309 Miles Of Dominance

[UNHWildCats]

They represent three of the past four Champions, the three most likely champions for 2011.

These teams have the three best records in baseball.

They are the three winningest teams vs left handed starters.

They are the top three in run differential.

The have the 2nd, 3rd and 4th best home records (Milwaukee has best home record).

They have the top three road records.

Boston and Philadelphia are on pace for 100+ wins, New York is just shy of that pace.

They own the three best records in day games.

And while all three teams have flaws, no other team approaches them.

Sure Detroit could stun either Boston or New York in a 5 game series with Justin Verlander pitching twice, but the Tigers are less fearful in a longer series.

San Francisco, Arizona, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Texas, they all have decent teams, but none of them are as complete as Boston, New York and Philadelphia, even with their flaws.

For Boston is their rotation beyond Lester and Beckett. Lackey has been great the past six weeks and if he continues to be as effective it closes up Boston's one weakness especially if Bedard can be a effective 4th guy.

Like Boston, New York has issues in its rotation. AJ Burnett has not won a game for New York in August... EVER. beyond Sabathia they have no one who they can count on to dominate a team in the post season, and if that team is Boston, even Sabathia can't be counted on (0-4 vs Boston in '11 with a 7+ era, he's 16-2 with a 2.01 era vs everyone else.)

For Philadelphia is their offense that ranks 12th in runs scored, 10th in OBP and 14th in Slugging. Their pitching is very dominant though and can carry them to the World Series.

All in all, these 309 miles along the northeast corridor possesses the best three teams in baseball.

[89Hen]

Even though they have more titles, I'd rather not have the Phillies lumped in with the Jankess and the Sox.

[UNHWildCats]

Even though they have more titles, I'd rather not have the Phillies lumped in with the Jankess and the Sox.

New York: $202,689,028
Philadelphia: $172,976,379
Boston: $161,762,475


They're already lumped in, sorry.

[AZGrizFan]

Even though they have more titles, I'd rather not have the Phillies lumped in with the Jankess and the Sox.

New York: $202,689,028
Philadelphia: $172,976,379
Boston: $161,762,475


They're already lumped in, sorry.

For Boston is their rotation beyond Lester and Beckett. Lackey has been great the past six weeks and if he continues to be as effective it closes up Boston's one weakness especially if Bedard can be a effective 4th guy.

Like Boston, New York has issues in its rotation. AJ Burnett has not won a game for New York in August... EVER. beyond Sabathia they have no one who they can count on to dominate a team in the post season, and if that team is Boston, even Sabathia can't be counted on (0-4 vs Boston in '11 with a 7+ era, he's 16-2 with a 2.01 era vs everyone else.)

For Philadelphia is their offense that ranks 12th in runs scored, 10th in OBP and 14th in Slugging. Their pitching is very dominant though and can carry them to the World Series.

All in all, these 309 miles along the northeast corridor possesses the best three teams in baseball.

When you spend THAT kind of money you should NOT have THESE kinds of holes. Those GM's should be fired.

[UNHWildCats]

New York: $202,689,028
Philadelphia: $172,976,379
Boston: $161,762,475


They're already lumped in, sorry.

For Boston is their rotation beyond Lester and Beckett. Lackey has been great the past six weeks and if he continues to be as effective it closes up Boston's one weakness especially if Bedard can be a effective 4th guy.

Like Boston, New York has issues in its rotation. AJ Burnett has not won a game for New York in August... EVER. beyond Sabathia they have no one who they can count on to dominate a team in the post season, and if that team is Boston, even Sabathia can't be counted on (0-4 vs Boston in '11 with a 7+ era, he's 16-2 with a 2.01 era vs everyone else.)

For Philadelphia is their offense that ranks 12th in runs scored, 10th in OBP and 14th in Slugging. Their pitching is very dominant though and can carry them to the World Series.

All in all, these 309 miles along the northeast corridor possesses the best three teams in baseball.

When you spend THAT kind of money you should NOT have THESE kinds of holes. Those GM's should be fired.

Well for Boston they came into the season solid at starting pitching. Lackey had a horrid start but has been great of late. Buchholz and Matsuzaka suffered season ending injuries, which no one can anticipate, and you cant exactly sign #2 starters and stash them at AAA just incase.

[AZGrizFan]

Excuses are like assholes.

