Playoffs

Photo: DVD

FIGHTIN'S
The New Big Red Machine takes on San Francisco tomorrow night. Roy Halladay threw a nearly perfect no-hitter in his previous start for the Phillies and Giants ace Tim Lincecum struck out fourteen in his last appearance. Meanwhile, former Philly pitcher Cliff Lee has brought the Texas Rangers to their first American League Championship Series to face the Evil Empire. Crunchy October action.

OCTOBER 21: LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN
Doc versus the Freak again tonight. Philadelphia is behind 3-1 to San Francisco in a series that has seen the team looking listless. Even last night, when they managed (finally) to score some runs, the mood was notably somber. When Jayson Werth followed Ryan Howard's double with one of his own to tie the game in the top of the eighth there was hardly a reaction. It didn't seem like they were planning on winning the game. That's been the feel for the last couple.

A victory tonight will bring the Phillies back to Citizens Bank Park, back to the fans, and maybe back to themselves.

Seattle, Ellensburg, Yakima

Click image to view slideshow.

Yard's IPA (On Tap)

Had an awesome meal at Kanella BYOB in Philadelphia last night. Drank a rocking bottle of Gamba 2007 Russian River Zinfandel with dinner, grabbed a cup of coffee at the new Garces Trading Company, ended up at Irish Pub for a couple of drafts. Nothing more local than Yard's, brewed in Philly. I've had their India Pale Ale previously, never on tap.

Poured a slightly hazy reddish copper color with a thin resilient head. Decent lacing all the way down the pint glass. The smell was fresh and enticing. Big malt opening, caramely and sweet followed by nice bitter hop flavor - not particularly pungent (citrus/piney) but very present. The feel was frothy and sticky - seemed to be a good keg and was definitely much tastier from the tap than bottle. I'm a fan of Yard's, can't wait for Philadelphia Pale Ales from Brewerytown at Citizen's Bank Park this summer.


Yard's IPA (On Tap)
Price paid: $4.00/Pint
Freshness: Excellent
ABV: 7.0%

Bathtub blues

Billy got so sad, dejected
Put on his hat and started to run
Running down the streets
Yelling at the top of his lungs
All I want in this life of mine
Is some good clean fun
All I want in this life and time
Is some hit and run

Keep hope alive, and hope will keep you alive.



In it to win it. Let's go Fightin's.

P.S. - Baseball in November. Great season for the Phillies that could have been that much better. ABTY

Game one

The Fightin's handled New York brilliantly in Game One, delivering a 6-1 win with aplomb. Starting pitchter Cliff Lee meticulously disarmed the Bronx Bombers' offense with 10 strikeouts; A-Rod sat down shaking his head three times. Phillies batters put in six runs, including two solo-shots by Chase Utley off Yankee ace CC Sabathia.

Cliff Lee hurls a spike curveball. He pitched all nine innings, zero earned runs.

Carlos Ruiz waits while the umps deliberate over a potential double play.

Chase Utley watches his second homer fly. All Photos: Chang Lee/New York Times

October thrill

Bottom of the ninth, Phillies trail the Dodgers by one run.
Ibañez grounds to the secondbaseman.
One out.
Matt Stairs pinch-hits for Feliz, drawing a walk.
Carlos Ruiz is hit by the first pitch he faces.
Bruntlett (running for Stairs) is on second, Chooch at first.
Dobbs stubs one into the glove of Dodger thirdbaseman.
Two outs.
Runners still at first and second.
Jimmy Rollins to the plate.

Pinstripes

I ordered a custom baseball jersey today, Phillies home uniform.
Number: 51 Name: C H O O C H

Playoffs start today in Philadelphia, 2:37PM.
Bam! Big win sets tone for 2009.
Phils 5, Rockies 1

Crump and me holding it down in section 143. Thanks, buddy - what a game.

On top

Eighth-annual Goya Latino Family Celebration tonight at Citizen's Bank Park. Looks to be a lot of dancing involved. Arrrriba!

Thought we might see Tim Lincecum pitted against Phillies' J.A. Happ...alas, the Giants will start their latest pitching acquisition instead. I was eager to watch Lincecum's freakish work first-hand, but seeing the Phillies score some runs will be fine. The Fightin's currently reside atop the National League East, leading by 7.5 games as the Playoffs approach.

03 SEPTEMBER 2009
The Phillies didn't show up last night. At least the weather was pleasant. And we were able to upgrade from section 417 to 117 for the last inning. Meh.

"Unassisted"

Evidently I'm not the only one who cringes at superfluous quotation marks. This site is purportedly by a Calvin graduate, click above to view. The "money" sign is comical, but a bit unsettling in the context of Federal Reserve shennanigans.

