madson to dl

Todd Zolecki of mlb.com reports that Ryan Madson has been put on the DL with a broken toe. Antonio Bastardo has been recalled to take his place. Not the news I wanted to hear as I head for tonight's game in Philadelphia. Is it going to be that kind of year?

rachel carson homestead

The house where Rachel Carson was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania.

The only thing in the house that belonged to Carson or her family is this red coral, collected by Carson as a marine biologist.

As Iris, who gave me a tour of the house, said, this photo of the young Carson captures her determination and her independent spirit.

When I left Pittsburgh early this month, I swung by the Rachel Carson homestead in Springdale, about a 30-minute drive from the city. Rachel Carson, famous marine biologist and nature writer, was born here in 1907, on what was then a 65-acre farm. The house, which sits on hillside, is now in the middle of a residential neighborhood, perhaps the kind of place that Carson's father envisaged when he bought the land for development. Now you can just see the Allegheny River over the rooftops sprawling below. Then it must have been a wonderful place for an imaginative young girl with a bent for nature to live and to explore.

The house is decorated with period furniture and items but the only thing that actually belonged to Carson or her family is a framed piece of red coral collected by the marine biologist. Small and simple, the house is lovely to visit and I thoroughly enjoyed my informative one-on-one tour. If I had the chance, I would go again.

It's been dismaying, however, to discover how many people do not know who Rachel Carson is and have not heard of Silent Spring, her 1962 book which examined the disastrous effects of DDT and other pesticides on nature and on humans. The book inspired an early worldwide environmental movement that eventually led here to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. I was stunned to learn that the people who run my local health food store had never heard of her, then to get the same blank look from an editor in New York.

lidge activated

The Phillies have activated Brad Lidge for tomorrow night's game. To make space on the roster, lefty Antonio Bastardo was assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. How Lidge will be used is a question. I notice that J.C. Romero is being eased back into the 'pen with sparing work since his activation.

Pitching decisions loom. Who goes when Blanton returns? Who, when Happ is back? (Is he back?) Kendrick and Figueroa are logical candidates. Kendrick has options; Figueroa does not, which means he would have to clear waivers (unlikely) to remain with the Phillies. Or will it spell the return of Rule 5 David Herndon to the Angels?

gimme a break and i'll take it

Cole Hamels pitched pretty well yesterday but Tim Lincecum was better, albeit somewhat aided by a jumpy Phillies' line-up. Hamels struck out 10, but left after the 6th, having given up four runs. Lincecum struck out 11; the only run he gave up was an oppo to Howard. Walking Shane Victorino, though, with one out in the 9th was cause for manager Bruce Bochy to pull the plug on Timmy. In came closer Brian Wilson, a guy who seriously needs a new hair-do. With two outs and the bases loaded, "who else but" Jayson Werth had a tremendous at-bat, running the count full and fouling off pitches before hitting a double down the right field line. Well, actually just on the line. Three runs scored and the game was, improbably, tied.

When Rule 5 guy David Herndon came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th, I confess that, much as I like Herndon, I had little faith. But Herndon got out of the inning, giving up just one hit. In the 10th, the Phillies too had one hit but Brian Schneider, part of a double switch, scored the go-ahead run on a two-out passed ball/wild pitch.

When the camera panned to Ryan Madson warming up in the bullpen, screaming symmetry reared its awful head. This nine-game road trip had, after all, started with a Madson blown save that ended in a loss to the Braves. And yes, soon enough the Giants had tied the game at five, but Madson did hold them to just that.

On to the 11th and some more two-out magic. Down to that last out, Wilson Valdez (the old double-switch factor again) stung a ball to the wall in left. Though outfielder Eugenio Velez made a valiant running effort, it went for an RBI double. Then Shane Victorino lifted a soft fly to left. This time Velez nonchalanted it--and the ball glanced off his glove. If you were a Phillies' fan, you could hear Jamie Moyer leading the chorus: two hands, two hands! Anyway, Victorino scored on the error to make it 7-5.

More drama came in the bottom of the frame, when journeyman starter Nelson Figueroa came in to close. Gulp. Figueroa gave up one RBI. Juan Uribe was then thrown out at the plate on a tremendous defensive play by Brian Schneider, who snagged a high throw by Howard, wheeled, fell stretched out to home, and just covered the plate with his glove. Uribe slid into home, hitting the glove, with ball, before the plate. Out! Schierholtz, at 2nd, inexplicably did not advance on the play. But Figueroa got Velez to ground out to Utley to end it and the Phillies won a much-needed game 7-6.

If you were at the park yesterday, you got two for the price of one. The first eight innings were well-pitched and sped by in two hours. The next three were a day at the circus, with all kinds of weird things going on. Consider that the Phillies had three unlikely heroes, all bench guys: Schneider, Valdez, and Figueroa. If not for the injuries to Rollins and Happ, Valdez and Figueroa would not even be on the team.

Chase Utley had his 1000th hit, a single in the 9th. Congratulations to the guy who is the best.

blanton ready?

The promotion at the other night's game in Reading included this photo of former prospect Michael Taylor, now with the A's. Taylor was fun to watch and I hope he gets a chance to prosper in Oakland.

