The Eagles may not have played today, thanks to the snow that is currently burying my car, but they still managed to clinch the NFC East when the Giants lost to the Green Bay Packers. New York's 45-17 loss clinched the division for the Eagles for the first time since 2006 and gives the Eagles six division crowns in the last ten seasons.
To be honest, this might be the most improbable division championship yet. Save for the Jeff Garcia season when he took over for Donovan McNabb, no one had the Eagles winning the division this year. Kevin Kolb was starting for the first time with a young team that was rebuilding, not not that much was expected. Well, this year started with the Green Bay Packers, and now, thanks to the Packers and Michael Vick, the Eagles are NFC East champions. Green Bay knocked Kevin Kolb out of the first game of the season, and Vick came in to replace him. Vick played well against the Packers and Detroit Lions the week after that, and the rest of the season has gone from there. Kolb is sitting on the bench, and Vick is headed to the Pro Bowl and a top three finish in the MVP voting. Plus, the Eagles are headed to the playoffs once again.
There's nothing set in stone yet for the Eagles, because they could finish anywhere from the three seed all the way up to the top team in the NFC, if the Falcons lose to the Saints and Panthers, and the Bears drop their last game of the season to the Packers. As unlikely as it sounds, it could happen. If it does, it would be the capper to one of the most improbable seasons that I can remember. The Eagles need to get one of the two first round byes, though. If they don't, they'll play the Packers or Giants, and that's not a game that many people want to see.
For now, it's time to celebrate in the snow. The Eagles are champions of the division for the first time in four seasons and are at least going to host one playoff game. That's reason enough right there.
Showing posts with label Division Champs Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Division Champs Baby. Show all posts
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Phillies Recap: Phillies-8, Nationals-0
Game Recap:
Roy Halladay pitched a complete game, two hit shutout to give the Phillies their fourth straight National League East championship.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 3-4, scored twice and drove in a run.
Chase Utley was 1-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Jayson Werth was 3-5, drove in four, scored twice and hit a solo home run.
Raul Ibanez was 2-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Roy Halladay was the man last night, pitching his ninth complete game of the season. He shut out the Nationals, allowing just two hits while striking out six.
What went wrong?
Last night, nothing went wrong. The Phillies not only clinched the National League East, but they also locked up the best record in the National League, and with it, they have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Game Analysis:
This feeling never gets old, it really doesn't. For the fourth straight season, the Philadelphia Phillies have won the National League East. This year, it didn't take until the last or second to last game of the season to wrap everything up, but there was still a dramatic comeback and an incredible collapse that helped get the Phillies to this point.
Apparently, the rumors of Roy Halladay's demise were a little bit exaggerated. After struggling in his last few starts, Halladay came out last night in his biggest game as a Phillie and delivered from the word go. Two and a half hours and 97 pitches later, Halladay had his fourth shutout of the season, and he finished things off with a strikeout of Danny Espinosa to win his 21st game of the season. There's nothing else that can be said about Roy Halladay this year. He's been everything that the Phillies wanted him to be, and even he's had to pick himself up during this season. At one point, Halladay had a 10-8 record, but since then, the big right hander has gone 11-2. He's 5-0 in September and is one of the biggest reasons that the Phillies are back into the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Even the offense came to play last night. Jayson Werth got things started in the second inning with a solo home run, and that would have been enough the way Halladay was pitching last night, but the Phils weren't done yet. Werth drove in two more in the sixth inning to chase John Lannan out of the game, and Carlos Ruiz hit his first double of the game two batters later to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead. Then came the ninth inning, where the Phils didn't mind the rain and added four more insurance runs to put the final nail in Washington's coffin and seal up the National League East crown.
The bats last night showed how this team has got to play during the playoffs. While Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt can shut down any opposing offense, the Phillies still have to score runs as well, and San Francisco and San Diego have two of the best pitching staffs in the National League. The offense has got to be able to score some runs if they have to play one of those teams, because there is a chance that any game in either of those series could end up with a 1-0 or a 2-1 score, and the Phillies don't want to be on the short end of that.
For now, at least, there's nothing left to do during the regular season but celebrate. The Phillies have clinched the National League East once again, and this year they've done it with one of the hottest stretches that anyone can remember. Back in July, most people had sworn off this team and were waiting for training camp to start. Now, everyone is back on board and ready to see another long trip into the playoffs. These next five games just have to be played out, but you shouldn't expect that much from the Phils. They have home field wrapped up, and the big three will just get a little more action in before the playoffs start. The Phillies have earned the right to pick when they'll play in the NLDS, and can line their rotation up perfectly. All that's left to do now in the regular season is for the team go down to Atlanta and retire Bobby Cox.
Four division titles in a row...no other Phillies team has ever been able to do that. It's a great feeling.
Tonight, Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.80 ERA) goes for the Phils against Jason Marquis (2-9, 7.18 ERA).
Roy Halladay pitched a complete game, two hit shutout to give the Phillies their fourth straight National League East championship.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 3-4, scored twice and drove in a run.
