It Moves Me!

Phillies: Bloodied but Buoyed

2006-05-12T10:37:00.000-05:00

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.

Billy Wagner Needs to Stop Talking

2006-05-09T10:48:00.000-05:00

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.

Break em Up

2006-05-04T08:58:00.000-05:00

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.

Could Win Over Marlins Change Season?

2006-05-02T08:22:00.000-05:00

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.

West Wing Still Great at the End

2006-05-01T13:02:00.000-05:00

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.

9/11 Movies Are Must See

2006-04-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

Just days after the horrible terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., signs and bumper stickers popped up, memorializing and paying tribute to those who died. Many said: "We Will Never Forget 9/11." Sadly, it seems we have.

I am unable to turn off the TV when images of the burning World Trade Center or any news comes out about the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It was a moment of sheer terror for all Americans and I felt the anguish for those people struggling to get out, those dying above the wreakage and those brave fire, police and rescue workers going into a building knowing they might never come out. I get emotional when I hear the stories of survival and the stories of loss.

And that is why these movies must be made. We have forgotten and in five years we have resorted to the political name-calling that we had hoped would be gone forever. One of the finer moments after the attacks came that afternoon when dozens of members of Congress stood on the steps of the Capitol united. They even broke into song, which my memory tells me was "God Bless America," though it could have been something else. What a moment of pure patriotism, a defiant time when they stood together and said "you hit us but now we stand united."

I will see both the movies being released this year, "United 93" about the passengers who fought back and "World Trade Center" with Nicholas Cage as a rescue worker. I understand these movies might be painful for those who lost loved ones, I think it is vital to keep the memory of 9/11 alive. My children thankfully don't remember 9/11 but when they are old enough, I want them to know what happened and appreciate the bravery of the men and women who were there that day. I also want them to know what hate can do to people. Unfortunately, these movies are the best way of keeping the events of that day alive.

The Daily News has two articles on the subject today, one by Michael Smerconish and another by John Baer.

Lousy Flyers; Exciting Lineup for Phils

2006-04-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

Monday night looked good on paper. My daughter had a softball game followed by me in front of the TV flipping between the Flyers and Phillies.

Softball went well. Part one down.
Nice turkey sandwich with some tostidos. Done.
Kids in bed, comfy couch all to myself. Check.

Then I turned the TV on. Flyers were down 6-1, early second period. Uggh.

I have to start by saying I am not much of a Flyers fan. I am a playoff watcher only, though a friend took me to a game in the final weeks of the season which was fun and I enjoyed the first game with the Sabres. But last night was ugly.

At least the Phillies won, though they made it very, very close. Cory "Innings Eater" Lidle pitched well and the bullpen almost blew it.

I like the new lineup...very new thing for Charlie McFuddled. It was a good change...the players were 5-for-5 with three RBI in the first three innings. Chase needs to be up in the lineup, not as the cleanup guy. And Ryan Howard should bat cleanup or fifth, period. The man hit a freaking 500-foot home run almost onto Ashburn Alley. Please.

By the way, if you think my blog is inane, try this. Deadspin is ranking baseball scoreboard races. Yes, scoreboard races. By the way, they only got one of the Phillies' three races. In addition to the SEPTA subway cars, there are the SEPTA buses race down Broad Street (are we really encouraging this?!?) and the Phillies bobblehead run around the bases.

It's Not My Fault, Honest

2006-04-21T09:15:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, The Inquirer's Frank Fitzpatrick has figured out why Philadelphia sports teams have not won a championship since 1983 (I am excluding Villanova, Wings, Phantoms and Kixx). Apparently, we boo too much.

Yes, one of the most reporters who never has a nice thing to say about anyone is telling us that we are too negative.

Now, I don't boo. Never have really (Scott Rolen and J.D. Drew are the exceptions). But I hate it when people blame the fans for teams losing. The Phillies starting 2-7 at home is NOT MY FAULT. The Eagles going 6-10 last season was NOT MY FAULT. How about putting out a product that doesn't bring boos.

Maybe I am just remembering things with Phillies-colored glasses, but I don't remember a ton of boos in 1993. Yes, Kim Batiste got booed once in a while but that's it. You know why? Those guys busted it and they won. They may have been jerks to the press and ornery people, but they played hard. There was really nothing to boo. The 1980 Eagles are remembered with great pride because they had guys like Bill Bergey and Wilbert Montgomery who played the game the right way. Yes we booed Jaws when he threw interceptions but no other fan better criticize our man. Even the 2000-01 Sixers got a free pass. Guys like Eric Snow and Aaron McKie and George Lynch and Theo Ratliff surrounded the always-popular Allen Iverson and the fans loved them. Why? (Repeat after me) because they played hard and the right way.

The Phillies have spent the past decade losing and telling us that they weren't the problem. Now they have created an atmosphere where they get no leash whatsoever. We want results from our baseball team, period. No more promises (anyone remember: The Time is Now? campaign of a few years back), no more excuses, just wins. Rich Hofmann said it well in the Daily News a few weeks back.

I won't get into Fitz's comments about Bobby Abreu being one of the best pure hitters in his lifetime. Oh man, what a farse.

Week Without Blogging!

2006-04-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

YIKES! Amazing what a short two-day vacation can do to my blogging schedule. I have been out of the blogging loop for more than a week.

The sad thing is, I still don't feel that inspired to blog today. I am blogging simply to get it done. Have read some fun things though that I will share.

First, out of the NBA...did you read that craziness regarding the LA Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies last night? Well, the winner of their game would get the five seed and the loser would be the sixth seed. Sounds good, winner take all, we like that. Except in this case, the loser benefitted the most.
In the topsy-turvy world of the NBA, the division winners get the top three seeds. Reasonably, the fourth seed could have the second-best record in the conference but wind up as the four. The NBA does this for parity, giving each division something to play for, adding some weight to a division crown. So far, so good.
But, in its infinite wisdom, they decided to play both sides of that street. So, while they give all of the division winners the top three seeds, they will award home court to the team with the better record.
Back to the Clippers and Grizz. The winner of last night's game got the better seed, the five seed, and a date with the big, bad Dallas Mavericks, arguably one of the top two teams in the NBA. The loser got the sixth seed, home court advantage and a series against the Denver Nuggets. Bizarro.
So the Clippers kind of won for losing, though apparently they played hard.
It seems as if Judas wasn't such a bad guy after all, at least if you believe the new Gospel of Judas that has been released. It makes sense, as this Slate article points out. If Jesus had to die to rise, then wouldn't Judas' betrayal kind of make sense?
Of course the Catholic Church went out of its way to refute such talk. In fact, Pope Benedict gave his Holy Thursday homily over to the evils of Judas. Why wouldn't they even take a look first and see if it made sense before blasting it out of the water? Are they so afraid that people might actually think about their faith and maybe (GASP!) change their minds?
The Judas gospel makes sense...whether it are fact or not is another story. Of course, who knows which Gospel to believe since they are all different.
I would like to believe in a very human Jesus, who loved and hurt and got scared. The Agony in the Garden certainly displayed that. A human Jesus makes the sacrfice of the crucifixion more amazing. Slate has another story about how Americans look at Jesus. Sorry to get all serious here but it was on my mind.
The Phils just can't seem to win at home. Weird huh? 1-6 in the friendly confines, 4-2 away. This would be one of those things that make you go hmmmm.

Home Field Disadvantage?

2006-04-10T10:04:00.000-05:00

Now I understand...it's my fault that the Phillies are 1-5. Wow, who would have thought it...after all, I didn't swing at a single pitch or make any plays in the field but somehow I am to blame.

What other way can I look at it after reading the article in today's Daily News that said the Phillies are happy to be leaving home for a while. Apparently the players are trying "too hard" according to manager Charlie Manuel. Bobby Abreu said "going on the road right now is going to be good for us."

Remember the good old days, when teams actually wanted to play at home in front of the faithful. And don't give me the old, "but they boo us" sob story. I was there on Monday for the opener and the crowd was pumped. It was not our fault that the team was down 10-0 before I could finish an order of crab fries. Blame Jon Lieber, blame Manuel's decision to walk Edmonds to pitch to Rolen, blame the quiet bats until it was too late. Whatever, but don't blame the more than 40,000 people, many of whom took the day off of work or school to be there.

I was there on Thursday when the sparse crowd was into it, cheering Jimmy Rollins, trying to urge him on to 39.

So give me a break about the road being good for this team. This team, Abreu especially, is full of excuses. Win the games on the schedule and stop making excuses.

Weekend Wrapup

2006-04-10T08:31:00.000-05:00

Interesting stuff over the weekend:

Phils are off to a 1-5 start. I know it is too early to panic but 1-5 is not good. I can understand getting swept by the Cardinals but they were almost swept by the Dodgers. And it doesn't get any easier playing at Turner Field for the Braves' opener, followed by three in Denver where we have never had a lot of luck. Let's say the Phillies take two of six during this trip...that puts them at 3-9 heading into a huge 10-game home stand with the Nationals, Marlins and Rockies, follwed by a three-game series in Pittsburgh. Realistically, we will know a lot in three weeks. If this span is a disaster, could Charlie Manual be on his way out?
Yesterday's doubleheader was interesting. Can I ask why Charlie would give up the nightcap? It's the first week of the season, did all of those regulars need to sit at the same time? He wasted a pretty good outing by Jon Lieber in the process. These guys were off on Tuesday and Saturday as well. What a grueling week! WOW...hope that these guys don't die in August when they go two weeks without a day off in 100 degree temps if they can't handle playing every day during THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SEASON!
Way to go Lefty! Phil Mickelson won his second Masters with some pretty good players chasing him at the end. It was pretty good theatre and I have to admit that I really like Phil. Seems like a guy you'd want to have dinner with.
Sounds like Fran Dunphy is definitely headed to Temple and could be announced today. While that is good news for the Owls, the Atlantic 10 and Dunphy (one of the good guys), I'm a bit worried about what this means for St. Joe's. It's one thing to recruit against John Chaney at Temple; it takes a special kind of player to want to deal with Chaney's 5 a.m. practices and his verbal abuse. Now it's Dunphy and I think Phil Martelli's job just got tougher.

Poor Debut for Flash

2006-04-06T10:32:00.000-05:00

I didn't see the game last night as I was late at work, but I did catch the last inning on my drive home. What I heard was a bit disturbing. Tom "Flash" Gordon gave up one run on one hit but had FOUR baserunners. Not exactly a solid outing for our shaky closer.

Here is his line: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 24 pitches.

On the positive side, Billy Wagner blew a save last night for the Mets so we have that going for us.

In other news, Jimmy Rollins did not keep the fans in suspense long...extending his hit streak to 38 games with a first inning knock. I am excited that Rollins has continued the streak...gives us something very tangible to cheer for. As to those people who get all righteous about records, etc., chill out a little and enjoy the ride. What Rollins has accomplished is great, no matter whether it was in one season or two. Yes, maybe it is harder to do it with the wear and tear of a season weighing you down but notice that no one has done it with such a long break between games. To me that means something too.

Cool Bensalem Item of the Day

2006-04-05T14:23:00.000-05:00

When you live in Bensalem, it's rare to get out there in the news. But apparently, Bensalem was a huge target of Adolf Hitler during World War II. Check out Dan McQuade's blog and find out more.

My favorite memories of Andalusa came as a kid...the Andalusa Bike Shop is where I got my really cool Rampar when I was 11. Oh man, I loved that bike! Oh, and Woodhaven Mall was the coolest...Dennery's Sporting Goods, Luca's Pizza, the awesome record store next to Luca's. That quasi-mall had style and panache, unlike the Home Depot Plaza it has become today.

Opening Day Blunders

2006-04-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

Well, another Opening Day, another loss...it has almost become part of the tradition along with taking the day off from work and sitting in miserable weather. Still, there is nothing like Opening Day, even during a 13-5 debacle.

Some bad things:

What in God's name was Charlie Manuel doing walking Jim Edmonds to load the bases to pitch to Scott Rolen? Am I missing something here? This is not second guessing (Rolen hit a grand slam) because I said it at the time.
Anyone notice the Phanatic's quad wouldn't go after his lame skit with Fredbird? Kind of like the Phillies on this day.
What was up with Jon Lieber? He looked overmatched throughout the day. The highlight came in the first inning when he struck out the first two. he actually struck out the side but the Cards got the first run. And I am not buying into the whole, he can't pitch to Mike Lieberthal stuff...he should get it together and pitch to whoever is catching.

Now, some good things:

The crowd was pumped for baseball, as evidenced by them standing and cheering with two strikes on Pujols in the first. Philadelphia is desperate for good baseball...let's hope the Phillies give it to them.
Jimmy Rollins' double in the eighth gave soggy fans something to cheer about. I agree with the fan in front of me who said J-Rol should swing at the 3-0 pitch no matter where it is. Don't give me crap about taking a pitch there...Rollins needed to get a hit for his streak. As Dr. Evil would say, "throw us a bone for chrissakes."
The offense looked good but it's hard to tell in a blowout like that. Utley had three hits, Burrell hit well and so did Abreu.

