Thome Comes Home

By Amy McCormick

This past season, the Phillies’ bench left something to be desired.  It might not have been our biggest issue, and I always assumed that it would be addressed during free agency.  We all remember the exclamation point that Ryan Howard put at the end of the NLDS: he tore his Achilles tendon during the last out of the series.  Among other matters, we now had a lackluster bench and a hole at first (for at least the beginning of 2012). 

Paging Jim Thome ….

News broke yesterday that Thome, now 41, will return to Philadelphia for a one year deal.  You remember Jim Thome, right?  The one who is largely responsible for getting seats filled in Citizens Bank Park?  Word has it that the Phils offered him $1.25M, and once he passes his physical, he’ll be set to start Spring Training in Clearwater in February.  Yes, I’m already counting down.

There could be an argument that we need to make this team younger, not older.  I would consider listening to such an argument if it weren’t Jim Thome.  My Facebook page blew up the night we all watched him hit his 600^th homerun.  He’s a player who left Philadelphia but never lost the love and support from this city.  He’s that guy everyone loves because he loves the game, plays hard and carries himself respectfully (Jayson Werth should be taking notes). 

So, what does this mean for the Phillies?  Let’s start from the inside out.  Thome promises to have a positive impact in the clubhouse.  I remember (not fondly) the eight game skid after the Phils took the East in September.  I kept thinking that someone needed to step up and say something in the clubhouse.  Even as a DH, I think Thome can fill a leadership role; at the very least, he will lead by example. 

On the field, Thome’s a no-brainer sub for Howard at first.  It needs no explanation.  Did you know that Thome’s middle name is Howard? Now you do.  At the plate, Thome, a lefty, will offer consistency.  In 2011, his BA was .245 (not exactly stetllar) but he had 50 RBIs and 15 HRs (in 324 plate appearances).  If he can produce solid numbers for the Phils in 2012, he will cap off a HOF career in the City of Brotherly Love with (it had better happen) a ring.

This move is extremely low-risk, has a potentially high payoff, and makes fans extremely happy.  Dust off your #25 jerseys, kids.  Thome’s coming home.

Should Jimmy Stay or Should He Go?

By Amy McCormick

Since the untimely demise of the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies, there’s not much to talk about.  Sure, we’re watching the league championship series, and we’ll watch the World Series, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll do it bitterly.  I predicted a Rangers-Phils series and I’m not going to get it.  Sigh.  I suppose it’s time to start thinking about next season.

A big question that has been on the minds of Phillies fans all season has been: will Jimmy Rollins return once he is a free agent?  There are a few things to consider here, and as always, I’ll throw in my two cents along the way.

J-Roll has only ever known baseball in Philadelphia.  He’s just three months older than I am (so please save the “but he’s so old” comments) and came in the second round of the 1996 amateur draft.  He and I weren’t even old enough to vote then; he’s been with the organization a long time.  He has spent the last decade in the bigs, serving as the team’s leader, whether you like to admit that or not.  Jimmy’s charisma alone is enough to make fans optimistic.

Jimmy likes being here.  I have no doubt that he wants the Phils to meet his salary requirements.  "I look good in red, I think," Rollins has said. "You go back to when I got drafted, I didn't know much about the Phillies. But when I put that hat on, looking at those first pictures when I got drafted, holding a bat, you know, and a Phillies T-shirt on, it started to look real good on me. I think I've worn it pretty well over the years. I really haven't thought about putting on any other colors other than the red-and-white pinstripes."

It seems that the Phillies would like to keep Jimmy as well.  "There's no question we want Jimmy back and be in our uniform and play shortstop for us for the next several years," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "Whether that happens kind of depends on if we get to the finish line on it. But Jimmy knows where we stand. Those things will be private."  As usual, don’t expect RAJ to spill any details; we’ll have to wait until the deal is signed (or not signed) to hear what went on in negotiations.

So, if Jimmy was 2007 NL MVP and a Silver Slugger, and he’s a three-time All-Star, why is there even a debate about whether or not he should stay? Well, to begin with, he hasn’t put up numbers anywhere near his MVP season since, well, 2007.  It could be that he’s not getting any younger.  It could be that injuries have kept him from playing full seasons.  Whatever the reason, 2007 Jimmy and 2011 Jimmy are hard to even compare.  It’s symptomatic of those respective teams, as well.  In 2007, the Phils fought like hell (and were thrilled to have won) the NL East.  In 2011, complacency took over.  In 2007, Rollins hit .296.  In 2011, he posted a .268 batting average.  His defense has been fine, but the “take a shot every time Jimmy pops up on the first pitch” drinking game got old awhile ago.  Personally, I don’t like change just for the sake of change.  But sometimes, things get static; sometimes, they gradually slide downhill.  For me, it’s a toss-up: Jimmy’s leadership / personality / swagger or some new, younger (yes, I said it) blood at shortstop?  Rollins has made it very clear that he wants five years.  With his downhill trend, I don’t know that I’d sign him for five.  He’ll be 38 right after that fifth season, and I don’t care how much yoga his wife has him do … his speed, reflexes and range of motion will gradually decline. 

The Phillies’ payroll is expected to mimic this past season’s pretty closely.  That being said, we’re looking at a potentially large chunk of change being saved if we unload a few players whose contracts will be up.  Madson, Ibanez, Hamels and Lidge are signed through 2011, and Oswalt has a $16 million option.  As much as I love Little Roy, I see Hamels as the only must-sign in that group.  If that’s the case, then maybe the Phils could afford to pick up a new shortstop while they’re shopping for closers. 