Joe Blanton gave up two homers to the tune of five runs in his final (we hope) rehab stint of the season last night in Reading. Afterwards, Blanton was predictably unfazed by the runs surrendered, focusing instead on how he was able to use his pitches and how that oblique that put him on the DL was doing. Just fine, he said, for both. He also sounded very done with rehab. This is the first time he's been on the injured list and the guy is absolutely pining to be back with his team.

If Blanton returns next week, the Phillies will be minus one starter, not the current two. Cross fingers that Happ too gets back and the starting rotation starts functioning as a working unit. That should give the bullpen some, ahem, relief, but Brad Lidge, likely back this weekend, has still got to show he's got his 'lights out' stuff.

Jimmy Rollins is not expected back till mid-May (ouch!) at the earliest. Meanwhile, Placido Polanco, showing lingering effects of the hit he took to his elbow last week in Atlanta, got drilled in the foot yesterday. Like the elbow, it must have hurt like hell.

phils fall from first

It was another punchless outing by the offense last night, this time against Todd Wellemeyer, winless since July 2009. Wellemeyer and the Giants dropped the Phillies from first in the NL East for the first time in 135 games. They are now a scant two games about .500 and not looking good. Outplayed all around sums it up.

After last night's game in Reading, Brad Lidge talked about being ready to join the big club Friday in Philadelphia. Joe Blanton goes tonight in Reading for what should be his final rehab stint. Jimmy Rollins is still a couple of weeks away. No word on J.A. Happ.

Meanwhile, Jayson Werth's agent said that any talks with the Phillies were at an impasse and Werth himself opined that it was in no one's interest to talk contract till the end of the year. Sounds like a sayonara season for Jayson. No wonder he is all caveman hunky this season. Chances are next year he'll be playing for the clean-shaven team in the Bronx.

strasburg in reading

Phenom Stephen Strasburg threw a no-hitter for five and looked good doing it.

Hordes of schoolkids and their parents leave the field after a pregame session in the outfield with some of the Reading Phillies players.

It was Stephen Strasburg night in Reading last night. Only 4,000 or so fans braved the cold (game time temperature of 53 degrees with winds blowing in the teens) but there was a ton of media representation. It was a good game, with both Strasburg and R-Phils' starter Mike Cisco working quickly. Both went five innings. Strasburg hovered in the mid-90's, Cisco around 90. The Senators scored on a lucky Strasburg single in the 5th, one of only two hits Cisco allowed. Strasburg, who's got a nice pitcher's body, allowed none. He made it look effortless. If he's not with the Nats by June, I'll be shocked.

The highly-touted Drew Storen came on in relief for the 6th and 7th, while the rehabbing Brad Lidge appeared for the R-Phils. It was a doubleheader and both games were a regulation seven innings. Lidge looked good, though he barely touched 90. Brad Lidge has wonderful mound conposure.

I was going to stay for the doubleheader but by the time the second game started the temperature was 43. And the wind was still blowing. Bless the hearty souls who lingered. I had an hour's drive home.

cheers for phillippe aumont

RHP Phillippe Aumont of the Reading Phillies has been named Eastern League pitcher of the week. Aumont went 1-1 in two outings. He threw 11 innings, struck out nine, and had an ERA of 0.82.

an artist in beijing

Xiang Yang sent this photo of himself in his spiffy new studio in Beijing. He's there for an exhibition to be held in July.

cutting numbers

Roy Halladay went into last night's game in San Francisco with an 0-1 record and 7.75 ERA in two career starts vs. the Giants. A small sample to be sure but the numbers held up in a 5-1 loss to the light-hitting Giants. Halladay left after seven innings to the delight of the sparse crowd. I am again unimpressed by the San Francisco fans. Like the Braves' fans last week, they pretty much could not be bothered to show up for a good pitching match-up.

The Phillies started this current road trip in a batting slump and they continue it in a slump.

big extension for mr. big

Ryan Howard signed a five-year contract extension today with the Phillies, with a club option for 2017. The six-year deal guarantees Howard $125 million; the club option, if exercised, would bring it to $138 million. Since becoming an everyday player in July 2005, Howard, the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, and 2006 NL MVP, has lead the majors in home runs, with 222, and RBI, with 650. He is one of just four players in baseball history to have four consecutive 40 HR/130 RBI seasons. The others: Babe Ruth, who did it seven seasons, and Ken Griffey, Jr., and Sammy Sosa, who each did it four seasons. Howard, now 30, is also the fastest player to reach 225 home runs.

Two years ago, after winning the World Series, Howard shed pounds and spent the offseason working on his defense. Last year, after the World Series, he shed pounds and spent time working with Barry Bonds on his hitting. But even more than that, there's "Get me to the plate, boys!" That's what Howard said as he charged up and down the dugout in that tremendous come-back game in the NLDS in Colorado last year. They did and he produced. As Cliff Lee marveled after that game, "I've never heard anybody say something like that."

