Umpires:
Home Plate - Adam Hamari
First Base - Carlos Torres
Second Base - Dan Iassogna
Third Base - Mike Muchlinski
Left Field - Lance Barksdale
Right Field - Tripp Gibson
If the DBacks pitch around Schwarber and Harper, again(And they will) and Turner, Bohm and Stott fail again, especially Bohm and Stott, then I'm going to be an advocate for firing Thomson.
I hate to begin a 7th game like this, but to me this will be unforgivable malfeasance if they fail because Thomson was stubborn and did not ever adjust while being significantly out managed by his rival over 6 games
Hopefully, this point is moot because the offense thrives and the Phillies wind up in the World Series.
This is my 49th season living and dying with the Phillies.
Been some great moments and I am praying that tonight adds to that list. I am always pessimistic, so I worry that not only will they lose, but that we will get another Black Friday or 2011 NLDS game 5. If they are going to lose - just lose 10-0.
I just have zero confidence in this line-up scoring more than 2 runs.
I think that it is critical that they score early (in the first ideally) and get a lead. If they fall behind by 2, I think that it is game over.
My next post will either be to celebrate or not for a while as I will need a break from baseball
Hoping for the best, expecting the worse, as always
Given how poor the approaches at the plate have been since game 3, I have very little hope that any of the Phillies hitters make any sort of an adjustment. Unfortunately, that has been kind of the theme of this series for the Phillies, the lack of any apparent adjustments by anyone.
Keep in mind that the Phils hitters flailed away at this rookie pitcher in Arizona and looked like fools. Echoing what others have said, unless the Phillies get out to an early lead and get the crowd really going, this game could go south really quick. Expecting Ranger to pitch basically perfection out there (i.e. not allowing runs) is unrealistic and he is bound to give up a run or so. If that occurs before the Phillies offense shows any life, then I expect another Game 3 and 6 out there. Hope I am wrong and the Phillies come out with good at bats and get early run support for Ranger.
If the Phillies lose this game, I truly believe that the organization should consider firing Topper. His stubbornness both with the pen and the lineup have been costly in this series. And this is after he did the same thing in last year's playoffs.
Like Foles, I'm hoping for the best, but I am expecting the worse tonight. Good luck everyone and Go Phillies!