I like Jimmy Rollins.  I always have.  He’ll be the first to tell you, though, that this is a business.  He’s not the only one in a Phillies uniform that I think should move on, but Charlie Manuel is another post for another day.  It doesn’t make me happy to say it, but my vote (sometimes I like to pretend that I actually get one) is to not break our backs to meet Jimmy’s salary demands.  As usual, we’ll have to wait and see.  In the meantime, let’s watch Phillies-less baseball with total disdain and wish for quick, easy recoveries for our injured and surgery-bound … including, but not limited to, but especially Cole Hamels.

Saying Goodbye

By Amy McCormick

I’ve been waiting to write this post, because I haven’t been ready to talk about it.  I still don’t know that I am, but now is as good a time as any, I suppose.  I will say that I’m not ready to start discussing who will start at first next season and whether or not the Phils will resign Jimmy.  I can’t handle that right now.  To say that I’m upset and disappointed would be a gross understatement. 

This season was our year.  It was not a rebuilding year or a transitional year.  This team was built for a World Series win.  Ruben Amaro, Jr. assembled a team that was Fall Classic or bust.  After our Cliff Lee Christmas gift last year, it seemed our fate was sealed.  Who could possibly contend with a Halladay-Lee-Oswalt-Hamels-and-oh-yeah-Blanton-too pitching staff?  Well, no one.  Our starting pitching was never really an issue, not even with injuries.  Our bullpen, though they had plenty of “off” nights, seemed to hold their own, too.  Our defense was fine. 

What went wrong?

It’s the same story I’ve been complaining about all season.  Outstanding pitching can only get us so far; with no run support, it’s pretty tough to compete.  Everyone thought the return of Utley would be the answer to our prayers.  For a short while, The Utley Effect did boost offense; it didn’t last.  On July 29, or RAJ Day in Philadelphia, we acquired Hunter Pence.  Pence, welcomed with open arms, was what our lineup needed: a right handed bat in the five hole.

So, what the hell happened?

It’s so hard to say, and I hate to be a Monday morning quarterback about it.  The thing is, though, we’re all left with that burning question: How does a 102-win team get eliminated by the wild card in the first round of the playoffs?  It’s hard for me to get angry, because the truth is, we were outplayed.  Period.  The better performance advanced to the NLCS.  I’ve heard lots of answers and theories; the lineup should have been switched, Charlie should have been fired last year, etc.  I can’t come up with anything more than the fact that we just couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn and not even Doc could save us from that. 

So, in the past day or so, my emotions have run the gamut from shock to disappointment to heartbreak.  It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.  I hate to be a crybaby about it, and of course I wanted that parade
… it’s just baffling.  For someone who doesn’t love sports, I’m sure it seems silly, but this really is hard to handle.  If one more person says “There’s always next year” to me, s/he will get an earful.  It won’t be the same 25 guys next season, and this was our year to win.  It didn’t happen.  Let me mourn that, please.  We’re saying goodbye to the season and to this specific team.

To all my fellow Phils fans, I know that we’ll never stop loving this team.  Maybe the silver lining is that there will be fewer bandwagoners eating up all the tickets next season …. In any event, pitchers and catchers will report in four months and we’ll start this whole thing over again.  In the meantime … I’ll still be wearing my Phillies gear and sending well wishes to all the injured and surgery bound players.  Chin up, kids.  The sadness only means that you’re passionate, and that’s a damned good thing.

For the Love of the Game

By Amy McCormick

It’s the eve of Game 5 of the NLDS.  Best of 1, as they say.  The Phils and Cards are back in Philadelphia and the Phillies will send Roy Halladay to the hill in an effort to stifle the Cardinals’ offense and shut this series down.  The past four games have been anxiety-inducing, at least on my end, so it seems only right that we’ve been forced into a Game 5. 

I love baseball.  I love the edge-of-your-seat games in the postseason, the chilly games in early April, and all the ones in between.  Baseball means more to me than a hobby for seven months of the year.  It has provided more than that for me.  Baseball has done its part to keep me sane at times.  It has been that consistent comfort when I’ve needed it.  It has been the distraction from life’s issues that I am sometimes not ready to deal with.  There have been times in my life when I have thrown myself into watching and talking about my favorite sport because it was literally the only thing that appealed to me.  During bouts of depression and anxiety, baseball has been there for me.

What’s interesting is that the man who introduced me to baseball was my father.  He gave me many things in my life, two of them positive: nice penmanship and baseball.  I remember watching the Phillies with him in the early 1980s, and unfortunately, it’s one of just two good memories I have of him.  Somehow, the fact that he instilled the love of baseball in me softens the blow of all the crap he put me through.

Who introduced you to baseball?  None of us is born knowing all that we know about the sport.  Usually someone guides us through the learning process.  Sometimes s/he merely opens our eyes to it, and sometimes it’s a close mentoring.  Have you paid it forward?

I recently started to teach a friend of mine about baseball, a bit at a time.  His prior knowledge was that “there are nine innings, three strikes and you’re out … and you can get hot dogs there.” It has been such a privilege introducing someone to the world of baseball for the first time.  Sure, I teach my daughters; there’s really no way they’ll grow up and not love Philadelphia sports.  Guiding an adult through the game is such a honor, though, and I think I enjoy the lessons more than he does. 

Bryant Gumbel once said, “Baseball is love.” That has proven to be true in my life, and if you’re reading this, then chances are the same is true for you.  If someone is responsible for sparking your interest, thank him or her.  If you’re lucky enough to pass on your love of the game, do it.  You’ll enjoy it. 

NLDS Game 3 in St. Louis

By Amy McCormick

This evening will be Game 3 of the NLDS in St. Louis.  Although I’d consider any postseason game to be “must win,” this one is especially important.  The series is tied at one win apiece, it’s just a five game series, and the Phils will be playing as visitors.  No pressure, Cole.

I have confidence in this team and this game is winnable. We need to see a couple things.