Things I don't get:

Booing your players on Opening Day. Why boo David Bell? Is he a bad guy? No. Is he the player we hoped he would be? No, but cut him some slack on Opening Day.
Why the Phillies made the bullpens so that people could see in and then block off the area to the side so no one can see in? Silly.
Why the poor Cardinal O'Hara marching band got into full uniform, marched onto the field and stood there while the players walked through the fans lineup and then left the field. Seems like a lot of work for those kids to actually not do anything.
The sausage in Bull's BBQ was freakin huge...at least an inch hung over the bun on either side. Note to Aramark...buy bigger buns.
Lastly, the Phillies employee giving out two tickets to the winner of the "Run the Bases" game but none to the other kids. Not exactly the good sportsmanship attitude is it? Also, aren't the Phillies all about coming in second and third?

Wheels

2006-03-30T15:29:00.000-05:00

Me thinks dese guys don't like Chris Wheeler. Some funny stuff on here...my favorite is "he didn't want to do that." When Whitey said it, it sounded clever and totally appropriate.
With Wheels it sounds fake.

Phillies Surprises

2006-03-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

Some surprising news out of Clearwater...appparently the Phillies are willing to change their minds. I know, a shocker after several years of the Wade Administration, but it is indeed true.

Need some evidence? Apparently, according to the Inquirer, the Phils are willing to move Gavin Floyd into the rotation after he had a great final three weeks of spring. New phans of the Phillies might not recognize the sheer enormity of that statement. This team never seemed to let people win jobs in Spring Training. They came in with plans, etc., no matter how bad the idea was they were determined to stick it out. This is a happy moment for a new administration.

Still not convinced? Well, today's Daily News reports the news that the team has released Ricardo Rodriguez despite the fact that they traded for him during the off-season. But Rodriguez has not shown any of the skills that made him Cleveland's hot prospect and the Phillies decided to cut their losses. Good!

Finally, despite a $4.5 million contract, David Bell has not been anointed the starting third baseman like he was a year ago. If the Phillies had been this smart last year, Placido Polanco would still be here at third.

Yes the Phillies still seem to lack middle relief help but I think the rest of the team is beyond solid. I stick by my NL East pick. Four days until Opening Day!

Howard Not Backing Down

2006-03-27T12:17:00.000-05:00

Some good signs from the Phillies:

1. Ryan Howard is not only hitting home runs...he stands up for himself and his teammates backed him up.

In yesterday's game with the Red Sox, Boston pitcher Josh Beckett took exception with what he thought was Howard watching a home run ball. Howard says he was having trouble finding the ball. No matter, it was caught in center.

But, when Beckett gave him some lip on Howard's way out, the two got into it. The Phillies dugout cleared between innings when Beckett didn't let it go.

This is the kind of fire we haven't seen from the Phillies in several years. As much as I like Jim Thome, can you see him doing something like that? Or Polanco. Or Rolen. This group of guys seems to play with a little chip on their shoulder, which is good.

2. The Phillies have announced their announcing duties...well not officially but it's out there.

TV
1-3 Harry Kalas and Larry Andersen
4-6 Scott Graham and Chris Wheeler
7-9 Kalas and Wheeler

Radio
1-3 Scott Graham and Wheeler
4 Kalas and Andersen
5-6 Scott Franzke and Andersen
7-9 Graham and Andersen

I am okay with this lineup. As long as the Phillies keep Kalas happy, I'm good with it.

3. The Phillies have completed their left field wall renovation. Here is a link to Larry Shenk's blog on the subject. He points out some interesting facts about Citizens Bank Park and home runs.

Does It Make Me a Bad Person?

2006-03-27T11:06:00.000-05:00

A Big 5 team in the Elite Eight. A no-brainer, right, got to root for the home team? Wrong. Not when the "home" team is Villanova and I bleed crimson and gray.

So I rooted hard for Boston College on Friday (bummer) and Florida on Sunday (sweet). I know this doesn't change the fact that St. Joe's didn't make the NCAA and lost in the NIT. But I have to say, I still felt good in the closing minutes of the Florida game.

Is it petty? Sure. Is it real? Absolutely. For some reasons, perhaps genetic, perhaps brain washing, I cannot root for Villanova, even when I like their coach and their players.

A part of me wanted to be sure that they didn't go further than St. Joe's did two years ago, but in all liklihood, their success didn't change how people remember those Hawks.

As for pools, I do still have two of the Final Four participants (UCLA and Florida), though I have them both losing in the semis. An LSU-George Mason championship game would be good for me (though I can't believe CBS wants that). And how about George Mason? Has there been a retraction from Billy Packer or any of the other "experts" who could not believe that Mason was in?

By the way, Yannick Noah's kid played pretty well yesterday. He looks athletic and tough. Can't believe his father is a French tennis player!

Phils Optimism

2006-03-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

I know, I tend to look at the world through red and white pinstriped glasses but...

I think the Phillies will win the NL East.

OK, hear me out. They are really playing well this spring, unlike many of the past few years, and hopefully they will avoid their awful Aprils of the past few seasons. I think having guys like Utley and Howard in the lineup all season will help the club.

Much has been said about the pitching but I am okay with it. Yes, it is paper thin but Jon Lieber and Brett Myers are good pitchers, Cory Lidle is a solid guy, Ryan Madson is having a very good spring and Gavin Floyd seems to be hitting his stride. This rotation has me feeling pretty good right now.

Even the bullpen seems to be clicking. Having two equal back-end guys could be a real benefit. Both have produced in that role in the past. No, it will not be like those days when Billy Wagner was lights out but what did that accomplish for us? I don't remember the Phils making a lot of postseason appearances with Wags as their closer.

As I mentioned here on Monday, 1-8 is very good. Granted there is very little depth but the lineup is youngish and might be okay to play 145-150 games this year.

Now, onto the competition. I know you can't really pick against the Braves, who last lost their division when the older Bush was in the White House. But they have lost Leo Mazzone and only Bobby Cox and John Smoltz remain from their glory years. I think their "mojo" is gone.

To the Mets. They are unproven. Yes they have Pedro and Tom Glavine at the top of the rotation but beyond that their pitchers are average. And yes Carlos Beltran is in center with a very talented David Wright at third. But I don't see where this team is ready to be anointed as the the division champs without a fight. Oh and by the way, that dreaded "finger injury" has Wagner shut down in old Gotham. And Carlos Delgado, their other big fish landed in the off-season, is also hurt. So let's wait before we hand the division crown to the Mets.

The Nationals are in serious trouble...I mean TO like trouble. Their biggest off-season acquistion doesn't want to be there and Frank Robinson is pulling his hard-ass routine. So scratch them off the list.

As for the Marlins, well, they might finish in the second-division of the ACC this year.

So that leaves the Phillies with a better than reasonable chance to win the division. I think their hot spring (with Utley and Howard going gangbusters) will carry over, ala 1993. Therefore, here are my picks for the 2006 NL East:

1. Phillies
2. Mets
3. Braves
4. Nationals
5. Marlins

Hopefully we are pointing to this blog in October, talking fondly about what an unbelievable forecaster I am. If I am way wrong, it's the medication.

New Thinking on Lineup?

2006-03-20T11:54:00.000-05:00

In today's Daily News, Marcus Hayes writes that Charlie Manuel plans to put Abraham Nunez in the two hole and move Aaron Rowand to the six spot. This truly looks like shocking news.

I used to feel that someone handed Charlie a bunch of lineup cards with the positions already filled in. Oh he's our centerfielder? Bat him second. There seemed to be no fluidity to the lineup...it was always set. Charlie wasn't quite as bad as Terry Francona in this area but he struggled to stray from the status quo.

To hear him talk today about moving Nunez to a spot that is a better fit gives me some hope. Maybe Charlie is getting his act together between the lines too.

My opening day lineup:

1. Rollins
2. Nunez
3. Utley
4. Burrell
5. Abreu
6. Rowand
7. Howard
8. Lieberthal

Actually, I would love to bat Abreu first and Rollins seventh, moving everyone else up a few spots, but that's just me.

Happy Hall and Oates Day

2006-03-17T10:57:00.000-05:00

Some of us will celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Others (espcially those trained at that outstanding Jesuit high school and university in Philadelphia) will faithfully remember St. Joseph's Day on Sunday, March 19. But for the real Philadelphian, we will bow our heads and remember a great late 70s/early 80s soft rock duo on Saturday, March 18 as Philadelphia proclaims "Hall and Oates Day."

"Private Eyes" will be watching as we all find an "M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E" and march down Broad Street for the parade honoring the "number one selling duo of all time!!!" I will be looking to see "Sara Smile" and maybe get a kiss for my list from a rich girl (it's a bitch girl but you've gone too far but you know it don't matter anyway).

Seriously though, my favorite unknown Hall and Oates song is "So Close (acoustic)" on an album from the early 1990s.

"They met on the dance floor in the old high school gym
He fell like a rock, she kind of liked him.
But she sits in some club, where the warm shadows fall;
Drops a coin in the juke box, not the phone on the wall."

Poetry. I really do like Hall and Oates and think it is great that their hometown is remembering them. However, a Hall and Oates Day seems a bit overdone, doncha think?

I would like to get back to rock duos. Can you name some others? I am thinking Wham!, Seals and Croft and Loggins and Messina but otherwise I am blank.

Great image here: Billy Penn with a Hall and Oates stache.

Billy Joel Rocked!

2006-03-15T10:19:00.000-05:00

I never got the chance to blog about how great the Billy Joel concert was last week. I have seen him more than a dozen times over the past two decades and every time I leave there feeling like I got my money's worth.

Tuesday night's concert started slow. Billy would play one song and then say thank you and introduce the next one. There was no real rhythm to the concert and I thought his voice lacked energy. He also played weird songs like Stiletto and Sleeping with the Television On. Now I like it when an artist plays non-hits but this was so obscure I was worried. Uh-oh, Billy's heart isn't in it tonight.

Then he stood up near the front of the stage and let loose with a phenominal rendition of "Innocent Man." His voice hit all the right notes and his stage personna kicked in. From there for the next two hours, the concert was hitting on all cylinders. Even his give and take with the crowd improved.

He played the hits, including "Captain Jack" which he claims he just does in Philly. Of course he finished with "Piano Man" which brought the house down.

I guess I don't get to many concerts anymore but I was amazed that instead of lighters people held up their cell phones to call for an encore. Pretty cool.

At one point, even Joel seemed surprised as the crowd belted out "She's Always A Woman" along with him. The look on his face was really priceless, as if he could not believe that the crowd would get so into a 1970s ballad. But this was a real lovefest.

Hawks in NIT; Chaney Retires

2006-03-13T14:39:00.000-05:00

St. Joe's is in the NIT again...and I am very happy about it. I think this team would have struggled in the NCAAs this season but will do well in the NIT, plus has any other program had more fun in the "Not In Tournament" over the years then the Hawks? Yes the A-10 championship game was a heartbreaker but I think they may be better off.

In other news, Temple coach John Chaney has retired...about a decade too late. In the mid-1990s, Chaney was one of the most respected coaches in the game. His players got better every day and his teams played harder then most. He ranted and raved but you could tell he loved his players. The John Chaney of the 2000s is far from that. He just yells and screams, with little of his affection coming through. He just seems mean and bitter now, nothing like the person he was years ago or the person spoken so highly of.

I wish Coach Chaney well. I think he was a good man, who was misunderstood and who misunderstood the situation too often. Now, what will Temple do to replace him? Odds favor a guy like Bruiser Flint (now coaching Drexel...a Hawk grad).

World Baseball Classic: A Dud

2006-03-13T14:28:00.000-05:00

Does anyone really care about the World Baseball Classic? I tried to watch the games last week...honestly I do not care. I guess I want the U.S. to win but not a heck of a lot.

This whole idea seems contrived and the timing is horrendous. They should play it in November right after the World Series. Perhaps the series champs could play the rest of the world I might watch that.

But these games feel very much like exhibition baseball games. Does anyone really watch Spring Training games with any real interest or excitement? Sure I watch the Phillies but I don't get riled up if they win or lose.

The WBC was an okay idea that hasn't really made it.

Proud to be Liberal

2006-03-13T14:25:00.000-05:00

George Clooney says stuff that I have been for a while here in a blog on Huffington. It is one of the things that I dislike about Democrats...that they are so afraid to stand up for what they believe in, always caving to get an extra vote here, an extra vote there. If John Kerry had just stood up and said what he believed in, then he would be president today. People didn't know where they stood with him, so they didn't vote or voted for Bush who stood for something, no matter how much I disagree with him.

