nifty 250

Hats off to Jamie Moyer! This afternoon he got his 250th win in the majors, an outstanding achievement for one of the classiest guys in the sport. He should be a mirror for all pitchers, for all players, for how he plays the game in all of its phases.

Moyer went six innings today, allowing one run on three hits in a 4-2 win. Brad Lidge, again looking good, finished it off. Chase Utley made a fabulous, fabulous play in the 9th, whirling from deep on the shortstop side of 2nd to throw to 1st. Nice pick by Ryan Howard on the other end.

And now off to the West Coast and another 10-day road trip.

howard passes schmidt, bastardo gets the call

Ryan Howard was the show last night in Philadelphia's 9-6 win over Washington. He followed a solo second-deck home run with a grand slam that reached the third deck. Interviewed later, the guy who caught the ball, who was at the game on his buddy's season tickets, said that his hands were still shaking. And they were. Howard's grand slam was his third of the season (two against the same pitcher, last night's Shairon Martis) and eighth of his career. In far fewer at-bats, he has now passed Michael Jack Schmidt as leader on the Phillies' grand slam list. On a night when ace Cole Hamels, who previously had a career 0.39 ERA against Washington, gave up an uncharacteristic six runs, every bit of Howard's power was needed.

And Antonio Bastardo it is. The 23-year-old lefty, no doubt the hot hand, will make his major league debut on Tuesday in San Diego. Let's go, Antonio!

a random act

Owing to heavy rain and traffic yesterday, it again took three (!) hours to reach the ballpark. I decided to skip my usual lot for a different one. When I reached the parking attendant, he handed me this ticket and told me that the man in front of me had already paid the fee. A random act of kindness. In the unlikely event that my benefactor is reading this, Thanks!

I'm getting tired of reading dumb things about Carlos Carrasco by people who have never watched him pitch. Yes, he's got a high ERA and no wins this season in Triple-A but he has more times than not been given no run support and/or been sandbagged by plays botched or not made behind him. I'm also tired of reading that he is a 'head case'. If young and immature means 'head case', then take a look around the world, folks. I've seen or heard almost all of Carrasco's starts this year and he is much better than his record.

Ruben Amaro Jr. says that the short term replacement for Brett Myers will come from Triple-A. I hope it's Carrasco. I have the feeling that, much as he did last year when called up to the IronPigs, he would shine. And this time he would have the defense and offense to back him up.

The blogosphere is suddenly hot for Antonio Bastardo, who has had all of two starts in the Lehigh Valley. He's also a lefty and I wonder about having four lefties in the rotation. Kyle Kendrick is still working on things and Drew Carpenter has far to go. If you're listening, Ruben, my vote's for Car-Car.

phils win, brett gone

The sky after storms yesterday evening was awesome.

I couldn't get enough of the sky. Gold eventually gave way to rose, then red, orange, and finally dull purple. It was a gorgeous night at the ballpark.

It was an odd game. The Phillies had 16 hits but only five runs, stranding legions. J.A. Happ allowed only three hits against the Nationals but handed out several walks and hit Josh Willingham twice. In the 6th, Happ, who is still being stretched out as a starter, had to give way to the bullpen. In the 9th, with the Phils up 5-4, Brad Lidge came in and got his first 1-2-3 save of the season. I had to leave in the 8th but caught the end of the game on radio.

Victorino had his fourth 4-hit game of the season. Werth committed his first error in 145 games. Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr., making his first appearance in Philadelphia, brought the sell-out crowd to its feet but ultimately struck out. The Phillies are now over the one million mark in attendance this year. They reached that last night with the 24th home game--and 18th sellout--of the season.

Sometime during the game Ruben Amaro Jr. announced that Brett Myers will be having surgery and is likely gone for the season. He is also likely done as a Phillie. This is a huge blow. Just think about how Myers took on the closer role when asked to do so, how he agreed to go down to the minors last season to get himself straight, and what he did in the post-season. Or how he threw in NY last Saturday against the Yankees: Brett Myers at his best.

myers injured, surgery likely

Brett Myers left last night's game with an injury. An MRI today revealed a torn labrum in his right hip, and the 28-year-old righty is likely to require season-ending surgery. It's a terrible blow for Myers, who is in a walk year, and for the Phillies. Myers has been a horse for most of his career and, despite pitching through pain this season, was just rounding into shape. What the Phillies, already looking to add a starting pitcher, will now do is up for grabs. For the short term it may mean calling up someone from Triple- or Double-A. Possible candidates include Carlos Carrasco, Vance Worley, and Antonio Bastardo.

With over three million tickets already sold for the season, the Phillies are sure to do something to address the pitching situation. Whatever that may be, Ruben Amaro Jr. is facing his first big test as GM. Does the team go with the young and untried or give up on the future for the present? Myers, one of several homegrown talents on the team, has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia. It would be very sad for his career there to end in this way.

"Baseball is not a sport for the reactionary." So wrote David Murphy, beat writer for the Philadelphia Daily News, the other day, implicitly nailing much of what is wrong with sports talk radio, blogs, and message boards. I'm counting on Amaro and company but for now there is no joy in Mudville.

cutters in clinton

Front view of the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, New Jersey.

View from a back window of the museum, with rental canoes piled up on the riverbank.

Yesterday was my second visit to the Hunterdon Art Museum and once again the museum delivered. This time I went to see a show called Cutters, which features 25 or so artists who cut, slash, burn, shred or likewise manipulate paper, metal and other materials to transform it. It seems unfair to single out any artists for mention. All of the work was different and I liked it all, something that does not often happen. All in all, it was an exciting show. I had to keep wondering though as I walked through it why there was no place for work by friend Jozef Bajus, who been doing great things with cut paper for years.

