We still miss Harry

The other day when we were putting mulch down, I had to hammer some bricks that line our front garden back into place. I thought of Harry Kalas because last year when I put those bricks in, I listened to his memorial service on the radio:

I listened to speeches from Jamie Moyer, Mike Schmidt and assorted politicians float from my garage to the front of the yard where I hammered bricks into the ground.

Now, I'll probably always associate Harry with that flower bed.

That's what I wrote on April 18, 2009, and it is true a year later. I can't weed whack that garden without hearing "Outtttaa heeeerrre!" OK, there's no audio in my head, but I do think of Harry a lot.

A couple days later, Christine and I finished listening to Harry Kalas "Voice of the Phillies," a commemorative tribute CD to the legendary announcer, as we drove down to Baltimore to see the Red Sox.

It was nice to hear his voice again from his time with the Astros and with Richie Ashburn, his Hall of Fame induction and the success of the Phillies in the final years of his life.

On the drive home from Baltimore, we heard the Orioles broadcaster. Their color guy was into self-deprecating humor like Larry Andersen, but it was forced and didn't seem to work. It was just another reminder of how baseball broadcasting will never be the same.

Shut up Wheels.

Full disclosure: Expecting a busy week, I wrote this before Ernie Harwell's death. Listening to the eulogies of the long-time Tigers broadcaster reinforces the reality that baseball broadcasters will never be good again. And it's also striking how similar the tributes for Harry and Harwell sound.

Tonight's games: John Lackey pitched a beauty against his former team. Red Sox 3, Angels 1.

Kyle Kendrick also pitched a gem - seven shutout innings. The Phillies beat the Cardinals 4-0.

[Photo credit: www.baseballvoices.com]

We're stuck with Wheels

With the anniversary of Harry Kalas' death upon us, the Inquirer took a look at the state of the Phillies broadcast team. It's interesting but disappointing because you get the sense that the Phillies know that people don't like Chris Wheeler, but they have no plans to remove him:

To gauge their broadcasters' appeal, the Phillies and their primary television outlet, Comcast SportsNet, conduct frequent viewership surveys, the results of which they don't reveal. Fan reaction, [the team's senior vice president for marketing and advertising sales Dave] Buck said, is taken seriously, but it's not a popularity contest.

"You don't want to put something out there that people don't like, but you want to give it enough time to either succeed or fail on its own."

Um, there's been enough time. Wheels sucks.

At least they know what they have in Gary Matthews: "Buck said: 'Sarge is a personality in and of himself. And I think he's getting much better.'"

Amen.

At least we won't have to hear Wheels tomorrow because we're going to Opening Day.

Personal: My back and neck are a little stiff and sore after yesterday's fall, but nothing too bad. I'm still not ready to do sit-ups again, but it could have been worse. ... We had a nice afternoon watching the baptism of the little guy who shares my name. I hope there isn't a clerical error in heaven so that the wrong Gregory James gets the blessing. I think I'm a lost cause.

Games: Roy Halladay dominated the Astros, and the Red Sox avoided losing the series against the Royals.

A look back

Last night, there was a commercial for some baseball broadcast package that used "choose your announcer" as a selling point.

When Christine repeated the line to me, I assumed she was referring to the fact that I was taking advantage of the Extra Innings free preview and had switched to the Red Sox broadcast.

Nope, she was just lamenting the fact that we're still stuck with Chris Wheeler this year.

And then, sure enough, this morning the Inquirer ran a story about the anniversary of Harry Kalas' death with a look back at his last day in the Washington Nationals broadcast booth:

If there was one consolation amid the red-hued grief that day it was that Kalas had died doing what he loved, in a ballpark.

"That was a very strange, weird day," said (Phillies broadcast manager Rob) Brooks. "I got home that night at 1 or 2 in the morning, and at that point I started to review the day and realize the enormity of what happened. I think I did OK. I don't know if there was something I could have done to create a different outcome.

"But I talked to [Kalas' son] Todd that evening, and we both came to the conclusion that had the efforts to revive him worked, he probably would have been angry because he would have been away from the yard for three or four months. That probably would have been unacceptable to him. For Harry, if you can't do what you love, why be here?"

Tonight's games: While we knew we would not hear Harry tonight, Christine is actually disappointed we're not hearing Wheels. She thought this would be the first night we got to watch a Phillies game, but they're pre-empted on Comcast SportsNet because of the 76ers. What a crock.

"I can't believe you're going to get to watch the Red Sox three times before I see the Phillies once," she said.

Sure enough, I'm watching the Sox on Extra Innings. (Phillies are blacked out locally on the package.)

The Red Sox, behind John Lackey, lead the Yankees 1-0 in the 7th. David Ortiz drove in a run, which should calm him down and dispel concern that he would go oh-for-the-season.

