The Big Piece is what Charlie Manuel calls Ryan Howard. And the BP delivered last night, with a solo home run in the 2nd, a two-run shot in the 4th, a double, and a walk. Howard has hit 11 homers in the past 15 games, while driving in 28. In what is getting to be a home habit, Pedro Martinez started the game, but was again knocked out by rain. Jamie Moyer, still sounding pouty, picked up for Pedro, went 4.1 innings, and got the win. (In 10+ innings of relief, Moyer has an ERA of about 0.33.) Ryan Madson worked out of trouble in the 8th, and Brad Lidge breezed through the 9th for a 4-2 win over the Braves. Tommy Hanson, also driven from the game by rain, absorbed the loss on his 23rd birthday.
Down in Florida, meanwhile, the Padres beat up on the Marlins. Both Braves and Marlins are now eight games behind.
Traffic to Philadelphia was befuddling yesterday, though there were, blessedly, no accidents. I left around 4 and pulled into the parking lot as the 1st inning was starting. I got to my seat in time to see Howard lead off the 2nd with a homer. Werth then struck out and we went into a rain delay of one hour and three minutes. When play resumed, Ibanez struck out, Feliz doubled, and Ruiz struck out to end the inning. And we went into another rain delay. When play resumed 45 minutes later, I was already driving home through fog and pouring rain.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
pedro tonight
Tonight Pedro Martinez makes his fourth start with the Phillies. He got a boatload of run support in his first start, was rained out in his second, and labored early, then hung on for the win in his third. It's cool here (in the 60's) and wet, not ideal conditions for an ageing pitcher. This past series in Pittsburgh, the Phillies left 25 men in scoring position, and run support may be thin. If there is a game tonight, it may be some kind of test for Martinez, who will be going up against the hot Atlanta prospect Tommy Hanson.
I talked the other day with 'Mrs. October'. When I asked what how she was feeling about our fave team, she said, "They're losing too many one-run games." 'Nuff said.
I talked the other day with 'Mrs. October'. When I asked what how she was feeling about our fave team, she said, "They're losing too many one-run games." 'Nuff said.
13 dooms r-phils
Young shortstop Freddy Galvis waits on-deck last night in Reading.
The last time I saw Mike Stutes pitch, months ago, he pitched the way he did last night. What can I say? In between he's been very good. Stutes was gone after five but it took the Reading Phillies till the 9th to tie the game at six. It then took the Erie SeaWolves, a dismal road team, four more innings to take a 9-6 lead. And that's how it ended. By then I was way gone. So were most of the other 7,000 or so on hand for the start of the game.
The R-Phils had a ton of chances but it was again one of those strange games from the get-go, with hits going off the pitcher's glove, bloops and bleeders, and lots of strange base running by the home team. Domonic Brown was 0 for 6; Freddy Galvis had an error.
This season the Reading Phillies have run one of the sweetest and funniest TV ad campaigns ever, all built around the slogan: "Bring the fam!" A week before school starts again, the fams were out in full force on a suddenly mild night at one of the best ballparks in the country.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
howard picks up madson big time
Ricky Romero, rookie pitcher for the Blue Jays, warms up in the bullpen at Oakland's Coliseum Stadium last month.
I spent the evening switching between the Phillies and the Reading Phillies. I saw much of Cole Hamels, who went eight strong innings, but missed Utley's solo home run in the first, which gave the Phils a 1-0 lead. I also missed the solo homer that Ryan Madson gave up to Brandon Moss in the 9th to allow the Pirates to tie the game. But I did not miss the 10th. Rollins led off with a walk, Victorino followed with a single and, after a shallow fly-out by Utley, Ryan Howard with a mighty crack of the bat sent the ball deep into the right field seats. Madson then came back for the 4-1 win in the 10th.
It will be nice when the dozing z's at the end of the order (Ibanez, Feliz, and Ruiz) again wake up.
In Reading, meanwhile, the R-Phils were battling the Erie SeaWolves for a play-off spot. Starter Mike Cisco hung on for six innings, giving up four runs. By then the Phillies had six on the board, thanks in part to some strong hitting by Neil Sellers and Freddy Galvis, playing in just his third game at Double-A. Galvis, a 19-year-old shortstop from Venezuela known for his defensive wizardry, went 3 for 4, including a two-run homer. Interviewed after the game, Galvis flashed some serious dimples.
