Tickets

Our six pack of Phillies tickets arrived last week. It's a good thing we ordered early because the Cliff Lee signing has made hard-to-get tickets even harder to get. I'd like to meet the guy who says, "There's no way I can afford to splurge a couple hundred dollars on a team with three aces, but add a fourth and I'm so there!"

Nonetheless, we're convinced that despite our 80 percent chance of seeing an ace, assuming the hosses stay healthy, on any of the six games we go to, we'll still wind up seeing Joe Blanton more than once.

And, we've already hit a scheduling snafu. We weren't planning on bringing Trent to Citizens Bank Park this year. We were going to have him work his way up through the minors (Camden, Trenton or Lakewood) before going to the majors.

But his grandmom promised her other grandchild a visit on a weekend we picked for a game. So Trent will get his first taste of the Phanatic this spring.

We were planning on him meeting the Phanatic last Saturday at a Phillies store event, but we backed out when we learned the calendar Christine wanted isn't yet available (they needed to replace the month scheduled for Dennys Reyes). We decided that without that reason to go to the park on a cold morning, it probably wasn't worth waiting in line with an infant to see Phanta Claus. Maybe next year.

Quick observation

Christine and I always observe that Joe Blanton works quickly and that Red Sox pitchers, especially Jonathan Papelbon, work as if they're paid by the hour.

Beyond the Box Score did the math and proved it.

Awards: Roy Halladay made quick work of the National League in his first year as a Phillie. He won the Cy Young today. Tomorrow, Cooperstown.

Lucky PJs?

On Monday, the choice of PJs for Trent was between his elephants and baseball uniform. Christine voted elephants because the Phillies were off.

Yesterday, the Phillies had already lost when we were picking out PJs, so Christine voted for his doggies because she was mad at her team.

Tonight, we went with the baseball uniform.

It didn't work early. Joe Blanton threw two wild pitches (Carlos Ruiz prevented a third) and had the Phillies behind the Giants 2-0 by the third inning. Then, the Phillies bats woke up in the 5th inning, scoring four runs (there could have been more if Chooch wasn't thrown out at home).

But Blanton couldn't survive the bottom of the inning, and we have to keep watching to find out whether we have to do laundry to bring back the baseball PJs tomorrow or whether they're getting banished to the bottom of the drawer.

They're leaning toward banishment. In the 6th, 5-4 Giants.

Silver lining

Despite the storyline of how the Red Sox patched things together to keep battling through crippling injury after crippling injury, the best story of the 2010 Red Sox is the development of Clay Buchholz, who has emerged as a Cy Young candidate after being named pitcher of the month for August.

Interestingly, this analysis shows that Buccholz's career, despite some fits and starts, has actually been slightly better than Jon Lester's when he signed a five-year $30 million extension in 2009.

The report suggests that's about what Buchholz would get if he were to sign an extension. I've got three words to say to that: "Book 'em Danno."

Tonight's games: Trent and I took a road trip to visit Christine at work for lunch today, and the Phillies took a road trip to play one game in Colorado. Unfortunately, they had to take Joe Blanton with them. He gave up six runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings. The Phillies battled back, so maybe they'll let him travel with the team when they return to Philly tonight. They scored nine runs in the 7th inning and held on for the 12-11 pitchers' duel. Former Sox Manny Delcarmen took the loss.

The Red Sox beat the Orioles 6-4.

The Phillies need a better scheduler

An ad caught my eye in the Phillies program I bought last week. It was for a sports card and memorabilia show. It's odd because the featured athletes are Curt Schilling and Joe Blanton. (Another current Phillie, Ben Francisco, is also listed.) Fine, you can theme Schilling and Blanton as two rotund pitchers with Phillies connections, but the date is the odd part. The show runs Sept. 24 through Sept. 26.

That's the dates of the Phillies last home series of the year. It's against the Mets, who I'm sure would love to play spoiler against the team that has ruined their recent seasons.

