Tag: phillies

Yankees vs. Red Sox, with Cliff Lee and the Phillies thrown in at no extra charge

April 8, 2011 / Robert

Has Yankees vs. Red Sox become passe? Maybe, since the Red Sox have shown after their two recent World Series wins that they are no longer the Yankees’ perrennial bridesmaids. Sure, during the course of the season there are important head-to-head games between the two teams, but with the resurgence of the Phillies in the past 5 or so years, and the 2009 Phillies-Yankees World Series, that Phillies fans’ hatred of the Yankees is approaching that of the Boston fans. Comments like “Yankees fans don’t consider Philadelphia to be a legitimate sports town” only deepens the hatred that Philadelphia has for all things New York.

So it was nice this afternoon to see the Red Sox, struggling after an 0-6 start to this season, to spank the crap out of the Yankees and earn their first win, 9-6. Too bad Cliff Lee took the Phillies’ second loss tonight, 6-3, to Atlanta.

Oh, and Manny Ramirez retired today, rather than face a 100 game suspension for his second failed drug test.

February First

February 8, 2011 / Robert

I don’t know what it is – maybe it’s all the too-slowly melting snow that’s depressing me, or maybe it’s effecting my creativity, but here it is the 8th already and this is my first February post? The outside temperatures will be dropping again for the next couple of days, but it looks like much warmer (and sunnier?) days are in the forecast for early next week!

Which brings us to the subject of Spring; more specifically, Spring Training, and the return of Major League Baseball! Little darling, it’s been a long, long lonely winter… it seems like years since it’s been here… but the wait is nearly over for the Phils to regroup in Clearwater for the start of the drive to the World Series. Sure, maybe I’m expecting too much too soon, but I can not WAIT for that starting rotation to get in its groove.

The Rotation

December 14, 2010 / Robert

In an incredibly surprising move that still has me shaking my head in disbelief, the Phils re-signed Cliff Lee on Monday night to bring him back to an already stellar starting rotation: Roy Halladay, fresh off his Cy Young award winning season, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels. It was generally believed that the Lee was headed to the Yankees, who were offering $154 million over 7 years, but Lee accepted the Phillies’ $120 million/5 year deal instead, for the opportunity to pitch again for a team he loved in a city he loved in 2009. Now if only the Phils can remember how to hit, and we’re looking pretty good for another run at the World Series!

The Trade Deadline

July 29, 2010 / Robert

The Phillies obtained Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros this afternoon, to help them down the stretch as they battle to make the MLB post-seasson.

I don’t think it quite makes up for trading away Cliff Lee, but I like having two premiere pitchers in Oswalt and Roy Halladay at the top of the rotation, as the Phils try and climb back into 1st place in the NL East.

Home Run, Jimi Hendrix

April 25, 2010 / Robert

or George Hendrick… whatever… read the entire game boxscore here

30 years ago tonight, Tommy and I opted to go to the Phillies-Cardinals game, instead of attending that night’s high school Senior Prom. For me, it was my first Phillies game at the Vet since 1974, but it was just the first of many, many games that Tommy and I would attend over the next 15 or so years; his family’s season tickets initially were in row 18 of section 232, but after the strike year of 1981 they moved up 5 rows to row 13, seats 10 and 11.

Those seats were magical, and looking back now it was such a privilege to sit so close to home plate for as many games for such a (relatively) low price as I did. Nowadays, in Citizens Bank Park, those seats would cost upwards of $100 apiece. We sat in those seats through many summer nights while we were in college; we were there in those seats at the snow-delayed Phillies home opener in 1982. Eventually, as we both grew older and Tom got married, I used to buy 10 or so games from his Mom, and used to take my future bride to the games. Our seats were directly under the radio booth, and during the 7th inning stretch we used to exchange waves with the late Richie Ashburn and Harry Kalas. I remember taking my Dad to one particular Saturday afternoon game, and on the way out we ran into Richie as he was leaving the stadium; my Dad, having remembered #1 from his playing days with the Whiz Kids, was duly impressed with his brush with baseball greatness.

Tommy and I sat in those seats for what may have been the last true double-header at the Vet, and witnessed the late Tug McGraw recite Casey at the Bat between games from the mound, and again in those seats on Mike Schmidt night when he retired from baseball. Edith and I sat there through rain delayed nights when we were practically the only fans there, and again on the nights we celebrated Richie’s and Schmidt’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Those seats were truly special, and played a huge part on making me the fan of the game that I am today, which I have passed down to my own son. Will and I have been to only 5 games at the new ballpark, and we’ll be there again on September 3, sitting in section 116, 6 rows behind the Phillies dugout down the first base side. Richie and Harry, and Tug, are now gone, but we continue to cheer for the Phils as we create our own memories.

