Nearing the top of that winter hill

Last night, Christine was taking pins out of some shirts we had bought.

I offered to get her something out of the kitchen.

"Thanks," she said. "I can't move."

"Afraid you'll knock the pins into the cracks of the couch?"

"No, I can't stop watching this."

On the screen was a riveting contest from 1989 in with Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh 15-11. It was not a low-scoring football game, but a slugfest between two awful baseball teams on June 8, 1989.

The Pirates knocked out Phillies starter Larry McWilliams after one-third of an inning. They scored 10 runs in the first, famously prompting announcer Jim Rooker to say, "If the Pirates lose this game, I'll walk home."

That's famous because in the fall he had to walk the 300 miles after the Phillies - led by Steve Jeltz - kept chipping away and finally took the lead with an five-run 8th inning, which was preserved by Steve Bedroisian.

Jeltz hit two of his five career home runs in this game despite entering the game in the 2nd inning when it was assumed the game was a blowout. Von Hayes had four RBI, and newly acquired - and baby-faced - John Kruk had four hits.

It was an awful game that we couldn't stop watching (and we weren't even sure at the time whether the Phillies would win). It was great see a younger Kruk and much skinner Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla. The late Eric Gregg was a treat to watch umpiring at home plate.

Christine's only lament was that we got the Pirates broadcasters (although in retrospect it was probably intentional because of Rooker's line) instead of Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn.

With 78 days to opening day, let's hope MLB Network airs some more like this in the coming weeks.

Ah, the reassuring sounds of spring agita

It has been almost too serene at SoxandPhils camps this spring. But today, news broke that Jonathan Papelbon piped up about Manny Ramirez in Esquire, calling him a clubhouse cancer that had to be removed last year:

"It takes 25 guys on a team to win, not 24, and that was blatantly obvious," Papelbon said today after the club's workout. "It doesn't matter who you are -- you could be Babe Ruth -- if you're not in that same cubbyhole with the rest of the guys going to war with you, you're all going to die. That almost happened."

I like the rhetoric, but why now? I would have loved it if Papelbon had said this last summer, but now it's just odd and creating an unnecessary diversion.

I, unfortunately, have to agree with Manny: "I've already moved on with my life. Like I said, I wish everybody the best. I'm in LA now."

And one other thing. I'm usually not overly PC, but I would hope Papelbon would reconsider using his use of the word cancer. Jon Lester had cancer. The team had a petulant prima donna who brought down morale.

Please, no more about Manny unless we have a rematch of last year's NLCS.

Wall of Fame: The Phillies announced their Wall of Fame nominees. There are several candidates more qualified than Juan Samuel, who was last year's inductee:

Pitchers Jack Baldschun, Ricky Bottalico, Larry Christenson, Gene Garber, Jim Konstanty and Rick Wise; catcher Darren Daulton; infielders John Kruk and Fred Luderus; outfielders Lenny Dykstra, Doug Glanville, Greg Gross, Von Hayes and Roy Thomas; manager Jim Fregosi.

Scott Lauber is not endorsing a candidate, but I will. My write-in endorsement goes to Ken Ryan. My other two votes will go to John Kruk and Doug Glanville.

{Ricky Bo? The only award he gets is the "What the hell is he doing on this list?" award. I want to vote for Dykstra; I know he's tainted, but he embodied the '93 team. Same for Daulton; not all there now, but he was the leader. I would also accept Kruk and be happy with Glanville, just because he seems like a genuinely good guy. But I will go with Dykstra and Daulton, but my dark horse will win it - Von Hayes. The fans are in a good mood and have seemed willing to forgive for the past, so it's his year.}

Juan Samuel? Really??

Lost in the craziness of the Sox-Phils series was the announcement that Juan Milton Samuel will be enshrined on the Phillies Wall of Fame. As someone who studied the backs of baseball cards in the 1980s more closely than his school books, I know Samuel was a good player, although not, as the sponsor of his Baseball-Reference page claims, "quite simply, the greatest baseball player in the history of the world."

I didn't follow the Phillies back then, but I admired his combination of speed and power, racking up double digits in all categories. But I know enough about Philly to know that he is not the most deserving Phillie - Lenny Dykstra, Darren Daulton and John Kruk are the obvious ones. And unlike Samuel, they contributed to a Phillies postseason.

A fan vote narrowed the choices for wall nominee to Daulton, Dykstra, Kruk, Samuel and Greg Gross. Then, a committee of media and Phillies executives chose Samuel to be inducted.

I'm not sure how Gross even ended up in the mix. I understand the arguments against choosing Dykstra (links to steroids and other issues) and Daulton (his philosophical musings); as for Kruk, maybe they're unhappy that he bailed on his Phillies announcing and has become a national media figure. But I still don't get it. I'll be happy to cheer Juan's induction, but if the Phillies keep flying their '93 NL pennant, they should induct players from that squad.

Harper: I forgot to mention yesterday the little baseball fan seated behind his. His name was Harper, and he was attending his first game with his pop-pop, who provided running commentary for his grandson. It was very cute and wholesome. And the next time the media or populous want to bemoan baseball, they should sit in the park and take in nine innings with little Harper and his cap and pack of Red Sox playing cards.

[Image: Baseball Reference Bullpen]