Washington used timely hitting to score their runs and coupled it with good pitching to hold the Phillie offense in check to earn a win in the final game of the three game series.   Anderson Hernandez had three hits for the Nationals and Elijah Dukes contributed two.   Hernandez drove in two of the four National runs.

Brett Myers threw six innings in this start for the Fightins and gave up three runs on eight hits.  Jack Taschner gave up the fourth run in his one inning of relief.    The Phillies were limited to six hits, one a solo home run by Shane Victorino.  Ryan Howard had two hits in the game. 

Julian Tavares earned his first save since 2006 for the Nationals as he pitched a scoreless ninth.  He used a little Luis Tiant type of pitching motion during the appearance !  Tavares is another of those very excitable latin players who wears his emotions loudly on his sleeves for all to see, not a bad thing if they are on your team but annoying otherwise!

The team is off tommorrow before starting a three game series at home vs those New York Mets.

Chatter

Brad Lidge was unavailable again due to knee inflamation.  He will have it reexamined tommorrow and a determination will be made if he needs to go on the disabled list.  Carlos Ruiz will report back to Lehigh Valley to resume his rehab stint.  Ruiz will catch the next Iron Pigs game.  

I have a book signing this Saturday at Batley’s Grille in West Chester, (formerly Stadium Grille), from 3 pm to 8 pm.  The Phillies/Mets game starts at 3:40 pm and will be on display on the multiple TV monitors at the restuarant.  Come out and buy an autographed copy of ” 2008 Philadelphia Phillies – A Poetic Season” and let’s chat a little baseball while hopefully the Fightin’s smack those Mets around!

Ryan Freel is apparently unhappy in Baltimore, what do you think about the Fightin’s picking him up as a bench player ?  I have always liked his game and versatility.

Early hitting season continued as the Fightin’s smashed four home runs enroute to a 7 to 1 victory in the second game of this home series against the Washington Nationals.   Chase Utley smoked two long balls driving in three runs.  Utley now has seven home runs on the young season.  Raul Ibanez continued to impress as he stroked two more hits including his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the eighth inning.   Phillie fans have adopted a new chant of RAUUULL when Ibanez comes to the plate.  He has added alot to the team makeup both on and off the diamond, class act indeed !

Pedro Feliz also belted a home run, his second of the season.  Feliz had a two hit ballgame as well.  Shane Victorino had a two hit offensive effort also.   The only downer of the night was when starting pitcher Cole Hamels turned his ankle in the fifth inning while fielding a ground ball.  Hamels had to leave the contest and was in obvious pain.   We will have to wait and see how severe the injury is.  Chad Durbin threw three and two thirds innings of stellar relief behind Hamels and iron man pitcher Clay Condrey threw the ninth frame to close out the game.  With the win the Phillies record improved to 11 and 8, pending the outcome of the Marlins/Mets game they could wake up in first place in the N.L.  East in the morning.

Chattter

When Ibanez hit his grand slam home run last night it was the 26th grand slam in the majors this April !  That seems like an unreal number, maybe we need to launch an investigation into juiced baseballs again………. or bad pitching !   Carlos Ruiz suffered a setback in his rehab assignment at Triple A affiliate Lehigh Valley and was shut down again, Ruiz was back in Philly for medical review.  Brad Lidge has inflamation of the knee and according to the skipper is day to day.  The Hamels injury is concerning, last season the team went relatively injury free over the season’s course, J-Roll was hurt in the early part of the season and Utley played with a bad hip in the second half but for the most part the team avoided long term breaks in service.   The season is a marathon so the depth the team has built up in the minors will indeed be tested a bit it seems.  

It was Charlie Manuel bobblehead night at the park and the game was a sellout, look on e-bay for folks looking to sell ‘em!

Charlie Manuel has a saying that when the weather gets warm that it becomes “Hittin Season” as the air is still and humid and the ball pops off the bat.  Usually in those conditions the scores are high and the home runs aplenty in Citizens Bank Park……..well “Hittin Season” came a bit early as the Washington Nationals and the Phillies pounded each other in a hitting barrage ending in a 13 to 11 winning Phillies conclusion.

