Theres Always Next Year! (Unless your name is Philadelphia)
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First things first, congrats Phillies on winning the World Series!
That picture says it all. I don't know if relief is the right word but those are probably the most dramatic 3 innings they will ever experience. Before the game actually started you would think (as a Phillies fan) that the sky is falling. The days before it were snowy, rainy, dreary and seemed typical for Phillies fans for this to happen.
I tell you it almost felt as if some divine power wanted to do everything possible so they would lose. Fans around the office were saying the same thing and having the some doubts, who can blame them?
Now lets get to the game.
There was a strange silence when Navarro broke his bat off Lidge, it seemed like the "force" was disturbed. When Zobrist lined that ball to right you could almost feel every Phillies fans heart sink. The second after Hinske struck out i found my self yelling and screaming, for about 2 or 3 seconds I was a Phillies fan. Excitement is very contagious.
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I really thought after Rocco hit the home-run they had all of the momentum. It really goes to show you that you shouldn't jump to conclusions.
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(Bartlett being tagged out at home)
We've got to hand it to the Rays though, they did have a fantastic season. From worst to first, even though they did finish in last enough times to get those high draft picks they still have to hit and pitch at the end of the day just like anybody else. Nothing and nobody can take away what these guys were able to accomplish. The job Joe Maddon did with his players and keeping them believing in themselves is amazing.
If you were to tell me, "the Phillies are going to play the Rays in the World Series" at the beginning of the year i would have just said "How bad must have everybody else have done?". These two teams really shut me up. I think everybody knew the Rays would get better, but not become Championship material this early.
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Coming into the post-season I picked the Rays to win it all in 7. Seeming like everything was going to go their way along with the fact that in whole Tampa has a better rotation than most. The thing about some teams is that they only win the in regular season, but these guys were not fazed by the bright lights in the Fall Classic.
Referring back to my statement about winning in the regular season, I've decided not to pick the Angels for anything anymore because they don't compete in their division they just dominate it. That's all well and good but the problem with that is that they never have to battle for the division title so they just end up coasting until they have to hit the gas. Also Seattle, a team favored to at least make it to the play-offs completely fell on its face losing 101 games.
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Detroit was no exception either. With that supposed power house of a line-up they were picked by some to win the World Series, it didn't plan out that way, huh? Finishing last behind the Royals with only 74 wins. (Speaking of which, i'd watch out for these guys soon)
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Thats what makes baseball so exciting, its unpredictability is second to none.
October brings out the best and the worst in baseball. But the grind to get to October is so mentally grueling and vigorous that it makes it so much more special. They are tested by playing 162. 162 games! Playing that many games and then being eliminated in the play-offs or not making the play-offs at all must be heart-wrenching.
The World Series is by far the most impressive championship in sports to win. It tests your commitment and passion to play the game and succeed.
Again, congrats Phillies on a tremendous year! Now you can rest, you've earned it.
It's very hard to come to grips that baseball is over for the season.
-----MLB Nation
I, and anyone who follows the NHL regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, have to strongly disagree with your italicized statement. The Cup champion team goes through the grueling season that starts with camp in September and games beginning in early October, and concludes with playoffs ending in around mid-June. Four separate, best of seven round victories are necessary to surpass the other 15 playoff competitors. The selfless style of hockey (blocking shots and taking hits and hacks in front of the net and in the corners) leads to the broken bones, facial lacerations, and muscle contusions that are all commonplace among the players, and often cortisone shots hold players over until off-season surgery. I am an avid follower of Major and minor League Baseball, but I will always argue that the Cup is the toughest and most rewarding to hoist.
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Well, i guess this is where you and i part ways. I fully respect what the guys in the NHL go through. I'm not saying that MLB is the by far the "Toughest" sport all I intended was that its very mentally tough. To go day in and day out without much rest and doing it for 162 games is not an easy task.
NHL players are extremely tough along with football, but lets say you're a 39 year old veteran who's played over 2200 games but you never won a world series or made it there, you can't tell me that would sit well with you. I know playing 82 games in the NHL is very hard, but i think because of all the switching of players its easier to just think about what you're doing and not get sidetracked by other things since the game moves very fast.
Baseball being one of the slowest sports ever can really mess with your head, if you drift off for a second the next thing you know the ball could be lined at you and you make an error. NHL is different in that aspect because theres no way you aren't paying attention, you almost have 100% focus and if you don't you should find another sport because theres no time for error.
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