5/8/2011 PHILLIES VS ATLANTA BRAVES

L 2-5

with Mom, later met with Sam Fields and Carla

Even the ants are Phillies fans

Mom's Day. In life, there's two types of people. There's people who get you things, which I always appreciate and treasure, and there's people who spend time with you. I have a lot of crap, that I have to get rid of every once in a while. I do love giving things to people, especially to those who mean a lot to me. However, what I value even more is those times you get to spend with those loved ones. Yes, being there and being present is ultimately more meaningful than a hundred flowers. This year, I got Phillies tickets for mom and dad on those days instead of the usual flowers. 

So yesterday, I went with my Mom, the lady who brought me into this world, to see the Phillies play the Braves. Unlike most games, I had to be on my best behavior. So this meant no betting on the megatron races, mascot fights, eating other people's left over abandoned food, or screaming at the opposing fans. After kind of a long day, a morning of softball practice and a meeting, she picked me up on South Street and away we went. Normally, if driving, I'll have my driver park at the dog park at Broad and Oregon on the west side, because its free and seemingly few people know about it, and its only a ten minute walk to the stadiums from there. Today, for mom, we went to the Phillies parking lot and navigated the sea of parking attendents, reckless pedestrians (usually me), and tailgators. 

Upon entering, we received some kind of free Mom's Day jewerly. After debating, (I thought it was a septum ring or an earing, Mom thought it was for a purse) we eventually found out that it was, in fact, a keyring. We found this out by making a special trip to the Harry the K's restaurant for our hotdog and beer dinner, where a lively debate between the ladies working the consessions there took place when we asked. I guess the glove part of it screws off. That's one of the stranger give-aways I've seen.

Mom with dinner of champs

The weird septum ring/earing/keychain give-away

We settled into our seats, and talked for a while. My Mom reminded me of my early days back in the sheep farm in Susquehanna county of northeast PA, around when I was 6 or 7. We were at some church gathering or something, and people were playing baseball with the kiddies. I guess for whatever reason, I was with at 2nd base, and some teenage girl hit a ball that promptly hit me smack in the right (face)cheek. I promply fell to the ground and started crying my little kid eyes out, and I remember all the adults running to gather around me. The doctor said that if I had been hit slightly higher, I probably would of lost my eye. I also have vivid memories of my little brother telling me he would get revenge and pull that girl's pants down (a grave, non-sexual dishonor for a little kid.) So as I told my mom about my new softball team I'd helped get started, she remarked how far I'd come. Much farther to go, Mom...

Onto the game, the Phillies had a breast cancer survivor announce the starting lineups, and though she did a nice job, the Phillies fans in attendance still booed the Atlanta lineup announcements, as it should be. An annoying thing that Baseball does is hand out All-star ballots in freaking May, with one month down, but it did give me something to do (I plugged in mostly Phillies or members of my fantasy team) while we talked. It was the second time I've seen Cole Hamels, who I think I've seen more than any other Phillies pitcher. And of course, Cole Hamels has lost only two games, and I have been at both of them. Damnit. Though on a cool note, the Phillies played Dane Sardinha at catcher, who I'd seen play for the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs two weeks prior (he got called up when Chooch's back went balky). Another cute thing was that most of the players hit with pink bats. There's something really touching about big Ryan Howard swinging with a pink bat and pink shoes.

The view from our section, 431

Around the 3rd Inning, Sam and his friend Carla, visiting from the wildlands of Michigan, showed up in his seats about 6 rows ahead of us. Earlier that day, we had our second practice of the new softball team. I'm really excited for this team, because people have been really psyched and enthusiastic about it and its a hell of a lot of fun on sunny mornings. And we can show our nerdery. We voted on a team name that morning, settling on the Oregon Ave Octopi. We play on Sundays at 10AM, at Broad and Oregon, over at Marconi Park. Though I'm kinda disappointed we didn't go with South Philly Scum, its cool to be dorky about it. (People want out team numbers to be pi, ha. And our mascot will be a goofy octopus.)

Anyway, I had a bone to pick with Sam. I've really wanted to play First Base, but when we were doing some catching, Sam whipped the ball at me when I wasn't really ready, so I stepped out of the way. He took this to mean that I was afraid of the ball, and complained about it the rest of practice, and insisted I not play first base the rest of practice. Jerk. Surprisingly, I am actually better conditioned than me because of going to the gym pretty regurally the last month or so, and he pulled a hamstring and dropped some ball when playing centerfield. So I made sure to remind him of that in revenge. I think he cursed Drew, because after putting him at First, Drew dropped a bunch of balls.

So when he showed up, I started yelling things at him like "SAM FIELDS CAN'T CATCH!" and "YOU OWE ME MONEY, FIELDS!" and "HOW'S YOUR HAAAAMMMY?" (The guy sitting behind me asked, "Who's Sam Fields? Does he play for the Braves?") After a few innings, we moved up to sit next to him and Carla and our usual humming neighbor. So we're even now.

Sam's the guy turning around as I heckle/take his picture

Of course, I might of cursed a player too. When rookie pitcher Michael Stutes came in to pitch in the 7th Inning, I was marvelling how he had yet to give up a run and had an ERA of 0.00. Two seconds after I said that, he gave up a 2 run homer, and easily had his worst outting of his young career, taking 15 pitches to get one out, walking two guys after the run. Maybe that's the James curse?

