drabek dazzles

The R-Phils scored their first run, in the 1st, without benefit of a hit. Leadoff man Quintin Berry drew a walk, stole 2nd, was sacrificed over, then sacrificed in. Love that small ball.

Kyle Drabek pretty much had his way with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday night in Reading. The outing came as Antonio Bastardo was coughing up a 4-0 lead down in Tampa and it was tempting to picture Drabek taking the struggling lefty's place in the rotation. But that's jumping ahead a bit. Drabek's fastball was in the mid-9o's and his curve ball was working. He went 7.1 innings, with nine strikeouts and lots of first-pitch strikes. He ran into trouble just once, in the 6th, when he gave up three runs. Two of them were on a ball misplayed in center field. Drabek then came back to put the side down 1-2-3 in the 7th. In the end, the R-Phils won the game 9-3 and Drabek was the star. He looked very, very good.

drabek and flande to futures game

Kyle Drabek and Johan Flande (what a delicious name) have been selected to go to this year's Futures Game, which will be held in St. Louis on the Sunday of the All-Star break. Congratulations to both. Can't help, however, but wonder why Michael Taylor was not named.

a sweet night home and away

I like the design of this t-shirt, as well as its soft faded look.

It was a wonderfully mellow night at the ballpark in Allentown last night. The IronPigs, just off a 7-1 road trip, beat the Indianapolis Indians 6-3, aided by some key errors. In fact, errors featured in much of the scoring by both teams.

Early in the game there was a video update from Tampa, where John Mayberry Jr. had just hit a three-run homer to put the Phillies up 6-0 in the top of the 1st. Yes, they're back on the road. Another update followed in the 4th, when Chase Utley's two-run homer made it 10-0. The Phils' game ended a tick after the 'Pigs' game, which made for a good post-game ride home. The Rays' David Price was ineffective, while Jamie Moyer pitched well through six. The Phillies are now 24-9 on the road.

everyday clay to dl?

More bum news if true. It's being reported that reliever Clay Condrey is headed for the 15-day DL with an oblique strain.

Tonight it's Jamie Moyer vs. David Price. Uh-oh.

rolling rock

Rolling Rock is a quintessential Pennsylvania name. I used to enjoy the beer as well but haven't had it for years. This delivery truck was in front of me on a recent rainy day.

it happens

So you go 7-3 on a tough road trip, then come home and win exactly one in nine games, taking your home record to a totally dismal, unfathomable 13-22. It happens. It happens? How does it happen? By striking out something like 83 times during the homestand and issuing almost as many walks to the visitors. By blowing saves on a mindblogging basis. By not hitting. And certainly by not playing defense. Ouch. What sloppy play, what mental mistakes were on display this past week. Then of course you lose a key hitter in Raul Ibanez and your top slugger geta a mystery fever that spikes to 104 degrees. Thank the gods for minor league ball available here on radio and tv.

I didn't get part 2 of The Pen last night on MLBN. It started with a repeat of part 1, then segued into a 25-minute part 2. I had expected another, and new, hour. It was good but way too short.

heart of the game

Heart of the Game, Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America, by S. L. Price, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, may be one of the best baseball books ever. It is about Mike Coolbaugh, the first base coach who died after being hit by a ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez during a double-A game between the Tulsa Drillers and Arkansas Travelers in Little Rock, Arkansas, in July 2007.

The book focuses on Coolbaugh, a baseball 'lifer' who left behind a pregnant wife and two young sons, Sanchez, who, like Coolbaugh, had lost and found his way in baseball, and the tragic convergence of people and events that summer evening in Little Rock. Price has written a heartbreaking and sensitive tale of what happened and how those involved--families, friends, teammates, and others--were left to cope in the aftermath of Coolbaugh's death. In one of those peculiar twists of fate, two of the witnesses to the accident, Drillers pitching coach Bo McLaughlin and pitcher Jon Asahina, had themselves suffered severe injuries when hit by balls during games.

Much of the book is also about the minor leagues, where Coolbaugh and Sanchez long toiled. The two could have been players on any team in the majors, striving for a goal that is always, cruelly, out of reach for most. Tino Sanchez is now back in Puerto Rico, coaching and teaching baseball---and still trying to come to terms with his part in Coolbaugh's accidental death.

