Phillies Nation

Major League Baseball is always the last professional sports organization to make a progressive move for the betterment of the game. When the Commissioners Office gives the green light to enact such a change they never do enough to ensure its success. Certain things come to mind in this regard, primarily testing for performance-enhancing drugs, instant replay and the inclusion of non-whites to major league rosters. News of a possible playoff realignment is not only exciting but has been in the making since we all realized that playing the World Series in November is a bad idea.

Bud Selig’s plan is to have two Wild Card teams battle it out for the right to face the team with best league record. The only way I can see this working is if  the regular season schedule is shortened to accommodate extra round of postseason play. A league schedule of 154 games would have to be played. Three division winners would get first round byes as two wild card teams would battle it out in a five or seven game Wild Card series during the last week of September. The playoffs would then follow the current format.

Are players going to reconcile getting paid eight days less in order to have an extra week of rest? How will this expansion affect current  television and advertising contracts that are structured on a 162 game season?  Will owners really agree to omitting eight games for the greater chance for their club to make the playoffs?

If the season isn’t shortened to make way for an extra round of playoffs, we may face a situation where the World Series would be played into mid-November. Having an extra playoff round may be great for fans on the surface, the adjusted cost factor of playing less games will force teams to raise prices for admission and at the concession.

Selig favors expansion because he has been at the helm of all of the league’s expansionary measures for almost two decades. The shortening of the season would put more money in the owners pockets by charging more at the gate and paying their players for less games played.  Advertising revenues will increase due to a higher demand with less games being played during the season. Despite the negative financial conodations, the competitiveness of division play would increase. Including a first round bye for division winners would increase the importance of winning the division. Secondly, division winners would get extended time off as the wild cards fight it out for a Division Series berth. The division would have to be realigned in order to give each club a fair shot at a possible division crown (this means you NL Central and AL West). Evenly-teamed divisions coupled with a heavy division opponent-laden schedule  makes the games played even more meaningful in August and September.

Who wouldn’t want to see the Phillies have even more of an opportunity to beat down the Mets in the future?

Boston Red Sox (22-20) at Philadelphia Phillies (25-15)

John Lackey, RHP (4-2, 4.86 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (1-2, 4.29 ERA)

Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park

Weather: Mostly Sunny, 60

TV:Comcast SportsNet

Twitter: @philliesnation

It’s that time of year again. Where the continuity of autonomous league scheduling is altered for an alleged attendance boost in the pursuit of capital revenue gains.

Welcome to Inter-league Play 2010.

Red Sox Nation® (and the Delaware Valley’s bandwagon fans, circa 2004) will be on hand for the final series of this seven game home stand. The Phils have a total of four wins against the Red Sox spanning the last four years. But, this isn’t your ‘Bloody Sock’ or ‘Cowboy Up’ teams from the past. Boston has been plagued by injuries, inconsistency on offense and a lot of bad starting pitching performances.

A model of pitching consistency takes the mound tonight in John Lackey. He won’t over power you, but the veteran has been apt at forcing batted outs away from the strike zone. Lackey is a winner in two of his last three starts despite getting shellacked around in the early innings by Detroit and Toronto. He has been terrific all season and there is no reason to believe he won’t continue to keep the Red Sox in this game tonight.

For the Phillies, Colbert Hamels is looking to build on three stellar outings and continue the clubs successes in May . Pitching more to contact and limiting base runners, the club has been victorious in his last four outings (Hamels 2-0 in that span). Hamels is coming off a 6.2 inning performance in Milwaukee where he scattered two runs on six hits. Hamels pitching to contact has negatively affected him in the later innings in Milwaukee. With the lineup rolled over, a tired Hamels left pitches up resulting in homeruns by Casey McGhee and Corey Hart. While inconsistant throughout the season thus far, the duo of Youkilis and Martinez are riding offense hot streaks coming into this series. They will not miss any mistake Hamels throws at them.

The history of the Phils-Red Sox series has been completely one sided. The Phils need two wins to guarantee a winning home stand while not being able to take two from the Sox since 2003. A sweep?  Not out of the question with this version of the Red Sox; the team hasn’t sweep the Sox since 2000. In that series at Veterans Stadium, two walk off doubles by Alex Arias and Kevin Jordan in extra innings sealed those contests.

Ah, memories…

Red Sox Nation is a ® of the ESPN hype machine.

Today’s Lineup: Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibañez, Victorino, Ruiz, Hamels.

Your Gameday Beer – Green Monsta

A feature of the Wachusett Brewing Compnay, Green Monsta is a strong Ale (6.4 % abv) with medium body and a variety of flavor. It pours a copper color getting darker as it settles from bottle to glass. It’s malty, medium-hoppy taste and silky texture make this beer a slow drinker. With its hints of background citris, it is a perfect beer for a perfect night for baseball. Order a cheesesteak stromboli and pour yourself a glass. – By RC

GO PHILLIES!

Eric Bruntlett’s contribution to the 2009 season can be summed up in the video below:

2009 numbers: 72 games, .171 avg., 18 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 15 R, .462 OPS

GRADE: .5/10 – Orchestrating one of the most improbable plays in sports helps Bruntlett garner feeble accolades for what has been otherwise a dismal season. His efforts will be remembered in such esteem with former futile ex-Phillie bench players Kevin Sefcik and John Zuber .

Citi Field Trip

For everyone who reserved their spot for our second sponsored bus trip of this season to Citi Field, you’re in luck. Prior to the game, members of the Mets first World Series championship will being honored during an on field pre-game ceremony.  If having the opportunity of seeing Jeltzian shortstop Bud Harrelson didn’t entice you to join us tomorrow then maybe being one of 25,000 fans to sports this fine t-shirt will make you reconsider. You probably should because you paid for it!

