Phillies Offense... Like a Runaway Train

The Phillies offense has managed exactly 5 hits in the last 18 innings.

Makes me think that something is missing. Oh that's right... offense. The offense is missing. (there was no pitching tonight either, but even if Eaton pitches a 1 run gem, we still lose).

The Phillies offense is on a runaway train. Wrong ticket on a one way track. It seems like we should be getting somewhere... somehow we're neither here nor there. And it has been going on like this for too long.

This Soul Asylum video makes me think the Phillies should have a spot in the video.

"Phillies Playoff Berth: Missing Since 1993"

Pathetic... enjoy the video..

The Future of Baseball

As much as I envy anyone who has the ability to watch every Phillies game on TV, there is something to be said about the drama of radio, and the interactivity of MLB.com's GameDay .

To the left, and highlighted throughout this blog is the last pitch of the game to Ryan Howard. It was pretty exciting watching it on the GameDay and listening to the WPHT broadcast with GameDay Audio.

Some of the perks of the GameDay feature include the ability to click around and see statistics of each player. If the pitcher is left handed, you'll see the batter's average vs. lefties. If he's home it will show his home average or his stats (away if away), and it will show his average for the month, season and career. Each of those is again, clickable to see more. When he's on base, you'll see his stolen base percentage. Rolling over any fielder will give you fielding percentage. There is always something you can be doing, to enhance the game experience.

The focus of the GameDay is the pitcher/batter match up. And what is better than a good battle at the plate? The GameDay option allows you to see each pitch and its location. A red dot is a strike, a green dot is a ball and a blue dot, is a ball put in play. This feature is extended when you can go to previous at bats and watch the pitching sequence in order.

Here you can see the pitch sequence of Ryan Howard's last at bat. The pitched him out and up for the first 3 pitches. The fourth pitch was in the zone, but still a little out. The 6th pitch was a waste pitch low... and finally he got one to drive and put a charge into it, but we all know the result was a game ending double play.

If the ballpark has the ability, you can sometimes see the flight of the ball from the pitcher's hand to the plate. They'll put a tail on the ball for its entire flight so that you can see the trajectory of the pitch, how much it dropped or how much it curved, etc... One can also switch to the pitcher's view of the balls and strikes.

There is a map (pictured at the bottom) which shows you how many men are on base, who's playing what position, the layout of the ballpark and where the ball was hit. The pictures I used are from a screen shot from last night's ball game. The image to the left shows where Ryan Howard hit the ball that doubled up Bourn. Rolling over the pitcher's name would give you the # of pitches and how many strikes, his record and his current, up-to-date ERA.

As you can see, the box score is scrollable. You can see both teams in the same window. You can also see the pitcher's box score to quickly get a tally of the number of walks or strikeouts he might have. Each name on the box score is clickable giving you a well placed window with all of the aforementioned statistical options.

The game summary is a pitch by pitch recall of the entire game. If you just tuned in and you want to see how Hamels got himself out of a jam in the 3rd inning. Simply click on the 3rd inning and scroll down to read the play by play. Each play can then be opened to reveal the pitch sequence of that at bat. They've really thought of almost everything. And what amazes me about the whole thing is that it doesn't seem too busy. They even have the scores of other games scrolling across the top, but it adds to the interface as opposed to detracting from it. Each of the games is obviously clickable so that you can go to the GameDay interface of any game being played.

Much like the Merrill Reese/TV timing issue, there is a slight radio delay when watching GameDay. This however, can sometimes be good because you'll see the single, and then look forward to how Harry might call it.

I like what MLB.com has done with their ability to keep out of town fans satisfied with the coverage. I have not used the MLB.tv option, so I'm curious to hear about the pros and cons of that. I do however utilize the MLB Audio to listen to Phils and it just like listening on the radio, but without the interference. But I must say there is something about the interference I used to get from my parents' kitchen radio that would make the games that much better. We used to have to turn out the lights to get better reception. And on rainy nights there was more interference than talking... but we were true fans and would listen regardless.

And about the Phils. It seems as if we don't know what to do with our broom. We sweep the Braves and then get swept by the D-Backs... talk about snake bitten.

Howard and Hamels

Howard and Hamels. The names flow nicely. As nice as Schmidt and Carlton or Bunning and Callison.

Howard and Hamels.

Say it to yourself, quietly at first... and then louder. Now shout it...Howard and Hamels. Nice, right?

Be prepared to say these words with confidence, and practice it so that if flows off your tongue nicely, and without hesitation. Howard and Hamels.

Howard and Hamels are going to help this organization win some ball games. Howard and Hamels are going to be perennial All-Stars. Howard and Hamels will be MVP and Cy Young candidates for years to come. Howard and Hamels are young. Howard and Hamels are Superstars in waiting. Howard and Hamels will be the future of this franchise.

