Opening Day

We didn't watch much baseball yesterday, but it's an Opening Day we'll never forget.

We had a very nice day in court wrapping up the procedural parts of Trent's adoption, and we had the Phillies on in the background as we celebrated with his grandparents. Everyone left before the 9th inning, and I had a feeling Trent had a rally in him on his special day. He did, helping the Phillies score three runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Astros 5-4.

I thought he was working his magic for the Red Sox when they tied the game in the 8th, but Daniel Bard imploded for four runs in the bottom of the inning, and Trent had nothing left to spur a SoxandPhils Opening Day sweep on his Adoption Day. Rangers 9, Red Sox 5.

A better Friday

At least I didn't get into a car crash tonight, like last Friday. But I'm drained and taking a night off, just like the World Series, which heads to Texas with the Giants up 2-0 and embarrassing the Rangers.

I'm thinking about pulling a Brett Favre - not with the sexual harassment stuff, but in ending the streak. Nothing lasts forever.

World Series Game 1

The World Series has begun, and for the first time since the dark days of 2006, the authors of this blog have no rooting interest. That was the last time neither Sox nor Phil represented their league in the World Series. It was also the last time neither team made the playoffs.

Despite the lack of rooting interest, I have the game on in the background. Christine can't watch. Trent's indifferent. He's snoring as his Mommy files his nails.

Meanwhile, here are the SoxandPhils alum playing in the series:

Former Sox on the Giants: Javier Lopez, Ramon Ramirez, Edgar Renteria and Freddy Sanchez.

Former Phils on the Giants: Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand.

Former Phils on the Rangers: Cliff Lee.

Former Sox on the Rangers: Darren Oliver and David Murphy.

Trent has never been so insulted

Three months after Trent arrived, I finally felt safe enough, sleep-wise, to make the two-hour drive to my parents' house for a visit today.

While we were visiting the Yankee - blech - side of the family, Trent would sometimes look at the TV, where the Rangers were on their way to a 7-2 win over the Yankees. (Stupid Rangers. They had CC Sabathia beat in Game 1, but blew it. They should be up 2-0 with Cliff Lee waiting to drop the hammer.)

Everyone kept saying Trent is a Yankee fan because he looked at the TV. Our son is not a brain-dead sheep. He's a free thinker capable of making his own decisions. He was simply scouting out the Phillies' World Series opponent. He found a hole in Josh Hamilton's swing and the secret to beating the Yankees - knock out their starter early and don't let them back in.

After our trek north, we tried to watch the hyped Roy Halladay-Tim Lincecum matchup, but, of course, we couldn't. It was on in the background as we battled some ants. Final: Giants 4, Phillies 3. Christine is cranky about it.

Elvi

While waiting for the Phillies to begin the NLCS against Pat Burrell and the rest of the Giants, we spent last night watching Game 5 of the ALDS between the Rays and Rangers.

Former Phil Cliff Lee (are people still upset he's gone?) went the distance and induced a pop-up to shortstop Elvis Andrus to end the game.

It's an omen. The Phillies will beat Pat Burrell and his bulldog Elvis Burrell, while former Phil Cliff Lee and Elvis Andrus knock off the Yankees.

Then, the Phillies will have passed through two Elvi to win their second championship in three years.

Tuesday two-fer

Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley are two MVP-caliber dirt-dog type players who can't stand being off the field. So, of course, it makes sense that they will both return from lengthy spells on the DL on Tuesday after using some unorthodox rehab methods.

Hopefully, Pedey can be the kick in the pants the Red Sox need to mount the run we've been waiting for:

"I haven't really been 100 percent all year," said Pedroia. "We're in a pennant race. There are a lot of games left. We're going to make a run at it.

And, maybe, Utley can return to be a stabilizer for the Phillies offense.

Today, the Red Sox dropped another one to the Rangers to fall 4.5 games behind the Wild Card race, while the Phillies battle the Mets on Sunday Night Baseball. No score yet in the top of the 3rd.

Not much to say

The day started off on a Red Sox note: I took Trent to Wawa (our first trip anywhere without Christine), and we were greeted by the cashier who always compliments my choice in baseball team.

Not much baseball since that 7 a.m. encounter. I just looked at the Globe for the first time today about five minutes ago, and I just heard Tom McCarthy say the Phillies won for the first time at Citi Field this year.

Jon Lester is pitching well, I see, but he's getting very little support. In the 7th, Red Sox 1, Rangers 0.

