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2008 World Series

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2008 {{{country}}} Series
File:2008 Major League Baseball World Series logo.png
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
Philadelphia Phillies (3) Charlie Manuel 92–70, .568,
NL East Champions
Tampa Bay Rays (1) Joe Maddon 97–65, .599,
AL East Champions
DatesOctober 22 – October 31
(If all seven games are played)
UmpiresTim Welke (crew chief), Tim Tschida, Jeff Kellogg, Tom Hallion, Kerwin Danley, Fieldin Culbreth[1]
Broadcast
TelevisionUnited States FOX
Australia FOX Sports and ESPN
Canada RSN
Dominican Republic and Costa Rica ESPN Latin America
Europe NASN
Mexico Televisa
Taiwan ESPN Star Sports and FTV
United Kingdom Five and NASN
TV announcersJoe Buck, Tim McCarver
RadioESPN
Radio announcersJon Miller, Joe Morgan
Streaming
Tampa Bay Rays over Boston Red Sox (4–3)
NLCSPhiladelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers (4–1)
Series

The 2008 World Series is the 104th Major League Baseball championship series. The best-of-seven series is being played between the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays of the American League. The Series started on Wednesday, October 22. Due to weather delays in game five, the completion of the game, in addition to the final two games, has been postponed. The American League's 4–3 win in the 2008 All-Star Game gives the Rays home field advantage for the series.[2]

Participants

Philadelphia Phillies

Main article: 2008 Philadelphia Phillies season

The Philadelphia Phillies advanced to the World Series after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League's Divisional and Championship Series, respectively.[3] The team won its position in the playoffs after its second consecutive National League East title.[4] This is the Phillies' first World Series appearance in fifteen years.[5][6] The Phillies have the thirteenth-largest payroll in Major League Baseball for 2008.[7]

Philadelphia opened the season strongly, posting their first winning April in several years. They also scored 60 runs over five games in late May in a sweep over the Rockies and went 14–4 into the beginning of June. The Phillies slumped in late June, but came out of the All-Star break hot, going 9–6 immediately following the midseason hiatus. Closer Brad Lidge earned eight saves in those games, and would not blow a save all regular season. Ironically, the only save Lidge would not get was in the All-Star Game, giving the AL home field advantage for the same fall classic Lidge and the Phillies would play in. Philadelphia traded sweeps with Los Angeles in August and went 13–3 in their last 16 games, taking advantage of a late swoon by the New York Mets for the second year in a row to capture the division crown. They defeated the Brewers in the Division Series, 3–1, and the Dodgers in the Championship Series, 4–1 to book their place in the 2008 Fall Classic. The Phillies posted the best road record in the National League, at 44–37.

Tampa Bay Rays

Main article: 2008 Tampa Bay Rays season

The Tampa Bay Rays advanced to the World Series after defeating the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox in the American League's Division and Championship Series, respectively.[8][9] The team earned its first trip to the post-season in franchise history after winning the American League East title, one season after finishing in last place.[10] The Rays have the second-smallest payroll in Major League Baseball for 2008.[7]

Tampa Bay also posted a winning April, their first in franchise history, going 14–12 in the opening month. Strong pitching carried the rechristened Rays through May and into the summer. The team accumulated seven walk-off wins before the All-Star break, a key component to their 2008 success. Choosing to make no deadline deals, Andrew Friedman, the general manager, stated that he felt the team had the talent to continue their early-season success. Several players lost time to injuries in August, but the team continued to win and clinched their first winning season by notching their 82nd win in that month. Though the Rays' only losing month of the season was posted in September (13–14), they clinched their first division championship and first playoff berth at the end of September. They defeated the White Sox, 3–1, and the division rival Red Sox, 4–3 to reach the first World Series in franchise history.

Summary

Philadephia leads series, 3-1

Game Score Date Location Attendance
1 Philadelphia Phillies - 3, Tampa Bay Rays - 2 October 22 Tropicana Field 40,783[11]
2 Philadelphia Phillies - 2, Tampa Bay Rays - 4 October 23 Tropicana Field 40,843[12]
3 Tampa Bay Rays - 4, Philadelphia Phillies - 5 October 25 Citizens Bank Park 45,900[13]
4 Tampa Bay Rays - 2, Philadelphia Phillies - 10 October 26 Citizens Bank Park 45,903[14]
5 October 27, 29 Citizens Bank Park
6* October 30 Tropicana Field
7* October 31 Tropicana Field
* - If necessary