CBS Wrong About Stern

2006-03-02T10:03:00.000-05:00

CBS is suing Howard Stern for using their airwaves to sell products. Basically they are accusing him of stealing their air time for his own benefit.

Now, I am a Stern fan. I am a Sirius subscriber because of him. His show is hysterical and his take on the world is one of the most astute of any observer out there.

CBS is absolutely correct...Stern did sell Sirius for the past year, no doubt about it. But who's fault is that? I heard Stern himself repeatedly beg on the air to be released from his contract. He said over and over again that keeping him on the radio just kept him in the public consciousness and that would sell more satellites. Did CBS (then Infinity) listen and remove him? No, they kept him and reaped the advertising windfall that came for Stern's final weeks.

Now they are trying to say they are shocked (shocked!) that Stern was using his time to sell satellite radios (GASP!). Strikes me as a little ridiculous. They had a dump button and also the ability to remove him from the air altogether. This lawsuit is frivilous and no court should even hear it.

By the way, is David Lee Roth still on the air? I haven't listened to regular radio since January 8 (except this morning to see if my kids' school was closed). CBS Radio is in trouble and they have shined a light on themselves with this stupid suit.

For the one millionth time I will say that I am so glad I have a satellite radio!

First Broadcast Today!

2006-03-02T09:37:00.000-05:00

According to my handy-dandy Phillies calendar, today marks the first broadcast of the season. WHPT-1210 AM will be broadcasting today's Phillies-Yankees game, the team's exhibition opener.

I am so looking forward to hearing Harry, Scott, LA, the new guy...even Wheels! I feel better when the Phillies are playing and their games are the soundtrack of my life.

ICE STORM 2006!

2006-03-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

I AM USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THIS STORM IS. SCHOOLS CLOSING...ROADS A NIGHTMARE! OH THE HUMANITY!

Now to reality...it's raining. Yes there is a bit of ice on the sidewalks but nothing close to the dire forecast. I think that weather forecasters should be fined if they are so wrong that schools needlessly close. They are probably in cahoots with the bread and milk distributors! Maybe we should fine them all.

Great blog on this very subject in PhiladelphiaWillDo.

Oh Billy...poor Billy!

2006-02-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

Over at Tom Durso's Shallow Center, there is a post about former Phillies bitching about their time here and Phillies fans. What a joke...Philadelphia fans love their players when they feel the players are giving their all. Included in the post is an interview with Billy Wagner from the Newark Star-Ledger and comments that Billy will regret those games when the Phillies play the Mets.

Why don't players ever accept responsibility for their actions? No one ever booed Wagner for not throwing 100 miles per hour...at least not seriously. Come on Billy, the only time you got booed is when you did not perform well (anyone remember that September night when Craig Biggio erased a lead that ended up being the difference in the pennant race?!?). Phillies fans have endured more losing baseball then any other in America...cut them some slack.

I hope Billy enjoys New York City...some real calm and supporting fans there. And with all of the Mets off-season moves, they will have some serious pressure on them from the get go. Better get off to a good start Billy or hear the "Queens" cheers there too.

Nova Lost...Bummer

2006-02-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

I have to tell you, I'm a little bit happy about Villanova's loss to Connecticut yesterday. I am always uncomfortable not hating them and I don't hate this team. But my Saturday Inquirer renewed my dislike of Villanova.

In an article about how Villanova fans were planning on rooting for Temple over Duke, a Villanova alumna said:

"It's all going to help out Villanova," Erin Taylor, 24, a 2003 Villanova graduate, said of rooting for Temple. "I think we can put our rivalries aside to get to No. 1."
Of course, Villanova fans do have their limits.
"I don't know that we'd ever root for St. Joe's," Taylor said."

Well said Erin and thanks for recentering me. Now I can move forward, again saying my two favorite teams are St. Joe's and whoever is playing Villanova.

As a side note, I put the game on the radio to get a score. Ryan Fannon (who I like) and Whitey Rigsby sounded like someone had shot their mothers. They were so sad and depressed. In fact, it took several minutes to get a score and even then they never said who was winning or the time. Come on guys, you're the number two team in the country playing on the road at the number three team. Let's not treat this like you lost to a CYO team. Relax...Nova still has several more games to play.

Fallen Heroes

2006-02-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's best not to know too much about your hero. Most of the people I admired when I was a kid turned out to be jerks. Pete Rose, Bobby Clarke, Lenny Dykstra all hard and tough players but off the field not the nicest guys in the world.

Now, according to an article in SpilledInq, it turns out that Billy Joel, my favorite singer, is a drunk who turns on his friends. I always thought Billy was a down to earth regular guy and it bugs me to hear that he did this to Liberty DeVito, his loyal drummer. On Tuesday, when I see Joel for the 16th time, it will bug me to see someone else on the drums.

I still love Billy Joel's music and will have a great time at the concert, but it bugs me when people turn out to be different then I thought they were.

Crazy for Curling?

2006-02-23T11:41:00.000-05:00

This cartoon might be trying to tell me something.

2006-02-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

Two updates on earlier blogs:

Bill Conlin wrote a dead-on column today about Harry Kalas. The Phillies have handled this issue so badly, typical of this organization. I don't think the Phillies have bad intentions...on the contrary, I think they do care tremendously about what the fans think and try to do their best...they are just really, really inept about how to do the right thing. To anger thousands of fans by stepping on Harry is just plain stupid.

On a positive note, I just got my tickets for Opening Day against the Cardinals. Section 307...not my first choice but I should have done it yesterday when they went on sale.

The U.S. lost to Canada in curling last night. It shows that I know so little about curling that I thought they were playing Great Britain but nevertheless, the dream for gold is done. Let's go get the bronze...and get the first curling medal in U.S. history. After that, I hope that ESPN gets smart and starts a curling league. I am so in!!

Grey's Anatomy Shocker

2006-02-22T13:11:00.000-05:00

Alright, I am as hooked to Grey's Anatomy as my wife is. I too now get caught up in the relationships on the show and was shocked (shocked!!) at the ending this week that had Meredith disrobing George in a vulnerable moment for the both of them.

I'm not normally like this...I don't watch too many shows and rarely get into the characters but the writing on GA is better then anything since West Wing. I feel a part of this group on the show and have from the very beginning last spring.

There is also a great Website to read what the writers were thinking. Grey Matters is linked at left here...check it out. Shows some of the inner workings of the writers while also giving viewers a chance to vent...and vent they do. More than 700 comments have been posted on the last blog...a huge number for a blog.

Grey's was shocking because everyone knows Meredith doesn't love George while George is madly in love with her. But she needed some comfort (to feed the beast) and George walked in. Granted, no man is going to be that angry at the prospect of sleeping with Ellen Pompeo (sp?) but it meant more to him then it did to her and that's dangerous.

It was a great episode...one that keeps you praying for Sunday night. Hope ABC doesn't screw this up like NBC did with West Wing. Good smart shows with great writing deserve the best!

Abreu Not Unhappy

2006-02-22T10:04:00.000-05:00

According to today Daily News, Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu is not unhappy reporting to camp, despite all of the trade talks surrounding him during the past few months. Oh good. I was worried that Bobby would be less than happy, seeing as how he is only making $10 million and playing BASEBALL FOR A LIVING!

I can understand being miffed that your GM was shopping you around, but Abreu has never showed any emotion in his seven years here, wwhy should he start now. I have made no secret of the fact that I am not a fan of Abreu's. To me, he seems selfish (won't bat leadoff), stats driven and could care less what you or I or any of the other thousands of people who cram into Citizens Bank Park every night think. He is one of the reasons people feel distant to this baseball team. Fans want passion, they want heart, they want to think that their guys will run through walls and throw helmets. All Bobby does is glide around right field, steal bases at inopportune times and fade when the heat is on.

I still hold out hope that Pat Gillick is able to land a solid number one starter for the guy but it might show what the rest of baseball thinks of him that he hasn't yet been successful.

So thankfully, Bobby Abreu is not angry. Boy, what would we have done then.

Curling Tonight!

2006-02-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

Check out the U.S.-Great Britain curling match tonight at 5 on CNBC! The last match was a close one and although Great Britain is a curling powerhouse, the U.S. seems pretty poised.

Would you think I was a geek if I said I asked my wife to tape the match this afternoon for me?

Harry the K; Curling Rocks

2006-02-21T12:04:00.000-05:00

Okay, the headline lists them both as one item but they are really two distinct thoughts.

First, Harry the K...any Phillies fan worth her/his salt knows that I am referring to Harry Kalas, the legendary broadcaster who has been the voice and the face of Phillies baseball since 1971. Through the good years and bad years, Harry has been the guy that we all could relate to, that soothing voice that brightened our April cold and cooled out August nights.

Today's Daily News reports that Harry might be on the way out, lubed by David Montgomery and the Phillies' brass' decision to pair him with Chris Wheeler for six innings and moving Larry Andersen exclusively to the radio. Wheels would do TV only, including the middle innings with Scott Graham.

I understand that the Phillies want to put their best broadcasting foot forward and adding Graham to the TV mix is a good decision. But more Wheeler was not the answer at all and making Harry angry is not going to help matters. Yes Harry is 70 years old and not nearly as good as he used to be. But the truth is, he is Phillies baseball to me and thousands of others in my generation. When I hear his voice, my blood pulses with baseball.

My advice to the Phillies: let Harry leave on his own timetable. Otherwise, you risk more wrath then you need. Not even hiring Scott Palmer can stop that!

Now to curling. I have very little idea of the rules or the skill required to the sport. Nevertheless, I am fascinated by it and watch it whenever it is on. I love the planning, I love trying to read what they might do next and I love the broadcasting team of Don and Don. They have been the most entertaining thing I have seen during these Olympics...give me more curling and less figure skating. The other cool event was the snowboardcross...it's like a demolition derby on snow boards. The top part, when they jockey for position, is awesome and a lot of fun. They are exactly what figure skating, etc., are not...fun!!

So more curling...rock on! The U.S. goes up against Canada tomorrow night for the right to play for gold. You can be sure I'll be watching.

ABC Gets It Right

2006-02-09T09:35:00.000-05:00

Tonight, on ABC's "World News Tonight," a segment will be devoted on the wounded soldiers after they return home. At long last, a network news show is focusing on this long-ignored subject.

We are very good at celebrating our war victories and cheering as we welcome home our troops. We put yellow ribbons on our cars and hang our flag outside our house to let everyone know that we support our troops. But what about those troops who don't go home when they return from war? What about those men and women who languish in military hospitals for weeks and months and then have to find a way to live their lives in a very different way.

So I applaud ABC for this segment. It's sad that it takes the wounding of an anchor man to bring a story like this into the limelight but I'm glad it's there.

It reminds me of the story about the Philadelphia business man who leased a train to bring wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Hospital to the Army-Navy Game in December. A nice gesture to remember those who give us their all.

Dems Destroying Dems

2006-02-08T17:26:00.000-05:00

Once again, the Democratic party is falling apart, leaving the Republicans to stand back and let them self-destruct. This time, even the New York Times is jumping on the "Bash Democrats" bandwagon with a story on how discombobulated the Democratic message is.

There is a good blog today by Arianna Huffington on the matter. It reminds me of the old saying, "those who stand for nothing fall for everything." Have the Democrats not learned that voters want you to say something, to stand for something, even if it is unpopular? It wasn't enough for George Bush to be a baffoon...the voters wanted John Kerry and the party to stand up and say what they would do differently. Kerry lost because he never articulated that message.

And now, Republicans have had a field day. They control the White House, both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court. Democrats cry and whine and threaten but, when push comes to shove, we continue to be so very afraid of convictions and stands. There are so few who will take the reins and push. Hilary did but now she is afraid because she is running for president. Ted Kennedy used to have his finger on the pulse but he is too far gone. Maybe Russ Feingold or Joe Lieberman could but neither has the charisma to win national office.

And there is so much to criticize on the Republican side. You have an unpopular war in Iraq, illegal wiretapping, Osama on the loose, and the fact that we are no safer then we were on 9/11/01. But there is nothing out there, they are running unopposed.

I dislike George Bush but at least I know what he stands for. I like John Kerry and still wish he were president but who knew where he came down on issues. I disagree with pundits who say Americans want Republican control. I think they choose Republicans because that is all we give them. Good Democrats who stand tall with the party mission win elections. Bad ones who sway in the wind don't.

I pray that the party figures it out and learns a valuable lesson. You would think losing to Bush twice would have led them to the right conclusion. Unfortunately, they are more divided then ever. So very sad.

Clarifying

2006-02-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

After Villanova's comeback win over the Hawks last night, I wanted to clarify some of my statements. While I like coach Jay Wright and AD Vince Nicastro (former SJU ticket manager and husband of the great Liz Callahan Nicastro SJU '90), I cannot stand their fans. When I covered games, they were the absolute worst out there. They turned on their team at the drop of a hat and got on officials for stupid, stupid stuff. And their arrogant attitude is awful.