The rehabbing Brett Myers was the other reason to monitor the Reading game. It took Myers 24 pitches to dispatch the SeaWolves in the 7th and 8th. He looked great. Really. Read what you will into it.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
definitely not deja-vu all over again
One thing for sure, if the Phillies make the post-season, it won't be anything like last year. Deja-vu went out the window with the continued struggles of Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels. That's not to say that the Phillies won't win the division or go deep into the postseason, but just don't expect it to be anything like 2008.
Even when they scored two in the 9th to take a 4-3 lead, I didn't have any sense that the Phillies would win the game last night in Pittsburgh. Sure enough, it took only three batters, one error by Jayson Werth, and a walk-off home run by speedy rookie Andrew McCutcheon (I've seen him lots at Coca-Cola Park) for the Pirates to win 6-4. For the first time this year, Lidge looked and sounded spent after the game. Charlie says he's sticking with him, and really what else can he now do? Brett Myers may be an option but he's still a long way from being anything on this team.
Kudos to Jimmy Rollins, hitting .300 since July 2. Last night he hit two homers on the first two pitches he saw. Rolling, rolling, rolling.
It used to be that having Cole Hamels pitch the night after a game like last night's meant a sure end to a losing streak. This year, though, Hamels has been anything but a stopper and, for whatever reason, the Phillies have not fared well at PNC Park.
Even when they scored two in the 9th to take a 4-3 lead, I didn't have any sense that the Phillies would win the game last night in Pittsburgh. Sure enough, it took only three batters, one error by Jayson Werth, and a walk-off home run by speedy rookie Andrew McCutcheon (I've seen him lots at Coca-Cola Park) for the Pirates to win 6-4. For the first time this year, Lidge looked and sounded spent after the game. Charlie says he's sticking with him, and really what else can he now do? Brett Myers may be an option but he's still a long way from being anything on this team.
Kudos to Jimmy Rollins, hitting .300 since July 2. Last night he hit two homers on the first two pitches he saw. Rolling, rolling, rolling.
It used to be that having Cole Hamels pitch the night after a game like last night's meant a sure end to a losing streak. This year, though, Hamels has been anything but a stopper and, for whatever reason, the Phillies have not fared well at PNC Park.
this and that
Veggie pack, broccoli, lettuce, and cauliflower sprint to the finish of the between-innings veggie race early this season in Reading. Veggie pack held on for the win.
The Phillies yesterday announced their Arizona Fall League roster: Domonic Brown, Scott Mathieson, Mike Cisco, Michael Schwimer, Mike Zagurski, Tuffy Gosewisch, Steve Susdorf, and Troy Hanzawa. Wish I were going to be there.
Speaking of Michael Schwimer, his blog entry yesterday at Phuture Phillies (http://phuturephillies.com) is great stuff. He goes pitch by pitch through two innings of work, outlining what he was thinking for each pitch and what he thought the batter was thinking. You can follow along while watching the innings on youtube.
Michael Taylor was put on the 7-day DL with the oblique strain he's been nursing for a week. That probably means his season is over. Taylor does say, though, that he plans to play winter ball somewhere.
Brett Myers is scheduled to pitch an inning tonight at Reading. Speaking of Reading, they came back to beat the Erie SeaWolves 8-5 last night. This is a crucial four-game set with Erie, which coming into last night trailed Reading by 1/2 game in the wild card standings.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
jayson werth nl player of the week
For the first time in his career, Jayson Werth was named NL Player of the Week. In the past week he hit .440 with a 1.160 slugging %, nine RBI, seven runs scored, and a .481 onbase %. He also seemed to be hitting a home run every other moment. Congrats, Jayson.
Brett Myers, hard on the rehab circuit, pitched a scoreless inning in for the Lakewood BlueClaws yesterday. Next stop: Reading? J.C. Romero meanwhile says that he will be back before the end of the season. Whoa! I had no idea that Romero, who has had a season that pretty much has not been, was that far away. Same I guess can be said for Clay Condrey, who is still rehabbing his injury. So when exactly does the bullpen again become whole and sole?
