I think, based on the comments and the dates, this chat took place after Game 3 of the ALCS and Game 4 of the NLCS. So yeah. There are a couple of things I cut out because I really couldn't be very funny/snarky/whatever about them.
Buzzmaster
(11:01 AM)
We're getting Joe right now!
Yeah well you better be.
Buzzmaster
(11:19 AM)
Hang in there folks. Looks like Joe may have gotten tied up with something.
NOOOOOOO
Buzzmaster
(11:35 AM)
Just kidding folks! We've got Joe. Let's do this!
YAAAAAYYYY
Joe Morgan
(11:37 AM)
It was great to see the game played properly in Anaheim after the cold weather in New York. The errors made because of the wet weather. It was just a well played game, forgetting who won.
Huh? It was only raining in one of the games in New York, and even then, only on and off (to be fair, when it was on, it was really on) in extra innings. I'm pretty sure the weather didn't make the two Angel infielders stand there like morons when a pop-up fell between them, or make Torii Hunter overrun a ball hit to the outfield. It didn't make Derek Jeter fumble that ground ball. And though Game 6 of the ALCS hadn't happened by the time of this chat, I'm pretty sure the cold in NY didn't make Scott Kazmir, raised in the Mets organization, unable to throw a bunt to first.
Joe Morgan
(11:37 AM)
Of course, the Phillies Dodgers game was fabulous as well.
FAAAAAABULOUS!!!
Larry Ellis (Toronto)
I think its time to say its so Joe, looks like its going to be an all east coast final. Any chance the Dodgers or Angels can turn their ships around?
Joe Morgan
(11:38 AM)
I think the Angels have a better chance of turning things around than the Dodgers. But it does look like it might be an all-east coast final. It would be difficult for the Angels to win 3 of the next 4. And the Dodgers have to win all four. Very difficult.
Huh? If I'm right about the date when he wrote this, the Angels were behind in the series one game to two (or three). The Dodgers, one game to three. They'd both have to win just three games. The Dodgers didn't fall behind 0-3 in the series.
drew (delaware)
Hey Joe! How about that phillies bullpen last night? Why do you think they've been so good this postseason?
Joe Morgan
(11:39 AM)
That's a very good question. But I think everyone, wratchets up their intensity this time of year. If you can focus on one pitch, one hitter, you can do a good job. They've always had some guys capable. You know Lidge is capable, Madsen is capable, it's just a matter of getting it done. If they weren't capable, they wouldn't be in the big leagues.
But... but... I thought he said that only Lidge could close games...
Hoopes (Philly)
How special is this Philadelphia baseball team? This post season seems very special. Are they destined to win?
I dunno how special the 2009 Phillies were but Hoopes here certainly sounds kinda "special" him/herself.
Joe Morgan
(11:40 AM)
I think that's the key for them, they never quit. Harry Kalas, a close friend of mine and former broadcaster for the Phillies, called them the Fightin' Phils. We've seen that. Not just this postseason, but last postseason as well. They seem to like each other, like playing with each other and never quit. I think they're an exceptional team.
Why the Phillies are good:
1. they fight
2. they like each other
3. they don't quit
4. they're an exceptional team
Brilliant, Joe. Really.
Roller (Kentucky)
Joe, what in the world is going on with playing baseball in the winter?? Can something be done, and was the Cards getting knocked out in the first round one of the biggest upsets of all time??
Early November's not really the "winter" but okay. It is really really ridiculously late. The Cards getting knocked out, and not only knocked out but swept, in the first round, was fairly surprising, but I mean, looking back, the 2009 Cardinals weren't so amazing that them getting eliminated in the first round was an all-time shocker. It's a short series, anything can happen. You could argue they were maybe the best built for a short series, because they had the two studs at the top of their order. But it also showed how little things can screw you over in a short series. Chris Carpenter wasn't great for one game and the Cardinals' hitters, who are a pretty pathetic bunch outside of Pujols (who got intentionally walked all night) and Holliday, couldn't get the hits they needed off of Randy Wolf. Then, a day later, Matt Holliday dropped an easy fly ball that would have been the third out of the ninth inning; it lead to the Cardinals' closer blowing a save. Do really really good teams sometimes have two ugly games out of three over the course of a season? Yeah. The Yankees lost two out of three to the Nationals, including getting shut out. In the regular season, that's not really a big deal. In the postseason, that'd put them on the brink of elimination.
Joe Morgan
(11:42 AM)
It's the worst possible conditions for baseball. You do not get the players at their best. We saw mental mistakes due to the weather. Physical errors due to the weather. It's just hard for players to play baseball in the harder weather. Baseball is more of a finesse sport and a game of skill. You can't exhibit your skills when you're cold and the conditions are bad. The only thing that could be done is start the season earlier.
Aaah, what?! I talked about this before. How do we know they were making mental mistakes because of the weather? I know it's not the best playing conditions but these guys are professionals. You really think, like, Bobby Abreu is gonna be like "Oh, it's raining. OH SHIT I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT BALL!!!"
