I'm with Flavor Flav on this one: Don't believe the hype. The issue of Philadelphia fans and their, uh, temperment has been covered ad nauseum - even in this blog. So when a couple of elite media types had to make a big deal about it before the Phillies/Dodgers NLCS, I was compelled to save them for later comment. And the future is now.
First up is this goofball:
ANGRYVILLE -- You spend any time in this dingy city and around these folks,
Cute dateline. But, as this article will demonstrate, the angry one appears to be Mr. Simers.
and pit bulls running wild come to mind. Fine when leashed, but set them free, put a beer in their grubby paws and it's only a matter of time before they're going to go on the attack -- both the home team and its opponent feeling the bite.
This just in, pit bulls running wild are fine when leashed. Also, don't let them drink beer. Apparently sober pit bulls do not bite.
It's an angry place, all right, everything old here in Philadelphia, crumbling and in ruin. Even the city's main attraction has a crack in it.
Yeah, take that! History is for losers!
So the prevailing opinion around here is you have to be an obstinate pug to make it in Philly, the football team tough, the hockey team a bunch of bullies and the Phillies rugged competitors like Larry Bowa. This is supposed to make Philly an intimidating place to play.
The thirty-year-old references to the Broad Street Bullies and Larry Bowa's Phillies notwithstanding, is being "tough" as an athlete a bad thing?
But if a Philly crowd is so intimidating, as Bowa suggests, why do the Phillies lose here so often?
Because the fans don't actually play the games?
A year ago, the Phillies became the first pro sports franchise in North American history to lose 10,000 games.
And clearly that's the fans' fault. If they were more polite, they wouldn't have lost number 10,000 until at least 2009. But seriously folks, am I the only one who thinks that this was one of the most irrelevant and overcovered "sports" stories last year?
The Dodgers have the better team, a destiny date in Boston, and while that might make the folks in Philly miserable, they don't know how to act any differently here. Funny thing, too, this series will probably come back here [to Philadelphia] for Games 6 and 7, and nothing more disappointing [SIC] than getting that close to a World Series only to trudge out of the stadium wondering what went wrong.
He was wrong about the Dodgers having the better team and "a destiny date in Boston" and the series coming back to Philadelphia. But despite the massive SIC, he was right about how disappointing it is to get close to a World Series and then trudge out or your own stadium wondering what went wrong. I'll give him half-credit, even though I don't know how to act any differently - whatever that means.
The Phillies get the first two games here, their best pitcher in Cole Hamels starting against Derek Lowe, who is pitching for a new contract next year, as much motivation as any pro athlete can have these days. Advantage Lowe.
[Buzzer sounds] Well, that was wrong. And I'm also pretty sure it's not a sentence either.
Brett Myers, who has more losses than wins, then takes on Chad Billingsley, and the Dodgers look pretty good to win one of the first two games here. A sweep is not out of the question.
[Buzzer sounds] Oh! Another incorrect answer. Only one strike left.
Then it really turns ugly for the Phillies, who can only throw 100-year-old softball pitcher Jamie Moyer at the Dodgers and then just another guy in Joe Blanton.
Jamie Moyer just didn't match up well with the Dodgers. I looked at the numbers before the game and they weren't good. So that's how that goes. But Blanton isn't Joe the Plumber. And clearly he showed that against the Dodgers.
So there you go, the Phillies lose again, but then what's new?
[Buzzer sounds] And that sounds means we'll have to say goodbye to our Mr. Simers. But he'll be leaving with our home game and, of course, the disappointment that comes with getting that close to a World Series and then trudging out of your own stadium wondering what went wrong. Thanks for playing.
Our next contestant is from Toronto but is just as goofy:
Tonight, the National League Championship Series between the hometown Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers is forecast to begin in cool, moist weather. But after 15 years of disappointment, the heat pouring down from the stands promises to be scorching.
Take that Philly fans!
The Phillies haven't come this far in the post-season since 1993. They went on to lose the World Series in fairly embarrassing fashion to the Oronto-Tay Lue-Bay Ays-Jay.
I have always thought the Phillies should have won the 1993 World Series 4-2, instead of losing it 4-2. Far from embarrassing (see 1983 World Series), I would call that a competitive and entertaining series - although clearly more entertaining for Toronto. And what is the purpose of the pig-latin, which was completely butchered?
Saying more while actually in Philadelphia could be dangerous. They take their grudges seriously here.
I'm not sure there was ever a "grudge" about 1993 and, even if there was, the fact that Mitch Williams is popular in Philadelphia shows the fans are over it. Now JD Drew is grudge-worthy and yes, the fans take things like that seriously. Is that a bad thing?
