There’s Nothing To See Here…yet

Hoodwink’d by cj hood

There’s Nothing To See Here…yet

PLEASE DISPERSE…CLIFF LEE ONLY WON 1 GAME.

I wrote a Hoodwink’d on Monday (Seller Dwellars) that was so depressing that I couldn’t even add pictures to it…Wriz did that for me. It’s been a terrible June…yada, yada, yada..you know wassup! Then all of sudden, Howard’s starts hitting in Lehigh Valley (it’s Triple A mind you) & Cliff Lee gets his first win, and fans are acting like it’s 2008 all over again. Y’all acting like you’re part of an Oprah Winfrey live studio audience. Calm the f’ down kids…get a grip! We didn’t even win this series yet (it’s 1-0 us in the top of the 2nd). If we do win it’s a small step in the right direction…if we lose it’s another huge step back.

Fans are bewildered how Cole Hamels could pitch so well in this time of uncertainty. UNCERTAINTY??? He’s on the cusp of a HUGE payday…he’s not going to Afghanistan. There’s no way RAJ will pull a ‘Cliff Lee trade debacle’ again. Hamels WILL be a Phillie . A rich Phillie…with a hot wife, so stop worrying about him.

DB29 wrote an interesting piece about ticket sales and how Pinocchio McCarthy needs to stop it with that ‘consecutive sold out’ noise. Before the season started I dropped a hot dime on 5 tix behind the Phils dugout for Camp Hood (cuz it’d be the only game my kids would see this season, so I wanted to spoil them) for an Aug game when I knew Howard & Utley would be back. Now, I’m questioning that decision. But it doesn’t even matter cuz those 5 tix are now probably worth a fraction of what I paid for them. And I paid face value!!!

Word is Victorino’s gone, but what do we get in return? Who’s going to take his place? Shane seems to be the new King of Pop since MJ’s gone. He’s not playing like a guy in the last year of his contract. Is the devil you know better than the devil you don’t know? I say yes. Low ball him and don’t budge…if we lose him, oh well.

We’re used to being pissed when they didn’t sweep a series…now, we’re going ape sh*t when they win a game. Things done changed! I’m not being Debby Downer, I’m just being honest. Maybe we’ll win this series and women will be throwing their panties on the field like Tom Jones is in the house. But until then, let’s keep our team in check and stay grounded. Let’s get ‘bunted…

PS Congrats to Chooch #finally, Hamels & Pap for being All Stars…well deserved.

PSS I don’t think bringing Howard back this weekend is a good idea. Give him another series at Triple A.

View From the Left Coast by a Lefty: So you say it's All Star time

Its been announced that the Phils have 3 all stars... Chooch, Hollywood, and Pap. Congrats to all three, it's hard to be recognized when you play on a JV team with others dragging you down. Is it just me or does this season seem to be whizzing by because we have nothing to cheer about? It seems like I just wrote about all the possibilities coming out of spring training and am now disgusted almost beyond words.

Are you all as disgusted as I am? Is this why DGirl and Kornhole haven't written jack? (I know better on half of it, but had to lol). I'd like to know why, after this 5-6 year run, does it seem like the only players giving 110% every game are the above named 3, along with Utley? When I played I only knew one way, balls to the wall, like them. Too bad this is what got Chase into his current situation. If I was 33 again(sigh) and were in his boat I'd prolly do the same thing he's doing, but at the same time be thankful for all I've had including the ring. After his first series in rehab Howard is 5-8, albeit as a Blue Claw but still. I seriously am hoping Doc gets right soon, giving us another player giving 110%. The rest... bah humbug.

Remember me saying if I had 2 weeks I could fix Howard's swing and help Cliff Lee get the killer pickoff move? Howard's not the problem, Lee needs a shrink... or someone to convince him to forget about the first 3 months entirely. I'm sure given the time and film, I could find out where he's fucking up, if even it's only on 8-10 pitches a game and losing concentration. Would $120MIL in your pocket tell you "fuck concentration?" I'm sure some of you will say so. I think it's something else, but can't put my finger on it. But I'll tell you this, Rich Dubee *SHOULD* be able to do that. The last quote I heard from him about Lee was something to the effect of "that's not your concern" to the interviewer. Yet, he still continues to do  jack shit to try and fix Lee. How the fuck can someone forget how to pitch, something they did their whole life?

