Don’t Stop BeLEEvin’ : Baseball Reflections

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Don’t Stop BeLEEvin’

Peter Schiller | Nov 03, 2009 | Comments 1

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: Image via Wikipedia

As the popular 1981 Journey song from their hit recording Escape reminds us to “Don’t Stop Believin’” I also found out that the song was adopted by the 2005 Chicago White Sox when they were in that year’s Fall Classic. Wikipedia also has the following story regarding the song’s connection to baseball.

In 2008, in a tight battle for first place with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers began to play “Don’t Stop Believin’” in the middle of the 8th inning at all of their home games. Subsequently, the song has been played at Dodger home games throughout the 2009 season, much to the chagrin of Steve Perry, a self-proclaimed San Francisco Giants fan.

If you don’t trust wikipedia (some people don’t), feel free to read “Perry’s 8th-inning Journey” by SF Chronicle’s staff writer, Henry Schulman.

Image via Wikipedia

Now, in the 2009 World Series, Cliff Lee, Chase Utley and the rest of the Phillies are singin’ this song too…or at least the ought to be. Utley has now tied Mr. October Reggie Jackson (a Philadelphia native) for the most Home runs in the World Series and Cliff Lee has won both of his games pitched (games 1 and 5). He has been worth his weight in gold and is making Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. look like a genius after the mid-season trade the brought Lee to Philadelphia in place of Doc Halliday who wound up staying in Toronto.

So now the series is heading back to NY for game 6 and if Pedro Martinez has anything to say about it, game 7, too! He will be opposed by Pettitte and Pedro is just the type of player that could pull it off. So sending this to game 7 is very doable, but NOT easy. Pettitte is no push over, especially in the playoffs. But can he do it on short rest?

There is a question I have for Phillies manager Charlie Manuel though. Last night, why take out CF Shane Victorino before the start of the 8th inning? I understand that he got hit in the hand and had to get X-Rayed, but there were no broken bones found (we were told) and this IS the World Series after all. He has 3 whole months to recover from the injury AFTER this week’s games.

Don’t get me wrong, Yankees manager Joe Girardi has had his share of hiccups in this series, too. His handling of the bullpen earlier in the series and his decision to have Burnett pitch on three days rest last night even though he has a history of arm/shoulder problems.

I guess after all is said and done, seeing is beLEEving and I expect to see Lee play a significant role if this series goes to a game 7.