The Phillies, behind, or despite, Cole Hamels, lead the Nationals 6-3 in the 6th. Judging from the box score, this doesn't look like 2008 Hamels.

The Phillies play a late afternoon game tomorrow, so I hope Christine gets to see half of their game at least.

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.

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.

The winter hump

Other than last week's incredible ending of the Cardinals-Packers game, I haven't been able to get myself psyched up for playoff football.

Today looks deceivingly warm outside, which isn't helping matters.

But I think Christine is taking the offseason harder.

The other night we were watching TV and someone was talking to a guy named Lee.

"It sounded like he said Utley," she said.

"Nah, just Lee."

"Oh, maybe I'm more baseball deprived than I thought," she said.

Seventy-nine more days until opening day. Meanwhile, I'll try to get psyched for today's pair of football games in domes.

Animal Planet misses Harry: Christine has always preferred watching puppies to football. We wondered how Puppy Bowl would continue this year without its voice, Harry Kalas, a man, according to Animal Planet, whose "booming and powerful voice juxtaposed against our furry players will be sorely missed."

There's no mention on the Web site who will announce the furry free-for-all this year. Indigo (pictured) is still sad Harry won't be here to call the action, but the pup will play hard in his memory on Feb. 7.

[Photo credit: Animal Planet]

Closing time

When we left last night, Christine was upset that she was probably going to have to turn in without knowing how, or whether, the Phillies game ended.

Well, we went to bed a little later than I would prefer, but we saw the ending.

Christine brushed her teeth very grumpily.

Brad Lidge still has a chance (if Charlie Manuel keeps going to him in the 9th) to sneak into the top 10 for most blown saves in a season. He's two away from being tied for second with five pitchers who have 13, including a couple with SoxandPhils connections - Jeff Reardon (1986) and Dan Pleasac (1987).

Mike and Mike this morning reprieved their "Brad Lidge Over Troubled Waters" parody from the 2004 NLCS. I had it in my head today. Christine reminded me they played it, well, the unparody version, to close Harry Kalas' funeral.

We've been missing Harry this week. Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler are driving me nuts. My new irritation is how they get overly excited. Chase Utley can score a run in a 7-0 game, and they will make it sound like the Phillies won the World Series in the 13th inning of Game 7.

Christine noted that I've taken to calling out "Saaarrge" when Gary Matthews enters the booth in the 4th inning, as if he were Norm from Cheers.

Tonight's games: Both teams are playing in the central time zone. The Phillies lead the Brewers 8-1 in the 6th - after a three-run homer by Jimmy Rollins, which according to T-Mack was the second time in the same inning the Phillies broke the game open.

Sarge called the home run "a little guy driving a Cadillac." We've been speculating that Sarge has a deal with Cadillac in which he's going to get a free one if he says the company's name a certain number of times a season. If so, good thing he announces for the home-run-happy Phillies.

J.A. Happ, who hasn't yet been reinjured, is pitching well - one run on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts after five innings.

The Red Sox lead the Royals 3-0 in the 5th. David Ortiz homered (11 more RBI to 100), and Clay Buchholz is also pitching well: three hits and seven strikeouts through five shutout innings.

Picture perfect

Recently, I wrote about how Christine likes when the Phillies get zoo-i-fied on the scoreboard.

She particularly liked Jayson Werth's zoo shot Saturday because it looks like he's blowing away the frog.

I know, we're weird.

Looking at that picture reminds me how awful Saturday night's game was and how we forgot to mention whom we hold responsible. Not Cliff Lee. Not the anemic offense. Not even the crappy weather.

No, we blamed the music operator. He was off his game. The biggest offenses were playing a club remix of Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer early on and not playing Bob Marley for Shane Victorino's at-bats.

I thought things were going to get better later in the game when he played Van Halen's Unchained during a Braves pitching change in the 6th, but Peter Moylan stranded the two Phillies who were in scoring position. I foolishly thought things would improve the next inning when he finally broke out Sammy Hagar for Jayson Werth, but Werth just struck out with the bases loaded - just like Ryan Howard before him. Raul Ibanez followed with a flyout to end the inning in the Phillies last at-bats before the rain fell.

The music operator better get his fingers pushing the right buttons before the playoffs start.

We miss Harry: In the first inning tonight, they showed Edgar Renteria's stats at Citizens Bank Park. Tom McCarthy noted that those numbers came when he was a Cardinal and a Brave. Stupid Chris Wheeler chimed in pompously, "And a Marlin."

Yeah, Wheels. Renteria has played in Citizens Bank Park as a Cardinal, Brave, Red Sox and now the Giants, but he hasn't played for Florida since 1998. Citizens Bank opened in 2004.

