THE ELECTROLINERS WENT TO PHILADELPHIA. Coincidence?

It was a malady that plagued the Milwaukee Brewers throughout the 2008 season, playing a significant role in getting the manager fired with two weeks remaining.

Now, at the worst possible time, the Philadelphia Phillies have contracted it.

Hitting with runners in scoring position, the very essence of performing in the clutch with a bat in your hands, has gone AWOL for the National League champs. In the first two games of the World Series, the Phillies have exactly one hit in 28 at-bats with RISP.

And that was an infield hit in the fourth inning of Game 2 by Shane Victorino that did not deliver a base runner.

Philadelphia won a World Series in 1980, while tbe Electroliners still saw occasional service on the Norristown High Speed Line. There is one Electroliner held hostage in Pennsylvania, although I'm not sure whether that's in Pirate or Phillies country.