Game summaries

Game 1

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Philadelphia 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 1
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 1
WP: Cole Hamels (1–0)   LP: Scott Kazmir (0–1)   Sv: Brad Lidge (1)
Home runs:
PHI: Chase Utley (1)
TB: Carl Crawford (1)

The Philadelphia Phillies scored the first runs of the Series when Chase Utley hit a home run with Jayson Werth on base in the top of the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases in the second inning, but were unable to score when Shane Victorino was thrown out at home plate by B. J. Upton. The Tampa Bay Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning, however, Upton grounded into an inning-ending double play and the score remained 2–0. The Phillies extended their lead when Carlos Ruiz batted in Victorino in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the inning, a solo home run from Carl Crawford pulled the Rays within two runs. The Rays added their second run the following inning when a double by Akinori Iwamura scored Jason Bartlett. Tampa Bay starting pitcher Scott Kazmir was removed after six innings; J. P. Howell and Grant Balfour combined to shutout the Phillies for 1⅓ innings. Ryan Madson relieved Phillies' starter Cole Hamels in the eighth inning—pitching a single perfect inning. In the top of the ninth inning, two Phillies' runners reached base. Tampa Bay's Trever Miller was brought on and threw four pitches—striking out Ryan Howard—before he was relieved. Philadelphia stranded two runners, on second and third base, and entered the bottom of the ninth inning ahead by one run. Philadelphia's Brad Lidge struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third batter to get the save.[15]

Game 2

Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 9 2
Tampa Bay 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 x 4 7 1
WP: James Shields (1–0)   LP: Brett Myers (0–1)
Home runs:
PHI: Eric Bruntlett (1)
TB: None

Tampa Bay scored the first runs of the game in the first inning when Akinori Iwamura and B. J. Upton scored on consecutive ground outs by Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria respectively. The following inning Upton singled, scorring Dioner Navarro. Rocco Baldelli attempted to score from second base, but was thrown out by right fielder Jayson Werth, keeping the Rays lead at 3–0. Cliff Floyd extended the Rays lead to four runs after leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single, advancing to third base, and scoring on a Jason Barlett sacrifice bunt. Ray's starter James Shields shutout the Phillies through 5⅔ innings, before being relieved by Dan Wheeler who pitched an additional scorless inning. Eric Bruntlett hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning to bring the score to 4–1. The Phillies added a second run in the top of the ninth inning, but were unable to score any more runs; Tampa Bay's win tied the Series at one game apiece.[16]

Game 3

Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tampa Bay 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 6 0
Philadelphia 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 5 7 1
WP: J. C. Romero (1–0)   LP: J. P. Howell (0–1)
Home runs:
TB: None
PHI: Carlos Ruiz (1), Chase Utley (2), Ryan Howard (1)

The third game of the Series was delayed for an hour and 31 minutes because of rain.[17] The Phillies scored in the bottom of the first inning after Jimmy Rollins led off with a single and eventually scored when Chase Utley grounded out. In the next half inning, Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford doubled, stole third base and scored on a Gabe Gross sacrifice fly to center field. Carlos Ruiz gave the Phillies their second lead of the night when he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Starting pitchers Matt Garza and Jamie Moyer pitched six and 6⅓ innings repectively. The 2–1 score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit the 14th back-to-back home runs in World Series history.[18] Crawford scored his second run of the game in the top of the seventh inning when he was batted in by Gross again. Dioner Navarro continued the rally by scoring on a Jason Bartlett ground out—bringing the score to 4–3. In the top of the eighth inning, B.J. Upton led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error to tie the game. Eric Bruntlett was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the ninth, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a throwing error. Tampa Bay intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases, and brought in Ben Zobrist from right field to play as a fifth infielder behind second base. However, Bruntlett scored the winning run on Ruiz's 45-foot infield single, the first walkoff infield single in World Series history, giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the series.[19]

Game 4

Sunday, October 26, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 2
Philadelphia 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 4 x 10 12 1
WP: Joe Blanton (1–0)   LP: Andy Sonnanstine (0–1)
Home runs:
TB: Carl Crawford (2), Eric Hinske (1)
PHI: Ryan Howard 2 (3), Joe Blanton (1), Jayson Werth (1)