I thought maybe someone made sure the show didn't conflict with games, but nope. Friday's show runs from 5 to 9 p.m. when there's a 7 p.m. game. While Saturday's game time hasn't been announced, it's hard to imagine one not conflicting with a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. show. And there's no way a player can participate in a 1:35 p.m. game Sunday and a show that runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I think somebody screwed up. I went to the show's site to investigate further and found out that the appearance times for everyone, even former Phils like Curt, Darren Daulton and Geoff Jenkins, are listed as TBD. And there are additional current Phillies booked for the show: Placido Polanco and Ryan Madson.

Christine won't be happy if the Mets beat the Phillies that weekend with a quarter of the team signing cards with Curt Schilling.

Speaking of members of the 2004 Red Sox: Manny Ramirez is leaving the Dodgers, who start a series with the Phillies today, and joins the White Sox, who play the Red Sox on Friday and seven times until the end of the season. As if the end of this season won't be annoying enough.

Tonight's games: The Red Sox are off. The Phillies play late in Los Angeles. I had a nice day with Trent, but I'm pooped and won't attempt to get the beginning of the game into this post.

Our first game back

Yesterday was our first game back to Citizens Bank Park since we became parents. Lots of things were different - bootleg vendors sold ponchos instead of pretzels, the sax guy wasn't playing, and they now have a trivia game outside of Bull's BBQ.

But one major thing didn't change - it rained. We sat through it. We got wet. I got grumpy but hung in there.

Despite the hour and 45 minute rain delay - including a scary moment when I dozed off and thought I was blind because I could see only the white of the tarp on the field - it was a pretty good game. Roy Oswalt shut down the Nationals, giving up five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over seven innings in the 6-0 win. The lack of runs was impressive because he let the leadoff guy on in the first four innings. And in each of those innings, someone got in scoring position, including the first inning when Oswalt struck out Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman after letting the leadoff guy get to third with one out. Roy also went 2-3 with a run and came close to an extra-base hit in his final at-bat.

But he might not have been the player of the game. That award could be claimed by Christine's favorite, Carlos Ruiz, whose only hit was a meaningless single in the 4th and whose fielding was marred with a throwing error and three stolen bases.

Despite those feats, Chooch set up the big two-run 6th inning, which iced the game. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Nationals elected to walk the fearsome Chooch, who's actually been intentionally walked 33 times in his career (nearly all in front of the pitcher), to get to Wilson Valdez.

Valdez, filling in for a resting Chase Utley, was never so insulted in his life and stroked a two-run single to put the Phils up 4-0. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run home after the rain delay in the 7th.

Observations from the stands: It was a fairly uneventful game on and off the field. A funny moment came after the rain delay when the new Nationals second baseman, Alberto Gonzalez, complained that the field was too wet. He was booed when the grounds crew came out to sop up more water. After they left, a bunch of sea gulls (you can sort of see them on the right) swarmed the field, mocking the Nats.

We weren't sitting in our usual area of seats, and it seemed much more quiet than usual. We could hear the radio broadcast floating through the stands. In fact, the crowd never really seemed to wake up until the end of the rain delay when they played Chubby Checker's Let's Twist Again, followed by the original The Twist. The crowd was really going as the Nats took the field and an usher was shown on Phanavision while Twisting.

The team honored Philadelphia native Jerry Crawford, who was umpiring his last game in the city before retiring after a 33-year career. He also umped the last game at the Vet and the first at the Bank. You can read about him in the Inky and Daily News. Instead of giving him a gold watch, the Phillies gave him a plush Phanatic. More on that later this week, but I wonder if that's why the Phillies won so easily.

Debbi Kee's Keenote Chorale did the anthem. ... WPXN's Ben Arnold did God Bless America. No one told him it was raining. He could have trimmed a few minutes off it.

Antiquated T-shirts: We didn't see that many: Cliff Lee, Jim Thome and Jacoby Ellsbury's No. 46.

Babies on the brain: Of course, when we saw the Cole Hamels lunch bag, I was upset we didn't bring Trent. (OK, I was upset we didn't bring Trent as soon as we left the house.) The several young tots we saw in the stands didn't help. There was one nearby (kind of looked like Peyton Manning) who kept staring at Christine. Of course, being the proud, responsible parents that we are, we compared every youngin to Trent. There was no contest: The cutest baby wasn't at the park. ... There were some youngsters on the field with the Phanatic in the middle of the game doing some Latin dances. I dunno why we were amused by this; probably because it's the most people we've seen involved in a Phanatic skit.