As with the earlier show I saw at HAM, the two peripheral shows were also good. This time they featured works by painters Phyllis Carlin and Valeri Larko.

I look forward next week to interviewing Mia Pearlman, one of the artists in Cutters.

blanton is brilliant

BlueClaw pitchers Justin DeFratus (left) and Heitor Correa sign caps and things for fans before last night's game at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, New Jersey. The giveaway was a nifty Ryan Howard cap.

Last night's game started late because of rain. I left it early because of windshield wiper issues on the way down to Lakewood. We listened to the game on radio till it faded out around Trenton. In the end, Lakewood lost to the West Virginia Power (Pittsburgh Pirates) 4-3. Travis D'Arnaud caught for Lakewood; his older brother Chase played shortstop for West Virginia.

The Phillies game took us the rest of the way home. Joe Blanton pitched a seven-inning gem, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out a career-high 11. Shall we think that he has fixed what was wrong with him? Shane Victorino had four hits, putting his blunder of the previous night behind him. Madson needed just nine pitches in the 8th. With the Phils up 5-0, Durbin came on in the 9th to finish things off. He got one out, then gave up a walk, a single, and a walk. Eyre followed and got a dead doubleplay ball to Ryan Howard, who sailed the ball past Rollins covering second. The Marlins ended up scoring, which forced Brad Lidge into the game. He came in to a standing ovation, walked Bonifacio, then got Hermida to ground out and Helms to strike out. Talk about mood swings.

Howard's error was his first of the year. His defence this season has otherwise been, like Joe Blanton's pitching last night, brilliant.

8-13 at home

Last night's 5-3 loss to the Marlins dropped the Phillies to a dispiriting 8-13 at home. It was talented rookie Volstad vs. battling veteran Moyer, still in search of his elusive 250th win, this time against a team he has owned. With all the makings of a 'trap game', the outcome was too predictable. Jimmy Rollins made a weird baserunning gaffe in the first. Moyer walked two in the 4th, then appeared to have Wes Helms struck out but plate umpire Marvin Hudson thought otherwise. Sure enough Helms sent the next pitch out of the yard for a 3-2 Fish lead.

Helms drove in four of the Marlins' five runs; Ronnie Paulino added the other, on a grooved pitch. Both players of course had been released by the Phillies. Shades of that awful game last year with Rod Barajas and the Blue Jays.

Shane Victorino led off the 9th with a walk, then with Matt Stairs at the plate was picked off in a knuckleheaded attempt to steal second. Talk about deflation. Ryan Howard provided all the home offense with two home runs. One bounced off the brick batter's eye in center. I didn't understand why Chris Coste, who usually catches Moyer, was not in the game.

Reminder to self: Take it series by series.

Ishikawa Vanquishes the Braves

Braves pitcher Carlyle decided to walk Lewis to get to Ishikawa with 2 out in the 7th. Strange decision considering the fact that Ishikawa had singles at every at-bat. And sure enough, almost instantly Ishikawa hit it out of there, scoring 3 runs. By then it was 8-2 Giants and no way the Braves could make it up. Chipper Jones wasn't in the line-up but he came to bat in the 9th but too late! Thankfully the Giants kept the tomahawk chopping Braves fans at bay. Outside the ballpark, Native American protesters handed out leaflets about the racist Braves mascot and tomahawk chops. Alongside were war veterans handing out small rubber duckies for a small donation towards supporting the soldiers.

chooch the ferocious one

Carlos Ruiz had a great weekend in the Bronx, going 6 for 8 with a homer and 3 RBI in two games. That included the game-winning double in the 11th yesterday. Since coming off the DL, he's almost doubled his average, to .302. When I used to see him in the minors, at Reading, then at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he was a good hitter who used the whole field. He seems to have rediscovered that stroke.

Chooch had a great play-off run last year, especially in the World Series. He's a solid defensive catcher and Phillie pitchers seem to like throwing to him. He comes across as mellow guy, but when he gets animated during a game he gets a wildly ferocious expression on his face. It's like he's giving a great big primal growl. You could see it yesterday when he was cutting guys down trying to steal. Even better was his tussle with Johnny Damon, thrown out at the plate by Jayson Werth. Chooch fielded the ball, blocked the plate, then fought off the grappling Damon. Gotta love a guy like that.

fun, fun, fun

These kids had a lot of fun with some of the Curve players at a recent game in Reading and came away with a ball signed by three of them. The middle guy of the three is Anderson Machado, who came up with the Phillies. A speedster and defensive whiz at shortstop, he just never got that hitting thing down. It was good to see him still in the game, still plugging away.

"see you in october"

Nine-month-old Chase was more into the French fries than the game last night at Coca-Cola Park. Guess what number's on the back of his shirt.

"See you in October." That, according to Yankee color analyst Suzyn Waldman, is what Jimmy Rollins quipped to one of the Yankee players as he was leaving the field after today's thrilling 11th-inning win in the Bronx. If that were to come about, it would be a heck of a World Series. These three games were intense, compelling baseball, with a definite play-off edge to them.

Today the Phillies went into the 9th with a 3-2 lead and once again Brad Lidge blew it. Glass half-full: Lidge blew the save but this time held on to keep it a tie. Glass totally drained: It's his knee or his head or 'baseball'. Whatever it is, it's been brutal.

With the game tied 3-3, Clay Condrey came in for the 10th to face the top of the Yankee line-up and gave up singles to Jeter and Damon. He then got Texeira to ground into a double-play. With Jeter on 3rd, he gave Rodriguez an intentional pass, then got Pena to fly out to end the inning. With two outs and Utley on at 2nd, via a walk and a stolen base, Carlos Ruiz fouled off several balls before lacing a double down the third base line to give the Phils a 4-3 lead. Condrey, on for the 11th, set the bottom of the Yankee line-up down 1-2-3.