Oh, and don't look now, but we've also got the best shortstop/second base combination also. Utley and Rollins are pretty damn good too. Rollins and Utley sounds good too. Or is it Utley and Rollins...

Rollins to Utley to Howard... not quite the same as Tinkers to Evers to Chance... but Howard and Hamels... wow, that sounds nice.

Howard and Hamels helped us complete the sweep of the Atlanta Braves this afternoon. Howard contributed with 2 homeruns, leaving the Mendoza line behind and proving that he is back to his old self. Hamels, simply pitched 6 innings with 3 earned runs and 8 Ks. Hamels now leads the league in strikeouts with 86 in 74.2 innings. Good stuff, huh?

Howard and Hamels. The names should make you smile. They are the future.

Oh.. and one more thing. Cue Dick Van Dyke and the dancing penguins, and get the bratty kids on the set... we've swept the Braves like an old chimney... "Chim chimery, chim chimery, chim chim cheroo..."

Can't wait for the next Hamels outing to be able to say these words again... Howard and Hamels.

Bring on the Diamondbacks...

PS - The real reason why Cole had a back injury is because he threw a ball so hard it went all the way around the world and hit him in the back. (http://www.colehamelsfacts.com/)

My 2007 Phillies Record is 2-0

I've been to two games this year. The Phillies have won both games. I'm thinking I should be hired as a Victory Consultant. I won't ask for much, just a free ticket and a small stipend for a brat and a beer, and maybe a parking pass for me and my buddies.

The most recent game was Friday night, at Turner Field. Having lived in Atlanta for 2 years, this was my 4th and most likely last time at Turner Field. It is a nice stadium but nothing really that impressive. They have a hug scoreboard, which is apparently the biggest screen in professional sports. But it doesn't look as impressive as the one Citizen's Bank Park. I think the backdrop has something to do with that.

Friday night's win was an 8-3 victory. Jaime Moyer out-dueled Tim Hudson for the win. The highlight of the night might have been Ryan Howard's return to the 4th spot... Jimmy Rollins' two doubles and 3 runs scored, or Shane Victorino's 3 hits. Granpa Moyer had two hits also. That's one for each World War he's lived through.

To the right is the picture of the crew right after the game... For the curious, I'm the one on the left. The others from left to right, are Steve a friend of mine I met at the best Eagles Bar in the World, Joe, also from the bar. Brian, a fellow teacher and baseball coach. He does an excellent job with the program. They're very competitive (Go Druid Hills Red Devils). And finally Kristy, who I also know from the bar. Katie, however happens to be from my hometown of Warminster, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. Below is the scoreboard, just for posterity.

After every Friday night game the Braves have fireworks. Too bad they didn't have too many during the game. Here is a pretty cool picture of Steve watching the fireworks. It wasn't an easy shot considering the lighting and the timing and the fact that I had as many beers as the number on Shane Victorino's back.

Before Friday, the other game I attended was the Phils' lone victory vs. the Braves this season.

In that contest we saw King Cole Hamels let up 3 runs in the first, and then settle down for a 7 inning, 6 strikeout respectable performance.

The first game was enjoyed a few Yeungling's from the Phillies fans who pulled up next to us in the parking lot. They were all air traffic controllers at the nearby Hartsfeld-Jackson Intl. Airport, a huge hub for local company Delta, where a good number of our friends work. One of these air traffic controllers, who's name I forget now, had gone to my high school, William Tennent, in the aforementioned Warminster. Small world.

To the right is the crew we had for the first game. It is kind of dark, but that's what you get when you ask the drunk girl behind you, who held up a sign the entire night that read: "Hey Brian, How do you like these Cann's?", to take your picture.

Her signed was aimed towards Braves' catcher Brian McCann, who I saw speak at a coach's convention this year. He's kind of a dud. But he can hit. He's a local hero who played with fellow Atlanta native Jeff Franceour. During an interview at a University of Delaware teacher job fair, I met Franceour's father. This was before he had made a big impact with the Braves. He was still a minor leaguer at the time. I remember they asked me if I had heard of him and I had said no.

And finally, the last few pics are from our post-game celebration from this Friday night's win. We were simply waiting for traffic to subside, though the traffic at Turner Field is nothing compared to that of our favorite sports complex in South Philadelphia.

If Phillies management is reading this blog, then I'd be happy to attend a few more games to help this team win a few more games. I have a 100% winning percentage this year. I'm available for all weekend games and weeknights Monday through Wednesday.

Fish Stories: The One that Almost Got Away...

"Joe, you should have seen this whopper. He must have been 200lbs., and he was 6 feet if he was an inch... He was a fighter too... He almost got away. His line snagged on a rock and I couldn't free it. So do you know what I did? I jumped right in there and grabbed him myself... Yep. And then we ate him for dinner that night, and put the rest in the freezer for later."

