J_Logan's Blog

Should Philly have tanked versus Atlanta?

By J_Logan | View all Posts
Posted Friday, September 30, 2011 02:42 PM   9 comments
As a Phillies fan, I’ve been waiting all season for October. Ever since Philadelphia added Cliff Lee to its rotation, a postseason appearance was basically a formality for this squad.

But even though the Phillies won 102 games this year, it was game No. 162 that worries me the most. Philadelphia didn’t roll over for NL East rival Atlanta in the final game of the schedule, and eliminated the Braves’ shot at the NL Wildcard with a win in extra innings Wednesday.

That allowed the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that went 6-3 versus the Phillies this season, to waltz into the Wildcard spot and face Philadelphia in the Division Series starting at Citizens Bank Park Saturday.

Oddsmaker and pundits have the Phillies as sizable favorites over the Cardinals. However, St. Louis brings a ton of momentum into October after storming back from a 10.5-game hole in the Wildcard race to win 23 of its final 31 games – including taking three of four in Philly last month against the likes of Halladay, Hamels and Worley.

I think it would have been much safer to tank that final game of the season, and at least give Atlanta a chance to make the Wildcard in a play-in game versus St. Louis. The Phillies could have drawn the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS – a team they went 3-3 against in the regular season but have far less to fear from than the Cardinals’ veteran lineup.

Perhaps Philadelphia’s pride got in the way. Maybe the Phillies relished the opportunity to snuff out their divisional rivals' postseason dreams. And maybe Charlie Manuel didn’t want to take his foot off the gas heading into the playoffs.

Whatever the case, this Phillies fan is hoping a NLDS upset isn’t in the Cards.
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VANCITY78 says:
09/30/11 03:31PM
Well put. I am in Toronto and am a huge fan of baseball overall and I have to say, you are right on. Tanking that game would have put added pressure on both teams, atl and st. lou and would have made them really have to fight to make the wild card spot. Plus the fact that they would have had to use their best pitchers to win the spot. IMO, the atl coach made a crucial mistake by not walking Pence when the on deck guy, i believe Martinez, who was batting .200. was due up, horrible decision. That was the dagger, as Pence hurt them. Obv since I am a jays fan and now Philly has our old main man, I want to see Philly do well. Good luck Philly and do it up Roy, you are the man. good piece j logan
Diamondjake says:
09/30/11 04:54PM
I have mucho respect for the way the Phillies handled it. I dont think there is any question they would rather play Atlanta then the Cardinals but they respect the game of baseball too much too lay down. Very classy. I hope Cardinals win but if we dont I wont forget how the Phillies handled their business.
J_Logan says:
09/30/11 04:57PM
They would have actually faced the Diamondbacks because MLB won't let two teams from the same division face off in the Division Series. Same reason why New York is playing Detroit instead of Tampa Bay. But the Phillies could have met the Braves in the NLCS. Good luck, I hope the Cardinals lose bad. Just being honest.
faceoff says:
09/30/11 04:59PM
I thought they should have put some rooks in for that final game, once St. Lou. won their game.....Let them play an extra game as you said...... I thought the Yankees; by putting in that pitcher later in the game wanted to let TB win.... This was while Boston was ahead 3-2 in a delay.......... The pitcher they put in was throwing 71 miles per hr. curves and 81 fastballs..... I mean, WTF was that....????................. Good luck to your Phillies... They certainly have the pitching, even if they may be lacking some at the plate..... ............ Saw a stat...???? Since 2000, or was it since 1990 (?????)... Only four teams that have won 100 game's or more have won the WS................. But it didn't say how many actually won that many games...................................... Just too lazy to research it..................................................GL
ScottLandau says:
09/30/11 11:07PM
No, I don' think so. Zona too hot at Home, winning 20 of 24. If they steal one in Philly it could mean the end of the Series. I think this article would be more interesting if it was entitled, "Did the Yankees Tank Versus Tampa?" I have never seen a catcher with 26 Outs in a game, stop a batter and engage him in a 10 second conversation before his at-bat. Until Wednesday. Then the guy Homers to tie the game!
_keyser_soze_ says:
10/01/11 12:17PM
Epic fail. The Yankees didn't give the Rays the victory. They weren't going to play their top three relievers - so they patched a game together with various young pitchers and guys who MIGHT make the post season roster. But it was down to 2 outs and 2 strikes on Johnson before he hit a homer to the shortest part of the park. And then the Yankees battled for another couple of innings. As a Yankee fan, I would rather have seen the Red Sox in the playoffs, as their pitching was terrible in the last month. Tampa has some guys who can bring it.
JAM49er says:
10/01/11 12:41PM
The Phillies shouldn't take the easy path to a championship. If the Phillies are good enough as they say they are on paper then they shall prevail. But I guess after being beaten by the Giants last year some Phillies fans are afraid of what might happen if the matchup isn't to their liking. Earn it.
moejoe318 says:
10/03/11 08:52PM
That is the dumbest statement i ever herd. You don't laydown to noone. The phillies are the best team in baseball they lost 8 strait after clinching. they got back on track against a team that needed to win and the phils spanked them. That the way youn get ready for the playoffs they won 5 in a row and lost to the cards yesterday in a game they should of won if lee is on The phils now have hamels on the mound against a pitcher they don't do all that well against but i think mayberry is gonna have a good game and hamels is gonna be game on phils win in a low scoring game 4-2 $100 reverse phils and the under or 500 on the under
braves5795 says:
10/07/11 01:59PM
Had the bravesnot stunk up the place in september, this would have been a moot point.
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