Brand New Day

Teejay's back. Nick is chiding us for our lameness via email, blogpost, and comment - lacking only a twitter account to hit for the modern-day quadruple crown. The Scottish contingent has weighed in. And Whitney's...somewhere. Spring is in the air, ladies and gentlemen.

I wrote this 13 months ago, and it's as true today as it was then:

It occurs to me that my tolerance for Snyder’s wanton incompetence would be greater but for the fact that I’m a Sox fan. The differences between John Henry’s organization and that of Snyder are so stark as to be polar in their distance. I’ve had the unique and distinct pleasure of watching my favorite baseball club become a standard-bearer for organizational excellence, using deep pockets to fuel an extraordinarily disciplined and focused pursuit of every advantage. In the meantime, my football team has used similarly deep pockets to fuck up in every way possible, overspending on players, gleefully milking money from fans, and creating discontinuity as an organizational strategy.

On the morning after Dan Synder signed off on the single largest contract for a defensive player in the history of professional football and dropped over $55 million in guaranteed contracts to a pair of talented but oft-troubled players, I once again nod thankfully in Theo Epstein's direction.

The Sox didn't create any great splashes this offseason, though they certainly tried with Mark Teixeira. Once they missed on the talented firstbaseman, though, they didn't overcompensate, they didn't panic, and they didn't overreact. Instead, they inked several medium-risk, high-reward, budget-friendly deals. Rocco Baldelli joins his hometown nine as the 4th outfielder. Brad Penny and John Smoltz add serious depth to the rotation when they get healthy. And Takashi Saito does the same for the already solid bullpen (a his scoreless inning yesterday is a cause for fingers-crossed optimism). All four of these veterans joined the Sox for less total money than Alex Rodriguez will make by the All-Star break.

Fingers-crossed optimism. That may well be the mantra going into the season. Given a few good breaks in the trainer's room, the Sox could be very, very good. If Mike Lowell and David Ortiz return to even a semblance of their 2007 form, the offense will be deep enough to carry even Jason Varitek. The bench is anchored by Baldelli, health permitting, with Julio Lugo (please to be making Jed Lowrie the starter, skipper) and Mark Kotsay providing big-league quality depth. If Penny and Smoltz can contribute, Terry Francona will have to pick an odd man out, as the Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, Penny, Smoltz, Wakefield rotation matches up with any in the league and Clay Buchholz waits in the wings, trying to prove he belongs in the bigs after a forgettable 2008. Jonathan Papelbon's sublime idiocy anchors the pen, with Saito, Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Justin Masterson, and Javier Lopez rounding out a group with the potential to be among the league's best. (Godspeed, Mike Timlin, wherever you are).

Ifs, buts, candies, nuts, my friends. But the view from the cheap seats shines with soft glow of a new season's promise. Roll the balls out, let 'em play.

He is Vigo! You are like the buzzing of flies to him!

Hello Nick. So nice of you to flip the lights on over here. I'm happy to be back after my three month tour of Europe, Scandinavia and the sub continent, but honestly, I was "hired" here at MLC to discuss my beloved Yankees, and it's been such a quiet offseason what do I even have to talk about?

Oh, right....

Well, February 27th might even be too early for me to jump in guns blazing Yosemite Sam-style, so I'll just start my coverage off with this:
The Alex Rodriguez steroid soap opera, fueled by the heathens at the WWL and the NY press corps, is the major slime-related psychokinetic event affecting this 2009 season. And right now Alex the Despised is starring as Vigo.



Of course, that makes this whole Yankees season Ghostbusters 2, but hell, I can live with that, as long as we get this ending (see, one post in and already TWO youtubes for you guys. who missed me?)...and a world series title (wait, did I just say that?)



Final note: Just like Vigo, Alex Rodriguez can't die of old age. He can't be poisoned, stabbed, shot, hung, stretched, disemboweled, drawn and/or quartered. Unless it's October of course.