Tonight's games: The Phillies faced former mate Brett Myers. On the radio broadcast, Scott Franzke said young Brett was starting for the Phillies. I think somebody is stuck in 2009. Myers pitched well in his return to Philadelphia, but was outpitched for seven innings by Blanton. Myers left trailing 2-1, but Ryan Madson blew it in the 8th. Astros 3, Phillies 2.

Unfortunately, the big story involving a former SoxandPhil is that the Red Sox put in a waiver claim on Johnny Damon, who's considering whether to waive his no-trade clause to Boston. I hope he stays in Detroit. John Lackey was also locked in a pitcher's duel but outpitched the Mariners Doug Fister and got a well-deserved 6-3 win.

Do they have to report everything?

Just as the media was starting to report that the Red Sox bullpen is turning things around, Jonathan Papelbon gave up four runs in the 9th inning today, blowing an important game against the Blue Jays. Things were so bad that the closer was yanked before the game ended. Closer-in-waiting Daniel Bard gave up a sacrifice fly to end the game.

The Yankees have a cakewalk against the Royals, and the Rays are off, so this would have been a good one to have in pocket.

Joe Blanton made sure Brad Lidge wouldn't have the opportunity to duplicate Papelbon's poor performance. J.B. gave up three runs in the 1st inning. In the 8th inning, the Phillies are attempting a comeback, but the Dodgers still lead 9-4.

Fool one night, genius the next

Last night I couldn't believe Charlie Manuel left Joe Blanton in to hit with the bases loaded in the 7th inning of a 1-1 game. It was no shocker that the move backfired and cost the Phillies the game. I knew Blanton should have been lifted without knowing he had such dramatic splits this year: an OPS of about .700 for his first 75 pitches, but nearly 1.200 after that.

Somewhere, Grady Little would be proud. In a completely unrelated note, Pedro Martinez will not pitch in 2010 but has not retired.

Given the Blanton experience, I was a little surprised to see Cole Hamels lifted after throwing 97 pitches in eight shutout innings today. (I was at work and not watching the game, so I didn't know it was very hot in St. Louis.) But no worries this time: The Phillies bullpen finished the one-hitter and the bats finally scored two runs in the 11th inning to beat the Cardinals 2-0, averting the sweep.

In the 2nd, the Red Sox and Mariners are scoreless.

Breaking news: Milt Thompson has been fired as hitting coach.

Unexpected

When we posted last night, the Phillies were losing to the Indians and the Red Sox were getting shut down by Ubaldo Jimenez. But then, the Phillies won a dramatic game, keyed by Jimmy Rollins' first career walkoff home run, and then the Red Sox beat around Cy Jimenez but lost the game when Jonathan Papelbon blew it in the 9th, giving up three runs on two home runs.

Baseball's like life - you never know what's going to happen until it happens.

Today, Joe Blanton pitched 7 2/3 strong innings as the Phillies routed the Indians 12-3. {The rain delay probably kept him from pitching a complete game. By the way, Greg and I are watching the game replay right now. Given our luck over the past few years with bad weather at Phillies games, we're shocked we didn't have tickets to today's matchup.} With the sweep, the Phillies are now 8-7 this year in interleague play with just one series left - the "road" games in Philly against the Blue Jays. Nelson Figueroa's back on the roster, replacing the injured Chad Durbin.

The Red Sox and Rockies just started. Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose return to the roster meant a trip to the DL for Mike Lowell, put them in a hole already. It's 2-0 in the 3rd. Dice threw 37 pitches in the 1st inning.

Weird game

Among my bike ride, lawn work, running to some stores and visiting with Christine's mom, we were kind of out of the baseball loop today.

It was a little surprising to see Scott Atchison starting the game because Daisuke Matsuzaka was suddenly injured. It was even more surprising to see a guy I had never heard of, Daniel Nava, starting in left field.

