It's been a while since I've blogged which leaves me with a backlog of thoughts... in no particular order of importance... enjoy...

• Mark McGwire took steroids... baseball's worst kept secret is no longer a secret. Too bad Meathead Mark didn't really admit to anything. Yes, I took steroids, he said, but no, they didn't make me hit any homeruns, that I could do naturally. Right... OK... whatever... YOU CHEATED. Just say so. Don't qualify your admission. We're not that stupid.

 

• Eagles come up small in playoffs... again... football's Gold Standard once again demonstrated why it should win the all-time Groundhog Day Award for being sports most-consistent nightmare. Reid needs to "do a better job coaching" - Donovan had "an outstanding season" - Really? I've never heard THAT before... make it 51 seasons and counting... can we PLEASE get something new in here? Please?

 

• Phillies get their man... Not that Cliff Lee wasn't "the man" for the second half of 2009 and the sole reason the WFC's almost went back-to-back, but I'm VERY OK with the his departure and the arrival of Doc Halladay. Having arguably the game's best pitcher works in the scheme of things. Yeah, yeah, the bullpen needs some work still, but this team is poised to remain on top of the NL.

 

• They call Alabama the Crimson Tide... and now Champs... so, there was a second game played at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Alabama beat Texas. They got the glass ball. I missed most of it because until the dolts that run the NCAA give us a real championship system, I don't care... (And as an aside, the recent comments by the BCS Chairman were asinine. More injuries, meaningless regular season, kill the bowl system, etc. Uh, wow, all those fans disguised as empty seats at the endless Jabronie Bowls might disagree. Please, like I said, we're not THAT stupid.) 

I could go on, but I'm outta time. You've been great. Be sure to tip your servers. And remember, when life gives you (endless) snow, make snowballs... or at least go sledding.

Is it baseball season yet?

Much has been said and written about how the Phillies have turned a corner in recent years, how they finally seem to "get it." I was reminded of that after another day of Eagles football came and went with a hauntingly familiar result. The Birds have taken over as Philadelphia's -- hell, maybe ALL of professional sport's -- Groundhog Day Team.

You know, they do the same thing over and over and expect something different to result. Phil Sheridan of the Philly Inquirer hit on it in his assessment of their latest loss...

"The veteran head coach has to take some of the heat for the way some very good drives fizzled..."

"The Eagles' inability to (insert appropriate failure here) remains a mystery..."

"...another winnable game gets away... the Eagles are just a mediocre football team..."

Those comments -- and I swear I've seen them before at some point every year for the past ten or so seasons -- got me thinking about how much these two teams have traded places and even more so, WHY that has occurred. For me, it boils down to one simple aspect:

The Phillies have a FEEL... the Eagles do not.

The Birds are led by men (Andy Reid and his bosses) entrenched in a mind-fart of epic proportions, unable to deviate from a stubborn and insane belief that their system is the be-all, end-all of perfection and if repeated often enough will lead to success. Unfortunately, as much as the system, it is these mens' definition of success that is the failure. They just don't get it.

Contrast that with the Phillies. Professional sports' most successful loser, the team suffered for years as a "second tier" organization run by a management group more intent on controlling the level of debits over credits than wins over losses. Like Lurie/Banner/Reid now, the Phillies front office had no FEEL for success, not really. They liked to try to get you to believe they did, but we knew better.

A couple close calls were made worse by a lack of action when action was called for. The elusive ring was right there, but we were told it was unreachable.

And then something changed...

Someone woke up and Ed Wade was banished to the abyss, destined to make another franchise suffer his indignities. Pat Gillick was presented to us and we were told he got it, he had a feel, just look at what he'd done in Toronto and Seattle. Pat gave us Charlie Manuel, a West Virginia bumpkin on the outside, but a fierce competitor on the inside. We were told Charlie had a feel, and we just had to trust him, we'd see.

At first we were reluctant, but as time passed we saw something in their eyes and heard something in their voices, something different. Off-field moves once thought impossible became commonplace. On-field moves questioned at first soon spawned results. The close calls became championships. A division out of nowhere. Then another with a pennant and a world title. It became a three year run unlike any before.