Congratulations to Ryan Howard and to the Phillies. This is a win-win. I hope all of the homegrown guys--and Werth and Victorino--are here to stay.

aumont tames squirrels, snakes bite phillies

The ootton candy guy is always busy at First Energy Stadium, because there are always lots and lots of children in the park. Same could be said for Coca-Cola Park in Allentown and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

In Reading yesteday afternoon righty Phillippe Aumont overpowered the Richmond Flying Squirrels with a steady diet of fastballs. Aumont went six strong innings, giving up two walks and striking out four. He allowed no runs. Chance Chapman and Michael Schwimer finished the 2-0 shutout. Chapman allowed the only hit that Richmond had all game. Aumont looks like a wreck out on the mound but yesterday he also looked aggressive and in control.

In Phoenix, Kyle Kendrick did the dive in five, giving up hits and homers to give the D'backs a 5-3 lead. They later lost it briefly but came back again in the 7th on Joan, I mean, Danys Baez. David Herndon proved in the eighth that he can be hit around with the best of them in the 8-6 Arizona win. That means the Phillies lost two of three in games started by Kris Benson, Ian Kennedy, and Rodrigo Lopez--not to mention the awful Arizona bullpen. On to San Francisco, where the pitching gets tougher. I miss Roy Halladay tonight but maybe it's just as well I couldn't make the San Francisco trip this year.

a good, good night

I prefer Yuengling but this stand at the Reading park looks good.

Nelson Figueroa, last night's starter, didn't figure in the decision but he gave the Phillies all they could wish for, with five solid innings of work in a spot start for the ailing J.A. Happ. He made just one mistake, resulting in a two-run homer by Kelly Johnson that put the D'backs up 2-1. The Phillies bullpen pitched four scoreless. Raul Ibanez tied the game with a solo homer and Jayson Werth, who is looking almost alarmingly attractive, put the Phillies up in the 9th with a transcendent solo shot. Werth had given them a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the 2nd. He also made two defensive gems: a catch and a throw-out for a double play assist.

The Phillies won 3-2. So did the Reading Phillies, while the IronPigs chimed in with a 6-2 victory.

I was in San Francisco last July for the Phillies at the Giants. I was in the Denver airport when I heard the news that the Phillies, playing that night in Arizona, had acquired Cliff Lee, then saw Lee's debut days a couple of days later in SF. The Phillies won that game but played the rest of the four-game series in a daze. A win today would make me feel more sanguine about this current NL West swing, but the offense has got to start showing up again. Today's pitchers: Rodrigo (of the thick, sexy hair) Lopez vs. Kyle Kendrick.

coincidences

Joe Blanton ended up laying down a perfect bunt. It's interesting to see how well some of the pitchers who have come over from the AL have taken to other aspects of the game. Blanton, despite his World Series heroics, isn't much of a hitter but he is usually a good bunter. Cliff Lee took to hitting like a natural. Roy Halladay is obviously working on his game.

Funny coincidence: While Brad Lidge was pitching Friday night, a message flashed several times on the video board behind him. A car with New Jersey plates had its lights on; the number was given with a request for the driver to report to the car. It turned out to belong to "Lights On" Lidge. Luckily, one of the clubhouse guys thought that it might be the case, went to check, and took care of the problem.

Even more bizarre is this one, from last night's game in Phoenix. Starter Nelson Figueroa lives there in the offseason and volunteers there at his kids' school. Last year he had volunteered to send a class from that school to a Diamondbacks game on April 24. At the time the plan was made, Figueroa was not with the Phillies. But last night, with all the kids in attendance, he happened to start the game for the Phillies, filling in for the injured J.A. Happ. On Friday morning, after the team arrived in Phoenix, Figgy was at the school doing a volunteer stint.

A lot more,though, has been made of this coincidence: In their first four starts with the Phillies, both Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee had 4-0 records, 0.82 ERA's, and pitched 33 innings. But in the end, it's just a coincidence.

blanton and the flying squirrels

Joe Blanton was on a rehab assignment in Reading last night. So was Brad Lidge. Both did OK but both looked still to be a tick or more away from a return to the majors. But what would I know?

The Reading Phillies were hosting the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the new double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants and there were lots of cheers in the crowd for the visiting team. I was seated next to a nest of Giants' fans but the real reason for the cheers, it turned out, was Squirrels pitcher Craig Clark, who grew up near Reading. The R-Phils took a 1-0 lead on a Domonic Brown home run to deep right but Drew Naylor, who took over for Blanton and Lidge, started handing out home runs. When I left, the Squirrels were up 5-2.

I listened to the start of the Phillies game in Arizona on the way back, then watched some on TV. Cole Hamels was sharp through three. Then came the fatal fourth and three home runs, followed by another in the 5th. Yikes! The Phillies looked jetlagged in the 7-4 loss. I rather felt that way myself.

the girl with the dragon tattoo

It's getting closer. I saw this cinema marquee in Jenkintown yesterday, on the way to Philadelphia. I'm sure the movie will not be as good as the book but I can hardly wait to see it.

moyer gets it done again

Jamie Moyer held the Braves to four hits and two unearned runs in six innings last night, as the Phillies won the game 8-3 and took the series in convincing fashion. Phillies' starters allowed just two unearned runs in 23 innings in the three-game set. Since Sunday, they have allowed two earned runs and thrown, respectively, eight, eight, nine, and six innings. I love this team.