Ruiz starred today at the plate and behind it, making several key defensive plays. He and Clay Condrey no doubt made Brad Lidge feel a lot better. Thanks to C and C, the Phillies finished the road trip 8-2.

Despite the absurd way that balls fly out of Yankee Stadium--Mark Texeira hit a sole homer today on a pitch that absolutely shattered his bat--, pitching was paramount in the series. All of the match-ups were pretty even. Friday night Brett Myers outpitched A. J. Burnett. On Saturday it was the young lefty J.A. Happ outdueling old lefty Andy Pettitte. Today it was ace vs. ace, with Hamels giving up two runs and Sabathia, three. No Phillie starter issued a walk.

See you in October....

dark night of the closer

We all scream for t-shirts being thrown into the stands last night at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.

At the new Yankee Stadium yesterday afternoon, J.A. Happ breezed through six innings in his first start of the year, giving up just two runs on four hits. John Mayberry Jr. hit a three-run homer in his second Major League at-bat. Sounds sweet, huh? The Phillies took a 4-2 lead into the 9th but Brad Lidge gave up a two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez to tie it, then two singles to give the Yankees the 5-4 win. End of sweet dream.

I left the car in the middle of the 9th. Walking up to Coca-Cola Park, two Phillies' fans behind me were talking about Lidge coming into the game. "Spot your fastball," said one. "Knucklehead," said the other. A fastball was indeed Lidge's undoing. I didn't hear any of the postgame stuff but can imagine what Lidge said and how he said it. He is the definition of a stand-up guy. I still think it's his knee.

There were parallels aplenty in the IronPigs' game with the Durham Bulls. Lefty Antonio Bastardo pretty much dominated in his Triple-A debut, using a fastball around 90 and mixing in breaking stuff that had the Bulls flailing. In his one mistake inning, the 5th, he gave up three hits, one of them a three-run homer. Bastardo went six, allowing three runs on five hits, walking two and striking out 11. With a hard rain falling, Mike Koplove (he of the 0.44 ERA) came in to close and gave up a two-run homer that proved to be the winning hit in a 5-4 loss for the 'Pigs. David Newhan and Lou Marson went back to back in the third. Bulls' relievers then held the 'Pigs hitless for six. In the end it was a dark and dreary night.

asparagus, spring onions, and first strawberries

I drove out to the farms this morning, arriving at the second one just as the spelt bread was coming out of the oven. Happy timing! On the way there, I bought Romaine lettuce, mesclun, spinach, asparagus, spring onions, beets with awesome tops, and the first strawberries of the season. I also picked up a pot of yarrow and a bag of potting soil. My favorite kind of shopping trip.

Last night at the homer haven named Yankee Stadium, Jimmy Rollins laced A.J. Burnett's first pitch into the rightfield stands. The Phillies never looked back, taking an early 5-0 lead.

Burnett immediately plunked Utley, up next. When Brett Myers came on in the bottom of the 1st, he wasted no time throwing behind Derek Jeter. And both teams were warned. That didn't keep Myers from pitching a great game, going eight strong and allowing just three runs, all solo homers. The first, in the 6th, was to Rodriguez and the other two, to Texeira and Jeter, in the 8th. Ibanez and Rollins combined in the first on a sparkling relay throw to Ruiz to nail Damon at the plate.

Burnett lasted six, also giving up two-run shots to Carlos Ruiz and to Jayson Werth, who clubbed a ball into the second deck. Chin-ming Wang came on in relief of Burnett and surrendered two more runs, including a mammoth solo homer to Raul Ibanez. With the Phillies up 7-3, Ryan Madson came in for a 1-2-3 ninth.

When the Phillies hit up and down the line-up as they have been doing of late, they are both fun and formidable. If the pitching rounds into 2008 shape, they could be unstoppable.

After the game, lefty reliever Sergio Escalona, who performed well in his brief debut stint, was sent down to Lehigh Valley and righthanded hitter John Mayberry Jr. was called up.

shinjuku walking map

Keiko T., an old friend and editor in a Tokyo publishing company, recently sent this new walking map of Shinjuku. A colleague of hers oversaw publication of the large-format map, which focuses on ten neighborhoods in Shinjuku ward, highlighting their diverse attractions and historical sites. Each walking tour---from the alleyways of old-time Ushigome to the frenetic entertainment district around Shinjuku Station, the busiest train station in Japan,---starts and ends at a train or subway station.

The map is available free-of-charge at the Shinjuku ward office and Tokyo metropolitan hall. If you're headed anytime soon to Tokyo, check it out.

2 of 3 and now 14-5 on the road

Joe Blanton looked great this afternoon for four innings, then inexplicably crumbled in the 5th, allowing five runs to the Cincinnati Reds. At that point the Phillies already had six on the board. They scored another run in the 6th, four in the 7th, and another in the 8th. The only innings in which they did not score were the 5th and 9th. The Reds meanwhile were held to those five in a 12-5 loss.

Jimmy Rollins had four hits, scored a couple, and stole the 300th base of his career. Utley, Howard, Dobbs, and Ibanez all homered; Utley was a triple shy of the cycle. The top four in the order were beyond solid. Pedro Feliz, outstanding late and with RISP, had a pinch-hit two-run double in the 8th.

Jamie Moyer took the loss last night, giving up three runs on nine hits in six innings. It was a better outing for Moyer but not good enough. The offense was held to just one run in a 5-1 loss. Today's game was a good win on getaway day. Next stop: Yankee Stadium.