And best of all, it promises more to come. Not because that's what the mindless dolts tell us will happen, but because we can FEEL it. Watching the Eagles, more and more of us feel nothing. There is no look of a champion, no innate sense they are destined for something other than more of the same. If nothing else, the Phillies have proven more of the same is no longer acceptable. Watching them, despite a World Series defeat, we feel good.

As the off-season settles in, anticipation for the future is high. The Fightins' still carry the look of a winner, the look of a champion. The new season (now more than ever given the Eagles awfulness) can't get here soon enough.

Can you FEEL it?

I knew you could...

Things are already moving for the Phillies so no point holding off on thoughts regarding their future. I'll get right to it...

Already Done:

• Cliff Lee will be back in 2010 it was announced today. This one was a no-brainer. Enough said.
• Brett Myers will NOT be back. This one just came down. Not necessarily a no-brainer, but I think we all saw it coming. As Brett said: "Thanks for putting up with my ****." - we couldn't have said it better.
  

Things to Work on:

• Pitching

With Lee in and Myers out, a few outstanding questions remain. Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ are going nowhere. That puts three lefties in the rotation. I not a fan of going with four so that means Jamie Moyer becomes odd man out; if healthy, I send him to the pen for long work and/or the occasional spot-start. He already earned his $ for 2010, but that doesn't mean he has to start. Hamels is too much of a "?" every 5th day - no need adding another.

That means two righties are needed. Joe Blanton is up for arbitration. I have no problems with him in the rotation. His numbers say he'll get a raise, but without Myers, that should be manageable. So that leaves another spot. As much as I liked the shot on Pedro Martinez, I don't think he returns (see "?" above). That means I see a Spring Training battle between Kyle Kendrick, Kyle Drabek, and a yet-to-be-named-group of other contenders.

If Double-K doesn't make the rotation, I put him in the bullpen. His learning of a third pitch showed promise late in the year. Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin have injuries and advancing age; one or both may not return. Same with Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge. With the dregs on the current list of free agent closers, I give Lidge a shot to return to form. I would sign Chan Ho Park; he was solid in relief, and the return of J.C. Romero helps, but another lefty or two wouldn't hurt.

The BP is the biggest mess and there will be a host of bodies given a chance to compete. Stay tuned on this one.

• The Bench

A glaring weakness all season, the reserve core MUST improve. Of all the good things Ruben Jr. did, he dropped the ball here. Matt Stairs, Eric Bruntlett, Paul Backo should all be let go. Greg Dobbs gets a pass because of injury; he stays. Ben Francisco is back. That means three to four are needed, including a back-up catcher.

This is a prime area for the elusive "veteran help" but finding the right guy(s) who want to sit most of the time is hard. I'd like to see a push for Mark DeRosa. He can spell both Jimmy and Chase (and BOTH MUST BE SPELLED more in 2010 and beyond) as well as play outfield. Marlon Byrd is an interesting possibility. He has pop from the right side and can play all 3 outfield spots. Combined with Ben, those two could give Charlie more options in resting guys.

That leaves a lefthanded bopper and a reserve catcher.

For catchers the FA list here is long, but I'll list Jason Kendell, Miguel Olivo and Brian Schneider as possibilities (oh, man, did I say Schneider? He freaking kills the Phillies wherever he plays so maybe getting him would be a good idea). And no, I'm not bringing back Chris Coste.

Lefthanded bopper could be interesting. Seeing what's on the FA list, maybe Stairs does survive another year... either that or someone I can't see comes up and takes this spot. Another stay tuned area.

• The Regulars
  

None are threatened with the exception of Pedro Feliz at third base. (Hell, by time I post this he may already be gone...) Pete Happy's glove work is Gold Glove-worthy, but they don't give GG's to light hitting third sackers, they just don't. He did knock in close to 80 runs this year, so it's $5m to sign him or $500k + a new contract to let him go. Can they get someone for $5m that is an upgrade? I'm not sure... I need to revisit this one later.

The biggest thing I see for the A-Team is they ALL need more off days next year. No need to run them into the ground (see Chase's fall off, then big rebound after the rest before the WS). Getting the right bench players makes that happen easier. It's a balancing act, but this team has the chance to be WS contenders for a few more years. No point wasting that chance being stubborn, stupid, or cheap.

