Phillies Journal - 2008 and 2009
A rhyme a day
as long as they play
METS ACCEPT CHAMPS GIFT
Phils’ pitchers gave up just two hits but lost;
it’s because Pedro Feliz got his feet crossed
Chan Ho Park, in six frames, blanked Mets on one hit.
Met’s Santana gave Champs’ hitters a fit.
First Phils’ game at Mets’ Citi Field, team got tossed.
Wednesday, May 6,
2009. Citi Field, New York, New
York.
New
York – 1, Philadelphia -0.
WP – Santana (4-1),
LP – Eyre (0-1)
H – Feliciano (4).
S – Rodriguez (8).
The run scored on an infield
hit and a wild throw by Feliz – one of those third-baseman-charges-slow-roller-bare-hands-and-throws plays that work
maybe one out of ten and seems to rip right arm from socket and twists spine like a pretzel – one of those. This one
was ten feet out of Ryan Howard’s reach and by the time right fielder Werth picked it up, and waited two beats before
throwing, Carlos Delgado, running like a truck grinding up a steep grade, collapsed at home plate in an imitation slide a
tick before catcher Ruiz put a game-losing tag on him. That was it, sports fans, 17 half-innings, 15 Ks, a measly five hits,
and one lousy run. Coming into the game, Phillies led the Majors in fielding – only five errors in 24 games, tonight
three errors. I hate it when I hear the bb gods giggling.
For what it’s Werth, is all I’m saying…
If it weren’t for him we’d still be playing…
Jaybird
METS MAUL MOYER
The old lefty was missing his spots.
The result: three New York Mets shots.
Champ Phils fought back as they do,
but came up just short in the Citi Field zoo.
Champs still on top in spite of these nots.
Thursday, May 7, 2009. Citi Field, New York,
New York.
New
York – 7, Philadelphia – 5.
WP – Pellfrey (4-0),
LP – Moyer (3-2).
S – Rodriguez (9).
HR – Beltran (5), 1st,
1 on; Wright (3), 1st, 1 on; Reyes (2), 2nd.
Howard (6), 6th;
Werth (5), 8th, 1 on.
RETURN OF THE KING
Young King Cole got back on his hill;
brought his left arm and his Major League skill.
Champs’ sluggers hit three,
to Phillies’ fans glee,
and the team played Atlanta-down drill.
Friday, May 8, 2009. Citizens Bank
Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia
– 10, Atlanta – 6.
WP – Hamels (1-2),
LP – Reyes (0-2).
HR – Infante (1), 8th;
Kotchman (2), 9th, 2 on.
Werth (6), 3rd, 1 on; Coste
(1), 4th; Utley (9), 5th.
CHAMPS THUMP CARDS, GRAB
NL EAST LEAD
Victorino and Werth went deep,
leading team to top of NL East heap.
Brett Myers got the win
though his outing was thin,
and his progress looks like a slow creep.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri.
Philadelphia
– 10, St. Louis – 7.
WP – Myers (2-2), LP
– Wainright (3-1).
H – Eyre (3), Madson
(4).
HR – Ludwick (7), 4th;
Y. Molina (3), 4th; Pujols (10), 9th.
Victorino (4), 1st; Werth (4),
5th, 2 on.
HOWARD SLAMS HIGH-FLYING
BIRDS
St. Louis is Ryan Howard’s hometown.
Is that why he always puts Cardinals down?
A GRAND SLAM homerun
made Joe Blanton’s night fun,
and Kyle Lohse look like a clown.
Monday, May 4, 2009. Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri.
Philadelphia
– 6, St.Louis – 1.
WP – Blanton (1-2),
LP – Lohse (3-1).
HR – Werth (3), 3rd,
1 on; Howard (5), 5th, GRAND SLAM.
GET ‘EM IN, GUYS
Champs got ‘em on but couldn’t get ‘em in,
ten LOB’s no formula to win.
Nats’ lefty Olsen, a well-familiar foe;
not the first time he’s handed Phillies woe.
April’s done and Mets are next, let the fun begin.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Citizens Bank
Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Washington
– 4, Philadelphia – 1.
WP – Olsen (1-3), LP
– Myers (1-2).
H – Mock (2), Wells
(2). S – Taverez (1).
HR – Victorino (3),
1st.
PHILLIES
JOURNAL - 2009
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
The good news: Phils win five straight,
the bad: Cole Hamels sprained ankle fate.
Champs hit four, Chase Utley, two;
missing Lidge and Hamels what can we do?
Continue to look like a steam-rolling freight.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Citizens Bank
Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia
– 7, Washington – 1.
WP – Durbin (1-0),
LP – Lannan (0-3)
HR – Dunn (6), 7th.