They boo their opponents of course. They boo their own players as well. When they get bored with that, they boo the ball girls.
Hey, fair is fair. If a ball girl or a fan can't make the play, they get booed. I've got no problem with that.
They spent much of the early season catcalling Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and he's only, you know, the defending league MVP. "They're front-runners," Rollins said after he'd had enough. "When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you."
Fuck the heck? I suppose this guy wasn't paying attention. Fans starting booing Jimmy after he made those comments. But don't let the facts get in the way of making your point.
I know I'm dreaming, but with the Phillies in the World Series, maybe we can put the whole "Philly Boo Bird" issue to rest. Right? Right?
Never mind.
---
Showing posts with label nlds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nlds. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hope is not analysis
For those three or four people who visit our little corner of the internets, I promise to share some stories and some thoughts on the NLCS in the next few days. I've been busy the past week or so enjoying the first two games in Philadelphia, attending mrs. tmmullen's high school reunion, and battling some ill-health. Please accept my sincere apologies.
And since I'm here, well, it worked once, so I'll try it again:
Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 5-2 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Rays.
---
And since I'm here, well, it worked once, so I'll try it again:
Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 5-2 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Rays.
---
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
NLDS Game Three - Brewers 4, Phillies 1
Blanton set to start game four
That was tough to watch.
Something I may not have ever mentioned here is that I am a certified PIAA basketball official. I share this with you for two reasons. First, I will be at Kutztown University all day today for the second day of a two-day officials clinic, which means I will not be able to watch Game Four [I literally arrived home from day one of the clinic just in time to see the first pitch on Saturday].
More importantly, it gives me some credibility when I say that the most important thing that players, coaches, and managers want from officials and umpires is for them to be consistent. If it's a foul in the first quarter, it needs to be a foul in the fourth. Or, in this case, if it's a strike to one hitter, it needs to be a strike to another hitter.
I think there are few people who would disagree that the home plate umpire was inconsistent last night - and it killed Jamie Moyer. Some might argue that Jamie needs an umpire who will give him a little off that plate and I will admit that certainly helps him. But what is more important for him is to find that spot that the umpire will call a strike and keep pounding it in there until the hitter has to swing at it. Moyer couldn't do that on Saturday because the umpire was inconsistent.
In one at-bat in the second inning I watched Moyer throw four straight pitches in virtually the exact spot after which the count was 2-2. I said to mrs. tmmullen, "This is not going to be good." Unfortunately, it wasn't.
The good news is that the Phillies hitters will face Jeff Suppan today. He is 0-2 in his last three starts with an ERA north of 10.00. Even better, in their careers, the Phillies are hitting .307 as a team against him with good numbers from Utley (.474), Burrell (.429), Rollins (.333), and Howard (.300) - the four guys who need to start hitting right now (although Howard looked good last night).
The Phils counter with Joe Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts. Milwaukee hitters, as a team, have only had 40 plate appearances against him, so, despite their .297 average, that could work in his favor.
There you have it. I'm off to Kutztown and I'll hear the good news - or the bad news - on the radio on the way home. Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 6-3 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Dodgers.
---
That was tough to watch.
Something I may not have ever mentioned here is that I am a certified PIAA basketball official. I share this with you for two reasons. First, I will be at Kutztown University all day today for the second day of a two-day officials clinic, which means I will not be able to watch Game Four [I literally arrived home from day one of the clinic just in time to see the first pitch on Saturday].
More importantly, it gives me some credibility when I say that the most important thing that players, coaches, and managers want from officials and umpires is for them to be consistent. If it's a foul in the first quarter, it needs to be a foul in the fourth. Or, in this case, if it's a strike to one hitter, it needs to be a strike to another hitter.
I think there are few people who would disagree that the home plate umpire was inconsistent last night - and it killed Jamie Moyer. Some might argue that Jamie needs an umpire who will give him a little off that plate and I will admit that certainly helps him. But what is more important for him is to find that spot that the umpire will call a strike and keep pounding it in there until the hitter has to swing at it. Moyer couldn't do that on Saturday because the umpire was inconsistent.
In one at-bat in the second inning I watched Moyer throw four straight pitches in virtually the exact spot after which the count was 2-2. I said to mrs. tmmullen, "This is not going to be good." Unfortunately, it wasn't.
The good news is that the Phillies hitters will face Jeff Suppan today. He is 0-2 in his last three starts with an ERA north of 10.00. Even better, in their careers, the Phillies are hitting .307 as a team against him with good numbers from Utley (.474), Burrell (.429), Rollins (.333), and Howard (.300) - the four guys who need to start hitting right now (although Howard looked good last night).