When Willy Taveras, then an outfielder with the Colorado Rockies, heard about Coolbaugh's death, he said, "This game of baseball will break our heart." The Drillers are part of the Rockies' farm system, and the organization rallied behind Coolbaugh's family. Several months later, with the Rockies poised to go to the World Series, Rockies' players made the unprecedented gesture of voting a full share of their winnings to Amanda Coolbaugh and her children. This is in many ways a heartbreaking book but its lesson of mercy resonates far beyond baseball. As Price puts it, most of us spend our lives in the minors. We are in life inevitably humbled.

the pen

The Pen, MLB TV's mini-series about the Phillies' bullpen, exceeded expectations, at least in its debut segment. Part one covered the spring training competition for the 5th starter spot and bullpen reshuffling necessitated by the suspension of J.C. Romero, the many distracting World Series celebrations that marked the start of the season, and the sudden death of iconic broadcaster Harry Kalas, not to mention Brad Lidge's sudden fall from perfection.

When Chan Ho Park beat out J.A. Happ for the 5th starter spot, Happ was predictably stoic though palpably disappointed. He seemed to be headed to the 'pen, till lefty specialist Jack Taschner was acquired late in spring training from San Francisco. The footage of the meeting, with Ruben Amaro Jr., Charlie Manuel, Rich Dubee, and other coaches, to decide who would stay with the club was blunt and revelatory. In the end, Happ and Taschner got the nod over righty reliever Gary Majewski.

Taschner knew from the start that his position in the 'pen was precarious. Talk about timing: Taschner, who had spent his entire career in the San Francisco organization, was traded shortly before his wife was due to give birth to the couple's second child, a girl. The family is feeling its way in Philadelphia, not knowing how much longer they will be there. That's a lot of change and stress for anyone, especially as Taschner's role with the Phillies would appear to be very much up in the air.

This is a reality show which does not need any injections of hyped-up 'reality'. There has already been plenty of drama with this team, with J.A. Happ now in the rotation and Chan Ho Park in the 'pen and Brad Lidge and now Scott Eyre on the DL. Segment one ended with Lidge's struggles in New York. Lots more to come and so far there's been nothing hokey. Parts did however bring tears to my eyes. And I would almost swear there was a fleeting shot of Chase Utley--Mr. Edge, Mr. Cool, Mr. WFC-- sitting in the dugout in Washington the afternoon that Harry Kalas died, with tears on his face. Nah, must have been sweat. At the funeral service at Citizens Bank Park days later, though, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

phils beat beckett 11-6, salvage one

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the 1st, but J.A. Happ gave up four in the 2nd and things were again quickly looking dicey. Despite early wildness Happ settled down to pitch into the 6th, when Chan Ho Park came on. In the 5th, the Phillies scored four off of Josh Beckett, the hot ace of the Red Sox, for a 5-4 lead but Happ then surrendered a solo homer to, guess who, Beckett. Sheesh. It was one of three solo homers given up by Happ on the day.

In the 7th, 12 Phillies came to the plate, putting six more runs on the board, and chasing Josh Beckett. Park, who's been sterling out of the 'pen, got the win; Madson came in for the 9th. Today the Sox 'pen was distinctly rocky. Final score: 11-6, Phillies.

Great win but once again the Phillies lost a home series. Ho-hum.

Tonight MLB TV airs the first segment of a show called The Pen. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the Phillies bullpen, which last year was key to the team's success.

halal kitchen

I passed this Chinese restaurant named Halal Kitchen on my way to Mia Pearlman's studio in Brooklyn last week. It reminded me of my fave South Indian vegetarian place in Manhattan, which also happens to be kosher.

rain-soaked mess

The rookie Bastardo walked the first two men he faced (after walking two total in his first two starts), his sure-handed mates committed three errors behind him, the Red Sox capitalized to the tune of five runs, and the game went to hell from there, with an hour-long rain delay after that 1st inning to add insult to injury. The Philles are now a dreadful 12 and 16 at home. Some figures loosely remembered from last night's broadcast: They are batting something like .243 at home vs. .277 on the road and averaging two fewer runs per game. A change has gotta come. And the bullpen needs some rest.

