could do anything about, just the mental aspect of losing the game, and having to answer the asinine, unproductive questions, that came with it. Not only did they lose, now they had a big number thrown on top of that.

That season ended by them being bludgeoned by the Colorado Rockies, as if they didn’t belong at all.

2009, the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies fought adversity, and got everyone’s attention with the Cliff Lee gem in game one of the World Series, only to eventually lose the series 4-2. 

This year, equipped with the amount of knowledge it takes to win and lose, we have a completely matured championship team.

It reminds me of a man in his fifties. He’s just not so jumpy about life anymore. You can’t shock him so much, you can’t rattle him too violently, he stay’s reasonably cool. He’s seen the bad, he has failed at times, he has worried, and he has prevailed. In the end, he’s still here.

These are our Phillies. If you’re wondering why I’m so confident, look at who’s in the running for the playoffs now.

Atlanta, San Diego, Cincinnati, and San Francisco. They’re all excellent teams, worthy opponents, and they certainly do all have a chance of knocking off the Phillies, but look at the experience. None of them have nearly as successful a decade as the Philadelphia Phillies have had.

Wake up Philadelphia, it’s ok to be realistic, but realize, realistically you have the, seasoned, powerhouse team now.

 

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Phillies’ Future Helping the Present: Five September Call-Up Prospects

After a tough 120 games, a major league team can be beat up or even fatigued. An expanded roster is always just the boost needed to help that team over the hump.

For a team like the Phightin’ Phillies, who are known to take the hard route to success, September call-ups are absolutely crucial.

The Phillies have an amazing group of talent in the farm, and with the amalgamation of that and the amazing group in the big leagues, you can be sure the Phils will not be easy to hold off.

As of late, the Phillies have been struggling to score runs, and their bullpen has never been known to scare anyone off, so more than likely the team will need to think about those few areas.

Being that the Phillies are famous for their firepower, I don’t believe there should be much concern about the offense. More attention, however, should be on strengthening the bullpen.  

This called into my mind a few prospects that could help the Phils hunt down the Braves and hold off the Giants.

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Philadelphia Phillies: An Epic, Five-Hour Thriller Leaves Team Scrambled

PHILADELPHIA — For huge baseball fans, watching the Phils vs. Astros was a treat. This was the longest game in Citizens Bank Park since 2004; five hours and twenty minutes worth of baseball showcasing a bullpen battle, which took us through 16 innings. This landed Roy Oswalt in left field, and Raul Ibanez at first base.

A day after the controversial call by Umpire Greg Gibson, the Phillies and Astro’s serve up an epic 16 inning thriller.

This game served a lot of excitement starting in the ninth inning when Jimmy Rollins tied the game at two a piece in the ninth, with a dramatic, towering, home-run to send the game into extra innings.

With an out of character Ryan Howard ejection in the 14th, and the bullpen performing magnificently for eight scoreless innings, the Phils were forced to go to the all-pro starter Roy Oswalt to man left-field for them, clear into Wednesday morning.

With one out in the top of the 16th, Phillies Pitcher, David Herndon, approaching 50 pitches, showed fagitue, hitting a batter and loading the bases for Houston’s, Chris Johnson.

Despite a trip to the mound by Dubee, and a tremendous subsequent diving stop by Polanco on a ball drilled to third base, the Phils weren’t able to get anyone out. Eventually, the scrambling of the roster finally takes its toll on the Phillies.

A ground ball hit to Jimmy Rollins was thrown to Utley for one out, but the throw to Ibanez, playing a position he doesn’t normally play, first base, was bobbled allowing another to score making it 4-2 with two outs in the top of the 16th.

After the Astro’s loaded the bases again, Herndon strikes out the sides, leaving the resilient Phillies with two options—score, or lose.

At 12:16am the Phils took bat, looking to do what they do best—make magic.

With one man on base, the Phils could have won the game with a walk off home-run. The Houston Astros, wisely decided to pass on Utley and take a chance pitching to their old ace, Roy Oswalt, putting the game on the line.

In the end, after a battle at the plate between Oswalt and his former team, it just wasn’t meant to be. Leaving the fate of another pennant race game in the hands of another sensitive, arrogant, tight-pantied umpire with an ultra contentious disposition, ultimately, costing them the game.

The Phils lose two home games back to back for the first time in a half and a month, but, this isn’t all gloom and doom.

What we’ve seen from the Phillies, nonetheless, is the very resilient quality of fighting until there’s no more roster spots left.

Also on the bright side, the Braves have lost too.

Something has got to be done about the Phillies offense and these diva’s who are umping the games.

Aside from all of that, the Phillies have two very important series coming up against the division leading Padres, and the wily Los Angeles Dodgers.

It’s looking more and more like the Phillies season is going to come down to the last series against those much talked about Atlanta Braves.

Happy September baseball!

 

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Greg Gibson: Meet the New Resident on Philadelphia’s ‘Boo List’

Greg Gibson is a 41-year-old Ohio-born man, who has worked as an umpire for some 13 years.

On August 23, 2010 he made a controversial, potential game deciding call, against a team in the heat of a vicious pennant race. If that is not enough, he consulted nobody for a second opinion.