Steve (PA)
So who wins, Phillies or Yankees? Looks like they both have some post season magic.
Joe Morgan
(11:43 AM)
Well, the Yankees would have the homefield advantage, which I think with two teams who are closely matched, that would give them an edge. That's why I think it's so stupid to have the homefield riding on the all-star game.
Yay!
It should be alternating like before. That was a fair way of doing it.
Boo! (It should go to the team with the best record.)
But the Yankees would have the edge because of the homefield. But we still have to get there with the Yankees. I think the Phillies are assured of getting there, but the Yankees have to win one of the next two games in Anaheim.
Well they didn't literally have to. It would have put them on the brink of elimination if they didn't, but they were still gonna go home 2-3.
With CC going today, that looks like a good possibility.
Steve (PA)
Do you think Padilla can throw in a repeat performance of game 2? Hes in Philly now and the fans are gonna get on him to try and rattle him, plus howard is on such a roll.
Joe Morgan
(11:45 AM)
I think he can pitch well, but that doesn't mean that he's going to win. The Phillies have the momentum. They have the home crowd behind them. I think the Phillies are in great shape. I think he will pitch a good game, but that doesn't mean he wins. I just think the Phillies have too much momentum and will close it out.
You just made a bunch of Dodger fans cry, Joe. I hope you're happy. (And he pitched a shitty game. The magical Vicente Padilla dust wore off, oh well.)
SteveFitz (Cicero, IL)
Joe, is this the offseason where the Phillies have to maybe trade one of its better players due to higher pay raises now or in the near future? Maybe Werth?
Joe Morgan
(11:46 AM)
Well if they win another championship, I don't see why you would break them up. Payrolls are not my expertise. I believe that you just go out there to try and win. If you have the winning combination there, you keep them together. I saw the team I was on, the Reds, we won two straight championships and if we had stayed together, we would have won three straight. If you take one player away, you disrupt it and then you don't know what you're going to get.
What?! Pretty much every team has flaws, even World Series-winning teams. The 1998 Yankees traded away a guy who pitched a PERFECT GAME that year and guess what? They won the next year, too. Paul O'Neill was on three World Series-winning teams in a row. WHY ISN'T HE STILL ON THE YANKEES?!?!? (The sad thing is, a lot of Yankee fans kinda think like this.)
Also, nobody cares about you, Joe.
drew (delaware)
Do you think Joe Girardi can be thanked for part A-Rod's success this postseason? He seems like there is just no pressure now after years of being overwhelmed by it.
Sigh
Joe Morgan
(11:48 AM)
I'm not in the lockerroom, so I can't answer that. All I can say is that A-Rod is more relaxed. He just seems more focused. I do believe that a manager does deserve some of the credit for how some of his players perform. If you're going to fire him for when they don't perform, then you have to give some credit when they do perform. I just don't know how much credit.
This is... a non-answer.
Roger (DC)
With the way both teams can mash, the DH will be in favor of the phillies no? They can reduce the weak link in their lineup with someone like stairs or francisco. Yanks will have to ditch someone like Matsui or swisher etc. in Philly. Seems to me like the SPs would be pretty close as well.
Yeah, losing Matsui would probably hurt the Yankees, but Francisco's league average bat? Matt Stairs, well, if he hits anything it's a home run, but since the All-Star break, he had just 1 HR and a .431 OPS. Ouch.
Joe Morgan
(11:49 AM)
It will give them an opportunity to improve that lineup. But the Yankees play with the DH. They're accustomed to doing that. It's more of an adjustment for the DH in Philadelphia. Whoever they have in the DH isn't used to doing that.
???? I'm pretty sure whoever they were gonna use for the DH is, you know, used to hitting, Joe. It's not like they were gonna DH J.A. Happ or their first base coach.
Eric (San Diego)
Watching the Angels/Yankees Game last night I noticed Mariano spitting on the ball after checking to see if anyone was looking, is this an issue? There is video of it on Youtube
OH JESUS CHRIST.
Joe Morgan
(11:51 AM)
No, I didn't notice that. Let's put it this way, the pitch he throws, spitting on it wouldn't help. Mariano Rivera is the greatest postseason pitcher in baseball. He doesn't need any help. The hitters need help. Last night's performance for Rivera, put another star on his legend. From watching from my perspective what he did was unbelieveable. He went through the best hitters in that lineup. It was unbelievable.
For one thing, calm down, Joe, though I agree and appreciate it. He's right that spitting on the ball wouldn't help, though. And... like... do people realize that a spitball isn't done by actually spitting on the ball? And even if it was, you know, Mariano Rivera has been pitching since 1995. From 1995 to 1997 or so, he pretty much strictly threw a fastball. He threw really hard and, as he does now, he had absolutely amazing control. Anyway, in 1997, he developed his cutter, and he's been doing that ever since. Do you really think that if the secret to the cutter was that he was secretly spitting all over the ball every time he came out, someone wouldn't have caught him doing so already?
The best thing about the whole ZOMG TEH SPITBALL thing was that it introduced the term "spit halo." That sounds like something you'd find on a fetish site.
