Pitchers are ball players too

How often is the spot in the batting line up for the pitcher is an automatic out? Well, our boy Roy O was not having it.

He had a good first at bat. When Chase's bat did not produce a hit, he reached for Rollin's bat which had failed the owner throughout the season.

In the 2008 series, Brett Myers' unthinkable at-bat was a unbelievable turning point in the post series.

If the Phillies win the World Series this year, phans will look to the site of this not so fast red streak, defying all the rules and sliding home. The Bank rocked.

When the coach of the year strode out on the mound in the eighth inning to relieve a Oswalt for a job well done, my guess was Oswalt was not having it.

Again, defying the rules, Manuel left him to complete the eighth inning. The boys left me and all of Philadelphia breathless.

Lesson here.........screw the rules.

Memo to Hamels, no low inside fast balls to Mr. #$% Ross......

Running of the Bulls

Why?

One of the Funk Brothers goes to the Minors

I stopped being a Brett Myers fan when he beat the crap out of his wife. The Phillies response was weak at best. Why baseball and the beat writers have more of a problem with Barry Bonds who took something than a guy who uses his wife as a punching bag leaves me cold. Myers recent fall may teach him some humility, worse he could take his anger out on his family.

I digress.

The Phillies were sitting on top of the world and hot bats went cold. This is a surprise only to those who are Philly Phans.

No story here, move along.....

33-Year-Old-Rookie: Chris Coste

My work schedule has been a little nuts. Time spent on trains and planes has been tolerable because of my recent choices in reading materials.

Being a huge baseball fan and sap for an underdog, buying Chris Coste's "The 33-Year-Old- Rookie" was a no-brainer. 

I knew the story. I lived through the games. Every time Coste's name flashed on the Scoreboard, talk in the stands turned to his story. He always receives a hearty Philly cheer. Philly Phans are tough but loyal.  Will Coste land in Cooperstown? Unlikely, but who cares? We love the guy who succeeds against the odds.

That did not stop me from crying and cheering while sucking in this feel good story. 

A must read for anyone chasing a dream.

Wounded Tiger!

Where were you Monday afternoon around 4?. Confess you were either near a TV or tapped into a internet live feed. A countrywide work stoppage occurred because Tiger was going for the kill.

Poor Rocco Mediate, he played the best golf in his life and it just didn't matter.

There is so much enthusiasm about the wounded Tiger, even Washpo, Eugene Robinson felt compelled to write.........

He is amazing!

Tiger Woods: Yeah he's that good

Jim McKay: Sports Pioneer fades to black

Growing up, unlike today, TVs were not an piece of furniture found in at least three rooms. Nor was watching TV the centerpiece of entertainment or family activities. However, watching the the Wild World of Sports brought us together. We were introduced to different sports, held in different countries, more poignant were the back stories of the athletes. McKay's style of reporting was carried over to the Olympics. We were Americans rooting for members of our team. How many non-hockey fans sat in awe when the kids from the US beat the Soviets? Or when Mark Spitz collected his seven gold medals?  Jim McKay was wise friendly uncle who brought us these stories without becoming the story. 

I love Bob Costas and the boys from ESPN. But if not for Jim McKay I would have never fell in love the sports shows of this generation. It is a sad day for sports fans.

Things I don't get.....

Let me start by giving Danica Patrick a standing ovation for competing in this very popular race. It's always cool to see ceiling breaking accomplishments. 

However, I don't simply don't get the sport. Drive left fast for an afternoon. But some of friends liken watching a baseball game to paint drying. The horrors. I digress.

A very dear friend of mine, went to college in Indiana. He and his frat brothers converge on Indianapolis to attend this event. He loves it. Ms. Patrick being drop dead gorgeous with an ability to handle a vehicle at 200 miles per hour, adds to the lure this year. He has this uncanny ability to meet sport stars, Forest Gump-like. I won't be surprised if he doesn't snag Patrick's autograph and photo.

Enjoy my friend.

Attytood: October Surprise?

Attytood warns of the drumbeat of an October surprise. What truly saddens me in his post, is how long it has been since we have won ANY sports championship. Ugh.

The Phillies are in First Place

Howard is slumping but its early in the season. He will catch fire when it counts. Utley and Burrell are on hitting the crap out of the ball. Next up revenge time against the Diamondbacks.

The Phillies are in First Place....Cool

Eight Belles Destroyed

Hillary encouraged folks to bet on Eight Belles, the only female in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately, the horse ran an a good race and was crippled in the end. Sadly, the horse was destroyed because of the injury. A tragic end to Eight Belles.

Does anyone else see an awful metaphor?

My apologies to owners and fans of Eight Belles.

 

The Price of having Dorks in charge

The problem with major franchises being managed by the dorks who were never picked FOR ANY SPORTS is they make decisions like throwing anyone in a jersey on the punt return team. They are moving players around like chess pieces. If they actually played SOMETHING they would know every TEAM MATE has a role.

