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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.

Five games into the season and the Phillies found themselves in desperate need of a starting pitcher to give them extended innings.  Brett Myers stepped up and did just that against the Colorado Rockies as he pitched seven innings giving up only four hits albeit they were all dingers!  Myers, who has never lost to the Rockies or at Coors Field,  was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth holding a 6 to 4 lead.   Good Job Brett!

Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz each had three hit games for the Phillies.  Ryan Howard delivered a key blow in the third inning as he belted a bases clearing double.  Jayson Werth slugged a two run triple in the fifth inning and Raul Ibanez smoked a solo home run in the seventh frame.  Chase Utley had two hits in the game including a RBI single in the eighth.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth inning and has been very impressive in the early going, Madson has faced six batters and retired them all!  He is throwing serious gas as the heater is rushing up there in the 95-96 range which makes his changeup a devastating pitch when he uses it.  Excellent job so far Mr. Madson!

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth even though it was a non save situation, ( Phillies led by 4), to close out the win.   Lidge also heated up the fastball in the 95-96 range and worked a perfect inning.  If Madson and Lidge continue to throw like that then the Fightin’s are gonna be tough to beat as long as the starter’s can get a lead to them!

Chatter

As reported after last evening’s game Carlos Ruiz was put on the fifteen day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle and Lou Marson was called up from Triple A to back up Chris Coste who will assume the starting catcher roll till Ruiz is healthy again.   The Phillies go at the Rockies again tommorrow with Chan Ho Park making his Phillies debut as a starter.

Cole Hamels took the ball as the starting pitcher in the Fightin’s fourth game of the season and continued the trend of poor outings by the starting staff.  Hamels was touched for seven runs on eleven hits and lasted only 3 and 2/3 innings before being lifted.  Hamels gave up multiple extra base hits including a two run tater to Garrett Atkins.   He was far from sharp, poor pitch location and had no velocity whatsoever as his fastball was consistently in the 85-86 range and only a few times reached 90.  That led to little distinction between the heater and his meal ticket pitch, the changeup, and  therefore allowed the Rockies to tee off.

Meanwhile the Phillies bats were relatively silent other than Jayson Werth who had four  hits  including a dinger and Chase Utley who posted two hits, Werth scored all three Phillie runs.   Ryan Howard had a really bad day as he grounded into three double plays !    Give the Rockies starter Jason Marquis credit though as he tossed seven innings only allowing five hits.  J.A. Happ and Clay Condrey threw scoreless innings in relief for the Phillies but Chad Durbin got hit around a bit in the eighth giving up three runs.

  Back at ‘em tommorrow with Brett Myers making his second start this year for the Phillies.

The Rockies home field has an enourmous outfield playing area by design due to the high altitude, outfielders sure have to be on their horse to play on that field !  What seem like routine fly balls drift forever and end up on the warning track, this on a field where the foul poles are some 350 feet away down each line !

Chatter

Carlos Ruiz left the game early with what was reported as a strained right oblique.  The thing the team avoided last season was injuries for signficant periods,  I have my doubts that Mr. Hamels is entirely healthy right now and if Ruiz missses any signficant time we may see young Lou Marson in the show sooner than one would have thought.  Not a good sign albeit early yet.

The Phillies signed ex San Francisco Giant pitcher Tyler Walker to a minor league contract, he reported to Lehigh Valley in Triple A.  Walker had been released by the Seattle Mariners at the end of spring training, he may be called upon later in the season for bullpen assistance…….. if our starting pitching keeps up the pace they are at we will need alot of relievers !

Last season the Phillies started the season 0 and 2 against a division rival.   This season has started the same as the Fightins went down for the second time this young season against the Atlanta Braves.

Jamie Moyer started on the hill for the Phillies but was tagged for four runs in five innings as he yielded eight hits including a first inning solo home run to Kelly Johnson on the game’s first pitch and a fifth inning solo blast to Chipper Jones.  Moyer was far from sharp but you can’t win if you can’t score and the Fightin’s offense is scuffling right now.  

The Phillies left 11 runners on base and were limited to six hits, two each for Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.  Raul Ibanez had the only extra base hit for the Phillies, a double.   The only bright spots on the night for the Phillies was the work of the bullpen.  Chan Ho Park, Jack Taschner and Clay Condrey combined to pitch four scoreless innings.

Jair Jurrjens threw five and two thirds innings for Atlanta and was supported by four Brave relievers to earn the combined shutout.

