Trent's gone pro

Today was a big day for our family: Trent's first outing to a professional baseball game. OK, it was Camden, not Philadelphia, and lacked all the Major League trappings. But c'mon, Citizens Bank Park does not have a carousel.

It was an odd game. Riversharks pitcher J.R. Mathes retired the first nine Bridgeport Bluefish in order before they took revenge with seven consecutive hits (no exaggeration) in a seven-run 4th inning on the way to a 9-3 win. We didn't follow much of the action, and I didn't attempt to keep score.

Trent did OK for a first time. We sat in the front row, and I was proud that he did not get upset when a batter fouled a rocket back against the net two feet from us.

He got a little squirmy in that long 4th inning, but
we were able to coax him through the 7th inning stretch before we went home to watch the Phillies lose a 14-inning game on TV.

Before the game, Trent took a couple of rides on the carousel while enjoying the view of the Ben Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia skyline. The guy who operated the ride was awesome. He was very friendly and a good representative for the organization.

After Trent got squirmy in his seat (mitigating factors: this weekend has been rough - slight cold, three vaccination shots, and the beginning of the end for his pacifier and bottles), we took a walk around the concourse and calmed him. Some Rita's water ice rejuvenated him.

His favorite part of the game seemed to be checking out babes in the crowd. (He's a hound dog.) But he knows when to get serious: Here's a picture of him scouting the 'Sharks for a hidden gem to recommend to Theo Epstein or Ruben Amaro Jr. (Never mind that sippie cup.)

We had a good time and know it won't be long before he takes his first trip to Citizens Bank Park. I just hope he doesn't expect a carousel.

A test of Trent's loyalties

Last week, we thought that Father's Day would be our last regularly occurring "first" with Trent. But I guess we forgot that he wasn't around for last year's SoxandPhils interleague games, so it will be interesting to see how he handles this week.

He'll probably follow his father's tact and be diplomatic and gracious toward his mother.

My only thought is that the Red Sox might sweep if only because they are coming off of two series losses against woeful teams - the Padres and the Pirates. It's an unbelievably crazy week at work for me, so I don't know how much of the series I'll get to see.

I'm more bummed about missing time with Trent and Christine.

Mixing colors

Today, Trent and Christine gave me a nice first Father's Day. Last week, we had Father's Day at Citizen's Bank Park, and I got a white-on-white (I know it looks pink in the picture) Phillies hat. I don't like wearing non-Red Sox garb. I support the Phillies, but they're not my team, and I don't think I should wear their stuff.

But at the park last week, I made a rare exception and mixed up my teams - Red Sox shirt with Phillies hat. I think it's wrong to wear garb from two teams at the same time, and if I saw myself, I'd probably poke fun on my game day recap.

Obviously, it was perfectly acceptable and doggone cute last week for a 1-year-old SoxandPhils fan to mix his colors!

Trent mixed his colors again today. He wore his Red Sox shirt for me, but Christine covered it with a Phillies bib when they went to get me a Father's Day treat.

Incidentally, Trent had a few milestones this weekend - most notably learning how to climb our staircase. Scary.

More impressive is the time when we were hitting a large rubber ball with his baseball bat. It rolled away from him, but he reached out and knocked it to the opposite field. The kid's going to be a right-handed Wade Boggs.

Incredible game

We've been back from the ballpark for more than four hours, and I still can't believe it.

Except for the 2008 World Series clincher and the 2007 division clincher, this might have been the most amazing game we've ever seen in person.

Despite incredible odds and a feeling of doom all day, the impossible happened - it was supposed to rain when we were at a game and it didn't!

Oh, and the Phillies came to life in the 7th inning to win a game in which they were held in check by the mediocre Doug Davis. Phillies 4, Cubs 3.

The first inning was tortuous, but Roy Oswalt shut down the Cubs for six more innings after giving up three in the first. The Phillies chipped away with a run in the 1st and 3rd, but left eight men on in the first six innings. They finally broke through with two runs in the 7th on a base hit by Ryan Howard. He had a deep double in the 1st that almost went out. (He has a tendency to come through for Trent when his parents have tickets.)