In a Big Country

A note to our friend Derek from Scotland:

We hear you, promise. Like a number of the pitchers and catchers reporting this week to Fort Myers, Tampa, Port St. Lucie, and Clearwater, the gentlemen of Misery Loves Company are in woeful blogging shape. Picture Josh Beckett circa February 2008. And like those tubby hurlers and winded receivers, come late March we'll be rarin' to go.

Unless Papi gets caught up in a steroid scandal, in which case I'm never blogging another word.

See you again soon.

Happy Days Are Here Again!

Only Whitey until "Pitchers and catchers report."

As the equipment trucks roll into various destinations in sunny F-L-A, let's hope the rest of you lads shake the winter doldrums and start making this place interesting.

The Final Countdown (cont.)

Only Marvelous Marv Throneberry until "Pitchers and catchers report."

I could have gone with some other options here. I was thinking Tommy Lasorda but I had to throw Whitney a bone. Here ya go Whit - enjoy!

Final Countdown (cont.)

Only The Bambino until "Pitchers and catchers report."

If you are paying careful attention, you'll notice this is a photo from the Babe's days as a member of the Red Sox (photo lifted from http://www.1918redsox.com/.) For the record, I do not believe uniform numbers were used in 1918. Also, I chose this photo not because of any newfound sense of Soxaphilia. I just thought I'd spread the love around to head off any rumors about Teej and me.

Final Countdown (cont.)

Only the (original) Iron Horse until "Pitchers and catchers report."

Final Countdown

Only Johnny Bench until "Pitchers and catchers report."

Exit Stage Left

Heavens to Murgatroyd! Where the hell is everyone? It's been 45 days since anyone posted 'round these parts. I asked for a simple moratorium in observance of my new found success but this is much longer than I asked for or deserve! You know, we doubled our membership and this post only puts us two ahead of last year's total with 16 days remaining. Whitney surely has something to say - K-Rod, Putz? Certainly Mr. Doyle can chime in with the Bronx' gluttonous foray into the pitching market - CC and AJ? And you Mr. Russell, whose team always figures into the equation with the hottest free agent du jour, what say you? Is Tex taking his bat to Beantown?

The Phillies, World Championship notwithstanding, are going on with business as usual. Nothing flashy, just prudent moves based on sober reality. "Eating Raul" Ibanez will be patrolling left field replacing Pat the Bat (more on that later.) Jamie Moyer has been retained for 2 more seasons. Chan Ho Park will be competing for the 5th starters spot in Citizens Bank Park (no relation - its like Smith in the Koreas.) There's still dizzying talk of packaging 56 prospects to the Padres for Jake Peavey but I know better. That rumor will die a fairly inconspicuous death.

Back to Pat the Bat. I have trouble recalling any player in recent Phillies' history who compares to his place in club lore. He compares favorably with the all time greats in club history (it's relative.) He's behind only Del Ennis and Mike Schmidt in home runs. (Granted, there is Mike Schmidt at 548 and then Ennis and Burrell at about 300 home runs behind.) He's a World Champion who has had a few great moments (his run was the Series clincher.) However, it's all offset by what he didn't do. He shares some qualities with Von Hayes - so much potential, so much disappointment. He didn't come close to winning any batting titles, home run titles or RBI titles. He never carried the team for longer than a month. He still looked helpless at time flailing away at breaking pitches. He just seemed so damned aloof all the time.

What ultimately endeared Pat the Bat to Phillies fans in the end was that he took his beating standing up and he never let them see him cry. Many a thin skinned athlete took his wares elsewhere because the heat was too intense. Pat played it cool the entire time. In the end, he delivered in the biggest game of his career and was subsequently the championship parade grand marshal. He then accepted with typical dignity the fact that his club no longer needed his services. I hope Pat lands somewhere where the weather is always perfect and his contributions always welcomed. I have only one request. Please Pat, please, stay the hell away from Flushing.

Thanks for the memories old pal and good luck.