In more surprise news, lefty Antonio Bastardo was today bumped up to Triple-A, where he will join the rotation. That's tough luck for Justin Lehr, twice International League pitcher of the week; he has been sent to the bullpen. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was spotted at this morning's game at Double-A Reading. That's news because Vance Worley was pitching.

park to 'pen, happ to rotation

The big news of the day: Chan Ho Park has been sent to the bullpen and J.A. Happ will take his place in the rotation. I hope Park is cool with this. I'm sure that Happ is. I heard him interviewed a couple of days ago on a pregame show and was impressed by his maturity. He pitched well enough in his handful of starts last year but coming out of the bullpen this year he had shed that rookie look.

So is his first start of the year at Yankee Stadium this weekend?

was that so hard?

IronPigs players and staff come off the field after today's 3-1 win over the Gwinnett Braves.

It was gorgeous weather for a morning game. Rodrigo Lopez, trying for a big league comeback after arm surgery last year, started for the 'Pigs and turned in his best outing to date. He went an economical seven, giving up one run on a handful of hits. The timely hits today were on the 'Pigs' side. The bullpen was clutch and everyone but the Braves went home happy. I take that back. Having taken 3 out of 4 games, the Braves were no doubt the happiest of all.

Some 9900 fans were on hand, including many busloads of kids from area schools who were in for "Education Day." For all the cool or bad weather we've had this April and May, the IronPigs are routinely selling out each game.

ibanez, werth, and escalona

Raul Ibanez has been named NL Player of the Week. Anyone watching baseball knows why. Jayson Werth and Adrian Gonzalez, 1st baseman for San Diego, were voted in a poll of NL execs and managers as the most underrated players in the league. Anyone watching the NL knows why.

Last, a sweet quote from Sergio Escalona on winning the game in his rookie call-up on Sunday: "Oh, my God. Amazing. First game. First win. What can you say?"

frigid 'pigs

Last night the IronPigs came up short again---against a light-hitting Braves team. The 'Pigs took a lead, lost it, had lots of chances to make it up, and did nada. With a man on 3rd and no outs, they must be batting under .100. The boys from down South, meanwhile, seemed to have no trouble adjusting to the prevailing cool temperatures.

J.C. Romero, starting an 18-day rehab stint, made his first game appearance since the World Series. After he pitched the 7th, I left. Romero gave up the go-ahead run and you knew that was the game. Jason Donald continues to be a mediocre hitter, Lou Marson to slump, and John Mayberry to swing for the fences. The Phillies had better stay healthy because the reserves do not inspire confidence.

Mike Cervenak is out with a broken wrist, which could be a devastating blow to an already uninspiring 'Pigs offense.

It was good to see J. C. pitching again but having to listen to the middle-aged 'Little Leaguers' around me has been brutal.

4 in under 48

The Phillies completed the sweep of the Nationals this afternoon in Washington, having played four games in less than 48 hours. Kudos all round no matter how messy the games ended up being. No matter how bad the Nats are, they always play the Phillies weird and I do not think these wins were cupcakes.

I spent the afternoon trying to stay awake at a drowsy IronPigs game. When Carrasco left the game, after the 6th, so did I. Carrasco was OK, much better than of late, save one shaky inning in which he let the Gwinnett Braves string together enough hits to take a 3-2 lead. That stood up in an offensively-anemic loss.

By the time I got to the car, it was the 7th in Washington and double-A call-up Sergio Escalona was making his major league debut. He pitched a scoreless inning, despite allowing one hit. Thanks in part to a bizarre Nats' miscue in the 8th, Escalona ended up being the pitcher of record. So one day after rookie Andrew Carpenter was rewarded with a win for hanging around for 4+ yesterday in a rain-shortened game, another rookie picked up his first win. Easy pickings.

The Phillies are now an MLB best 12-4 on the road. That will change as the roadtrip continues on to Cincinnati and New York.

take (it in) five

A vintage Yuengling sign at classic First Energy Stadium in Reading.

The thunderstorm started here shortly before last night's game in Washington went into a rain delay, in the top of the 6th with the bases loaded and Ryan Howard at the plate. Ninety minutes later the game was called, giving the Phillies a 7-5 win in a game mercifully shortened by rain after two long days of baseball.

In the third, Ryan Howard planted--absolutely planted--a two-run homer in the grassy slope beyond the center field wall to put the Phillies up 3-1. Raul Ibanez added three more with his third home run of the day. Is this guy for real? He now leads the Phillies in all offensive categories. And that's saying a lot.

Call-up Andrew Carpenter did not make it through the 5th but did, for what it's worth, outpitch Nats' struggling starter Daniel Cabrera. Veteran Ron Villone took over in the 6th for D.C. and brought the game almost to a halt. Thank the heavens for rain!

In an interesting move, lefty reliever Sergio Escalona was called up from Reading after the game. Carpenter was sent down to Lehigh Valley.

true quality

After last night's 12-inning marathon, Brett Myers gave the Phillies exactly what they needed this afternoon in the first game of a split doubleheader in D.C. Myers went seven strong, giving up two runs on three hits, striking out eight and walking two. Rauuuuuul Ibanez put the Phillies on top in the 1st with a solo homer to deep center. He later had a three-run homer that hit off the facing of the second deck. With the score 8-2, the Nationals got three in the 8th off Ryan Madson, who had a rare rocky outing. Brad Lidge came in on the 9th for his sixth (and almost uneventful) save. Excellent outing by Myers, great game by Ibanez, and a sweet win for the Phillies, who are now 10-4 on the road.

adopt-a-pig piggy banks

Painted by members of the Southern Lehigh baseball team, these two piggy banks sit on the counter of my local natural foods store. The banks are part of an effort to raise money for Adopt-a-Pig, a cancer charity, on behalf of Dave Ortwein, catcher with the Solehi Spartans. Ortwein, who is fighting Hodgkins' lymphoma, this week underwent a stem-cell transplant. Last week his teammates and fellow students put on a Light up Limeport night at historic Limeport Stadium, home to the Solehi team, to benefit Ortwein and two cancer charities. The folks who run the natural foods store attended; their younger son, now in college, used to play for Southern Lehigh. It was, they said, an awesome night and showed that baseball is more than just a game. We're with you, Dave! Go, piggies!