FIGHTIN'S

Phillies v. Mets, 23 Aug 2009 (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Sunday, utility player Eric Bruntlett adds the final touch to a game-ending unassisted triple-play (the second in MLB history).

Fire fire fire

Still discovering gems on my iPod from sister's music collection. The latest:



FIGHTIN'S
Pedro Martinez pitched a pretty good game last night, his first for the Phillies. And the offense was in top form against the Cubs starter, scoring 12 ERA-bruising runs in the first four innings. Pleasant aroma of postseason brewing.

Standing room only

J.A. Happ pitched a full-game shutout last night, enjoyed all the more from the rail at the back of section 108. The standing-room-only ticket highlighted what a great ball park Philadelphia has. It's easy to keep an eye on the action while wandering around, and there's plenty of space to hang out at the counters behind the first level of seats.


Italian sausage fresh from the Johnsonville stand in Ashburn Alley.

The 45,000+ crowd was energized by plenty of Philly runs and Happ's excellent performance on the mound. A roar went up when he came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning, followed by another roar when he sent a shot to the warning track for his first major league double. Happ wrapped up the Rockies in the top of the ninth to polish off a sweet win.

Pier review

Click the imgage below to view a photo set from the Maine State Pier concert, courtesy of Flickr user Jon Donnell. The shot of the little kid holding a sign reading "I WANNA HEAR THE WALKEN ONE!" is classic.

Wilco @ the Maine State Pier, 7/17/09, by Jon Donnell

FIGHTIN'S
Thanks to Jeff R. for claiming his company's seats to the game last night. He, myself, and superfan Davy C. rolled up to Citizens Park to see the Phillies beat the Cubs (10-1) for their ninth consecutive win. Section 125, a few rows behind.....Jack Nicholson? I was getting a beer when this happened. Phils lead their closest division opponent by 6.5 games.

Summer time

Summer begins with the first dip in Spar Cove.....rocking outdoor concert at local ballpark backs it up, late night rally seals deal; it's a summertime thing.

...Wilco Wilmington 2009..., by Chris Sikich

WILCO SETLIST:

Wilco (The Song)
Muzzle Of Bees
A Shot In The Arm
Bull Black Nova
You Are My Face
One Wing
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
Handshake Drugs
Impossible Germany
Jesus, Etc.
Sonny Feeling
Can't Stand It
Hate It Here
You Never Know
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird

ENCORE 1
Misunderstood
Spiders (Kidsmoke)

ENCORE 2
Box Full Of Letters
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm Always In Love
Hoodoo Voodoo

Mmm, mmm, mmmmm that's good Friday Night. Cheers to Davy, Erin and Joe for battling up I-95 from D.C. for the show, and to Chris and Pete for being there undoubtedly. To the weather for being perfect. To the band for putting Wilmington on the schedule and playing a great set. Double upcoming cheers for Wilco being in Portland July 17th, jamming on the Maine State Pier.

FIGHTIN'S
On Saturday the Phillies found themselves four runs behind the Pirates going to the bottom of the ninth. With the added impetus of Joe Biden's glib presence behind homeplate, the club assembled a huge offensive push. Matt Stairs led off with a solo shot, narrowing the defecit to three runs. Rollins walked, Victorino sent a long fly to the track for the first out, then Utley singled bringing the tying run to the plate.....Ryan Howard, who cleared the bases with a 420-foot blast. Raul Ibanez, back from a month on the disabled list, smacked a double on the next pitch and backup catcher Paul Bako knocked in the walk-off run to complete the legendary comeback. The World Champs lead their division by four games at the All-Star break.

Vote Victorino

Shane!, by kenjibaseball™

Speed we can believe in.
I've felt more populist concern for voting Shane Victorino into the final slot on the National League All-Star team this year than I did for last year's presidential race. He's playing with genuine enthusiasm, and the NL has a better shot at home field advantage in the World Series* with the Flyin' Hawaiian on the squad.

1 0 . J U L Y . 2 0 0 9
Democracy! Victorino won the final vote while contributing to another Philly victory last night. Two runs-batted-in, upped his average to .309, and will likely start in center field for the National League.

*Hmmm, this rule is a bummer. The All-Star game should be an exhibition of the best skills in baseball concentrated onto one field for one night only. The benefits of this are too intangible, apparently, to inspire incentive or motivation from modern egotist atheletes (and region-centric fans). What's at stake? Why do we support/watch/play baseball in the first place? Also, let's ditch the designated hitter, AL - what is this, Russia? That's right, I just called you a communist.

Phillies vs. Braves

Citizens Bank Park, Section 416, 09 May 2009, 3:35 start, L: 2-6, pic'd: Davy C