The endless and sure to continue sell-outs make "cheap" no longer an option. They've been proving that lately. If it was my money, I'd continue, but try to make sure it is spent wisely... no "buy a trophy" here, not in this town. However it shakes out the Hot Stove and next season are going to be fun.

I'm looking forward to both.

The Philadelphia Phillies are NOT the Champions of Baseball...

There is no cause for sadness and thus, no tears, not this time, not for this team. A season has ended, nothing more, a trophy passed from one team to another. Wounded but still strong, it will take more than the temporary discomfort of that task to lessen the immense pride in the Phillies' accomplishments... or the anticipation and promise of those yet to come.

In years past, such feelings were absent. Somehow we knew that to which we were witness was fleeting, a flash of light in our collective darkness. 1980 was a culmination, an ending to countless years of frustration and heartache. The struggle left little on the candle and the light  soon flickered out for good. We knew 1983 and 1993 were aberrations, blips on a radar, a momentary spark, but nothing more.

And then something happened, something changed. It was a simple proclamation by Jimmy Rollins, January 23, 2007: "I think we are the team to beat in the NL East... finally."

And so it began... and we believed.

Finally, the players realized there was more than ME in team. Gone was the dead-weight and anchors of selfish and uncaring divas, men interested more in personal stats than wins. There was something different, a strength in the core unseen but felt. No longer would futility be accepted or expected. It was time for something great...

• September 13, 2007: 7 back with 17 to play...
• September 30, 2007: Phillies beat Nationals to win National League East...
• September 27, 2008: Ground ball towards short, Rollins make the stop, flips to Utley, to Howard, DOUBLE PLAY... the Phillies are NL East Champions again...
• October 5, 2008: Phillies beat Brewers 6-2 to win NLDS 3 games to 1...
• October 15, 2008: Phillies beat Dodgers 5-1 to win NLCS 4 games to 1... back in the World Series for first time in 25 years...
• October 27, 2008 to October 29, 2008: Brad Lidge completes a perfect ending of a perfect season and the Phillies beat Rays 4-3 to win the World Series...
• October 31, 2008: The greatest parade in history takes place on a perfect day...

This was no flash, no flicker. The flame would burn on...

• September 30, 2009: Phillies beat Astros to win a third consecutive NL East crown...
• October 12, 2009: Phillies gain retribution, beat Rockies 5-4 and 3 games to 1 in NLDS...
• October 21, 2009: Phillies beat Dodgers 10-4 to win NLCS 4-1... first repeat Pennant in team history...

Again, there is no feeling of "the end" despite the results of the World Series. The Phillies played the Yankees with the same effort and heart displayed for the better part of three years, since the day of Jimmy's proclamation. Nothing about it seems temporary or fleeting. There is no hoping, not with this core. We EXPECT them to EXPECT to be back next year.

And so, we will not cry, for there is no crying in baseball.

See you in Spring Training 2010... the NLFC's have a lot more business to take care of.

Unflappable to unfathomable. How else to describe the stunning transformation of Cole Hamels, arguably one of the game's better young pitchers? After another mind-numbing display of immaturity and stupidity, the Phillies find themselves in a hole for the first time in two post-seasons. Whether the hole is too deep remains to be seen. What is clearly no longer in question is Mr. Hamels needs to grow up.

Sure, the 3-2 pitch to Texiera MIGHT have been strike 3, it was close, but it did not warrant a melt down of epic proportions. Suddenly Hamels forgot everything he'd been doing well to that point. Pound A-Roid inside became leave a fastball out over the plate, a fastball overthrown in the remnants of the growing tantrum. The Republican's year-long hissy fit over Obama's election has nothing on a Hamels' whine fest.

The stupidity came an inning later, when inexplicably Hamels began lobbing lame-assed curve balls at Nick Swisher, a lame-assed hitter buried in a deep slump. Nick the Dick should send Hamels a gift certificate to Baby Gap, a reward for the slop of the hanging curve ball that ended the slump and so much more.

Under "lesson NOT learned" (or maybe: "Thank you, may we have another?") Hamels followed a great strikeout and a chance to see his way out of the inning by slopping up another curve ball - HIS THIRD BEST PITCH - and turning Andy Pettitte into an imitation of a DH. The end came after a lazy walk to Jeter and a dagger of a line drive double by Damon. A game that began with promise, promise that looked even better with a 3-0 cushion, suddenly smelled of rotting garbage.