10-6 in 12

I of course fell asleep before the Phillies beat the Nationals the second time to win last night's game in 12 innings. They had gone into the 9th up 6-4 on the strength of a Ryan Howard 3-run blast but Brad Lidge gave up two and sent the game into extra innings. After the Nats walked the bases full in the 12th, Raul Ibanez singled in two. Add two more for a cushion and a win for J.A. Happ.

Starter Joe Blanton did not eat his innings, going just five. Not good. Pedro Feliz had four hits and was on base six times. Carlos Ruiz continues to be on fire and Raul Ibanez to be clutch. Were it not for the three, the team batting average would be totally anemic. As for Mr. Lidge, he says he's fine and still working on it. Believe!

Happ got the win but lost his chance to start in today's doubleheader. Andrew Carpenter has been called up from Triple-A to take his place. Miguel Cairo has been designated for assignment.

white house visit

Wild turkeys are back. A flock was on the field out back yesterday, displaying their tail feathers and running in circles, before parading soberly up the back lawn. I took this photo through a pane in the back door.

The Phillies are off to visit the White House this morning before four games this weekend with the Nationals. I am going to the movies and some minor league games. Wake me when the offense comes back and the pitching pulls up its socks. If we have to wait for J. C. Romero for the bullpen to gel, that will be June 3. Can't come too soon.

phils tie it in 9th, lose it in 10th

All we have to know about the recent home stand is that the Phillies went 2 and 4, have now lost seven series at home, and are at .500. Down 3-1, they tied the Dodgers this afternoon when Carlos Ruiz, with two on, two outs, and two strikes, stroked a double to center off hot hurler Jonathan Broxton. But Chad Durbin allowed two runs in the 10th and that was it.

The Dodgers and the Phillies are the only two teams in baseball to have five players with 20 or more RBI each. You would barely have noticed it for the Phillies this home stand. The top three in the line-up went 5 for 50 in the last four games. Definitely not getting it done.

Today's bright spot: another sparkling, albeit wasted, performance by Cole Hamels.

hit---or miss

Manager Steve Roadcap of the Reading Phillies keeps a watchful eye on his pitcher during a recent game.

Charlie Manuel was no doubt doing the same last night with Jamie Moyer, who was sterling for the first three innings, then got lit up for seven (!) runs in the 4th. With Moyer, it's very much hit or miss. If he hits his spots, he's fine; if not, the hitters don't miss. After three outings like this, the 46-year-old Moyer has all the doubters burying him. Moyer says he is not frustrated and will work his way out of this. That makes fans think he's delusional. I think it's just that for a player or for a team to succeed over the long haul of a baseball season they've got to accentuate the positive. For success, positive thinking is key to that famous "90% mental" part of the game.

Jimmy Rollins, again batting 5th, gave the Phillies a brief lead with a solo homer but the team did nothing else until Raul Ibanez chipped in with another solo shot in the 9th. By then the Dodgers had nine on the board. If the Phillies don't hit, the game is pretty much a miss. And last night they were not hitting ex-Phil Randy Wolf, who barring more injuries could be a future Jamie Moyer. I used to love hearing Wolf talk about pitching but listening to last night's game was no fun.

werth steals home, steals the show

Top of the 8th inning, Ryan Madson on the mound and Rafael Furcal at bat. Most of the sellout crowd of 45,000+ are still on hand.

Last night with one out in the 7th, Jayson Werth singled. He then swiped 2nd. He next took off for 3rd, again without a throw from Dodgers' catcher Russell Martin. With Pedro Feliz at the plate, Werth completed the trifecta, stealing home. The roar of the crowd was instantaneous and delirious. It was one of those unbelievable, did-I-just-see-that moments. We of course wanted a replay but settled for a curtain call from the dishy thief.

The Phillies had six stolen bases last night; Werth had four of them. After the game, he credited 1st base coach Davey Lopes, a master thief, for preaching aggression on the base paths. Base stealing was a key component of the Phillies' game last season. Going into last night's game, the team had only 12 stolen bases this season, in large part owing to slumps by the two speedsters Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. It was great to see guys, including Ryan Howard, off and running last night.

After a bumpy first inning, starter Chan Ho Park settled down and pitched effectively. He gave up one run in the 1st but was saved from a big inning by an unusual 9-2-6-4-7 put-out, when Orlando Hudson tried to stretch his RBI single into a double. Park allowed just one more run, in the 3rd, but the Phillies took the lead 4-2 in the bottom of the inning, then Jayson Werth added another in the 7th. Brad Lidge was again teetery in 9th, giving up one run but getting the 5-3 save. Also of note, Pedro Feliz walked four times.

On the way home, I chased five separate deer off the road. But it was the baby fox that I shall remember. I first saw it running down the middle of the road and thought it was a young cat. Then it veered into my lane and I saw it was a fox. I tried to chase it off the road but it kept running from one side to the other, dashing again and again down the yellow line. At one point it came back to my lane, wheeled around and stood there, facing me down. It was a sweet little thing but sadly lost. At last it ran onto the opposite shoulder. I hoped it would find its hole but did not feel good about it.