The Phillies almost let one get away tonight. Myers got our big catch snagged on the rock, but luckily Abraham Nunez was willing to jump in and save the day.

The game was a see-saw battle. Garcia pitched okay. He still didn't make it to the 7th inning, nor was he too keen on keeping the Phillies in the lead. He relinquished two leads. However, the last several innings were exciting to say the least.

Now, because I'm still in Atlanta (moving in 10 days back home to Philly), I can only listen to the game with MLB Audio. So I can't make a comment on the play at the plate... but it doesn't matter now because we won the game. But my summation is that Barajas is at fault for dropping to his knee and then standing up to make the tag. If the throw beats the runner, the catcher shouldn't have a problem making the tag, unless they do something strange. And according to Larry Anderson, the ump was in no position to see the play and probably should have called him out... regardless.

Good win.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are....

I think it is due time to grill Freddy Garcia. Out of all the offseason acquisitions I was most excited about Freddy Garcia. He was supposed to be our ace. And it was pretty cool because he was joining a staff of previous aces... which is better than a staff of never-were-aces, right?

We were on board to have Freddy Garcia, a perennial innings eater with 12-15 win capabilities. Garcia made 33 starts last year and won more than half of them. The White Sox Freddy Garcia is good.

He's made 7 starts this year and has only managed to win one. The Phillies' Freddy Garcia is not good.

So Freddy, I don't want to hear excuses about not being pitched enough and just let me pitch, blah, blah, blah... if you pitch well through 5 innings, you'll pitch in the 6th. Period. If you keep your pitch count down. You'll pitch in the 7th. Period. If you're mowing them down like Cole Hamels', you might pitch the 8th. And if you're really on par, you'll pitch the 9th. Until then, just get us through 5, kid... okay?

You have exactly 2 quality starts in 7 attempts. Let's not complain about staying in the ball game just yet. Cole Hamels has that clout, not you... not yet.

Here is how the 7 games break down.

About 5 innings per start. Garcia, you've yet to make it to the 7th inning. Maybe tonight is the night. Please show us why we brought you here.

Considering 33 starts, which is a stretch, Garcia is on pace to finish the season with a 5-14 record, he'll pitch 174 innings, and have 146 Ks (this stat isn't bad..its about his average). But he'll be about 40 innings shy of what we'd expect. Over 30 starts, that's more than an inning per start lost.

Enough is enough.

Freddy, I'll reason with you. We know you are a competitor. You have 9 postseason starts... of these you've won 5 to only 2 losses.

5-2 with a 3.11 ERA is nothing to shake a stick at... that's really good. So we know you have the fire to compete. Now go out there and do it... We want the Freddy Garcia the White Sox had. That guy was good.

"I need you tonight... 'cause I'm not sleepin... there's something about you [Garcia], that makes me sweat!"

Cole Hamels is Human... and so is Aaron Rowand

Cole Hamels had good stuff. He struck out 8 batters in 6 innings. He entered the sixth inning leading 3-1, with no sign of slowing down.

Then Cole Hamels turned into Hole Camels (I'm not exactly sure what that means, but its funny...at least its funny to me). Hole Camels must by Cole's alter ego... every super hero needs one, right?

Cole Hamels is only human, he's allowed to have bad outings every so often. I'll take a 6 to 2, win to loss ratio, any day. But Cole's lack of prowess tonight was enhanced by what could be considered a miscue, from Aaron Rowand. Errors are like Kryptonite to King Cole.

Cole Hamels, started off the 6th by allowing a sharp double to left field. No problem, Dan Ugla doubled to start off the 3rd, and didn't advance. Then Miguel Cabrera hits a ball that appears like it should have been caught by Aaron Rowand... who appeared to have taken a bad angle on the ball. Then Chase Utley throws the relay throw into the stands to allow Cabrera to score... tie game.

These miscues, obviously play with the super intelligent mind of Cole Hamels, and he quickly transforms into Hole Camels, and another double was registered.

Then Cole Hamels again, as he fanned two in a row... and then bam... Hole Camels lets up another double. 5-3 Marlins...

I guess we can't blame Aaron Rowand for this ball... but the entire outcome may have been different... had Rowand caught that ball. They may have come out of the inning leading 3-2, instead of losing 5-3.

But, he's only human.

PS - By the way, check out this site about Cole Hamels... http://www.colehamelsfacts.com/ I wonder if Cole Hamels could beat up Chuck Norris?

PSS - Does anyone else wince at the thought that Sammy Sosa's name is soon to be used in the same sentence as Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays? It disgusts me... I'll even except Bonds because steroids or not... that guy can flat out hit.