Jaime Garcia, the starting pitcher for St. Louis, finished the regular season 13-7 with a 3.56 ERA.  He has been successful against the Phillies in the past; in general, Philadelphia’s offense is better when facing a right handed pitcher (Garcia is a lefty).  He did pitch two complete games this past season, but he has no postseason experience.  Our offense needs to take advantage and get him rattled early.  I want Rollins and Utley to look at a lot of pitches.  I want aggressive base stealing.  I want momentum from the first inning, and I want the Phils to sustain it through the ninth.  Garcia pitches well at home; the Phils need to tire him out, rack up the pitch count, and work him.

Busch Stadium is a “hitter’s park,” but that might be due to the Cardinals’ offense.  Theriot, Jay and Furcal are no joke.  Pujols is limping around and still went 2 for 5 on Sunday.  We need to take these batters seriously.  Cliff Lee, my second favorite lefty, got a little bit roughed up by St. Louis on Sunday.  I want to see Hamels use his changeup effectively.  His offspeed pitches will keep batters swinging at what they think is a fastball.  You may recall Cole going 4-0 in the 2008 postseason.  This kid has what it takes to shut down even an aggressive offense.  Hopefully he locates his pitches well and retires batters with a quick tempo. 

A lot of us are nervous and excited about this evening’s game.  This is what October is all about.  This is what we’ve waited all year for.  Enjoy it.

Postseason Predictions

By Amy McCormick

The Wild Card races in both the National League and the American League are down to the wire.  In the NL, St. Louis and Atlanta are tied with an 89-72 record.  In the AL, we have another tie: Boston and Tampa Bay each hold a 90-71 record. 

Here’s where it gets tricky.  The team in each league with the best record is to play the winner of the Wild Card, as long as they are not in the same division.  This would be fine, if it weren’t for the NL East and the AL East.  Things are neck and neck in both Wild Card races, which each includes a team from the winning team’s division.  To make matters more confusing, Milwaukee (NL Central’s winner) and Arizona (NL West’s winner) are each down to tonight’s games, and so are Detroit (AL Central’s winner) and Texas (AL West’s winner).  Does your brain hurt yet? Essentially, we won’t know until the completion of tonight’s games who will be playing whom in Round 1 of the Division Series. 

This makes predictions (which I’m not accustomed to making) a little difficult, exciting, and potentially dead-wrong.  Here goes.

I say that the Phillies beat Atlanta tonight and St. Louis wins over Houston, making St. Louis the NL Wild Card winner.  This would mean that Philadelphia and St. Louis would play in the NLDS, and I’d be a jerk if I said anything other than I forecast a Phillies win.  As far as Milwaukee and Arizona go, I have to go with Milwaukee.  I love that the Diamondbacks knocked the Giants out of contention , but I don’t know that they can get past Ryan Braun.  In the NLCS, that would mean the Phillies would play Milwaukee, and again, not a jerk, so I choose Philadelphia.  I have confidence that our pitching can shut them down.

In the American League, the Yankees are the winners in the East, and they have the best record, so they will play the Wild Card winner.  The trouble is, the Wild Card is down to Tampa Bay and Boston, both in the East.  So, we move to the winner of either the Central or the West – whoever has the worse record of the two.  Well, Detroit and Texas will be battling in their games tonight to see who that will be.  My prediction is that Texas beats the Angels and Detroit beats Cleveland, leading to a tie-breaking game between Detroit and Texas.  In that hypothetical game, my prediction is a victory for Detroit.  This would make the two ALCS look like this: Yankees – Rangers, and Tigers – Wild Card.  I predict that Boston will win the Wild Card but fall apart in their series with the Tigers.  I also say that the Rangers, who do not necessarily have the pitching power to handle the Yankees’ hitting, will actually upset New York.  My NLCS would be Texas vs. Detroit.  Although I chose Detroit to beat Texas in a tie-breaker, I choose Texas to win the ALCS. 

That brings me to the World Series.  In my mind, anyway, I’m looking at Phillies and Rangers.  My vote is for Phillies in six games. Please keep in mind that this is literally the first time I’ve ever made predictions about an entire postseason, so hate mail is not necessary.  Enjoy the games!

I Should Be Charlie's Sub For a Day

By Amy McCormick

Eight.  Eight games.  Right down the toilet.  It hurts to think about, and it’s painful to see it in black and white on my laptop screen.  I suppose the insult to injury is that 75% of those losses have been to the Nationals and the Mets.

People keep asking me, “Is it ok to start worrying now?” Listen, I’m not worried.  Coming from someone with an anxiety disorder, that speaks volumes.  The reason that I’m not worried is that I know that this team has the talent, ability and skill to pull this off.  They’ve plowed through this season owning MLB.  We should rename the month of June to “Cliff” and August to “Lee.”  We should all be wearing our socks above the knees.  We should have “Good game, let’s go eat” in the dictionary with the definition, “You just got your asses handed to you by the Phils.”  I fully believe and have total faith that this is the best team in baseball.  I would marry this team if I could. 

So, what’s my problem?  I’m pissed off.  I’m frustrated.  I’m dumbfounded.  Sure, these games are “meaningless,” as we all know.  That doesn’t mean we should roll into the postseason with zero momentum.  They’re better than this.  This is not a team that mails in eight consecutive games.  We’ve seen offensive slumps this season, but this is out of hand. 

I love Charlie Manuel, but I don’t know that his style of management is what we need this week.  We need someone with zero tolerance for sloppy, lazy performances.  We need someone who won’t hold back and get in these players faces.  We need someone like me.

I’d let them know that these past eight games have been depressing to watch, and they’re breaking my heart right now.  Why end a stellar season on such a sour note? The jam-packed September schedule? Not an excuse, fellas.  Everybody’s tired, and Mother Nature happens.  What it comes down to is you either play to your potential or you don’t.  Right now, I see a lot of talent being crapped on. 

Phillies, you’re better than this.  Please pull it together.  Doc takes the mound at 2:10 today, and while I trust that he can stop the bleeding, I want to see aggressive offense, too.  We fans need a win to lift our spirits just as much as you do. 

