When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

10.14.2008
How Do I Love Matt Stairs?
alg_phillies-stairs.jpg
Let us count the ways:

1) He's from Canada.

2) He crushes Jonathan Broxton pitches half-way up the Dodger Stadium bleachers.

3) He makes Dodger fans shut up.

4) He's follicularly challenged.

5) He makes Joe Torre look double-foolish. First Torre puts in Cory Wade (Cory Wade!) to start with no outs and the tying run at the plate in the 8th, instead of calling for his uber-closer Broxton. Then, after Wade has allowed the Phils to tie the game and put the lead run on base, and only then, does Torre summon Broxton. Perhaps because Broxton pitched an inning the night before in a meaningless situation. Broxton falls behind Stairs 3-1 and grooves a fastball. Believe you me, it'll go down with the Grady Little/Pedro Martinez non-move in 2003 as one of the worst post-season managerial moves ever.

Best non-Giant post-season home run ever? Discuss.


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[October 14, 2008 12:01 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Zo said

Matt Stairs is exactly the kind of player I hate, he is one dimensional, swing-for-the-stars or strike out Mark McGwire wannabe. Probably because I am a little guy, always had to hustle and get lots of hits and play defense because I couldn't put balls way up in the bleachers. Personal issues aside, I'm loving him today.

[October 15, 2008 2:48 PM]  |  link  |  reply
theo replied to Zo

Stairs is just the kind of player that makes baseball great. The only other thing he could probably do in sports is play tackle eligible on the '9ers field goal unit. Go Phills!

[October 14, 2008 2:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Paul R. said

For best non-Giant playoff home run, I'd probably have to go with Jack Clark off of Tom Niedenfuer in the '85 LCS. It helped that Clark was an ex-Giant and hated Lasorda.

[October 14, 2008 4:21 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Josh from Hollywood replied to Paul R.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

[October 14, 2008 3:11 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris said

I love Matt Stairs. I'm not afraid to admit it.

I think we would be best pals, maybe share a few Labatts.

[October 14, 2008 4:05 PM]  |  link  |  reply
KM said

Every year, it seems, I catch Matt Stairs on somebody's pregame show, and he always sounds like the friendliest regular guy in baseball. He's not just Canadian, he's from New Brunswick (!), and he coaches high-school hockey in Maine in the off-season. Let's not forget, he put up some highly productive years for the A's, and being a dependable high-OPS guy has probably kept him in the game more than just being a quality dude. I kept waiting for him to make it off the end of the Phillies' bench this October, and then, POW! There's only one ... Matt Stairs. Thanks for noticing and posting.

[October 14, 2008 4:23 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Josh from Hollywood said

I always love it when old guys who've never had a shot at the playoffs finally get one. I really love it when they succeed. And when it's against the Dodgers, and just happens to break their hearts? Pure, unadulterated bliss.

[October 14, 2008 5:41 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

I will raise a stubby for Stairs for that homer.

How about Carlton Fisk using body english for a homer?

[October 14, 2008 6:29 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to obsessivegiantscompulsive

Good call on the Fisk homer. I'll add Joe Carter's Series-ending shot off Mitch Williams in 92 (93?). I hated Mitch Williams. He had no idea what the hell he was doing out there.

And how about Albert Pujols's shot off Brad Lidge in Houston a few years ago?

[October 14, 2008 6:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

He played in the Post Season in '95 and 2000.

[October 14, 2008 7:01 PM]  |  link  |  reply
the gene hackman said

matt stairs loves the mexican leagues because you can smoke in the on-deck circle.

that's my kind of player.

[October 15, 2008 3:39 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to the gene hackman

He don't need no stinkin' matches.

[October 14, 2008 9:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
50andstillfly said

One of the best home run calls EVER (non-Giants division):
"And Stairs hits one into the night!"

[October 14, 2008 11:08 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Jefferson said

I've always loved Matt Stairs. A quiet masher, never got full of himself, has made a long and good career out of playing baseball even though I get the feeling he'd be happy driving a truck, or something.

I was so happy for him and for the Phillies last night.