Gregg Dobbs played in place of Placido Polanco, nursing a bruised elbow. J.A. Happ, placed on the 15-day DL with elbow inflammation, was sounding upbeat. J.C. Romero was at long last activated from the DL but did not appear in the game. The funniest moment of the broadcast was when Romero was shown sitting hatless in the bullpen. Said Sarge Matthews, "He must have a new hair cut. Guys like to show them off."

Jesse Chavez, a hard-throwing reliever for the Braves, is fun to watch. He looks wired. Again, I do hope that the Phillies work out a way to keep David Herndon, another kid it's easy to root for, around.

It was deja-vu all over again at Coca-Cola Park, with Brandon Duckworth doing a creditable job in his first start of the year. Brad Lidge also looked good in his rehab stint.

The NHL playoffs have so far been fab.

design in motion down broad street

Ten new recycling trucks debuted today in Philadelphia, part of a fabulous collaboration involving the Philadelphia Mural Arts program, the Philadelphia Streets Department Recycling Office, and the Design Center at Philadelphia University. Called Design in Motion, the citywide public art program makes use of designs inspired by the textile collection of the Design Center to create vinyl wraps for the city's fleet of recycling trucks. Ten trucks debuted last year; another ten join them this year. Today, Earth Day, the new trucks rolled down Broad Street from Temple University, on their way to Love Park and an Earth Day celebration. I took these photos just south of Temple University.

a complete game

It was a complete game for Roy Halladay and for the Phillies last night. Halladay was superb, but the Phillies' defense was maybe even better, with Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Juan Castro, and even sub Wilson Valdez chipping in with some outstanding plays. Werth and Ibanez provided RBI doubles in the 2-0 win. Halladay threw 113 pitches in what was an all-around complete game.

With a pitching match-up featuring Halladay vs. Hudson, you would think that Braves' fans would be out in droves. But no, there were only 21,000 plus on a night of mild temperatures.

Placido Polanco, hit in the elbow by a Hudson pitch, had to leave the game and was replace by Wilson Valdez. X-rays were, mercifully, negative. Enough already with the injuries.

take it easy

Enjoying the game, the weather, the brew and the company.

When I heard last night that Kyle Kendrick had thrown eight innings of four-hit ball, left the game with a 3-0 lead, and yet the Phillies lost 4-3 in 10 innings, I almost laughed. Oh sure, the kneejerk reaction to hearing that Ryan Madson had blown the save in the ninth and Jose "On-Again-Off-Again" Contreras had lost it is to go off the deepend over the bullpen. Yes, that was me screaming in the night.

What almost made me laugh, though, was a conversation I had on Monday with a friend who had been up in Boston over the weekend to watch their kid play college baseball. He had not had a good weekend and was ready to jump off a bridge. His mom dryly pointed out he had been playing baseball long enough to know that these things happen. One bad weekend, one blown save do not a season make. Nor are they an indication of true ability.

But two wasted pitching gems in a row are hard to take.

grand sichuan eastern

I was in New York for a working lunch with an editor but it almost got derailed. He took me to a fairly new Sichuan restaurant on Second Avenue, not far from his office, called Grand Sichuan Eastern. It's always iffy judging a restaurant on one visit but yesterday the Grand Sichuan was very good. The first hint was the number of Chinese-speaking patrons all around us. Looking at what was on their tables got me giddy. That's my excuse for getting carried away and ordering vegetable dumplings, eggplant with garlic, and sauteed sliced lotus root. The editor, who could not do without meat, added a chicken dish to that. He ate that and we shared the rest.

The vegetable dumplings were delicious, packed with greens and steamed just right. The eggplant garlic is an old friend and I was delighted with it. The editor too enjoyed the contrast of the spicy garlicky sauce and natural sweetness of the eggplant. I also loved the lotus root, one of my favorite vegetables and, needless to say, one I don't get a lot of in rural Pennsylvania. It was new to the editor but he quickly appreciated its characteristic crunchiness, subtly flavored with ginger. We both had brown rice to go with the meal. It still blows my mind that many restaurants offer a choice of brown or white rice.

I loved Grand Sichuan Eastern, a small restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, which is to say it's the kind of place where the food not ambiance matters. The food was very good and the service was good and quick. Our server did her job with good humor. I got a take-out menu to study for my next trip to New York.

sounds of baseball

A homage to Placido Polanco, whose nickname of course is Polly.

Three boys and their dad were behind me at the IronPigs game Monday night. The boys were maybe seven to 10 years old and were all having a good time. At one point, one called across his brothers, "Dad, what do you think of the game?" "Good," said the dad. "It's a good game." Replied the son, "I think so, too. And the stadium is great!"

It was a good close game, which the 'Pigs should have won. But when it comes to playing the Syracuse Chiefs, they seem snakebit. The Chiefs scored their first run on a double play that was unaccountably not turned, then scored again later thanks to some walks and an error. The 'Pigs had the early lead but in the end lost 3-2.