The Mets blogosphere has been buzzing since we announced this trip earlier in the year. SNY.tv talked with our own Pat Gallen earlier today, previewing the Phillies/Mets series. MetsBlog quipped with disdain that Phillies fans will be in attendance during the celebration, Subway Squawkers spread lies that Tug McGraw was a better Met, Brian was interviewed over at The ‘Ropolitans, and then there is this guy…

I personally am looking forward to seeing all of our usual trip participants and the fresh blood, too. Without you guys we would all be sitting on our asses watching from home. So, thank you again for continuing to make Phillies Nation great. You guys are truly the WFCs!

Phillies.com Survey

Phillies.com is currently surveying its readers on how they obtain their information on all things Phillies. By choosing ‘Other Websites’ as one of your sources, Phillies Nation will appear as an option for your choosing. So take a second and help boost our rep.  Just like American Idol, there is no limit on how many times you can fill the survey out.

Tomorrow night from 6 to 11pm , Phillies Nation will be sponsoring The Arc of Philadelphia’s Summer Celebration in support of their endless efforts to create an opportunities for people with disabilities. The details to the event are as followed:

• $25 dollars gains you entry to the event, a 2-hour open bar and entry into a raffle to win Phils-Mets Tickets on July 4th.
• A opportunity to mingle with the Phillie Phanatic, Phillies Ballgirls, and a plethora of Philadelphia sports celebrities whom will also serve as celebrity bartenders.
• Great live entertainment provided by Trinidad North Steel Drum Band and 52 Pick Up.
• Silent Auction featuring 12 Phillies games, 4 Eagles games, PSU v. Ohio State and concerts including Billy and Elton, u2, and the Jonas Brothers.
• Persons under 21 are welcomed for $10 and under-13 are admitted free.
• It’s a party, so come dressed in your Phillies Red

Phillies Nation also will be hosting a pre-party tour of the Ballpark, Clubhouse and Suite levels prior to the event. Also, our guests will have the chance to win Phils-Red Sox tickets for one of the games to upcoming weekend series.

Even if you haven’t signed up here on the site, don’t let that hold you back from having a great time for a great cause – come to McFadden’s tomorrow night to watch the Phils!

We’ve received some emails of inquiry about the waiting list for the forth, and final, bus being added to the Phillies Nation Bus Trip to D.C. on May 16th. We are aware that there are existing problems with submitting any requests to add you and your party at this time. The problem should be fixed by tonight when we arrive back from an amazing week in Clearwater, Florida. Until then, you can submit your potential itinerary via email and I will personally add you to the list and you won’t have to resubmit any information . Below you can copy and paste the nessessary information fields into the text box of an email and send it to me. I can answer any additional questions you may have as well at that time.

Hope to see you on the trip!

Name:

Email:

Number of guests, including yourself:

Email Rob Cowie at rob@philliesnation.com. You can expect a prompt confirmation and response email from me usually within 20 minutes.

Tomorrow at 11am we will be hosting a tailgate party outside Bright House Field in Clearwater. If you are you are headed to the Phillies-Reds game, please stop by. We will be in the soccer field/parking lot directly across from the stadium main gate – just look for the big, red Phillies Nation flag and wiffleball game. We’ll be providing beers and hot dog, but feel free to bring any additional party favors.

 I’d like to thank the 1,000,000+ who have come to our site in search of the best analytical insight on our favorite topic, Philadelphia Phillies baseball. It is you who have made this a great community and we all hope you guys make it an even better year in 2009.

For 2009, we are all gearing up for more exciting events and contests to bring to you. In the coming weeks we will be announcing information on our 4th annual Phillies Nation Bus Trip. If you have had the chance to attend in previous years than you know it’s an unparalleled experience you must partake in.

We’ve read the e-mails about our mobile site and yes, we are working on improving it. As of now, most phones will recognize the mobile browser, while a small number will give you the standard web version. Look for an m.philliesnation.com by Opening Day to improve your Phillies Nation experience on your phone at the game or on the go.

In the mean time I implore everyone to follow us on Twitter, friend us on Myspace, or join our Facebook fan page. There you can meet even more people in the Phillies Nation fan community and truly be one nation, divisible by none.

From the Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball by George J. Mitchell, here are the references to the Phillies:

Former Expos catcher Luis Perez said that he could obtain steroids from a clubhouse attendant for the Phillies, from page 101:

[Luis Perez] said that he knew of clubhouse employees with other teams who were similarly called upon to obtain drugs for players, including in particular a visiting clubhouse attendant in Philadelphia.

Jeff Cooper’s concern of Lenny Dykstra’s apparent steroid use, from page 68:

Philadelphia’s then-head athletic trainer Jeff Cooper told us that during this period he observed a Phillies player whose use of steroids was “obvious.” Cooper would not divulge the player’s identity to us. He told us that he approached the general manager [Lee Thomas] to report his concerns, and the general manager advised Cooper that he should raise the subject with the player directly. Cooper then did raise the issue with the player, who said it was none of Cooper’s business. The matter went no further.

According to deadspin.com here is a tenative list of players to be implicated in the Mitchell Report:

Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Aaron Boone, Rafaeil Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Wil Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose and Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsoworth, Ryan Franklin, Troy Glaus, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Troy Glaus, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Prior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez,Fernando Tatis, Maurice Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams and Kerry Wood.

We’ll find out for sure in under 2 hours.