Ten Musical Suggestions

By Amy McCormick

This five game losing streak is a depressing slump for Phillies fans.  Maybe it’s time to change some of the players’ intro songs in order to get their mojo back.  Here are ten of my suggestions. 

1. Jimmy Rollins.  Jimmy has three at-bat songs, apparently; they are “Bright Lights, Bigger City” by Cee-lo Green, “Play Your Part” by Wale, and “The Show Goes On” by Lupo Fiasco.  They’re all decent choices, but I would love to hear J-Roll come out to “Rollout” by Ludacris.  I think the reasoning behind my choice is obvious.
2. Placido Polanco.  Polly left the club years ago, and returned as a third baseman.  He came back with outstanding range of motion, instincts, and batting.  For my favorite large-headed infielder, I’d choose “Look at Me Now” by Lil Boosie and Big Head. (His current song is “I Know You Want Me” by Pitbull.)
3. Shane Victorino.  It bothers me every single time I hear “Buffalo Soldier” played at Citizens Bank Park, and for one reason: Vic is Hawaiin.  “Buffalo Soldier” is performed by Bob Marley … from Jamaica.  It’s not even the same ocean, people.  I’m a sucker for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. I know it’s kind of mellow, but so is “Buffalo Soldier.”
4. Hunter Pence.  I was so tempted to pick something from New Kids on the Block, but I resisted.  When I think of Pence, I think of three things: “Good game, let’s go eat,” a huge kid-in-a-candy-store grin, and red socks that look as though they’re probably tucked into his underwear.  I love the high socks, so I went with “Taylor Gang” by Wiz Khalifa. 
5. Ryan Madson.  Can we discuss the Journey song, please? From my understanding, it started as a joke, in reference to the headache-inducing YouTube video that Giants fans made last year.  Joke’s over.  Now you just look like a pansy running from the bullpen to a Journey song.  I’d quickly change it to “Shut ‘Em Down” by Public Enemy.
6. Carlos Ruiz.  Chooch has a case of Ryan Madsonitis when it comes to song choice.  Phil Collins? Really?  I’d get rid of that in a hurry.  I’d rather hear Ruiz come out to “Panama” by Van Halen … because he’s from Panama.  See what I did there?
7. Cole Hamels.  I couldn’t think of any songs about having dreamy dimples, so I think he should come out to 45,000 fans singing “Cole and Amy sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g …”.  His AC/DC song, “Thunderstruck,” is fine, too … I guess.
8. John Mayberry, Jr.  Follow me on this one.  Out of laziness/cuteness, I have always called Mayberry “JMJ.” I started to refer to him as “Jam Master Jay” because that’s what my friend James calls him.  That nickname is the reason I’d choose “My Adidas” by Run DMC for John Mayberry, Jr.
9. Pete Orr.  I know we rarely see Orr bat, but I’m a big fan of watching him sprint to first.  I’d love to hear the vintage version of the theme to “Speed Racer” when he is up to bat.
10. Michael Schwimer.  I think it would be appropriate to hear “Creep” by Radiohead when Schwimer runs out to the mound, for one reason: the lyric “I don’t belong here.” Sorry, kid.

I don’t know what it will take to snap this funk that the Phils are in.  Maybe hiring me as Musical Director at Citizens Bank Park would help.  I’m available to start immediately.



Cole Hamels is pictured in this post because, well, I get to choose what goes here.



Phils Clinch, Lose Four Straight

By Amy McCormick

As expected, the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the NL East early this season.  On Saturday night, Roy Oswalt recorded the win against St. Louis.  Oswalt pitched well through seven, and Ibanez tore the game open with a grand slam.  Phils defeated the Cards, 9-2. 

Champagne sprayed from every direction in the clubhouse.  Hunter Pence looked like a five-year-old on Christmas morning.  It was time to celebrate a division five-peat, then regroup and move onto finishing the season.

Well, the celebration happened.  I've yet to see the team move on to finish the season.

The way I see it, our rotation and starting lineup should stay with their routine.  I'd like to see our positinal players put in five innings or so each game.  I know what you're thinking.  "Why risk injury? Why not let them rest? The rest of the season is a waste." I don't see it that way.  I believe in finishing what you start - there are 162 games in the season, and it would be a shame to throw away the last dozen or so games.  Do you really think our opponents want us to call it in?  If we want to get lazy and sloppy at the end, then you might as well  scrap the remainder of the season once we clinch.  Rest is important, but too much will result in rusty post-season performances. 

I've never been an "Oh well, you can't win them all" kind of fan.  There are some games that are sloppy and embarrassing.  There are some teams we should not be handing games to.  This is what frustrates me.  I know that Charlie is very much a laissez-faire manager, but in this instance, I'd like to see him get into some faces and say, "Get your pinstriped ass out there and play ball like you mean it." 

This should not be vacation.  This is prep time for the postseason; the World Series is ours to lose.  I want to see grit and aggressiveness.  These past four games have bored me to tears.  I feel like Curt Schilling with a towel over my face.  Please, Phils, now is not the time for complacency.  Don't run out of steam now.  A great season should end on a high note.

Phils' Offense Battered by Myers

By Amy McCormick

Apparently, the Phils’ offense didn’t get the memo tonight that offense isn’t optional.  Victorino and Howard each went 0-4; Martinez was 0-3.  Philadelphia managed to post six hits, but only scored one run. 

Oswalt didn’t have a great outing, and Houston capitalized on that.  The Astros managed twelve hits and five runs in a game where the Phils looked like they never showed up.

Why do the Phillies struggle against Myers? I don’t really get it.  The righty doesn’t have very good numbers this season, and Houston has lost more games than the Phillies have won (not a typo).  We should not be losing to teams like Houston and Florida.