Oops

When I handed last night's post to Christine for her superb editing, I had written that the Dodgers were cruising to a victory. She toned it down a bit to say the Phillies were attempting a comeback, but I don't think she seriously expected them to come all the way back from an seven-run deficit in the 8th inning, even though they had scored a couple of runs by the time she posted.

I certainly didn't.

Oops ... Chooch did it again, knocking in the winning run in the best comeback of the year, in what could be the only game to rival Roy Halladay's perfect game as the Phillies game of the year.

Tonight, however, they couldn't come back from a one-run deficit. For the second time in a week, Cole Hamels pitched a gem against the Mets, but had to eat a 1-0 loss. The Phillies have been shut out in all four games they've played at Citi Field this year. Incredible.

The Red Sox and Rangers aren't participating in such a pitching duel. David Ortiz, Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew went back-to-back-to-back in a seven-run 4th inning, but Josh Beckett couldn't keep his foot on the Rangers' neck. The Red Sox still lead, 9-8 in the 8th, but I'm not comfortable at all.

Dizzying

I can't keep track of the Red Sox anymore. I'm not talking day-to-day standings or anything like that. I literally can't keep track of the roster because it changes so much with injuries.

In the past four days, the Red Sox have added Michael Bowden, Dusty Brown, Manny Delcarmen, and detracted Gustavor Molina, Felix Doubront and Robert Manuel. Fernando Cabrera has come and gone. Several of these guys I have never heard of.

I'm just glad I'm not this guy, Carl Goodreau, clubhouse manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox:

In Goodreau’s 22 years of working in pro baseball, he calls this season the craziest of his career. Numerous injuries have left holes in the Boston roster, leaving Pawtucket to fill in the gaps.

When a player leaves Pawtucket another comes in from another farm team or for rehab. This season, the PawSox have used 49 players. The club record is 70 in 2006.

If this year breaks the record, I hope some of the next call-ups will be able to play the game. The Red Sox dropped three of four to the Rangers this weekend. Today, Jon Lester lost 4-2.

The Phillies are playing the Cubs tonight on ESPN. I wasn't planning on making it to the end, but it's in the 7th (6-3 Cubs) and it sounds like Trent is getting cranky.

Trent dirties diapers, Sox and Phils rally

Christine went to the store this afternoon, so it was just the little guy and me watching the Phillies game on TV. {I listened on the radio and was entertained by Larry Andersen's rants.} Well, he slept more than watched, until the Phillies had one out in the 9th, trailing the Cubs 1-0.

That's when Trent woke up needing his diaper changed. I forgot to put on a TV upstairs so I could listen to the ending while taking care of business. Because of a little spraying, it took a little longer than I expected. When I was done, I turned on the game expecting it to be over. Nope - the Phillies had the bases loaded and were winning 2-1. They added two more to win 4-1. Trent's pixie dust, which last night I proclaimed was gone, has returned.

The littlest SoxandPhil may really be getting the hang of things. Cliff Lee dominated the Red Sox and took a 2-1 lead into the 9th inning with about 90 pitches. But after changing another diaper, I was able to sit down and watch Kevin Youkilis rip a single to tie the game.

The game went into the 11th without any more diaper emergencies, but Trent decided to keep losing his pacifier to see how many times Christine and I would run upstairs to retrieve it for him. I think that was just his way of willing Youkilis to hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to beat the Rangers 3-2.

No more pixie dust

I finished typing last night's post as the Phillies trailed the Cubs 12-2 in the 9th. We were getting nervous that Trent did have some magic charm over the Phillies as they started scoring runs. But he did not have a mystical 10-run inning in him - just four runs.

It seems as if his powers expired at the All-Star break because the Phillies lost another one today, 4-3.

The Red Sox are losing again too, 7-3 in the 6th to the Rangers.

Tomorrow, little Trent gets his first SoxandPhils double header as the Phillies play in the afternoon and the Sox are on a national broadcast at night, facing Cliff Lee.

Second half starts stinkily

My buddy asked me whether I was excited for the second half of the season to begin.

I'm not.

I thought it was because of everything going on in my life, but maybe it was an unconscious premonition that the Red Sox would start the second half with a lineup that featured Eric Patterson at 2B, Daniel Nava in LF, Bill Hall at 3B and Kevin Cash at C. Not exactly the Red Sox lineup we were expecting during spring training. It didn't work - the Red Sox lost to the Rangers 7-2.