Washington Nationals - A Feel-Good Team

We went to a sparsely populated Giants game last nite. The parking lots were so empty that they charged a desperation price of $10 (versus $60+ for a game vs Dodgers). It pays to see the Giants play the Nationals if what you want is to see your team beat the opposition into the ground with ball after ball after ball. Not to take anything away from Randy Johnson, who had a great game going (he only gave up a couple of homers and put up tons of K's). But the feeling of invincibility crept into the minds of Giants fans when Nat's pitcher, Cabrera, inexplicably lost his strike zone after 2 outs. He walked Randy, then nearly the entire Giants rotation. I don't think I've ever seen Randy touch home plate, and he did it with walks. A memorable night for the Big Unit.

We also attended the A's vs Jay's game on Sunday and watched the hittingest team in baseball make fools of my lowly team. It was nice to see Scutaro finally earning a starting position (short stop) with the Jays, a lead-off spot in the rotation, and getting hits. It was sad that the A's never recognized his skills as a starter, the best clutch hitter they've had, AND a excellent utility player. He continues to be my favorite active player and he should be in A's uniform. The best performance by an A during this game was by starting pitcher Dallas Braden. He was hit in his pitching hand by Vernon Wells' line drive in the first inning and crumpled to the mound. It took a while for him to stand back up and the amazing thing was that he chose to remain in the game to pitch 5 innings. His hand swelled up like a catcher's mitt but he soldiered on. Wow.

fukumoto shihoko at takashimaya in tokyo

Later this month indigo dye artist Fukumoto Shihoko is having a solo show at Takashimaya in Tokyo. Since 2006 Fukumoto has been using antique work clothes, handwoven of hemp, cotton, or other natural materials, in her dye work. These coats, tunics, and leggings, once worn by farmers and other workers, are of course no longer used or produced.

For the Takashimaya show, Fukumoto has picked apart old, sometimes stained and frayed, work clothes, dyed them in geometrical patterns, then reassembled them as rectangular tapestries. Looking at the little catalog that arrived yesterday from Fukumoto, I get the sense that in these works she has taken her indigo dyeing fully back to its humble, earthy roots. (The image above is on the cover of the catalog.)

I first saw Fukumoto Shihoko's work in a stunning show 15 or 20 years ago at Takashimaya in New York, then followed it in Japan. Over the years she has taken her always luminous work in ever new and deep directions. If you are in Tokyo this spring, this is a show to see, at the Nihonbashi branch of Takashimaya from May 27 to June 15.

what about them phillies

Broadshouldered guys, too, look good in pink. This was a mound meeting in the 8th after Vance Worley made his only mistake of the day, a ball left high that was hit just over the wall. But VW came back to strike out the next batter and end the inning.

So what about the Phillies? Last we visited them, they were sweeping St. Louis in a two-game set. Since then it's been all about pitching. Wednesday night Chan Ho Park stunned everyone with a masterful outing against St. Santana but the Mets won with an unearned run caused by a rare error by Pedro Feliz. Thursday night Jamie Moyer turned in a clunker, the likes of which he hasn't done for years.

Home again on Friday, Cole Hamels pitched like himself and was not injured or spirited off the mound. On Saturday Joe Blanton pitched the way I always thought he did when with the A's. Ugh. Yesterday Brett Myers was solid for six but the bullpen blew it.

And that was that.

worley shines in pitchers' duel

The Reading Phillies run sprints before the game yesterday as the grounds crew wets down the infield. The Phils wore pink jerseys, auctioned off later, for Mothers' Day. The combination of pink jerseys, red pinstripe pants, and red caps, socks, and shoes was yummy.

The Altoona Curve line up for the national anthem, while kids do the same with the starters for the Reading Phillies.

Vance Worley was on the mound in Reading yesterday. Some of the Altoona Curve used pink bats for Mother's Day.

Blue skies, pink jerseys, bases, and bats, and cool breezes were the setting yesterday for a terrific pitching duel between Vance Worley of the Reading Phillies and Brad Lincoln of the Altoona Curve. Worley went eight strong, allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out six while walking one in a 2-1 victory. In six double-A starts, Worley is 3-0, with a 2.11 ERA and sparkling .0953 WHIP. Brad Lincoln was almost as good but the R-Phils took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd on a Quintin Berry homer, then scored again when Orlando Guevara singled in Carlos Leon. Sergio Escalona recorded his 10th save in the win.

I say it again, Worley continues to impress. He works quickly, throws first-pitch strikes, varies his pitches (fastball, change-up, and curve) and looks like he knows what he is doing. Watch out, Carlos, here comes VW!

stairs on ped's

Matt Stairs is a pip. Some of what he had to say about players using performance-enhancing drugs included the following: "People are going to have to stop taking this health bull(bleep) and go back to being chubby and having fun."

la cenerentola

Someone recently sent this great quotation from Ella Fitzgerald: " The only thing better than singing is more singing."

It was definitely 'more singing' in La Cenerentola, Rossini's wonderful reworking of the Cinderella story, which today ended the Metropolitan Opera's simulcast season. I did not know the opera but was entranced from the start, by the music and the superb singing of the beautiful Elina Garanca, who played the Cinderella role. Tenor Lawrence Brownlee played the prince and was a grand vocal match for Garanca. Both have voices that seem to pour effortlessly from their bodies. Short and chubby, Brownlee did not look like a prototypical prince but he embodied the message of the humble tale: let love and kindness prevail. There was lots of ensemble singing, all wonderful.

dope to doper

I never bought into the 'Manny being Manny' line long fed by the media but must say I was stunned to hear that Ramirez had received a 50-day suspension for PED use. I was at a morning game between the IronPigs and the Buffalo Bisons yesterday morning when I heard the news. It was around the time that young starter Carlos Carrasco was losing his focus and coughing up the game, which was already making me out of sorts. Carlos has done that too often of late. And he knows it. So let's move on, baby!