Chatter

Joe Blanton will take the pill tommorrow afternoon in attempting to avoid the sweep and lead the team to the first 2009 win.  Championship rings will be distributed prior to the game, Pat Burrell will be on hand as the Rays are playing in Boston and the Phillies have paid the tab to bring him here for the ceremony and then get him back in time to Fenway to play the game there.  Classy move.

Opening games always include alot of pre-game ceremony but especially when you are the defending champs.  The World Series Trophy was on prominent display as the team came onto the field from the stands amidst high fives from the fans!  Skipper Charlie Manuel helped raised the 2008 championship flag and player introductions were conducted for both teams.  It is time to play ball again and we as Phillies fans are more than ready!

Brett Myers toed the rubber for the opener for the Fightins vs Derek Lowe for the visiting Atlanta Braves.  Myers got juiced on a hanging changeup by Bryan McCann in the first inning for a two run homer scoring Chipper Jones in front of him.  Jeff Francour drilled a fastball over the left field wall to lead off the second and give Atlanta a three run lead, rookie Jordan Schafer then belted a solo home run as well in his first major league at bat!   Carlos Ruiz got the first 2009 Phillie hit as he doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the third.   At end of three though the count was 4-0 Braves.

Myers pitched six innings before being pulled for a pinch hitter.  He settled down after the second and held the Braves scoreless innings three thru six.   His curveball had that familiar bite in those innings as he went more to it and laid off the straight change which hurt him earlier.    Jack Taschner made his Phillies pitching debut in the 7th  and pitched a perfect inning striking out Chipper Jones to end the frame.    Scott Eyre and Chad Durbin combined to pitch a perfect eighth for the Fightins.  Lowe held the Phillies to only two hits thru eight frames as he excelled at being a ground ball machine by keeping the ball down in the zone whether it be sinkers or sliders.   He was excellent, would have looked nice in red pinstripes!   Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for the Phillies.  

 Mike Gonzales came on for the ninth for Atlanta and was greeted by an Eric Bruntlett pinch double, after a flyout  he then scored on a Jayson Werth single.  Gonzales then made it interesting by walking Chase Utley but struck out Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez to end the game.

  Final score Braves 4 Phillies 1, there goes the undefeated season !

Chatter

Jordan Schaffer became the 99th man in history to hit a home run in his first major league at bat.  Ryan Madson changed his uniform number to 46 instead of number 63 he has wore last season.  Jamie Moyer makes his 2009 debut on Tuesday night in game two going against Jair Jurrjens for the Braves. 

Tonight is opening night for the 2009 baseball season so it is time to make the old preseason picks as to how I expect the season to go.   It is great to be a fan of the defending champs but it will be just as great if the boys can do it again !   That being said here goes the picks for the season.

National League East

The Phillies have a tremendous nucleas, all of whom are in prime years of play.   The ability to run Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins out there everyday will result in alot of wins.  Supplement that with folks like Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz and you have a very strong starting eight.  I think Werth is going to have a big year and also believe that Feliz will hit much better this year.  Ibanez is a pro and I think will be the “professional hitter” in the lineup that we missed at times last season. 

The key is pitching.  The starters were very good during the stretch run last season but that will need to be replicated and the pen has to be strong once again.  Brad Lidge most likely will not be perfect this year but he and Ryan Madson have to anchor the back end of games again for the team to win.

The Mets will be in the mix again, they also have two top notch players in David Wright and Jose Reyes.  Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran are also very good hitters in the core of the lineup.  They beefed up the pen with J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriquez which was the achilles heal last season.  I don’t like their starting pitching so much and even with the addition of Gary Sheffield I don’t think the corner outfield spots are so strong.   In my opinion they are not as good as the Fightin’s and and I do not see them overtaking the Phillies.

Atlanta added Derek Lowe who I lobbied hard as a fan for the Phillies to pick up, he is a legit number one and will definitely help the Braves.  Beyond him I am not so sure they have alot of depth, the pen is anchored by Mike Gonzalez but I am not in love with the starting staff and middle pen, I think they could struggle there.  Brian McCann, Yunell Escobar and Chipper Jones present a very good offensive nucleas and Jeff Francour, Casey Kotchman and Kelly Johnson are all good players but I just don’t think this team is good enough to win the division.  Bobby Cox  is a very good manager so he will keep the team up and they will win games, just don’t think enough to make playoffs.

Florida is an interesting team and perhaps has the best starting pitching staff in the division.  Young arms like Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad and Josh Johnson are very formidable.  Matt Lindstrom throws bullets out of the pen but we will see if he can be consistent.  Hanley Ramirez is as good as anybody at shortstop and is capable of a MVP season.   I think they fall short in the outfield and not so sure that other than Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu that anyone else offensively scares me too much.  I think they will surprise early and will ride the pitching but just don’t see them strong enough to win the division.