When he came up with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning, I wanted to call to Christine, who was in another room, "Hey, come see this guy hit a grand slam in his first at-bat." But I could not get the words out in time as he sent the first pitch from Joe Blanton into the bullpen.

Needless to say, Christine isn't thrilled with Nava's remarkable story, nor Blanton, nor the Phillies, who will try to avert the sweep tomorrow after another bad loss to the Red Sox, 10-2.

Milestones

Earlier this week, Tim Wakefield got his 2,000th strikeout, joining Jamie Moyer and a couple of cruddy Yankees, roider Andy Pettitte and Javier Vazquez, as active pitchers in the 2K club.

Last night, Jamie Moyer became the second pitcher in history, behind the late Robin Roberts, to give up 500 home runs. When you've pitched as long as those guys, you are going to have good numbers and bad numbers:

"There's a lot of chances out there," Moyer said. "You can't give up 500 in 600 at-bats, can you? I've thrown a few innings in my career. You're going to give up hits, home runs, walks, strikeouts, errors. I don't really keep track of it all."

I hit a milestone myself. Less than a year after I got my new bike, the odometer hit 1,000 miles this morning. I'm proud. I just wish I knew when I actually got it. I bought it on May 30, but I forgot to note when I picked it up - probably the following weekend.

Anybody wanna bulldog? Pat Burrell's career is over - well, the Tampa portion anyway. He was designated for assignment. Charlie Manuel thinks he'll rebound: "I think Burrell can still hit," Charlie Manuel said. "I think he'll get a job. I hope he does."

Either that, or he's subtly trying to convince the Mets to sign him, knowing full well that Burrell's done. I don't think Christie would handle it well if she saw Elvis in blue and orange.

Today's games: Joe Blanton is pitching well - one hit and no runs through four. But unlike last week, he's been efficient with only 43 pitches so far. In the 5th, Phillies 2, Brewers 0. {But just as soon as I was ready to post this, Blanton gave up a home run to Prince Fielder. Phillies 2, Brewers 1.}

The Red Sox play the Tigers tonight.

Windburned

SoxandPhils was at the park today for a game that was truly one in which you had to hold on to your hat - not because the Phillies 4-1 loss to the Braves was particularly compelling, but because if you didn't hold on to your hat, you'd loss it in the killer wind.

We cannot describe how windy it was: The flagpoles shook, trees appeared to bend backward, peanut shells flurried around the park like snow, and garbage constantly blew from the upper rows. At times when walking to our seats, we could not move because the wind was so strong in our face.

Watching this game was a matter of survival, which probably explains why I have so few games notes and why I wasn't particularly riveted by a game that was a pitcher's duel, albeit an ugly one, that was 1-0 through five innings and one in which Joe Blanton took a no-hitter into the 5th.

Today wasn't the most fun we've ever had at the park, but it was definitely interesting. Here's our recap:

Observations from the stands: Today was youth baseball day at the park. There were a lot of youngsters in the park. Led by Hershey's Chocolate characters, they paraded around the park. Did I mention there was a lot of them? The parade took nearly a half hour. They just kept coming in and circling and circling. One of the kiddies had a homemade replica of the 2008 World Series trophy. I saw it on the scoreboard and then he wound up sitting in our section. ... The Meadowbrook School Singers under the direction of Phyllis Ward did the anthem. I didn't note whether I liked it or not, which means it was probably acceptable. ... A couple of young baseball players and a youth league coach threw out the first pitch(es). ... After deviating a bit earlier this season, Jayson Werth is back to using Sammy Hagar's Heavy Metal for his intro music. ... Christine and I debated today's fan question: Who is your favorite BraveandPhil - Johnny Estrada, Kevin Millwood, Ron Gant or Dale Murphy? I figured Murphy's tenure in Philadelphia was forgettable and a long time ago. Christine thought he was just the most inoffensive. She was right, and he won 40% of the vote. I had picked Estrada. ... Chase Utley, Charlie Manuel and Carlos Ruiz had days off. Utley pinch hit in the 9th, Ruiz entered the game in the 3rd after Brian Schneider was injured, but Cholly got to attend his daughter's wedding, presumably without interruption. ... New Brave Jayson Heyward pinch hit in the 9th. He looked huge even from the upper deck.

