Charlie blows another one

The Phillies came away with a split of a two-game series with the Mets over the last two nights.

Tuesday night was that dramatic come-from-behind win over the Mets, in a game no one with Comcast Lancaster saw.

Last night, the Phillies held a 3-1 lead going into the eighth inning.

Let's go back two innings to the fifth or sixth. The Phillies had two men on base, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino at the dish. They also had New York ace Johan Santana on the ropes.

I know Victorino has been one of the Phils' hottest hitters of late, but with no outs and the team's best bunter, with a lot of speed up, why not lay one down and see what happens. Does Charlie? No. The Phils got nothing, as they did an inning later.
Poor move number one.

Now let's go to the eighth. Heard one of the talking heads, I think it was
Wheels or later LA say that the bullpen was pretty spent from the night
before. I knew that would be the built in excuse.

But why put Rudy Seanez into the game? If you have 12 or 13 pitchers, he's the next to last pitcher I would put into the game. The other would be Clay Condrey.

Sure, he got two easy outs, but, J.C. Romero should have been on the hill. He only needed to get one out. Plos Carlos Delgado is a low ball hitter. Where was the pitch, down and in.

The Phillies
are in a pennant race. It's not May when mistakes like this can be made.
Charlie needs to use his top pitchers in tight games. There are 29 or
30 games left and these pitchers have the entire winter to recover.
Mistake number two last night.

Mistake three, was bringing Brad Lidge in for a four out save. He hasn't done it all year, plus his earned run average in non-save and save situation is the difference between night and day.

Mistake four, forget about taking Pat Burrell out for defense. He can play and hit. Guess 30 homers doesn't mean much to Charlie.

Mistake five, pinch hitting Gregg Dobbs too early. When he batted in I think it was the sixth, the situation again called for a bunt. That's not Dobbs, so we got nothing out of that move.

I could go on and on about the blunders of Charlie Manuel, but I will stop here.

Only if the Phillies had someone who actually knew baseball, running the team, like Larry Bowa or Lou Piniella, or....the divsion race would be over.

Sorry Charlie, whoops, I mean no disrepect for the tuna character, if he's still around.

Phillies update

I just got off the telephone with CW 15 about why they didn't air the game last week.

Spokesperson told me they had it on their digital package, channel 249, which is tough luck for those with basic cable.

They said there are conflicts with their CW network and those shows, which I believe are in re-runs, have to air first. It's a lame excuse if you ask me.

I also called Comcast about it, but after having to press nine or 10 different buttons and not being able to speak to a person in Pennsylvania, I gave up.

Thanks Comcast

Did you know that the Philadelphia Phillies are back in first place in the National League East, following a dramatic 8-7, 13-inning win over the New York Mets?

Well, if you are a Comcast cable subscriber, who gets Comcast Lancaster, you never saw the game. Seems the CW affiliate, WLYH, which is shown on Comcast Lancaster, saw fit nw to show the game. It's not the first time that a game has been on the CW that the local affiliate has not shown the game.

If you had digital cable, it was on Channel 249, but from what I wsa told the quality was real poor.

Who is to blame? I say both Comcast, because if you had Comcast E-town, you actually got the game because they carry CW 57 from Philadelphia; WLYH, for promoting they are the Phillies station, which they are really not, because they don't carrying all the CW games; the Phillies also get a little bit of the blame here as well, for not checking too closely on their television or radio stations.

And speaking of radio, let's not start on that debacle as well.

Charlie blows another one

What did I say about the Phillies at the beginning of the season that the over and under of the number of games that Charlie Manuel would blow is 10.

Last night, 120-plus pitches was too much for Cole Hamels.

You could see that he was struggling. The annoucners even said it. My question is that if I can see it watching the game and the announcers can see it, why can't Charlie and his stooge Rich Dubee see it in the dugout? They are closer!

That would make three games this season for Charlie and the season isn't evena month old.

fan foto

Click onto the Phillies website -- www.phillies/fanfoto and look for Gallery 26 on the April 20 game. Turn to page 2 and the next to last row, you'll find the president and vice-president of the Charlie Manuel Fan Club.

Remembering Whitey

Thought about Richie Ashburn when I heard the Padres and Colorado played 22 innings last night.
And Whitey would have said, "I do my best work at 2 in the morning."
Or, I remember that line from a doubleheader they had with San Diego in 1993. Or he would have had a special delivery from Celebrese twins, Plain and Pepperoni.

Colorado and San Diego did just that Thursday night and into Friday morning, slogging through a 22-inning game that was the longest in the majors in nearly 15 years.
The Rockies finally won 2-1, with Troy Tulowitzki 's two-out RBI double bringing in Willy Taveras with an unearned run in nearly empty Petco Park. A game that lasted 6 hours, 16 minutes was decided by an unearned run.
Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy threw the game's first pitch at 7:05 p.m. The game didn't end until 1:21 a.m., when Padres pitcher Glendon Rusch took a called third strike. Colorado's Yorvit Torrealba, who caught all 22 innings, wearily pumped a fist in celebration.
It was the longest game since Aug. 31, 1993, when Minnesota beat Cleveland 5-4 in 22 innings. It was also the longest game in Rockies history and in the 5-year history of Petco Park. It was the longest by innings for the Padres, and one minute short of matching the longest by time for San Diego.