The Nationals added Adam Dunn to the offense and he will hit alot of bombs for Washington, he will also strike out alot as well!  They too have some young arms that could shine starting with John Lannan and the addition of  Scott Olsen from Florida.  Ryan Zimmerman may be the best third sacker in the league and Christian Guzman, Ronnie Belliard are good hitters.  The key to this team may be young outfielders Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge, if they play to potential then this team could move up in the division.

That all being said here is how I think it plays out :

1.  Phillies  2. Braves  3.  Mets  4.  Nationals  5.  Marlins

I think the Fightins have too much for the others in comparison, the key will be staying healthy as to how far they stretch ahead of the rest and/or if the divsion race is close. 

GO FIGHTINS !!!!!

All players reported on time for the Fightins as they prepare for thier title defense.  There has been alot of trash talk already between the Phils and the rivals from New York, the Mets…… probably a good thing the Mets train on the other coast of Florida in Port St. Lucie ! 

Jamie Moyer offered opinion on the A-Rod steroid story stating that A-Rod’s accomplishments are now tainted and hall of fame consideration should be as well.  I agree with the wise left-hander in that regard but regardless the time frame known as “The Steroid Era” is tainted in general and I think when A-Rod is considered for the Hall of Fame it should be based on his entire career and that specific time period should not be the only consideration.  The same holds true for Barry Bonds, etc. that were noted “cheaters” during the period. 

Chase Utley took ground balls at second base this week and seems to be progressing nicely after off season hip surgery.  Pedro Feliz  does not seem as far along as does Mr. Utley in the recovery of his own surgery on his back.  The Phillies have alot of veteran infielders in camp as a safeguard that either man is unable to go north on time.

Skipper Charlie Manuel stated that if the season were to start right now he would carry three catchers on the team, this makes sense in that all three are right handed hitters and the team is in need of a right hand bat off the bench.  He did not say which two would be the backups to starter Carlos Ruiz, only that Chris Coste, Ronny Paulino and Lou Marson would all be given alot of playing time this spring.  Ruiz is set to participate in the World Baseball Classic so indeed the three other catchers will have plenty of spring opportunity.

Chatter

Rumblings are that the Phils have put out an open offer to each of the three left handed relievers still left on the market and that whomever accepts first can join the team.  Will Ohman, Joe Biemel and Dennys Reyes are the three targets.  The offer is suspected to be for one year only and around $1 million.    Single game tickets went on sale today for the regular season and the “ring ceremony” game where the team will receive the championship rings immediately sold out!  Phillies fans continue to support their team!

J.C. Romero has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games for negligence regarding the use of a banned substance.  This penalty has been rendered despite that fact that Romero was guided by the players union that the supplement he purchased and used in August was not on the MLB list of illegal substances.  He also checked with a trainer of the Phillies team and his own nutritionist, both whom confirmed to him that it was not an illegal substance.  The team trainer sent a sample of the supplement to MLB which then told the Phillies that the substance should not be used, Romero stopped using the supplement at that time.

What is odd here is that all parties agree that they were negligent in the instructions given to the player, Romero, but only the player is being penalized!  This has the same stench as the “steroid era” of baseball where MLB turned a blind eye while the likes of Bonds, Sosa and McGwire used supplements to bring the game back to national prominence but when push came to shove MLB placed all the blame on the players!  I realize that the game was embarrassed by Congresss in regards to lack of policies or enforcement regarding performance enhancements and that indeed the game has strengthened the rules and compliance thereto but this is a case where a group mistake was made and it seems that once again the player is being made the sole scapegoat.

J.C. Romero is not a player that purposedly used steroids to enhance his performance and attempted to hide such usage  but rather a player who purchased and used a supplement that he inquired about being within the boundaries of acceptance and was told he was compliant!  Where is the justice to penalize him ?   There is no appeal process here so Romero must sit out the 50 games he has been suspended albeit an unfair justice.

Chatter

The Phillies have signed Marcus Giles to a minor league contract.  Giles sat out last season after failing to make the Colorado Rockies opening day roster.  If he makes the Phillies roster he will be asked to help fill in for Chase Utley while he recovers from off season hip surgery.  In regards to filling the roster spot for Romero the team indicates it will do so within rather than spend on a free agent.  While some fans like me would like the team to pursue and sign Derek Lowe I doubt that they are in play to do so, Lowe is a Scott Boras client which means the endless pursuit of money, money and more money…… with the Fightins tasked with major arbitration settlements forthcoming I don’t see them in the mix to offer Lowe what his agent Boras thinks he is worth….. my guess is that he will end up with the Mets at some point.