Joe Blanton started the game well for the Fightin’s as he struck out the side in the first inning but it was not a vision of things to come.  Blanton got tagged for six runs and eight hits and could only last 4 and 1/3 innings.  Scott Eyre also got tagged for four runs in relief as the Phillies had to use five relievers in the game.  Washington smoked five home runs including two long blasts by Ryan Zimmerman.   Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn and Elijah Dukes also belted taters.

The Fightins did some “hittin” on thier own.  Ryan Howard belted a grand slam in the fifth inning to bring the game to a 6 all tie.  The Fightins fell behind again  11 to 7 but the team kept battling and with the count 11 to 9 and bases juiced in the eighth Raul Ibanez hit another grand slamalie to put the game away !

Ryan Madson pitched the ninth frame to earn his first save of the season and the Fightins won another come from behind effort !   Ibanez and Jimmie Rollins each had three hit ballgames, great to see J-Roll bust out of his season long slump.   Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz each had two hit ballgames.   The Phillies pounded out 14 hits while the Nationals had 12………… “Hittin Season” indeed.

Chatter

Brad Lidge did not even warm up in this one and the ninth was indeed a save situation, not sure if it was just to rest him from throwing over 40 pitches on Saturday or if there is a problem otherwise.  Stay tuned,  Madson was chucking in the high 90′s in this one again but we need them both at the back end to win ballgames against the tough teams.

Clay Condrey threw well in relief again albeit he did walk in a run in an inherited bases loaded jam.  Condrey has three wins on the season and his sinker has been really good in the early season.

The Phillies came into this weekend’s three game series with Florida staggering a bit with a record of 6 wins and 8 losses coming off two straight series losses at home.   The offense was stagnant till the friday night ninth inning wakeup call where they scored seven runs.   On Saturday night they faced another of the Marlin’s young stud starters in Chris Volstad.    Volstad threw seven strong innings and left with a 4 to 3 lead.  The Marlin bullpen, however, once again blew the game as the Phillies tied the game in the ninth and won it in the tenth !   Big late game hits were delivered by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Matt Stairs and Raul Ibanez.   Ibanez is a true pro hitter and continues to be impressive in his game approach and delivery.   Chan Ho Park belted a solo home run early in the game and actually threw a nice game going seven innings while allowing four runs.

Ryan Madson picked up the win in relief and Brad Lidge earned his fourth save of the season albeit a bit shakey in the outing. 

On Sunday afternoon Jamie Moyer continued his dazzlement of the youthful Marlins as he tossed six innings to earn his third win of the young season.  The Phillies jumped on Florida starter Graham Taylor and knocked him out in the fourth inning.  Shane Victorino had a big offensive day out of the leadoff spot driving in four runs with two hits.  Ryan Howard had a two hit ballgame and Pedro Feliz had three hits in the game.  Chad Durbin and J.A. Happ finished up behind Moyer to close out the victory. 

With the sweep the Phillies increased the early season record to 9 and 8.  Florida has lost six straight and is now 11 and 7.

Chatter

It is true that the Marlins have great young starting pitching but they are lacking in the little things of the game, baserunning, fielding and common baseball sense are all things they severely lack in.   It is a reflection of having a young team that learns the trade in the major leagues rather than at the minor league level.  It is why, in my opinion, they will not win over the long haul of the season. 

Kudo’s to my son, Nolan, for completing his college baseball career this weekend.  He set a school record with 19 appearances this season as a pitcher including throwing in three consecutive games this weekend.  His final college game was an eight inning effort as a starter on Saturday, this after throwing two and 1/3 innings on Friday and 1/3 of an inning in game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday.  He is a tough minded young man, not afraid of any situation or obstacle and always  the ultimate team player………. as his dad I am indeed very proud.  Good job Nolan !