1-2 is not great

Maybe it because I love the Phillies so much that a 1-2 start is not good for the team.

Here are my impressions through three games.

Opening Day, the bullpen broke down against Washington. Still would like to know if I as a fan can see things at home, why those in the dugout can't.

It was pretty obvious to me that Tom Gordon did not have it opening day, yet, Chuckles left him out there.

In game two, outside of the first inning, Cole Hamels pitched a gem, but baseball's best line-up did hit.

Yesterday, the fielding left the team down. Thought for a while I was watching a high school game.

Charlie, Chuckles or Bobblehead, or even the Red Devil, needs to let his bullpen pitchers pitch. J.C. Romero can throw two innings. In Charlie's first two years as skipper, he tends to get locked into that one inning, one inning bit. He still hasn't learned that his closer shouldn't be brought into a tie game. They don't have the mindset for that.

Also like it that, we're hearing less and less of Chris Wheeler. That's a huge positive in my book.

It's not time to panic yet with a 1-2 record, but they could easily be 3-0.

What will the Red Devil do?

Saturday will be the first baseball trip to the City of Brotherly Love since last September when the Phillies beat Washington to win the National League East.

What a day!

But a new season opens Monday afternoon at the Bank. The question I was asked the other night when I was out having a few “sodas” while watching the basketball tournament is when am I going to write about the Phillies.

So here goes.

The MVP shortstop of the Phillies, Jimmy Rollins, has already predicted the team will win 100 games. So that leaves 62 games to play with.

Everyone knows I am not a big Charlie Manuel fan.Okay, he did something that the likes of Larry Bowa and the “Boston Legend” Terry Francona didn’t do -- win a division. Maybe his “country charm” is just what the team needs, I don’t know.
Perhaps if they win the division again and do something in the post-season, I might become a convert.

Let’s just say this that Charlie will cost the team at least 10 games this season. So that only leaves 52 games to play with, just in case J-Roll’s prediction needs help.

In the front of the rotation, the Phils might have two of the top arms in the National League in Brett Myers and Cole Hamels. Both could win 20. They need to get between 10-15 wins out of the rest of the rotation.

Will Kyle Kendrick suffer the sophomore jinx? Will Jamie Moyer pitch like Cy Young until it gets hot? Those are two spots to watch.

The number five spot in the rotation is also a big question. Adam Eaton has a lot to prove and unless they are willing to take a chance on some of the kids, there’s not much left there.

The bullpen will be solid if everyone is healthy and stays in their roles.

Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste are solid behind the dish.

The infield of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, J-Roll and Pedro Feliz might be the best in the game. All four are capable of stroking more than 30 homers each and glove-wise, aren’t that bad either.

If there’s one question I have, its in the outfield. Will Pat Burrell pick up like he ended last season? Will Shane Victorino be better in center? How good is the platoon of Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth? If they all play up to their expectations, it will be a fun year.

Hopefully Charlie won’t screw it up too bad.

P and C report

Sure today is Valentine’s Day. A time when flower delivery people and restaurants will be busy.

But it is also a special day for another reason. A day when you’ll hear the four best words in all of sports.

No, it’s not “gentlemen start your engines.” Rather, “pitchers and catchers report.”

The National League Eastern Division champs from Philaelphia report to Clearwater to begin defense of their division title.

So, the burning question is, are the Phillies any better than they were last year at the end of the season?

I think the jury is still out. Here’s why.

They may have picked up the best pitcher in the free agent market when they moved Brett Myers from the bullpen to the rotation. With Cole Hamels and Myers, they have two of the best arms in the game.

Will Kyle Kendrick be for real? Is Jamie Moyer too old? And who will be the fifth starter? Those questions need to be answered.

As for the bullpen, if “Flash” Gordon and Ryan Madson are healthy, it will be strong.

If not, it will again be like putting gas on a fire.

Behind the plate, as long as they call a good game, Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste are okay.

The infield, with the recent signing of Pedro Feliz might be the best in baseball.

The outfield might be a bit of a question.

Pat Burrell in left needs to continue to produce like he did in the last half of the season. Shane Victorino needs to stay healthy in center and the platoon of Jason Werth and Geoff Jenkins in right is new.

There isn’t much depth in the outfield and they lost some leadership with Aaron Rowand.

There are also a couple of intangibles to watch as well. Health is always a key and so too is the potential for a slow start.

There’s also the Charlie factor. Hopefully, he won’t cost the team too many games this year.