Give My Regards to Broad Street

Random Thoughts on a Championship Season

1. I am a member of the small subset of Beatles fans who preferred Paul to John. Hence the title of this post is both an homage to the Phillies famous street address and a rather awful Paul McCartney movie from 1984. Anyone remember "No More Lonely Nights?" No? It did feature a soulful Dave Gilmour lick.

2. In 1980, the Phillies' World Series victory was cathartic but not necessarily something I remember sitting back and appreciating. This is different. Clearly, baseball has a different priority in the life of a 42-year-old father of 4 than it does in the life of a 14 year old high school freshman. I didn't want this one as badly as I did way back then but the flip side is I won't be disappointed next year when some other team hoists that garish World Series trophy. I was a wreck in 1981. I stil hate that year!

3. Congratulations to the Phillies' young stars who each contributed - Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. You each have earned the right to be considered true stars of the game.

4. Congratulations to the guys for whom this world title is redemption. May no one ever link Brad Lidge to Albert Puljols again. May everyone appreciate that while he never became a beastly hitting machine that earned him the nickname Pat the Bat, Pat Burrell was a justified #1 draft pick in 1998.

5. Congratulations old man Jamie Moyer. Your story would be a wonderful tale of hard work, grit and determination if you simply hailed from Minot, North Dakota. The fact that you went home to the city in which you grew up to win a championship in the twilight of your career - and you did it by leading your rotation in victories while mentoring your young mates - well my friend, that is the stuff of legend.

6. Congratulations to the the little man, the Flyin' Hawaiian - Shane Victorino! Make no mistake, this is your team Shane.

7. Congratulations to Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz - your unexpected contributions with your bats were a pleasant surprise and a much needed shot in the arm to the offense when the experts kept pounding on the team's poor situational hitting.

8. Congratulations to the bullpen and the bench and the steady hand of Jason Werth. All great teams have professionals that do their jobs well.

9. Congratulations to Uncle Charlie and Stand Pat Gillick. No one is second guessing you now.

10. Congratulations to all those Phillies fans that don't swear in front of children, who do not pelt Santa with snowballs. To those who don't wear T-shirts featuring messages ryming Tony Romo's surname with a slur. Those who don't cheer E-A-G-L-E-S at Phillies games. Those who remember 1980. Those who went to the Vet time and again even when the team was going nowhere as it usually was.

11. This World Championship is for all those who fell by the wayside but certainly tried to make it happen years and years earlier. John Kruk, Mitch Williams, Jim Fregosi, Johnny Podres, Dutch and the Dude, Mike Lieberthal, Doug Glanville, Terry Mulholland, Mickey Morandini, Bobby Abreu, Larry Bowa, Von Hayes, Juan Samuel, Rico Brogna and Jim Thome. This is also for Tito. I know you ended up in a better place but what you went through here makes you worthy. You will always be a Phillie in some small way. There are others I am sure. Time takes its toll fellas.

12. This World Championship is most certainly not for a number of fellas who were too damn impatient or self absorbed to make it happen here. You know who you are. Unfortunately, you were rewarded for your petulance. No matter, you're not one of us. You're dead to me.

13. This World Championship is also for my father. Tata - I am sorry this has happened to me twice while you have watched 71 Octobers fade away empty handed. I know you are happy for me and that inside, you, like all Cubs fans, are our baseball kin. Believe me, I'd trade this one in a heartbeat just to get you one. Just one.

14. To Whitney, TJ and Rob - thanks for inviting me to this forum. Rob, I don't see what is so tough about those Rays! TJ - The Philies have more championships in this century than the Yanks! Remember the year 2000 belongs to the last century. Whitney, we caught you - 2 for the Mets, 2 for the Phils! I like carving up reality to enhance my self esteem. Seriously, I apologize for making a mockery of misery this year. I will try to do better next year.

15. No hot stove talk until after Thanksgiving, OK? I just want to do a little sun soaking.

Your 2008 World Series Champions!

The Philadelphia Phillies National League Baseball Club

Less is more folks. Suffice to say, I am a happy man today. Hooray Phillies! We did it!

