Phils Show Why They’re Better

We here at BSB have always believed that there is a fine line between courage and stupidity, between guts and foolishness.  The Phillies toed that line a couple of times tonight in Queens and, after they came out on top, the game will go down as a “gutty win” rather than a “stupid loss”.  When it comes to this rivalry, it seems to be the common theme: both teams have talent, but only one has moxie to go with it.

This first cropped up tonight in the 6th inning, when Mike Pelfrey took exception to Chase Utley stepping out of the box before a pitch.  Pelfrey reminded me of a weakling in a movie that decides he’s finally going to stand up to the big bully but can’t come close to following through.  He was so rattled after his verbal exchange with Utley that he forgot all about Shane Victorino on 1st base, and Victorino promptly stole second.  That only shook Pelfrey’s focus more, and David Wright had to go have an animated talk to calm him down, followed by Jerry Manuel coming from the dugout to also have a talk with him.  It was a pretty sorry display all around by Pelfrey.  He did get Utley to ground out to end the inning, but he came out for the 7th and gave up three straight singles before leaving the game.

In the bottom of the 8th, J.C. Romero came on and allowed two baserunners with one out before Gary Sheffield came up.  With the red-hot David Wright on deck, Romero decided on a 3-1 curveball to Sheffield.  Ballsy, or dumb?  Either way, Sheffield took it for a strike, and Romero followed up with a perfect fastball, painting the inside corner at the knees.  An incredible pair of pitches.

And the most courageous (or foolish, of course) play of the game came with the game tied in the bottom of the 10th.  Fernando Martinez was on 1st base, representing the winning run, and Wright was the batter with two outs.  The game would be over with any extra-base hit.  Wright lined the ball into right-center, and Jayson Werth ranged over toward it.  He could have easily just let the ball drop in front of him and the Phils would just have to get Fernando Tatis out.  Instead, Werth dove for the ball, making a fantastic catch that ended the inning.  If I could freeze that play with the ball in the air and talk to Jayson about it, I would still tell him to let it drop.  I’d ask him, why dive for that ball and put the game on the line?  I think he would answer:  because we play to win, and when the stakes are highest, we’re at our best.  That is the difference between these teams.  Ryan Church probably lets that ball drop and watches Pedro Feliz knock in the game-winning run as the next batter.  So, gutsy or foolish, call them what you will, just don’t forget to add “champions”.