Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
| SP | *Cole Hamels | SP | Ryan Dempster |
| 11-8, 3.20, 162 K, 43 BB, 188.2 IP | 15-5, 2.85, 153 K, 65 BB, 170.2 IP | ||
| SS | #Jimmy Rollins | LF | Alfonso Soriano |
| 2B | *Chase Utley | SS | Ryan Theriot |
| LF | Pat Burrell | 1B | Derrek Lee |
| 1B | *Ryan Howard | 3B | Aramis Ramirez |
| CF | #Shane Victorino | C | Geovany Soto |
| RF | Jayson Werth | CF | Reed Johnson |
| 3B | Pedro Feliz | RF | *Kosuke Fukudome |
| C | Carlos Ruiz | 2B | Mark DeRosa |
| P | *Cole Hamels | P | Ryan Dempster |
The Cubs and Phillies play the first game in Major League history in which the umpires—or at least the crew chief—will have the option to summon an instant replay to assist a call. (The Rangers/Angels and Twins/A's games starting later Thursday will also be replay-enabled; umpires at all games will be onboard starting Friday.) The reviewable plays will be limited to potential home runs, i.e., fair or foul, over the fence or in play, fan interference or not.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella thinks it's all just a grand idea:
"This is not going to work. I shouldn't say it's not going to work, but this could turn into a little bit of a fiasco initially."
Anyhow, having beaten our boys twice (and nearly three times) in a three-game series in Philadelphia back in April, the Philles begin this four-game set as the only NL team with a lead in their season series against the Cubs.
Hamels—3-1, 3.00 lifetime against the Cubs— started the middle game in that series and was dominant, allowing the Cubs no runs and a single hit (a 4th inning double by Derrek Lee) while walking two over 7 innings. Fifteen-game winner Dempster, who will achieve a career high with his next victory, continued his marvelous season last time out against the Nationals, limiting the Gnats to one run over 7 1/3 as the Cubbies triumphed, 9-2.
The Phillies begin play 1/2 game behind the NL East-leading Mets; Cubs are six up on the Brewers.
Twitter RSS for TCR
#1 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Yay! WGN tonight!
#2 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
how can conclusive evidence not work?
only issue i see is if not enough cameras catch the play in question.
#3 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
I really don't see the point of the replay. If you're going to do it, why not have it available for the controversial calls on the bases and for the strike zone? What makes homeruns so special? Personally, I think you have to deal with bad calls. Umps have been making bad calls for over a century and yet fans still show up to the games. Heck, sometimes the bad calls or potential for bad calls increases the quality of entertainment.
#4 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Personally, I think you have to deal with bad calls.
That will come... just give it time. One step at a time.
#6 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Exactly. Fifteen years ago today, someone somewhere was talking about how the wild card was going to ruin baseball.
#10 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Poorly stated on my part.
#7 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
home runs are game-breakers/makers and should be cut/dry/easy.
doing it for balls/strikes would lead to some serious delay of games and the umps probably wouldn't let it happen anyway.
getting the umps to agree to replay on something 150-300ft. away from them...that's an easier sell.
#8 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
umps are very close to all plays except home runs.
#9 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
But they probably miss calls on the infield and at the plate as often or more often than they do on homeruns.
To the argument that homeruns are very important plays in a ballgame: a play at first or a ball strike call can be just as big as a homerun if it occurs at a crucial point in the game.
I'm not particularly opposed to the replay, nor am I particularly in favor of it. I find it a very blah issue. Yay, so they get the call right every time. What about all the calls they get wrong on occasion elsewhere? The game isn't exactly being ruined by blatant and frequent incorrect calls. And the replays won't ruin the game either. I just don't see a real need.
Just think, if they'd gotten the call right in Houston, Soto never would've had that inside the parker.
#26 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
I still like the NFL's system the best. Not every questionable call is crucial to the game and so the umps don't have to check unless there is a challenge from the teams. give each side one challenge each on any play (except balls and strikes). if the challening team is right, reverse the call; if they're wrong then they get charged an out.
#48 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Soto's would have been just a regular home run. They missed the call, replay would have gotten it right. I'm not sure I see where the downside is on this.
#5 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
The only lineup in the NL, on paper, at least as good as ours. Let's shut it down.
#11 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
ARAM..noise at Wrigley...chills
#12 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Aramis Fucking Ramirez...what a year!!! Now just KW for the save and put up the flag and sing the song!
#17 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
I've been saying it all year - Aramis is our scrappiest player. He may not have the flashiest stats, but the little guy has more than enough HEART.
#46 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
"Little guy" -- Aramis Ramirez? He's 6'1 220lb.
#51 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
That's exactly what I'm saying. Aram tends to be overshadowed by his more famous "slugger" type teammates, but when you need an unexpected hero - bam, he steps up. He's not afraid to get his uniform dirty.
#19 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Back when Aramis had those back to back 0-for-twenty-whatevers, I thought he was having a bad year, but you're right, this year he is having a good year (or one roughly consistent with what he has done since coming to the Cubs). His OPS+ numbers since 2003: 138, 135, 126, 129 and 131 so far this year. He already has exceeded his season best for walks this year. He's been very consistent since joining the Cubs.
Before looking up his numbers, I had been wondering how much better the offense would be if Lee and Ramirez were having great years. Now I just wonder what the offense would be like if Lee was having a great year, since Ramirez is having a good year (2004 was probably better, but this one is good).
#13 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Nice win
Very nice win
How close was Utley's ball to going out?
#16 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Johnson caught Utley's fly out just in front of the warning track in center-right. Ball went further than i thought it would based on the swing, sound off the bat, and Utley's (non) reaction.
Fantastic win.
Go Cubs.
#34 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Wind was blowing out to right, and that ball got up a bit. I was sitting in aisle 239.
(Great game to be at. As soon as Fontenot hit his HR the energy in the park just did a complete 180.
#14 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
OMFG! What a game!
#33 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
I love this team. I truly love this team. My heart could be broken, but I will remember how much I loved them during this season.
/emotional rant
#15 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Did that really just happen?
#18 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Darn that Obama fellow for giving a speech during that kick-ass win.
#49 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Only a White Sox fan would pull a bullshit stunt like that. Come on man, save your acceptance speeches for after the game!
#20 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
He'll be courteous enough to be elected President days after the Cubs win the World Series. Yes, I said it, I'm giddy. 34 games over .500.
#24 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Man... that will be a great week or two!!!
#21 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
and yes I know he's a Sox fan...
#22 Re: Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
I love the fact that the Brewers have gone 17-7 this month......and fallen another 1 1/2 games back.
Return to Homepage