lester and blanton dazzle, offense fizzles

Jon Lester was brilliant for the Red Sox last night and Joe Blanton was a half-step behind. The Phillies manufactured a run in the first; the Sox later countered with two solo homers. Lester struck out 11 and gave up just three hits; Blanton struck out seven and gave up five hits. In the 9th, Ryan Howard tied it up with a big solo homer. And on to extra innings, for the third game in a row. When pinch-hitter Gregg Dobbs hit what looked like a three-run homer that soared over the foul pole, I thought the game was over. First base umpire James Joyce saw it differently and refused to go to video review. In the 12th, call-up Kyle Kendrick put the Sox away; in the 13th, he crumbled, giving up three runs. In the end, the Red Sox won 5-2 in 13.

Mitch Williams said earlier yesterday that he thought Lester was the best lefty currently in the game. Last night I saw what he meant. Another point: the Red Sox have a superb bullpen.

The two teams combined for 34 strike-outs: the Phillies struck out 20 (!) times and the Red Sox 14. It was an intense game but a frustrating loss.

Dueling Aces: Giants 3 A's 0

We were treated to a dazzling pitcher's duel at last night's Giants v A's game at AT&T Park. It was a superb match between Cy Young winner Lincecum and newly-up-from-the-minors ace, Vin Mazzaro. Mazzaro had a no-hitter going til the 5th, when his pitching faltered and 3 runs were scored against him. Lincecum had 7 K's, a complete game and even a hit in the 5th inning. Though Mazzaro didn't win this one, we can look forward to exciting games in the future!

eyre to dl, kendrick up, dugan signs

Scott Eyre was put on the 15-day DL because of a calf strain suffered in last night's game. Kyle Kendrick has been recalled from Triple-A to take his spot on the roster. I was going to leave in an hour or so to watch Kendrick pitch tonight for the IronPigs. Wonder who will take his spot?

Well, that didn't take long: Kelly Dugan, the Phillies' top pick in Tuesday's draft, has come to terms with the team. From Sherman Oaks, CA, he's a high school senior at Notre Dame High School. I read somewhere that that's the school Pat Gillick attended. Gotta love a kid who's ready to roll.

rauuuuuuuuuuul!

Last night it was Raul Ibanez, making a great defensive play to nab David Wright at second, then whipping a three-run homer into the right field bullpen in the 10th to put the Phillies up 6-3. This after going 0-4. Ryan Madson came on again for the save and the Phillies took two of three in New York, going 7-3 on their road trip and pushing their road record to a sparkling 23-9. Defense too continues to be a sparkling, satisfying league-leading best.

Jamie Moyer went six and gave up three; Tim Redding went seven and gave up three. Once again the Phillies' bullpen was better. Another hit, though, for the 'pen: Scott Eyre was injured in last night's game and is likely to be out for awhile.

Ryan Madson, in a refreshingly interesting interview yesterday afternoon on Comcast's DNL, said, among other things, that when the Phillies take the field every man wants to beat the opponent playing his position, that, say, Shane Victorino goes out wanting to be the best center fielder on the field that night. That was pretty apparent in this series.

Starting tonight it's the big boys: Boston comes to town. The Phillies try to improve their 12-14 home record while facing Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Josh Beckett.

Rauuuuuuuuuuuul!

wowie, zowie, jason knapp

One of six strike-outs recorded by righty Jason Knapp of the BlueClaws vs. the Hagerstown Suns last night.

Prospect Jason Knapp was all he is said to be. The 18-year-old went seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits, walking none and striking out six, with a fastball that hovered in the mid-90's. When he had to bear down, he did it with poise. He's only at single-A but it would be hard to give this guy up in a trade.

Brad Peacock of the Hagerstown Suns, meanwhile, was just as good, keeping the 'Claws off the board. They finally took a 1-0 lead in the 8th, by which time I was in the car and listening on the radio. Ryan Bergh blew the save in the 9th and the Suns went on to win 3-1 in extra innings. Knapp was worth the four-hour roundtrip.

