streak is done

Since June 5 the Phillies had not lost two games in a row, but that streak ended last night with consecutive losses to the San Francisco Giants. It was another blah, blah, blah series, with part of the fan base highly vocal and excited about 'proving' something to the Giants. Really, folks? What are you going to do next week when the Phillies are swooning their way through another season series in San Francisco? Save your energy for games that mean something.

Tuesday was the only hometown win, another dazzler by Vance Worley, who tossed his first complete game in the majors, allowing two runs on three hits in a 7-2 win. Chase Utley had an inside-the-park home run, the third of his career. I hope someone kissed his knee after the game.

On Wednesday, Matt Cain outdueled Cole Hamels in a tight 2-1 game. On Thursday, Kyle Kendrick fell to Tim Lincecum, who was there for the picking but the Phillie offense let him off the hook again and again. It put me to sleep.

Carlos Beltran made his Giant debut Thursday night. Did not want him and I am even less thrilled with the prospect of getting Hunter Pence, a guy who strikes out too much for this line-up. Beisdes, the Houston asking price, if correctly reported in the media, is too high. To me, Pence is not an elite player. Give Dom a chance!

cyrilla's garden

Artist Cyrilla Mozenter brightened my day with this photo of the garden at her summer place.

three, then a clunker

The Phillies took three of four from the San Diego Padres during a wrap-around series at the 'Zen. Friday night it was all Cole Hamels: one run on three hits in eight innings, 10 K's, one BB. Phillies took it 3-1.

Saturday, another day of stifling heat and humidity, was home run derby. Chase Utley started it with a three-run homer in the first. Kyle Kendrick kept the Padres at bay for a bit, skirted with disaster in the fourth and fith, and succumbed in the sixth, giving up two homers that tied the game. The Padres then took a 4-3 lead but leading off the seventh pinch-hitter Ryan Howard planted the first pitch he saw beyond the center field fence. Michael Martinez, in a bizarre failed-bunt sequence, then hit a three-run homer. Chase Utley later added a solo shot and the Phillies won 8-6.

Sunday was more heat and humidity. Roy Halladay, off his heat-exhaustion game, labored early and cruised late, setting down the last 10 batters he faced. Ryan Madson, back in the closer's role, pitched the ninth. The Phillies won 5-3.

Monday, another day game, was the clunker. Cliff Lee was not sharp on the mound or in the field. The Padres scored one of their five runs on a casual lob to first by Lee, who did not bother to check the runner at third. That guy, Chris Denorfia, promptly stole home. There were some other knuckleheaded plays in the fields that all added up to a Phillies' loss. Still, three of four ain't bad.

pat gillick day in cooperstown

High fives, hugs and kisses, and heartfelt congratulations to general manager Pat Gillick, who will be inducted today into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Unassuming and reflective, the man is a genius of baseball. Without him, the Phillies would never have made it to the World Series in 2008. Peter Gammons called Gillick "the best general manager since Branch Rickey." High praise and much-deserved. Gillick twice steered the Toronto Blue Jays to World Series championships, took the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners to the post-season, and in 2008 led the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ruben Amaro, Jr., current GM of the Phillies, always says that he learned from Gillick to listen to the people around him. Gillick, an old-style baseball man, believes baseball goes beyond the numbers and even beyond talent. When assessing a player, he wants to see him firsthand. "Is he intense? Does he have passion? What's his body language? How does he interact with the other players on the team?"

Congratulations to Pat Gillick!

lidge back, baez gone

Brad Lidge is finally back with the team, for the first time all season. To make room for him, struggling reliever Danys Baez was designated for assignment, ending a stint that just did not work out. Baez will best be remembered for his key role in the epic 19-inning game ealier this season, when he pitched five innings, and for being the interpreter and cheerleader for Jose Contreras. Sometimes it's just the wrong place at the wrong time, which is what it was for Baez with the Phillies.

taking two in chicago

The Chicago series started on Monday on a scary note. In conditions of oppressive heat and humidity, Roy Halladay had an almost literal meltdown on the mound. He had to leave the game early in the fifth with heat exhaustion. Rodrigo Lopez, meanwhile, kept the Philadelphia bats limp and the Cubs won the game 6-1. It came out post-game that the visiting clubhouse is a hike through twisting tunnels and down stairs. There was no respite from the heat between innings available to the visitors.

Tuesday night's temperatures were about 12 degrees lower. Cliff Lee started out rocky, surrendering two runs in the first, then held the Cubs to nothing. Matt Garza of the Cubs, however, was doing the same, till the eighth, when Michael Martinez and Chase Utley keyed a two-run rally to tie the game. The Phillies then scored another two in the ninth to win it 4-2. Great comeback win!

Wednesday was all about The Room---and Vance Worley. After Monday's debacle, Cub doctors insisted that the Cubs make a cooling room available to the visitors. That made a big difference to Vance Worley, capable of sweating up a storm on the coolest of days. Worley went eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits. The Phillies, meanwhile, mauled Cub starter Ryan Dempster. Jimmy Rollins homered from each side of the plate and the Phillies won 9-1.