A brief note on how great St. Joe's fans are. Before the game, they located Villanova manager Erin Wade, daughter of former Phillies GM Ed Wade and chanted "Gillick's Better." Now, I'm not advocating the harassment of an innocent college girl but you have to admire the fact that: a) they knew that Ed Wade daughter was the manager for Nova; b) that they came up with a clever chant for her; and c) that they picked her out of a crowd. That's intricate jeering that I respect.

And the chant: "You're Not Philly" in response to Nova fans cheering "We Own Philly?" Priceless.

UPDATE: (2/8/06) Apparently, some St. Joe's fans infiltrated Jay Wright's radio show and yelled SJU cheers. Here's a blog on the subject.

I Don't Hate Villanova...

2006-02-07T15:08:00.000-05:00

but I don't like them very much either. Despite what you read in today's Daily News, I do not wish disease or plagues onto the denizens on the Main Line. But I will say I have a hard time figuring out a team that I would like less than Nova.

Tonight, the Wildcats take on the beloved St. Joe's Hawks. St. Joe's coach Phil Martelli said that it would take an act of God for the Hawks to win tonight. I will not be watching.

I can handle St. Joe's losing but not to Villanova and not at The Palestra. But with Villanova holding onto its most talented team, I can't bear to see them lose ugly. Hopefully, a miracle will happen and I can be happy about that. But if the expected happens, then I won't have to witness it. And even if the worst happens remember...The Hawk Will Never Die!

Grey Thriller

2006-02-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

I hope that tens of millions stayed up to watch Grey's Anatomy after the Super Bowl last night. My wife and I have been watching since the beginning and love the show. Last night's was a really amazing episode filled with real drama and excitement. Hope you watched and love it like we do...it's a smart show that deserves the attention.

The writers at Grey's have their own blog, which is cool. I have it linked to the left here.

Where Have I Gone?

2006-02-06T11:57:00.000-05:00

Thank you to those who have written lately to ask why I haven't been blogging lately. One person wrote that they were sure that I would write after Bush's State of the Union, knowing my love of criticizing the President. But even that treasure chest of bloggable material didn't get me going.

I am going to blog more frequently now but not every day. Life and work have tied me up these past few weeks. But I am going to try to be more consistent because I like doing it and also because people seem to like it. So, I am back (again) and hopefully more regular. Thanks for everyone for asking!

Bill

Super Bowl Blues

2006-02-06T11:44:00.000-05:00

I wasn't really feeling like much of a Super Bowl mood. After all, the Eagles had done their best Houston Texans impersonation from mid-November on and after all of the excitement of last year, I just couldn't get any juice for this year's Supe.

I thought that maybe I had found a cure. One of my friends is a Steelers fan, born and bred just outside of Pittsburgh. Maybe sharing in his joy would be just the topic for my Supe blues.

In some ways it worked. His house was hopping and if there is one thing black and yellow left in my town, I would be surprised. There was cheering, hoping and feeling of joy at the end. Everything that was missing from the Eagles appearance last year.

I'm happy for my friend and his family and the Steelers. Really. But there is still a part of me feeling left out. Maybe next year I won't feel this way but right on the heels of the Eagles' run, I felt left out and praying for baseball.

Other Super Bowl observations:

**Does anyone really care about the non-football crap before the game or the god damn Rolling Stones? No one in attendance at the party paid any attention to Stevie Wonder or the Stones.

**Enjoyed the pre-game listing of Super Bowl MVPs. That is the kind of thing they should do more often, celebrate their sport rather then MTV.

**Al Michaels and John Madden seemed very reluctant to criticize anyone too badly. I thought the referees blew the Rothlisberger replay and that the teams played poorly but you didn't hear much of that from the announcers. Madden did say he was surprised at how the Seahawks ran their offense in the final minutes of the first half but not as strongly as he used to. An average performance from two Hall of Famers.

**The commercials were interesting. Loved the Fed-Ex one with the little dinosaur. The Bud Light ones were great all along...totally funny and clever. GoDaddy.com has certainly made a name for itself, though most people had no idea what it was they sold. I did laugh out loud at the Burger King commercial with the Whopperettes and, as the father of a daughter, I enjoyed the girls' self-esteem commercial from Dove.

**I thought ABC made good use of Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya on the sidelines. Not a lot of puff pieces from them. Instead, they went to them for updates on what the players were talking about, etc., the way a good sideline reporter should be used.

Poor Ted Kennedy

2006-01-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

The distinguished senior Senator from Massachusetts, Edward Kennedy, is having a rough go of it. First, he made Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's wife cry with aggressive questioning. Then he got into a shouting match with Arlen Specter, claiming that the man spent too much time at the gym. By the way, Specter has BRAIN CANCER! Then, it was found out that Kennedy belonged to a Harvard social club that bar women from joining. This was after Kennedy went after Alito for belonging to a conservative group of Princeton alumni who fought against Affirmative Action.

On top of all that, one of the supermarket rags is claiming that Kennedy has fathered a son out of wedlock and paid the woman a pittance to keep quiet. All in all, not a good week for Teddy.

I have always tried to defend Kennedy but I do think that he is now a joke. He is partisan to a fault and seems to have become a terrible caricature of himself. I know if must be difficult to live under the legacy of his brothers and father (even his nieces and nephews have sometimes outshined him) but Teddy needs to retire now before he loses whatever luster may continue to shine for the Kennedy name.

The Female LeBron?

2006-01-18T09:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's Daily News talked about Ursuline Academy's Elena DelleDonne being the "female LeBron." While I'm not even sure what that means, it got me to thinking about how sexist sports are. Yes, the overwhelming majority of female athletes are paid less then their male counterparts. And yes, female sports are way less attended then male sports and you hardly ever see them on TV. But this story is an example of how sexist sports are.

I like John Smallwood a lot and he does cover women's sports on a regular basis. But calling her the "female LeBron" is demeaning. When was the last time you heard Jim Nantz refer to a golfer as the "male Annika" or Dick Enberg call a tennis player the "male Serena?" You don't because it would be ridiculous. But if you watch women's sports, you see it a lot. Even Annika had to be compared to Tiger Woods to have some legitimacy.

Perhaps the announcers are going out of their way to help the viewer relate. More likely, the commentator thinks they are giving a compliment. "Wow, isn't she great? She reminds me of Fred Funk with that wedge shot. And believe you me, a girl as good as Freddie Funk is pretty high praise."

I'm not saying women's sports should be given equal treatment in the media or by fans. That is certainly a judgement call by every media outlet and fan. However, stop reducing them to comparisons to male players. It's not helpful.

Jeez...War Really Is Hell

2006-01-12T11:31:00.000-05:00

News flash: The Department of Defense has made it illegal for our service men and women to pay for sex. Apparently, the DoD frowns upon good old American money supporting the sex industries.

What next, no cocaine use? What is going on here?

Poor Alito

2006-01-12T09:43:00.000-05:00

Oh boy, the gloves have come off. The Democrats even made the poor man's wife cry for Pete's sake!

I suppose that it is important to grill these candidates, though I can't imagine that we find out much in these sessions. These guys are so vetted that everyone knows whewre they stand and you aren't going to find much out. Also, the candidates are so well versed that they are rarely going to say anything controversal.

One thing that bothers me...the pro-choice women who keep saying that no judge has the right to rule against abortion. This argument isn't about abortion...I'm smart enough to stay out of that today. But I think it is funny that those who support abortion are saying that the court can't take away their right to an abortion because if I am not mistaken, wasn't it the courts that gave them that right in 1973? Wasn't abortion illegal prior to Roe v. Wade? So I'm sorry but the court giveth and the court can taketh away.

I don't see Alito being too extreme. After all, he is a Phillies fan? Ok, strike that last comment from the record. Seriously though, he seems very fair and concerned for the sanctity of law. He is exactly the kind of guy we should aspire to have on our courts, regardless of his political leanings. The Republicans control the White House and the Congress and have the right to decide how to fill the courts.

So let's stop making wives cry.

No Tejada? Bummer!

2006-01-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

Recent rumors about the Phillies obtaining Miguel Tejada from the Orioles was pretty exciting. I love it when the Phillies are in the running for big-name talent, like Tejada or Manny Ramirez.

Alas, the rumor had no chance of ever coming true. Tejada wanted to move him to third base over his own objections and making a deal for one year and letting him go to free agency didn't appeal to me. It's probably better that he has decided not to seek a trade.

Still, the feel of having the Phillies involved in big trade deals excites me. I want the Phils to be players in MLB, not small market like the Pirates or Brewers or Royals. I think that's why I so supported the Jim Thome signing several years ago and also the Kevin Millwood trade. The Phillies were getting out there and making something happen. There is nothing more exciting than that.

I guess it is good news that the Phillies are mentioned when big trades have come up this year. Don't know what it says that they haven't landed one yet.

Sith A Winner

2006-01-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

Last night was the People's Choice Awards. My wife and I watched exactly 37 seconds of it when Earl from My Name is Earl was on and we quickly turned it off. Terrible, terrible show.

However, they do have one thing that the Academy Awards do not. They actually reward shows that people like over shows that critics like. What a concept!

For example, "Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith" won for favorite movie and favorite movie drama and the top-rated TV show, "CSI," won for favorite TV drama. Imagine that, awarding those shows that people actually enjoy and spend money on!

My cousin Jim went off on this the other day and was right. The top-grossing movie of the year, like "Star Wars," should have a shot at an Oscar. It seems that only the arty movies that appeal to critics ever have a chance to win, even though the majority of Americans will never see them. I haven't seen an Academy Award-winning movie in years!

People's Choice has the concept right. Now if they could just do something about the quality of their show!!

Pat, Please Stop Talking

2006-01-06T10:43:00.000-05:00

Pat Robertson is at it again. The same man who said that the 9/11 attacks were brought on because of homosexuality and abortion now claims that Israel PM Ariel Sharon was struck down by God because he is tearing about God's promised land. (story in the Boston Globe). Robertson's stupidity even reached down under.

I don't get these people who supposedly love God but hate the creations of God. After all, why would God create something and then destroy it? The God I choose to believe in is one who loves us and wants only the best for us. This God would never destroy someone he loves. Instead, we choose to destroy ourselves when we choose the wrong path. But I believe that God is there waiting when we finally figure it out and try to do right.

It is interesting that after all those years of war, God would instead choose to strike down Sharon when he was working towards peace. I guess God really isn't a peace-loving God after all. My mistake.

Here is a link to a pretty funny blog on the subject and a funny spoof.

Bush Broke the Law? No Kidding!

2006-01-05T15:55:00.000-05:00

Apparently, in a big news flash, Capitol Hill Democrats are telling President Bush that he broke the law when he spied on American citizens. Really now, we're just putting that together? In fact, there is a law that explictly says you cannot spy on your own citizens without judicial review. Says it, right there in the open. This is not a loophole. But the President says he didn't do anything wrong. Now, after the outcry of millions of Americans, the Democrats are getting on board. It's about time folks.

Why is it that it takes public pressure to get politicians to get a stand on anything? I mean, something like this should have raised major flags to the politicians who were "briefed" but no one said a word until the New York Times printed it. People want to yell and scream about the media but without them, stuff like this would go on and no one would question it.

Why People Hate the Media

2006-01-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

Dan over at Philadelphia Will Do (a blog that blasts the media) found this gem. Yes I know that we are fighting a war in Iraq and yes Israel's Prime Minister has had a massive stroke that could through that entire country into a tailspin and sure, several miners died in a tragic accident that was so miscovered by the media, but the big story on Action News was..."DANCING WITH THE STARS!!!"

Now, I will admit to a bias. I wouldn't watch that show if you paid me cash money. I hate has-been E-list celebrities trying to suck the life out of any type of fame. I hate ballroom dancing. Therefore, I hate the entire concept of this show. But "THE BIG STORY ON ACTION NEWS???!" Come on, even with cross-promotion making a total mockery of the news business, this is bad!!

And the Academy Award Winner Will Be...US!

2006-01-05T15:39:00.000-05:00

Word is out that Jon Stewart, host of the hilarious Daily Show on Comedy Central, will host the 2006 Academy Awards. He is a very funny guy who has the perfect attitude for that job.

A blog with comments on this subject can be found at Huffington Post.

I know that we pay way too much attention to this stuff as a society. I don't know why but I am fascinated by this inter-Hollywood stuff. As an aside, I much prefer the Emmy Awards...at least I've seen many of the shows nominated and may actually know the actors and actresses shown on the screen. Granted not having HBO hurts me in that regard but I have not seen a movie nominated for an Academy Award in a decade and many of the actors are not in my sphere of knowledge. But it is fun to watch events (I've mentioned this before) and the Academy Awards is a huge event.

Check out some of the comments on the Huffington Post. People are truly bizarre.

Get Serious (I mean Sirius)!