The Phillies got hardly any hitting, and lost 2-5. Too bad, since this means I am officially on a five game losing streak after watching a win in the first game. I only spotted one Braves fan the whole time. 

The disaster left, not me I swear

All in all, a nice time with Mom, even if I wish the Phils had gotten her a win. When we were leaving, a live set-up of ESPN's baseball tonight broadcasted, and a rather large contingent of Fightin's Fans started a chant for John Kruk, an old fan favorite. You almost never see crowds as insane as Phillies fans when broadcasts go out like that. I thought there might be a riot (in good fun, course.)

Crowd gathers around Baseball Tonight set

"We love Kruk!"

Crowd gathers

Speaking of opposing fans, I'll be one of those. I just sold my old home and signed my divorce papers. So its been kind of a crazy week for me. I decided to do something a little insane to mark it. I'm flying into Miami tomorrow to watch Roy Halladay versus Josh Johnson. Never been to Miami. Consider it a scouting experience for July.

Goodnight Philadelphia.

GAME STATS

PHI

Pitching:

Starter: LHP Cole Hamels (92 Pitches, 65 Strikes, 7 Innings, 5 Hits, 3 Runs, 3 ER, 2 Homeruns, 1 Walks, 9 Strikeouts, 2.83 ERA) L (4-2)

Relief: RHP Michael Stutes (15 Pitches, 3 Strikes, .1 Inning, 1 Hit, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 2 Walks, 1 Homerun, 3.86 ERA)

Relief: RHP Ryan Mathieson (24 Pitches, 12 Strikes, 1 Inning, 2 Hits, 2 Walks, 0.00 ERA)

Closing: RHP Danys Baez (6 Pitches, 4 Strikes, .2 Inning, 4.20 ERA)

Lineup:

1. SS Jimmy Rollins (4 At-bats, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 1 Left on base, .285 AVG)

2. CF Shane Victorino (5 At-bats, 1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Double, 1 Triple, 1 Strikeout, 3 Left on base, .293 AVG)

3. 3B Placido Polanco (5 At-bats, 2 Hits, 2 RBI, 3 Left on base, .366 AVG)

4. 1B Ryan Howard (3 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 2 Left on base, .268 AVG)

5. RF Ben Francisco (3 At-bats, 3 Left on base, .232 AVG)

6. LF Raul Ibanez (4 At-bats, 2 Hits, 1 Strikeout, .212 AVG)
7. 2B Wilson Valdez (3 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 Double, 2 Strikeouts, .247 AVG)
--- PH John Mayberry Jr. (1 At-bat, 2 Left on base, .289 AVG)

--- 2B Michael Martinez (.158 AVG)

8. C Dane Sardinha (2 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 Left on base, .222 AVG)
--- PH --- C Brian Schneider (2 At-bats, 1 Strikeout, .174 AVG)

9. SP Cole Hamels (2 At-bats, 1 Strikeout, 1 Left on base, .294 AVG)

--- PH Pete Orr (1 At-bat, 1 Hit, .268 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (Stutes)

--- Relief Pitcher (Mathieson)

--- Relief Pitcher (Baez)

--- PH Ross Gload (1 At-bat, 1 Hit, .316 AVG)

ATL
Pitching:

Starter: RHP Jair Jurrjens (91 Pitches, 54 Strikes, 6.1 Innings, 8 Hits, 1 Run, 1 ER, 1 Walk, 1 Strikout, 1.50 ERA) W (4-0)

Relief: LHP Eric O'Flaherty (6 Pitches, 4 Strikes, .2 Inning, 1.02 ERA) H (6)
Relief: LHP Jonny Venters (24 Pitches, 14 Strikes, 1 Inning, 3 Hits, 1 Run, 1 ER, 0.96 ERA)
Closer: RHP Craig Kimbrel (23 Pitches, 11 Strikes, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 2 Strikeout, 1.72 ERA) S (8)

Lineup:

1. LF Martin Prado (4 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 3 Left on base, 1 Caught Stealing, .268 AVG)

2. RF Jason Heyward (3 At-bats, 1 Walk, 2 Strikeouts, 2 Left on base, .226 AVG)
3. 3B Chipper Jones (5 At-bats, 2 Strikeouts, 2 Left on base, .272 AVG)

4. C Brian McCann (4 At-bats, 1 Hit, 2 Strikeouts, 1 left on base, .307 AVG)

5. 2B Dan Uggla (4 At-bats, 1 Strikeout, 2 Left on base, .207 AVG)

6. 1B Freddie Freeman (4 At-bats, 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Homerun, 1 RBI, .241 AVG)
7. SS Alex Gonzalez (3 At-bats, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Homerun, 2 RBI, .252 AVG)

--- SS Diory Hernandez (.000 AVG)

8. CF Nate McLouth (2 At-bats, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 2 Walks, 1 Strikeout, .267 AVG)

9. SP Jair Jurrjens (2 At-bats, 1 Strikeout, 1 Left on base, .000 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (O'Flaherty)

--- PH Eric Hinske (1 At-bat, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Homerun, 2 RBI, .342 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (Venters)

--- PH Brooks Conrad (1 Walk, .143 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (Kimbrel)

James's 2011 Stats

Starting Pitchers:

RHP Roy Oswalt 1

LHP Cole Hamels 2

LHP Ryan Edell (AA) 1

RHP Joe Blanton 1

RHP Eddie Bonine (AAA) 1

Total Games: 6

Minor League: 0-2

Phillies: 1-3

Overall: 1-5