As I comb through my updates from vacation occasionally I’ve
gotten some links that just make no sense. Instead of trying to sneakily
include them into the morning rounds and confusing everyone in the process I’ve
decided to give you one super links instead.
The Money Earning! I had to stop there one time at like 3 a.m. on the way from home somewhere far away and a guy in a SUV with rims taller than I am (I’m not short) tried to pick up my sister. Good times.
Like our buddies Atrios and Mary Patel, Charles Barkley is also at the DNC this week. He revealed to the New York Daily News some of his higher political ambitions:
“I’m planning to run for governor of Alabama
in 2014,” he told us, adding that he’s an independent. “I have to live
there for seven years; I bought my house there last year. I have homes
in Arizona and Pennsylvania, but Alabama needs more help.”
So, while he’s getting ready for his gubernatorial run, is there a job in the Obama administration that he’d like?
Said Sir Charles: “I’d like to be the guy who plays basketball with the President one day a week.”
So, despite having a house near Philly, PA’s not good enough for you, Chuck? Pish, we don’t need you anyway. Still, we hope you stick around for awhile paying busboys’ college tuitions and getting colonoscopies on TV.
In honor of Sir Charles’ gubernatorial leanings, here’s his part part in Space Jam:
That is, as of today, the current odds that Vegas is giving the Philadelphia Eagles of winning the Super Bowl. They’re 10-1 to win the NFC and 7-2 to win the NFC East, and their over/under for wins is at 8.5.
Vegas generally has a better idea of how these things work than you or I do, so we’ll keep an eye on how this changes throughout the season.
Kyle Kendrick, the youngest member of the Phillies, has a sweet charm about him. He’ll answer questions the day before games, he’ll forget to answer them after his starts (then apologize profusely) and seems to genuinely like being a baseball player (and not in the ways that, say, Pat Burrell likes being a ballplayer).
He’s one of the guys who is probably enamored with the concept of being part of a team.
Which means that while pranks like this
may be funny, they’re also probably a little dickheadish as well.
I bring this up because two days ago it was Kyle Kendrick’s birthday, and what he wanted for his birthday was a baseball signed by the entire team. It’s a cute request, totally reasonable, and shows a little about what KK is about. So everyone signs the team except for Brett Myers, who makes a show of refusing to sign. Everyone had a chuckle, but Brett kept at it, and kept at it.
Finally Myers relents, grabs a pen and scribbles a name on the ball.
Morning Roundup: “We wish Jay well and will miss him — not personally, of course — but
in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days” - From the Chicago Sun-Times official response to Jay Mariotti’s resignation
I’m about to break some news here, mainly because I’m not held to the same burden of proof as traditional beat guys. Anyway, I’m convinced that Chad Durbin in injured … and I’m armed with logic:
Before the game Charlie answers the seemingly innocent question “who isn’t available tonight” with the seemingly innocent response “Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and J.C. Romero.”
During the game Chad Durbin begins to warm up, then immediately shuts down. The less reliable Rudy Seanez comes in instead - this, predictably, leads to trouble.
After the game Charlie answers the now-slightly-less innocent question “who wasn’t available tonight” with the seemingly way-less-innocent-response “Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and J.C. Romero.” When it was pointed out that Durbin was new to the list he said it was a pre-game but post origional conversation discussion with Rich Dubee that had changed his mind. When asked why Durbin was warming up he changed the subject.
I’m not going to be able to confirm the injury until the team does, but from what I saw tonight I feel like I’m in a position to confidently say if something is wrong with Durbin. And something is wrong with Durbin.
With first place back on the line we’re gearing up for the final game of the two-game set. Here’s predicting that Cholly won’t get Hamels, tomorrow’s starter, up tonight.
Snide comments and reports from every fight we can see, ATJ
–
Pregame
Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and (probably) J.C. Romero are all unavailable for the Phillies tonight.