2006-01-05T10:44:00.000-05:00

The holidays were great for me and one of my big gifts was a Sirius satellite. After three days of listening to radio post-Stern, I can only say "THANK GOD!!"

I have only had the Sirius activated for a day but I love it already. Great music, great talk and sports. Yesterday there was a replay of the 1983 Sixers-Lakers finals game on Hardwood Classics. Too great!

The drive home last night seemed short because there was so much to choose from. If you haven't got satellite radio, I strongly recommend you get one, Stern notwithstanding. Of course, maybe you enjoy David Lee Roth!

Good to Be Back

2006-01-05T09:40:00.000-05:00

Some ramblings to begin the new year.

First of all, Happy 2006. Like many others, I watched Dick Clark only to see if he was able to make it. I was sad that he was so slow speaking and slurred. It must take some courage to learn to walk and talk and then stand in front of millions of people and try to do what you have done for 35 years. But the show was weird. From Ryan Seachrest's annoying style and his kissing Clark's ass all night to the uncomfortable feeling of Clark not being able to get words out, it was a strange night. I did enjoy Hilary Duff and seeing the Bangles, etc., from Hollywood. Any idea why they tape that?

Chicken Little. Saw it. Wasted money on it. Even my kids seemed bored by it. No wonder there was only one showing of it on New Year's Eve. Shame that it was the only option to take little kids to the movies over a holiday weekend.

Penn State. Congrats to the Nits and JoePa, though I went to bed with them clinging to a 16-13 lead. I missed the heroics but hey I'm happy for all of my Penn State friends. But Bob Ford wrote a great column this morning in the Inquirer calling for Paterno to retire now, on top of the world. I could not agree more. I was one of those saying that Paterno should leave on his own terms...after all, he built Penn State into the University it is...not just the football program but the whole damn University. He deserves to go out a winner. Now is that time. He was ornery and nasty for the entire month leading up to the Orange Bowl and he was ridiculous on the sidelines during the game. Joe, you are a great coach, one of the best ever. Go out as the head coach of the number three program in the country. You deserve it, the programs deserves it and frankly needs it.

EAGLES! It was a disappointing year but not unexpected. I thought they would win 10 games and get back to the playoffs...of course no one thought that they would fall as far as they did but once the TO situation got crazy, the injuries piled up and the NFC East got better, it's no surprise. My hope for the Eagles is that they take this off-season and do what they have been unable to do in the past four. Stop, look around at what we have and what is out there and improve this team. I totally believe in the Super Bowl hangover. Hopefully the Eagles are like the Patriots and Panthers who returned to the playoffs after losing the Super Bowl.

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-21T09:14:00.000-05:00

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2006! Hopefully we will have another year of blogging ahead.

Bill

Bush Joke

2005-12-20T11:45:00.000-05:00

President George W. Bush goes to a primary school to talk about the world. After his talk he offers question time.

One little boy puts up his hand, and the President asks him what his name is.

"Kenneth."

"And what is your question, Kenneth?"

"I have three questions:

1 ... What ever happened to weapons of mass destruction?

2 ... Why are you so willing to disregard the Constitution?

3 ... How come we never caught Osama Bin Laden?"

Just then the bell rings for recess. George Bush informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess. When they resume President Bush says "OK, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?"

A different little boy puts his hand up.

The President points him out and asks him what his name is.

"Larry."

"And what is your question, Larry?"

"I have 5 questions:

1 ... What ever happened to weapons of mass destruction?

2 ... Why are you so willing to disregard the Constitution?

3 ... How come we never caught Osama Bin Laden?

4 ... Why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early?

and

5 ... What happened to Kenneth?"

Disregarding the Constitution Again

2005-12-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

ADD (12/21/05)--Discussing this issue with a friend of mine, he reminded me of a quote from Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"

Hold on, let me get my notes. You see I jotted down some notes under a crumpled ball of the U.S. Constitution. It apparently doesn't matter much in our nation today.

Yesterday President Bush again decided that that little thing that set up our rules of government 218 years ago is taking a backseat to fighting the war on "terr-er." Apparently, when Congress gave the President power to use force in the war on "terr-er" in those scary days immediately following 9/11, they were also appointing W as King George I. King George took that act of Congress as a mandate to do whatever he wanted, that he could operate without limits as long as it was done to fight "terr-er."

Listening to call-in radio shows, I am amazed when I hear people talk about being okay with giving up rights for the security and safety. I disagree. It is never right to surrender freedoms or rights, no matter what the immediate benefit might be. Those rights are our wall, our safeguard. Without them, this country would not have survived two-plus centuries. I know it is a scary time we live in. I have children and I worry about their future. But I worry more about a government that is willing to abuse the Constitution to benefit its short-term gains.

I find it fascinating that we talk about bringing freedom to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan while at the same time slowly chipping away at our own freedoms. What kind of message does it send when we are willing to fight for freedom in the Middle East but not in the United States?

I have never been a big fan of Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) but he made sense on this issue last week and yesterday. Senator Specter said that Congress is sworn to uphold the Constitution and, as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he would hold the President accountable for any wrongdoing. It was refreshing to hear a Republican willing to call the President on the carpet.

President Bush sounded crazed yesterday. He was outraged that his illegal activities were leaked to the media. He was shocked that people might actually question him and his actions. He sounded like a dictator, wondering how anyone could possibly question his authority. Once again, he was dead wrong.

A few years ago, when the Constitution Center was opened, President Bush was not in attendance, nor was the Vice President or any ranking member of the President's cabinet. I joked then that why would they show, they didn't recognize the Constitution anyway. Turns out I was more correct than I realized.

After a long hiatus...

2005-12-16T11:36:00.000-05:00

It Moves Me is back. Sorry for being away for a while but work and personal commitments have left enough time to blog. And there have been so many things I want to write about:

First, Happy Holidays! There, I said it. Take that Bill O'Reilly.

The new argument seems to be that be saying that at places like Wal-Mart or Target we are robbing Christians of their holiday. Bull! All those people are doing is acknowledging that there are millions of Americans who do not celebrate Christmas. Thank God that we are a bit more inclusive. I am proud that some in society have moved away from the 1950s.

I don't have any problems with saying Merry Christmas if you know someone is Christian. However, I know I would get annoyed if everyone constantly said "Happy Hanukkah" or "Merry Kwanza" to me because I don't celebrate those days. "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" seems like a nice compromise to me.

The Phillies

I was hopeful that Pat Gillick would pull off a big trade at the winter meetings, give us Phillies fans something to get excited about didn't happen.

All in all though I think he did a nice job. Shocked that he was able to get rid of Jim Thome and Vicente Padilla, two guys with big contracts who really could not come back here (though for different reasons). Billy Wagner was not worth the money or the length of contract. I think that will be proven but even if it's not, not signing him makes sense.

Now, I'm not in love with Gordon or Looper as closers. Fingers crossed. That was a good thing with Wagner, you trusted him on the mound in key situations.

I would love to see Bobby Abreu traded for a top-notch pitcher. Abreu is a nice player but not nearly as good as some people think. Trade him now while his value is high.

EAGLES

Oh boy, what a nine-month span it has been for Da Birds. And how quickly we have turned on them. Booing, turning off the interest, calling their game "exhibitions." It is a shame but explainable. First, they lost in the Super Bowl, a crushing thing for nearly all the teams who have done so in the past decade. Plus, they have had the shortest off-season for the past five seasons and many of their players were highly valued by other teams. Finally, TO was a huge distraction all year and needed to go in August.

So, I will give them a bye this year with the caveat that they make a big move in the offseason and let TO go. Once that is completed, I think next year will be back to normal.

Bad Breakup

2005-11-08T16:33:00.000-05:00

Terrell Owens has now become the girl you just can't break up with.

At his press conference today, TO apologized to Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, Norm Van Brocklin and Swoop for everything he has ever done wrong. Oh, by the way, he wants to play for the Eagles on Monday night against Dallas.

Dude, Andy Reid dumped you yesterday. Get over it! Delete his name from your cell phone. Burn your old photos. Curse every time his name is mentioned. But deal with the fact that you are done, finished, over. He is your EX.

What a zoo this is...every day he brings something new. I wonder if he was created by Dustin Hoffman for the benefit of Bob Brookover, Les Bowen and the crew, so they have constant news at all times!

There is zero chance he plays on Monday. I have a better chance of suiting up at wideout against the Cowboys!

TO has serious, serious mental problems. He is like my 3 year old who believes that once he says he's sorry that everything is forgiven. Sorry pal, go sit on your bed and think about what you did!! Then find another team!

And Drew Rosenhaus...what a jerk. After TO's conference, he gets up there and ruins it all. TO needs to get a better agent...anyone. Is that jerky guy that Jay Mohr played on "Jerry Maguire" available? Stop it already.

I declare my ride home to be TO free...I might have to listen to NPR or my iPod but no TO...this guys makes my head spin!

Now What?

2005-11-08T09:49:00.000-05:00

Ryan Howard has won the NL Rookie of the Year. It is a tremendous honor, especially for a guy who was sitting in Scranton until June (not that there's anything wrong with Scranton...I am a big fan of Mugg's!!!), but the chances of winning rookie of the year while spending most of the first three months of the season in Triple-A are low.

But Howard was sensational for the final two months of the season. He, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are the reasons the Phillies had a prayer on the season's final day.

There is no doubt in my mind that Howard must be in the starting lineup somewhere. If you want to keep Jim Thome and trade Pat Burrell or Bobby Abreu, then do it. Howard is a must.

If it were me, I would give Howard as much time in left field as possible and trade Burrell. Hope that Thome can recover in time and be close to what he was. That gives the Phillies s tremendous home run punch in the middle of the lineup.

I hear the doubters. yes, Howard and Thome strike out a lot...but if you sandwich Bobby Abreu and Chase utley around them, that's a powerful lineup.

Tell me if this makes any sense for 2006:

Rollins, SS
Abreu, RF
Thome, 1B
Howard, LF
Utley, 2B

If Rollins gets on base, Abreu makes good contact and can move him along. Then you have two cracks at RBIs from your big hitters with Utley behind them to keep pitchers honest.

Hopefully, Gillick makes a decision. We have learned from the Eagles the detriment of waiting to make your mind up on a guy. A Howard-Thome battle in Spring Training does no one any good. Give these guys a chance to get their swings going early so we avoid an ugly April.

T.Over.

2005-11-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

The end has come to the Terrell Owens era in Philadelphia. It will be remembered for the highest highs (Super Bowl XXXIX) and the lowest lows (training camp). Was it worth it?

Obviously, no, his baggage was more than any franchise could handle, even one of the best run ones. This is a guy with serious mental problems, mostly brought on from a messed-up childhood. He has no idea how to interact with people or be a team player. He is never given enough respect, enough money, enough passes, enough love.

It's a sad end to a promising era. The Eagles are a mess, mess, mess. TO not being here will make it worse but it was bad even with him. They are a predictable offense and a porous defense, something they haven't been since the 1990s.

I always wonder if a major high is worth it. I have asked people this through the years...would you take a championship (pick your team or sport) if you were then relagated to 10 years of misery (aka Chicago Bulls, Florida Marlins, etc.). Some people say they would take that...I prefer good entertaining sports (Eagles (2001-2004) over that.

Goodbye TO...you earned your exit this time. Buyer beware when it comes to this guy.

West Wing Thriller

2005-11-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

For those of you that have stopped watching The West Wing, you are really missing special this season. Last night, for the first time in a while, I found myself again wishing that the West Wing was real and that the actors pretending to run for president were actually running for president.

Last night's live debate (which I missed the first half of the first quarter of the Eagles for!!!) was great television. Arnie Vinnick (played by Hawkeye Pierce, I mean Alan Alda) was spectacular, a real Republican who I disagreed with but loved his passion, his energy, his fervor. And Matt Santos (played by Jimmy Smits) was solid and smart and equally passionate. I found myself thinking that the country would be fine either way, unlike the 2004 election when I believed in my heart that there was truly only choice.

I am pretty sure that this is the end of the road for The West Wing...ratings are low. But creatively, this has been some of the best plots in years. I love watching the contrast between the campaigns...politics at its most fun.

My prediction is that Santos wins. Most of the focus is on him and the cast that we recognize is on his campaign. Will it matter beyond next year? Probably not but I still hope he wins and continues the Bartlett legacy!

Maybe later, I will blog about the Eagles! Nah, probably not!

Gillick: Good Choice?

2005-11-02T09:35:00.000-05:00

Two articles with a similar headline? Yes but a very different vibe. I think that David Montgomery is mistaken here in his selection of Pat Gillick as the new Phillies general manager.

Yes, Gillick is very qualified. Yes, he has won in several different locations, including Toronto where no one has won since the Maple Leafs cup dominance in the 1940s and 50s. Yes, he made some good moves over the years, including som blockbusters.

But he is not the fan's choice and, for the Phillies in this time and place, that is a deadly decision.