Chase Utley was 1-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Jayson Werth was 3-5, drove in four, scored twice and hit a solo home run.
Raul Ibanez was 2-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Roy Halladay was the man last night, pitching his ninth complete game of the season. He shut out the Nationals, allowing just two hits while striking out six.
What went wrong?
Last night, nothing went wrong. The Phillies not only clinched the National League East, but they also locked up the best record in the National League, and with it, they have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Game Analysis:
This feeling never gets old, it really doesn't. For the fourth straight season, the Philadelphia Phillies have won the National League East. This year, it didn't take until the last or second to last game of the season to wrap everything up, but there was still a dramatic comeback and an incredible collapse that helped get the Phillies to this point.
Apparently, the rumors of Roy Halladay's demise were a little bit exaggerated. After struggling in his last few starts, Halladay came out last night in his biggest game as a Phillie and delivered from the word go. Two and a half hours and 97 pitches later, Halladay had his fourth shutout of the season, and he finished things off with a strikeout of Danny Espinosa to win his 21st game of the season. There's nothing else that can be said about Roy Halladay this year. He's been everything that the Phillies wanted him to be, and even he's had to pick himself up during this season. At one point, Halladay had a 10-8 record, but since then, the big right hander has gone 11-2. He's 5-0 in September and is one of the biggest reasons that the Phillies are back into the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Even the offense came to play last night. Jayson Werth got things started in the second inning with a solo home run, and that would have been enough the way Halladay was pitching last night, but the Phils weren't done yet. Werth drove in two more in the sixth inning to chase John Lannan out of the game, and Carlos Ruiz hit his first double of the game two batters later to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead. Then came the ninth inning, where the Phils didn't mind the rain and added four more insurance runs to put the final nail in Washington's coffin and seal up the National League East crown.
The bats last night showed how this team has got to play during the playoffs. While Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt can shut down any opposing offense, the Phillies still have to score runs as well, and San Francisco and San Diego have two of the best pitching staffs in the National League. The offense has got to be able to score some runs if they have to play one of those teams, because there is a chance that any game in either of those series could end up with a 1-0 or a 2-1 score, and the Phillies don't want to be on the short end of that.
For now, at least, there's nothing left to do during the regular season but celebrate. The Phillies have clinched the National League East once again, and this year they've done it with one of the hottest stretches that anyone can remember. Back in July, most people had sworn off this team and were waiting for training camp to start. Now, everyone is back on board and ready to see another long trip into the playoffs. These next five games just have to be played out, but you shouldn't expect that much from the Phils. They have home field wrapped up, and the big three will just get a little more action in before the playoffs start. The Phillies have earned the right to pick when they'll play in the NLDS, and can line their rotation up perfectly. All that's left to do now in the regular season is for the team go down to Atlanta and retire Bobby Cox.
Four division titles in a row...no other Phillies team has ever been able to do that. It's a great feeling.
Tonight, Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.80 ERA) goes for the Phils against Jason Marquis (2-9, 7.18 ERA).
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Final Out of the NL East Clinching game...from my seat
Yes, the video is only 41 seconds long, and it's a little choppy, but the thought is there. I'm just ticked at the people in front of me who got in the way, and the person behind me that pushed on my back as Ryan Howard fielded the ball, but what are you going to do?
The Magic Number is....Zero!!! Phillies Clinch the NL East!
Oh yes, it was a wonderful sight in south Philly tonight. The Philadelphia Phillies came into tonight's game against the Houston Astros needing to do just one thing...win one more game. Pedro Martinez made things a little interesting, but after the first four Houston at-bats, it was all Phillies.The Phils scored in the next four innings, with contributions from everyone in the lineup. Raul Ibanez drove in three and had the capper with a two run shot into the second deck in the seventh inning. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino had back to back triples for the first time since 2006, and Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz all drove in runs. It was a perfect game from the offense, and even Kyle Kendrick pitched excellent, shutting down Houston for three scoreless innings in relief of Pedro.
Of course, the night wouldn't have been complete without Brad Lidge coming into the game to finish things off against his former team. Tonight, it would only take one pitch, as he got Lance Berkman to ground out to first base. This time, there would be no dramatic double plays, no catching of the Mets in the final two weeks of the season. In fact, the Florida Marlins had actually beaten the Atlanta Braves about two minutes before Lidge got Berkman out, meaning the Phillies had already clinched the NL East. Of course, none of that mattered to the Phillies. This team had done it on their own the last two years, and they sure as hell didn't want to win the division with a loss this time around. It was the first game I had gone to all season, and it was glorious.
This is your game recap for tonight. Nothing went wrong, everything was absolutely perfect. The Phillies are headed back to the playoffs once again, and have a real chance of clinching homefield throughout the National League playoffs. I could get into how Pedro only pitched four innings, and how Jamie Moyer is going to be out for the playoffs, but that can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, it's all about celebrating. The Phils did it again!
Oh yeah, Cliff Lee (14-12, 3.19 ERA) is scheduled to start tomorrow. Don't expect him to pitch for very long. He'll be going against Felipe Paulino (2-11, 6.19 ERA).
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