Maybe it was also an unconscious premonition that Tom McCarthy would have a night off and we'd have to endure extended play of Chris Wheeler as the Cubs drubbed the Phillies 12-6. I hate Wheels. I think he made Trent cry. Now I really hate Wheels.

Music to our ears

Christine and I were busy getting the house ready for our post-walk party on Sunday, so we missed the opportunity to sit down and enjoy the best Phillies game of the year. I can say that even if they blow their 8-3 lead over the Braves. It's the best game because Scott Franzke left Atlanta because his wife is having a baby, which means Chris Wheeler got bumped to radio (our sympathy to Larry Andersen), and we get nine innings of Gary Matthews on TV. Go Sarge!

The on-field action (so far) isn't bad either. Jamie Moyer escaped after six innings without his trademark lousy inning. He even froze Braves phenom Jason Heyward in a key spot in the 6th.

Red Sox: Clay Buchholz dominated six innings - no runs and nine strikeouts - but then lost it in the 7th, giving up three runs. Folk hero Darnell McDonald had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the 7th, but grounded out. In the 9th, Rangers 3, Red Sox 0.

It ain't over till it's over

Last night when we posted, the Red Sox trailed the Rangers 6-4 and seemed destined for another listless loss. The Phillies led the Braves 3-0 behind Kyle Kendrick, who, as Bob Brookover said, was painting a Rembrandt after producing sloppy finger painting in his first two starts.

But the Phillies bullpen imploded in the 9th and 10th innings, and the unknown minor league journeyman who I had never heard of hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the 8th and then sent everyone home with a hit off the Monster in the 9th.

Darnell McDonald's night, was, as Peter Abraham put it, a great example of why we love baseball. McDonald loved it too:

"I couldn't write a script any better than this," McDonald said. "A lot happened. A dream come true. That's why I signed over here to be able to play in this type of atmosphere."

Previously, McDonald's career highlight might have been losing a race to the famous thoroughbred Zippy Chippy. Funny, when McDonald first strolled to the plate, I had a feeling that he was going to be the 2010 version of Jeff Stone. I wasn't the only one.

Tonight, McDonald hit another home run (Christine says: Test him), and the possibly rejuvenated Red Sox lead the Rangers 7-4 in the 7th. Yes, I know there's plenty of baseball left to be played. Mike Lowell, who pinch hit for David Ortiz last night, is DH'ing and has a home run. J.D. Drew hit a grand slam.

Phillies: Roy Halladay is pitching a gem, and the Phillies lead the Braves 2-0 in the 9th. Let's hope that unlike last night Roy can finish the job and that both leads hold up.

Dropping like flies

The media has been burying the 2010 Red Sox for several days.

I agree, this hasn't been a pretty start to the season. As Theo Epstein said today:

"It's not the time for excuses or sugar-coating it. We've played bad baseball. It's a bad stretch of play and when you do that at the start of the season, it looks even worse. We haven't played well, there are no excuses for how we've played. We haven't played smart baseball; we haven't really played aggressive baseball."

But the GM is confident things will turn around:

"We'll get back to our level. As an organization we have a track record. We have a standard we need to live to up to. One way or another we're going to get there collectively."

I'm trying my best to keep a positive attitude. I was OK with the news that Mike Cameron could be gone for a while; I think Josh Reddick will play well. I'm a little concerned that our other center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, joined his elder teammate on the DL. OK, I'm very concerned because I've never heard of his replacement - journeyman Darnell McDonald.

Tonight, they're still playing bad baseball after six innings. Tim Wakefield has given up six runs and Victor Martinez has allowed nine - NINE! - stolen bases. Yikes. Rangers 6, Red Sox 4.

Phillies: Kyle Kendrick, possibly pitching for his career, outpitched Tommy Hanson. In the 7th, Phillies 3, Braves 0.

Beatdown

The Rangers have knocked the Red Sox out of the Wild Card slot, and witnesses are denying that Brett Myers really injured his eye in a bar fight.

And we still have plenty of time for more bad on-field news, as the Phillies are playing the Braves on Sunday night baseball. (Or will play, if it stops raining in Atlanta.) I can't think of any good examples, but it seems like the Phillies have more than their share of lousy outings on the featured game of the week. So far, all I can come up with is the franchise's 10,000th loss.

Thankfully, the Red Sox weren't on national TV today when they dropped their second straight to the Rangers, who are now the American League Wild Card leaders. That's in large part because they have gone 7-2 against Boston this year.

We suck right now.