They hired Charlie Manual over Jim Leyland, leading to a season's worth of howling and anger, even though the team was pretty entertaining. Now they choose Gillick over Gerry Hunsicker, a local guy who had success. The masses will not be pleased.

Sure, there is an old line that states, if you listen to the fans you will soon be sitting with them. And I know that Philadelphia fans are not exactly always the most thoughtful, choosing passion over cerebral. But with the trust in the franchise at an all-time low, wouldn't a decision that seems to take into consideration the fans' desires be a good thing?

Gillick might be good and very well might have been the right choice...but he will be squarely behind the 8-ball from the beginning here. That will not be pleasant.

Of course, if he wins a World Championship, all will be forgiven!!!

Alito: Good Choice?

2005-11-02T09:21:00.000-05:00

Trust me, I can't believe I'm saying it either. But I think that George Bush may have made a good decision here.

Perhaps I was thrown by the picture of Alito in a Phillies uniform from Dream Week. Maybe it's his full-size poster of Mike Schmidt in his chambers. But in all that I read, I think that Alito seems like a fair, smart and well-qualified choice for Supreme Court Justice.

I know that he is conservative. I am sure that is worrisome to Democrats but you know what? Win the freakin 2004 election and then you could have appointed a liberal judge. But Kerry lost so Bush gets to make the call. We need to deal with it.

I didn't like Harriet Miers. Thought she was too much of a lightweight, lacked the gravitas to be on the Court. But Alito seems to have that in spades.

Like many others, I wish that Bush had appointed more of a moderate. And he also should have done a better job of finding a woman or ethnic minority. Adding a white man to the Supreme Court is like throwing a bottle of sand on the Sahara.

But all that being said, Alito seems like he has the right stuff to be a justice. Taking politics out of the mix, every lawyer and judge quoted in stories thought very highly of him...how rare is that? He is thoughtful and takes extreme efforts to be right...imagine that.

All in all, it could have certainly been worse for the Democrats. Now the party looks bad by huffing and puffing about him. Alito is a decent man who deserves a fair Senate hearing before judgement is passed. As I said, win the Presidential election and hold the majority in the Senate before you flex your muscle.

White Sox In, Miers Out

2005-10-27T10:05:00.000-05:00

OK...so the two things do not really go together but they are both on my mind.

Go, go White Sox. A sweep of the Astros was impressive...like the team itself it wasn't showy or glamorous...they just won. Congrats to Chicago's South Side...it's been a long time.

Joke, what do you call a Boston fan who rooted for the White Sox? Bi-soxual! (GROAN!)

Now onto Harriet Miers, who has pulled out her nomination for Supreme Court Justice. I knew she was not qualified, most of you knew she was unqualified, most of the Republicans and nearly all of the Democrats knew she was unqualified...does it bother anyone else that the President seemed to think that she was? Do we need to call his judgement into question again? WMD, Karl Rove, Iraq. All of these things have come out on the wrong side of the ledger for Mr. Bush...that's an alarmingly bad record for the guy who will lead the free world for the next THREE YEARS!

I do have to laugh though that the conservatives who are now ripping Miers and kind of getting on Bush. Where is your patriotism? Don't you know we are at war people? If you can't give your mind, body and soul to your country and this president, then what good are you?!? Obviously my tounge is planted very firmly in my cheek. But it is ironic that the same people who slam Democrats for having the "nerve" to criticize the President are now doing the same thing when they don't like something. Hmmmm...

Farewell YSP

2005-10-26T13:18:00.000-05:00

Well, it is hard to believe but WYSP is no longer "The Rock Station," as it has billed itself for years. Now, 94.1 on the dial is "Free FM" (YUCK!), a direct slap at Howard Stern and Sirius satellite radio which is, presumably, "Pay FM."

94 is one of the presets in my car radio for two reasons...Stern and the Eagles. I never listened on the way home...never enjoyed the music. For the most part, I listen to my i-Pod (I know it's not safe to drive with the ear phones in), WXPN (adult alternative), WHYY (NPR), WPEN or WIP (sports talk). I rumble through the other stations on my preset in case there is a good song on but nothing is sustained.

But still, there is something sad about the loss of something that has been in Philly for several decades. I don't love the music that YSP played (a bit too heavy for my taste) but they have been a perennial voice in this city.

Now, it only leaves WMMR...which is only right. MMR was the cool station growing up...as I wrote in my blog when Mark the Shark died. Now, MMR is different then it used to be but the only place to go for non-classic rock.

Top Ten Phillies/Sixers/Eagles

2005-10-24T12:54:00.000-05:00

Jody Mac on WPEN is doing a Philadelphia sports top 50. It got me thinking about my top 10 in each sport:

Phillies (1980-present)

1. Schmidt
2. Carlton
3. Rose
4. Dykstra
5. Maddox
6. Schilling
7. Kalas (has to be here!!)
8. Thome
9. Bowa
10. Rolen

Sixers (1980-present)

1. Erving
2. Malone
3. Barkley
4. Bobby Jones
5. Cheeks
6. Iverson
7. Toney
8. Hawkins
(as far as I could get)

Eagles (1980-present)

1. White
2. McNabb
3. Quick
4. Owens
5. Montgomery
6. Jaworski
7. Simmons
8. Dawkins
9. Bergey
10. Hopkins

I'm Back!

2005-10-24T12:26:00.000-05:00

Sorry that I have been out of the loop for a while...busy time at work and home.

But I have missed so much. Here is my catchup blog!

Goodbye ED!

Yes, Ed Wade, our dear GM, has been let go. That pure judge of middle relief talent is no longer employed by the Phillies.

That's the good news. The bad news is the Phillies seem to be waiting for Brian Cashman to leave the Yankees. That's good and bad.

I'm glad that they are looking outside the organization for their next GM but I think Cashman will leave them disappointed. First, I do not think he is going to leave the Yanks...he makes a lot of money and definitely shines in the reflected glow of Yankee prominence!

Second, I don't know how good he would be here. It seems to me that all Cashman did was go out, find the best person available and throw huge amounts of money at them. That will not work here.

I would not let Gerry Hunsicker go. He built the Astros into the World Series in a ballpark that is a hitters paradise and a pitchers hell (sound familiar) and did it with a smallish budget. He also built one of the top starting pitching rotations around. Plus, he's a St. Joe's guy...I love him already!!

E-A-G-L-E-S! Uh-oh!

The Eagles have looked less then good in their first six. Having said that, 4-2 is pretty good.

Donovan McNabb should no longer be playing. I have a great deal amount of respect for Andy Reid but relying on McNabb for 85 percent of your offense when he is barely able to move is not smart. McNabb should have gotten the surgery and let McMahon play. Even if we stink for a five or six-game span, he couldn't move the team any worse then McNabb has these past few weeks.

The defense was fantastic against the Chargers...further cementing Jim Johnson's place as a God among defensive coordinators. And luck was certainly on their side.

One side note...did it distrub anyone that no one moved as the emergency alarms went off? In this day and age, I would run for the freaking exits, no matter what. Who knows why those things are blaring...they should have done something immediately. Weird!

HARRIET MIERS...UGGGH!

News bulletin: President George Bush selects an underqualified crony to fill an important position. Stop me if you have heard this one before.

Harriet Miers might be a very nice woman, smart, loyal, hard-working. All wonderful qualities for an employee. But I want something more for a Supreme Court justice who will spend the next two to three decades setting legal precedent.

One funny thing from this charade has been the total abandonment by the crazy conservatives. Even robots like Limbaugh and Hannity have left the president. I thought there could be no dissention with the White House in times of war. Treason!!!

Who Wants Thome?

2005-10-04T08:48:00.000-05:00

This morning's front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer screamed with the headline: "Who Wants Thome?" While I understand the thinking behind it, I feel bad for the sentiment.

I agree that the Phillies must find a way to get Ryan Howard into the lineup next year. And obviously, the best way for that to happen would be for the team to get rid of Jim Thome and let Howard play first base every day.

But a part of me feel bad about treating Thome this way. I have liked him since he became a Phillie and he had 1 1/2 solid years here. Sadly injuries and age have taken their toll on Thome and he has not been the hitter he once was.

However, Thome has done everything the right way since he has been here. He has been a standup guy with his teammates, fans and the media. There have been no scandals, he has never bad mouthed anyone and he plays the game with abandon. All these things are what we say we want.

Then comes the inevitable...when the physical talent is no longer there. Now we are ready to throw Jim Thome to the curb in favor of the new flavor of the month. And we are kicking him on the way out. While I agree that Howard is a great talent, I feel bad in how we are treating Thome. He has been a superstar without an ego and a professional in every sense of the word. Isn't that all we should ask of our athletes?

Year Over

2005-10-03T14:26:00.000-05:00

I am always bittersweet during this week. Sad that the Phillies season is over (as it has been for the last 12 years) and excited that the playoffs are beginning. It's great to have these amazing baseball games to watch for the next month but the day to day Phillies routine is over.

I love the Phillies, have since I can remember. While these playoffs are great, they are just not the same without my team to root for. I don't like any of the NL teams (though I guess the Astros would be my team if they hadn't beaten out the Phils). Along with the rest of the world, I love watching the Red Sox/Yankees craziness and living in Phiadelphia gives me a little proximity to the madness.

Here are my predictions:

NLDS: Astros over Braves; Cardinals over Padres
ALDS: Red Sox over White Sox; Angels over Yankees

NLCS: Cardinals over Astros
ALCS: Angels over Red Sox

WS: Cardinals over Angels

Just Not Enough

2005-10-03T05:33:00.000-05:00

I think those three words could be the epitaph for the 2005 Phillies. One game was just too much to overcome.

Yesterday was thrilling. The Phillies did what they had to do and then the Cubs put two on in the ninth. But it was just not enough.

The Phillies have some real question marks. Ryan Howard must stay, despite Ed Wade's hedging his bets. There has to be an answer but I wonder if Wade is the guy to answer it. Is he creative enough to find the solution to Jim Thome? I believe the answer is no. This is a guy who only does the obvious and this decision is not easy.

But Howard is possibly the Rookie of the Year and, honestly, one of the few black products of the Phillies farm system. This is a franchise that was the last to bring a black player onto the team in the 1950s and have not had a string of African American stars. Listening to Sonny Hill yesterday morning, I know the African American community is watching the Phillies to see what they do.

I give the Phillies a lot of credit for the final weekend. Once they fell 2 1/2 back, they could have rolled over and died. But they did what they had to do and swept the Nationals, giving us an exciting weekend.

However, this team did not take care of business over the past month. Getting swept by the Astros at home in early September was awful and then losing two to the Mets last week was inexcusable. Just doing those small things (one win over the Astros and one more win over the Mets) would have the Phils in the postseason today.

Still In!

2005-10-01T10:13:00.000-05:00

I didn't think we would be sitting here with two games left in the season and tlaking about a possible playoff berth. But, here we are on October 1 and the Phillies are still alive.

The great Jack Scheuer always says you never know but I never thought that the Astros would lose three against the Cubs. It is still a longshot but you never know...

I still think back to the lost opportunities. Two losses to the Mets, losing to Eric Milton, getting swept by the Astros earlier in the month. But this team is resillient and has been fun to watch.

I've been saying it along...must win games today and tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed that we have a playoff to discuss on Monday.

As an aside, Ed Wade said on the radio last week that he would see if Ryan Howard could play left field. Otherwise, he would have to see what a trade would bring. Though he didn't say it, I got the impression he meant trading Howard.

Ed, I don't want to tell you what to do but...you would need to hire armed guards for your house if you trade Ryan Howard now. I love Jim Thome too but Ryan Howard could be special. He must be here, period.

Wade Must Take Blame

2005-09-28T13:16:00.000-05:00

Another Phillies season ends with phrustration and phutility. The obvious question: who is to blame and what next?

Blame:

Ed Wade- The Phillies general manager has been in charge of the phranchise for nine season. None of them ended in the postseason. I think the only GM with a worse track record is the guy from Tampa Bay...good company eh?

Wade has spent money. I will admit that many of the moves he has made seemed good at the time. Jim Thome, Billy Wagner, Kevin Millwood, etc., all seemed like good moves to me. But...they have not worked out. Fire Terry Francona, fire Larry Bowa and hire Charlie Manuel...doesn't matter. This team is just not good enough and Wade refuses to admit it.

On paper, this team should be a postseaosn contender but the mix is bad. They need to knock it down and start over and I do not trust Wade to do it.

Charlie Manuel - Charlie of Mayberry did a nice job of setting the tone. The team seemed looser than in the past, I will admit. But, his rote use of Madson, Urbina and Wagner out of the bullpen, no matter the situation, was a mistake and they ended the season exhausted.

Charlie was also a step or two behind all season. Making double switches eluded him as did pinch runners, etc.

What the Phillies need is a guy with the attitude of Manuel with the baseball acumen of Larry Bowa. Maybe, oh I don't know, Jim Leyland.

What's Next?