And what about 'dem Rockies? Now four up on the Giants in the wild card standings and just three behind the Dodgers. Things are getting interesting.
Brett Myers, hard on the rehab circuit, pitched a scoreless inning in for the Lakewood BlueClaws yesterday. Next stop: Reading? J.C. Romero meanwhile says that he will be back before the end of the season. Whoa! I had no idea that Romero, who has had a season that pretty much has not been, was that far away. Same I guess can be said for Clay Condrey, who is still rehabbing his injury. So when exactly does the bullpen again become whole and sole?
And what about 'dem Rockies? Now four up on the Giants in the wild card standings and just three behind the Dodgers. Things are getting interesting.
Monday, August 24, 2009
lee (again) and the big 'oppo boppo'
It was another weird 1st inning in Flushing this afternoon. With two on, Ryan Howard hit a humongous opposite field homer, what TV play-by-play man Tom McCarthy calls an "oppo boppo". So with a 3-0 lead, Cliff Lee took the mound going for his fifth win as a Phillie and right off Chase Utley made an unimaginable couple of errors that gave lead-off man Angel Pagan four bases and a run. The Mets then added another run on a sacrifice fly.
In his second at bat, Ryan Howard again homered, this time a two-run shot to the upper deck in right, to put the Phillies up 5-2. For the fourth season in a row, Howard has 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI, the only Phillie to do that since Hall of Famer Chuck Klein did the same from 1929 to 1932. Not a bad start to a career, Ryan!
Meanwhile, the amazing Mr. Lee went seven innings, giving up just those two unearned runs and getting his fifth straight win as a Phillie. His ERA in that period is 0.68, with a WHIP of 0.75. He has walked five and struck out 39. Just think about that. Thanks to a sensational defensive play by Utley, Chan Ho Park pitched a scoreless 8th and Lidge followed with a clean 9th. The Phillies tacked on a run in the top of the 9th on an RBI double by Raul Ibanez in the 6-2 win.
It was a ragged series, but the Phillies did what they had to in taking three of four from an inferior team. On now to Pittsburgh and its lovely park before a weekend series at home with Atlanta.
In his second at bat, Ryan Howard again homered, this time a two-run shot to the upper deck in right, to put the Phillies up 5-2. For the fourth season in a row, Howard has 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI, the only Phillie to do that since Hall of Famer Chuck Klein did the same from 1929 to 1932. Not a bad start to a career, Ryan!
Meanwhile, the amazing Mr. Lee went seven innings, giving up just those two unearned runs and getting his fifth straight win as a Phillie. His ERA in that period is 0.68, with a WHIP of 0.75. He has walked five and struck out 39. Just think about that. Thanks to a sensational defensive play by Utley, Chan Ho Park pitched a scoreless 8th and Lidge followed with a clean 9th. The Phillies tacked on a run in the top of the 9th on an RBI double by Raul Ibanez in the 6-2 win.
It was a ragged series, but the Phillies did what they had to in taking three of four from an inferior team. On now to Pittsburgh and its lovely park before a weekend series at home with Atlanta.
dobbs to dl, cairo to philly
Co-blogger Priscilla (where is she) sent a large "I Was There" postcard from one of her home parks, AT&T in San Francisco. What made the card was this cool display on the message side. I've got to check in Philadelphia for something like this.In a bit of bad timing, Gregg Dobbs has been put on the 15-day DL with a strained calf. Taking his place on the bench is Miguel Cairo, who had his contract purchased from the IronPigs. The veteran Cairo has been solid for the 'Pigs. He's also got a fiercely cute son, maybe seven or eight, who looks like a major leaguer in the making. Even playing catch with dad, the kid's got game.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
phils win on bruntlett's unassisted triple play
Oh my goodness. Not exactly what I was screaming when, with two on, no outs, and the runners in motion in the 9th, Eric Bruntlett caught a liner by Jeff Francouer, stepped on second, then tagged Daniel Murphy in the base path. And with that Bruntlett, who had earlier in the inning committed an error and misplayed another ball, became the 15th man in MLB history to turn an unassisted triple play and the first since 1927 to turn a game-ending one.
