WOW

Wow!  What else can I say but wow?  I mean that may have been the most excited I have gotten while watching a baseball game since 1993.  What a roller coaster ride.  I mean from Padilla crumbling to Madson continuing to struggle to (and who would have ever thought I would type this) Geary not being available because of a death in his family.  It looked like the Phillies were up to their old tricks when they gave up a 6-1 lead and went down 10-6.  Keep in mind if they won they were assured of pulling to within 1 game of the wild card lead with Roger Clemens already scratched for his start tomorrow for the Astros.

Just when all looked lost, what do you know, but the ninth inning rolled around.  On this current road trip the Phillies have now scored (including tonights game) 26 runs in their last at bat.  This has yielded them a 5-2 record so far on the 9 game road trip. 

Well as we all know Jimmy Rollins and Kenny Lofton set the table in the ninth tonight and Chase Utley drove them in with a monstrous home run.  Then after a questionable K of Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell striking out on a 3-2 count on a ball way out of the strike zone, The Reds decided to pitch around Ryan Howard (pretty big respect for a rookie).  Then stepped up David Bell.  A day after he saved the game against the Braves with a great play in the field.

(By the way I apologize for not posting yesterday after a great Braves game, but if I may, let me comment for a second on that game.  What was Bobby Cox thinking letting Tim Hudson hit in the bottom of the 8th with one out and a man on third base.  I contend that after that move, and Cox “resting” John Smoltz on Wed. night, I think he WANTS the Philles to win the wild card.  You see if the Phils win the WC the Braves get to play a Padres team that will win the West with a record of barely .500 at best.  If the Astros win the WC thats who the Braves get in round one with the Clemens and Oswalts and Pettites of the world.  Not that I am complaining, but just something to think about.)

Tonight instead of the glove, David Bell used his bat to win the game.  After working a 3-2 count he hit a two run home run to give the Phillies an 11-10 lead that Billy Wagner would not give up in the bottom of the ninth. 

Harry went nuts on TV and Scott Graham and Larry Anderson were like kids on the radio (especially LA).  So my question is this, if the Phils win tomorrow against their old teammate (and disappointment in Red land) Eric Milton do you watch the Phils on Sunday at 1, the Eagles, or switch back and forth.  What a great scene in the dugout tonight and what fun this is….go P-H-I-L-L-I-E-S!