The Phils counter with Joe Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts. Milwaukee hitters, as a team, have only had 40 plate appearances against him, so, despite their .297 average, that could work in his favor.
There you have it. I'm off to Kutztown and I'll hear the good news - or the bad news - on the radio on the way home. Although I've told Mike in the past that "hope is not analysis," I do hope the Phillies clinch today. I'm going to predict a 6-3 Phillies win.
Then bring on the Dodgers.
---
Friday, October 3, 2008
NLDS Game Two - Phillies 5, Brewers 2
Phils lead series 2-0, Vizza vies for MVP
After the game, while most of the talk inside and outside Citizen's Bank Park was about the at-bat by Brett Myers in the second inning, there were a few of us in attendance that went home focused on something else.
"We want four! We want four!"
The chant began with one man standing in centerfield next to the Brewers' bullpen and quickly spread to, well, no one as Shane Victorino stepped to the plate with the bases loaded two hitters later.
Ball one.
"Are you asking Shane to go to the deli? And perhaps pick up some salami?" I asked. Yes, I was proud of that little joke - and it's a personal favorite of mrs. tmmullen's even if she won't admit it.
Called strike.
The fan from Northeast Philadelphia quickly told me of another time when the bases were loaded and he and his group took up the call, "We want four! We want four!" only to be followed by a grand slam.
Foul ball.
"Re-karma! Re-karma! Re-karma!" he cried.
Crack!
We watched the ball rise. The entire stadium seemed to inhale in unison and hold their breath, following the track of the baseball until it disappeared from sight and insanity ensued. Euphoria engulfed me. I remember little after that.
When I rejoined reality, I realized that somehow I was able to snap a picture of this harbinger of Victorino's heroics in the midst of celebrating. His name is Lorenzo (Ren) Vizza and if he ever visits our little corner of the internets, hopefully he'll share the longer version of how the "We want four!" originated. Also pictured is his wife Christy who is a big - we're talking HUGE here people - fan of Jayson Werth.
Under penalty of violence, I am required to report in this space that Jayson Werth went 2-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and a stolen base in Game 2.
As you may have already surmised, I spent Game 2 out in centerfield. My brother and I originally dropped anchor there for a close-up look at CC Sabathia (who Christy kept calling CC Sabastian for some reason, along with some other unprintable names). He did not disappoint:
While many of the fans joined together to heckle the behemoth, at one point during a break, I offered, "Don't listen to them CC, come play for Philly next year!" A few people laughed, but, more telling, I heard one fan say, "Yeah, like the Phillies will spend the money." I wondered if Joe Owens was nearby to write that down.
And so it went. Whether true or not (and he didn't admit it was), five starts in 18 days (the last four on three days rest) may have finally worn CC Sabathia down. John Henry may have beat the machine, but he died in the process. CC couldn't beat the Phillies. Let's hope his arm isn't dead either.
[Although, tangetially, I doubt the Brewers care. They aren't going to re-sign him after this year, so why not trot him out every three days and get their money's worth. Arm issues? What arm issues? That's the next team's problem.]
Finally, listening to 920 AM on the way home, I heard a number of people make a case for Shane Victorino as the NLDS Most Valuable Player (should the Phillies win of course). But right now, my vote is for Mr. Vizza. Not only did he do his voo-doo to coax the grand slam, he also bought me an adult beverage.
Find me a Philly fan who doesn't consider that an MVP performance.
---
After the game, while most of the talk inside and outside Citizen's Bank Park was about the at-bat by Brett Myers in the second inning, there were a few of us in attendance that went home focused on something else.
"We want four! We want four!"
The chant began with one man standing in centerfield next to the Brewers' bullpen and quickly spread to, well, no one as Shane Victorino stepped to the plate with the bases loaded two hitters later.
Ball one.
"Are you asking Shane to go to the deli? And perhaps pick up some salami?" I asked. Yes, I was proud of that little joke - and it's a personal favorite of mrs. tmmullen's even if she won't admit it.
Called strike.
The fan from Northeast Philadelphia quickly told me of another time when the bases were loaded and he and his group took up the call, "We want four! We want four!" only to be followed by a grand slam.
Foul ball.
"Re-karma! Re-karma! Re-karma!" he cried.
Crack!
We watched the ball rise. The entire stadium seemed to inhale in unison and hold their breath, following the track of the baseball until it disappeared from sight and insanity ensued. Euphoria engulfed me. I remember little after that.
When I rejoined reality, I realized that somehow I was able to snap a picture of this harbinger of Victorino's heroics in the midst of celebrating. His name is Lorenzo (Ren) Vizza and if he ever visits our little corner of the internets, hopefully he'll share the longer version of how the "We want four!" originated. Also pictured is his wife Christy who is a big - we're talking HUGE here people - fan of Jayson Werth.