'kinda nice to have utley'

BlueClaw players were totally into last night's game, hangiing on the rail and watching one of their guys at bat.

"Yeah, it's kinda nice to have Utley," replied Charlie Manuel when asked about his second baseman after last night's 11th-inning win in New York. You had to see Charlie's face, which lit up like a baby's, as he made the comment. Really, it's amazing to have Utley and to watch him play on a daily basis. And I bet we the uninitiated don't even get the half of it.

I only caught the back-end of the game, driving back from Lakewood where I had gone to watch Jason Knapp of the BlueClaws pitch. I left that game after the 7th and listened on the radio till reception faded in the 9th. On then to the Phillies, who were loading the bases in the 7th and tying the game 4-4, in part thanks to more sloppy play by the Mets. I was almost home when in the 11th Utley hit his second homer of the night to put the Phils up 5-4. By the time Ryan Madson came in for the save, I was in the driveway.

Utley's 11th-inning heroics were made possible by a terrific diving catch by Jayson Werth in the bottom of the 10th and outstanding work by the bullpen. Chan Ho Park got the win. The night before the Phillies touched up Johan Santana for five runs, but still lost the game. Last night the Mets got 11 hits, albeit singles, off of Hamels but couldn't hold the lead.

Tonight it's Jamie Moyer vs. Tim Redding. Could be a blow-out, could be a pitchers' duel. Stuff happens in baseball.

Speaking of which, is anyone counting how many homers the Phillies have scored so far in this series? That would be six in two nights. Some pitcher's park.

another night in reading

OK, I just love the Reading ballpark. I went last night to see Kyle Drabek pitch and stayed to enjoy the ambience. It was Bark in the Park night and a contingent of dogs added to the fun. There were also lots of kids, who kept up steady chants of 'Let's Go, Phillies!" There was a Senior Babe Ruth player next to me, all in Phillies' garb, with his girlfriend. In front of us, a grandfather, very cute adopted grandson, and a dad, who made us all laugh. A local couple did a smashing job with the national anthem before the game. They ended up with their son in the front row of my section and people passing by throughout the game kept congratulating them.

As for the game, the Trenton Thunder had absolutely loaded the line-up with lefties and switch-hitters against the righty Drabek, who once again struggled against them. But in the end he hung in for five innings, long enough to earn the win. In just his second game at double-A, not bad at all. The learning curve is his for the making.

By the time I left Reading, the Phillies game was ending in Flushing. What a waste of offense! Four homers off of Santana but a 6-5 loss. Clay Condrey took the loss.

brad lidge to dl

Cynics can scoff but I've thought all along that it was the knee. And Brad Lidge has now been put on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 7, with a sprained right knee. Get that knee straightened out soon, please!

mia pearlman

I interviewed artist Mia Pearlman last Friday at her mellow studio in Brooklyn. Mia makes wonderful cut paper sculptures and this October will be in Slash at New York's Museum of Art and Design. She showed me a sample of the limited edition sculpture called VOLUTA, which will be sold at the museum shop during the exhibition. It's made of lasercut high-impact polystyerene and is an ingenious work of art, designed to delight buyers. Mia was a treat to interview, even if she is a diehard Mets' fan. At least, she's not for the crosstown team.

rookie goes 2 for 2, offense picks up

In his second major league start, Antonio Bastardo did exactly what was needed, going five innings and giving up just one run. He left in the 6th with two on, but ex-Dodger Chan Ho Park came in and got an RBI double play. That left the Phillies up 3-2. In the 7th, Carlos Ruiz knocked in two with a home run and Victorino followed with a solo shot. Howard later added one of his own as the Phillies went on to a 7-2 victory. Chan Ho Park was sterling for three innings in relief and Ryan Madson finished the job. The Phillies had all four games in the series 'won' but had to settle for two. So far on the roadtrip: 5-2.

I split time last night listening to the end of the IronPigs' game and the start of the Phillies' game on radio, watching a bit of the Phillies' game on TV, and transcribing an interview I did Friday in New York. Results were mixed. The 'Pigs ended in defeat. Jim Jackson and Gary Mathews were standing in for Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen. No offense to Jim Jackson, who does a fine job with the pre- and postgame shows, but he calls baseball like his main sport, hockey. Not good listening.