For the most part, the Cubs played like the Cubs, which is to say that they were awful.

ugly but sitll a two-for

The Phillies took two of three from the Mets this weekend, starting with a 7-2 win Friday night. Vance Worley just made it into the sixth but was effective for as long as he lasted. John Mayberry, Jr. knocked in five RBI.

On Saturday, Cole Hamels did a fast fade, running his career record against the Mets to 3-10. Ouch. He was helped not at all by the bumblers on the offense and defense.

Sunday was a Kyle Kendrick surprise. Without impressing in any way at all, KK went seven, allowing just one run. The Phillies struck the main blow in the fifth, a three-run homer by Michael Martinez, in for the ailing Polanco. It was MM's first homer in the big leagues. But the game got ugly in the eighth, when both relief corps started walking men. Both teams scored three in that frame. The Phillies held on for an 8-5 win.

Peachtree Baseball League

8:10 on a summer's evening, a small cluster of boys take fielding practice under the tutelage of retired player, Billy Wagner. Life after MLB consists of finding a way to live meaningfully for the next 50 years. For Billy, coaching his sons and other boys in town is a big focus, as is helping a childhood friend fundraise for a charity, Second Chance, for at-risk youth.
The first fundraiser concert called Two Virginias (venue was Bluefield, WV, just across the border from Bluefield, VA, concluded successfully Saturday night. Six bands played and the normally soft-spoken Wagner gave a heartwarming speech to a sold-out crowd.The event was a success and there are plans to turn the concert into an annual event.
Meanwhile, he coaches the boys in the gathering dark, just like any other father who dreams of their sons in the Bigs some day.

old friends

Artist Honda Takeshi, my former neighbor in Tono (Japan), recently visited some mutual friends of ours there and took these photos to send to me. What a surprise, what a treat. Shige was an absolute guardian angel of mine while I lived in Tono and roped her husband Umakichi into a supporting role. I owe both an endless debt of gratitude. For almost all of their long marriage, they have led a self-sustaining way of life. I miss them--and a couple of other friends there--dearly.

a two-for weekend

The Braves were in town for a much-ballyhooed weekend of pitching. On Friday, Halladay and Beachey each held gave up two runs and into the 10th we went. Raul Ibanez walked it off with a home run to deep right. Journeyman call-up Juan Perez pitched the 10th for the Phillies, striking out the heart of the Braves line-up on exactly nine pitches. Awesome!

All of the Phillie offense in game 2 came via a solo home run by Cliff Lee, who unfortunately also gave up a solo homer to Dan Uggla. Into the 11th this time, when Michael Stutes gave up three. The Braves took it 4-1.

Yesterday pitted Cole Hamels against Derek Lowe. Hamels was masterful, allowing just one run on three hits in eight innings. Lowe gave up four runs in six, then the Phillie offense lit up the soft part of the Braves' bullpen in the seventh and eighth, scoring 10. Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer and had six RBI on the day. He also made a sterling catch. Except for a sloppy second that contributed to the Braves' scoring, the defense was pretty dazzling.

The Phillies took another series and now it is on to the All-Star break. The IronPigs, too, won, which keeps them quite nicely atop their division.

another two-for, this time in florida

Under new/old manager Jack McKuen, the Marlins continue to look like a lost bunch. I happened to hear Logan Morrison, their promising outfielder, on the radio and he sounded depressed talking about his team. After Monday night's game, he reportedly tweeted to the effect that someone should have told him they'd be facing 'Baby Doc' that night.

On the 4th of July, Vance Worley was stout for seven, giving up just two hits and no runs. Stutes and Bastardo made it hold it and the Phillies beat the Marlins 1-0 in a two-hit shutout. Ricky Nolasco was the hardluck loser.

Tuesday was a beat-down. Cole Hamels gave up two runs over eight innings and the offense clobbered Marlin starter Chris Volstad. Final score: 14-2.

As for Wednesday, let's draw a veil over the game, which featured too, too many gaffes and errors. The Phillies blew a couple of leads to lose 7-6 in 10 innings.

Polanco has been resting his aching back but is still thinking he will take part in the All-Star game. Victorino, out with a thumb injury, was voted to the game as the Final Man in the NL. Take the honor, skip the game, stay home and rest. Not likely to happen, I know.

taking two in canada

A vintage post card showing the tunnel that runs between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.

The final (hooray) series of interleague play took place in Toronto. Friday was a total mismatch: Kendrick vs. Romero. In the end, neither impressed. The game was a slugfest, with the Phillies getting in the last lick and winning 7-6. Before the game Roy Halladay took out the line-up card and got a rousing ovation from the sell-out crowd on Canada Day.

Saturday was Roy Halladay day and it started with an epic ovation from the crowd. The Phillies again had to come from behind to do it but they got the 4-3 win and Halladay his 11th in a complete game performance, despite some 9th-inning histrionics by the Jays. Even the crowd got into it, throwing debris on the field.

Sunday's game started all sunny and bright with Cliff Lee on the mound and the Phillies putting up four in the second. Lee's scoreless streak ended at 34 innings in the third, when the Blue Jays got a run. After that, JoJo Reyes put the Phillies to sleep, while the Jays kept pecking away. In the eighth they exploded for four, on three home runs that knocked Lee silly and out of the game. Jays won it 7-4.