Philadelphia took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Jimmy Rollins led off with a double and scored when Pat Burrell later walked with the bases loaded. The Phillies doubled their lead in the third inning when Chase Utley reached base on a fielding error and scored on Pedro Feliz's single. The Rays scored their first run when Carl Crawford hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Howard's three-run home run in the bottom of the inning brought the score to 5–1. Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske hit a pinch-hit home run to bring the Rays within three runs, but Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton responded with a home run of his own to re-extend the lead to four; it was the first time a pitcher hit a home run since Ken Holtzman in the fourth game of the 1974 Fall Classic.[20] Blanton pitched six innings, giving up two runs on four hits to acquire his first win of the Series. Jayson Werth hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning—the Phillies third of the game—to bring the score to 8–2. Later in the inning Ryan Howard's second home run, and fifth RBI, increased the Phillies lead to eight runs. Philadelphia's four relief pitchers combined for three shutout innings, giving up one hit.[21]

Game 5

Monday, October 27–Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 8 0
Philadelphia 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 6 1
Starting pitchers:
TB: Scott Kazmir (0–1)
PHI: Cole Hamels (1–0)

Philadelphia scored in the first inning for the third consecutive game, taking a 2–0 lead when Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz batted in Jayson Werth and Pat Burrell respectively. Tampa Bay cut the lead in half in the fourth inning; Carlos Peña doubled and was batted in on Evan Longoria's single, both players' first hits of the Series. The Rays then tied the game in the sixth inning when B. J. Upton scored from second base on a Peña single.[22] The game was suspended after the top of the sixth inning due to rain, making it the first game in World Series history to not be played through to completion or declared a tie.[23]

After the game was suspended, home plate umpire Tim Tschida told reporters that he and his crew ordered the players off the field because the wind and rain threatened to make the game "comical." Phillies second baseman Chase Utley agreed, saying that by the middle of the sixth inning, "the infield was basically underwater."[24]

Rain continued to fall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, further postponing the game to Wednesday, October 29.

Implications of the suspension

Under normal conditions, games are considered to be official games after five innings, or four and a half if the home team is leading at that point. However, both Rays and Phillies management knew before the first pitch that Commissioner Bud Selig, who decides whether to delay or postpone World Series games, would not allow a team to clinch the Series by winning a rain-shortened game.[23][25] The game resumed on Wednesday, October 29 in the middle of the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park.[26]

This was the first game in World Series history to be suspended.[27] There had been three tied games in the history of the World Series: 1907, 1912, and 1922, all of them called due to darkness. In general, no ties would be needed under modern rules, which provide for suspension of a tied game and resumption of it at the next possible date. Weather has caused numerous delays and postponements in Series history (notably in 1911 and 1962), but no tied games, nor suspended games until 2008. The post-season games are operated by the Commissioner's Office and are subject to the Commissioner's discretion of how to handle the scheduling of the games, as with the way this Game 5 was handled.[23]

Although the game was suspended, Nevada sports betting agencies treated it as a completed game and a win for the Phillies. Under Nevada house rules the final score of a baseball game is determined by reverting to the last completed full inning, and the Phillies led 2–1 at the end of the fifth. Game 5 side bets on Philadelphia were paid off while bets on totals and run-line bets were refunded.[28]

Game 6 (if necessary)

Date and time to be determined - at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida

Team R H E
Philadelphia - - -
Tampa Bay - - -
Starting pitchers:
PHI: Brett Myers (0-1)
TB: James Shields (1-0)

Game 7 (if necessary)

Date and time to be determined - at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida

Team R H E
Philadelphia - - -
Tampa Bay - - -
Starting pitchers:
PHI: Jamie Moyer (0-0)
TB: Matt Garza (0-0)

Weather conditions

Games 3 and 5 of the World Series were delayed by rain storms in Philadelphia, with Game 3 resuming an hour and 31 minutes later, and Game 5 (which began on Monday, October 27) has been delayed until Wednesday, October 29.[29] Wet weather which affected Game 5 continued into Tuesday in the Philadelphia area, as Major League Baseball officials studied radar data to determine when Game 5 of the World Series would continue under conditions deemed "appropriate."[29] Up to this point, there had never been a rain-shortened game in Series history, and this was the first suspension.[29] As a result, if it were necessary to play them, Games 6 and 7 in St. Petersburg have been postponed until a later date.[29]

With temperatures plummeting to the mid-40s and a cold rain falling at Citizens Bank Park, some of the Phillies and Rays players opted for the "Elmer Fudd" look, wearing specially made caps with built-in ear flaps.[30] The caps are manufactured by New Era, baseball's official cap supplier.[30] They were introduced during this year's spring training but weren't used on the field until Game 5.[30]

Broadcasting

The games are televised on FOX in the United States with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver as booth announcers[31] and Chris Myers and Ken Rosenthal as field reporters.[32] Jeanne Zelasko hosts the pre-game and post-game show with Kevin Kennedy and Mark Grace (Games 1, 2) or Eric Karros (Games 3, 4, 5) . Fox Sports en Español is doing the simulcast of the Series in Spanish.