Observations from the stands: The little guy stayed home today even though it was early Father's Day at the park. Pete Schneider got to hang with his son before the game. ... They handed out a white-on-white Phillies hat, better than the hat-on-a-hat they gave away a few years ago. ... The sax player outside the ballpark has gone Hollywood. He had a stool and an amplifier. I liked acoustic stand-up guy better.

The Overbrook High School Overtones sang the National Anthem. I don't remember it. Marc Antonelli sang God Bless America. At first I thought it was long, but then I decided it was good. Everyone loved it.

There was a very special birthday on the screen today. Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz. He's 60. ... This guy in front of us is a huge Nationals fan. He had the shirt, lanyard, cap and even a backpack. ... There was a baby in front of us. Not as a cute as Trent, but made me miss him.

Ryan Madson needs better closing music. Don't Stop Believin' kind of puts the place to sleep. Besides, don't you want the other team to stop believing once you bring in your closer?

Antiquated shirts: Not very many. Most were spotted on the way out of the ballpark when I wasn't taking notes. Pat Burrell, Jim Thome, Lenny Dykstra and Jayson Werth.

Etc.: Everyone around us jumped for a hot dog even though the Phanatic's hot dog shooter couldn't reach us in the 400 level.

Oh well, pretty good game, but we've got a nerve-wracking night and morning ahead of us. Trent's been on the DL too many times this season with ear infections, so we're doing the tube thing tomorrow, but we're sure he'll be hotter than the Red Sox by the time our teams resume play on Tuesday.

Thanks, Fox

In an effort to be more positive, we won't complain that we had to give away tickets to tonight's game instead of taking Trent to his first game because of Fox's bonehead decision to move some Saturday games to the night instead of the afternoon.

Nope, we're just going to enjoy the wonderful day we had with our son.

Trent woke up in an exceptional mood that did not diminish all day, even though he took just two 20-minute naps by dinner. We took care of some things for his upcoming first birthday party, went to our local zoo (he was engrossed by a recently shorn alpaca) and then capped it off by taking him out for ice cream (we give him little tastes and he gets cranky when the spoon goes into our mouths instead of his). And, of course, he played as hard as an 11-month-old can.

With the ice cream-fueled sugar kick, he stayed up a little later than normal, so he did get to see a portion of tonight's game.

It was such a great day that we're no longer bitter toward Fox. Although Trent would have been adorable on Phan-o-Vision. (And, he would have gotten to see the Phillies beat the Rangers 2-0.)

In 25 years, our little baby will be a man

The other day it hit me that this is my 25th anniversary of being a Red Sox fan. Before Trent, this is something I would have realized months ago and had some kind of big, stupid build-up on the blog. (Actually, a check of the archives reveals that I did think about it last year.)

I apparently forgot all about it until Friday when trying to think of things to talk about with an almost 11-month-old over his oatmeal as I thought about my first birthday as a father.

This year's celebration was a bit different from last year's mini-cation in Baltimore. I fired up the grill and gave Trent his first taste of flame-charred goodness, and also his first taste of ice cream later. He helped open my presents, which included some baby Red Sox garb: reversible hat (red and blue), onesie and bib.

We also started getting the yard ready for a more important birthday celebration we're planning for June: staining the front porch, picking up a picnic table and assembling a little swing and slide for Trent. He loved it.

Christine and I did have a lingering adults-only meal on Saturday.

But back to Friday's oatmeal ... when I remembered the anniversary, I thought about all that has happened since Roger Clemens first struck out 20 batters and what will happen in the next 25 years: Our little baby boy will be a young man finding his own way in the world. Maybe he'll wear a Red Sox cap, but I doubt it'll be reversible.

Bunnies all around

A newly mobile Trent wishes you a Happy Easter. And continued West Coast winning streaks for the Red Sox and Phillies.

Among the goodies in Trent's basket today was a two-pack of Phillies shirts. Now he's all ready for his first game (no, it probably won't be this season).

Thoughts from the week

Today, for only the third time this season, both our teams won on the same day. Yay!

I haven't been avoiding posting because the Red Sox started out in a slump. I've been avoiding this blog because our adorable baby boy gets all my time, attention and interest.

