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.

Game of the year

I know we're just a sixth of the way through the season and April games are often forgotten in the long run, but this one might have staying power.

I was anxious for the matchup of Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum after reading all the game stories contrasting the careers of the young pitchers. This passage stuck in my head all day:

Once upon a time, people thought Cole Hamels would enter 2010 coming off back-to-back Cy Young victories. His opponent today, Giants righthander Tim Lincecum, has that honor.

Matt Gelb remembered that Lincecum made his major league debut against Hamels in 2007, although the game was in San Francisco, not Philadelphia, as Gelb reported. (I think Philadelphia newspaper reporters can be forgiven today for making an error like that.)

Anyway, I was looking forward to this game and was a little jealous when I first checked the score at work and saw a scoreless duel with just two hits for the Giants. Hamels scuffled a bit, giving up four runs in six innings, but each pitcher struck out more than 10, which hasn't happened since 2008, according to the Phillies announcers.

I listened to the game on the ride home. I knew the Phillies would win after the Giants yanked Lincecum, whose pitch count was a reasonable 106, after he walked a batter with one out in the 9th and a 4-1 lead.

The Phillies rallied against closer Brian Wilson, and when Ryan Howard walked to load the bases, I figured I had time to run inside to watch the next at-bat instead of sitting in my car like an idiot. When I got inside, Christine didn't have the game on - she got distracted and thought it was over because Daily News Live did a promo that seemed like the post-game show. She was surprised to see Jayson Werth battling with the bases loaded before dunking one down the right field line to clear the bases.

Ryan Madson, playing the role of Brad Lidge circa 2009, blew the save in the 10th inning, but the Phillies scored two more in the 11th, setting up Nelson Figueroa's first major league save. Of course, the real save came on a play at the plate in which Brian Schneider made an incredible swiping tag to prevent the potential game-tying run.

What a game. Phillies 7, Giants 6.

Red Sox: Brett Cecil and Jon Lester are trying to give a suitable encore to the Lincecum and Hamels show. They were scoreless until the 6th. Now, it's 1-0 Red Sox ahead of the Blue Jays. Welcome back, Jon.

Slinging sabermetrically

With the Cy Young awards going to the league's best pitchers, Zack Greinke and Tim Lincecum, instead of ones with gaudier win-loss records, statheads are cautiously celebrating that it appears sports writers are finally starting to look beyond conventional wisdom and gut feelings to use all the information available to make informed judgments.

As Fangraphs blogger Dave Cameron notes, it's too soon to say that these votes represent the end of the old school, but they do show signs of an evolution:

Today, the BBWAA took a pretty big step back towards credibility. It obviously isn't a wholesale change, and there are always going to be people resistant to any sort of change, but the shift is taking place. And it's a welcome occurrence.

And I do have a SoxandPhils point to these votes - besides a gratuitous mention that I correctly predicted Lincecum's win. This morning, Scott Lauber, using Greinke's awareness of modern statistics as a hook, noted that Cole Hamels wasn't as bad as he was perceived:

Hamels posted a 4.32 ERA in 32 regular-season starts, but according to The Hardball Times, his (Fielding Independent Pitching) was only 3.71, nearly identical to his 3.70 FIP in 2008. Obviously, Hamels was far better in 2008, posting a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts, allowing fewer hits (193 in 2008, 206 in 2009) and logging more innings (227.1 in 2008, 193.2 in 2009). But maybe, as Manuel and Dubee often have said, Hamels' stuff was nearly as good as it was in 2008. There were other factors that caused his demise.

Remembering all the grief Hamels took in recent months, you'd think this observation would be earth-shattering, but it has been pointed out by sabermetricians since the summer. Here's what David Golebiewski posted on Fangraphs back in July:

The 25 year-old changeup artist might have troubling surface numbers, but he’s arguably pitching better than he did during that magical 2008 season.

When I mentioned this to Christine this morning, she questioned why I kept saying he had a poor season. I admit, I fall into the trap of not looking at, or even understanding, the more sophisticated statistics.

I don't understand statistics, but I have a healthy respect for those who do. I appreciate what they're saying and understand that things that I think are true may not be so. Hopefully, sports writers, who should view considering new metrics as part of their job, are starting to have a similar attitude.

Red Sox: Despite the blaring headlines, I don't think it means anything that Jason Bay rejected the initial Red Sox offer, reportedly $60 million over four years, and will be able to take offers from other teams in a few hours. Bay's agent and GM Theo Epstein remain civil:

"Nothing will happen by day's end, but we'll keep talking," Bay's agent Joe Urbon said.

"It's not a surprise that a player that's gone this far wants to see what's out there," Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said by phone in Bay's regard, though Epstein declined comment on the team's talks with Bay.