Oh yes, the Phillies won 9-7 in a game that was filled with bizarre events. The Phillies had two three-run homers in the first, one by Jayson Werth (his 29th) and one by Carlos Ruiz. Then with a 3-0 count on Pedro Martinez, the 9th man to come to bat against Ollie Perez in the inning, Mets' manager Jerry Manuel came out of the dugout and pulled Perez. Wow.
In the bottom of the frame, Shane Victorino 'misplayed' the Citifield ground rules and handed an inside-the-park home run to lead-off hitter Angel Pagan when the ball got lodged under the fence padding. Right then you just knew it was going to be a weird game. Martinez, rocky for his first three innings and effective for his last three, went six, giving up four runs on seven hits. He also had an RBI single.
Martinez left with an 8-4 lead. The Phillies tacked on a run when pinch-hitter Matt Stairs walked, went to 2nd on a wild pitch, to third on a ground-out, then scored on another wild pitch. Bizarre. This is after all Matt Stairs we're talking about.
The Mets meanwhile got another run off Chad Durbin in the 7th, then another off Ryan Madson in the 8th to set up the 9-6 final frame. Eric Bruntlett, who was playing for Chase Utley, had already gone 3 for 3. In the top of the 9th, he hit what was at first ruled a triple, but the umpires, after crowd reaction to replays, overturned the call, initially made by the second base ump. In fact, Jeff Francoeur had made a fantastic catch but the reason for overturning the call was sketchy at best. Charlie Manuel got tossed for his protests.
On in the 9th, Brad Lidge was immediately let down by his defense, first by an error at 1st, then an error by Bruntlett at 2nd, who also misplayed another ball, allowing a run to score. Then Bruntlett, who had gone from hero to goat all in one inning, went again to hero in the most improbable ending of all. I'm still smiling.
Bruntlett later said that he would have been just as happy to have made the plays he botched and have the game end in ho-hum fashion.
Oh yes, the Phillies won 9-7 in a game that was filled with bizarre events. The Phillies had two three-run homers in the first, one by Jayson Werth (his 29th) and one by Carlos Ruiz. Then with a 3-0 count on Pedro Martinez, the 9th man to come to bat against Ollie Perez in the inning, Mets' manager Jerry Manuel came out of the dugout and pulled Perez. Wow.
In the bottom of the frame, Shane Victorino 'misplayed' the Citifield ground rules and handed an inside-the-park home run to lead-off hitter Angel Pagan when the ball got lodged under the fence padding. Right then you just knew it was going to be a weird game. Martinez, rocky for his first three innings and effective for his last three, went six, giving up four runs on seven hits. He also had an RBI single.
Martinez left with an 8-4 lead. The Phillies tacked on a run when pinch-hitter Matt Stairs walked, went to 2nd on a wild pitch, to third on a ground-out, then scored on another wild pitch. Bizarre. This is after all Matt Stairs we're talking about.
The Mets meanwhile got another run off Chad Durbin in the 7th, then another off Ryan Madson in the 8th to set up the 9-6 final frame. Eric Bruntlett, who was playing for Chase Utley, had already gone 3 for 3. In the top of the 9th, he hit what was at first ruled a triple, but the umpires, after crowd reaction to replays, overturned the call, initially made by the second base ump. In fact, Jeff Francoeur had made a fantastic catch but the reason for overturning the call was sketchy at best. Charlie Manuel got tossed for his protests.
On in the 9th, Brad Lidge was immediately let down by his defense, first by an error at 1st, then an error by Bruntlett at 2nd, who also misplayed another ball, allowing a run to score. Then Bruntlett, who had gone from hero to goat all in one inning, went again to hero in the most improbable ending of all. I'm still smiling.
Bruntlett later said that he would have been just as happy to have made the plays he botched and have the game end in ho-hum fashion.
chase utley is the man, the man, the man
It wasn't that Chase Utley was the only Phillie to get a hit off the immensely-hittable Tim Redding or the one to put the Phillies up 2-1 in the sixth with a two-run homer. It was that every time he came to bat, you just knew that if anyone could do it, he could--in his own quiet, intense way. I was thinking again last night that it's probably hard for those not on the field truly to appreciate what kind of player Chase Utley is. And feeling very, very grateful that he is a Phillie. Gotta love lots of the guys on this team.
