Reign Delay

You didn't expect this to be easy, did you? Of course you didn't

We Philadelphia sports fans are notorious for many things, pessimism being one of them. We tend expect the worst, even in a seemingly favorable situation. I, myself, am guilty of seeing a silver lining and looking for clouds. From those clouds fell the rain that transformed the Citizens Bank Park infield into a quagmire, resulting in the first suspended game in World Series history.

As the tarp was being dragged across the infield, the collective air of discontent emanating from the nearly 46,000 water-logged Phillies fans could be felt from Independence Hall to Clearwater, Florida. We've waited long enough. This was the night the city's championship drought was going to end.

Ironic, isn't it?

Could they have stopped the game earlier? Of course. Should they have? Perhaps. Would the Phillies have been better served had they not started the game at all? Hard to say. One thing's for sure. There's no way Commissioner Bud Selig and the umpiring crew were going to call the game after five innings and the Phillies leading 2-1, declare the Phillies World Champions and present them with the trophy. They did the only thing they could given the conditions.

I actually think the suspension could work in the Phillies favor.

The third team involved in any sporting event - momentum - was clearly on the side of the Rays. The Phillies pushed two runs across in the bottom of the first, then fell into their all too familiar pattern of leaving runners on base. You could sense the Rays gaining confidence with every Phille runner stranded.

B.J. Upton singled in the top of the sixth, and the unflappable Cole Hamels was, well, flapped. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe he was trying to make perfect pitches given the offense's inability to drive in runs. Maybe Hamels recalled Upton single-handedly tying game three with his speed. Either way, Hamels was distracted. After four throws to first, Upton easily stole second. The resurgent Carlos Pena scored him with a base hit.

With any luck, the stoppage in play slows Tampa's roll.

When the weather allows, the game will commence in the bottom of the sixth inning. Whenever the restart occurs, it's imperative for the Phils that they re-take the lead early. They'll lead off with a pinch-hitter for Hamels (So Taguchi, anyone?), then the top of the line-up with Rollins and Werth. If they can score a run or two in their half of the sixth, they'll be back in control.

Then it becomes a battle of the bullpens, and the Phillies relievers have been the strength of the team all season. Durbin and Eyre in the seventh, Romero and Madson in the eighth, Lidge in the ninth. That formula has carried the club this far. I see no reason to doubt them now.

Behold the power of positive thinking. It may not be the Philly fan way, but the other alternative hasn't worked for 25 years. Maybe its time for a change.