My NLCS Game 3 All Media Blackout
With the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants set to play Game 3 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) right smack in the middle of my workday, I decided it was time for one of my patented “All Media Blackouts”. Let me explain.
Living on the West Coast has its privileges — nicer weather, better countryside, and year-round beach towns — but that little 3-hour time difference tends to be a major hindrance as a sports fan. Yesterday’s afternoon NLCS game, in particular, is just one of many sports events that people like me on the West Coast, with normal 9-to-5 jobs, cannot watch live. For anyone that’s ever heard of the term “East Coast Bias”, I think this is where it gets its name. And as much as I like to know how my team is doing, I’d much rather watch the game myself and enjoy all the drama and uncertainty that comes with watching a live event — even if that means watching a live event several hours later.
As any passionate sports fan knows, if you’re taping a game, you have to avoid hearing anything — and I mean anything — about the game. No scores, no injury news, NOTHING! Luckily out in San Diego, I am almost certain to avoid hearing a co-worker mention a Phillies game score. Unfortunately, the information age that we live in — a world dominated by cell phones, internet, and social media — can just as easily burst my bubble.
With that, I give you the All Media Blackout. You turn off your cell phone; you don’t check Facebook, Twitter, or (if you’re still holding out) MySpace; and you must definitely do not go on any sports websites — in fact, general avoidance of any and all news websites is a best practice — because in today’s world, there are just far too many ways to find out if your team won or lost to take any chances. Even if it means you have to party like it’s 1989.
After watching the first three uneventful innings during my lunch break, I commenced the All-Media Blackout until at 5:30 Pacific Daylight Savings Time. We’ll pick it up in the 4th inning…
Top 4
After Placido Polanco made a quick out, both Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth reached base for Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies have had a lot of runners on base and hit some balls hard off Cain thus far. You have to think they’ll break through soon, right? Well, not in this at-bat after Rollins flies out to left on a 1-2 pitch. McCarver and Buck both seem to think Pat Burrell had trouble with that sun — nevermind that he caught it easily. File this one under the much ado about nothing category. Speaking of much ado about nothing: Ibanez strikes out on a high fastball just after the stadium operator puts up a “Wave Your Rally Towels” graphic.
In other news, the Giants didn’t sell out their first NLCS home game in 8 years. Note to one particular Frisco scribe: Take a good look at your own fans’ short-comings before ripping our fans, asshole. (Or look at New York fans.)
Bottom 4
Cole Hamels and his 2010 revival have continue through three innings here in the Bay Area as he is perfect through three innings. That is until Edgar Rentaria leads off with a line drive over Utley for the Giants first base-runner. As Bob Uecker might say, “I think I’ll wet my pants.” Freddy Sanchez follows with a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second, leaving rookie catcher Buster Posey with a duck on the pond. After Hamels throws an inside strike to get the count to 1-2, FOX cuts to a quick shot of that bastard Cody Ross. His presence alone leads to two straight balls from Hamels. No matter, Hollywood gets Posey to chase a high 94 mph fastball for strike three. Burrell’s turn now and after whiffing badly on the first pitch, Hamels throws him four straight balls later. Here comes that Ross guy with runners on first and second and two outs.
The first pitch to Ross was an inside fastball for a ball. The 1-0 pitch was a changeup for a swinging strike, followed by a high looping curve for a borderline ball. Amid a “Lets go Cody” chant, Babe Ruth reincarnated lines a low and away fastball to left field for a 1-0 Giants lead. &#$@!!!!!!!
At this point, can’t we just intentionally walk him?
Aubrey Huff steps in and he quickly grounds one off the glove of Chase Utley to score Burrell. Rare emotion from Utley after that one after that ball tipped off his glove. That was a tough play to make, and he really shouldn’t feel too sorry about that one. Give Huff credit for hitting it an inch too far from him. If we can give credit for that…
Now it’s Juan Uribe in another first and third situation. Need to stop the bleeding here, Cole! After falling behind 0-2, Uribe looked to have offered big time on the next pitch, but the first base ump disagreed. Even the Fox announcers are a bit flaggerghasted by that call. More much ado about nothing as Hamels got him to pop up to Utley on the next pitch.
Inning over but the damage has been done. A pair of RBI singles with two outs have SF in the lead, 2-0.
Top 5
Ruiz led off with a fly out to the now-wearing-glasses Burrell. (Guess he got the memo.) Hamels follows with a hard hit ground ball to Huff at first, who in-turn flipped to Cain for the second out. Victorino walked thanks to a suddenly shrunken strike zone to bring up Utley with two outs. I sense that he wants to atone for coming up short in his diving attempt last inning. Victorino stole second thanks in no small part to a bouncing throw from Posey that ended up in shallow CF (Victornio did not advance). Not that it mattered because Chase Utley grounded out to second to end the threat.