The Ramirez news though was something else. I'm not a Manny fan but the news made me very sad again for baseball. Given that Ramirez was suspended for using a female fertility drug, used as a masking agent by 'roiders, it would be funny if it were not so sad. Headline writers have been having a field day with it: Manny being Barry, Manny being mini, Manny being many, etc. What came to my mind was how Harry Kalas, taking the mike on the field after game 5 (part 2) of the World Series, summed up each postseason series the Phillies had played: "CC, see ya" was followed by "Manny my fanny." Seems that Harry was on to something.

Those who propose a cheaters' wing for Cooperstown may also be onto something. Most baseball fans know Ruth's 714 and Aaron's 755. How many know how many home runs Barry Bonds hit?

from the bullpen

Bison pitchers head for the bullpen before the game on Wednesday night.

Kyle Kendrick (right) and Tim Redding warm up in the bullpen.

Weird weather ruled the baseball week here in the Lehigh Valley. I ended up seeing two out of five games. The others were seriously delayed or outright postponed by rain. Two doubleheaders were rescheduled; neither went more than one game. I saw one of those on Wednesday night, when Kyle Kendrick took on the rehabbing Tim Redding of the Buffalo (boring) Bisons. Both guys were effective; neither figured in the decision. Rich Thompson hit a single up the middle to give the 'Pigs a walk-off 2-1 victory.

Kendrick is looking better but he is still working slowly. When he was going well in Philadelphia, he pitched a nice fast-paced game, getting the ball and throwing it. When he went bad, he slowed to a cramped crawl that was painful to watch.

myers outlasts wainwright

A Shane Victorino solo homer in the 1st gave the Phillies a lead they never relinquished last night in a 10-7 win. Still, it was disconcerting at game end to realize that Brett Myers had indeed registered a win. He and Cards' starter Adam Wainwright seemed bent on outdoing each other in giving up hits and runs. But in the end the Phillies had an answer for everything the Cards did. Jayson Werth, who hails from nearby Illinois, hit a mammoth three-run shot---cue the dancing family members. Ryan Madson came in at the end of the 7th to get out of a sudden mess created by Clay Condrey. Brad Lidge came on, in a non-save situation, for the 9th. He still looks fragile. Having knee issues of my own, I can dig where he is coming from.

The Phillies are now first in the NL East.

howard ties schmidt, phils win

Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer in the 4th to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead, then Ryan Howard upped it in the 5th with the seventh grand slam of his career. That tied the club record, held by one Michael Jack Schmidt. It was also Howard's second granny in the past week. Joe Blanton was solid for six, giving up just one run on four hits, and the Phillies beat the Cardinals in St. Louis 6-1, improving their road record to 7-2.

It was almost a normal game, something we haven't seen much of so far this season, except for a scary header taken by Cards' outfielder Rick Ankiel. He smashed into the wall fielding a ball hit by Pedro Feliz and was taken off the field on a stretcher. He is reportedly fine.

Vance Worley had another good outing for Reading, though he did not get the win, a 4-2 comeback in the 9th. Worley went six, giving up two runs on six hits and K'ing seven.

The IronPigs were rained out last night. Too bad because that also washed out Japan Night, put together by the intern from Okayama, who will soon be leaving for Japan. Tonight's game is also in jeopardy.

about those mets fans

Stick a pin in Mr. Met! I wondered about those Mets fans whose picture I posted a couple of days ago. I took the picture while the Phillies were leading the game on Saturday. That's why those guys are looking so morose. By the time the Mets went ahead, I was gone but it seems that when they did the group got out of hand. So much so that three ended up handcuffed and the rest escorted from the park. Way to go, Metsies. It was funny to stumble across your ejection photos on other sites.

I could make out that the group had Mr. Met on the back of their Day-Glo orange shirts but didn't see what was printed on them: Hip Hip Hoo-Ray-Ray. How fitting that a bunch of Reyes fans got the boot. Outta here, you bums!

Last Friday night at the IronPigs game, I thought the Mets fans behind me were pretty obnoxious and chirpy for being kids, but when I tuned into what their dad was saying I understood where they got it. Tonight is the start of a four-day series with the Buffalo Bisons, now the Triple-A affiliate of the Mets and the park should be crawling with Mets fans. Should be lively.

Gotta give the Mets fans credit though. They bring the edge their team lacks. And while they bring a lot of hostility towards Philadelphia, in recent years they bring even more for their own team.

jason donald takes to third

The Reading Phillies run off the field after completing after picking off a Curve player in a rundown between third and home.

Jason Donald, a prospect at triple A who is destined either to be a supersub or a star depending on who is talking, has started playing third base. After making an error on the first ball hit to him, he seems to be settling in a bit. While working on his fielding skills at third, he needs his hitting, which has been streaky, to come around.

So far it's been a treat to watch Donald on a regular basis. He very much fits into the 'gamer' mold that typifies the current Phillies, a guy with talent plus the willingness to do whatever it takes to win. A couple of days ago, called upon to bunt, Donald was visibly upset when he couldn't get it done. The next day, we learned, Donald went out on his own to take bunting practice.

Two great things about having a minor league park in the region: seeing live baseball on a 'daily' basis and watching prospects play--your own or the ones coming to town. Last year the IronPigs stunk and were pretty much devoid of prospects. This year the team is flirting with mediocrity and we've got Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, and John Mayberry to watch. And of course Kyle Kendrick, trying to get his act together for a return to the bigs.