The grossest smell, however, is that of the stench of Hamels' effort, not just last night but all season. More so than any Brad Lidge blown save, the supposed Ace being a Joker is inexcusable. The seemingly unflappable psyche displayed in his first two years has devolved into something seen on Sweet Sixteen, with Cole playing the part of the angry bitch who is crying because she ONLY got a BMW.

But then again, that's what spoiled brats often give you... much ado about nothing. Cole Hamels gave the Phillies too much ado and a lot of nothing this year, especially last night.

Can you spank a grown man?

With apologies to Peter Gabriel...

RED REIGN is coming down... RED REIGN

RED REIGN is pouring down... Pouring down all over me

I am standing up at the waters edge in my dream

I cannot make a single sound as you scream

It can't be that cold... the ground is still warm to touch

This place is so quiet, sensing that storm

 

RED REIGN is coming down... RED REIGN

RED REIGN is pouring down... Pouring down all over me

 

Well I've seen them buried in a sheltered place in this town

They tell you that this REIGN can sting, and look down

There is no blood around... I see no sign of pain

Seeing no RED at all, see no REIGN

 

RED REIGN is coming down... RED REIGN

RED REIGN is pouring down... Pouring down all over me

 

Putting the pressure on much harder now... To return again and again

Just let the RED REIGN splash you... Let the REIGN fall on your skin

I come to you defenses down... With the trust of a child

 

RED REIGN is coming down... RED REIGN

RED REIGN is pouring down...Pouring down all over me

 

And I can't watch any more... No more denial

It's so hard to lay down in all of this

RED REIGN is coming down

RED REIGN is pouring down

RED REIGN is coming down all over me

 

I see it

 

RED REIGN is coming down

RED REIGN is pouring down

RED REIGN is coming down all over me

 

I'm bathing in it

 

RED REIGN coming down

RED REIGN is coming down

RED REIGN is coming down all over me

 

I'm begging you

 

RED REIGN coming down

RED REIGN coming down

RED REIGN coming down

RED REIGN coming down

 

Over me in the RED RED sea

Over me... Over me

RED REIGN...

The Philadelphia Phillies are the National League Champions... AGAIN.

I have had the good fortune to see a few awesome Phillies events live: the first World Series game ever played at Veteran's Stadium, Terry Mulholland's no-no, the 1983 and 93 NLCS clinchers, the final game at the Vet, the first at the Vault... but last night was somehow better, despite not actually being there - it won't take away from the magic of the moment.

Nothing could.

(I envy my brother-in-law and PhoulBallz and a lot of other people today!)

Like last year's version, the WFC's, the 09 Phillies have a "feel" that is hard to describe. You never get the feeling any game is over, no matter the score or deficit or inning. Against the Rockies, Games 3 & 4 were epic see-saw affairs, decided only at the end. Now against the Dodgers, leads are changing hands as often as Paris Hilton changes outfits.

In last night's instant classic, an early 2-0 lead, courtesy of the most destructive force ever to play in Phillies pinstripes (I love you, Schmitty, but Ryan Howard is literally THE BOMB), was wiped out in the middle innings when Joe Blanton stumbled. Still, despite the mess, the deficit was never more than 2, at 4-2.

My quote at the time: "Yeah, as if they won't put something together to push the issue."

Three batters later it was 4-3 and every trip to the plate was the tying run. The bullpen did an imitation of its 2008 self and shut the door - or maybe the Dodgers lost interest in the deepening cold - and you had to think something might happen in the 9th, Jonathan "Nuke LaLoosh" Broxton notwithstanding.

A calm came over me. I sat with a smile and watched. Rauuuul grounded out, the smile held. Here comes Matt Stairs. You could almost see Broxton's sphincter pucker shut. Four "I don't want anything to do with you" balls later, the tying run moved 90 feet closer. The next pitch subtracted another 90 feet when Chooch got whooched with a fastball off the elbow.

(Aside: he won't get MVP, but Carlos Ruiz is clearly a big reason this team wins.)