Utley 2 (7), 3rd,
1 on, 6th; Feliz (2), 3rd, 2 on; Ibaņez (7), 8th.
Hamels, coasting with a 5-run
lead, turned his ankle fielding a bunt in the 5th inning with one out, and had to leave the game with no decision.
The medical report said it was a mild sprain and he would not miss a start.
Lidge is another
story – his right knee is giving him trouble. The knee has had two surgical procedures to repair torn cartilage. Cortisone
shots have not helped. Lidge: “I think long-term I’m not worried.”
Yo, Lidge –
lets talk about short-term.
CHAMPIONS
When game five resumed at the Bank,
we have Jenkins and Burrell to thank,
for hitting clutch doubles,
handing Rays multi troubles,
and joy to this old baseball crank.
Werth and Feliz drove them in,
to an ear-splitting Philly crowd din.
Brad Lidge closed a perfect season,
no doubt the main reason
that Philadelphia was able to win.
“It’s just the beginning,”
Jimmy Rollins said, grinning.
The future for Phillies is bright,
their young eyes on the stars and the light.
For the city, a new era of winning.
Wednesday, October
29, 2008. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia –
4, Tampa Bay – 3.
WP – Romero
(2), LP – Howell (0-2).
BS – Madson
(2). S – Lidge (2) [47].
HR –
Baldelli (1)
GAME FOUR –
LEFT TURN AT FIRST, JOE
Joe Blanton unlimbered his swing,
the result was a very odd thing;
a homer to left
that left Tampa bereft
of a chance to hear winning bells ring.
Ryan Howard unlimbered his swing,
the result was the usual thing;
not one, but two long balls,
plus two excited Harry Kalas calls,
and a big Phillies win, ring a ding ding!
Sunday, October 26,
2008. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia –
10, Tampa Bay – 2.
WP – Blanton
(1-0) [11-12], LP – Sonnanstine (0-1) [15-10].
H – Eyre (2)
[9], Madson (2) [22].
HR – Crawford
(2)[13], 4th; Hinske (1) [21], 5th.
Blanton
(1) [1], 5th; Howard – 2(3) [51], 4th, 2 on, 8th, 1 on; Werth (1) [25], 8th,
1 on.
GAME THREE –
PHILLIES
Jamie Moyer, the big stage at last;
threw well-aimed darts and watched Phillies blast.
Homeruns from Ruiz, Utley, and Howie,
back-to-back from Chase and Ryan, wahoo and zowie!
Ruiz’s forty foot roller left Tampa aghast.
Saturday, October
25, Sunday, October 26, 2008, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia –
5, Tampa Bay – 4.
WP – Romero
(1-0), LP – Howell (0-1).
H – Durbin (1),
Eyre (1). BS – Madson (1).
HR – Ruiz (1)
[5], 2nd; Utley (2), [36], 6th; Howard (1), [49] 6th.
GAME TWO – RAYS
Baseball
101 for kids:“Okay, guys, here is how to win:
get ‘em on, get ‘em over, get’em
in.”
With eleven left on base
it’s not hard to make the case,
that Phillies’ have indulged a Baseball
sin.
Thursday, October
23, 2008. Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tampa Bay –
4, Philadelphia – 2.
WP – Shields
(1-0) [14-10], LP – Myers (0-1) [12-14]
HR –
Bruntlett (1) [2].
WORLD’S SERIES
GAME ONE – PHILLIES
First-game formula to take Phillies far:
Chase Utley and Cole Hamels star,
Madson and Lidge shut the door.
Game two for Phils as before:
Myers and
Victorino raise the bar.
Wednesday, October
22, 2008. Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Philadelphia –
3, Tampa Bay – 2.
WP – Hamels
(1-0) [18-10], LP –Kazmir (0-1) [14-11].
H- Madson (1) [21].
S – Lidge (1) [46].
HR – Crawford
(1) [ ], 4th.
Utley (1) [35], 1st,
1 on.
PHILLIES WIN THE PENNANT! PHILLIES WIN THE PENNANT! PHILLIES WIN THE PENNANT!
And they’re going crazy.
J-roll’s leadoff homer pricked Dodger balloon,
GET ‘EM IN, GUYS
Champs got ‘em on but couldn’t get ‘em in,
ten LOB’s no formula to win.
Nats’ lefty Olsen, a well-familiar foe;
not the first time he’s handed Phillies woe.
April’s done and Mets are next, let the fun begin.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Citizens Bank
Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Washington
– 4, Philadelphia – 1.
WP – Olsen (1-3), LP
– Myers (1-2).
H – Mock (2), Wells
(2). S – Taverez (1).
HR – Victorino (3),
1st.
