Huston Street Fails Again, Phillies Return to NLCS
Baseball October 13th. 2009, 11:30am
The only sports fans more forlorn than Jets’ fans this morning: The few, the proud - followers of the Colorado Rockies. As expected, the Phillies bullpen blew a late lead in game four last night. Then the unexpected happened: Huston Street was battered for the second night in a row, and the Rockies were eliminated. Champagne showers followed.
For those of you looking ahead to the Phillies-Dodgers rematch, two quick items: Cole Hamels was dominant against the Dodgers this season (16 innings, one earned run), and closer Brad Lidge had a 7.36 ERA against LA and blew two saves (Andre Either came through both times).
Anyone see the parallel between all four teams that were eliminated over the weekend?
Colorado: Street, their closer, gets pinned with two losses
Boston: Closer Jon Papelbon gets shelled trying to protect lead in series-clinching loss
St. Louis: Closer Ryan Franklin, one strike away from a game two save, ends up losing the game (and the Cardinals eventually were swept)
Minnesota: Closer Joe Nathan gagged in the 9th in game two; now, they want to trade him
If we had to rate the closers among the final four, the order would be simple: Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, Phillies. (How many of you thought Brad Lidge would blow it last night?)
For those of you scoring at home, baseball’s final four are among the biggest spenders in baseball, and all come from Top 10 TV markets:
1. Yankees: $201 million payroll (No. 1 TV market)
6. Angels $113.7 million payroll (No. 2 TV market)
7. Phillies $113.0 million payroll (No. 8 TV market)
9. Dodgers $100.4 million payroll (No. 2 TV market)
This is as close to a perfect postseason storm as MLB could have asked for. Maybe Boston over Anaheim and the Cubs/Mets in place of the Phillies would generate more interest, but if these four can’t drive TV ratings, who can?
89 Responses to “Huston Street Fails Again, Phillies Return to NLCS”
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October 13th, 2009 at 11:36 am
If the World Series goes 7 games it ends on Nov. 5th. How the hell is that possible? When did it get pushed back that far?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Blame the World Baseball Classic. The season started a week later than it normally does because of the WBC.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
i really love the exclusion of one of the most horrible calls in the history of televised games that caused the twins at least 1 run from the overview of this series.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Why the fuck do the celebrate after every series? that shit is ridiculous.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:40 am
when MLB decided a 13,122-game regular season was reasonable.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
The only games played in October should be the world series.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:42 am
More Matt Holliday than Franklin though. I feel dirty having just defended a member of the Cardinals.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:42 am
This is the ramblings of a half senile, former drunk who has some of the worse takes on sports in the Twin Cities.
In other words, ignore what he says.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:42 am
too much time off between the rounds
GO ANGELS!!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Why the fuck do the celebrate after every series? that shit is ridiculous
Ya know I was just thinking that.
I understand doing it after clinching the divison, the brutal run of a 162 game season, but busting out the Champagne and beer after winning the LDS is a wee bit overboard.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:43 am
It’s in the fine print right next to the Twins had bases loaded with no outs and still couldn’t score. They chocked on their own dicks. If Mauer gets a double they still don’t score because they still would be chocking on their own dicks. Horrible call and the ump should be barred from the rest of the playoffs, but that loss is 100% on the Twinkies.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:43 am
you don’t even mention streets first big october choke job?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:44 am
may have scored a run. no certainty.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Agreed. I am hoping the Phillies Yankees make it and the North East just gets caked by a blizzard.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Since the Jets were brought up again in this post.
They are Fraudy McFraudertons.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
If the Dodgers faced the Angels in the World Series, would anyone east of Nevada care?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
yankees and angels closed sunday. why wait until FRIDAY - worst night of TV - to have game one?
should have been wednesday. then, you could get one of the west coast games at a reasonable time on the weekend.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:46 am
October 13th, 2009 at 11:46 am
hockey had great ratings their first night. baseball will be fine.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:47 am
too much time off between the rounds
Coming from an NBA fan? Sorry, but that’s just too funny, cowboy.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I would love to see some postseason baseball in the snow. Has that ever happened before?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:47 am
when MLB decided a 13,122-game regular season was reasonable
So in 1960 then?
Someone made a good point yesterday: NBA goes from late October/early November to June (7 months). NHL goes from October to June (7.5-8 months). MLB goes April (sometimes late March) to late October (around 7.5-8 months). But MLB plays nearly twice as many games. If you’re going to have a long ass season, wouldn’t you rather see your favorite team play almost everyday? I like that the baseball season is a marathon and that if I miss a game on Tuesday there’s probably one I can watch on Wednesday.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Was thinking the same thing
October 13th, 2009 at 11:50 am
that would be funny
October 13th, 2009 at 11:50 am
ms- that was probably me. while the baseball season is long, a lot can change week to week. you can miss a couple weeks of the basketball season, and the standings are pretty much the same.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:50 am
MLB regular season is 162 games in roughly 180 days. That’s just straight ridiculous.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:51 am
as thinking the same thing
Go Angels?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:51 am
the nights here are already supposed to be in the 30s this week.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:52 am
since they are doing the champagne celebration after every series win they should up the ante each time they win a series.