My Name Is Earl

A quick pair of cents before emptying the stage for Nick's acceptance speech . . .

As much disdain as I have for stereotypical Philadelphians, Phils fans, and the Phillies -- and it's a lot -- in the waning moments of last night's game, I found myself happy about the result because of Nick.

I don't know any die-hard Rays fans (that's a joke) but I know some ever-lovin' Phightins Phans, and there are some diamonds in that rough, rough lot. Here's to our late, great friend Evan "Earl" Lloyd, whose time in heaven now includes Ohio State and Phillies championships, giving us all hope of a blessed afterlife.

And here's to Nick, who, once he decided to pony up again for the Extra Innings ticket and spend way too much time on a silly blog writing about his team, saw 28 years fall by the wayside. The applications for inclusion at MLC are pouring in from Cubs and Indians fans. Yanks fans, not so much.

So here's pretty much the only thing I got right this year.

Oh . . . and at least the Eagles never won anything (yet).

Who Will Stop the Rain?

2008 World Series Game 5

Rays 2, Phillies 2 - suspended in the middle of the 6th inning

Series: Phillies 3.5 to 1.5

Game 5.67 - TBD

A look at the Doppler revealed a massive green blob over the Mid-Atlantic from Richmond on up to New York. The green blob sat there like the University of Wisconsin offensive line at a bratwurst buffet. It had no intention of going anywhere soon.

By now, everyone knows the comedy of errors that led to last night’s suspension of Game 5 with the game tied at 2 in the middle of the 6th. Before I go on to comment here, let me make it clear that I certainly did NOT want the Phils to win a rain shortened game. I’d rather lose if it came to that. Still, I am a bit peeved. Here is why.

It’s no mystery that MLB does not call the shots on whether these games are played or not. It’s unfortunate that these decisions are now made de facto by the TV network – in this case Fox. What I cannot understand is why no one at Fox or MLB has a reasonable contingency plan for such situations as last night. It was October 27th in Philadelphia. The chance that we’d see rain was pretty good actually.

There are two things that could have rescued baseball from another self inflicted wound last night.

1 – Get rid of the 5 inning rule for the post season. In fact, you should probably dump it from the last week of the season through the post season. No one wants to win a rain-shortened 5 inning game in the pennant drive or post season. If you get rid of the 5 inning rule, you wouldn’t have subjected the Phillies to the top of the 6th when the Rays conveniently tied the game. I am not saying the Rays are unworthy of the tie at this point, I am simply pointing out it could have been a whole lot worse for the Phillies given the weather conditions and then where would we be? The Phillies were lucky to escape the inning tied. Presumably, when the Rays take the field when this game eventually resumes, they will do so in markedly improved conditions. Does that seem fair?

2 – 154 games. Look, we have an extra round in the playoffs which have now shoved the World Series into the final week in October. Given that half of all Major League teams play in the Northeast, Midwest or Rocky Mountains, it’s a good bet that inclement weather will affect the World Series. Dropping the 8 games and restoring the pre 1961 schedule will allow the World Series to start in mid-October and be done by the 22nd or 23rd.

Beyond these two, MLB still should have canned this game after the 2nd inning. What a shame.

OK, now onto Game 5, part II whenever that resumes. Let’s call it Game 5.67. The Phils will get 12 outs, the Rays 9. That’s a huge advantage. The Phils of course, have that great bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Charlie approaches this game. Will he treat it like a normal game in the 6th inning or will he treat it for what it has become, a 3.5 inning game? If Bret Myers wasn’t so shaky in the early innings, I’d “start” him. However, we cannot afford to give up a single run, not until we plate a run. So who will get the ball in the 7th? The Rays will have the 6, 7 & 8 batters – Navarro (S), Baldelli (R) and Bartlett (R). A pinch hitter will follow if someone gets on. I don’t see why you don’t go to Madson and ask him to pitch two innings. If the Phillies can get that run, and trot Madson out for 2 innings followed by Lidge, I’d like their chances. Of course, the greater mystery would be just who Joe Maddon sends out for the bottom of the 6th.