I fully understand that not every game is going to be a win, but it’s frustrating to watch the Phils get owned by a terrible team.  I guess it’s good news for Mrs. Myers that Brett left the field in a good mood tonight, though.

I want to see some aggressive offense (I’m looking at you, Ryan Howard).  Losses like tonight’s are embarrassing and they make me cranky.  Here’s hoping tomorrow night is better.  Magic number is still 6 ….

How Baseball Healed Us

By Amy McCormick

I, like any one of you reading this, remember September 11, 2001 vividly.  I was teaching my pre-kindergarten class that Tuesday morning, and when word circulated from teacher to teacher, we all realized that we needed to suck it up, put on a smile, and go about our lessons for the day.  I told my four and five year old students that we had to have indoor recess because we had run out of sunscreen (I never said it was a good lie; it’s what popped into my head at the time).  In the days that followed the terrorists’ attacks, I came to the realization that teaching those children each day was keeping me sane.  They kept my heart full of love, and they kept me too busy to be afraid.  I’ve never taken the time to thank those kids, and I think tonight might be as good a time as any. 

Something else kept a lot of us going.  Baseball was a distraction from reality.  It was three hours of escape.  Major League Baseball paused briefly after the attacks, but was eagerly welcomed back.  New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani stated, “Baseball came along at just the right moment and re-established itself as the American pastime.”  Even rescue workers at Ground Zero listened to games on the radio; it kept their spirits up as much as they could be. 

For me, that Tuesday morning ten years ago made me start to question everything’s importance. (Family? Important.  Designer jeans? Not important.  You get the point.)  When it came to baseball, I’m sure someone could have argued that it seemed silly and inconsequential at the time.  It was far from that, though, and baseball was a way for us to stay connected to a pre-9/11 America.  Having something to cheer for was monumental.

I maintain the belief that if MLB had scrapped the rest of the season, the terrorists would have gotten their way.  There aren’t many things more American than baseball; it would have been a victory to Al Qaeda if we had chosen to abandon it.  The best part, to me, is the outcome of the 2001 World Series: The Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees in a Game 7 thriller.  It seemed poignant that the D’backs, in their first ever title, dethroned the three year reigning champions.  The message was clear: this is America, where possibilities are endless, and a bunch of terrorists are not enough to stop us.  I am grateful and proud to live in a country where I am free to watch a sport I love.  I am thankful for those who have fought and continue to fight for my freedom. 

It would be an exaggeration to say that baseball is entirely responsible for healing us.  For me, it was a combination of things, including my students.  Those things helped me to realize that we’d make it through to the other side.

I’d like to dedicate this post to my friend Kenny, lifelong Phillies fan and sergeant in the United States Army, who was killed in Afghanistan eight weeks ago.  Rest in peace, buddy.

Utley to Miss a Few Games

By Amy McCormick

In the bottom of the sixth inning last night, Braves' relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty beamed Chase Utley in the back of the head.  What, no brawl? I'm not ranting about how classless and trashy Atlanta is?  Although I appreciate Ricky Bottalico's musings on which Brave will pay for it when revenge strikes, I have to say that it didn't look intentional at all. 

The bright side: 

1. Chase has great instincts and managed to whip his head around and have his helmet take the brunt of the pitch.  He seemed stunned by the incident, and I'm sure it hurt(s) like hell, but his batting helmet did its job last night by keeping Utley's brains on the inside. Plus, no damage to that pretty face we love so much.

2. This incident could have have happened weeks from now.  The implications of that are obvious, I'd say.  Let's hope that this bump in the road will leave Chase feeling rested and healthy for October.

3. Wilson Valdez is no Chase Utley, but he's a pretty damned good sub.  Injuries within our lineup are never fun, but the Phils have a knack for holding down the fort well when someone is out.

4. We have some breathing room.  I'd neve suggest lying down and playing dead - but the truth is, we're 10.5 games ahead of the Braves in the East.  If we didn't have such a cushion, I'm sure there would be a lot more panic in this city right now.

5. Chase has shown us that he can bounce back from an injury and perform extremely well on the field and at the plate.  I'll be the first to admit that I was hesitant about getting excited for Utley's return from his DL stint earlier this season.  Clearly, I was wrong.  His speed and range of motion actually look better to me than they did pre-injury.

6. Our favorite second baseman is in good care.  Team doctor Michael Ciccotti and Phils' trainer Scott Sheridan are being cautious and monitoring Utley.  In a couple days, he will perform ImPACT testing, which will compare his reaction and response times to his baseline scores.  The fact that Team Utley isn't taking this lightly is a good sign - it means that everyone is working to ensure his health and safety.

Why I'm worried. Maybe I shouldn't say "worried." I'm concerned about this incident for one reason: it happened to his head.  It's a mild concussion, but a concussion nontheless. I'm generally pretty freaked out by any sort of head injury because so much could go wrong.  After getting hit, Utley turned to the home plate umpire to ask him what had happened.  I don't read lips very well, but I think the umpire replied with something in the neighborhood of  "Ummmm ... you just took a 91 mph sinker to the head.  That's what happened."

I guess the only thing we can do is wait and see (and make homemade glittery get well cards for Chase, of course).  My best advice is to sit tight and see what the doctors tell us.  Ruben Amaro, Jr. thinks that the injury is "very mild," and continues, "He got a 90-mile-an-hour fastball off the melon, so we're going to be cautious about it." Fair enough.  Get well soon, Chase. 

Oswalt in October?

By Amy McCormick

This summer has flown by; all of a sudden, our magic number is twelve and we’re speculating the Phils’ playoff rotation.  Who will join Halladay, Lee and Hamels and be our fourth ace this October?  There are definitely arguments to be made for both Oswalt and Worley.  Luckily, they’re both outstanding pitchers; either way, we’ll have a group of four fantastic starters.

