ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (11:01 AM)

We're getting Joe right now!

Buzzmaster

  (11:19 AM)

Hang in there folks. Looks like Joe may have gotten tied up with something.

Buzzmaster

  (11:35 AM)

Just kidding folks! We've got Joe. Let's do this!

Joe Morgan

  (11:37 AM)

It was great to see the game played properly in Anaheim after the cold weather in New York. The errors made because of the wet weather. It was just a well played game, forgetting who won.

Joe Morgan

  (11:37 AM)

Of course, the Phillies Dodgers game was fabulous as well.

Larry Ellis (Toronto)

I think its time to say its so Joe, looks like its going to be an all east coast final. Any chance the Dodgers or Angels can turn their ships around?

Joe Morgan

  (11:38 AM)

I think the Angels have a better chance of turning things around than the Dodgers. But it does look like it might be an all-east coast final. It would be difficult for the Angels to win 3 of the next 4. And the Dodgers have to win all four. Very difficult.

drew (delaware)

Hey Joe! How about that phillies bullpen last night? Why do you think they've been so good this postseason?

Joe Morgan

  (11:39 AM)

That's a very good question. But I think everyone, wratchets up their intensity this time of year. If you can focus on one pitch, one hitter, you can do a good job. They've always had some guys capable. You know Lidge is capable, Madsen is capable, it's just a matter of getting it done. If they weren't capable, they wouldn't be in the big leagues.

Hoopes (Philly)

How special is this Philadelphia baseball team? This post season seems very special. Are they destined to win?

Joe Morgan

  (11:40 AM)

I think that's the key for them, they never quit. Harry Kalas, a close friend of mine and former broadcaster for the Phillies, called them the Fightin' Phils. We've seen that. Not just this postseason, but last postseason as well. They seem to like each other, like playing with each other and never quit. I think they're an exceptional team.

Roller (Kentucky)

Joe, what in the world is going on with playing baseball in the winter?? Can something be done, and was the Cards getting knocked out in the first round one of the biggest upsets of all time??

Joe Morgan

  (11:42 AM)

It's the worst possible conditions for baseball. You do not get the players at their best. We saw mental mistakes due to the weather. Physical errors due to the weather. It's just hard for players to play baseball in the harder weather. Baseball is more of a finesse sport and a game of skill. You can't exhibit your skills when you're cold and the conditions are bad. The only thing that could be done is start the season earlier.

Steve (PA)

So who wins, Phillies or Yankees? Looks like they both have some post season magic.

Joe Morgan

  (11:43 AM)

Well, the Yankees would have the homefield advantage, which I think with two teams who are closely matched, that would give them an edge. That's why I think it's so stupid to have the homefield riding on the all-star game. It should be alternating like before. That was a fair way of doing it. But the Yankees would have the edge because of the homefield. But we still have to get there with the Yankees. I think the Phillies are assured of getting there, but the Yankees have to win one of the next two games in Anaheim. With CC going today, that looks like a good possibility.

Steve (PA)

Do you think Padilla can throw in a repeat performance of game 2? Hes in Philly now and the fans are gonna get on him to try and rattle him, plus howard is on such a roll.

Joe Morgan

  (11:45 AM)

I think he can pitch well, but that doesn't mean that he's going to win. The Phillies have the momentum. They have the home crowd behind them. I think the Phillies are in great shape. I think he will pitch a good game, but that doesn't mean he wins. I just think the Phillies have too much momentum and will close it out.

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL)

Joe, is this the offseason where the Phillies have to maybe trade one of its better players due to higher pay raises now or in the near future? Maybe Werth?

Joe Morgan

  (11:46 AM)

Well if they win another championship, I don't see why you would break them up. Payrolls are not my expertise. I believe that you just go out there to try and win. If you have the winning combination there, you keep them together. I saw the team I was on, the Reds, we won two straight championships and if we had stayed together, we would have won three straight. If you take one player away, you disrupt it and then you don't know what you're going to get.

drew (delaware)

Do you think Joe Girardi can be thanked for part A-Rod's success this postseason? He seems like there is just no pressure now after years of being overwhelmed by it.

Joe Morgan

  (11:48 AM)

I'm not in the lockerroom, so I can't answer that. All I can say is that A-Rod is more relaxed. He just seems more focused. I do believe that a manager does deserve some of the credit for how some of his players perform. If you're going to fire him for when they don't perform, then you have to give some credit when they do perform. I just don't know how much credit.