But I noticed that yesterday a former SoxandPhils battery, Randy Wolf and George Kottaras, now on the Brewers, dismantled Roy Halladay and the Phillies.

Also, in team Red Sox news, Trent officially joined our charitable efforts on Sunday with our annual charity walk. He did well, except that he skipped his morning bottle right before we left for the walk. He realized he had done so about three-quarters of the way in, and we weren't prepared with a backup bottle. We're still learning, too.

Sox are mush

The Red Sox are two games out, with 160 to play.

Since they came back from a three-game deficit with four to play in 2004, I don't get too worked up.

Still, I needed something to talk about with Trent as he ate his oats this morning.

"So, what are we going to do about the Red Sox?" I asked him.

He just grunted back. {His grunts are, unfortunately, reminiscent of the grunts that Tim Allen would do on Home Improvement.}

I guess a 10-month-old who has never seen either of his teams win a World Series has a little bit less patience in these matters.

Clay Buchholz will start a winning streak today.

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.

Big day tomorrow

Opening Day is today, but the SoxandPhils are waiting until Friday to make their 2011 debuts. We didn't train as well during the spring as we usually do, but we're ready for the season to start. We capped the off-season last night by watching the last exhibition games that the Red Sox and Phillies played.

As usual, I entered the drawing for the chance to buy Opening Day tickets for the Phillies. I had a feeling that we were going to win that chance but that something more important may pop up on April 1. Well, we didn't win the drawing, but we do have important business to take care of tomorrow morning. It will be a happy day for this family as we finalize Trent's adoption and then watch the Phillies and Red Sox get their first wins of the season.

The 2011 season is going to have a great start.

We're still here

So, spring training has been under way for weeks now, and almost a week worth of practice games are over. But still, no updates from SoxandPhills-ville. Bad bloggers.

Greg, Trent and I are definitely looking forward to the upcoming season, but Greg and I just haven't had as much time to read and watch about spring training as we're used to. After we get home from work, feed Trent, eat dinner, straighten up around the house, play with Trent, put him to bed and do whatever else needs to be done on a random night, we don't have time or interest to troll around for baseball stories. So that's why we haven't discussed injuries, rosters and all that other good stuff that happens in February and March.

We hope to start to get back in the swing of things soon. We won't be able to do daily posting, but we'll pop in when some fun little nugget catches our eye. Or when Trent does something adorable, whether baseball related or not. And we'll still provide our game updates this season. Basically, we can't wait for spring to get here, and baseball will be the icing on that warm cake this year.

And, of course, we need to get things ready on this blog for October's Red Sox-Phillies showdown.

Christmas week recap

Trent, Christine and I survived our first Christmas together, although it's been a rough week with Trent battling another ear infection that causes him to have awful screaming fits. He's probably screamed more this week than in the rest of the six months that we've known him.

Christmas morning was fun watching the little guy jump right into the wrapping paper, but the day was too rushed with all the driving - especially with his ear wreaking havoc on his (and our) sleep schedule.

As I suspected, there was some SoxandPhils paraphernalia under the tree, but there were two differences this year: I did not get Christine any Phillies items, and nobody got me any Red Sox stuff.

Well, we did get a SoxandPhils item, but it came from the North Pole and was addressed to the whole SoxandPhils family. It was a bib that says: "I'm not torn, I root for the Sox and Phils" with pictures of Trent in his Sox and Phillies garb. Trent also got Christine a mouse pad for work with a picture of him wearing his Ryan Howard shirt with his Mom. It says "Mom and I have plans 162 days a year. Go Phils!"

Santa also brought Trent a Phanatic doll. As you can see, he loved it. He's partial to stuffed green toys. The Grinch is his favorite.

Balancing out the day, he received some Red Sox stuff from my sister - a nice ABC book that teaches him important words such as Impossible Dream, Green Monster and Pesky's Pole and a Red Sox ornament for the tree.

SoxandPhils tree lighting

Christine and I hustled yesterday and got the 'ol SoxandPhils tree up in time for Thanksgiving. We know it's too early, but with a baby, we try to stay in front of things.

