Home Run Derby

It’s Jersey of the Week time!!

And since the World Series is in full swing … we thought we’d try to find the best jersey from either the Rays or the Phillies. 

Since the Fightin’ Phils jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the series … one of the lovely Philly Ballgirls was about to get hyped again …

… until we found what is quite simply the best … jersey … ever.

Actually, it’s not a jersey at all.
It’s Bodypaint.

And after the jump … it’s about to get all NSFW in this joint … don’t open this at work.

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The 2008 World Series is set. 

The Philadelphia Phillies vs the Tampa Bay Rays. 

All across the baseball blogosphere, you’re going to see lots of real baseball analysis about the matchups on the field and in the dugout as well as some predictions about the outcome of the Fall Classic. 

I’m not going to do that this year - it’s well evidenced that I suck at predictions … my 10/27/07 prediction that the Red Sox would repeat in 2008 didn’t come true.

Personally, I’m more interested in what’s happening on TOP of the Dugout - because we love baseball cheerleaders here at HRD. 

So here’s your Home Run Derby 2008 World Series Preview - of the eye candy on the sidelines.
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Two of the last three Debates between the Republican and Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President have all been in direct competition with Playoff Baseball.

The Debate committee has got to get its priorities straight. 

The Vice-Presidential Debate on October 2nd was up against Game 2 of the NLDS between the Cubs and Dodgers at Wrigley Field.  And last night’s Presidential Debate was up against Game 5 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers. 

I had a hard time choosing between the events.  I was using the clicker to flip back and forth between  that Dodgers-Cubs game and the Palin-Biden debate.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone. 

Here’s a screen shot of CNN Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin during the October 2nd VEEP Debate - he’s at MLB.com’s GameDay, following the Cubs-Dodgers game on his laptop.

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Dear Jimmy Rollins,

I’m sorry I doubted you.

Sincerely,
Richie Rich
Homerderby.com

November 27, 2007 - Jimmy Rollins offered the following wisdom:

“We’ll win probably 100 games … 100 games will get us to the playoffs.

“There’s going to be fireworks, I know that much … and I plan on another celebration, but not just one.  I don’t plan on giving up that title of NL East champions, I know that much.” 

At the time, I said I admired Rollins’ confidence in his team, but I also thought the 2007 NL MVP Award was going to Rollins’ head.  It wasn’t even December of the offseason and Rollins was spouting off.

Then in February, when the New York Mets signed uber-pitcher Johan Santana, I said that Rollins would have a hard time backing up those words.  I said that Santana would steamroller the National League.

But when Rollins reported to Spring Training a few days later, he was just as confident …

“There isn’t a team in the National League that’s better than us,” Rollins said.

Well, the 100 regular season wins Rollins predicted didn’t come to pass, but the Phillies won the NL East again - despite the fact that Johan Santana pitched lights-out for the Mets all season. 

And last night, Rollins’ boast from Spring Training came true, as the 2008 NL East Champion Phillies became the 2008 NL Champion Phillies … thanks in no small part to a leadoff Home Run in Game 5 of the 2008 NLCS by … who else … Jimmy Rollins.

It’s one thing to make a preseason boast about your team … it’s another thing when you accomplish it. 

And now I’ve got to eat a Philly Cheese-Crow Sandwich.

One of these days I’m going to make a baseball prediction that comes true. Because that Red Sox Back-to-Back World Series Championship I predicted last October ain’t looking so good right now either.

And we are into the second round of Home Run Derby’s MLB Mascot Brackets.  Took us long enough.  Weekly matchups will be in effect until the end of the 2008 MLB season.

We’re going to start off with a matchup from the Furrie Divison, with the #1 Seed matched up against another green mascot who was granted new life in the tournament.

#1 - Philly Phanatic (Phillies) vs #7 - Southpaw (White Sox)

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Ken Griffey Junior almost had Home Run #600 this afternoon.

There’s a lot of talk that baseball isn’t paying attention to Griffey’s quest for 600.  Don’t tell that to Phillie Phans … who seemed to be rooting for Griffey to do it this afternoon.

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Somewhere, Mitch Williams is smiling. 

Nearly fifteen years after the Phillies lost to the Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series … The Phillies extract a little revenge.

Earlier this year, Jayson Werth earned a Home Run of the Day with an Inside-the-park job at Colorado … I guess that wasn’t enough for Werth, who felt he had to lay a whuppin on the Blue Jays … all by himself.

And only one of those longballs was a solo shot.  Werth hit a 3-run jack and a Grand Slam in the second and third innings off Jays’ starter David Purcey, who practically grooved two balls right in Werth’s wheelhouse. 

Here’s Video of the Grand Slam and the Solo shot …

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In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan Howard untied a 2-2 ballgame with one swing and the Phillies went on to beat the visiting San Diego Padres. 

The win put the Phillies in sole possession of first place in the NL East.

Around the League:

Brewers 4  Cubs 3

The “Kerry Wood as closer” experiment might be just about over for the Chicago Cubs. 

Wood blew a 3-1 ninth inning lead and his third save in seven opportunities and visiting Milwaukee beat the Cubs 4-3 - wasting another great start by Carlos Zambrano.  Wood now has an ERA of 18.00 against the Brewers in three games at Wrigley. 

You get the sense that it’s only a matter of time until Carlos Marmol is the closer for the Northsiders.

Rays 4  Orioles 2

They’re on the cusp of history in Tampa Bay … as the AL East-leading Rays beat the  Orioles and moved to four games over .500 for only the third time in their 10+ year history. 

The Rays have never been five games over .500.

Maybe there was something to dropping the Devil.

Tigers 8  Yankees 4

The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the the Yankees in New York.

Don’t look now, but since the Tigers started 0-7, they’ve gone on a 14-8 run.  And they’re now in a three-way tie for second place in the AL Central, only 1 1/2 games behind the  Chicago White Sox. 

It’s tough to tally a Home Run when the ball doesn’t leave the yard.  You’ve got to get some combination of a lucky bounce, outfielder futility, or wicked speed to get an inside-the-park Home Run.

Last night, Jayson Werth had a combination of the three as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the host Colorado Rockies.