The Upcoming Series - The Phillie Fan's View

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Burp.

After going 5-2 in California, the Phils wrap up a 10-game road trip with three games against the rival Mets before the 2-week interleague period begins. The Mets, already without Wagner and Perez, will be without Reyes, Delgado, Pagan, Putz and ol' friend Ramon Martinez, and Maine (who the Phils will miss this time around) who thinks he has a dead arm after a brutal outing on Saturday. The Phils were originally scheduled to miss Santana, but a rainout on Wednesday in Pittsburgh allowed the Mets to move him back instead of wasting him against Washington. Redding is a career 5-3, 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 11 starts vs the Phillies and it is the only team he has a winning record against with a minimum of 4 starts.

Gosh, we sure do love our World Champions, now don't we?

By the way, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia put up a poll on their website that looks something like this:

Which Phillie-for-Met trade would you make?

A. Hamels for Santana
B. Rollins for Reyes
C. Ibanez for Beltran
D. Lidge for K-Rod

(The Mets fan says, "E. Neither.)

A big shout out to Matt Stairs who turns 49 this Thursday, as well as a hearty hello to Mitch Williams.

Remember him?

Here, let me remind you:

Philadelphia closer Mitch Williams came on to the pitch the bottom of the ninth with his team clinging to a 6-5 lead in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series against the Blue Jays. After beginning the inning by walking Rickey Henderson, Williams tried to counter Henderson's speed by using a slide-step style of pitching delivery. Prior to Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, Williams never used the slide-step delivery in his career, and this may have cut back on his velocity. The walk to Henderson was followed by a Devon White fly out and a single by Paul Molitor that moved Henderson to second.

Joe Carter came up next and, with the count 2-2, he hit a three-run home run to win the game and the World Series crown. Carter joined Bill Mazeroski as the only two players to win a World Series with a home run in the bottom of the 9th inning of the deciding game. Just before the fifth, and final, pitch to Joe Carter, CBS Sports announcer Tim McCarver commented that Carter (relatively unproductive in the series to date) looked awkward and uncomfortable at the plate.

(The Mets fan says, "In hindsight, he didn't look all that awkward. Quite comfortable, matter of fact.")