On radio, the Series is broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan announcing, and a Spanish broadcast on ESPN Deportes Radio. Dave Wills and Andy Freed call the Series in English for the Rays on WHNZ-AM in Tampa, with Ricardo Tavaras and Enrique Oliu working the Spanish broadcast on St. Petersburg's WGES-AM. Harry Kalas, Scott Frankze, Larry Andersen, and Chris Wheeler call the Phillies' English broadcasts on WPHT-AM in Philadelphia, with Spanish announcers Danny Martinez, Bill Kulik and Juan Ramos on WUBA-AM. Per contractual obligation, the non-flagship stations on the teams' radio networks carry the ESPN Radio broadcasts.

For international viewers, MLB International is carrying the feed, with commentators Rick Sutcliffe and Dave O'Brien.

Game 1 was watched by 10.1 million viewers in the United States; Commissioner Bud Selig stated he was satisfied with the ratings.[33] Game four drew the highest television ratings of the Series, but overall viewership was 25% lower than the previous World Series.[34]

References

  1. ^ Gilbert, Steve (2008-10-21). "Umpires for World Series announced". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  2. ^ Associated Press (2008-07-15). "Young caps marathon goodbye to Yankee Stadium with sac fly in 15th". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  3. ^ Associated Press (2008-10-05). "Burrell's blasts help send Phils past Brewers, into NLCS". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  4. ^ Cherry, Gene (2008-09-28). "Phillies claim NL East but wildcard spot up for grabs". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-10-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Rutherford, Peter (2008-10-16). "Philadelphia beats LA Dodgers to reach World Series". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  6. ^ Mandel, Ken (2008-10-16). "Phils reach first World Series since '93". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  7. ^ a b "ESPN - Philadelphia Phillies Salaries - MLB Baseball". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  8. ^ Associated Press (2008-10-06). "Upton's two homers set tone as Rays wrap up spot in ALCS". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  9. ^ Browne, Ian (2008-10-19). "Sox's playoff run ends with loss to Rays". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  10. ^ Cherry, Gene (2008-09-27). "Rays claim AL East title to cap turnaround". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-10-17. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Phillies are cream of the Trop". MLB.com. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  12. ^ "Trop-ical paradise: Rays take Game 2". MLB.com. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  13. ^ "Phillies 5, Rays 4". MLB.com. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  14. ^ "Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia". MLB.com. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  15. ^ "World Series Game one". Box Score. MLB.com. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  16. ^ "World Series Game two". Box Score. MLB.com. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  17. ^ Newman, Mark (2008-10-25). "Rain doesn't dampen enthusiasm". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  18. ^ Footer, Alyson (2008-10-26). "Howard ends homerless drought". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  19. ^ "World Series Game three". Box Score. MLB.com. 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  20. ^ Leach, Matthew (2008-10-26). "Blanton picks right time for first homer". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  21. ^ "World Series Game four". Box Score. MLB.com. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  22. ^ "World Series Game five". Box Score. MLB.com. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  23. ^ a b c Hoch, Bryan (2008-10-28). "In a first, World Series game suspended". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  24. ^ Wojciechowski, Gene. Selig made correct call in suspending Game 5. ESPN, 2008-10-27.
  25. ^ Fine, Larry (2008-10-28). "Suspension leaves World Series in the balance". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-10-28. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Hoch, Bryan (2008-10-28). "Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday". Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  27. ^ "FAQs on the suspended Game 5". Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  28. ^ "Sports books pay as if Phillies won". Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  29. ^ a b c d Hoch, Bryan (2008-10-28). "Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  30. ^ a b c 'Duk (2008-10-27). "'Elmer Fudd' caps become hip during cold and wet World Series". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  31. ^ "Tentative 2008 MLB Postseason Schedule". World Series. MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  32. ^ Tim McCarver's flying start. Salon.com. October 23, 2008.
  33. ^ Bloom, Barry M. (2008-10-23). "Selig pleased with Game 1 ratings". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  34. ^ Bloom, Barry M. (2008-10-27). "Game 4 draws Series' highest ratings". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
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