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.