Antiquated shirts: Aaron Rowand, Pat Burrell, Mike Lieberthal, Matt Stairs, Jon Lieber, Cliff Lee, Pete Rose and Jim Thome. I almost included Jimmy Rollins because it seems like forever since he's played. ... I can't believe they're selling shirts about the taser incident outside the park - I bet the dolts who proudly wear those are the same ones who complain about how the national media portrays Philadelphia poorly.

Lady Pha Pha returns: The sensation of Lady Pha Pha is growing so big that the Phanatic may never be green again. Today, he, err, she came out and did her dance (without any inappropriate behavior from a coach). She then went to the first base side and did a special little dance for umpire Wally Bell. He didn't make any obscene gestures but didn't like it when Lady Pha Pha grinded on him.

He reacted with a playful motion that sent Lady Pha Pha to the ground and her hat and wig off her head. We're not sure how much of that was supposed to happen and how much was like today's games: uncontrollable train wrecks in which the less said, the better.

Speaking of which: Yankees 14, Red Sox 3.

It sucks. I make no excuses nor concede anything, but I'm more fascinated with the image I just saw on MLB Network in which it appeared that a low-flying Marine helicopter appeared to go right throw Fenway Park in the middle of the game. I can't believe there is no outrage over this yet.

Oh well, better days start tomorrow.

Doctor, Doctor

This is not about Roy Halladay, even though I recently learned he used to take the field as a Blue Jay to Robert Palmer's Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor).

Nope, this is about another Phillies pitcher, one who won't be toeing the rubber anytime soon. Ryan Madson, who earned his Mad Dog moniker last week by breaking his toe when he kicked a chair after his last blown save, has to go under the blade.

Semi-related: Christine recently read on a Snapple bottle that the big toe has two bones while all the other toes have three. We found that interesting.

I'm sure Mad Dog is getting quite an anatomy lesson about the human toe during this experience.

Tonight's games: The Red Sox lead the Angels 7-4 in the 6th. I can't decide which joke to use: A) Man, the Angels are worse than the Orioles, or B) I wonder how the Red Sox plan to blow this one.

The Phillies got a decent start out of Joe Blanton, but Nelson Figueroa couldn't erase the jam he inherited in the 7th, and the Cardinals lead 6-2 in the 9th. Before the game, Christine predicted a typical Joe B start - four runs in 6 innings. He gave up four runs in 6.2 innings

Bullpen news, good and bad

Good news! Scott Atchison made the cut.

The Globe's Peter Abraham sums up how I've been feeling all day: "Yeah, it's corny. But if you aren't happy for Scott Atchison today, you have no heart."

I hope he has a good season. He deserves success.

"That is special," he said. "I've been up and down before but I've never made a team out of spring training."

Atchison, smiling widely, said it was third-happiest day of his life behind the day he got married and the day Callie was born. Can't beat that.

If he didn't make the team, you can bet that Ruben Amaro Jr. would have been looking him over.

Joe Blanton will be out three to six weeks, which means three Phillies pitchers are starting the season on the disabled list. Kyle Kendrick will get to start, but the Phillies are scrambling to fill out their staff. There's no such thing as too much pitching.

This might hurt already

I haven't even cracked open my Roy Halladay-covered Sports Illustrated, appropriately titled "This might hurt," and the SI jinx may have begun.

Martin Frank, Scott Lauber's temporary replacement at the Wilmington News Journal, summed up the day in six words: Blanton hurt, Lidge hurting, Halladay rocked.

There's some irony here. Today, the Daily News had a story: Countdown to return of Phillies closer Lidge. One cortisone shot later, and we're still counting.

This morning, on WIP, they discussed an interesting scenario: What if the Phillies kept Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick in the rotation - who would be the odd man out? Obviously, that question is answered if Joe Blanton's injury shelves him.

And, of course, Halladay gets rocked by his former team the day after his SI cover is released.

I wonder who will now represent the National League against the Red Sox in October.

U-G-L-Y

No, I'm not talking about Joe Blanton, who signed a three-year $24 million deal today - I'm talking about the new Red Sox hat.