Games two and three of the home series against the Brewers saw the Phillies score only two runs total as they fell to the Brew Crew by counts of 3 to 1 and 6 to 1.   Braden Looper tossed six innings of shutout ball on Wednesday to earn his second win of the season.   The Phillies could only muster 8 hits in the contest, two of which were by Jayson Werth including his second home run of the season.   Joe Blanton pitched relatively well for the Phillies in his start but was tagged for all three runs including a solo home run by J.J. Hardy.

On Thursday afternoon Philadelphia native Dave Bush took a no – hitter into the eighth inning for the Brewers before pinch hitter Matt Stairs broke it up with a solo home home.   Cole Hamels took the loss for the Phillies and was knocked out of the game early by a Prince Fielder line drive off his throwing arm.  Hamels gave up two runs on four hits in 3 and 1/3 innings.  J.A. Happ got tuned for three runs in 1 and 2/3 innings of work in relief of Hamels.   The Phillies only managed two hits in the ballgame.

The Phillies offensive woes continued as they faced the Florida Marlins in Miami on Friday night.  The Fish threw big Josh Johnson against the Fightins and he held them scoreless thru seven innings as he was dominant.   Brett Myers started for the Phillies and threw six innings but gave up a three run bomb to Dan Uggla in the first inning.   The count was 3 to 0 going into the Phillies top half of the ninth when the Fightin’s offense erupted to score 7 times!   Shane Victorino blasted a grand slam home run to plate four and Chase Utley smoked a solo blast in the frame.  Matt Stairs had a big pinch single in the  middle of the inning to start the scoring run.  Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard both belted doubles off the left field wall.  Matt Lindstrom got tuned up pretty well in the inning as he blew the save.    The Phillies brought 12 batters to the plate in the eruption.

Ryan Madson pitched the ninth to close the game in a non-save situation.  He struck out the side.  The Phillies won the game 7 to 3.  The season record now stands at 7 wins and 8 losses. 

What with all the distractions of the early season, e.g. championship ceremonies, Harry the K passing, etc.  skipper Charlie Manuel said it was now time for the team to re-focus on what they are paid to do……… play baseball !

With that in mind the Fightins sent veteran Jamie Moyer to the hill against Milwaukee.  Moyer threw six plus innings to earn the win.  He was tagged early by Ryan Braun for a dinger, ( Phillies pitchers have given up a home run in every game this season thus far), but settled down nicely thereafter.  Pedro Feliz led the Phillies offense with three hits and three RBI’s including his first homer of the season.  Two hit games were turned in by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chris Coste and Jayson Werth.  Scoreless relief innings were tossed by Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and Jack Taschner.

A “focused” effort brought the team record on the young season back to .500 at 6 and 6.

Chatter

The Florida Marlins have been cooled off a bit after a torrid start by of all crews, the Pittsburgh Pirates!  The Bucco’s swept the series today from the Fish making the Marlins record 11 and 4.  The Mets and Braves are both under .500 so if the Fightins can string a few wins prior to month end they could in comparison to the division have a very competitive initial month.  The team goes to Florida next for a three game set so they hold the immediate division record in their own hands.

Chase Utley has a 33 game streak going of reaching base, our second sacker is a real offensive weapon when he is healthy !  

Raul Ibanez hammered a walk off home run on Sunday afternoon scoring Ryan Howard in front of him to give the Phillies a come from behind 5 to 4 win.  The Padres had built up a 4 to 0 lead but home runs by Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, ( a pinch hit for J-Roll, his first pinch hit bomb in his career), brought the Fightins back to within one.

Chan Ho Park pitched better in this game, his second start of the season, but still gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings of work.  J.A. Happ threw three scoreless innings in relief and Clay Condrey picked up the mound win with a scoreless ninth inning of work.

Ryan Howard had three hits in the game and Ibanez had two.  Howard is hitting .386 in the early going.

Chatter

Monday’s game was postponed due to rain, it will be made up later in the season.. San Diego thus will have to make another trip to Philadelphia as they were only scheduled to be here this one time this season.  Carlos Ruiz is eligible to come off the disabled list next week and will probably begin his rehab assignment this coming  weekend in the minor leagues.  Jamie Moyer will take the hill tommorrow night at Citizen’s Bank Park against the Milwaukee Brewers.