This may all play out tonight, or tomorrow, or later. Who knows? Did I mention it’s been 28 years? I can wait.

Sledgehammer

2008 World Series Game 4

Phillies 10, Rays 2
Series: Phillies 3 - 0

Hey seamheads! You know what you can do with your "runners in scoring position" stat! Looks like you may need to redefine the term "scoring position." I have told you all year long, this team does not manufacture runs. It vomits them.

Of course, there is a downside to that approach. I just hope a 3 games to 1 edge affords them a little room if they come crashing down from that long ball buzz.

There is no better scenario for the Phillies than the one which has presented itself to them for tonight's Game 5 in Philly. Up 3-1. They have Hamels with the ball in his hand. They're facing Kazmir who they were able to score on early back at the Trop. Howard has found his mojo. Utley and Rollins too. Pete Happy has chipped in. Carlos Ruiz has joined in the homer happiness. And now, it appears Joe Blanton is a nice right handed hitter coming off the bench.

I think this team knows its all theirs for the taking. I am confident they will come out relaxed and ready. Still, the Rays have shown their mettle so until that last slider from Lidge sails into Ruiz's glove unmolested, I won't rest.

28 years is a long time. That's all I can say.

In The Air Tonight

2008 World Series - Games 1, 2 & 3

Phillies 3, Rays 2

Rays 4, Phillies 2

Phillies 5, Rays 4

Phillies lead 2-1

Anybody see anything worthwhile on TV recently?

Sorry it's been a while since I posted. I'm obviously quite new to this World Series experience. Call me a hack, a slouch or whatever. I really don't have a whole lot to say. Things are progressing as I expected. I knew Hamels had a great game in store for us in Game 1. He was outstanding. He gives me that feeling only Lefty and Schill ever had before. Put the ball in his hands and relax. The effort by Myers was about what we could reasonably expect. Look, he went up against James Shields so he really had no chance to win, did he? He kept it respectable and that's all we could ask. I know I could be accused of over psychoanalyzing sports and that's probably the case here but I think that Myers kept in respectable and the team was able to leave St. Pete tied at 1-1 feeling like this was going to be a tight series. Can you imagine what the feeling would have been heading back if we had lost 9 - 2? Especially after the way the Rays abused a better pitching rotation in the ALCS?

Mother Nature sure did screw with the Phils in Game 3. She couldn't just wash out the whole evening. Nooooooo. She had to insidiously delay the game for 90 minutes turning 45,000 championship starved hyenas into 45,000 bleary eyed and quite passive fans. The hometown crowd was admirable given the circumstances but one of the big factors in the series is that the Phils play before real baseball fans who are very, very noisy. This club feeds off that vibe. They gave it their best but I expect it to be a little crazier tonight.

I have to write a little ode to Jamie Moyer one day. For now, I will just say I wish he was my big brother.

The national media cracks me up analyzing the Phillies ineptitude with RISP. Where the hell have they been all year? No one who has witnessed this club play ball the past few seasons would ever confuse their style with MoneyBall. You just have to learn to be patient. Last night was a case in point. They will smack it around. I don't care if it is Derek Lowe, CC Sabathia or Scott Kazmir. This club looks for the long ball. I gave up long ago and shit, we're 2 games away from the championship so as Rob would advise, I think I just have a tall cold glass of shut the f_ck up and relax. For better for worse, that's how they're gonna roll.

Tonight would be a really good night to steal a win. Keep it close Joe Blanton and give us a chance. If we do pull it out, I'd feel safe bankrolling 40,000 "Phillies - 2008 World Series Champions adjustable caps.

*Oh, and before I go, Cole Hamels will likely be the MVP if we win this thing but I thought I would mention just how cool it is that Carlos Ruiz has been delivering all postseason long. Ruiz is 2008's Rick Dempsey or Kurt Bevaqua or Scott Brosius. Therefor, Carlos gets his mug on my posts until further notice.