Of course they needed a new hat. How could a team take batting practice wearing the same old hats they wear in games?

Marketing at its worst, I suppose.

I have no interest in this new fandangled headgear, but if Blanton does, he could buy plenty with his new contract.

My question: If he wasn't sincere about that $10 million arbitration filing, why didn't he do something totally outrageous like file for $30 million?

At dinner, Christine said she liked the deal because it's essentially the same amount the Phillies had wasted on Adam Eaton a few years ago. Plus, if the Phillies ever need to trade Country Joe, his contract won't be prohibitive, she said.

I will vouch for her that she hadn't read this analysis by Beer Leaguer and Rob Neyer:

Beer Leaguer reasoned:

As for the deal, I’m ok with it; $8 million per seems a tad high, but a decent trade-off considering that the durable Blanton is a couple years younger than Pineiro and Marquis; Blanton will only be 32 by the time his contract expires; Pineiro and Marquis are 31. It's actually the exact same money they gave Adam Eaton over three years; hopefully, it produces a difference result.

Rob Neyer - despite Christine's belief that he is anti-Phillie - took it a step further:

When Eaton got his deal, he'd started 35 games in the previous two seasons. Blanton has averaged 32 starts over the last five seasons. Blanton does eat innings, but the digestion process goes pretty well, too.

The Eaton contract was obviously foolish; the Blanton contract is obviously smart. Which isn't to say he's a sure thing. But 200 innings and a 4.00 ERA is worth more
than $8 million per season, and actually quite a bit more. If the Phillies' young pitchers do come through, it shouldn't be hard to trade Blanton for something useful.

Of course, I still think I would have liked to gamble on one year of Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, but that ship has sailed, so I guess this deal makes sense.

[Photo credit: Boston Globe]

Hoping for a series

As the Phillies steamrolled through the 2008 playoffs, I kept reminding Christine that it wasn't supposed to be this easy and that eventually the Phillies would have to win a tough series - one in which they lose more than one game.

I kind of wanted her to feel the pressure of a Game 6 or 7 because I know the Phillies have the personality to gut it out and those situations build character for teams and fans.

But I did not want that series to be against the Yankees. I wanted these Phillies, my second team by marriage, to squash the arrogant, over-paid, over-hyped Empire from my youth back into the ground.

Unfortunately, Cole Hamels coughed up a three-run lead last night and the Phillies trail a playoff series (2-1) for the first time since 2007. Since 2004, I hesitate to call any non-elimination game a must-win, but tonight is pretty close.

Joe Blanton vs. CC Sabathia. Christine likes to talk tough about the big guy the Phillies beat around in Game 2 of last year's NLDS, but in an honest moment, she'll admit she was nervous that he would have pitched Game 5 if the Phillies hadn't wrapped up the series against the Brewers in four games.

I sensed a loss before last night's game; I have no feeling for tonight. I think Heavy B may surprise, but that may be more hope than intuition.

Christine's mindset? A few weeks ago, she placed a Phillies sundae helmet on a stuffed animal (a hedgehog). The thing has sat on her dresser since the first round of the playoffs and, in one of her only bouts of superstition, has insisted it cannot be moved. (In full disclosure, I employed this animal similarly during the great comeback of 2004.) When I got home from work today, the hedgehog was placed on the downstairs couch - hopefully in a better position to place a hex on CC.

Sorry about the random thoughts, but I don't like the feeling I've had all day. I don't like that the odds are now in favor of the Yankees ending their championship drought and that if it does happen, the SoxandPhils will be the biggest culprits. I knew I'd live to see another Yankees championship, I just didn't think it could happen this soon and against this Phillies team.

Go Phils!

Red Sox mention: Singing the anthem tonight is Tech. Sgt. Jody Johnson, who grew up in Alaska dreaming of playing for the Red Sox.

"I think it's because my mom was such a fan," Johnson said of her mother, Sandra Goodwin of Soldotna.

She's a now a SoxandPhils fan, but her friends don't seem to understand that's possible.

She even admitted to having become a Phillies fan.

"I park in the lot with a big fat Red Sox sticker on my car," she said. "Now I'm teased, how I can sing for the Phillies and support the Sox?"