Chris (Severna Park, MD)
So do you see the Yankees blowing this series or do you see them finishing off the Halos before a possible game six
Well that's kind of a depressing way to put it.
Joe Morgan
(11:52 AM)
They will not blow the series. The Angels are going to have to win it. What it really does is tell you how important Game 2 is, when the Angels blew the lead. That game, in my opinion, will keep them from winning it. If they could go 1-1 they could come home and win 2 of 3 and go to New York and just have to win 1. But now, if they win 2 of 3 at home, they have to win both in New York. Game 2 was the biggest game in this series, as far as I'm concerned.
that's... uh... nice?
Ricardo (California)
If the Dodgers do manage to win game 5 and take the series back to Los Angeles, do you think the Dodgers will still have a chance to win the series?
Dude, as long as the Dodgers aren't eliminated, they have "a chance" to win the series. Maybe they have a pretty damn small chance, but it's a chance.
Joe Morgan
(11:54 AM)
Years ago, when the Yankees went up 3-0 on Boston, I said Boston had no chance. I will never say that again, because Boston came back and won. They won 4 straight against the Yankees, the best team I thought, at the time. Now, the Dodgers have to win 3 straight. That's a tough, tough task, but not impossible, because it's been proven that it can be done.
a. YOU HAD TO MAKE ME RELIVE THIS, DIDN'T YOU JOE?!?!
b. This is in retrospect, but as I wasn't much into baseball analysis in high school, I don't really see how you can say the 2004 Yankees were better than the 2004 Red Sox. The 2004 Red Sox were a really good team and the 2004 Yankees, well, they weren't bad or anything, but they seriously lacked pitching and Boston had a slightly better offense than them to boot. The only area where they really had an advantage was the bullpen, but Tom Gordon was rancid that entire postseason and Mo had his one not great postseason then.
c. OK Joe, whatevs.
David Walker (Newark, DE)
Is there a better hitter this post season than ryan howard?
Through these respective games:
Ryan Howard .379/.457/.793/1.250
Alex Rodriguez .348/.407/.870/1.277
So, yes. A-Rod. But just slightly. Clearly, these two guys were murdering everything they saw.
Joe Morgan
(11:56 AM)
Not in the recent past, unless you count A-Rod.
"the recent past"? Manny had an OPS of 1.747 in the 2008 postseason. That's ridiculous.
He's doing it as well. I've been really impressed with Ryan Howard. On the broadcast the other day, I said he is not who we thought he was. We thought he was a guy who hit home runs and struck out. Now, he's not striking out and driving in runs.
Ryan Howard's home runs, RBIs, and strikeouts by year...
2005: 22 HR, 63 RBI, 100 K (in 88 games)
2006: 58 HR, 149 RBI, 181 K
2007: 47 HR, 136 RBI, 199 K
2008: 48 HR, 146 RBI, 199 K
2009: 45 HR, 141 RBI, 186 K
You know, it seems like he's a guy that hits a lot of home runs, drives in a ton of RBI, and strikes out a whole bunch, so it's not unfair to describe him like that. Also, he struck out eight times between the NLDS and the NLCS before the World Series turned into Strikeoutapalooza for him so he was, indeed, striking out.
It seems like he's more in a crouch now and he's using his hands more. Before, he was using his arms and moving his body all around and he was striking out more. Now, there's less movement and he's making more contact. Right now, I think he's swinging the bat better than anyone other than A-Rod.
Um, okay. Whatevs. This sounds like he's dancing or something.
Daniel (Raleigh)
If the Angels are able to tie up the series today in Anaheim, how much does that play into the World Series for the Yankees, assuming they get there? I mean, this 3 man rotation has to come back to bite them, right?
TEH THREE DAYS REST!!!!!!
Joe Morgan
(12:00 PM)
I don't think that's a problem, if the Yankees are able to wrap it up soon. Remember, the World Series doesn't start until Wednesday. I've watched Josh Beckett and other top notch pitchers pitch on early rest.
But I thought Beckett wasn't as dominant as he once was!
There seems to be a lot of people who use statistics to say it doesn't work out, historically. But you have to look at the pitchers you're looking at. CC pitched on short rest last year to get the Brewers into the playoffs. You ahve to take into consideration who is pitching and I think CC is capable on pitching on short rest. If the Yankees win the series, I think they'll be in a good situation, unless CC has to pitch the seventh game.
Huh? This reminds me of when Tim McCarver said something like, "If CC pitches Game 1 of the World Series, the Yankees will know they won the ALCS." Amazing. That's almost Yogi-esque.
Joe Morgan
(12:01 PM)
I still think we have a lot of good baseball left before we get to the World Series. I think we'll have a good World Series, depending on the weather.
I know Joe is probably still going on about people making "mental errors" because of the weather, but it's not like we had ever seen something so crazy as the weather having some weird effect on a World Series game. No, no. Then again, I wouldn't really call the 2008 World Series a particularly good/re-watchable World Series.