Meanwhile, J.A. Happ gave up just one run in seven innings. Madson pitched the eighth and Lidge a 1-2-3 ninth in the 4-1 win. Reminder: Rookie J.A. Happ is actually more than a year older than Cole Hamels. Raul Ibanez is showing signs of regaining his stroke.
This morning's Inky has an interesting cross-cultural story about Chan Ho Park and how Chopper, as he's been dubbed, has found success in the close-knit Phillies bullpen. Click on www.philly.com for Inside the Phillies: Park blossoms in bullpen.
Meanwhile, J.A. Happ gave up just one run in seven innings. Madson pitched the eighth and Lidge a 1-2-3 ninth in the 4-1 win. Reminder: Rookie J.A. Happ is actually more than a year older than Cole Hamels. Raul Ibanez is showing signs of regaining his stroke.
This morning's Inky has an interesting cross-cultural story about Chan Ho Park and how Chopper, as he's been dubbed, has found success in the close-knit Phillies bullpen. Click on www.philly.com for Inside the Phillies: Park blossoms in bullpen.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
cole hamels and the rule of 30
Early this year I read somewhere online that Cole Hamels was on the 2009 "Verducci effect" list, also called the "year after effect." Tom Verducci, of Sports Illustrated, was the first to do the research which indicated that a young pitcher (25 or under) whose workload increases by more than 30 innings from the previous season is likely to under-perform or get injured in the year following the increase. This "rule of 30" has to do with young pitchers building up stamina. Increase the load too much and you run into trouble.
In 2008 the 24-year-old Hamels threw 262.1 innings, including the post-season, for an increase of 72.1 innings over 2007. Hamels now has a 4.78 ERA, fifth-highest in the National League and opponents are batting .285 against him, the ninth-highest BAA in the NL.
Last night's outing against the Mets was typical in many ways of his season. He labored for five innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits. He was pretty much nickel and dimed throughout. Everyone's got a theory about Hamels' woes. I'm now firmly of the belief that it's the Verducci effect, exacerbated by a shortened offseason because of last year's playoffs. Just stay healthy, Cole!
In 2008 the 24-year-old Hamels threw 262.1 innings, including the post-season, for an increase of 72.1 innings over 2007. Hamels now has a 4.78 ERA, fifth-highest in the National League and opponents are batting .285 against him, the ninth-highest BAA in the NL.
Last night's outing against the Mets was typical in many ways of his season. He labored for five innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits. He was pretty much nickel and dimed throughout. Everyone's got a theory about Hamels' woes. I'm now firmly of the belief that it's the Verducci effect, exacerbated by a shortened offseason because of last year's playoffs. Just stay healthy, Cole!
Friday, August 21, 2009
cruisin' in the cadillac
When someone hits a home run, color analyst Gary Matthews is likely to say that the guy just took a ride in the Cadillac. The Phillies have been doing a lot of that of late thanks in large part to Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth, who are suddenly both scorching. Last night they helped finally to give Joe Blanton, who has been sturdy but unrewarded, some rare offensive support. Werth hit a two-run homer to center. Howard hit a three-run shot that rattled around the back of the D'backs' bullpen. Even watching on TV, the sound of bat on ball for that one was commanding. Carlos Ruiz too hit a solo homer, which just made it over the left field fence.
In the end, it was a 12-3 win and a series sweep for the Phils. Blanton went a solid eight, got an RBI, and scored a run. This hitting thing is contagious. So is the good pitching. Phillies pitchers did not issue a single walk in the three-game series.
Nice to see that Kyle Drabek rebounded from his previous outing to pitch seven innings of shut-out ball in a 7-0 Reading win up in Portland.
Only five weeks to go.
In the end, it was a 12-3 win and a series sweep for the Phils. Blanton went a solid eight, got an RBI, and scored a run. This hitting thing is contagious. So is the good pitching. Phillies pitchers did not issue a single walk in the three-game series.