As though she needs justification, she said she's made the Phillies her National League team, though the Sox still hold a special place in her heart.

Cole's nuts: After blowing Game 3, he said he can't wait for the season to end, raising eyebrows from everyone - including Charlie Manuel. I had to drive a lot today. It was odd hearing everyone on the radio so down on him. People weren't this upset with Brad Lidge throughout the year.

On Halloween Eve

'Twas the night before Halloween and all through the park,
not a creature was stirring, the ballyard was dark.

After two games, the series was a knot,
Cliff Lee got a win, Pedro did not.

After a brilliant Game 1, we got too high,
But then A.J. took our heads right out of the sky.

Tomorrow's a new day, time for Hamels to shine,
Blanton will follow, then it's Cliff Lee - he's so fine.

The series may be tighter than a bunch of clamps,
But the Phillies will pull through like champs.

Sorry, I don't know what got into me. Anyway, it's Halloween Eve and there's not much happening as the World Series takes a break to travel from New York to Philly. They announced the Game 4 starters: Chad Gaudin and Joe Blanton.

I thought I'd indulge myself and share the stories of my two baseball-themed Halloween costumes from my childhood.

In 3rd grade, before I wised up to the evils in the world, I was still a semi-Yankees fan, so I went as my favorite player, Dave Winfield. I wore my Winfield T-shirt - it was a cheap giveaway from the stadium. I forget who the sponsor was, but I distinctly remember the No. 31 was way too small.

I didn't understand racism and couldn't understand why my mom wouldn't let me paint my face black. I just wanted to look like my favorite player. I settled for painting on a mustache.

A couple years later, I wanted something a little more creative, so my mom and I came up with the idea of a baseball card. Lots of people go as playing cards, but I never saw a baseball card. We went to a sporting goods store, but they had a weak selection of posters: Keith Hernandez, Eric Davis and someone else, possibly Dale Murphy.

I went with Eric the Red and spent the week painstakingly tracing the stats from his 1987 Topps baseball card for the back of my costume. It was a great costume; unfortunately, I don't think we have any pictures. I kept it hanging in my closet for quite a few years. I don't remember when I finally got rid of it.

If my Halloween tale didn't suffice, check out Doug Glanville's recent op-ed, in which he discusses trick-or-treating as a Phillie in North Jersey. It's a great piece and a rare occasion in which a player shows the "fan" side of himself. We here at SoxandPhils really like Glanville.

Happy Halloween - if a future Phillie shows up at your door, give him or her an extra treat.

[Photo credit: Cincinnati Reds Cards]

SoxandPhils stories

I did a double take this morning when I saw this picture. It is a fairly unremarkable picture from a dominant 11-0 win that gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead over the Dodgers in the NLCS.

What made me pause is that it was not from a Philadelphia Web site. It was from the Boston Globe's lead baseball story. I like the Phillies, but kind of depressing that they're getting top billing in Boston.

It wasn't the only story in the news with SoxandPhils connections.

The Jayson Werth castoff to All-Star story is well-known. The Los Angeles Times has a story that illustrates how far he had to come, or just how stupid former Red Sox and Dodger manager Grady Little was:

Grady Little understood the question.

He just didn't recognize the name.

"Who?" asked Little, then the Dodgers manager, in August 2006 after a reporter inquired about the status of Jayson Werth.

It was a clear indication of how the outfielder -- sidelined for the entire season by a nagging wrist injury -- figured into the Dodgers' long-term plans.

That is to say, he didn't.

Ah, it's been fun this week remembering the Grady Little era. No, it hasn't.

Speaking of Grady Gump, his moment of infamy (yes, I'm still bitter) was replayed on MLB Network this week. Joe Torre kept it on in the Dodgers clubhouse, but ball-stealing Doug Mientkiewicz represented the next day when the network aired the 2004 ALCS:

"Turnabout is fair play," Torre said with a laugh. Torre was asked if he watched replays of games he managed in previous years. "I do when I know the result is good," he said. "Do you think I'm crazy?"

I won't answer that.