It is not the Mets or Yankees and their mounds of money, nor the Red Sox and their boisterous nation. It is not the Angels and their perfection of execution nor the Cubs and their abundance of talent. It is not the Dodgers and Manny-mania nor the Brewers and their C.C. Ride. It is not the Tampa Bay Rays and their worst to first very good young team. “We” are the 2008 champions of MLB Baseball, the “World” Champions of the game!! “We” are the Phillies which is not just purely defined as the core baseball team. “We” represents the players, coaches and front office, the ticket takers, concessionaires and announcers……….. the writers, sports talk hosts and security guards…….. the janitors, traffic cops and police. “We” are the fans both those who are life long die hards like myself and yes even those who have jumped onto the bandwagon with the success of a winner! “We”, baseball world, the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Baseball Champions!!!!!

The players of this team will live forever in our area as being recognized for their championship efforts. Charlie Manuel will be forever the man who led us to our second “World” title in history, J-Roll, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Hamels, Lidge, Moyer and the other members of this team will be forever heroes in this city regardless of where they might go in their remaining careers! Pat Gillick will be forever remembered as the GM who put us over the top! By becoming champions these boys have become immortal and lodged in the memories of “Phillies” young and old forever in time!

Pedro Feliz is forever the guy who got the winning hit! Geoff Jenkins is forever the guy who led off the sixth with a double! Pat Burrell is forever the guy who got the key double to stage the winning run! Brad Lidge is forever perfect as was this team when leading after eight innings! God Bless the Phillies………all of us, we are the “Phreakin” Champions!!!!!

As a long standing Phillie fan I have seen my share of disappointment, comes with the territory when you cheer for the losingest franchise in pro sports history………..but for this year and this off-season there is no sadness in “Phillie-vile” because …………one more time baseball world……………… “We”, the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 “World” Champions of baseball…………..sounds so sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh by the way if you didn’t figure it out…………. Phillies won game five by a four to three count!

Joe Blanton is a very unassuming young man. He stepped into a very assuming role however as he took the ball for game four of the 2008 World Series. Blanton stepped up big time by pitching six plus strong innings only allowing two runs and even belting a home run to earn his first world series win!

Jimmy Rollins got things started offensively for the Fightins as he usually does when they succeed with a lead off double in the first inning. Rollins advanced to third on a ground out and was actually out in a run down on a ball hit back to the mound by Ryan Howard but was called safe by the ump! Rollins scored on a bases loaded walk by Pat Burrell. The Phillies went up two to zero as Pedro Feliz stroked a two out single to plate a run. The Rays scored their first run on a Carl Crawford solo home run in the third inning.

Ryan Howard put the Phillies up by four with a three run home run in the fourth inning. The big man took a curve ball out to the left field seats! Pinch hitter Eric Hinske took a Blanton fastball out to center field in the fifth to make the score 5-2 but Joe Blanton the hitter got it back by turning a Edwin Jackson 95 mph fast ball into a left field tater in the Phillies fifth ! It was Blanton’s first ever major league home run!

The Rays threatened in the seventh putting two runners on but skipper Charlie Manuel played bullpen shuffle bringing in Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson in to get out of the inning with no damage. Madson pitched a perfect eighth striking out both Carlos Pena and Evan (Eva) Longoria in the midst.

Jimmy Rollins got his third hit of the game in the eighth as he doubled off the wall. He could have been credited with four but the official scorer gave the Rays second sacker an error on a ground ball in the hole earlier in the game. Pretty simple equation for the Fightins, J-Roll gets on they win!! Jayson Werth belted a home run to score Rollins and put the Fightins up by six! Ryan Howard belted another bomb after teammate Chase Utley reached to make it 10-2 Fightins. Howard ended up with five RBI’s in the game! J.C. Romero pitched the ninth to finish the game.

Chatter

Cole Hamels goes in game five in a rematch of game one as Scott Kazmir throws for the Rays. Jamie Moyer’s performance in game three was even more remarkable considering he was battling a three day stomach virus that had kept him up most of the prior night! The man is a real pro! One win away boys from being known as the best of 2008 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, kudos to the Phillies advance scouts in supplying the team with a great advance plan on these young Ray hitters. The game plan has been perfect thus far……….one more big one to go !