On Sunday Vin Scully, the venerable Dodgers broadcaster, celebrated his 60th anniversary in baseball. Scully broke in on April 18, 1950, in a 9-1 Dodgers' loss in Philadelphia to Robin Roberts and the Phillies. Thanks to MLBN, I again had a chance this spring to hear all kinds of broadcasters from around major league teams. Scully remains the standard. He's like a rocking chair, just rocking along at his own pace, never hurrying the game but never behind. Amazing for a guy in his 80's, he does all of his broadcasts--all nine innings--solo.

old friends

Old friend Eric Bruntlett was in the line-up for the Syracuse Chiefs, batting just in front of Kevin Mench, who had a three-run homer. Here he is at bat. It was a quick game on a cool day of scudding clouds, brisk winds, and warming sun. It was also dog day at the park and there were about 350 canines out on the berm with their humans. Too bad that the 'Pigs lost 3-1. Worse yet, the Phillies lost 2-0 behind a stellar game from Cole Hamels.

nolasco stifles phils

Two moms and their kids were in front of me at Thursday's game. It's hard to remember that the sun was beating fiercely down on us all, as daytime temperatures have dipped 20 degrees. Last night it was hoodies and blankets all around. More of the same today.

Jamie Moyer gave up three singles, a walk, and a three-run homer in the first to give the Marlins a 5-0 lead. That was just about all she wrote, as Marlins' starter Ricky Nolasco kept the Phillies' offense off-balance all night. Only a Jayson Werth solo home run in the 9th spolied Nolasco's night. It was a mercifully fast game, unlike the ragged, protracted affair that was going on in St. Louis. Meanwhile, down in Atlanta, Ubaldo Jimenez overcame six walks to pitch the first no-hitter in Rockies' history. The Rox beat the Braves 4-0. And the IronPigs rolled over the Syracuse Chiefs 8-1. By the time that game ended, the cold had driven most fans into the night.

halladay shines in the rain

There were lots of Halladay jerseys in the crowd on Thursday. The man in front of me was wearing this one, a birthday present, he said. Last night's game, Halladay's home debut, must have seen even more Halladay shirts. And the ace did not disappoint, going eight sparkling innings despite a more or less steady rainfall. He left after the 8th with the score 8-2; the Phillies' offense too did not disappoint. Placido Polanco and Chase Utley continued on their early-season tears; both homered last night. And Juan Castro had three RBI, including a sac fly, in the game. That makes six for Castro since taking the place of the injured Jimmy Rollins.

Because of the long delay after the 8th for the grounds crew to deal with the soggy conditions, Halladay came out of the game. David Herndon came in for the three last outs and promptly fell victim to what plagued the bullpen the day before. Well, not quite, as Herndon, whose sinker was not sinking, kept giving up little hits here and there. Pretty soon the Marlins had put three on the board, with men on board. Ryan Madson had to come in to finish things off for the 8-6 win.

I cannot wait to see Halladay pitch in person and do wish I had not had to bail on the San Francisco trip next week. I also look forward to seeing how Herndon rebounds from his bit of adversity.

J.C. Romero pitched the first inning of the IronPigs game and looked good. The game was washed out in the second.

stars, rings, airmen, and apolo ohno

There were lots of commemorative tributes yesterday on Jackie Robinson Day, held each April 15 in Major League baseball. A contingent of local Tuskegee airmen, all standing tall, were on hand. Four of the last living members of the Negro League Philadelphia Stars were on hand, all of them looking frail and in wheelchairs. Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco, and Milt Thompson presented them with Phillies cream-colored day-game jerseys with #42 on them. Both the Phillies and the Nationals wore only the #42 on their jerseys.

Before the game, too, members of the 2009 team received their NL championship rings. That reminds me of a comment I read somewhere online by Ruben Amaro, Jr. He was speaking at some local function and was asked where his World Series ring was. "I'm in the market for a new one," or some such, was his answer.

The Phanatic had a ring ceremony all his own. It took place while he was dancing on the dugout during the 7th inning stretch. He was joined by Apolo Ohno, looking happy and relaxed, who presented him with a ring. No idea why Ohno was at the game, but it was cool.

It was great, simply great, to be back at the only ballpark that matters. Too bad that J.A. Happ continued the five-and-dive ways of all starters not named Halladay. (Oops, forgot Moyer.) Happ walked six but, despite his lack of sharpness, limited the damage to one run. The bullpen, with the exception of Contreras, who blazed through his 6th-inning stint, let things get out of hand. With a 4-1 lead, Bastardo gave up a run in the 7th; Danys Baez, who was pitching like Joan, gave up three, including a solo homer and two-run shot, in the 8th; and Madson allowed two more in the 9th. The Phillies got a run back in the bottom of the 9th on a Victorino homer and threatened for more but ended up losing 7-5.

Offense can do only so much. Calling all pitchers: Please step it up. A shift in the rotation has Halladay starting tonight, on usual rest, against the Marlins. I wish Hamels were going tomorrow on his usual rest.

opening night at coca-cola park

West Point parachutists leave the field last night before the home opener at Coca-Cola Park. Four of them parachuted into the park; one landed in the parking lot.

A sell-out crowd was on hand for the IronPigs' home opener on a blanket kind of night at Coca-Cola Park. As the team introductions wound down, my thought was, no pitching, no prospects. Despite that, the 'Pigs may this year be competitive. Early times, but they are again off to a rocky start. And they lost last night 5-2 to the Red Wings, a speedy Twins' affiliate.