Uh-oh: Forget the Steve Sax stuff - Mitch Williams says Chase Utley is injured.

Today's games: And never mind the Empire rising stuff. Angels aren't done yet, winning 5-4 in 11 innings.

Ryan Howard belted a two-run homer in the 1st right after TBS noted that Randy Wolf gave up only one home run to a lefty all year. Joe Blanton started out well, but the Dodgers rallied. The Phillies are trying to mount a comeback, but still trail 4-3 in the 7th.

I could have sworn in the 6th inning I saw someone in the crowd wearing a "Henderson 31" jersey. Ramon Henderson, really?

Look back at 2008: We're skipping this feature tonight on account that I posted what should have been today's recap yesterday. Oops. And, as Christine noted, I missed out on posting the Red Sox win to force Game 7. Oh well.

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]

Game 1 on

***10:30 UPDATE: Apologies to Scott Lauber for stealing his phrasing about the Pedro-Padilla matchup. It wasn't intentional. Also, Phillies clinging to a 5-4 lead. Christine's not so calm anymore.***

As a fan, I can't complain about all these 8:07 p.m. starts for the NLCS games. Nor will I lodge a complaint as a blogger, but I won't attempt to get final scores in my nightly posts.

Here are the pregame doings:

--Pedro Martinez will start Game 2 vs. Vicente Padilla. Who'd have thunk that? I've been meaning to comment on how Big Joe Blanton has gotten the shaft this postseason. He was arguably the Phillies best starter and definitely the most consistent. So how come he gets bumped again for the 37-year-old who hasn't pitched since Sept. 30 and has a bum rib, neck or whatever body part he claims is hurting?

But if Charlie Manuel must pitch Pedro, this is the best possible plan. Pitch him in the warm weather with Blanton or J.A. Happ ready to come in at the slightest hint of trouble. If Pedro can't cut it, whichever starter relieves him should get the Game 6 start *if necessary.

--Brett Myers and Kyle Kendrick were booted from the roster for Eric Bruntlett and Chan Ho Park. Brett's response: "I'm (ticked)."

I'm not going to carry the flag for young Brett, but I don't understand how you can take a pitcher who hasn't pitched since Sept. 16. Forget Myers, how could they take Chan Ho over Kendrick and Tyler Walker - two of the Phillies most reliable relievers at the end of the season.

By the way, if you heard Howard Eskin say that the Phillies cannot change their roster if they make it to the World Series, ignore him. He's a dolt. Teams can change their roster before each round. The afternoon ass said they purposely made this move because LCS rosters are frozen for the rest of the playoffs. Dolt.

Red Sox (former ones anyway): One storyline I forgot was the matchup of Pedro and Manny Ramirez. Thankfully, Nick Cafardo is on the beat:

They are competing in the National League Championship Series, on opposite sides, Martinez with the Phillies and Ramirez with the Dodgers. They are a huge part of Red Sox lore, teammates in 2004 when they helped pull off the greatest comeback in baseball history against the Yankees and went on to win the World Series.

Who could forget it, especially with the fifth anniversary coming up?

Manny could.

"I don't remember anything, man," he said yesterday. "I don't remember too much about that or about last year or any of that. I just don't think about the past."

It was one of those Manny conversations. Pretty random. It had an impromptu start and an impromptu ending. It was all about what Manny wanted to talk about, after the media pummeled him with questions in Spanish and English as he sat near his locker. He smiled and laughed and didn't elaborate on a whole lot.

Tonight's game: In the top of the 5th, the Phillies trail 1-0 on a James Loney home run. With 67 pitches through four innings, this feels more like a 2009, than 2008, Cole Hamels start.

Christine is taking the score quite well. She's quietly kept the phaith so far.

Sometimes I forget that my first allegiance is no longer to the story. Christine hit me because I made a disappointed noise when it appeared Jayson Werth hit a home run that would have caused me to rewrite this post.

The ball didn't go out, and I would up having to write more anyway.

I miss being a reporter sometimes.

Chooch Chooch Chooch!!! Is what I just chanted when Carlos Ruiz hit his three-run home run. Mr. Clutch. Phillies 3, Dodgers 1. Chooch!!