[bluehenbillk]

Tom Verducci of CNNSI says you're welcome for the material Travis.

Wednesday, 10/19, Citizens Bank Park - Game 1

[93henfan]

I really hate the fact I can't take shots at the Yankees anymore for spending double what my team does.


Wait. Check that. No I don't. This is fucking awesome. The Phillies have a higher payroll than Boston now.

[AshevilleApp]

Even though they have more titles, I'd rather not have the Phillies lumped in with the Jankess and the Sox.

New York: $202,689,028
Philadelphia: $172,976,379
Boston: $161,762,475


You reckon that has anything to do with it?

[89Hen]

New York: $202,689,028
Philadelphia: $172,976,379
Boston: $161,762,475


You reckon that has anything to do with it?

Yeah, but I'm not sure people hate the Phillies as much as the Yankees or Sox... maybe hate their fans as much, but not the team. Being lumped in with the evil empire and the biggest bandwagon in the history of sports is just depressing.

[AZGrizFan]

New York: $202,689,028
Philadelphia: $172,976,379
Boston: $161,762,475


You reckon that has anything to do with it?

Yeah, but I'm not sure people hate the Phillies as much as the Yankees or Sox... maybe hate their fans as much, but not the team. Being lumped in with the evil empire and the biggest bandwagon in the history of sports is just depressing.

There's NO WAY Philly is on the same level of hatred as the other two. In fact, a lot of people I know quietly root for the Phils if they're not playing their own team...

[AshevilleApp]

Yeah, but I'm not sure people hate the Phillies as much as the Yankees or Sox... maybe hate their fans as much, but not the team. Being lumped in with the evil empire and the biggest bandwagon in the history of sports is just depressing.

There's NO WAY Philly is on the same level of hatred as the other two. In fact, a lot of people I know quietly root for the Phils if they're not playing their own team...

I have to agree here. I won't pull for them in the playoffs, but the hatred level isn't close.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Yeah, but I'm not sure people hate the Phillies as much as the Yankees or Sox... maybe hate their fans as much, but not the team. Being lumped in with the evil empire and the biggest bandwagon in the history of sports is just depressing.

There's NO WAY Philly is on the same level of hatred as the other two. In fact, a lot of people I know quietly root for the Phils if they're not playing their own team...

Not even close.

Win one more title and then Philly might START being as annoying... but right now it's night and day.

[GannonFan]

There's NO WAY Philly is on the same level of hatred as the other two. In fact, a lot of people I know quietly root for the Phils if they're not playing their own team...

I have to agree here. I won't pull for them in the playoffs, but the hatred level isn't close.

Being the first to 10,000 losses as a franchise certainly helps keep the level of ire down. And really, this has been since '07 a really likeable Phillies team - pretty decent people on the team. I think Victorino is the only one that sometimes draws the hatred from some people but that's just anti-Pacific Islander racism that's just too rampant in our society.

[89Hen]

There's NO WAY Philly is on the same level of hatred as the other two. In fact, a lot of people I know quietly root for the Phils if they're not playing their own team...

Not even close.

Win one more title and then Philly might START being as annoying... but right now it's night and day.

See... that's exactly why I don't like this story or graphic.

[andy7171]

The Phillies play in Cecil County MD?

[93henfan]

The Phillies play in Cecil County MD?

Hey, thanks for the funny, map jerk.

[andy7171]

He's got the Red Sox in Portsmouth ME too.

[bluehenbillk]

The Phillies play in Cecil County MD?

Well, living 10 miles or less from Cecil County Andy, I can tell you that it's fairly well split between Phillies fans & O's fans....of course you just have to watch ANY game at Camden Yards and you can see what little O's fans are left...really sad - still remember going to a game each summer at Memorial Stadium, times have changed.

[andy7171]

The Phillies play in Cecil County MD?

Well, living 10 miles or less from Cecil County Andy, I can tell you that it's fairly well split between Phillies fans & O's fans....of course you just have to watch ANY game at Camden Yards and you can see what little O's fans are left...really sad - still remember going to a game each summer at Memorial Stadium, times have changed.

Do all the O's fans live on this side of the Tyding Bridge and all the Phils fans on the other. That would make sense geographically.

It's very sad. I loved the $2 bleacher seats at Memorial Stadium.

That place sucked for football games though.

[89Hen]

Memorial Stadium.

That place sucked for football games though.

I can't believe the Colts played there.