Welcome Home Mahe, I hope they paid you a nice bonus.

Eagles Management dumbass' of the week.

Burrell finds his heart and his swing

I guess it was after the Phillies couldn't unload his erratic bat and expensive salary. Burrell grew tired of being the punching bag at Citizen's Park, in the newspapers and radio. Or maybe he got mad or simply accepted that he was going to work in Phildelphia. Who knows?

Since the all-star break, he has been hitting the crap out of the ball, in critical situations. The boos turned to cheers.

After a six year slump, I never thought that I would put Burrell and clutch in the same sentence, EVER. The Phils are 1 1/2 games from securing a playoff berth. Considering our bull pen has been just wretched, it is clear that a whole lot of offense will overcome a shaky pitching staff.

Burrell has found his heart and his swing, welcome home, we missed you.

JR Reed

Young Mr. Reed has entered Philly sports lore. He has joined the ranks of Herm Edwards, Bill Bergey, Harold Carmichel and Randal Cunningham. Unfortunately, he will not be looked upon with much affection.

Being a true believer, I was convinced that the Eagles could manage to pull a win out of their collective backsides Sunday. The defense played well. The offense was not offensive.

What killed the Eagles was their special teams. For years, our special team was not sexy, except for David Akers if you talk to my daughter, but just a quietly productive unit.

For reasons known only to Reid and Jesus, our special teams unit are suddenly suspect.

It is understood that the punt returners are like fire fighters. It takes a truly unique individual to run into a burning house. A punt returner has to have the presence of mind to know when to go after a ball, field it all the while ignoring, a pack of 300 lb men running toward you at full speed. That is a whole lot of physics.

It was painful enough watching Greg Lewis who has NEVER served in this capacity try to keep his legs from shaking as he was just terrible. Then it got worse.

I didn't even know we had a JR. For what was to become the last play of the game, Reid served up JR REED. GB punted the ball poorly, Reed called a fair catch. No problem. Then the wheels fell off the Eagles bandwagon. He started toward the ball.

It was like a guy explaining to his girlfriend that she didn't gain that much weight. You are screaming stop, stop, STOP.

Well, you know the rest.

Coach Reid, go find a punt returner or two before the next game, PLEASE.

On a very serious note, football is a violent sport. Just ask Buffalo's Kevin Everett. He has been earning a living playing a sport that he loves. He has provided entertainment for people like me who love this sport. Believe it or not, I never get used to seeing guys get carted off the field, even Cowboys.

Everett is in a hospital fighting for his life. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Why?

Why do the Phillies play to the level of their competition? Maybe they are drained from the week of Mets?
Who knows?

They are killing me...

Taken to the wood shed

Just because sensed Trot would be leaving, it did not make it hurt any less. After what seemed like an endless spell of rain, I needed to be outside. So I accepted an invitation to the Phillies game. I assumed watching my Phils would the perfect prescription for my mid-August blues.

Yet another miscalculation. Watching the game was like a guy taking Midol for a headache. It will cure the pain but it's just weird.

That pretty much summed up the evening. The weather was crappy and so were the Phillies.

I suppose I shouldn't complain, I could be a Orioles fan.

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday........

When the end of the Trotter era was announced there was a flurry of e-mails. There was a combination of furry and sadness.

I was the only one in our little corner of Eagles Nation, not surprised. At the end of last season, it was obvious that Trot had lost a step. Teams were running through the middle at will. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson blamed it on the extra weight he was carrying.

Team Lurie has focused on building a 'consistent winner." Think about it. They were grooming two cornerbacks to step up to replace Pro Bowlers Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. Fine and Fabulous (chick moment). Neither one returned to the Pro Bowl after their departure. Coincidence?

The Eagles used their first pick in the draft on a QB. There was a collective chorus from the media, that Lurie was sending a message to chronically injured McNabb. What they missed what the message that was sent to the entire team. "We may love you, but this is business." Ouch.

When Trot reported to camp, he was nine pound lighter. BUT, there was a different energy radiating from him and the spin machine. You could sense it.

When I offered that opinion, one of my associates informed me that I was nuts. "There was no way, Eagles would cut him,"he argued passionately. "he's the man, he is too important of a leader, he bleeds green," the sermon continued.

"Trot's thirty and slow", I countered. In Eagleville, 30 is old.

I love Trotter, so do the Eagles but his career as a player in Philly is over. He may land some place, even play a year or two. When he retires, he will do so as an Eagle.

I wouldn't be surprised if he landed back Eagleville as a coach.

Word to the wise, if Dawkins Achilles tendon does not improve, he will be next.........I don't even want to think about it.

Vick's NFL career is over

A sign of things to come?

Even though I love the Birds, I rarely watch preseason games. The starters smartly play a few downs. The rest of the game is played by players who won't be seen again.

When David Akers misses a field goal my heart just sank. Groan.

The defense seems to continue to struggle with the run.

It's the pre-season, it's the pre-season,

Right?