With the death of Mr. Kalas earlier this week it has been hard to concentrate on baseball games for all in Philadelphia including me.  The mourning period continued prior to the game on Friday at Citizen’s Bank Park, ( the first home game post Harry), as there were ceremonies to honor Harry the K.  His three son’s each threw out first pitches, caught by Mike Schmidt, John Kruk and Jimmy Rollins respectively.  Kane Kalas then sang an opera version of our National Anthem that was very stirring and emotional.

Cole Hamels took the mound for the game and left with a  7 to 5 lead after seven but Ryan Madson got hit around in the eighth frame giving up three runs and the Phillies lost to San DIego 8 to 7.   Chase Utley homered in the first inning of the game and had two hits.  Shane Victorino, Chris Coste and Pedro Feliz each had two hits while Raul Ibanez had three.

On Saturday Harry Kalas’s body lay in repose at home plate of the stadium from 8 am to 3 pm as thousands of fan’s paid last respects.   A memorial service was held from 1:30 to 3.  RIP Harry, we finally must say good bye.

Saturday’s game started at 7 pm with Brett Myers taking the hill.  Raul Ibanez staked Myers to an early lead with a solo second inning home run.  The Padres scored the next three to go up 3 to 1 before Myers doubled in the fifth and eventually scored on a Shane Victorino sacrifice fly.  Ryan Howard tied the game in the sixth with a solo blast to left. 

Ryan Madson gave up the go ahead run to the Padres in the eighth as he struggled once again.  Chase Utley bailed Madson out with a solo homer in the home eighth to tie the game.  Raul Ibanez scored the go ahead run for the Phillies in the same inning as he singled, went to third on a Jayson Werth single and touched the plate on a Pedro Feliz sacrifice fly to right field. 

However, Brad Lidge could not hold the lead in the ninth, for the first time in his Phillie career, as the Padres initially scored the tieing run, LIdge’s streak of consecutive saves ended at 47 for regular season chances.  The Philly fans, albeit disappointed,  gave Lidge an ovation in acknowledging a remarkable run but were even more disappointed as Lidge then walked  two batters with two outs recorded and gave up a three run bomb to Kevin Kouzmanhoff to put the Fightin’s down by three !  Lidge was lifted at that point but did not hear any boo’s as he departed, one time courtesy I suspect.

 Heath Bell pitched the ninth in each game to earn saves.  He leads the league in the early going in that category.

Chatter

Jamie Moyer goes tommorrow afternoon against the Padres in game three of the series.  The four game stint concludes on Monday evening.  This series represents the only San Diego visit to Philly this season.    The Phillies team record is now 4 wins and 6 losses.

In the series finale against the Nationals, (game 2 of the series was postponed due to rain), Joe Blanton made his second start of the season.   Adam Dunn took Blanton deep in the Washington first with two mates aboard to give Washington an early 3-0 lead.   The Fightins got one back in the fourth as Raul Ibanez singled to score Chase Utley, they made it 3-2 in the fifth inning as Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Lou Marson. 

Shairon Martis threw 6 and 1/3 effective innings for the Nationals limiting the Phillies to five hits and the  two runs.  Blanton threw six innings in this outing allowing only three runs and was replaced by Chad Durbin in the seventh. Durbin was tagged by Josh WIllingham for a solo dinger to lead off the seventh.  Jack Taschner got tuned by Elijah Dukes and Alberto Gonzalez for solo bombs in the eighth to score two more.  He gave up two more runs on multiple consecutive hits before being pulled in favor of J.A. Happ who closed the inning.

The Phillies pitchers have been tagged for 20 taters in the eight games played thus far season, that is alot of homers and must be corrected else a long season looms in that regard.

Chatter

The Phillies will wear a patch on the jersey over their heart with the initials HK in honor of Harry Kalas for the remainder of the season.  His fellow announcers will also wear the patch on thier shirts in the booth.  Mr. Kalas’s body will lie in repose at home plate on Saturday from 8 am till 1 pm at Citizen’s Bank Park.  Fans can pay respects on a first come first served basis, a memorial ceremony will be conducted from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. …..  not since Babe Ruth lay in state at home plate in  Yankee Stadium has such a service been conducted.  It is a proper sendoff for a beloved figure that we fans of the team held in such high regard for 38 years, class move for a class man.