David Ortiz, meanwhile, wants Bay back along with another player with power. Perhaps because he hasn't hit more than 30 homers in a season since 2007?

"I said that like a year ago and everybody was looking at me like I was a (expletive) clown. You know? I said we needed another 30-home run hitter. Everybody was talking trash. There you go. Now what?" he said.

He spoke today to promote his charity golf outing that will feature several Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Lowell, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield and Terry Francona.

And Phils: Pedro Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.

Pedro doesn't have to tag in Moyer

With Jamie Moyer rested and ready to go, Pedro Martinez kept him in the bullpen by more than holding his own in a matchup of Cy Youngs young and old that exceeded expectations.

Pedro went seven innings, giving up a run on five hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. He threw only 87 pitches and probably would have pitched into the 8th inning except Carlos Ruiz doubled in the 7th, forcing Charlie Manuel to pinch hit with Matt Stairs, whom Pedro has outhit since his return to the majors.

{Maybe the Phillies should have claimed Jim Thome. They're still paying his salary.}

But you can't really blame Cholly because the Phillies had a scant one-run lead as Tim Lincecum pitched like a guy on his way to a second consecutive Cy Young: seven innings with two runs on four hits, a walk and 11 strikeouts.

All week I've been amused by people who thought Pedro would be able to hold his own in this matchup. I still can't believe the game was this good. It even ended by 9:15 even though Brad Lidge made it interesting by putting the potential tying run on third and go-ahead run on first before ending it. Phillies 2, Giants 1.

(The picture above is from the latest Phillies program. As has become custom, J-Moy follows Petey. And, as has become custom, he looks cranky about it.)

Red Sox: The Red Sox and Rays also had an intriguing matchup: Clay Buchholz vs. David Price - the two premiere arms of the next generation in the AL East. I didn't see it, but judging from the box score, it was nowhere near as good as the Pedro-Lincecum marquee.

Price was lifted in the 6th after giving up four runs; Buchholz is still going, but has given up three so far. In the 7th, Red Sox 4, Rays 3.

Switching positions

Yesterday, I was flipping through my Phillies program from the game we went to two weeks ago and read that the Phillies signed Carlos Ruiz out of Panama as a catcher even though he never played the position.

Today, I read that new Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez was similarly signed out of Venezuela by the Indians to be a catcher without ever playing the position.

Granted, Chooch's story was written by the PR arm of the Phillies (Tom McCarthy) while V-Mart's was written by the Boston Globe, but it sounds like Ruiz had the easier transition:

"I put on the catcher's gear for the first time and was a little nervous. Once I slid the (chest protector) on, it felt so good that I knew it was the position for me. As I found out, you have so much in your control and I like that (part of the game)."

Martinez, meanwhile, wanted to quit after the first day, but his mother talked him into giving it a try:

Minnie Mendoza, the Latin America field coordinator for the Indians, told Martinez he would be a catcher. After his initial consternation, Martinez accepted his new job.

"I really took the challenge," Martinez said. "That's why we're here. We're here to work hard."

The transition moved slowly. A pitcher threw a ball in the dirt, and instead of blocking it, Martinez leaped out of the way. The pitch hit the umpire. "That won't be the last one," Mendoza told him.

Martinez had long arms and a large frame, and he struggled to coordinate a catcher's movements. He kept working at it. He became more assertive with pitchers and learned individual tendencies.

Hopefully, he will get to experience being behind the plate for a World Series clincher - as Ruiz already has.

Elvis benched? Former Phil Pat Burrell might also switch positions - from DH to left out. There are reports that Burrell, who has struggled mightily since leaving Philadelphia, may be benched by the Rays. Don McKee, however, notes: "No word on how Elvis is faring."

Kudos for thinking of the bulldog, but knock on some doors, make some calls and find out how he is faring. Our journalism professor used an acronym: GOYA KOD. The last part stands for Knock on Doors; the first part is Get off Your ... I'll let McKee figure out the last word.

But what do I know, I'm just a former reporter.

Barkin': Speaking of bulldogs, I somehow completely forgot to mention the Phillies Saturday loss against the Giants, which was remarkable for two reasons: I stayed up for the entirety of a West Coast night game, and it was Bark at the Park night in San Francisco.

We learned Tim Lincecum has a bulldog. Christine enjoyed watching all the doggies. That's one drawback of rooting for a team that sells out - no dog days at the park.

Tonight's games: The Red Sox lead the Rays 2-0 (no Burrell in lineup) in the 7th in a pitcher's duel between Jon Lester and Matt Garza. The Phillies trail the Rockies 8-3 in the 8th. Rodrigo Lopez didn't look good in his first relief outing.

No playoffs, no MVP

I'll jump the gun and skip past tomorrow's likely snub of Charlie Manuel for Manager of the Year to Monday's likely snub of Ryan Howard for MVP. Admittedly, I'm not sure he deserves it. Even Jayson Stark noted today that the Philadelphia baseball writers chose Brad Lidge as the team's MVP.