Phillies 8, Yankees 6

November 3, 2009 / Robert

Whew. This game was much closer than it should have been, due to some runs scored in the late innings, but the Phils held on to win their second game of this 2009 World Series and send it all back to New York for Game 6.

Unlike last night’s game, where the Phils clawed their way back into a 4-4 tie in the 9th, only to see the Yanks score three runs in the top of the inning to win 7-4, the Phillies offense scored enough runs for the bullpen to hold onto the win.

OK, so I wrote that I saw the Phillies being up 2-0 heading to Citizens Bank Park, and clearly I was wrong. Last night’s game should have been a win, and the Phils at this point should be up 3-2 instead of the other way around. That being said, I’ve also seen a certain team from Boston come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the ALCS by taking each and every game one at a time, and a certain pitcher from that 2004 Red Sox team is now taking the mound for the Phillies. I like Pedro picking up the ball at Yankee Stadium one more time, on regular rest, but the Phillies bats need to produce or this thing will be all done on Wednesday night. No predictions here, but I do believe that the Phils can win against Pettitte on short rest, and send this to a winner-take-all Game 7.

Go Phils !! Go Phils !! Go Phils !!

Phillies 6, Yankees 1

October 28, 2009 / Robert

Phillies take Game 1, with a completely dominating performance from Cliff Lee. Complete game, near shut-out, 10 strikeouts (9 swinging) and no walks. Chase Utley put the Phils up 2-0 with two solo home runs off C C Sabathia, and the Yankees were never in the game.

Pedro Martinez starts for the Phils tomorrow night, to throw his first post-season pitches at Yankee Stadium since game 7 of the 2004 ALCS when the Sox trounced the Yanks on my birthday. I can hear the “Who’s Your Daddy” chants already, but I have to believe that Pedro will be pumped and ready to go. I like the Phillies chances against A. J. Burnett, and can see them heading back to Philadelphia up 2-0.

Let’s go Phils !

The Re-match: Phillies vs. Yankees

October 26, 2009 / Robert

Geez, this is something I had only ever imagined would ever occur, but 59 years after the Yankees swept the Whiz Kids in the 1950 World Series, the Phillies and the Yankees will meet again in the 2009 World Series.

I expect this time, the Phillies will prevail, to defend their 2008 World Series title. The frustrating part is that living here in the metro-New York area, the local media is heralding the Yanks as the team-to-beat, the natural choice as the best team in baseball, due to a lack of appreciation and awareness of the Phillies and their abilities.

Too bad Harry Kalas isn’t here to call the Series games, and to knock John Sterling on his ass.

Let’s go Phils!

Swing and a Long Drive

April 13, 2009 / Robert

I never knew a Phillies baseball game without Harry Kalas.

From the time I started watching Phillies games with my former brother-in-law in the early 70’s to really following the Phillies in the 1975 season, Harry was there. From the lazy Sunday afternoons watching the Phillies win their first National League East title in 1976, then again in 1977 and 1978, Harry was there. From that final 1980 weekend in Montreal that launched the Phillies to NLCS and World Series victories, Harry was there. Throughout the 80’s and early 90’s I used to sit right under the broadcast booth in section 232, row 13 at the old Veteran’s Stadium, and throughout the game – especially the 7th inning stretch – I’d look up and Harry was there. Even now as I write this, I’m getting goosebumps when I remember hearing “swing and a long drive, to deep center field, going back, this ball is outta’ here, home run, Michael Jack Schmidt…” I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch Phillies baseball during their truly halcyon days, to witness the Hall of Fame careers of Schmidt, and Steve Carlton; to have the opportunity to watch both of them inducted into the shrine in Cooperstown that is the Baseball Hall of Fame, alongside Richie Ashburn – Harry was there, too. When Richie passed away, suddenly, and on the road, in 1997, I felt that Phillies broadcasts would never be the same, but the one constant that remained was Harry Kalas.

Harry Kalas passed away earlier today, suddenly and on the road, in the broadcast booth preparing for the Phillies vs. the Washington Nationals home opener.

From the time that I was 9 years old, I have never known a Phillies baseball game without Harry Kalas. Today was the first day of the rest of my life without Harry Kalas in the broadcast booth, and now I know for sure, Phillies baseball will never, ever, be the same.

Woo Hoo!! The Phillies are the 2008 World Champions of Baseball!!

October 29, 2008 / Robert

The Phillies are World Series Champs... again!!

Who’d have thought? This team certainly had all of the pieces, but many times this season seemed unable at times to put them together. Then came that HUGE series against Milwaukee in mid-September where they swept the then wild-card leading Brewers 4 games to none to move into a tie, and right then and there I knew this team could go all the way. They followed that up with a sweep of the Braves, while the Mets continued to choke (again) and the Phils moved into the NL East lead and never looked back. Ya gotta’ believe!

Go Phils!!

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