It should be a fun year at the Bank and the first trip will be in just over a month.

A sign of the season

A sure sign of the season. Was just on the Phillies web site -- their equipment truck loaded up yesterday to head to Clearwater.

The four favorite words in the English language come Thursday -- "Pitchers and catchers report."

Can it be long before we hear, "Long Drive, that ball is out of here!"

Mets get pitcher

So know that the Mets get Johan Santana from the Twins, what does that mean for the Phillies?

Here is my opinion. Santana can only pitch once every five or six days. He's not an everyday player, so the impact will not be that great. He is an upgrade to the Mets staff, who struggled at the end of the year, but he's not the answer to all of their problems.
He's also switching leagues too and I think going from the American League to the National Legaue is a bigger, harder switch than going from the NL to the AL.

I'll take the combo of Hamels/Myers over Santana and a fading Pedro any day at the top of my rotation.

That ball is out of here

It might be freezing outside, but last night, thoughts of warm weather and the great sport of baseball were on the minds of more than 600 people who attended the annual Baseballtown Banquet at the Sheraton in Wyomissing.
While the highlight of the evening was suppose to be the crowning of the “Queen of Baseballtown,” the highlight for me was getting to talk baseball, specifically Phillies baseball.
The National League East champs (which has a nice ring to it) made a stop at the dinner. Those in attendance were Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle, Manager Charlie Manuel, players Shane Victorino, Brad Lidge and JC Romero. Also spoke with the legend, Harry Kalas and the Phillie Phanatic.
By the way, I purchased a CD about Harry. It gave me chills listening to it.
Charlie was the first person we spoke with. He’s ready to go. He said the Ryan Howard, who is involved in a contract problem with the team will get his money and it won’t be a distraction. He also said the team who see on the roster now won’t change much and he feels the team, could, as shortstop Jimmy Rollins predicated win 100 games.
Here are some other tidbits:
Lefty reliever Romero, who signed a new contract with the team in the off season, said it was “his duty” to resign with the Phillies.
“Everything will fall into place this year and we’re going for something big,” Romero said.
Victorino, who will move from right field to center this year, was very cocky. He talked about his calf injury, which sidelined him for the better part of the final two months of the season.
“My rushing back didn’t help and made it even worse,” Victorino said.
Harry the K, who I would talk to all night, had this to say about last season.
“It was an experience we haven’t seen in Philadelphia since 1993,” he said.
He’s also excited about his new broadcast partner Tom McCarthy, who returns to the group after a year in New York.
He’s not sure what the roles of the broadcasters will be. Here’s hoping he gets all nine innings.
“There are very high hopes (this season), there’s no question about that,” Harry said.
Let’s hope he crooning, “High Hopes” again in October.
Also spoke with Arbuckle. he said the front office is always looking for help. He did say that there are players out there they are looking at and looking for their agents to lower their demands.
Lidge is the new closer. He’s anxious to put on the pinstripes.
“I feel that I am lucky to go to a team that is on the up swing,” he said.
My final chat was a during-the-dinner chat with the Phillie Phanatic. Wait, he doesn’t talk. Okay, it was with his alter ego, Tom Burgoyne.
He said when he attended St. Joe’s Prep in Philly, he wanted to be the Phanatic.
He’s been wearing the green for 20 years now.
“It’s a great love affair between the Phillies’ fans and the Phanatic,” he said.

Thirsty for more. Check out next week’s edition!

The Fightin's

Tomorrow night, it will be the third annual trip to Reading for the Phillies' winter carvan stop. Featured are Harry the K, Charlie Manuel, Shane Victorino, Brad Lidge and JC Romero, plus some front office folks, lower on the scale than Pat Gillick and the Rube.
I can remember when they stopped in Lancaster, usually at the Sportswriters and Broadcasters banquet. Always had some names like Michael Jack, Rose, Dallas, the Wizard of Oz, the Bull and others. The Pope was always there and Bill Giles. Miss that.
But this will wet our taste until the first trip to the Bank.
I have developed a list of questions to ask Charlie and the others. Will be talking with Harry the K, I think I'll just let him tell the stories.
Here are the questions I plan to ask during a media session with Charlie and the others.
1. What moves will the Phillies make between now and the start of the season?
2. With the off-season moves, is this team stronger than the one that finished the season?
3. Might the move of Brett Myers from the role of closer into the rotation be the biggest free agent pick-up of the off-season?
4. Will Howard's contract situtation be a distraction?
5. What impact will Rowand's loss have on the team?
6. Is the team better with Victorino in center and the platoon of Werth and Jenkinsin right?
7. What is Eaton and Gordon's status?
8. You won the division last year with several key players missing time with injuries. If you stay injury-free, how good can this team be?
9. Now that you have gotten a taste of the post-season, how hungry will this team be to take it a step farther?
10. How can you avoid a slow start?
11. How much have the other teams in the division improved?
12. Can this team win 100 games like JRoll said?