Greg Dobbs enters. My usual "ugh" moment that came with most of Dobbs 09 appearances was noticeably missing. The thought of a DP never entered my mind. Bloop, nope, not going to get to left. OK, two outs. Jimmy is up.

Laser, foul back, 0-1.
Laser, off the plate, 1-1

Something odd came over me, a feeling of complete and absolute certainty as to what would come next. The "how" wasn't part of it, but the "why" was obvious: this is what they do, you can't explain it, it just happens.

Me to self (aloud, yes, I talk to myself on occasion): "OK, Jimmy, you got this guy." It wasn't an angry thought, but something more positive. Like I said, a feeling that all was in hand.

Laser, reverse and more intense laser in the opposite direction, to the emptiness between Kemp and Ethier, at an angle that will prevent either from getting the carom they need to make a play on Chooch, running like his pants are on fire from first. I jump up, screaming with joy, THE GAME IS OVER, YES, YES, YES...

It would be over an hour before enough of the euphoria faded to allow me to sleep. That's OK, sleep is over-rated in October. This is the Playoffs and it feels like VICTORY.

Goddamn, I love this game.

It's Friday, it's wet (at least in my tiny spec of the world), and I have a few things on my mind... in no particular order of importance, here are things I think I think...

• Phillies and Rockies head west tied 1-1 in NLDS...

I think this is a good series so far. OK, yes, it's supposed to be tundra cold this weekend in Colorado. Big stinkin' whoop. Both teams have to endure the EXACT SAME WEATHER... just like the Hurricane Pretzel winds from Game 1. It favors neither side.

• President Obama gets a Nobel Peace Prize...

I think this might be the tipping point that puts Glenn Beck and the rest of the thought-challenged Right over the edge. Jimmie Carter, Al Gore, and now the devil himself, Prez O, ALL have NPP's? What's the world coming to? Oh, yeah, that's right, all three - and the Nobel committee - GET IT!

• They call them RULES for a reason...

I think the statement "let the players decide" spoken in a derogatory fashion towards a sports official is the STUPIDEST THING EVER. A Mr. J. Everett Prewitt of Cleveland (I could just stop there, but I'll go on) opined the following in the latest S.I. re: Serena "Roid Rage" Williams: "... in the final moments, games should be won or lost by the players and not the officials." Uh, yeah, no kidding, but at NO POINT do the rules of ANY SPORT have a "here are the rules for the final/big/key moment..." section. Suggesting we (and I can say we because I'm a long-time baseball umpire) ignore the rules based on situations is an insult.

• Here comes the Sun...

I think reading "solar activity may cause temporary interruption in the broadcast" - the scrolling message during Game 1 of the Phillies/Rockies series on TBS - was kind of funny. Maybe THAT'S why Chris Wheeler is and was so awful all season.

• Play smart, it usually works out better...

I think the Flyers need to ignore who is in the other sweaters, especially when said sweaters have a skating penguin on them. Seriously, three mostly solid games were tossed out the window in last night's stink fest 5-4 loss to the SCC's from western PA. Too much trying to make a statement instead of just making the statement with good play.

• Number of trophies does NOT mean 'good sports town'...

I think the results of the recent poll putting Pittsburgh at the top of the list of sports towns was flawed in more ways than I have space remaining. In short, it's NOT about only the trophies. This area is NOT A GOOD SPORTS TOWN. Period.

Nuff said. Catch you guys later.

The Phillies are the 2009 National League East Champions!

For the first time in more than a week, the sky is a perfect blue and the sun is shining. That is not a metaphor - it really is clear, cool, and seriously sunny here in western PA. I've lived on this side of the state for the past 14 years or so, but I've never stopped "living" in Philadelphia... and I'll never stop loving baseball and the team I grew up with, the Phillies.

That kind of love is not easy - is ANY love easy? - and I've taken a lot of bumps and bruises over the years...

...the 1977 & 78 playoff series against the Dodgers that can be described as nothing more than "bizarre" [Really, Danny? Bull still in left in the 9th? Really?... Uh, Mr. Kuhn, it's RAINING, are you sure we have to play?]...

...the Saturday night special maroon pajama uniforms of 1979 [yeah, I spent $200 I didn't have to get one, Ramon Aviles - remember him?]...