Tonight's games: Three words: Colbert Richard Hamels. He's back and showing Clifton Phifer Lee who's the real ace of the Phillies. He retired 21 straight batters at one point tonight and has now gone 17 innings without a run. It was a magnificent 1-0 win over the Giants, a complete game shutout for Cole. Kudos to Charlie Manuel for sticking with his ace instead of playing by the book and going to the "closer."

Hamels gave up just two hits and a walk with nine strikeouts when his mates could manufacture just one run off his opponent Jonathan Sanchez.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, lead the Rays 6-2 in the 8th in the start of a series that is hopefully the Rays' last stand. The Sox young lefty ace, Jon Lester, was not as dominant as Hamels: two runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. But he did have nine strikeouts.

A dog and a horse

It's no secret I like baseball. And dogs. I'm also intrigued by powerful stories involving death.

That's why I was so gripped by this sad tale of Harry Kalas' dog, the aptly named Scout.

Harry's widow, Eileen, says the golden retriever wouldn't leave the announcer's side for two weeks before he died:

"He usually would sleep in another room, but for some reason he wanted to be right there with him."

After Kalas' death, Scout "wouldn't leave [Kalas'] suitcase alone. I put [the suitcase] in a closet, and he just howled." She said she had to give the dog to a family friend.

Christine was particularly saddened by this tale. I tried to console her by saying maybe he wasn't just mourning, but cheering for his master's favorite team by howling, "Raauuullll!"

A horse is on the market: The flavor-of-the-day former Cy Young pitcher the Phillies are rumored to acquire has gone from Pedro Martinez to Roy Halladay, a stud pitcher suddenly placed on the market by the Blue Jays. Doc is the type of pitcher you wouldn't mind giving up prospects for, but I don't think the Phillies need to make this move, nor is it their modus operandi. I don't see it happening, but if the Blue Jays can convince the Phillies to make a move, they can check out Only Time Will Tell's scouting report on the Lakewood BlueClaws.

Today's games: The Red Sox, who need to start winning again, lead the A's 5-2 in the 7th. The Phillies, who finished with 22 runs last night, are tied with the Reds 3-3 in the 8th. Kudos to the kid who caught Brandon Phillips' home run in the 4th inning and refused to throw it back. Jeers to the kid who caught Phillips' home run in the 6th and, prompted by his dad, threw it back on the field.

Problem solved

Christine and I were quite irritated last night when Chris Wheeler kept blabbering on about Rock Around the Clock. We had no idea what he was talking about, or why, and automatically tuned him out. I guess that's what caused us to miss our possible salvation from the Phillies announcer hell we've been in since Harry Kalas died.

Here's the YouTube clip posted by Salito42. Watch it quickly, because I'm sure MLB will soon have it removed, as it did with the clip posted on Deadspin.



Now, if enough of us write to the Federal Communications Commission to say that we don't appreciate hearing sexual Freudian slips during our baseball games, perhaps we can finally get Wheels off the air. Permanently. Around the Clock. Here's a link to the FCC's complaint information. Start filling out those forms!

Tonight's games: Neither of our teams had a hit through their first three innings - four for the Phillies. The Red Sox rebounded and lead the Nationals 6-1 in the 6th. The Phillies haven't and trail the Rays 2-1 in the 7th. Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer off Joe Blanton in the 2nd inning.

Phillies TV show and Wawa's first-ever hardcover book

We watched The Pen last night. We enjoyed it, but don't think we would watch it if it were based on a team we didn't root for. And it was odd - they covered from February through May in a single one-hour episode. Based on that ratio, there won't be enough material left for the five episodes covering June through the All-Star break.

Another reviewer, on the Bleacher Report, was disappointed they didn't show a lot of behind-the-scenes personal stuff. We agree. Other than showing Jack Taschner play with his baby and talk about the sudden trade with his wife, Scott Eyre watch his son's Little League game and Clay Condrey lead a big fishing expedition in what appeared to be a drainage ditch in a housing development, there wasn't much stuff you wouldn't get from an extended feature on Comcast SportsNet. (Christine wants me to point out that Condrey did catch a fish.)

Oh, we did love hearing Charlie Manuel rip Taschner immediately after he was traded to the team in spring training. Ruben Amaro Jr. was critical of his acquisition, too. That was good stuff, and surprising to hear on an MLB-produced, Phillies-sanctioned production. I'd love to see the Trashman's reaction to those comments.

I'll take a Shorti with a side of Harry: On Sunday, I saw a sign at Wawa advertising
"Remembering Harry Kalas" for $9.99. I had no clue what it was.

Today, driving to work, they were talking about it on WIP. It turns out Wawa is selling this book exclusively. It retails for $25, but it's discounted at Wawa, which is donating $10,000 to the Kalas family's favorite charity.

Of course we bought it, although we probably won't read it until we take a couple days off later this summer.