I'm not certain Albert Pujols, Howard's biggest competitor, is deserving either. Let me quote an expert: "Someone who doesn't take his team to the playoffs doesn't deserve to win the MVP."

Who said that? Stark? Peter Gammons? Bill James? Nope. How about Mr. Pujols when he was upset Howard won the award in 2006? Bingo.

If Howard wins it, I want Pujols to offer the congratulations he failed to give two years ago. If Pujols wins, I'd like to see him decline the award since the Cardinals finished four games out of the playoffs. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Howard played deep into October.

Meanwhile, despite the three dolts who thought Edinson Volquez qualified for Rookie of the Year and some of the Gold Glove selections, the writers got another award correct today: Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young and he's the cover boy of MLB 2K9. Lidge came in fourth. The Phils best pitcher, Cole Hamels, didn't get a vote.

Fortunes reversed, and reversed again

When I logged off last night, the Red Sox were beating the Twins, and the Phillies were losing to the Giants. Then, Papelbon coughed one up (that's two in one week - just about your yearly allotment, Mr. Papelbon) and the Phils - riding the returning Jimmy Rollins - came back to win.

Today, the Sox won (backed by a Papelbon save and a rare three-walk, seven-inning, 96-pitch start by Daisuke Matsuzaka), and the Phils' 45-year-old Jamie Moyer was bested by 23-year-old Tim Lincecum.

Of course, we saw neither game because Fox picked the Yankees-Tigers match-up, which blocked out the local team.

Prediction: Ryan Howard is going to bust out soon, and J-Roll will be credited for it.

A win is a win

The pitching duel between Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum fizzled today, but we'll take the walk-off 6-5 win for the Phillies over the Giants. And for the first time this season, we weren't shivering in the stands.

At times it looked like the young aces were pitching to expectations, but each got tagged for four runs in six innings. Each had stretches where they struck out five in three innings, but that represented all of their K's in the game. Neither pitcher issued a walk until the fifth. And, truth be told, Lincecum had a better game. All of his runs were unearned, although he didn't help himself with two wild pitches in a two-run fifth.

We have seen lots of extra-inning or walk-off wins from the Phillies through the years, but this might have been the most anti-climatic. Eric Bruntlett and Chase Utley led off the ninth with flyouts. Ryan Howard then drew his third walk of the game (he somehow managed to avoid strikeouts despite ugly swings). Pat Burrell followed with another walk. "Star of the game" Geoff Jenkins grounded to second, which should have sent the game to extra innings, but second baseman Eugenio Velez (never heard of him or 3/4 of the Giants roster) misplayed it, ending the game.


Observations from the stands: Why do people cheer Aaron Rowand? Why aren't they bitter he took a little more money to play for a team that has no chance of winning? And even if you cheer him once, you have to stop by the third game of a series. ... It's odd to be hoping that Howard somehow prolongs an inning so Burrell can bat. ... Before the game, I had a no-hit premonition and was nervous when Hamels set down the first five. ... It was Mother's Day a week early at the park. The Phanatic's mom got flowers; Brett Myers' mom got roses; all other ladies 15 and older got pink visors. Christine doesn't like pink hats. {Worse yet, the name of the sponsor of the day, Mortrin IB, is prominently displayed on the side of the visor.}


When filling out our first all-star ballots of the year, Christine and I negotiated which Phillies I would vote for and which Red Sox she would vote for. When discussing AL third basemen, I said she could choose her own because Mike Lowell hasn't played much and there's no chance Alex Rodriguez won't win it. An usher overheard the conversation but thought we were talking about NL third basemen. "Even though he's a Met, you have to vote for David Wright. He's our Chase Utley," she said. Christine disagrees. {Maybe he is their Chase Utley, but you do not vote for a rival. And whoever is in charge of the music at Citizens Bank: Stop playing that stupid "Everybody clap their hands." Everyone associates that with the Mets and Shea, and I don't want that in my ballpark.}

Finally, based on the amount of harassing I have gotten from stupid Phillies fans this year who don't like seeing a Red Sox fan in their park, Christine isn't looking forward to the June interleague series. I don't get it - except for that friendly mid-season competition, we're friends until the World Series. ... Speaking of which, both teams are in first place.

All-Star voting: National League: C-Carlos Ruiz; 1B-Adrian Gonzalez; 2B-Utley; 3B-Bill Hall; SS-Hanley Ramirez; OF-Burrell, Justin Upton and Shane Victorino. American League: C-Jason Varitek; 1B-Kevin Youkilis; 2B-Dustin Pedroia; 3B-Mike Lowell; SS-Edgar Renteria; OF-Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury (write-in); DH-David Ortiz.