Still he and Mathews were far better than the awful, awful combination of Dan Schulman, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips on ESPN. Schulman sounded positively mournful that the Dodgers were losing. As for Morgan and Phillips, please get these guys something else to do. Awful, awful, awful. I was reminded again why I have watched almost no Sunday night or any other ESPN games this year.

The transcription went just fine.

haiku for baseball lovers

A haiku-writing friend sent a great belated gift for my birthday, a little book called Haiku for Baseball Lovers. The haiku are by David Ash and the book is published by Basho Press. Ash, who sticks to the classical 5-7-5 format, captures much that is quintessential about baseball, its players and fans, its moments and seasons, its highs and lows. The Chinese character for smile is printed on the cover and the book will indeed make you smile.

Since the book arrived, haiku have been percolating. Here goes:

their shortstop homers
ours pops, pops, pops up--
grrrrrrrrr!

in for the save
he gives up the winning run--
nothing sadder

hey, rookie!
you win, we salvage one--
no pressure, huh?

lidge blows another, phils lose in 12

I wish I had slept through this one but it was a day game. Joe Blanton gave up one run, a solo homer to Andre Ethier, and five hits in a strong six-inning outing. Dodger starter Hiroki Kuroda gave up no runs in six but the Phillies scratched out a pair in the 7th off reliever Ronald Belisario. Then in the 9th Brad Lidge, with one out, gave up a pinch-hit homer to Rafael Furcal, the first of the shortstop's career. Andre Ethier won it in the 12th with a solo home run off Chad Durbin. Final score: Dodgers 3, Phillies 2.

Brad Lidge has now blown six saves and given up seven home runs. Jimmy Rollins is hitting .217. No need to go any deeper with any numbers. Another sterling pitching performance by a Phillie starter went for naught.

Where is the Guinness when I need it?

hangover effect

Things were slow at the beer stand above the grandstand in Reading the other night.

After the game last night, Jamie Moyer was asked if such a loss could have a hangover effect. "Depends on how much you drink," he replied. A great answer but why ever are people questioning the resiliency of this team? And have they noticed how well the ageless one has been pitching of late?

It could be coincidence but since the Brett Myers' injury several pitchers in the minors--Carrasco, Carpenter, and Kendrick--have picked up their games. Interesting.

moyers is brilliant, 9th is not

Sometimes it's better to sleep. When I fell asleep last night, Jamie Moyer was still pitching brilliantly and the Phillies had the lead. Moyer went seven, giving up two runs on four hits. Romero pitched a scoreless 8th, then Brad Lidge, with two outs, gave up the winning double to Andre Ethier in a 4-3 loss. A rare Feliz error (shades of that Park-Santana game in NY) helped to doom Lidge. What to say, except that the Phillies had plenty of chances to add to their lead before their undoing in the 9th.

hamels throws complete game shut-out

Aeros swing their bats as Reading starter Joe Savery warms up on the mound.

This is the thing with West Coast swings: I never get to hear the complete game. Sure enough, last night I fell asleep shortly after Chase Utley scored the first run of the opening game with the Dodgers. When I woke, it was to learn that Hamels had thrown 97 pitches (68 K's) in a complete game shut-out. That one run was all the Phillies needed but they added two more in a 3-0 victory. Way to go, Cole! I wonder how opposing pitcher Clayton Kershaw took it. The Phillies always seem to fluster him.

There was a sparse crowd for an autumnal evening at Reading last night but it turned out to be a good game. Starter Joe Savery showed a frustrating aversion to throwing strikes early in the game, walking the first two Aero batters, retiring the next two, then giving up a booming three-run homer. The R-Phils, however, answered with a booming homer of their own, for two in the first. The Akron Aero eventually got one more, while the homeboys added on four in a 7-4 win. Big Michael Taylor had three singles, was hit by a pitch, and scored a run. He continues to look bigger than double-A life.