1st round: beer
2nd round: champagne
World Series: boiling hot gold
October 13th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I know I’m just a sore Twins fan…
but seriously, the Mauer foul/fair ball call in Game 2 reeked of game fixin’ by that Ump. I love me some conspiracy theory!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:54 am
His career postseason ERA is 7.88. He looked vomitous in each appearance, sweating like Patrick Ewing.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:55 am
MLB regular season is 162 games in roughly 180 days. That’s just straight ridiculous.
To each his own. I like the baseball season as is. Baseball is a lower intensity sport than say hockey or baseketball, so I think it makes sense to have more games in roughly the same period of time.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:56 am
That too. Can’t stand the rest of the teams in the mix.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:56 am
…and November Sweeps.
/next week, on a star-studded, all new House…….
October 13th, 2009 at 11:56 am
It is but its the least physically demanding sport day to day (beside pitchers obviously) In every game its actually possible that the only people that have to touch the ball are the pitcher and the catcher, what other sport is like that?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Plus, it makes fantasy baseball season extremely kickass.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
An italian umpire from Newark fixing a game in the yankees favor.
ppft…Please
October 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
It’s baseball. Half the guys don’t even break a sweat during the game… and considering the career length of MLB players to other sports, it seems okay.
For fans, why is that not good? I agree with ms, I’d like to know I can turn on the TV and catch a game whenever I want during the season.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Winner winner…
October 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Maybe someone can answer this as my friends and I were having a dicussion. How many times has a team comeback to win a series after their closer blows a save and that team loses? I can only think of the Astros in 2005 after the Lidge meltdown. I’m sure there are more, but it seems like your closer blowing a game is a death sentence.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I think the complaint is that it goes so late into the year. Start earlier, do a couple of double headers, whatever. Just get done by early October so we can move on to football and don’t have to watch the marquee event being played out in 30 degree weather.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I definitely think there should be at least a few scheduled double headers, of course that reduces revenue and therefore would never happen.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
baseball doesn’t do this because they lose at the gate. the day/night DH is not really a doubleheader. this could work for revenue, but could cause logistic nightmares if it was to be rained out.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I think the complaint is that it goes so late into the year. Start earlier, do a couple of double headers, whatever
I think the problem with starting earlier is that certain parts of the country are still having shitty weather in March/April. Remember the Indians home opener from 2007?
MLB used to schedule double headers every season. They stopped doing that based on the realization that there were going to be doubleheaders anyway because weather would force games to be moved.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
How come we don’t compare College/MLB playoff system like we do with College/NFL? Quite honestly, how does the college playoff system work?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Because God forbid they open the season in West coast and Southern cities
October 13th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
what is funny, is that i would like to see the season shortened and more playoffs teams. i think i am in the minority on this because then records become obsolete.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
And don’t forget the TWINS can only schedule home games between June-August from here on out and all their playoffs games will be on the road due to their new “we must play outside” stadium.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Because God forbid they open the season in West coast and Southern cities
I’m not saying they can’t do that, I’m saying they won’t do that because this country’s biggest media markets are predominantly in the north and east.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
If they did that, then the Northern and Eastern teams would get more games in the better weather (ie, summer) when the kids are off from school and attendance is better.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
what is funny, is that i would like to see the season shortened and more playoffs teams. i think i am in the minority on this because then records become obsolete.
I commented on Saturday (during Phils/Rox cancelled game discussion) that the season should be shorter… much shorter! There are so many variables though, but I think it could be done… but it will absolutely NEVER happen
October 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Because God forbid they open the season in West coast and Southern cities
Also, the Indians opened on the road in 2007. That snowstorm happened April 7-8, when the Indians came home for home opener. If we’re going to keep all games in southern and western cities until shitty weather season is over that would seem to create a bit of an unfair advantage for teams from more northern climates.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
How come the “boys of summer” play their biggest games in the fall, and now… almost winter?
//really really cannot wait for the next time Twins make the World Series
October 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
RE: that link someone posted in the roundup earlier regard the insurance industry report..
Ex-insider: Insurance Industry Report is Bogus
October 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
shit, I meant that it would create an unfair advantage for western and southern teams.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
What about every team plays 2 home and 2 away series with every division opponent, 1 home and 1 away series with the rest of their league and then 1 home and 1 away interleague series? Baseball starts in April and ends in October — like it should be.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I agree 100%. Records are obsolete anyhow. Different ballparks, different era’s, different drugs. It would do baseball a lot of good to move on from this mirage and start focusing on selling today’s product.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Holliday dropped one ball. Frankling gave up four baserunners after that, including a game winner to Mark Loretta (sigh). I know who I blame.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
You can’t shorten a season enough to make people think regular season games matter (NHL/NBA play half the games, no one gives a shit about ther regular season either) which is partly because of your second point, MORE teams in the playoffs? Baseball is just find, stop mucking it up please.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
i don’t think there is a solution that will keep everyones attention. only college football and the nfl works like it does because each game means so much. even college basketball is only about 30 some regular season games, but people generally don’t get too into it until march madness.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
So, how do you get from Colorado to LA? Take Houston Street.
lol1!!