...the magic of 1980 [the Astros series - yes, they were a pain in the *** back then too... the WS Gm. 1 comeback - Bowa steals second down 4-0... Del Unser delivers (again) in Gm. 5... Boone drops it, but Rose snags it out of the air... McGraw K's Wilson (again; poor guy K'd 12 times in 6 games)]...

...the strike mangled 81 season [losing a Game 5 at home to the Expos? With Lefty going? Ugh]... the geriatric theatrics of the 83 Wheeze Kids NL Pennant [Beat LA! Beat LA! Get in the Cadillac, Sarge]... the emptiness of most of the 80's and 90's [Felske, Elia, Leyva, Francona? Really, Dave Montgomery?]...

...the Animal House chaos of the 93 NL Championship [you youngin's ain't seen a blown save like a Mitch Williams Wild Thing blown save... Hey, Braves, we got your Tomahawk Chop right here!]... the 2002 thru 2006 teases [it's right there, guys, just take it already]...

...running down the Mets, twice [hey, New York, ya got something stuck in your throat over there]... and the perfection and joy that was 2008 ["World F'g Champions" - thanks, Chase, nuff said]...

...but at the end of the day, it's been worth it. It led to today, and today looks pretty good from where I'm sitting. The hangover lasted longer than expected (yeah, everyone knows you're WFC's already, lose the damn patch), the perfection slipped away (10 losses when leading after 8 inning, ouch), and the injuries and questions nagged more than your mother (Moyer's hurt? can ANYONE close a game?), but this bunch of guys pushed through it and we wake up this morning looking at another flag over Ashburn Alley.

Part 2 begins Wednesday. I can't wait to see what's next. But, hey, isn't that what makes love worth it? It might hurt like hell at times, but goddamn, the make-up sex is awesome.

"He/She/They need to look in the mirror!" is an oft used sports cliche, generally when things aren't going well (for discussion purposes, I'll use 'he' - no offense to the ladies). It means said person needs to take a self-inventory and obtain a proper perspective of the situation. It's a two-fold exercise, a chance to look at the little things, i.e., the "self" - did I miss a spot shaving? is some of lunch still stuck in my teeth? - and the big things, i.e., the "other stuff" - is someone sneaking up behind me? where did that truck come from?

We all go through this process (well, most of us anyway). After last night's Phillies stink-fest, it seemed like a good time to look into the team's mirror through their eyes using my eyes. It is an interesting view...

The little things, the "self"...

I see bloodshot eyes (a lead-off hitter who will end the year under .250), a few nicks and cuts (no regular will hit over .300), a couple zits on the forehead (team ERA 4+, middle-of-the-pack), and a missing tooth and some oregano stuck in there (back-end of bullpen is a train wreck), but I'm heading for a 90+ win season for only the 13th time in 127 years. I'll take that.

The big picture, the "other stuff"...

I see a mostly clear road with little traffic. It's been a smooth trip (in first place for 138 days) and I'm rolling along in cruise control (15-13 in Sept), but why waste the gas? The only traffic is a semi with a Georgia license plate barreling along behind me. He's coming like a madman (Braves 17-8 in Sept), but he overslept and got in a big hole (just 69-62 prior). He can keep chugging, but the left lane ends pretty soon, and the right-of-way is mine.

So what's it all mean, what's the perspective tell us?

In 07 the Phillies were 7 back with 17 to play, went 13-4 and won the Division on the final day. In 08, they were 3.5 back with 16 to play, went 13-3 and won the Division on the penultimate day. The Mets helped, but the Phillies were a lot closer in the rearview mirror than the Braves are. They were 9 back with 23 to play, 8.5 back with 13 to play, and are still 4 back with 6 left. Sure, they're flying, but like I said, the left lane ends shortly... I'd rather be the team with the Magic Number of *3* instead of their *11*.

The mirror doesn't lie - except the ones at the carnival; this is fun, but it ain't no funhouse - so get your Rally Towel a wavin' and make some noise! And put away the damn mirror already, you look just fine.

(Oh, and one other tidbit... the 1964 Phillies went 14-19 post 8/31. It took a 22-10 finish by the Cardinals to track them down and win the NL by 1 game.)