Until Carlos Carrasco was moved to Lehigh Valley late last season, Jason Jaramillo was the only prospect of note but his star was fading. Traded to Pittsburgh in the offseason, he made the Pirates' squad as back-up catcher. Last I heard, owing to the injury to the starting catcher Doumit, Jaramillo is starting everyday. Good luck, Jason.

11 runs off walks

Here come the umps before a game at Reading's First Energy Stadium. Only three are used in minor league games. In the background, members of the grounds crew wet down the infield before play starts.

I wasn't imagining or exaggerating the many walks being issued in baseball this year. I've just heard on a TBS broadcast of the Sox-Rays game that the Phillies have scored 11 runs on walks this season. That is a bizarre statistic. Whadd'ya say, Blue?

No Run Support for Cain

Matt Cain's pitching was suspect but his teammates didn't help by scoring zero runs. The Rockies players oddly looked the same (thin face, dark beards) but their lead-off hitter, Ryan Spilborghs, had quite a game with two homers, base on balls and a single. He provided all the fireworks for this damp game.

yet another walk in the park

It was another sellout crowd for today's game. The view here is from Ashburn Alley.

Lots of Mets fans were on hand as well, including this group in neon orange T-shirts, hanging out on the second deck of Harry the K's.

By the time Shane Victorino walked to force in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, I was long gone from the park. Blame it on Mets' starter Oliver Perez and his awful pitching. Or on being closed out of my usual parking lot and then ending up in a deadhead encampment. (If I had known the Grateful Dead were this weekend playing the Spectrum, their home away from home, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near that lot.) Or the hour+ it then took to creep around the Wachovia Center and back to Citizens Bank Park. Or the many edgy, to state it generously, Mets fans at the park.

After the third inning, when Shane Victorino grounded into a mindless double play, I couldn't take it anymore and bolted from my seat. After a couple more innings watching from Ashburn Alley, I was gone. Except to check the score (5-5 in the sixth), I didn't even listen to the game on the way home. Instead I lucked onto Juan Diego Flores singing something lovely by Rossini, then Miles Davis' fabulous version of "If I were a bell". When I got home around 6:30, the Phillies and Mets were still locked at 5-5. Then Victorino, not the most patient of hitters, drew the bases-loaded, two-out walk in the 10th to send the Mets and their fans home unhappy. Yay, Vic!

What is with the epidemic of walks throughout baseball? A night after Chan Ho Park walked six in his outing, the awful Ollie walked six in the two and a third he went today. And they are not the only ones. Throw strikes or go home!

dontrelle vs. the two carloses

Dontrelle Willis on the mound last night at Coca-Cola Park, looking out of sorts in a Mud Hen uni.

Carlos Carrasco got into a 4th-inning jam owing to some shoddy play behind him.

Last night at Coca-Cola Park it was two guys--former phenom Dontrelle Willis and current Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz--on rehab and one, Carlos Carrasco, trying to rebound from a bad start. Carrasco dazzled for three innings, striking out seven and allowing just one hit, a lead-off single in the first. He ran into trouble in the 4th when two infield errors allowed the first two Mud Hens to reach, then seemed to lose his focus, walking two, hitting one, and giving up a single to give the Mud Hens a 3-1 lead. A two-run homer in the 4th ended his night. In all he allowed just two earned runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking two.

It was exciting to see Carrasco working with Carlos Ruiz, finishing his rehab assignment, behind the plate. Good, too, to see Ruiz looking ready for a return to Philadelphia, where he is missed. Dontrelle Willis, however, did not look right in the mud-colored Mud Hen uni. Now less of a contortionist on the mound and less animated, he is also less effective. It was sad to watch him out there. He went five and left the game with a 5-3 lead.

The IronPigs rallied to tie it in the 6th, then went ahead on an unearned run in the 8th to win 6-5 and--hallelujah-- pull within one game of.500.

Jason Donald got his first, long-awaited, start at third and promptly made an error on the first ball hit to him, in the 1st inning. David Newhan, playing shortstop in place of Donald, also made an error; 2nd-baseman Pablo Ozuna made two. To rally from down 5-1, with four errors, showed some spirit. Donald, who has been scuffling at the plate, was in the middle of each rally, going 3 for 4 on the night.

stutes struggles, r-phils lose

Mike Stutes tosses warm-up pitches before last night's game with the Curve in Reading.

Before last night hard-throwing Mike Stutes had a 1.59 ERA and had not allowed a run in the first two innings of his previous starts. After escaping a shaky first last night, Stutes gave up four in the second and the Curve tied the game. He never made it back for the third. The Phillies retook the lead 7-4 in the 4th and chased Curve starter Mike Crotta, who had his own issues. I left in the 5th, with the Curve ahead 9-7. In the end, the Curve bullpen prevailed in a 12-7 win.

I had gone to the game to see Stutes pitch so it was a bit of a bummer. But Michael Taylor again impressed. He continues to be hot, with two doubles and a laser home run to left last night. He just looks as if he knows what he is doing at the plate.

Driving home I listened to the last three innings of the IronPigs---the Sixers were already beyond awful. Kyle Kendrick, I learned, had gone six strong innings of three-hit shutout ball. The bullpen finished it off, though Bowers allowed two runs in the 9th. 'Pigs took the first of the series with Toledo 4-2. Carlos Ruiz again on a rehab stint had two RBI. Yay, Carlos! Tonight it's the rehabbing Dontrelle Willis vs. Carlos Carrasco, weather permitting. Rain is now falling.