I am somewhat torn, because each of these two pitchers has a lengthy “pro” list.  If it were up to me, and I had to choose tonight, I’d select Roy Oswalt. 

Sure, Vance Worley has been unstoppable this season.  He’s a young, focused winning machine.  Why would anyone ever pass on that?  Well, I don’t see it as dismissing Worley.  I’d like to see him as long relief in the postseason.

Oswalt came back from an extended absence due to back injury and has looked healthy and focused.  As much as it kills me to admit it, I’d say that this might be the last chance that Little Roy has to win a World Series.  Tonight’s game showed us that Roy continues to want to fight for it, though.  I love his intensity, tempo and grit.  Roy Oswalt is a badass.  C’mon - he wears high socks, owns his own tractor, and merely fixes his hat after taking a line drive to the jugular.  He has a southern accent, people. He's what Roosevelt was talking about when he said "Speak softly and carry a big stick." He’s my favorite good ol’ boy on the planet. I’d like to think that he calls people “son” and pulls it off.

Oswalt is 5-1 in the postseason, including two NLDS wins and three NLCS wins.  His postseason ERA is 3.39 and his WHIP is 1.357.   I’d put my money on Little Roy for the fourth spot in October’s rotation.  At this point, I feel comfortable sending him out there for every fourth start and having Worley as long relief.  Like I said, though … this is a good problem to have.  It’s like judging a beauty contest … how are you supposed to pick which set of fake boobs looks better than the pair next to it?  Either way, we should be solid.  It will be interesting to see which direction Charlie takes.  Magic number is twelve, kids …

Do You Mean "Dump Joe West?"

By Amy McCormick

I shouldn’t really be surprised, should I?  Especially considering the fact that Facebook reminded me a few days ago that my status a year before was “[My daughter] could do a better job as an ump, and she’s in diapers.  And nonverbal.  And legally blind.”

A year later, Olivia is a chatterbox, her vision has improved somewhat, and the potty issue is a work in progress.  One thing remains the same, though: she seems to think she can do what she wants and make up rules as she goes along.  Sound familiar?

Today’s game at Sun Life Stadium (“a dump,” according to Ricky Bo, and I concur) wasn’t much to talk about … until the top of the sixth.  Hunter Pence would have been out had it not been for fan interference.  That call should have been made on the spot; Joe West should have been able to say that Petersen would have made the catch easily, send Howard back to first, and move on.

Instead, West chose to gather the ump crew and watch instant replay.  Upon review, West sent Pence back to the dugout and Howard back to first base.  While this was the correct call, West used improper means to come to that conclusion.  Instant replay in baseball is for close homerun balls, which this clearly was not.

Enter Charlie Manuel.

In true Charlie style, he let everyone know something: The Marlins might be 28.5 games behind and will be watching October baseball from their living rooms, but Philadelphia does not tolerate nonsense from umpires.  On his way out (don’t act surprised that Charlie got tossed), he was sure to let West know that the Phils would continue to play under protest.  Essentially, no one is contesting the judgment call – Pence should have been out.  What is unacceptable is the blatant misuse of the instant replay.

I’m eager to hear postgame statements, and it will be interesting to see how things play out.  If Joe West says that he looked at the footage because he thought it could have been a homerun, then he’ll be insulting our intelligence. 

Two side notes … 1) Phils-Marlins games should never go into extras.  Period.  They’re the Marlins. 2) I Googled “ump joe west” and my computer asked me, “Do you mean dump joe west?” Maybe it’s time we started taking Google’s suggestions.



What Would Hollins Do?

By Amy McCormick

We’ve all seen the 1993 – 2011 comparisons; it’s hard to avoid them, really.  I’d like to explore what the 2011 team should take from that infamous team.

If you read the books (such as More Than Beards, Bellies and Biceps: the Story of the 1993 Phillies by Robert Gordon), they take you back.  If you watch the DVDs, they make you laugh.  The mullets, huge wads of tobacco, and attitude that was written all over their faces all said one thing: We represent Philadelphia, and if you don’t like it, then it’s your own fucking problem.

The ’93 Phils embodied their fanbase.  Fans could relate to those players on different levels; Fregosi’s crew didn’t pretend to be anything but authentic.  They represented the blue collar working class who rushed home from a long day with two things on their mind: Phillies baseball and beer, not necessarily in that order. 

We’re all familiar with the missteps some of the ’93 players saw in their personal lives, and there’s no need to rehash them.  Back then, we surely cared more about what happened on the field. 

What can the current team extract from the rough-around-the-edges team from 1993?  If you ask me, it’s not something that can be quantified.  It’s all about attitude.  Although there were some real characters, I want to look at Dave Hollins (and, more specifically, his attitude).  I’m not saying that Polanco is the only player who should take notes – and it should be noted that Polly is also an All-Star third baseman with a nearly identical batting average in 2011, so save the hate mail, please.

I’m also not criticizing any players, past or present … I’d rather look at how different the game is now.  In 2011, players are trained on media relations, and it shows.  You’ll hear “(Insert opposing team’s name here) is a great team” regularly.  It’s funny to hear Hollins reflect on his feelings about Atlanta eighteen years ago.  “I hated the Braves, never liked them from day one,” he said.  “They acted like they were better than us, like they didn’t belong on the same field as us.  I would purposely try and crowd the plate just to show them I wasn’t gonna back down from them.”

Apparently, Hollins told Greg Maddux off the field, “Listen, if you ever hit me or one of my teammates again, I’m going to kill you.” I wonder how Hollins would have reacted during the Phils-Giants melee from a few weeks ago ….

If we look at our current team, we see finesse.  When I asked him to describe our current team in just one word, my friend Collin said, “Pitching.” That word isn’t just accurate – it also denotes control, and this team has owned MLB all season because of it.  Collin chose the word “dirty” for the 1993 team, and I have to agree, but maybe not for the reason that you think.  That group of guys took nothing for granted, didn’t play complacently, and were never afraid to fight for it.  Obviously, the ’11 team is doing a lot of things right.  They’re not 41 games over .500 by accident.  I’m just saying that I’d like to see that 1993 roughness around the edges once in awhile (cue “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor). 