Nice to see that Kyle Drabek rebounded from his previous outing to pitch seven innings of shut-out ball in a 7-0 Reading win up in Portland.
Only five weeks to go.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
lee and the longballs
In a vaunted match-up between Danny Haren and Cliff Lee, it was all Cliff Lee. On a muggy night in Philadelphia, with a game time temperature around 90, Lee threw another complete game, allowing just two hits and one unearned run in an 8-1 victory. He again had a no-hitter going into the 6th. He struck out 11 and threw 81 of his 106 pitches for strikes; through the 6th he had thrown just 15 balls. The game took 2 hours and 28 minutes.
As for the offense, Chase Utley led it off in the 3rd, with a two-run homer. Ryan Howard later added a three-run opposite field homer. Jayson Werth had two solo homers. Oh yes, Cliff Lee had two hits and scored a run. As a Phillie, he's still got more hits than runs allowed. When he came to bat in the bottom of the 8th, he got a tingling standing ovation, then beat out a swinging bunt to 1st. Again, is this guy for real?
Lee now has a 0.82 ERA in his four starts with the Phillies. Jayson Werth talking about him postgame said he works quick and fast, throws strikes, and he's good. You got that, Jayson. So did the sell-out crowd, 52nd of the season and the largest to date, in attendance.
As for the offense, Chase Utley led it off in the 3rd, with a two-run homer. Ryan Howard later added a three-run opposite field homer. Jayson Werth had two solo homers. Oh yes, Cliff Lee had two hits and scored a run. As a Phillie, he's still got more hits than runs allowed. When he came to bat in the bottom of the 8th, he got a tingling standing ovation, then beat out a swinging bunt to 1st. Again, is this guy for real?
Lee now has a 0.82 ERA in his four starts with the Phillies. Jayson Werth talking about him postgame said he works quick and fast, throws strikes, and he's good. You got that, Jayson. So did the sell-out crowd, 52nd of the season and the largest to date, in attendance.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
brody colvin
Before I forget, on Monday, the final day for draft signings, the Phillies signed their 7th-round pick, right-handed pitcher Brody Colvin of Lafayette, Louisiana. Colvin, who had a verbal commitment to attend Louisiana State University, is 6'4" and throws in the low 90's. He may be a replacement for Jason Knapp, sent over to the Indians in the Lee and Francisco trade. Whatever he is, he's got a great name. The Phillies signed all of their picks in the top 10 rounds but a couple of coveted fish still got away. Colvin had dropped lower in the draft because of signability issues. Kudos to Marti Woloever and his staff for getting it done.
"two old goats for the price of one"
That's how Pedro Martinez summed up last night's game against the Diamondbacks, which was started by himself, interrupted by a dramatic thunderstorm, and finished by Jamie Moyer out of the bullpen. "The fans got to see two old goats for the price of one," said Pedro, who went three innings, giving up two hits, including a lead-off homer to Stephen Drew, before thunder, lightning, rain, and wind sent the game into a delay.
When play resumed an hour or so later, in the bottom of the third, the Phillies put three on the board. Jamie Moyer, in his first stint out of the bullpen, went six shut-out innings, giving up just two hits. Moyer benefited greatly from facing a young, free-swinging team in the D'backs and from a generous strike zone. Questioned after the game, Moyer somehow managed to sound aggrieved. I don't like judging based on edited snippets but he still sounded sulky about pitching in relief. Get over it, Jamie.
Jayson Werth hit his 25th homer of the season, a two-run shot and a career best. That put the Phillies up 5-1.
Haren vs. Lee tonight. Sounds good.
When play resumed an hour or so later, in the bottom of the third, the Phillies put three on the board. Jamie Moyer, in his first stint out of the bullpen, went six shut-out innings, giving up just two hits. Moyer benefited greatly from facing a young, free-swinging team in the D'backs and from a generous strike zone. Questioned after the game, Moyer somehow managed to sound aggrieved. I don't like judging based on edited snippets but he still sounded sulky about pitching in relief. Get over it, Jamie.
Jayson Werth hit his 25th homer of the season, a two-run shot and a career best. That put the Phillies up 5-1.