October 13th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
but if you shorten baseballs regular season, you would still have the overall same length of time, and 6 games still played everynight by your favorite team. it wouldn’t be like basketball or hockey. like i said. i can miss a month of their season and not too much changes a lot of the time unless someone goes on a 17 game win streak.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Only in college does every game count, even in the NFL you can lose a few games, and still end up Champs. Happens every year.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
TST- i am not saying they should do that, just that if they ever made a change, that is the one i would like to see.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
NFL=SEC?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
true, but the importance of the each game is still greater in the NFL than MLB, NHL, NBA.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Please see LSU, 2007.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
As it is, I never pay attention to baseball till after the All-Star Break. I find the first half of the season just about useless to me.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hawkeye: nathan absolutely should be traded. There is no such thing as a closer worth 13 mil or whatever he makes
October 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
is this the new Fetch name?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Whats interesting is that an NFL team that goes 10-6 is possibly a division winner and probably a WC team but an MLB team with the same win % (.625) wins 101 games and probably ends up with the best record in the league.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
minority on this? really? I’d be all of another round in the postseason and 4 more teams added. chop off 42 games, nobody would miss ‘em
October 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
If by just fine you mean world series ratings have been in a 20-year decline then yeah, they are doing just fine.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
which is partly the reason for a long regular season to determine the best teams for the playoffs (let’s not go down that road today though.
I think Fetch is Luigi now. Yet I’ll still call him Fetch. Name changes are silly.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
chop off 42 games, nobody would miss ‘em
42? I would! I could listen to arguments reducing the season by 8-20 games though.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
EVERYTHING has been in a 20 years rating decline. Baseball makes money hand over fist. They are in great shape financially. They aren’t getting rid of a huge portion of their season because that would lose them money.
The owners would miss the money. I’d miss those games/having a meaningful regular season.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
completely agree. my idea to shorten it to 140 games lies solely on the fact that there needs to be a huge mega tv deal.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
4 teams added to the playoffs? Why even have a season then let’s just have a 5 month tournament and be done with it
October 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
in fact, any major change in baseball won’t happen until that is secured.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I actually like the idea, but there is no way MLB would subtract regular season games–or, at least, not that many.
And, why play 162 games and have 5 game series to determine LCS pairings. Considering how lopsided those series were this year we would not have seen 7 game series anyway, but this irks me nevertheless.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
if there was an added round in baseball, it would be a best out of 3. starting the day after the regular season ended.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I haven’t seen a meaningful regular season since 1992.
/Sad Pirates fan’d
October 13th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
And, why play 162 games and have 5 game series to determine LCS pairings. Considering how lopsided those series were this year we would not have seen 7 game series anyway, but this irks me nevertheless.
This I agree with. MLB needs to be like hockey and have a 7 game series throughout the playoffs.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I never expect any positive changes to come from a commissioner that lets an exhibition game decide home field advantage in the championship.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
true, but the importance of the each game is still greater in the NFL than MLB, NHL, NBA.
Agree with that… If the owners were smart, they’d make significant changes which may result in a 1 or 2 year decline with the hope of making it better in the long run.
All of this would have to be signed in agreement with (as already said) HUGE MEGA TV deal to offset the losses of losing up to 42 regular season games (21 home games). Even still the regular season wouldn’t be “must win” but I’m in agreement that more teams should make playoffs. Perhaps the elite teams could get a first round bye. Allow a few teams to play “best of 3″ play in series’s. Think how exciting that could be?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Of course… the “baseball writers” could take a vote each week on who’s the best team and at the end of the year - we let them play for the Championship. And have a bunch of other “final games” for the right to be 3rd place, 5th place, etc.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Not college and NFL football, which is what they are competing against during late October/early November. And basketball has only been in a 10-year decline post Jordan, and they haven’t fallen nearly as far as baseball has. I’m just asking for about 18 games, go back to 144 or so. Or do whatever they need to start the world series the first of October, I think you’d see better ratings, which equals more money.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
basketball had a way, way worse fall in attendance than baseball did with the economy and a bunch of rumors about the NBA having to bail teams out, plus a lockout coming.
Agree with this totally, it could easily be done, but it won’t. I think Fox wants the games where they are. Don’t understand it, somebody suggested sweeps, as good a reason as any.
October 13th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
God help, me, I fucking hate John Kruk. And Karl Ravech, and Kurkjian. His Series breakdown gives just about every advantage to LA, yet he picks the Phillies in 7. Those interested in justice, please root for the good guys.