A long phone call from a Vancouver friend derailed my departure for the IronPigs game and I ended up at home. That's why I got to experience every excruciating moment of the epic bullpen meltdown in Philadelphia yesterday. Cole Hamels did his job and deserved a win. The offense did their job and made us all feel like old times. J.C. Romero did too with his 8th-inning stint. Then came the 9th, with the Twins trailing 9-4. By the time Contreras and Lidge were done, the score was tied. Durbin gave up the go-ahead run in the 10th, but Ross Gload came off the bench and tied it. In the 11th, it was the Danys-oh, no!-Baez show. Please send this guy away! The Twins won it 13-10.
The only thing to do with a game like this is forget about it. If the Phillies falter down the line, let it haunt you then.
Carlos Ruiz got off to a good start this year but has been a human voodoo doll of late, with injuries to ankle, shoulder, wrist, etc. Friday night he was hit in the head by an exploding bat and taken to the hospital for tests. They were negative but Ruiz will miss several days. That forced the Phillies to call up Dane Sardinha from Triple-A (Hoover was on the DL), which forced the weird roster move of designating Scott Mathieson for assignment. It's supposed to be a procedural move that in no way indicates that Mathieson will be released or traded. He did not impress in his debut Friday night but yikes.
To lighten the mood, take a look at the fabulously funny Halladay song posted on Zoo with Roy. Written and performed by Blue Jays' fan Kathy Anderson, it is witty and sharp. You can also find it on YouTube. It's called The Doc Halladay Song (so sad we'll miss him...).