Under penalty of violence, I am required to report in this space that Jayson Werth went 2-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and a stolen base in Game 2.
As you may have already surmised, I spent Game 2 out in centerfield. My brother and I originally dropped anchor there for a close-up look at CC Sabathia (who Christy kept calling CC Sabastian for some reason, along with some other unprintable names). He did not disappoint:
While many of the fans joined together to heckle the behemoth, at one point during a break, I offered, "Don't listen to them CC, come play for Philly next year!" A few people laughed, but, more telling, I heard one fan say, "Yeah, like the Phillies will spend the money." I wondered if Joe Owens was nearby to write that down.
And so it went. Whether true or not (and he didn't admit it was), five starts in 18 days (the last four on three days rest) may have finally worn CC Sabathia down. John Henry may have beat the machine, but he died in the process. CC couldn't beat the Phillies. Let's hope his arm isn't dead either.
[Although, tangetially, I doubt the Brewers care. They aren't going to re-sign him after this year, so why not trot him out every three days and get their money's worth. Arm issues? What arm issues? That's the next team's problem.]
Finally, listening to 920 AM on the way home, I heard a number of people make a case for Shane Victorino as the NLDS Most Valuable Player (should the Phillies win of course). But right now, my vote is for Mr. Vizza. Not only did he do his voo-doo to coax the grand slam, he also bought me an adult beverage.
Find me a Philly fan who doesn't consider that an MVP performance.
---
Thursday, October 2, 2008
NLDS Game One - Phillies 3, Brewers 1
Phillies lead the best of five series 1-0
Just as the Brewers were kicking up a fuss against Brad Lidge in the ninth inning on Wednesday, the wind and rain suddenly reappeared. Fortunately for the fans, the rain was the only thing blown at Citizen's Bank Park that day.
Note: By the time this appears, I will already be inside the park for game two. When time permits, I will add more to this post, but for now, please enjoy a few snapshots of how we saw the first post-season win for the Phillies in nearly 15 years. [Click on them to enlarge]
Philles Ball Girl Jocelyn Brown, mrs. tmmullen, and Paige at the pre-game rally. This isn't the first time Paige met "Miss Jocelyn," as we call her, and I'll save that story for another post. For now, I will simply say that Ms. Brown represents the Phillies organization well. Whether or not the same thing can be said of mrs. tmmullen's representation of this blog depends on the audience. I am referring, of course, to adult beverage prominently displayed in the picture. You make the call.
Mitch Williams makes his way through the crowd to attend the pre-game rally. He's not as wild in person as he is on television.
The two teams wrap up pre-game introductions and get ready for the national anthem. There are few things in life I enjoy more than being at the ball park to hear that song and then, moments later, watch the first pitch be thrown. Although one of them is doing the same thing with my daughter in my arms.
Speaking of which, here she is waving her rally towel like a maniac. She was quite popular in our section with many of the fans around us giving her high-fives after strikeouts and other, well, high-fiveable moments of the game.
Sure, like our first game in march, it was windy and it was cold, but to us, and most of the rest, it just didn't matter.
---
Just as the Brewers were kicking up a fuss against Brad Lidge in the ninth inning on Wednesday, the wind and rain suddenly reappeared. Fortunately for the fans, the rain was the only thing blown at Citizen's Bank Park that day.
Note: By the time this appears, I will already be inside the park for game two. When time permits, I will add more to this post, but for now, please enjoy a few snapshots of how we saw the first post-season win for the Phillies in nearly 15 years. [Click on them to enlarge]
Philles Ball Girl Jocelyn Brown, mrs. tmmullen, and Paige at the pre-game rally. This isn't the first time Paige met "Miss Jocelyn," as we call her, and I'll save that story for another post. For now, I will simply say that Ms. Brown represents the Phillies organization well. Whether or not the same thing can be said of mrs. tmmullen's representation of this blog depends on the audience. I am referring, of course, to adult beverage prominently displayed in the picture. You make the call.
Mitch Williams makes his way through the crowd to attend the pre-game rally. He's not as wild in person as he is on television.
The two teams wrap up pre-game introductions and get ready for the national anthem. There are few things in life I enjoy more than being at the ball park to hear that song and then, moments later, watch the first pitch be thrown. Although one of them is doing the same thing with my daughter in my arms.
Speaking of which, here she is waving her rally towel like a maniac. She was quite popular in our section with many of the fans around us giving her high-fives after strikeouts and other, well, high-fiveable moments of the game.
Sure, like our first game in march, it was windy and it was cold, but to us, and most of the rest, it just didn't matter.
---
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