This is my last rant on the coaching staff. Charlie has seen better days. His guessing games do not work anymore with the talent in the dugout. I think Dubee believed the hype last year that all he need to do to manage the pitching staff was to lay in his recliner and let the "Aces" sort it out and still hasn't made it out of his LazyBoy. Samuel and Perlozzo suck ass as base coaches, and have cost us at least 5 games. Go get Davey Lopes back at any cost! We've lost all our aggressiveness and leading the league in SB percentage. Damn I'm never gonna get to sleep tonight.

This started out as an all star piece, let's give props. Chooch is a no brainer, MVP type and leading MLB in batting avg by far. Why are people voting for Posey? SMH. Hollywood... 10-4 but should be 13-2 or 14-1. No support mostly but another no brainer. Pap... 19 of 20 saves for a JV team, hardly getting any opportunities. I'll save my closer rant for another time because I believe like several prominent writers that the save stat should be changed. Read a ton last week about it and it intrigued me.

So okay Bunters, where do you stand... on anything? I am having difficulty this season finding much to be pleased or happy about. Do any of you out there have any opinions at all? If so, email the Wriz, and maybe you too can grab a spot start. Hell, can't be any worse than things are right now. Let's get Bunted!

Bill S aka/netfather

Wrap Them in Bubble Wrap

Today is huge. The Phillies Bunts 'Meet and Greet' will take place in the Holiday Inn parking lot prior to today's game. The Wriz, CJ Hood and myself will be there pounding adult beverages, playing Baggo and discussing all topics. There hasn't been a meeting this big since Stalin, Churchill and Truman met at Potsdam post WWII to divide up the world. Stop by if you are attending today's game.

The All Star break is upon us. The Phillies are in first place with the best record in baseball. 5 Phillies, count em', 5 made the All Star team. Back when the Phillies were bad the All Star game was a big deal. This was the one time all year a Phillies player could get National attention. My how things have changed. Now I hope our players don't even get in the game. The fact that Polly and Shane are nicked up could be a blessing in disguise. Neither one looks like they are going to play. Since Bruce Bochy decided to take 3 of his own pitchers let them pitch 3 innings each. 3 for Timmy, 3 for Cain and 3 for Ryan Vogelsong. Ryan Vogelsong? What a joke. I guess 1 inning for Halladay and Lee won't hurt but that's it. It would be Lee's day to throw on the side. Halladay has already said he doesn't want to throw 2 innings, hopefully Bochy respects that.
 

Some quick takes on the Mid Summer's Classic

- Fan Vote - Keep it! it gets peoples attention. Plus the Phillies have won it a few times. Hell, Victorino has won it twice. It's nice to win.

- Home Run Derby - Lose it! Bobby Abreu is here by crowned the Home Run Derby Champ every year. Nice job screwing up your swing for the rest of your Phillies career Bobby.
 

- Home Field Advantage - Lose it! Why should Joel Hanrahan have anything to do with home field advantage for the World Series? Him and his Pirate buddies will be watching the World Series on TV like the rest of us. Just plain stupid.

- DH for the game - Lose it! My feelings about the DH are well documented in this blog. With a full bench of players, pitchers rarely hit in this game but I want the DH abolished from every level of baseball.

- At least one player for every team - Keep it! We forget since it's been a while. When your team is bad this could be the highlight of your season.
 

Keep It Classy Philly!

DB29

Fail!

The old saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But what about when it is broke, how long do you wait to fix it? The MLB All-Star game is probably the sports best and easiest way to attract new fans and win back some that have lost their way. There is no NFL, NBA, or even NHL to compete against and, year after year, they completely drop the ball.

Although I am not a huge proponent of fan voting, it does have its merits. It sparks fan interest and particularly with casual fans and younger fans who hopefully will become more avid fans. One change I’d like to see is to vote for pitchers. Each team can designate 2 pitchers from their team. They may choose a starter and a reliever or 2 starters or 2 relievers. 

I’m glad they recognized the HR Derby was wack and are trying to rectify it, but I’m not sure the “team concept” is the way to go. I watched Josh Hamilton put on the most dynamic display of power hitting I’ve ever seen in 2008. His 28 in the first round were more than any Derby competitor hit in the entire night. He lost.  In fact, it was more than any competitor in the event history hit in one night except one, the Phillies Bobby Abreu.

Next, the game starts too late. Last year, the first pitch was thrown after 9pm so the game won’t be over until midnight or later. That’s too late for me. It’s too late for my grandmother and I dunno, CJ Hood how late can you kids stay up in the summer?