Although SoxandPhils ornaments still dominate the tree, this year it's a snowman with Trent's name that gets center stage. Funny, for a baby who loves staring at our ceiling fan, there hasn't been a big impression on him that there's a tree filled with lights in our living room.

With the tree up, we tried to get the perfect picture of Trent for our Christmas card. Now we know why the department stores charge so much for their photo services. Before we gave up and ordered through the store, I was taking pleasure in the fact that a Red Sox ornament just happened to be in every shot.

Christine noticed, too. She said she had made a mental note to crop it out, if we got a cardable shot.

Merry Christma ... I mean Happy Thanksgiving.

Belated announcement

I thought I would write this post the day after the season ended for the Phillies, long after the Red Sox were sent packing, but some SoxandPhils blogable items kept popping up.

I started this blog as a way to document our experience with a partial season ticket package in 2008. Who knew the Phillies would take the next step and we'd be there for the finale? I'm not really sure why I wanted to do this except maybe I never got over the fact that I missed my opportunity to blog about my experiences learning about home improvement. I was clueless, but took on a lot of challenges in this house.

But since Trent has come along, the time and desire to continue this blog have waned. (So has my interest in home improvement, bike riding and anything else that used to occupy my time.)

It's been a fun ride. Christine and I enjoy documenting our fandom, especially finding stupid little nuggets to write about on Game Days, but lately I find myself stretching for ideas when I have bottles piling in the sink, Dr. Seuss to read and diapers to change - not to mention the times Trent is up and bubbling, ready for play.

We will keep the site going, but we won't be updating every day. We still like posting, especially when Trent does something cute with a Sox or Phils connection. So, until next time, go Sox! and Phils!

Phillies don't deserve a raise

The Phillies are raising ticket prices. Just like they did last year. (The "problem solved" link within the post no longer works, but I'm fairly certain it linked to last year's price hike. And, good thing they went with Placido Polanco instead of Chone Figgins, huh?)

But there are many reasons why the Phillies shouldn't raise prices for next season:

1. They had a worse year, which was worse than the year before. They haven't been to the World Series in one whole year, and it's been two whole seasons since they won one.

2. The economy.

3. We have a baby.

4. We have day care bills.

5. We have car payments, through no fault of our own.

Trent: It was wear your favorite jersey day at his day care center. I guess it was supposed to be a football shirt, but we're a baseball family. He wore his Ryan Howard T-shirt. I was worried his friends might think he's the real Ryan Howard and boo him for striking out looking.

Trick or treat

We took out the Penguin, err, Trent to show off his costume. (I grabbed a couple of treats on Trent's behalf.)

We got home relatively early and got the most trick-or-treaters we've ever had in the six years we've lived here.

But no Phillies. I'm starting to wonder whether the Phaithful have jumped ship.

Oh, and yesterday, we did see a kid dressed as a local athlete. Andre Iguodala. Almost as weird as seeing kids dressed as Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain.

Halloween Eve

No time for baseball today. The Red Sox and Phillies could have traded Chase Utley for Dustin Pedroia and I wouldn't know it.

We bought a car to replace the wrecked one, then took Trent to a costume contest at a mall. His penguin duds got him to the finals, but he didn't win. It was a crock only in that a bunch of generic store-bought costumes were selected over Trent's, which was handcrafted by Grandmom.

Even though the mall is in the area where loyalties between New York and Philadelphia begin to blur, I was surprised we didn't see any Phillies costumes. We saw a couple of Yankees - Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. That was an odd pairing.

Knocked out

I conked out last night. I was too tired from Trent and my car crash to make it to the end of the game. I woke up to Christine grumbling about how the umpire rang up Ryan Howard to end the game. It took me a minute to remember that this meant that the 2010 season is over for the SoxandPhils.

Christine was not happy today. She hasn't yet broken out her "Stinky Phillies" lament, but it's only a matter of time. I appreciate how the Giants played Game 6 as if it were Game 7. I liked their sense of urgency and respect of how difficult it is to beat the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. That doesn't make Christine feel any better.

Christine had planned on debuting Trent's Ryan Howard shirt today. (It almost fits him.) She still put it on anyway because we shouldn't shy away from our teams when they lose. I often make it a point to wear some Red Sox garb after a season-ending defeat like last night.

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.