1971 was the first year that I truly became enthraled with the Phillies as a fan.  It was the initial year of the new Veterans Stadium and also the beginning of a legendary broadcasting career.  Harry Kalas joined the Phillies that year replacing Bill Campbell in the booth.   I remember listening to games at night broadcast on the radio, (back in those days no cable and not every game was a TV broadcast!), with the melodic tones of Harry Kalas along with Richie Ashburn and Byrum Saam.   The team was not that good back in those days but Harry and Richie clicked in how they called games and to a young fan like myself painted a fascinating picture of the games they were describing. 

Some 38 years later, today in fact, Harry the K stopped calling Phillies games.  Harry was preparing for today’s broadcast of the game against the Washington Nationals and collapsed in the booth.   For Phillie fans today is a sad sad day as the voice that many of us grew up with has now joined Richie at the big ballyard in heaven. 

I never talked to Harry Kalas yet I feel that I knew him.  When my youngest son Nolan, some 22 years ago, was born I wrote to Mr. Kalas and asked if he could possibly send me an autographed baseball from Nolan Ryan as my wife and I had named our son after Mr. Ryan.   I did not truly expect that Mr. Kalas would actually answer my note but to my surprise a few weeks later we received two signed baseballs in the mail,  both signed by Nolan Ryan !  Mr. Kalas even put a note in the envelope congratulating us on our son’s birth and extoling Mr. Ryan as well as a great man to emulate!  A few years later we took our family to Clearwater to catch spring training.   My wife saw Mr. Kalas walking by on his way to the announcers booth and asked him if he might pose for a picture with our son Nolan.  He graciously allowed us to take the picture, she explained to him that we had sent him the autograph request years back and albeit I doubt he remembered our individual story he acknowledged such and made her feel very welcome in the conversation with him!  That was the only time we ever met but it was a lifetime impression!

During today’s telecast his fellow announcers struggled with keeping thier emotions but to a man recalled Harry as a truly kind and sincere man.  In particular Larry Anderson and Scott Frantzke on the radio had difficulty fighting back the tears as the game unfolded, it was a testiment in itself to the impact of Harry the K.  

No longer will we hear that terrific voice with his patented calls of “Long Drive, Watch that baby…..outta here” !   In fact yesterday’s homer by Matt Stairs in the ninth inning was his last home run call, what an honor for Stairs eh!   We will all truly miss those calls but more so we will miss the optimism of Harry, the “high hopes”  approach to the Fightin’s chances albeit there were many years that he called games for not so good clubs!  Harry always made you feel comfortable, he always described the game as it came, no words too many or too little, it was like watching a game with your buddy or your dad all rolled into one.  He was just the perfect guy to call our games, he was the Phillies and we will sorely miss that feeling he provided that we might always win!  Even when he got on umpires it was with distinction…..remember those “straight down the middle for a ball” calls he would throw out there!

Harry Kalas was our friend albeit many of us never spoke to him, he was the calm to let us know it was just a game and the excitement to let us know it was more than that!  I loved Harry Kalas as many of us did that root for the Phillies and looked forward to his voice each and every game.  He will be sorely missed and it will take us all awhile to get over our loss of such a great man. 

Thank you Harry for a lifetime of memories, may you rest in peace……..say hi to Richie for us, we miss you both.

Chatter

I have failed to mention that the FIghtins are on a three game winning streak, today they beat the Nationals 9 to 8 riding home runs by Shane Victorino (He pointed up to announcers booth after crossing plate to honor Harry), Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez.  Brad Lidge earned his third save and Jamie Moyer got the win.   Yesterday Chase Utley and Matt Stairs hit two run home runs in the eighth and ninth innings to claim a comeback 7 to 5 win over Colorado. The team record is now 4 and 3……….. doesn’t seem so important right now………. will take awhile.