Haren vs. Lee tonight. Sounds good.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
pedro in philadelphia tonight
If it weren't for the hot, sticky weather of late, I would probably have tried to get tix to tonight's game with the Diamondbacks. Pedro Martinez makes his home debut against Jon Garland. It's funny. When Martinez was with the Mets, I must have seen him pitch in person against the Phillies, but I can't recall any of those games. Instead, I remember a 1999 game late in the season in Yankee Stadium, against the Red Sox. I had got tix for the plumber, a big Yankee fan. By chance Pedro was pitching.
If anything, I had an anti-rooting interest in both teams, but was looking forward to seeing Pedro in person. A trio of excited young Latinos asked me directions to Yankee Stadium on the subway platform at 42nd Street. I told them to follow the crowd, then asked if they were going to see Pedro. Their faces lit up. Yes, of course, because he was Pedro and because he was a countryman.
It was a fabulous, unforgettable game. Pedro struck out 17 Yankees, including the last three he faced in the 9th. It was reminiscent of an electric interleague game a couple of years earlier at the old Vet, when Curt Schilling K'd 16 Yankees.
For the Pedro game, we had seats down the third base line. By the ninth, the many Red Sox fans in attendance were loudly feisty and many of the Yankee fans belligerently sour.
Pedro is unlikely to come anywhere near 17 K's tonight. I had to laugh, though, about what he said after his first start with the Phillies, last week in Chicago, about "trotting the Old Goat out there". He was referring to himself of course, but you had to wonder if it was a sly dig at Jamie Moyer, who had already expressed his displeasure about being bumped for this "new" Old Goat.
If anything, I had an anti-rooting interest in both teams, but was looking forward to seeing Pedro in person. A trio of excited young Latinos asked me directions to Yankee Stadium on the subway platform at 42nd Street. I told them to follow the crowd, then asked if they were going to see Pedro. Their faces lit up. Yes, of course, because he was Pedro and because he was a countryman.
It was a fabulous, unforgettable game. Pedro struck out 17 Yankees, including the last three he faced in the 9th. It was reminiscent of an electric interleague game a couple of years earlier at the old Vet, when Curt Schilling K'd 16 Yankees.
For the Pedro game, we had seats down the third base line. By the ninth, the many Red Sox fans in attendance were loudly feisty and many of the Yankee fans belligerently sour.
Pedro is unlikely to come anywhere near 17 K's tonight. I had to laugh, though, about what he said after his first start with the Phillies, last week in Chicago, about "trotting the Old Goat out there". He was referring to himself of course, but you had to wonder if it was a sly dig at Jamie Moyer, who had already expressed his displeasure about being bumped for this "new" Old Goat.
rickey #24
Last month's trip to San Francisco included the August 1 game in Oakland when Rickey Henderson had his number retired by the A's. It was nice to see the stadium filled with cheering fans at the celebration. The giveaway that day was a Henderson jersey. We didn't make the 10,000 fan cut that day but did get the super five-foot banner of Henderson handed out the next day, when the crowd barely passed 10,000. (Not good, Oakland.)
Henderson spoke last at the ceremony on the 1st. He ended his short but eloquent speech with these words: Rickey has tears in his eyes. Rickey has love in his heart for you. Rickey is very very very humbled.
It was truly touching.
Monday, August 17, 2009
michael taylor il player of the week
Michael Taylor, called up to the IronPigs a bare month ago, was named the International League Player of the Week. No wonder. Besides having some key home runs, including one that tied a game in the 9th, he hit for the cycle. Way to go, Michael! I still vividly recall my first sight of Taylor and Domonic Brown, before a game a couple of years ago at Williamsport. I was sitting in the first row just off first base fiddling with my camera bag when I looked up to see these two regal-looking dudes gliding by, like Nubian princes. Taylor is 6'6" and Brown 6'5. Definitely a wow moment. Even better, as time has shown, they're both good.
Reading's Mike Stutes was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week. The right-handed Stutes, who has really picked it up of late, threw 13 innings of one-run ball.
Reading's Mike Stutes was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week. The right-handed Stutes, who has really picked it up of late, threw 13 innings of one-run ball.
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