Junichi Tazawa is no J.A. Happ, who is scheduled to pitch tonight. Our rookie pitcher got beat around a bit today - four earned on 10 hits and three walks without a strikeout in five innings. Where's John Smoltz?

Speaking of beatdowns, more is unraveling from the Brett Myers saga. He says, and witnesses back him up, that his bruised eye had nothing to do with a fight that happened in the bar he was in. Maybe that's the truth, but he lied about the initial story, and his current version seems awfully suspect.

Jamie Moyer for closer

We had a great summer Saturday with the usual bike riding (I exceeded 50 miles for the first time), lawn mowing, shopping and grilling. We sat down to watch just as Brad Lidge was coming in to try to save a 3-2 game.

It was uglier than usual for Mr. Used-to-be Perfect.

He started off giving up a single that Chase Utley should have fielded. Then, on a sacrifice bunt, Lidge wasn't satisfied with just bobbling the ball; he had to throw to first even though he had no chance at a play. Runner scored.

"Do you want to go for a walk now or wait until he gives up the final run?" I asked Christine after the Braves tied it.

She just groaned.

Lidge walked the next two batters, the first intentionally, then recorded a strikeout before giving up the game-ending hit. Braves 4, Phillies 3. Too bad because it wasted a solid outing by Cole Hamels.

During the carnage, Fox showed Jamie Moyer warming up in the bullpen. Obviously that was in case it went extra innings, but why not supplant Lidge with the old guy? He can't do worse, and even if he blows saves, somehow it won't be as gut-wrenching.

Oh, and for those clamoring for Brett Myers to close - there may be problems with that, too.

Young Brett had to miss a rehab start because of an eye injury he first claimed was from playing catch with his son Kolt, but then said was from getting out of his car after having two or three drinks with dinner.

"I know exactly what people are going to think," Myers said in a telephone interview Saturday evening with MLB.com.

In other words, they will think Myers was intoxicated.

Nah, who would think that?

"I wasn't drunk by any means. That's why I feel so stupid right now."

And that's why he said he initially told Brian Cammarota, who is the team's Minor League athletics trainers and rehabilitation coordinator, that he got hit in the eye with a baseball. But Myers said soon after the first call to Cammarota, Kim urged
him to call Cammarota back with the true story.

"I'm an idiot," Myers said. "I've never felt so frickin' embarrassed in my life. I feel like a total geek."

Really? Falling on your face is more embarrassing than being a national spectacle after domestic abuse allegations?

Red Sox: Saw most of the dramatic 9th inning comeback last night thanks to MLB Network. We may need a repeat tonight, as they trail the Rangers 4-2 in the 6th.

Personal: Months ago, I got rid of my blue Pedro Martinez T-shirt. Today, I happily put on my red Pedro T-shirt, Red Sox edition, thinking that it's kind of back in style. But it's way too big on me now. It's going in the Goodwill pile tomorrow. Christine says I should buy a Phillies version.

Phillies' reign as Philly's top team is secure

Slow news day in Philly, huh?

We couldn't believe when we heard last night that the Eagles signed Michael Vick. {Actually, I wasn't shocked by it. Greg had on, ugh, Mike and Mike on Thursday morning, and some reporter mentioned that Vick could land with the Eagles.}

What would Chase and Jen Utley think?

What were the Eagles thinking? Did they say, the Phillies got lots of good press for signing Pedro and no one mentioned his cock fighting controversy?

Did Andy Reid think this would distract people from the next crime one of his sons commits?

Why go through all this bad PR for a guy who's not going to do much for your team?

After the initial shock wore off, we started hearing the outcry from the Eagles fans who denounced the organization and swore they will sell their season tickets and burn their Eagles gear. Sal Paolantonio reported fans were crying leaving the Eagles' first preseason game (a loss).

I'm planning to go to my first NFL game on Nov. 1 to see the Giants play in Philly. Tickets should be dirt cheap if everyone follows through with their promises to dump them.

We're pretty big animal lovers - in fact, we just hung a print of a bull dog chewing a baseball we bought in Savannah - but we can't help being confused by this reaction. Where is the outrage over athletes who have committed crimes against humans?

In the end, the Phillies should send a thank you note to the Eagles because this moves ensures that their spot as Philadelphia's favorite sports team, earned last fall, is going to be more than a fleeting fancy. The Eagles have demonstrated why the Phillies are the class of Philadelphia - even with a pitcher who has participated in cock fights, another who has been suspended under baseball's drug policy and a third who has been accused of domestic violence.