I’ll leave you with my favorite John Kruk quote of all time.  “I’d rather fight Mike Tyson without his medication than fight Dave Hollins.” Enough said.

Tonight's Game, in Numbers

By Amy McCormick

Tonight’s 9-0 victory in Cincinnati brings us one day closer to the postseason.  Here are just a few reasons, quantitatively speaking.

18.  Number of shutouts the Phillies’ pitching staff has recorded thus far this season.

3. Number of RBIs for Halladay tonight.

411.  Number, in feet to center field, the baseball traveled when Pence homered in the 6^th.

6. Number of consecutive 100 RBI seasons for Ryan Howard.

85. Number of games in the Phils’ “Wins” column.

17. Number of homeruns for Raul Ibanez this season.

7 ½. Number of games by which the Braves trail the Phils.

23.  Our magic number.

Do the math, kids.  This team is steamrolling itself toward the Fall Classic.

Yankees' Thunder Stolen ... Again

Hurricane Irene's projected path

By Amy McCormick

Hurricane Irene is expected to unleash her wrath on the East Coast this weekend.  Because the storm's path looks as though it will follow the I-95 corridor, the Phillies-Marlins game on Sunday has been preponed.  There will be a day/night double header on Saturday at CBP, weather permitting. 

It's no mystery why my Facebook feed has gone from earthquake frenzy to hurricane madness.  Funny that the Yankees' 22-9 victory over Oakland didn't come up in conversation at all today.  (Phillies were the last team to score 22 runs in one game, in 2009.)  Martin, Cano and Granderson each hit a grand slam in the Bronx today - an MLB record - and no one seems to have noticed.  Why is that? Just recently, my Facebook was flooded with Jim Thome excitement - just seconds after he hit his 600th home run.  (I am certain that I am friends with just one Twins fan, by the way.)  Well, why no talk of the Yankees today?

Oh, right.  Because nobody cares.

Remember the Sports Illustrated cover last month, featuring a larger-than-life Carlos Ruiz? It was released a few days after Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit.  If you squint, you can see a tiny mention of DJ in the upper left corner.  It still makes me laugh ...

LOLMets

By Amy McCormick

We fans really needed to see the Phils destroy the Mets tonight, after the weekend we had.  What a bizarre weekend it was at CBP South!  Rain delays, two consecutive “starts” for Oswalt, and an uncharacteristic few days for the bullpen seemed to throw the Phils for a loop.  While I was impressed (relieved, excited, I could go on) by Oswalt’s outing on Saturday, it seems that his performance was the only highlight of the series.  Well, that and Schwimer’s debut.  Phils lost the series.  To the Nationals.  Seriously.  During the rain delay on Sunday, I joked that I would write a post titled “Mother Nature Interrupts Halladay Beating Wang; He’s Unable to Finish.” I was too depressed by the end of the game to even bother.

So, what’s a team to do after such a series? How do the Phils get their mojo back?  What’s a good pick-me-up for players and fans alike?

Beat up on the Mets.  Duh.

And did they ever.  Cliff Lee records his 14^th win of the season and the Phils are now 82-44.  We saw homers from Pence and Mayberry, a triple from Vic, and a double from Chooch.  Phils win, 10-0.  If it had been a Little League game, it would have been called after six innings.  There’s no mercy in the bigs, though … not even for the Mets.  Ricky Bo said after tonight’s game, “This is what the Phillies should have been doing to the Washington Nationals.” True.  One thing (of many) that I love about our team, though, is the ability to shake it off and put a bad game behind them.

We’ll see New York again tomorrow night at 7:05.  It just doesn’t get old for me.  LOLMets.

My Two-Minute Date With Cole Hamels

By Amy McCormick

Well, the day I had been waiting for finally came yesterday.  I met Cole Hamels.  Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself just a little.

Back in March, a friend of mine told me that Cole would be doing a signing in May.  My reaction to the news was pretty obvious: acquire a ticket immediately and explain the $130 to my husband later (he wasn't thrilled, by the way).  As it turned out, Cole was scheduled to pitch when that Saturday rolled around, and it got rescheduled for June ... and July ... and finally, my first date with him (um, I mean ... his autograph signing event) was set for August 14th. 

Now, you have to understand that I watch baseball, I love the game, and I understand the sport.  I'm not one of those females who follows a team because she likes the colors the players wear.  I don't care what Chase Utley looks like; as long as he's doing his job at the plate and on the field, I'm happy.  And as far as Cole Hamels goes, let me get one thing straight.  He is an incredibly skilled and talented pitcher, and I appreciate his athleticism.  It doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes, though.  And some of you may know that Cole and I have been in a pretty serious romantic relationship since 2007.  He just doesn't know about it.

So, I dragged my husband (no longer bitter about the $130) to Delaware County so that we could stand in line for an hour for an autograph.  There are very few other people (ok, no one) I would wait an hour in line to meet for two minutes.  I went over friends' advice in my head: Don't scream.  Don't cry.  Don't faint.  Don't act in a way that would cause security to escort me out.  As we got close, a dad carried his four-year-old son out of the store, kicking and screaming, "I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!!!" My husband looked at me and said, "Don't make me do that."

