Game on

A day after making it interesting against a bunch of college kids, Roy Halladay and the Phillies took the defending chump Yankees to the woodshed. Doc needed just 24 pitches to get through two innings in the 3-2 win.

It feels almost like the season has begun in earnest because Comcast is replaying the game right now. I lasted one batter before I was yelling at Wheels - this time for overly accentuating Pedro Feliz's name. Later, I yelled at him for making a big deal about what the National League championship ring will look like.

We miss Harry Kalas.

Christine is happy there is a game on, but she would rather it be live action with warmer weather.

At least Sarge is on the broadcast now. Blood pressure is easing.

Pitchers' Civil War may be ending

This morning I read a note in David Murphy's blog about how well the Phillies starters have been doing since Chan Ho Park has been banished to the bullpen:

Don't look now, but Phillies starters have recorded a victory in each of these six straight wins. Since a win over Washington on May 18th when Chan Ho Park allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings and lost his spot in the rotation, Phillies starters have an ERA just over 4.00, which is nearly two and a half runs better than the 6.35 ERA they posted in the first 36 games of the season.

Actually, that start was May 17. The next day, I took a look at how much better both of our teams' bullpens were than the starting rotations. Things have improved since then:

BOS starters
May 18: 5.76 (28th)
Today: 5.05 (26th)

PHI starters
May 18: 6.35 (30th)
Today: 5.58 (29th)

BOS relievers
May 18: 3.02 (3rd)
Today: 2.86 (1st)

PHI relievers
May 18: 3.97 (12th)
Today: 3.72 (9th)

BOS total
May 18: 4.77 (21st)
Today: 3.31 (14th)

PHI total
May 18: 5.59 (27th)
Today: 4.88 (27th)

Although both teams' starting staffs still have poor overall numbers, things are moving in the right direction - enough so that the members of both teams vaunted bullpen can put their muskets down for the time being.

Speaking of pitching, interesting report the other day on Junichi Tazawa, who seems to be the anti-Daisuke Matsuzaka in that he is pitching well - and efficiently. The Red Sox put their AA pitchers on 85-pitch limits. That would barely get Dice-K through the lineup once. Tazawa pitched into the 7th inning last time out on that limit.

Phillies: J.A. Happ finished off the sweep of the Padres last night, pitching seven scoreless innings in the 5-1 win. J.C. Romero gave up an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings - his 2009 debut. Ryan Howard hit another home run, but much of the ink went to Greg Dobbs, who got a rare start in right field, because of a running catch he made to end the 2nd inning with the bases loaded. It was a win-win for me because it was a solid drive by Padres pitcher Chris Young, right after Chris Wheeler said he looked futile at the plate. So, Wheels looked dumb without the Phillies getting hurt.

The Phils return to Los Angeles tonight for the first time since beating the Dodgers in the NLCS.

Red Sox: They also completed a sweep when Tim Wakefield got his seventh win this afternoon against the Tigers, 6-3. For the second straight game, Kevin Youkilis was removed with injury. David Ortiz did not make an out today. He was riding the pine. But he made news by saying he's going to try to end his slump with an eye exam - or maybe just being happier. I hope something works.

No football today ...

... but that doesn't mean it's not on my mind.

I still haven't picked up my jaw after Lawrence Tynes' overtime field goal salvaged his career and made the Giants a surprise entry in the Super Bowl against the team that perfectly met expectations to get there.

I've said it before, I'm torn. The Giants are the only New York/New Jersey team that I didn't reject in my youth. And rooting for the Red Sox has made me root for the Patriots as well. Usually I would prefer the Giants in this match-up because the Patriots have won so many championships recently. But the chance for history and shutting up the '72 Dolphins also has appeal.

One thing I've wondered is whom my neighbors in Philadelphia should be rooting against: their hated New York rivals or New England, which has become home of the champions, the opposite of Philly.

The Inquirer tackled this issue today with dueling columnists debating whether to hate the Giants or the Patriots. (Frank Fitzpatrick, still on his anti-local kick, says Philadelphians hate themselves.) Neither swayed me to either side. Here's how I would handicap it for a hometown Philly fan.

Giants: Underdog playing with heart. No really obnoxious players. But it's a hated division rival and on paper the Giants aren't much better than the Eagles.

Patriots: Ruined the Super Bowl a few years ago, plus the jealousy that comes along with winning.

My head says Philly will be rooting more for the Patriots, but I'm probably underestimating championship envy.

Back to baseball: TROTTTTTTTTT!!!! That's what I screamed when Trot hit a game-ending home run in game 3 of the 2003 ALDS against Oakland. It averted elimination and paved the way for a dramatic comeback. Grady Little then gave the league championship to the drug-infested Empire, but that was a fun run.

Anyhoo, he's still looking for work and did a Q&A with the Globe.

And: Looks like re-signing Doug Mirabelli may have forced former Phil Mike Lieberthal into retirement. He says he wants to get into broadcasting. I don't know how he'd do in the booth, but I fully endorse him to replace Wheels.