When I first saw the score in Philadelphia, it was 3-0 Nats in the top of the 1st. Next thought was that Kyle Kendrick would fit right back in Triple-A, pitching as he has done so far with the big team. He is a perfect illustration of why spring training stats matter not a whit. By the second inning the Philly score was 7-6 Phillies. Whoa! I got home in time to see it go to 14-7. David Herndon again looked good in relief, albeit with a plump cushion to lean on. So far the starting pitching has been the weak link.

bummer: rollins to dl

Jimmy Rollins has been put on the 15-day DL with a calf strain. He is eligible to come off on April 28, in San Francisco, but may well be out longer. Rollins was off to a hot start, batting .391, taking walks, and scoring eight runs in the first week of play. Veteran infielder Wilson Valdez has been called up from Triple-A to be a back-up to Juan Castro, who will be filling in for Rollins. What a bummer. Jimmy is always missed when he is not in the line-up. Victorino will hit lead-off in the interim.

pop-ups (and pops) to love!

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best ballpark graphics I have seen anywhere, but this year's pregame history of the Pirates may have topped them all. It was done in the form of a pop-up book. Pages flipped on the screen, then slowly stopped as a pop-up came up. The one at top shows the 1971 sail to the world championship, while the one at bottom features the 1970's We Are Family Pirates of Willie "Pops" Stargell and the boys. An imaginative concept executed perfectly! It made up just a tiny bit for my missing the James Turrell light display, unaccountably gone from the night skyline.

halladay nl player of the week

Roy Halladay named NL player of the week for going 2-0, with an 0.56 ERA and 0.983 WHIP, 17 strikeouts and two walks.

After all the agony of serial one-run walk-off losses (yes, there was one win in there), the IronPigs beat the PawSox this afternoon 12-0. Tomorrow is the home opener.

baseball coming and going

A painted mule at the old Lackawanna County Stadium celebrates the Red Barons, the now defunct Triple-A team of the Phillies. The mule was one of many in the Miles of Mules project to commemorate the role of the animals in the industrial development of Pennsylvania. The stadium was pretty tacky (still is) but it was also a fun place to watch baseball in the days of the Red Barons, particularly the battles that used to rage between them and the Buffalo Bisons, then a Cleveland Indians' affiliate.

the boys are back in town

Blue skies, green grass, and a sea of red--all on a day of sparkling sunshine. I had to watch the pregame and first inning on TV just to bring it all back, though today's cool, wet, and grey weather is just as typical of home openers in memory. Hey, I'll take either one.

Cole Hamels is still finding his way, as, quite frankly, all starters not named Roy seem to be doing. And even Halladay does not look quite as sharp as expected; on the other hand, his results are sensational. What people forget about the Nats is that they can hit. See: Josh Willingham and Cristian Guzman. (Ryan Zimmerman was out with a hammy yesterday.) I figured that, coming off a series win in NY, the Nats would be fired up. And they were, taking a 4-0 lead in the 4th. But the Phillies came back, getting two in the bottom of the 4th, then five more in the 5th. Hamels didn't quite make it through the 6th, but the bullpen came in and did a shutdown job. The bullpen average so far? 1.33 ERA.

Placido Polanco again sparked the offense. Ryan Howard had an RBI single to the opposite field and Chase Utley a two-run homer to cap off the Phillies' offense.

The bad news in all this is that Jimmy Rollins came down with a calf strain minutes before the game and may very well be headed to the DL. Juan Castro took his place. I keep hearing about this guy's soft hands but keep seeing him commit errors, as he did again yesterday. He did, however, have a crucial double in the comeback. Jayson Werth disappeared in the 5th, leaving the game with a hip injury. Yikes.

welcome back, davey lopes

Famed basestealer Cool Papa Bell is one of my favorites. I was thrilled to see a stature honoring him at PNC Park.

It's Opening Day in Philadelphia and first base coach Davey Lopes, out last week because of the tragic loss of his brother in a fire, will be with the team for the first time this season. Condolences to Mr. Lopes and his family, but it will be good to see him back in the coach's box. It's time for the running game to get started. No doubt about it, Davey Lopes, a famed base swiper in his own right, makes it go.

roy v. roy

It was Roy day at the ball park in Houston, with Roy Halladay outlasting Roy Oswalt of the Astros for the 150th win of his career and his 50th complete game. The Phillies' streak of five consecutive games with 10+ hits per game came to an end in the 2-1 win. Jimmy Rollins led off with a solo homer in the 1st. Another run was scratched across in the second, and that was pretty much the end of the offense. Officially it was dog day at the park, but the pooches present seemed bored by the home team. Oswalt has been a tough-luck loser so far, facing Tim Lincecum in his first outing and Halladay today.

The Reading Phillies made it three in a row behind a good performance by lefty Yohan Flande, while the IronPigs avoided sure insanity by finally winning one of these crazy back-and-forth games with the Syracuse Chiefs. Credit Scott Mathieson with a two-inning save.

a nod to the negro leagues

A statue of Josh Gibson at bat greets fans at the left field gate of PNC Park.

Oscar Charleston heads a line of Negro League player statues.

