It Moves Me!

Aaron Rowand left Citizens Bank Park looking less like a baseball star and more like Rocky. His nose was gushing blood and he had brusied several bones in his cheeks. He also put one in the win column for the Phighting Phils (credit to Scott Graham for that one).

With the bases loaded and two outs, Gavin Floyd seemed to be underwater. David Wright came a few feet from a homer earlier in the inning. Then came this shot to center off the bat of Xavier Nady. Rowand went back to the deepest part of the ball park and somehow grabbed the ball over his head. Unfortunately the next step took him and his face directly into the metal fence in center, causing a broken nose and several lacerations to his face.

It was an all-timer, a catch that people will show over and over again. As my son said, "Dad that is definitely the PECO Power Play of the Day." Too true Dan, too true. But it is also a huge indicator of the difference between this year and last. Kenny Lofton would never have done that. Same goes for Marlon Byrd and whatever scrub you can throw out there. Bobby Abreu won't run into the fence either.

Last night's catch saved three runs and gave Floyd the convidence to shut down the Mets in innings 2-5. The game was stopped after 4 1/2 because of rain and the Phillies won 2-0. Without that catch, the Mets are up 3-0 after the top of the first and things are very different.

Last year, the Phillies missed the playoffs by a game. Say what you will about games in May not meaning a heck of a lot, they all count the same. This gives the Phils wins in 10 of their last 11, an impressive streak. Also gave them a game on the Mets, who currently hold first place.

What I also love is the energy this guy brings. There is a great story in the New York Times about him and what he has done in the Phillies clubhouse. I have sensed a different attitude this year and love what I see. This team is as exciting as any we have seen around here in years.

Give me guys like Aaron Rowand and Chase Utley any day.

OK...I remember Billy Wagner's arrival in Philadelphia. I remember people screaming for him when he arrived from the bullpen to the strains of "Enter Sandman." I remember people cheering loudly for him wheh he pitched the ninth. I remember excitement when he hit 100 mph and the joking disappointment when he missed. I remember people politicking for him to stay as a free agent and people getting angry that he was gone.

What I do not remember is fans booing Wagner during his first inning here and I certainly do not remember anyone wanting Jose Mesa more (except for Jimmy A. who yearns for the good old days of the late 1990s). Apparently that is Wags recollection of his time in Philadelphia.

I will tell you what I remember best: early September, Phillies up by a run against the Houston Astros. At the time, Houston had a slight lead over the Phils for the wild card. I very easily recall Craig Biggio hitting a home run off of, um, I think it was, yes, it was, Billy Wagner!!!! That was the difference in the playoff chase. It came on the heels of another blown save against the Astros. That's a four-game swing in a race that we lost by a game. HMMM.

Billy ought to just stop talking...he makes himself look foolish. Nobody here rooted against him; in fact the opposite was true.

No, that title does not refer to the Flyers, but it certainly could. No I am referring to the Phillies.

Now, now, let's not get angry...I am just jokingly referring to the Phightin's recent four-game win streak. More impressive then the wins (which I will certainly take of course) is the way they are winning. Last night was a great example.

I had the pleasure to be in the ballpark to watch a crisply played, well pitched game. The Phils jumped out to a big lead, Atlanta came back to tie and then take the lead in the 8th and the Phillies (yes, the Phillies!) came back to win in the bottom of the 8th on a two-run dinger by Aaron Rowand. It was great fun.

What I like about the win (and Tuesday's win and Monday's win) is that the Phillies came from behind. Monday was a miracle (as already printed in this blog) and Tuesday was another game of falling behind late but rallying. Ever since Monday's tirade by Uncle Charlie Manuel, the team has seemed to respond.

By the way, two of the four wins in this streak have come against John Smoltz and Dontrelle Willis. Not too shabby.

Was last night's crazy 8-5 Phillies win over the Florida Marlins one of those games that fans look back on as a turning point? It certainly looks possible.

Here are some of the reasons why it may be:

• Manager flips out in the dugout, eventually leading to his ejection later in the inning.
• Team seems to respond, playing with some fire.
• After falling four runs back against Dontrelle Willis, one of the best pitchers in the NL, the team scrapped back, including one of the most aggressive baserunning plays I have seen from the Phillies in a decade.
• With the score tied at 5, the Phillies kept it up, getting a home run from Pat Burrell and then piecing together two more.

Now, of course it is all for naught if they lose tonight but I saw some fire last night that I have missed in the Phillies. I think (hope?) that the team can piece together a good stretch and put a terrible April behind them. Otherwise it will be another year out of the postseason.

I did want to talk about Rollins' aggressive baserunning last night. If you missed the play, Shane Victorino fisted a ball just past a diving second baseman (Dan Uggla) to knock in two runs. Rollins went from first to third but when he looked up he saw Uggla with his head down and saying something to Willis. When Uggla casually underhanded the ball back to Willis, Rollins took off and just beat the throw home with a headfirst slide. It was an amazing play and one that completely took the wind out of the Marlins' sails. It was a play that could change a season.

I have been a huge fan of "The West Wing" since it's first season. I love the inner-politics of it all and Aaron Sorkin's writing was top-notch. Once I got into the plots and the characters, I was hooked and have never stopped watching it. Unfortunately, we are down to the final two weeks and I could not be sadder.

I don't want this series to end because I think it has been phenominal this season. The writing of the campaign trail and now the transition to the new president (Matt Santos, played brilliantly by Jimmy Smits) has reminded me of the series' glory days. II get so wrapped up in it and then get depressed, knowing that we will probably never see the new president in office or how he runs things. And I think there is a really good series there, if NBC hadn't tinkered with it.

The nice thing about it now is the return of old cast. Rob Lowe, playing the great Sam Seaborn, is probably taking a spot in the new administration; Ainsley Hayes came back looking for a job; Danny is hanging around C.J. again. I think this week might be the retrospective episode.

I love West Wing because it does what I want Washington to do. It is an idealized form of government. I want my president-elect to offer the Secretary of State position to his opponent because he (get this) actually believes he is the best person for the job!!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if government really worked that way?

So two more episodes. Luckily I have seasons 1 and 2 on DVD so I can get my West Wing fix. And reruns are shown on Bravo. But there is nothing like a new episode. I felt bad this year for the cast...they seemed to be doing their best work in front of empty theatres. Hopefully they get the sendoff they deserve.