I apologize for not getting around the blogging yesterday, on the off-day in the Phils schedule.

Two fellow Phils beat writers and myself had an interesting start in Denver. We arrived last night and our cabbie had a flat tire in the first five miles of the trip.


As we sat on the side of the road - a very, very small shoulder - and cars whipped by, I couldn't help thinking of the 90s' movie titled, "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead."

I think the first thing I would do is see is Gabrielle Anwar lives in Denver...

Then I might go 'round on a bar-to-bar tour, asking why most of their sports teams keep stealing high-profile, Philly athletes (Allen Iverson, Brian Dawkins, Peter Forsberg).

So when Chase Utley ends up with the Rox, don't say I didn't warn you...

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Today is obviously a big day for the Phillies since their most indispensable player, Cole Hamels, sees his first action in 2009 after a brief setback last month with elbow tightness.

Plenty of Hamels' reading material in today's paper, from Jack McCaffery and from yours truly.


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I was flipping through the TV channels Wednesday night when I came home from the ballpark, and while on the Angels-A's game, I found myself asking, "Who's the skinny starting pitcher for the Angels?"

It turned out that kid was Nick Adenhart, I name I remembered as being a highly-thought of prospect in the Angels system. Adenhart pitcher a gem Wednesday night, shutting out the A's for six innings.

And then tragedy struck. Adenhart was struck and killed by a drunk driver while driving home from the ballpark.

This is such a terribly sad story. Not to get all preachy, but I hope we can take a couple lessons from this: live every day as if it's your last (as Adenhart did, enjoying his best game as a professional with his dad, who flew in from Maryland, in the stands); don't ever get behind the wheel of a car after you drink - it's Russian Roulette, and the gun isn't just aimed at you, but also at innocent people.