Roger (DC)

With the way both teams can mash, the DH will be in favor of the phillies no? They can reduce the weak link in their lineup with someone like stairs or francisco. Yanks will have to ditch someone like Matsui or swisher etc. in Philly. Seems to me like the SPs would be pretty close as well.

Joe Morgan

  (11:49 AM)

It will give them an opportunity to improve that lineup. But the Yankees play with the DH. They're accustomed to doing that. It's more of an adjustment for the DH in Philadelphia. Whoever they have in the DH isn't used to doing that.

Joe Morgan

  (11:49 AM)

That still works in the Yankees favor.

Eric (San Diego)

Watching the Angels/Yankees Game last night I noticed Mariano spitting on the ball after checking to see if anyone was looking, is this an issue? There is video of it on Youtube

Joe Morgan

  (11:51 AM)

No, I didn't notice that. Let's put it this way, the pitch he throws, spitting on it wouldn't help. Mariano Rivera is the greatest postseason pitcher in baseball. He doesn't need any help. The hitters need help. Last night's performance for Rivera, put another star on his legend. From watching from my perspective what he did was unbelieveable. He went through the best hitters in that lineup. It was unbelievable.

Chris (Severna Park, MD)

So do you see the Yankees blowing this series or do you see them finishing off the Halos before a possible game six

Joe Morgan

  (11:52 AM)

They will not blow the series. The Angels are going to have to win it. What it really does is tell you how important Game 2 is, when the Angels blew the lead. That game, in my opinion, will keep them from winning it. If they could go 1-1 they could come home and win 2 of 3 and go to New York and just have to win 1. But now, if they win 2 of 3 at home, they have to win both in New York. Game 2 was the biggest game in this series, as far as I'm concerned.

Ricardo (California)

If the Dodgers do manage to win game 5 and take the series back to Los Angeles, do you think the Dodgers will still have a chance to win the series?

Joe Morgan

  (11:54 AM)

Years ago, when the Yankees went up 3-0 on Boston, I said Boston had no chance. I will never say that again, because Boston came back and won. They won 4 straight against the Yankees, the best team I thought, at the time. Now, the Dodgers have to win 3 straight. That's a tough, tough task, but not impossible, because it's been proven that it can be done.

David Walker (Newark, DE)

Is there a better hitter this post season than ryan howard?

Joe Morgan

  (11:56 AM)

Not in the recent past, unless you count A-Rod. He's doing it as well. I've been really impressed with Ryan Howard. On the broadcast the other day, I said he is not who we thought he was. We thought he was a guy who hit home runs and struck out. Now, he's not striking out and driving in runs. It seems like he's more in a crouch now and he's using his hands more. Before, he was using his arms and moving his body all around and he was striking out more. Now, there's less movement and he's making more contact. Right now, I think he's swinging the bat better than anyone other than A-Rod.

Noonan (Philly)

Some of the brightest stars this season have been African American - CC, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard. Since there are fewer African American players than in the past, should MLB be doing more to market these guys to try to draw more African Americans to the game?

Joe Morgan

  (11:58 AM)

MLB should have been doing that a long time ago. What you're really saying is if these guys weren't stars now, we wouldn't be having the conversation. The conversation should be had whether these guys are starring or not. The answer is yes, but it should have been done whether these guys were starring or not. It should not be to just get African-American players into the game, it should be to get the best athletes into the game. A lot of the best African-American athletes are going into other sports.

Daniel (Raleigh)

If the Angels are able to tie up the series today in Anaheim, how much does that play into the World Series for the Yankees, assuming they get there? I mean, this 3 man rotation has to come back to bite them, right?

Joe Morgan

  (12:00 PM)

I don't think that's a problem, if the Yankees are able to wrap it up soon. Remember, the World Series doesn't start until Wednesday. I've watched Josh Beckett and other top notch pitchers pitch on early rest. There seems to be a lot of people who use statistics to say it doesn't work out, historically. But you have to look at the pitchers you're looking at. CC pitched on short rest last year to get the Brewers into the playoffs. You ahve to take into consideration who is pitching and I think CC is capable on pitching on short rest. If the Yankees win the series, I think they'll be in a good situation, unless CC has to pitch the seventh game.

Joe Morgan

  (12:01 PM)

I still think we have a lot of good baseball left before we get to the World Series. I think we'll have a good World Series, depending on the weather.

Buzzmaster

  (12:01 PM)

Thanks for chatting Joe!