The biggest problem is that the game is played for home field advantage in the World Series. So basically, a guy on a team that’s already 15 games out to start July could determine whether or not the Phillies have home field advantage in October. And more importantly determine if the DH will be used 3 or 4 times in a 7 game series. Which leads me to my next point, whether or not the DH is used the game it unfairly tilted to the AL. Why? The size of the rosters eliminates the need for pitchers to bat. Over the past 10 All Star games, pitchers have batted a combined 4 times. Two were in the 2002 game which started this ruckus because the game ended in a tie when the teams ran out of players and the other 2 instances were when the early runs sent the pitcher to the plate in the first or second inning. No need for double switches or sacrifices.  Trim the rosters to 25 same as any ML ball club. I would consider allowing players to re-enter the game once if the game were to go extra innings otherwise its business as usual. This would of course eliminate the requirement that each team be represented. It is the All Star game, not the Gaby Sanchez is our only decent player game.

The Final Vote is a good idea it keeps the interest going up until the All-Star break starts. It stays. Maybe to appease the teams with out a representative the Final Vote could put a player from each team without an all star in the mix. You want an All Star, Kansas City? You got one more chance to vote him in.

Finally, the Futures Game is one of the best ideas the MLB has come up with, but how many of you have ever seen it? I am a baseball junkie. I’ve never seen the game only highlights. It will be on Sunday at 6 pm, while games are still being played. Even if batting practice and the HR Derby takes precedence can’t the game be moved to Wednesday night in prime time?

See ya at the ballpark!

Jay Wrizight

jaywrizight@yahoo.com

They hang, He Bangs, You Vote!

I’ve always taken my all-star voting duties VERY SERIOUSLY. I bleed Phillies red. I can slit my wrist and prove it to you, but I have always voted for the most deserving candidates. Now, if it was close, I’d always give the nod to a Fightin' Phil. The only time I’ve ever deviated was 1989 when I voted for Mike Schmidt after he retired. But to me and many other Phillies and baseball fans that was a special circumstance and was justified.

It goes against my core beliefs to even suggest a thing, but I am telling you, no, DEMANDING you to vote for Carlos Ruiz for the 2011 All-Star Game. It happens so few and far between that we, as Philadelphia Phillies fans, are given credit for doing the right thing so with nationwide props for the “U-S-A, U-S-A” chants is it too much to ask for us to do the right thing twice in the same season?

Chooch may not put up earth–shattering batting numbers. He’s never reached 10 HR’s or had more than 54 RBI’s in a season. But he has been the BEST defensive catcher in the bigs the past 4 seasons. If his last name was Molina, he’d have 3 gold gloves already. But poor Carlos was born a Ruiz and thus works his tools of ignorance in nationwide anonymity. Compare Ruiz to Yadier Molina the past 2 full seasons:

                                    Avg.    2B       HR      RBI    

Ruiz                            .280     54        17        96

Y. Molina                    .278     44        12        116

The big difference is that Molina has 3 Gold Gloves and 2 All-Star appearances. Chooch has none and zero.

I know he is hurt right now and wasn’t having the best statistical season, but Ruiz was worthy and received MVP consideration last season. And I’m talking league MVP not team. He finished 17^th  in NL MVP voting. The only other catcher to receive votes in the NL was Buster Posey.

All too often Philadelphia fans are so busy being critical and demanding we forget to take the time to appreciate the great athletes we do have while they are at the top of their game. Ruiz is 32 years old. He is a catcher. We won’t have many more opportunities to do right by him.

The Phillies have the highest average attendance in MLB let alone the NL which gives Chooch an immediate edge, but second is the San Francisco Giants and the aforementioned Posey. So vote early and vote often. Both in person and online. Urge your section’s usher to COLLECT the ballots. If not find a ballot box and stuff it. Stuff it like the Yankees rotation stuffs its faces at the buffet.

You might say that I’m just being a “homer” and rooting for my “boy”, but how many times have you heard the Phillies pitchers give Chooch credit not only for calling a great game, but for giving the them confidence to throw their nastiest breaking stuff when the game’s on the line and runners are on because they KNOW it’s not going to the backstop?  I don’t think any greater compliment or testimony to Ruiz’s talents than what Roy Halladay did for the Panamaniac in spring training. He had and exactly replica Cy Young made for him. Why? Maybe because Halladay had a 2.13 earned run average and held opponents to a .232 batting average last season when Ruiz was catching, but with anybody else behind the plate: 3.75 ERA, .294 batting average. Or maybe he just recognizes what Ruiz means to him and the Phillies. Do you?

See ya at the ballpark!

Jay Wrizight

jaywrizight@yahoo.com