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PHILLIES JOURNAL 2010
PHILLIES JOURNAL 2010
by Max Blue
OPENING DAY, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010. It’s a bright sunny and warm day in the Nations’ Capitol,
and the honorable Barack Obama, sports fan, and incidentally, President of the United States, toes the rubber with his left foot and rocks into a herky-jerkey motion. The pres wears a red satin Washington Nationals jacket and on his head, a wrinkled Chicago White Sox cap to show the crowd where his baseball allegiance rests. The good natured crowd handed him the first Bronx cheer of the day when he whipped out the cap on his way to the mound. The TV announcers note that Obama’s pitch marks the 100th anniversary of the day in 1910 when William Howard Taft became the first U.S. President to throw out the first pitch of the baseball season (never mind that made-for-TV Yankees-Red Sox game last night).
The pitch is high and away, nowhere near the strike zone, a fitting reminder of where the 2010 Washington Nationals are likely to end the season. The star-spangled Phillies’ lineup takes a couple of innings to get the kinks out, then goes to work on John Lannan, the hapless Nats’ lefty to the tune of a five-run fourth inning keyed by Ryan Howard’s two-run blast over the right field bullpen. Placido Polanco ices the cake with the first Grand Slam of the season in the 7th inning. Meanwhile, Doc Halladay fans nine Nats in seven innings on the way to an 11-1 win. Phillies’ fans are pleased by the near-perfect outcome, but nervous at the thought that the successful 2006, 07, 08, and 09 seasons all began with an opening day loss. Whatever. We will do what we have to do.
DOC HALLADAY’S FIRST DAY
Welcome to Philly, new friend,
let’s hope that this win starts a trend
to a big winning season
we’ll all find most pleasin’
with a World’s Series crown at the end.
Monday, April 5, 2010. Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia – 11, Washington – 1.
WP – Halladay (1-0), LP – Lannan (0-1)
HR – Howard (1), 4th, 1 on; Polanco (1), GRAND SLAM, 7th.
.
GET ‘EM IN, GUYS
GET ‘EM IN, GUYS
Champs got ‘em on but couldn’t get ‘em in,
ten LOB’s no formula to win.
Nats’ lefty Olsen, a well-familiar foe;
not the first time he’s handed Phillies woe.
April’s done and Mets are next, let the fun begin.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Washington – 4, Philadelphia – 1.
WP – Olsen (1-3), LP – Myers (1-2).
H – Mock (2), Wells (2). S – Taverez (1).
HR – Victorino (3), 1st.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
The good news: Phils win five straight,
the bad: Cole Hamels sprained ankle fate.
Champs hit four, Chase Utley, two;
missing Lidge and Hamels what can we do?
Continue to look like a steam-rolling freight.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 7, Washington – 1.
WP – Durbin (1-0), LP – Lannan (0-3)
HR – Dunn (6), 7th.
Utley 2 (7), 3rd, 1 on, 6th; Feliz (2), 3rd, 2 on; Ibañez (7), 8th.
Hamels, coasting with a 5-run lead, turned his ankle fielding a bunt in the 5th inning with one out, and had to leave the game with no decision. The medical report said it was a mild sprain and he would not miss a start.
Lidge is another story – his right knee is giving him trouble. The knee has had two surgical procedures to repair torn cartilage. Cortisone shots have not helped. Lidge: “I think long-term I’m not worried.”
Yo, Lidge – lets talk about short-term.
CHAMPS SWEEP MARLINS
MOYER MAULS MARLINS FOR SWEEP
Seasons Starts Innings pitched Batters faced W L
Jamie Moyer 23 588 3,770 16,049 249 186
Graham Taylor 1 1 3 1/3 20 0 1
Sunday, April 26, 2009. Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida
Philadelphia – 13, Florida – 2.
WP – Moyer (3-1), LP – Taylor (0-1)
LIDGE BITES NAILS
LIDGE BITES NAILS- STARTS NEW STREAK
Champs scratched a tie after nine.
In the tenth, Utley and Werth the main shine.
Then Brad Lidge in a tight-wire act,
loaded the bases, almost cracked,
but added three Ks to his line.
Saturday, April 25, 2009. Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida.
Philadelphia – 6, Florida – 4.
WP – Madson (2-1), LP – Kensing (0-1).
H- Meyer (4), Nunez (3). BS – Pinto (1).
S – Lidge (4).
HR – Cantu (3), 4th, 2 on; Uggla (4), 4th.
Chan Ho Park (1), 3rd; Howard (3), 4th.
SLAM
VICTORINO SLAMS FISH
After eight innings of whiffs, whales, and bails,
to say nothing of lunges and flails,
the Champs came alive
on a Flyin’ Hawaiian long drive,
thus taking the wind from Fish sails.
Friday, April 24, 2009. Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida.
Philadelphia – 7, Florida – 3.
WP – Condrey (3-0), LP – Lindstrom (1-1)
H – Nunez (2). BS – Lindstrom (2).
HR – Uggla (3), 1st, 2 on.
Victorino (2), 9th GRAND SLAM; Utley (5), 9th.
NO
NO NO, NO-HITTER
Not a no-hitter, but close,
Brewers’ Bush gave Phillies a dose
of pitching so tight,
that team swings were a fright,
and Charlie’s critique was verbose.
No hits ’til the 8th but who cares?
For one, pinch-hitter, Matt Stairs;
he uncoiled for one off the pole,
lifting Phils out of blankety-blank hole.
Saved team pride, but not game affairs.
The manager was not happy
for his hitters, sad to say, looked sappy.
His ace pitcher got nailed with a liner,
lucky to escape with no shiner.
To lose four on the home stand is crappy.
Thursday, April 23, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Milwaukee – 6, Philadelphia – 1.
WP – Bush (1-0), LP – Hamels (0-2).
HR – Braun (4), 4th, 1 on; Hall (1), 8th.
Stairs (2), 8th.
WHO SAYS EASY?
WHO SAYS EASY?
Joe Blanton pitched well but he lost,
because Phils’ hitting signals got crossed.
Team blanked by a righty named Looper,
a Milwaukee Brewer party pooper.
On this rainy night Champs’ winning dreams tossed.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Milwaukee – 3, Philadelphia – 1.
WP – Looper (2-0), LP – Blanton (0-2).
H – DiFelice (1), Villanueva (1). S – Coffey (2).
HR – Hardy (3), 5th.
Werth (2), 9th.
EASY DOES IT
EASY DOES IT
Jamie Moyer, the old Phillies rock,
given eleven runs, is a lock.
He held off the Brewers,
NL Central stewers,
and once again raised Champions’ stock.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia – 11, Milwaukee – 4.
WP – Moyer (2-1), LP – Parra (0-3).
HR – Braun, 2 (3), 1st, 5th, 1 on.
Feliz (1), 3rd.
COME FOM BEHIND WIN
COME FROM BEHIND WIN
Down by four after five,
a spot where our Champions thrive.
Homeruns by Utley and J-roll,
set the stage to achieve the main goal;
a walk-off bomb from Ibanez – PHILS ALIVE!
Sunday, April 19, 2009. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia – 5, San Diego – 4.
WP – Condrey (2-0), LP – Moreno (0-1)
H – Mujica (2). BS – Moreno (1).
HR – Ad. Gonzalez (5), 5th.
Utley (4), 6th, 1 on; Rollins (1), 8th; Ibanez (5), 9th, 1 on.
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