PNC Park offers a unique tribute to the rich history of the Negro Leagues in Pittsburgh. Statues of Negro League greats Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, Smokey Joe Williams, and Buck Leonard are installed inside the left field gate. All played for either the local Homestead Grays or Pittsburgh Crawfords. Each life-size bronze statue has an interactive kiosk that allows fans to trace the history of the players, teams, and leagues. By the time I finished taking pictures of each statue (Satchel Paige, so long and lean, Judy Johnson, like a jockey), I had no time to go interactive. That was OK, though. The statues are marvelous.

turn back the clock with jamie moyer

It was Turn Back the Clock Night in Houston last night, with Jamie Moyer on the mound against the Astros. Now the oldest player in the majors, Moyer became the eighth player in baseball history to start a game in four different decades. He looked sharp early, then ran into a buzz saw in the third, giving up five runs and putting the Astros ahead 5-4. Ryan Howard changed that with another mammoth two-run homer; Shane Victorino also chimed in with a two-run shot. Placido Polanco continued to be hot, hot, hot in the 9-6 win.

Moyer got the win despite looking quite mortal. On the other hand, he went six innings. Only he and Roy Halladay, among the starters, have gone more than five this first week.

Both teams wore throwback unis from 1965, but in polyester not wool. The Astro unis looked a bit flimsy but I liked the cut of the Phillies' road greys. (They had been somewhat slimmed down to conform to contemporary style.) I was also surprised that I really liked not seeing the names on the back of the uniforms.

In the minors, Reading made it two in a row, with a 4-1 win over Portland. And the IronPigs lost their third straight to start the year. All three have been walk-off losses, yesterday's in 12 innings. Unbelievable.

reading starts at home

Just before first pitch on opening night in Reading on Thursday.

On my way back from Pittsburgh on Thursday, I stopped by Reading for Opening Night at First Energy Stadium. Vance Worley, on the mound above, was not sharp from the get-go and the Reading Phillies' hitters were missing more than not. The Portland Sea Dogs, on the other hand, kept getting on base, running wild, and scoring. When it started raining, most in the crowd of 7,000+ melted into the warm night. Few were around for the dispiriting 10-5 final.

Last night I saw some of game 2 on TV. It was the first start for Philippe Aumont, who, like Worley, was out-of-sorts from the start. The Sea Dog pitcher was getting by on guile. When the R-Phils took a 3-1 lead, sure enough Aumont walked the first guy he saw and within minutes the Sea Dogs had tied things up. Back and forth it went. Not a pretty game but in the end, on a mufflers-and-mittens evening, the Reading Phillies prevailed 7-5.

Both nights featured tight, if not erratic, strike zones from the umpires.

phillies rock in houston

What impressed me the most in the Phillies' crushing 8-0 win over the Astros last night: Placido Polanco and David Herndon. Whether Polanco hitting in the two-hole is the sole reason for this awesome balance in the hitting line-up is debatable, but he does do his job extremely well. And with Jimmy Rollins suddenly taking walks as well as getting hits, that usually means at least one guy is on base for the big guns. The other thing about Polanco: He looks as if he had never left. Makes you think about what could have been had he been a part of the team last year.

I've now seen David Herndon, the Rule 5 sinker baller from the Angels, twice in games. Granted they were not close ones, but the guy looks good. He works out of trouble and looks to be making the best of his opportunity in the majors. It's good to see.

Also good to see, forceful signs from Raul Ibanez, who hit the ball well last night. OK, everybody--but Victorino--hit last night, but Ibanez last night looked like his real self.

It's not likely that the Phillies will continue to get 10+ hits in every game, but boy this line-up is fun to watch. They are indeed 'gonna hit'.

dodgers at pirates

Andre Ethier, the choir boy with the killer instinct, signed autographs after his warm-up exercises Wednesday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Under watchful eyes, Dodger starter Clayton Kershaw walks toward the bullpen after doing pregame stretches.

Pirate starter Ross Ohlendorf was all eyes, like all of the Pirates in the line-up that night.

So my first game of the year took place Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. It was the Dodgers and Pirates in a dozy kind of game that featured 12 (and maybe counting) walks. Clayton Kershaw, the Dodger young lefty touted as the second coming of Sandy Koufax, issued six and after throwing almost 110 pitches was gone in the 5th. Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates was more economical but was in slo-mo mode most of the night. The Buccos got off to a first-inning lead, thanks to a three-run homer by Garrett Atkins, who then rested the rest of the game. The Dodgers eventually tied it and had chances to take a lead late. But it was the Pirates, in the bottom of the 10th, who prevailed for a 4-3 win.

The weather for this time of year was gorgeous and the ballpark was, for Pittsburgh, jumping. The weather helped but in fact it was 'buck night', with bleacher seats going for a dollar and nachos, sodas, etc., the same. Despite the drawn-out play--the guy behind pointed out in the 6th inning that all other East Coast games were already in the 8th--lots of people stayed through the 9th. It was refreshing to feel a good vibe in a ballpark that deserves better than it has seen since its opening.

Fans were definitely into the game, but I was nonplussed to learn that the guy to my right, a Pittsburgh native, was a Marlin fan and the father and son to my left, also locals, were diehard Yankee fans. Are you kidding me?

happy halladay

Roy Halladay got the start on Opening Day in Washington, D.C., against John Lannan and the Nationals. Doc allowed one run in the first and nothing after that. The Phillies got on the board in the 4th, with a breathtaking two-run homer by Mr. Big. It flew up and out, into the second deck.