Today's baseball news: The Red Sox traded for Alex Gonzalez to help with their shortstop problems - not the retired former Phillie Alex Gonzalez, but the current and former Red Sox Alex Gonzalez.

And, Pedro Martinez is officially no longer a Met.

Today's games: The Phillies beat the Braves 3-2. Ryan Howard hit a home run in the 9th to put them ahead. Brad Lidge actually got a save. Joe Blanton had a no decision, but had another strong outing. The rest of the offense came on a two-run homer by Utley, which I'm sure was dedicated to abused doggies.

The Red Sox trail Kevin Millwood and the Rangers 3-2 in the 7th. Our new shortstop isn't playing. David Ortiz has been dropped to 7th in the order. Tony Massarotti suggests the Red Sox best lineup may be Gonzalez at short, Kevin Youkilis at third and Mike Lowell at DH. I wonder if the trade is with the thought of benching Papi. He did hit a two-run home run tonight.

[Photo credit: Philadelphia Magazine via 700level.com]

Love and marriage

We had an opportunity to clear out some space on the DVR, so we finally watched Cole and Heidi Hamels on E! True Hollywood Story: Baseball Wives.

If you haven't seen it, don't bother.

It's disgustingly stereotypical and filled with the kind of stuff that just breeds disconnect between players and fans. Although, to be fair, most of the grating stuff comes from the wives.

Some examples:

Heidi Hamels compares her life with that of a military family when Cole actually has to go to work in the spring.

Another wife complains of the long season, which, according to her begins, with spring training in "April" and can last through October if her hubby's team makes the playoffs.

One of the ballplayers, when discussing his long road to the majors, said he didn't know what he'd do if he didn't make it. (Get a real job?)

Maybe I was overly sensitive to this stuff because I was reading Chris Coste's book, and he seemed to understand how privileged a ballplayer's job is compared with the average fan, but some of the stuff in this show was obnoxious.

Today's happenings: After celebrating our anniversary with my "baseball" wife last night, we returned in time to see Jayson Werth's home run to win the game against the Cubs in the 13th inning. That extended their winning streak to 10, but it was snapped today as the Cubs beat Jamie Moyer 10-5.

The Red Sox lost again last night and look to end their four-game skid on ESPN with Clay Buchholz facing Vicente Padilla. And the Red Sox traded two minor leaguers I've never heard of for Adam LaRoche. I know the offense has been scuffling, but I don't quite understand this one. (Although in full disclosure, I haven't been giving baseball my full attention this week, in case you haven't noticed.)

Christine is mad at the Red Sox for breaking up the LaRoche brothers.

Weekend update on pitchers who read the memo

Jon Lester practically memorized this week's SoxandPhils pitching memo, taking a perfect game into the 7th inning and a shutout into the 9th in the 8-1 win last night over the Rangers. That's two straight dominant performances for the lefty, who is close to earning back my awe.

He needed just 107 pitches - striking out 11, giving up a run on two hits and two walks. It's hard to ask for much more from him, but I hope he gives a little talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka and Brad Lidge, who didn't get the pitching memo.

Lidge blew another one yesterday. It wasn't his worst outing - just one poorly located pitch. But that was hit by Rafael Furcal, tying the game in the 9th, which the Dodgers later won 3-2 in the 12th. Just when we thought Brad Lidge was back, he blows two in a row against last year's National League also-rans. We're not happy. Hopefully, the bats give Antonio Bastardo a big cushion for tonight's game so Lidge can stay on the bench.

Dice-K started for the Sox today (on TBS as I write). He's pitching like Brad Lidge: Through four innings, four earned runs on seven hits. No walks - impressive for him. The Rangers lead 4-3 in the 5th.

Etc.: Papi homered last night - his first since May 20. ... While watching Saturday's debacle, Christine noticed that Russell Martin has "J. Martin" on his jersey. I had no idea what that was about:

The back of Dodgers catcher Russell Martin's jersey reads "J. Martin," a change he made at the beginning of this season. Martin's parents separated when he was a child, and he wanted to honor his mother, Susanne Jeanson.

That's very nice of him, but we can't believe baseball would allow this. What's next, the entire Angels roster coming out with Adenhart on their jerseys? Jimmy Rollins using J-Roll? Alex Rodriguez using A-Rod? Well, maybe if he wanted to put Slappy or A-Fraud on his back, I'd reconsider my thoughts on the subject.