We had a couple of "We miss Harry" moments yesterday. Every half inning, the broadcast would come back late, and we'd miss the first batter. And the announcers kept messing up people's names. Classic example was when Josh Beckett hit his home run. They showed a replay of him walking from the on-deck circle to the plate instead of showing the home run live. Then, they said it was Mike Lowell who homered. We miss Harry.

Tonight's games: Both teams are off. Clay Buchholz, dominating AAA, wonders why he is not mentioned in all the discussions about what the Red Sox are going to do with their plethora of starters. He didn't demand a trade, but would welcome one. And you know how when a coach or GM is upset with a player, he won't refer to him by name? Check out this quote from young Clay:

I feel like I'm more equipped with everything that I have right now as far as the pitches and the mental aspect and physically healthy to be up there and helping that team. If not that team I want to be in the big leagues and I do want to go somewhere where I'll be able to play and pitch every fifth day.

New kids on the block

Last year, the baseball world waited for the Tampa Bay Rays to fall apart so that the Red Sox and Yankees could assume their customary spots in the AL playoffs.

I wasn't so dismissive of the Rays (I knew they were a tough opponent capable of knocking out the Yankees), but I was confident the Red Sox would prevail. I was wrong.

This year, the Blue Jays have been leading the AL East. They have a 3.5-game lead over the Red Sox as the two teams square off for the first time tonight. Everyone expected the East to be a three-team battle among the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees. But we should have seen the Jays lurking.

Since Cito Gaston began his second stint as Blue Jays manager last year, the team has gone 78-51. That's on pace for 98 wins over a full season, which is one game better than the Rays finished in 2008.

Like the Rays last year, I don't think it's a fluke. Tony Massarotti did a tale of the tape on the division: Among the four teams, the Jays have the best starting pitching, offense and defense. The bullpen is just a tick behind Boston's.

I still have faith the Red Sox will improve their play and catch the Jays in the end, but it's not going to be easy.

Greg's personal trivia: Between cementing my disdain for the Yankees and deciding on the Red Sox, I tried out several teams. I was strong on the Blue Jays for awhile. I even had a hat.

NKOTB (Phillies rotation version): As strongly suggested this week, J.A. Happ is trading roles with Chan Ho Park. His first start is Saturday in the Evil Empire's empty new stadium.

OKOTB: Chris Wheeler likened a hitting or pitching coach to the senior member of a broadcast team. Tom McCarthy asked him how that was working out for him. "Not good," Wheeler said.

Well, don't stick around on our behalf. I hate Wheels.

Tonight's games: The Red Sox-Blue Jays rivalry looks to be off to a good start with a pitching duel, 2-1 in the 8th. The Phillies are up 4-3 over the Reds in the 7th.

Beautiful day, ugly night

I've waited all winter for this day. The cold was finally replaced by a sunny day in the mid 70s.

I took my first bike ride of the season. I cut the grass and did other spring cleaning around the yard. Christine and I took a walk preparing for next week's charity walk. Then we grilled up a nice summery meal as the Phillies came on.

We didn't go to Harry Kalas' services, mistakenly figuring the place would be jam-packed. Christine watched bits and pieces on TV, and I listened on the radio while putting up some stone edging around one of our flower beds.

Earlier in the day, I heard WIP's Anthony Gargano, while reminiscing about Harry and Richie Asburn, use the old cliche that baseball is life's soundtrack. He said you could walk in South Philly and listen to their broadcast from front porch to front porch, or at the shore from blanket to blanket. I got that vibe for some reason as I listened to speeches from Jamie Moyer, Mike Schmidt and assorted politicians float from my garage to the front of the yard where I hammered bricks into the ground.

Now, I'll probably always associate Harry with that flower bed.

Later, watching the Chase Utley hit in the 1st inning, I thought I should add a standing feature to the blog called "We miss Harry." Today's moment would be when Tom McCarthy felt the need to explain that they give out Silver Sluggers at the end of the year to the best hitter at each position - even the mound. I miss Harry.

Today's games: Not quite a beautiful day for SoxandPhils closers. Brad Lidge's save streak is over. Christine predicted it when he gave up the leadoff double. You know Harry would have sounded pained calling the Padres' four-run 9th inning off the formerly perfect Phillies closer. That's two consecutive awful losses for the defending world champions.

The Red Sox scored six runs off former Phil Adam Eaton in four innings, thanks to a big night by my MVP pick, Kevin Youkilis (4-5, four RBI, two runs, two doubles and a home run). Jonathan Papelbon came close to joining Lidge on the blown saves list, but he ended the 6-4 game with the potential tying run on first.

And congratulations to the Cleveland Indians for setting a record for the most runs (14) in a 2nd inning today in their 22-4 win.