We got to the front of the line, and I was greeted by a less-than-friendly woman who barked at me, "Have your item ready for Mr. Hamels to sign.  Take a picture WHILE he's signing it.  He will not pose."  I confidently (not at all true) stepped up to the table and was greeted by Cole's smile and "Hi!" I'm pretty sure I said hello back to him, but I can't be certain.  I handed him the picture for him to autograph, and while he was signing it, per the boss lady's instructions, I attempted to take a picture.  It turns out that when you're that nervous, you fumble with things.  He finished signing, handed me the picture, and realized that I had my camera in my hand.  I am pleased to announce that he disobeyed the warden ... he waited patiently for me to get my camera ready, and he grinned for me.  (I have already ordered the print in poster size.  My husband, again, not happy.)  I managed to squeak out, "Thank you," and he said, "Rockin'.  You're welcome." I don't really know what "rockin'" is supposed to mean, but I love it.  He couldn't have been friendlier.  I left the store with a huge grin ... and an 8x10 autographed picture of Cole Hamels (he also wrote "08 WS MVP"). 

So, my date with Cole lasted about two minutes, but I'll certainly never forget it.  Until next time, Mr. Hamels ....

Phils Don't Sweep, But They Take Out the Trash

By Amy McCormick

Thursday, August 4^th began a four game series against the Giants in San Francisco.  Aside from the late start times, the series promised to be a good one.  Here’s a rundown of what happened.

Thursday.  Cliff Lee was matched up with Madison “My Parents Clearly Wanted a Girl” Bumgarner.  Lee pitched well; half of his eight strikeouts belonged to Cody Ross.  “That’s probably the best game I’ve had as far as commanding the ball,” Lee said.  “I was getting ahead of the hitters and staying away from the middle of the plate.  I felt like I could throw any pitch at any time to any location.” Can you ask anything more of a pitcher?  Phils took the first game with a score of 3-0, which is Lee’s fifth shutout of the season.  Hunter Pence and John Mayberry, Jr. had back-to-back homers in the 2^nd inning.  Bumgarner stated, “That second inning cost me I guess.  The way he [Lee] was throwing, he looked like he could throw about fourteen innings out there.” After the end of the game, of course, tragedy stuck not far from AT&T Park.  Ryan White, 9, of Yardley, had attended the game to cheer on the Phillies.  A drunken jerk of a Giants fan managed to mow White down with a car, putting him in critical condition.  Luckily, the suspect was caught not much later. 

Friday.  Wonder why fans in San Francisco act like reckless criminals? Well, the top of the sixth inning in Friday’s game is an indication of what the fanbase seems to aspire to.  Vance Worley and Jonathan Sanchez were the starting pitchers, and the Phils won 9-2; not a whole lot else matters, considering all anyone has been talking about is the brawl that ensued on the field.  In the top of the sixth, Ramon Ramirez quite obviously hit Shane Victorino in the back intentionally with a pitch.  When asked if he thought Ramirez hit him deliberately, Victorino said, “Yeah, absolutely, I think he did.”  Vic started toward the mound, which caused Giants’ catcher Eli Whiteside to jump around like a lunatic.  Placido Polanco came to back up Victorino, and Whiteside tackled him.  Benches cleared; teammates and coaches from both sides poured onto the field.  The bullpens emptied.  It was one of those fights you can’t wait to see again in the highlights after the game.  Bruce Bochy remarked, “It’s baseball and things happen fast.  Tempers flare.  It’s part of the game … it’s competition.  Things aren’t going well for us.  It happens and you deal with it … I thought it was fairly clean out there.” Um, I assume he was talking about the Phillies’ involvement, because the Giants instigated the brawl from the get-go.  The Phils merely reacted.  Whiteside, Ramirez, and Victorino were ejected.  Charlie defends Victorino, because his reaction was pretty appropriate.  Ramirez wasn’t pitching well and it looked as if he just wanted to nail a batter with a pitch.  The Giants’ lowly tactics couldn’t land them a win.

Saturday. Cole Hamels started for the Phils, and the Giants sent Matt Cain to the hill.  A lot of fans expected a repeat of the previous night’s fight.  Not only did we not see such action, the game didn’t last much more than two hours.  Phils won, 2-1.  Hamels said, “I was one out away from a shutout.” It was 2-0 going into the bottom of the ninth, but Pablo “I Shouldn’t Be Playing in This Game Because I Choked Chooch Last Night” Sandoval hit a two-out homer.  Bochy, when asked about the Giants’ lethargic offense, said, “You don’t win the World Series unless you can beat good pitching.  Right now, we’re not doing that.” Yeah, no kidding.  Even your fans agree.  Aubrey Huff, a fan favorite in San Francisco, was booed when he grounded out to Ryan Howard.  Like I said, the fans in San Francisco are suitable for their classless team.

Sunday. Today’s broadcast began with Tim Lincecum on the mound, the breeze flowing through his long (and disgusting) hair.  I hate to say it, but Lincecum pitched well.  He kept the Phils’ offense at one run; the Giants ruined Philadelphia’s attempt at a sweep and won 3-1.  It was “Little” Roy Oswalt’s return to the bigs after being absent more than six weeks.  He looked healthy, and his velocity was fine.  He just seemed a little rusty.  He let up twelve hits in six innings, getting himself into jams and working his way out of them.  Oswalt scored the Phils’ only run, and said, “It’s good to be on the field.  It’s good to be well again.” Though Philly suffered the loss, it is nice to have #44 back in the rotation.  The Phillies played a great series, and I hated to see it end on a Brian Wilson note. 

Here’s what the series means to me: the Giants aren’t the contender they might think they are.  We are 74-40 (34 games above .500).  San Francisco is 63-52 (11 games above .500).  I used to view them as a tough team to beat, but they’re hanging onto the lead in the West by a thread.  (Meanwhile, the Phils are up 8 ½ games over Atlanta in the East.)   I used to see San Francisco as just a team with terrible hair (facial and otherwise) and a bunch of girls’ first names.  Now, thanks to poor behavior and poor sportsmanship, I see them for what they are: a team with trashy players and a trashy fanbase.  This I know: we will be seeing Phillies baseball well into October.  If the Giants would like to join us in the postseason, they’ll need to get their act together.