The six middle-aged men several empty rows back went on in tedious detail about recent Yankee games watched on TV, while the older couples across the aisle were totally, amusingly into the game. It made me think how lucky I am to have access to this great little park. And as it's pretty certain that the Phillies will be trading for a starting pitcher, I'd better see all I can of my fave prospects while they are still here.

happ and howard plus a taste of drabek

J.A. Happ threw seven shut-out innings of four-hit ball, Ryan Howard belted a two-run homer to dead center in the 1st, Gregg Dobbs made a fab (and maybe lucky) play in left, and the Phillies went on to sweep the Padres in a 5-1 win. The sole run came off of J.C. Romero, making his first appearance of the season. On the down side, Shane Victorino left in the 6th with a hip strain. Uh-oh.

For the record, in pitcher-friendly Petco Park the Phillies hit six homers in three games. Of Howard's dead-center homers, Jimmy Rollins said that short of the Grand Canyon no park could hold the dude. Raul Ibanez's two homers on Tuesday night were the 200th and 201st of his career. He now has more homers on the road than at the park in Philadelphia.

Thanks to a stomach flu I was at home, rather than in New York, watching Kyle Drabek on TV make his double-A debut, against the 1st-place Akron Aeros. He overcame a somewhat shaky 1st to go seven shut-out innings, giving up three hits, walking three and hitting one. He looked tentative early against lefthanded hitters but improved as the game went along. All in all, a good debut by the young Drabek.

A cold rain was falling for much of the game and few fans braved the weather. Ruben Amaro Jr. sat throughout it all behind home plate and later said his trip to Reading had been scheduled to see veteran catcher Paul Bako, recently acquired by the Phillies. It impresses me that Paul Bako or Miguel Cairo or any of a number of mid-30's former major leaguers will still put up with the minor-league lifestyle for another chance.

bastardo and ibanez star in san diego

After rain last Saturday at the ballpark in Philadelphia and lots of people were on Ashburn Alley, located behind center field. It's another cool, rainy day here and I am getting over a sudden stomach virus.

Both Antonio Bastardo and Raul Ibanez delivered big last night in San Diego. Bastardo went six strong in his debut, giving up just one run (a solo shot to Adrien Gonzalez) while throwing a steady diet of fastballs which started out in the mid-90's and by the 6th had subsided to around a more typical 90 or so. It was quite a show and made possible in no small part by the Phillies getting four runs in the 1st off Jake Peavy, who then left the game with a viral respiratory infection. Raul Ibanez had an RBI double in the first, then two 2-run homers. Some kind of birthday outing for the guy, some kind of debut for the rookie. If this means Bastardo gets a second shot in LA on Sunday, it will be interesting to see how he does in front of a more energized fanbase--and throwing some other pitches.

When suspended pitcher J.C. Romero visited the clubhouse last week in Philadelphia, several of his mates were wearing t-shirts printed with a countdown to his return to the team. That happens--hallelujah--today. To make room for J.C. on the roster, lefty reliever Sergio Escalona was sent down to Lehigh Valley.

happy birthday, raul

Happy Birthday to Raul Ibanez, a fellow Gemini! May he share star-of-the-game honors tonight with rookie starter Antonio Bastardo!

good pitching again wasted

Carlos Carrasco hangs over the rail, watching last night's game with the Rochester Red Wings. At work or play, the guy's a pleasure to watch.

Kyle Kendrick started the game and was solid for seven, allowing just two runs. With the 'Pigs down 2-1, Gary Majewski pitched a scoreless 8th, then had a crushing 9th. A phantom hit-by-pitch call followed by back-to-back errors in right field opened the gates for the Red Wings, who plated four. In the end, the IronPigs lost 6-3, and another good outing by a starter went for nothing.

Mike Koplove opted out of his contract yesterday and became a free agent. Good luck to him. John Mayberry Jr. was optioned back to the Lehigh Valley after last night's game in San Diego to make room for tonight's starter Antonio Bastardo, who debuts against Jake Peavy. With a couple of starters sidelined by injury, the offensively-challenged 'Pigs have now lost their best bullpen guy in Koplove.

The Phillies meanwhile beat the Padres 5-3 behind a strong effort from Joe Blanton. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard went back to back in the 5th; Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Hairston did the same in the 6th. Brad Lidge notched his 4th save in four days and 13th on the year, looking very Lidge-like.