In the top of the eighth, Ryan Howard fielded a bunt by Michael Bourn and dove to tag Bourn. Bourn ran out of the base path to avoid the tag, and proceeded to first base where he was called safe.

Bourn was definitely out of the three feet zone allowed to base-runners to run off the path. Despite the pleas from players and Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel, who ended up being tossed from the game, Gibson stuck to his guns—no questions asked. Even Chase Utley, who never complains, had a few words with the hard-headed, umpire.

This calls into my mind the question: Is this replay resistance really about time, or an act of pride, and refusal to accept the fact that you make mistakes?

Now, as a writer, I know how hard it may be to accept mistakes in an industry which requires efficiency and accuracy. But come on, Gibson, you’ve got to know you’re wrong.

This isn’t McDonald’s, we can’t just bring the hamburger back, Gregory.

Gibson has made other controversial calls this year also.

On April 24, 2010, Gibson, the same umpire who called home plate for the first instant replay game, was umpiring for a Twins vs Royals game, when he emphatically called Scott Podsednik out at second on a force play, ending the game, when Podsednik had clearly beat the throw from J.J. Hardy after the shortstop bobbled the ball.

I understand you have to stick to your guns in a moment that demands decisiveness, but lets have some balance here. It was, at least, worth a second look.

What’s more interesting, however, is the deja vu factor that comes into play. Exactly two months earlier, the same exact play happened with the Phils on the opposite side of the play, and Gibson, the first base umpire, ruled against the Philadelphia Phillies. 

In the bottom of the second inning, Shane Victorino grounded out to the pitcher, and when faced with a tag, veered off the base path into the grass, sprawling out to touch first, but was called out by Gibson. This lead to yet another argument, and another tossing of Charlie Manuel.

Although it had no bearing on the game, those two plays have some feeling as if Gibson is biased against the Phillies.

Either way, this guy may have earned himself into the same, mansion-sized, Philadelphia doghouse as Kobe Bryant, Adam Eaton, and Santa Claus.

They may have to set a time and challenge limit, like the NFL, but at this time in the year, it’s crucial not to let pride and/or bias decide games.

For more from Vincent Heck please visit: www.vincentheckwriting.com

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The Season Doesn’t Start in Philly Until They Begin to Doubt

It’s that time again: The time when the end of the season is approaching and everyone starts making their end-season predictions.

The Phillies have been supported by a handful of experts for the last couple of years. The remainder however, have been contrary.

Hindsight is 20/20 they say, and it is. But lets take a peek back to 2008, the magical year for the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans.

Within that year, did anyone think that in a playoff where the National League favorites where the mighty Chicago Cubs, with a season record of 97 – 64, would be dismantled by the swagger-filled Los Angeles Dodgers, the Philadelphia Phillies would come out of the NL?

Furthermore, defeat a young team in the World Series, who handily dominated the AL East which previously was under the monopoly of the Yankees and Redsox?

Those scenarios, at the time, seemed unlikely.

This year, there is new fun.

Why should Philadelphia fans believe that their team can do it again?

5 reasons…

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Will Jimmy Rollins and the Phightin Philadelphia Phillies Three-Peat?

With only 39 more games left in the season, the Phightin’s look to be doing what they do best—fight. Their resiliency has shown through one season after another, fighting through injuries and keeping afloat in the playoff hunt for 162 solid games.

The MLB isn’t like any other sport, in that, you can not fake your resiliency for 162 games. If you continually put in the work season after season, you are no doubt, an elite team.

This year is no different.

The Atlanta Braves having the number one spot in the NL East is definitely a challenge for the Phillies to contend with, but, a new challenge has never scared the Phillies off, in fact, they’ve welcomed these challenges with open arms.

In 2008 and 2009 the Los Angeles Dodgers were thought to be the team that would end Philadelphia’s World Series Journey.

In previous years, there was talk about the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and even at times, the Colorado Rockies were talked up more then the Phillies. This year, the talk is Atlanta.

Jason Heyward is an absolute stud with his 12 home runs and team-leading nine stolen bases, and could be a problem for the Phils. But the same team that ran through Manny Ramirez, two years straight and Evan Longoria in 2008 have a never-say-die attitude.

The only two teams who have been able to stop the Phillies since 2007 has been the Colorado Rockies, who the Phils avenged last year, and the New York Yankees who, after losing to the Phightins in game one, finally made the Phillies look human.

This year, with the New York Yankees dominating the American League, the question remains: Will the Phillies get the opportunity in 2010 to pay the Yankees back? Or will they face the Rays again, in position to be on the receiving end of payback? Or, will they be knocked off by one of the newly emerging teams in the NL?

There are many questions, but that is what is going to make September so fun.

The Phils have finally gotten their lineup back just in time for the September push, leaving the MLB with a lot to fear.

J-Roll, the locomotive for the Phillies, has been gunning for the Yankees for a couple years now. And his determinations have, up until this day, become realities for the Phillies. Will his latest determination to come back and win again come to fruition?

What do you think? I think it will.

 

For all the latest writing from Vincent Heck, please visit: www.vincentheckwriting.com

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