The Phillies have no choice but to get rid of Jim Thome now. Getting rid of Ryan Howard now would be a PR disaster as well as a bad baseball decision. Howard proved himself in tough times and might be the Rookie of the Year despite only playing half the year. Trading Thome will not be easy but it is necessary. Maybe an AL team like Chicago or Minnesota (near his home in Illinois) would take him. This hurts me to say because I love Jim Thome but Ryan Howard is our future. Even if Thome comes back okay next year, can we expect more than a year or two or production? Howard might be the everyday power first baseman we need for the next decade.

Billy Wagner is gone and I am not happy with Uggie Urbina as my closer. We need to address that issue.

David Bell has to go. Yes he had some big hits down the stretch but it does not remove the other five months.

Mike Lieberthal has to go. His laid-back attitude and poor defensive skills hurt this team every day. The longest tenured Phillie should be let go.

Pat Burrell has the worst stance and swing of any 30-homer, 100-RBI guy in the history of the game. How could he look so bad and put up those numbers?

They still need a number one. Jon Lieber is good but not an ace. Brett Myers is still too immature for my taste. Vicente Padilla came up small time and time again this year. Cory Lidle is a good four or five guy. I'm not sold on Eude Brito or Gavin Floyd. They need starters.

Bullpen was good this year but overworked. Rheal Cormier has to be let go. Case closed. Resigning him was a mistake, even for Wade, that expert on all things middle relief.

Basically, this team should build around Howard, Utley, Rollins and Abreu. Everyone else is tradeable.

Miracle Needed

2005-09-28T08:13:00.000-05:00

Two and a half out with four to go. Paging the crash team. This squad is on serious life support.

Last night was terrible. So many times they had a chance to win and were unable to get it done. It is a sad orbituary for the season.

So, on to 2006. Jim Thome vs. Ryan Howard. Billy Wagner vs. Uggie Urbina. Ed Wade and Charlie Manual vs. Howard Eskin and the callers to WIP. Should make for an interesting hot stove league.

I wonder, when we look back to 2005, will it be considered a success? I say no. This team should have made the playoffs and had chance after chance to make its push but failed. Looking back, 2005 will be another in a long string of forgotten seasons. While there were great moments (heroic endings, Jimmy Rollins' hit streak) what will be remembered is how they lost it when they had the golden opportunity.

Oh man!

2005-09-27T08:16:00.000-05:00

I am speechless. What the hell happened? I fell asleep before the game even began (I'm getting old!) but I woke up around 11:30 and threw the TV on. The Phillies were winning 4-1 in the 6th and looked primed to score more. I shut the game off and fell back to sleep, confident that the team had things well in hand.

My son told me this morning that the Phillies had lost. I doubted him and put Comcast SportsNet on to see for myself. There it was, in all of its painful glory. Mets 6, Phillies 5.

I have heard and seen the recaps. What I don't know is whether this is truly the end of the road for a team that has been a mystery all year long. 1 1/2 out with 5 to go doesn't bode well. They must win out to have a prayer and hope for a miracle.

It feels like this is over but I have said that before. Even the usually negative Sam Donnellon says not to count the Phillies out (here). But how many times can they bounce back? How many times can they be down for the count and somehow manage to get to their feet? I think that time has run out on our Phillies. I don't know what that means in the long term but it hurts now, that's for sure.

Church Scandal

2005-09-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

I've mostly been quiet about the recent church sex scandal. Some of it is because I am seriously pissed at it and want it to go away and some is because I have a lot of respect for most priests and feel bad that they are all being painted with the same broad brush. However, John Grogan has a really good piece in today's Inquirer that sums up my thought on how Cardinal Rigali is dealing with the issue.

I went to Mass yesterday and felt disgusted by the Cardinal's letter. Many people I know skipped Mass all together or walked out during the reading of the letter. But I felt for the priest saying our Mass, a priest for 40 years who seemed pained by the subject and seriously apologetic. One of the accused was the pastor at my church for several years, even baptized my son. It feels so wrong that someone I knew and felt close to would be guilty of such crimes.

I agree that the church would rather bury their heads in the sand rather than face the truth about these scandals. They are also asking us followers to follow along. I however need to face the facts, get them out there so we can put them behind us. For too long we have kept our dirty little secret.

Bring on married priests. Bring on women priests. The time has come for the church to shake it sexist and dumb rules and be inclusive. At a time when the church of Philadelphia is facing its greatest crisis, some forward thinking would do some good. Instead we are being asked to ignore the truth and hope that it doesn't come back again.

Sounds a little like transferring a priest to a new parish in the hope that he will stop abusing kids. Kind of silly in retrospect right?

One Out; Six To Go

2005-09-25T18:38:00.000-05:00

The Phillies just need to finish two games better than the Astros to clinch their first postseason berth in 12 years. Today's win over the Reds was awesome. Let's see, we had Jimmy Rollins keep his hit streak alive (30) with a leadoff home run. Chase Utley had an inside the park home run and the Phillies hung on.

That combined with the Astros loss to the Cubs puts the Phillies just one game back in the wild card race. It should be a great final week of baseball. I still think they need to win all six...it is too much to ask for the Astros to lose more than twice. It is doable for the Phils to sweep the Mets and the Nats, especially the way they are hitting the ball.

Maddening

2005-09-24T22:29:00.000-05:00

It boggles the mind how these Phillies can be so wildly inconsistent. Not even 24 hours after one of the most thrilling wins in franchise history, the team barely shows up against the Reds and lose 3-2, falling two games back again.

Just plain maddening.

Difference Between WFAN and WIP

2005-09-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

I had the crystal clear moment, defining the difference between WFAN (real sports talk) and WIP.

Yesterday, a caller to Howard Eskin called WIP and asked what would happen in the case of a three-way tie in the NL between the Braves, Phillies and Astros. Eskin kind of guessed that they would play the division game tiebreaker first and the loser would then play the Astros for the wild card. Then, a caller said he had the information and the division would be decided by head-to-head records then the wild card game would be played. Eskin said that made sense and accepted it as fact.

Cut to WFAN. Chris Russo gets a call, asking what would happen in the case of a three-way tie in AL between the Red Sox, Yankees and Indians. Russo guessed and then asked someone in his newsroom to find out. Seconds later he had the MLB rules in hand and read that the division tiebreaker would be decided first and then the wild card (as Eskin guessed).

Instead of relying on a caller getting it right and then keeping that bogus information going, Russo found out the correct information and passed that along. Eskin's moment was what drives me crazy about WIP. A caller makes a statement and then it becomes fact three calls later. Get it right!

Still Alive

2005-09-23T08:07:00.000-05:00

Shane freakin Victorino. I didn't see the game but I can tell you what my reaction would have been. "Are you telling me that Shane Victorino is the best pinch hitter we've got?!?" Then he goes and hits a three-run homer in the ninth, guaranteeing the Phillies would live to see another must win series.

In thinking about their chances, I have decided that the Phillies need to go at least 7-2, better if they could go 8-1. They have to win two more games than the Astros to force a playoff and three more to win it outright. If they win seven of the last nine, Houston would have to go 5-4 in seven games with the Cubs and two against the Cardinals (who have already clinched and have nothing to play for). Granted, five of the nine are on the road but I think that is asking a lot.

Despite reports floating around yesterday, there is no way the Phillies catch Atlanta, short of the Braves completely self-destructing. So seven win at the minimum and eight would be more comfortable. Of course nine would be great.

Howard Keeps Phils Alive

2005-09-22T08:24:00.000-05:00

I must admit, I was feeling very negative last night. Watching the Astros jump out to a big lead while the Phillies squandered a three-run cushion did not feel good. Too many men left on base, I thought. We are in serious trouble. Wehn Mrs. It Moves Me asked how the Phillies were doing, my response was "not good."

Then came the 10th. Bases loaded. Again. We go to our bench and pull out...Shane Victorino. Yes, three weeks from spending the season at Double A Reading, Victorino was up in a huge situation. And grounded into a fielders' choice that could have been deadly.

Now Ryan Howard steps in. Against a lefty. Not good numbers against south paws this year. And crushes one. One of those, "yes, this ball is gone" moments from the time it left the bat.

Ballgame and the Phillies are alive one more day.

I was surprised at the lack of real emotion from the Phillies dugout. No one out on the field jumping around, no one really going crazy. It was a disappointing reaction but one I expect from this team.

All in all, it was a much needed win last night. Even Pop Em Up hit a homer last night. Today is also a must win. At this point in the season, that sentence might be useless since they are all musts now. Do the Phillies have a 9-1 finish in them? Hope so because that might be what they need.

Bowa On The FAN

2005-09-22T07:31:00.000-05:00

Driving home yesterday, I heard Larry Bowa on WFAN in New York with Chris Russo. He was basically defending his tenure as manager of the Phillies after the SI story ripped him this week.

Russo's New York perspective on the Phillies was an interesting one. Basically, he said that this team should shut up until they finally win something. He especially went off on Billy Wagner, who had a lot to say about Bowa. Russo ripped Wagner for the two Houston losses, saying that when the team needed him most in two of their biggest games of the year, he came up small. Interesting outlook.

Thanks Buccos!

2005-09-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

Roger Clemens vs. Ian Snell. Odds seemed to favor Clemens. After all it was 340 wins vs. zero.

But that's why they play the game. Ian Snell and the Pirates did the Phillies a favor by beating the Astros 7-0. That left the Phillies just a game out of the wild card lead heading into a huge three-game series with Atlanta.

I've changed my mind. I think they need to win twice during this series. Losing two would give Houston a possible three-game lead heading into the nine games of the season and that might be insurmountable.

Well Said Will, Well Said

2005-09-19T15:02:00.000-05:00

Will Bunch at Attytood wrote a funny piece. He was in 2025 talking about how we might look back at the 2005 Phillies. Says this might be the best season that most people never see.

I thought about that over the weekend. At a party I was at, I sprung that question about whether the people would watch the Phillies going for the playoffs or the Eagles in a meaningless regular season game. More than half said the Eagles. Boggles my mind.

We are always talking about how hungry we are for a parade, etc., etc. What happens if the Phillies give the city its parade? Will people pretend they were with them all along?

Yo Adrian: Rest in Peace?!?

2005-09-19T14:55:00.000-05:00

Philebrity reports that Rocky VI (about three too many if you ask me) will have Rocky as a grieving widow. Check it out!

Can they really think anyone, anyone will watch this garbage? Rocky would be fighting at age 59!!! Has Stallone totally left the planet Earth?

I really do think he made a deal withe devil. he has done one thing in his whole life (Rocky) and is a huge megastar because of it. He has not made one other good movie in his career if you take the original and Rocky II and III out of the mix. Don't give me Rambo...totally ridiculous. He is terrible.

Getting Old...Hall of Fame Edition

2005-09-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

I am sure that I am reading into this but...three people who went to school when I did just were inducted into the Saint Joseph's University Athletic Hall of Fame. Congrats to Katie Curry '93, Cathy Phillips '94 and Chris O'Brien'92.

Hall of Famers were always people my parents went to school with. We are way too young to have people our age in a Hall of Fame!

The Hawk will never die but it does feel like this Hawk is getting old!

Not Bad

2005-09-19T14:17:00.000-05:00

It was a wild and wooly weekend for the Phillies in Miami. Saturday was a miracle...very reminiscent of the Astros' win over the Phils last week. Seemed like a back breaker but the Marlins, like the Phillies, bounced back.

But the Phillies won two of three, as the doctor ordered (that would be me). I had hoped for a sweep after Saturday's win but Beckett vs. Brito just didn't get it done. They need one against the Braves and two would be great. After all, Atlanta is scuffling a bit. Then they must sweep the Reds next weekend.

Doable? Yes.

What Will It Take?

2005-09-16T11:57:00.000-05:00

A guy at work and I were talking yesterday about what it will take to win the wild card. With the Phillies having 15 games left now, I think they can go no worse than 10-5 the rest of the way. That means taking 2 of 3 from the Marlins, 1 of 3 from the Braves, sweep the Reds, 2 of 3 from the Mets and 2 of 3 from the Nats at the end. Doable?

One other thought for the day...if the Phillies are heading into Sunday, 10/2 needing a win to make the playoffs, who gets better ratings in Philadelphia, them or the Eagles playing the Raiders?

Justice Breyer: Doorman

2005-09-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

I was reading about Chief Justice nominee John Roberts yesterday and found this goofy tidbit: did you know that the most recent appointee has to shut the door for the proceedings? It's a tradition according to Blinq:

For the past 11 years it has been Justice Stephen Breyer's task by tradition to open and shut the door to the conference, the justices-only session, where they decide what cases they will hear, among other matters. Breyer, who has been the junior-most associate since 1994, might have been looking forward to passing this bit of high-court hazing onto the younger man.

"He's been doing it for an extrordinarily long time," Ted Ruger, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who clerked for Breyer, said in an interview. "Certainly in the 20th century it's unprecendented for someone to be junior justice for so long."