All of the starters, including Halladay, had at least one hit. Rollins had a lead-off single, walked twice, and tripled once; Ruiz walked three times; Halladay got an RBI on a swinging bunt hit; Polanco had his first homer of the year, a grand slam, and a career-high six RBI. Halladay, who went seven, struck out nine, induced two double plays, and left with an 11-1 lead. He smiled in the dugout. We smiled, too.

Antonio Bastardo started the 8th, and got two outs but allowed two to reach; Danys Baez got the final out on two pitches. Rule Five guy David Herndon made his major league debut in the 9th. Congratulations, rookie! He too gave up a couple of hits but ended the game without allowing a run. And the Phillies won their first opening day game in five years.

On the 100th anniversary of the presidential first pitch, Barack Obama did the honors, wearing a Nationals jacket to take the mound, where he then put on his White Sox cap. His throw sailed high and wide but receiver Ryan Zimmerman flashed his Gold Glove form to pull it in. The weather was gorgeous and the sell-out crowd a sea of red.

The Phillies looked as if they were picking up where they left off last year. The two "new" guys, Halladay and Polanco, shone. Watching Halladay pitch is a definite learning experience.

april 4, 2010

A young fan poses in front of a vintage sign at Fenway Park.

Today is Easter Sunday. It's also the 42nd anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. And tonight the 2010 baseball season gets its start with a game between the Yankees and the Red Sox, in Boston. Last year I went to the Sunday night game that opened the season, between the Phillies and Braves, in Philadelphia. I remember that it felt strange for the first game of the season to start at 8:00p.m., but that's what ESPN dictates. We all got 2008 banners and the Phillies lost, as they often do on opening day. What I remember the most is feeling cheated the next day, the real Opening Day.

baseball kids

Another image from another forgotten game.

Amazingly, this is pretty much what Citizens Bank Park looked like this afternoon for the final exhibition game of the spring, between the Pirates and the Phillies. The Phillies won 4-3. All of the regulars looked pretty sharp, both in play and in their unis. So wonderful, I must say, to see these guys back again in red, in the best ballpark on the East Coast.

Credit the Pirates for the very cool gesture of bringing Michael Dubee, son of Phillies' pitching coach Rich Dubee and former Phillies prospect, with bringing the younger Dubee along on the trip and putting him in the game. He pitched a scoreless eighth, in front of a proud papa.

Michael Stutes, whom I last saw running out of gas in the playoffs in Reading, pitched the 9th. He allowed a run and some runners but did not look all that bad. If his future is in the bullpen, he may have something.

roy halladay and sandy koufax, too

Another b&w photo, this one from a pregame ceremony on a long-forgotten day at the ballpark.

What I learned from Roy Halladay's press conference at Citizens Bank Park yesterday: He's now got a change-up to go with all of his other pitches and that his season goals sound disarmingly modest (stay in each game for as long as possible and limit walks). About any surprises he found on joining the Phillies: Everyone on the team wants to win, all 25 guys. That's all that everyone talks about. That's something, said Halladay, that was a pleasant surprise.

The last tied into a Sandy Koufax quotation about baseball: "There is among us a far closer relationship than the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we're bound together by a common goal. To win. Nothing else matters, and nothing else will do."

black and white

This print has been kicking around in my workroom for months now. I'd assumed I'd taken it many years ago at some shrine. Only this morning when I looked closely did I see that there was a lot more going on. But I still don't remember where or when it is from. Gosh, I love b&w photography.

getting closer

Could start feeling it today, driving out Reading way, listening on the radio to the Phillies take on the Pirates, in the final Florida game of the this year's Grapefruit League. The sun was shining, the heat was on, and, at each Amish/Mennonite schoolhouse I passed, girls and boys were out in the schoolyard playing baseball. Oh, yes, Opening Day is on Monday.

Too, too bad, then, to hear the news that Joe Blanton will be out three to six weeks with that oblique injury. Right away the starting rotation feels the stress. Next was Brad Lidge. What he had to say about his elbow, and the way that he said it, made me think, uh-oh, this is not going to be something easy.

o, canada

I came across a photo the other day of Norwegian skier Aksel Lund Svindal, one of the more memorable names from the Vancouver Olympics. I happened to see Svindal, and hear his tale, a couple of times while the Olympics were on. The photo brought back some names from the recent games: Kim Yuna, Mirai Nagasu, Niklas Edin, Cheryl Barnard, Petter Northug, Torah Bright, Shaun White, Johnny Weir, Bill DeMong, Johnny Spillane, Joannie Rochette, and, sadly, Nodar Kumaritashvili.

It also brought back images, starting with the shadows cast on the snow by cross country skiers, collapsed skiers lying on the snow after finishing their marathon races, the general craziness of speed skating and the total exuberance of snowboarders, the gold medal hockey games (men and women), the proud parents from around the world who were in the stands cheering on their offspring, and the fabulous Argyll pants worn by the Norwegian men's curling team.

Nor can I forget the 'cult' program Curling after Dark, though it ran in the early hours of the morning and I never saw it. Or the way the Canadian faithful broke spontaneously into their national anthem, as they did when it was clear that the Canadian men's curling team was about to win curling gold. How wonderful it must be to have a national anthem that people actually want to sing and can sing.