When asked how he didn’t get thrown out last night Charlie responded “I was thinking about it” but wasn’t totally sure that the ball was fair when it hit the runner
Some clown Mets fan was rocking a Robin Ventura replica jersey. This, of course, allows me to post his finest moment
If Ryan Howard hit .280 - or almost 35 points lower than he did in 2006 - he’d win the MVP every year.
I should probably mention that he is hitting .280 with men in scoring position
for the second strait inning Kendrick allows a single to the leadoff guy, then lets him steal second. Probably not a good habit to get into.
If Santana has a weakness it’s the longball. 3-1 Phils.
Even with the lead the fans seem hesitant - our city has no idea how to frontrun
UPDATE: I feel stupid for having to admit this, but I didn’t even realize that was a JRoll comment until I was clued in
Kendrick’s pitch count - on a day the Phils need him to go deep; with nobody out in the 3rd - is at 48. Looks like we’re headed towards Andrew Carpenter time (the Phils called him up today) and because we’re in a video mode, here he is:
Big, big catch and throw my Shane Victorino. All season long he has come to play.
Bottom 5, one on one out Cholly gives Kendrick the “fake a bunt swing away” sign. Fun more for the recent birthday boy
Kendrick ends his night unable to lose. I’m sure Cholly was hoping to get a couple more out of him. Scott Eyre comes in to try and stop the bleeding
3-6-3 double play, which I believe is the first 363 of the year from these guys.
Jeff Passan on Santana making Victorino, Werth and Feliz to end the 6th with Burrell and Howard on first and second: “well, you could have seen that one from a million miles away.” He’s right. Oh well, Nick Evans pinch hits for him in the bottom of the 6th, ending his night.
Scott Eyre continues to be everybody’s favorite Phillie
The error aside (and it could have been Jimmy’s error) Ryan Howard hasn’t played too bad a first base this series
The Mets bullpen is always an adventure. Going from Santana to them is like going from warding off seasonal sniffles to combating full-blown AIDS. Only the exact opposite.
of course, Stokes promptly gets out of the inning
It’s Rudy Seanez time, and Pat Burrell is out of the lineup as So Taguchi gets the double-switch treatment
Correct me if I’m wrong, but have we not seen ANY crowd fights this series? Sure it’s a Tuesday/Wednesday set, but at the same time it’s Phillies/Mets. I’m not complaining (I’m not not complaining either though) just commentating on how strange that is. Any theories?
Big night for Delgado as he deposits another into the stands. I’m guessing that that wasn’t how the entire infield drew up their attack plan
Brad Lidge gets the call in the 8th. Probably two batters too late.
Dear god, more extra innings. These teams might end up playing three full games by the time everything is said and done
ugh
well, they’ve blown 22 saves so far
why do you walk the guy with the concussion? It’s not like Lidge is some sort of dead ground ball pitcher
So Taguchi is poised to come up in a big spot. Just saying.
C’mon Pedro Feliciano, do what you do best …
C’mon Joe Smith, do what you do best …
C’mon Luis Ayala, do what you do best …
fun but true: there is no wild pitch when a runner is out on a strikeout. Any advance a runner makes is simply a fielder’s choice
Delgado with the big fist pump on the final out. That team does celebrate
Off to postgame, next time you hear from me it’ll be tomorrow
After a game like last night everyone makes a big deal about momentum and emotion. On one hand this makes sense: the Phils had to be excited after the game, and the Mets had to be reminded of last season’s defeat - it doesn’t hurt that “did the Phillies break the mets?” is a fun topic to talk about, especially in Philly.
Unfortunately, I think that might be getting a little too much play. I asked a couple of the players about this today and some of them seemed to be relieved to be able to admit it.
“That stuff is all bullshit” admitted Victorino, “It’s game to game, whoever is better on any given night.”
“Last night’s game has no effect against Santana tonight” added Coste.
Basically momentum can shift so much through the course of a game that it is really hard to have anything carry over night to night. When push comes to shove, a couple nice hits against Schoenewies doesn’t help you hours later when you’re facing Johan.
We’ll see whose right tonight; I suppose, but it seems to be something at least worth considering amidst so much “The Phils murked the New York’s spirit” talk.
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