Phillies Fans: Step Away From the Ledge, It's Only One Loss

Okay, Philly fans, repeat after me:  "The sky is not falling.  The sun will rise tomorrow.  The next three World Series games are in Philadelphia."

Yes, I know, the home plate umpire, Kerwin Danley, was awful.  Payback for the supposed balk in Game One?  Perhaps.  Regardless, going one for 28 with runners in scoring position isn't going to get it done. 

Despite all that, the Phillies return home to the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park tomorrow for the first of three games in Philadelphia.  No, they didn't come home 2-0, but did you really expect that?  Honestly?  They did what they had to do: split in Tampa, and stealing home field advantage in the process.

Frighteningly enough, the pitching matchups have unfolded pretty much as I projected before the series.  Hamels channeled his inner Steve Carlton, Myers came out too pumped and gave up some early runs, and the pitchers that made the fewest mistakes got the wins.

So what does that mean going forward?

The Phillies are 4-0 at home this postseason for starters.  That's the good news.

The bad news?  Not only did Saturday's starter Jamie Moyer get lit up his last two starts (on the road), but Moyer is only 6-4 at home this season in 16 starts.  He has a 4.61 ERA in those starts, with opponents hitting a robust .294.

Now wait, don't go back up on the ledge. 

This could very well be the last start of Jamie Moyer's 22-year career.  In the World Series.  For his hometown team. 

People often talk about players stepping it up in a "contract year."  But for Moyer, there will be no next contract.  This is about finishing on top.  This is about legacy.  This is about coming full circle.

If the Old Man has anything left in the tank, we'll see it Saturday night.  You don't play at this level, this long, to reach the mountain top of your profession, and then stink it up on the mound.

It should be a great show: youthful power against the crafty veteran.

How much he has left in the tank remains to be seen.

Statistics courtesy BaseballReference.com