Breyer will have to be the doorkeeper a little longer, until O'Connor is replaced in the coming months.

You mean they can't pay someone to do this? For 11 years, Breyer's been a gopher? What a bizarre thing that I never knew about. And no, Roberts will not usurp Breyer in this task. The Chief Justice is exempt from such matters.

Do I Dare?

2005-09-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Do I dare to believe again? Do I give the Phillies another chance to break my heart?

The answer is yes, of course. I never stopped watching or hoping, even after last week's debacle with Houston. But this team has showed some heart in the past week since that series. Winning five of six thus far in games with Florida and Atlanta have given me hope where there was none seven days ago.

My recent inactivity on this blog has nothing to do with the Phillies. Unfortunately the convergence of work picking up considerably and kids starting school and soccer gave me less free time than normal. But it was a nice break.

Here are some random thoughts from my hiatus:

What the hell was Jeremiah Trotter thinking? He let his emotions get away from him and the Eagles paid the price. It was an interesting game though, back and forth. But like the Super Bowl, the Eagles just didn't have enough offense. A scary reminder of football vulnerability.
The owner of the Saints said that his football team winning is more important than relief money right now to the people of New Orleans. Um, Earth to wacko, people died. Thousands of people died, millions lost their homes and businesses. I think getting money to rebuild might stand higher in importance than a Saints game.
Will Eude Brito be the Marty Bystrom of the 2005 Phils? Bystrom, a rookie in 1980, went 5-0 in September to help the Phillies win the division.
I wonder if this town will ever embrace this baseball team again. Seems like nobody is going to the games and many of those that are do not believe this team can win. I heard on the radio yesterday that the fans will not support bad baseball teams and that is why people are not watching the Phillies. Um, aren't the Phillies playing winning baseball? Aren't they in the playoff hunt on September 15 and probably will be for the rest of this year? The sorry thing is, Philadelphia sports fans have turned everything into football. You lose one game and life ends. Baseball, basketball and hockey are not like that. I would not be surprised if the Phillies lose tonight. But in the span of one week, going 5-2 is very good. In football, you might pull your hair out with a 5-2 record.

Oh Brother

2005-09-08T07:49:00.000-05:00

Chico Ruiz. The infamous steal of home by that Cincinnati Red in 1964 led to a 10-game losing streak and the year of the blue snow. The Phillies 6 1/2 up with 12 games to go somehow, miraculously, managed to lose the pennant that year.

Last night was the 2005 version of Chico Ruiz.

When we look at the Phillies and their utter collapse this season, we will remember the wasted opportunity on Saturday in Washington and the Endy freakin Chavez moment on Monday. Heck, we'll also remember with disdain the miss of first base by Jimmy Rollins and the blown save by Billy Wagner on Tuesday. But all of that pales in comparison to what happened last night at CBP.

Let me set the stage for those fortunate enough not to be there or to have seen it. Phils down 5-3 in the eighth get a huge two-run home run by Bobby Abreu to tie the game. Then, with the bases loaded, Shane Victorino lines a single to right to plate the go-ahead run.

Alright, you're saying, great news right? Wrong. This is where it gets ugly.

Mistake #1: Third-base coach Bill Dancy mysteriously sends David Bell around third. Let me make this clear, because I happened to be in the ballpark. I had a better shot at scoring that run from my seat in left center then Bell did. I saw Bell round third, turned to see where the ball was and IT WAS ALREADY HALFWAY TOWARDS THE PLATE! The only way Bell scores is if the ball sails into the stands or the catcher drops it. Even had he dropped it, Bell was so far away, I think the catcher could have picked it up and still made the play. Bell tried to jar the ball loose but to no avail.

So, instead of bases loaded with two outs and Jimmy Rollins batting, the inning is over. But the ball is being given to Billy Wagner, one of the best closers in the game. No problem right?

Well, um, no. Seems like the Astros have their old teammate's number. He hadn't given up a run in a six weeks before Tuesday night when he gave one up in a tie game. But Wags got the first two outs pretty easily. With the crowd on its feet and the stadium feeling like playoff fever, something happened:

Mistake #2: A wicked ground ball is hit to Bell at third. He muffs it. Runner is safe at first.

Harmless though, right? I mean, we've got Wags!

Mistake #3: A ground ball to short. Ball game. But Rollins seems to take the scenic route to the ball. Safe. Infield single. Uh-oh. The Astros have yet to hit the ball out of the infield but the go-ahead run is on second.

Mistake #4: Wags throws a meatball to old buddy Craig Biggio. Who crushes it. I mean, hits the ball in a "no freakin doubt about it" way. 8-6 Astros and you know there is no way the Phillies are coming back in the bottom of the ninth. It was just too damn draining.

Interesting, the fan reaction wasn't typical Philadelphia. There was no booing. There were no screamed insults. no cursing. People were in a state of baseball shock. After the Phils went weakly in the bottom of the ninth, those remaining just filed out. There was one half-hearted "E-A-G-L-E-S" chant but no one joined in.

Instead there was just an acceptance of fact: the Phillies are done. Now they sit 2 1/2 games out of the wild card with the toughest schedule in the NL remaining. And this team hasn't shown me it can handle that.

______________________________________________________________

Some notes from a night in the ballpark:

** Do you realize that after Ryan Howard's two-run homer gave the Phils a 2-1 lead last night, it was the first time they had been ahead in a game in five days!

** Latino Family Night was a bust. There was a woman performing before the game, screaming into the microphone. Do people not realize that it is there to amplify the sound? That we do not need to scream? And doing the starting lineup in Spanish seemed odd. There were maybe 1,000 people in the stands who spoke Spanish. The rest of couldn't understand a word. And then poor Dan Baker (PA announcer) had to pretend to be happy while asking Phillies fans to join the dancers on the field for "the wolrld's largest (some kind of Latin dance)." Looking around, no one joined in. Even the between inning music was Latin. Strange night at the ball park indeed.

** I could add mistake #5 here...when Billy Wagner came in, he was not met by his usual Metallica. Instead, there was a clip from the movie "Armageddon" that could not be heard too well.

** the traffic afterwards was murder. Apparently Greenday played at the Wachovia Center last night as well. People leaving the concert were just yelling at random. Strange.

Lemonade Stand

2005-09-06T09:26:00.000-05:00

I was heartwarmed over the weekend as my 8 year old daughter and 5 year old son set up a lemonade stand outside of our house to raise money for hurricane relief. It was my daughter's idea and my son quickly jumped in.

I tried to shield them...we don't live on a busy street and people might not stop. I was worried that they would do a lot of work and get nothing in return.

I should have known that human nature is at its best in these situations. Our great neighbor across the street came over with a $20 bill for two glasses of lemonade and a Pop em (my kids' idea to add value to the stand!!). Then a random person handed them a five and told them to keep the change. That happened time and again, people we didn't know, new neighbors, old neighbors, parents of kids we knew. In two hours, we had a sizable amount of money and my kids felt good about helping those who need it. What an amazing sight it was for me, to see my kids identify a need and do something about.

That is the greatness of human beings. It's one of the things that makes me happy to be a parent.

Endy Freakin Chavez

2005-09-06T09:10:00.000-05:00

Oh the pain last night. Second and third, two outs, one run game against your closest rival in the NL Wild Card race. The moment is right for a huge hit. The Phillies send up...Endy freakin Chavez!

I began yelling loudly at my TV. It was a shocker that Jimmy Rollins responded the way he did. A big double...don't know if Matt Kata would have scored or should have been sent. None of the replays were conclusive. But, sending Endy freakin Chavez up in that situation is so ridiculous.

He looked overmatched from pitch one. He swung at a ball that BOUNCED UP THERE!!! UGGH! I only watched from the seventh inning on and not carefully for a lot of it (putting kids to bed, etc.). Was he the best we could have hoped for? I know that Michael Tucker had batted and so had Ryan Howard and Kenny Lofton. It sickens me to think that Endy freakin Chavez was the only answer we had. I would have preferred Todd Pratt...backup catcher be damned!

Gut check time tonight...need a win. I feel like I say this every week!

Phil Sheriden from the Inquirer wrote exactly what I have been thinking...this team jsut takes too many damned called third strikes!

Wasted Weekend

2005-09-04T18:14:00.000-05:00

Well, the Phils entered the weekend with high hopes and had them dashed with back-to-back losses to the Nationals. Not only did they not allow themselves to move ahead in the wild card standings, but they also kept the Nats in it.

I didn't watch much of today's game. But I did watch Saturday night and what a let down.

First off, the game was entertaining for the most part. Great comeback (what the heck got into David Bell?!?) in the ninth, a rarity among the Phillies. But then heartbreak in the 12th, a wild pitch which allows the winning run to move to second followed by the game-winning single that maybe traveled 120 feet down the right field line. That ball had eyes and the ball game was lost.

Prior to that though, the Phillies had numerous chances to win. Bases loaded three different times but they were unable to get the run in. Jimmy Rollins came up small twice, as did Bobby Abreu.

This might be the game that you look back on and say, "if only." You don't get the chance to win games against fellow contenders on the road too often. A few good hits here or there and there is no need for the 12th inning.

One more note on this: there was no story in the Inquirer this morning, at least in my home delivery edition. The game ended around 11 or so...do you think the Eagles might have made the home edition for a night game? Yeah, I think so. Bad job by the Inquirer.

Memo to Philly Gas Users: DON'T PANIC

2005-09-02T09:38:00.000-05:00

It's already started. That phone call from my mother asking me if I need gas. She says, "make sure you get it before they run out or it's $5 a gallon."

This is sheer and utter panic. There is plenty of gas in the Philadelphia area...and I don't think gas will go much above $3.25. I know that is much higher than what it was a year ago but still it is nothing compared to what others are paying. Let's relax and not make a bad situation worse.

So please let's not line up for blocks or force gas station operators to pull out shotguns or set gallon limits. Let's hang on for a week or two and let the market come back to normal. Really, it's all going to be okay.

Phillies Surprise

2005-09-02T09:32:00.000-05:00

In my mind, I had them cooked. After losing two of three to the brutal Diamondbacks and then blowing the opener against the Mets, I had the Phillies four out of the wild card by next Thursday. After all, this team hasn't exactly been the bounce back kind of organization over the past decade and with Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine going for New York, disaster loomed.

But they proved me wrong. Great win on Wednesday followed by a gutsy one on Thursday afternoon. They are still bunched tight in the race and there is no breathing room, but they have evaded one obstacle heading into a three-game series in Washington. Two of three would push Washington to the brink of oblivion in the race, I think, and give the Phils some momentum heading into the series with the Astros.

I've been reading about Ryan Howard and his need to step up. I think it has to be a joke. Howard has stepped into a very difficult situation and performed better than anyone could have anticipated. He has made it a very hard offseason for the Phillies who now have to figure out what to do with Jim Thome. Every time Howard steps up, I am confident he is going to put the ball in play.

I have been pleasantly surprised with Mike Lieberthal over the last month. It seems to have coincided with Charlie Manuel's decision to play Todd Pratt more often. Maybe that push and some days off have helped Lieberthal.

I had asked for a 7-5 road trip when it all started. Right now they are 5-4. Seems reasonable doesn't it?

Hurricane Relief

2005-09-01T09:35:00.000-05:00

A few local Philadelphia TV and radio stations are banding together to collect money. There is also a link here to donate to the Red Cross online. (here)

A ton of blogs are working together to get the word out about donating. Please give something if you can, to whichever charity you support. The Red Cross makes it so easy since you know they are trustworthy and you can do it online.

In news from New Orleans, Dan Rubin's Blinq has some dispatches from Natalie Pompilio, the Inquirer reporter who is covering the story. Some amazing stuff from right there.

Also, they have had to halt evaculations in the city because things are so out of control they can't keep the rescue workers safe. Does that make any sense, shooting at those there helping save your life? Someone will die because they were unable to get out and it will be because of some morons.

NEW...from CNN News Alert (3 p.m.) -- New Orleans hospital halts patient evacuations after coming under sniper fire, a doctor who witnessed the incident says.

This just makes so little sense. Why are people threatening medical workers who are risking their own lives to help others.

Whew!

2005-09-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

Great win by the Phillies last night. What's even more exciting then the lead in the Wild Card and beating Pedro is the fact that the excitement is coming from Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. These guys are poised and could care less about the situation. Utley is about as good as any I have seen with it comes to focus. He also is the most disciplined hitter on the team in my opinion.

Today would be huge. Taking two of three is always my goal in every series but in September (heck, meaningful baseball talk in September!!!) it is vital, especially against teams that are in the hunt like the Mets, Nats and Stros.

I also thought Brett Myers battled last night. Gave us some early runs and there must have been pressure to hold the fort against a pitcher like Pedro. He did his job well and the offense kicked it into high gear for him. Awesome!