Bottom 5
Former Phillie Aaron Rowand smashes the first pitch of the inning into the left field corner for a leadoff double. You have to credit manager Bruce Bochy, as Buck and McCarver just did, for inserting Rowand into the lineup and juggling his order. Each move as paid off big time. Of course, if you aren’t in the mood to give him credit with the Phillies losing 2-0, I don’t blame you one bit.
After a Cain strike out and Renteria fly out, Sanchez up now trying to salvage Rowand’s lead-off double. One pitch after Hamels just missed the outside corner at the knees on an 0-2 pitch, Sanchez sends an inbetween hop to Utley, who boots it into center field allowing Roward to score. Tough play as the ball was probably spinning weirdly, but definitely one you’d like to see your All-Star second baseman make. That’s his third error of the postseason.
Thankfully, Hamels blew a high fastball by Posey to end the threat, but not before the Giants add an insurance run for a 3-0 lead.
Top 6
We could use some runs or this column might begin to get a bit angrier. I’m holding it back now, but trust me, it’s beginning to bubble under the surface. This inning didn’t help as Polanco (ground out to second), Howard (ground out to second), and Werth (fly out to right) went down in order. Nice trip through the heart of the order…
In other news, Bob Uecker underwent successful heart surgery. Good luck in your recovery, Ueck!
Bottom 6
Is it just me or did Fox skip over the obligatory in-game interview with a coach or batter? Finally! Also the official scorer just gave Sanchez a hit on the Utley boot. Tough earned run for Hamels there.
Hamels gets Burrell swinging on a 3-2 pitch. Up comes Ross as well as another montage of Ross highlights from Fox — you know, in case we missed the last five times they showed those highlights this game. Ross’ follow through on a 2-1 strike nailed Ruiz in the facemask. I’ve had it with this guy. Luckily for Ross’ safety, Hamels finally gets him with a swinging strike. One pitch after his eighth strikeout of the afternoon, Hamels calls for and catches a pop up in front of the pitcher’s mound.
Nice to have a clean inning…
Top 7
As Rollins grounds out to second to start the frame, it’s beginning to look like the Phillies lineup — the same one that used to be the team’s undisputed strength — will probably be the reason that they lose today. Ibanez then follows with a hot shot right at Huff, who snared it before it dropped for out number two. Probably not going to be the Phillies’ day is it?
Jose Contreras is up in bullpen in case Ruiz reaches, and I’m thinking that Hamels might be a better option than our pitch hitters at this point. He did, after all, get the team’s lone hit back in that one Mets game right? Poor Hamels. He pitches another good game, gets no run support, and then his defense also lets him down.
Chooch gets hit by a pitch and up comes Ryan “I’m about to strike out” Gload. I missed that part of the season that he was good. I know it happened, but I wasn’t there to witness it. So naturally I think he’s an automatic out every time he walks up to the plate. Apparently, manager Charlie Manuel does not think that way as Gload has been his go-to pinch-hitter this postseason. So I will give Gload (and Charlie) credit for a good AB after working a walk after a falling into a 1-2 count.
Bruce Bochy out to se if Cain wants to continue, since he’s only allowed two hits in his 6.2 innings pitched, Boch lets him stay in for Victorino. You hope Shane can make something out of this at-bat with side-arm lefty Javier Lopez ready in the pen to face Utley. Victorino’s worked a 3-2 count, putting the runners in motion for what’s surely to be Cain’s last pitch, number 119, which was — you guessed it — another ground out to second base.
Punchless offense for Hamels once again. Maybe the Phillies will score some runs for the bullpen.
Bottom 7
The first pitch from Contreras was popped about 10 feet from home plate where Chooch was there to squeeze it for the first out. He then got Roward to strikeout on a nasty splitter that seemed to have very little spin on it. A groundout to the mound on the next pitch ended the inning.
Quick work by Contreras.
Top 8
Lopez in to pitch now and he gets Utley to pop out to second on the second pitch of the inning. Remember when he used to be good? With the black-bearded Brian Wilson warming up in the ‘pen, Polanco grounds out meekly to third and Howard follows with a strike out.
Three more outs to a 2-1 series lead for the Giants.
Bottom 8
Three up, three down. The much-maligned Contreras did his job today.
Top 9
Beard vs. Beard Round 2 as Wilson is on to face Werth. While Werth singled in their first meeting, this round goes to Wilson after Werth struck out swinging. J-Roll then launches a ball off the wall in right, but it was hit so hard — and JRoll’s so slow nowadays — that Ross was able to hold him to a single. It’s been that kind of day.
Wilson starts Ibanez with a generously called strike low and outside. Next pitch: 4-6-3 double play. Game. Set. And Match.
Amazingly, my DVR recording turned off just 30 seconds after the game ended. So instead of stewing on this loss — and talking about how the Phillies offense might just be bad enough to keep the team from the World Series — I’m just going to move on and wait for Game 4.
I suggest you do the same.