Of White Caps, Cubs, and Dads

6/12/2011 PHILLIES VS CHICAGO CUBS

W 4-3

Father's Day, White Cap Giveaway

with Dad

Father's Day. Like I said before, my gift to people usually is hanging out with them. I'd rather spend time than give anyone something material (though a book or small memento usually brings a lot of weight. And postcards. Okay, maybe I like giving things, but hanging out is the ultimate prize!) So I went with my poppa to Phillies versus the Cubs. He drove up on me finishing up softball practice over yonder on Oregon Ave, which between biking around is usually when I'm at my sweatiest, as I sweat puddles on command.

Can someone tell me if this is a song, or what?

Dad with his lunch

Babes at the ballpark

The Phanatic infiltrates the Red Army

The Phils usually give away some kind of hat on father's day. Last year was the "Sarge" hat, a red golfy hat which I wore so much that it turned orange. I've had strangers ask me if I've owned it for 10 years. So time to retire it... This year's hat was a white cap. Kinda shitty, if you ask me. I know I'd immediately stain it if I wore it on a regular basis. Probably with ketchup, somehow.

Seas of whities

woo woo!

We arrived, ate some junk, and took our seats next to three lady Cubs fans. I am somewhat fascinated by Cubs fans, how they can still root for a team that hasn't won anything since 1908. Seems cruel. But still they come out in droves, and are spread across the country. The sheer size of Chicago and the fact that all Cubs games used to be in the day, making it perfect for families or night workers or people playing hookie might be a factor, but those "loveable loser" moments kind of make it like sado-mascism. I guess that's what it was like to be a Phillies fan before 1980, though.

Anyway, in a thick Chicago accent, one of them told me how she'd played in a semi-pro women's football league till she ripped up her knee (seems like most football players end up that way). So I made a mental note not to taunt her too much. (Though she did accept a high-five from me later on after the Phillies scored a run, which is highly unusual for opposing fans, since they usually take it for what the high-five offer is, an insult. So I gotta give her credit.)

The beer guy in our local section, 431, has a device where it kind of whirls and automatically removes the beer cap from the plastic bottle as he goes from section to section. The kicker is that he invented it himself to assist in quick beer delivery. Cool, huh?

Got to see one of my favorite things, a manager ejection, followed by an angry manager tirade against the ump. Charlie! Charlie!

Charlies Manuel trying to murder ump after he is ejected.

After the obligatory watching of Harry Kalas singing "High Hopes", following the Phillies rally in the 7th, we headed to the parking lot, where we sat for 45 minutes. Yes folks, never ever park in a ballpark parking lot. Park 8 blocks away, at least, and just walk there. Or better yet, take public transit. It'll be faster, I guarantee.

Game Stats

PHI

Pitching:

Starter: RHP Roy Oswalt (108 Pitches, 67 Strikes, 7 Innings, 5 Hits, 3 Runs, 3 ER, 1 Double, 1 Home Run, 2 Walks, 5 Strikeouts, 3.14 ERA) W (4-4)

Relief: RHP Michael Stutes (10 Pitches, 7 Strikes, 1 Inning, 2 Strikeouts, 2.41 ERA) H (4)

Closer: RHP Ryan Madsen (17 Pitches, 14 Strikes, 1 Inning, 1 Hit, 1 Strikeout, 2.17 ERA) S (15)

Lineup:

1. SS Jimmy Rollins (5 At-bats, 1 Hit, .256 AVG, 1 fielding error)

2. CF Shane Victorino (2 At-bats, 2 Runs, 1 Walk, 1 Left on base, .280 AVG)

3. 2B Chase Utley (3 At-bats, 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Double (15), 1 Walk, 1 Left on base, .261 AVG)

4. 1B Ryan Howard (3 At-bats, 3 Hits, 1 Double (3), 3 RBI (53), 1 Walk, .247 AVG)

5. RF Ben Franciso (1 At-bat, 2 Walks, 1 Left on base, .220 AVG)

--- PH Placido Polanco (1 At-bat, 1 Left on base, .309 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (Stutes)

--- Relief Pitcher (Madsen)

6. LF Raul Ibanez (4 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 RBI (32), 2 Strikeouts, 5 Left on base, .250 AVG)

7. C Carlos Ruiz (4 At-bats, 3 Strikeouts, 8 Left on base, .243 AVG)

8. 3B Wilson Valdez (4 At-bats, 3 Left on base, .240 AVG)

9. SP Roy Oswalt (3 At-bats, 3 Strikeouts, .111 AVG)

--- RF Domonic Brown (1 At-bat, .235 AVG)

CHC

Pitching:

Starter: LHP Doug Davis (108 Pitches, 63 Strikes, 6 Innings, 5 Hits, 1 Double, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 5 Walks, 6 Strikeouts, 5.90 ERA)

Relief: RHP Jeff Samardzija (11 Pitches, 8 Strikes, 1 Inning, 1 Strikeout, 4.29 ERA) H (2)

Relief: LHP Sean Marshall (25 Pitches, 14 Strikes, 1 Inning, 2 Hits, 1 Double, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 1 Strikeout, 2.08 ERA) BS (2), L (3-1)

Relief: RHP Rodrigo Lopez (2 Pitches, 1 Strike, .1 Inning, 6.10 ERA)
Closing: LHP John Grabow (6 Pitches, 4 Strikes, .2 Inning, 4.55 ERA)

Lineup:

1. RF Kosuke Fukudome (4 At-bats, 2 Strikeouts, 2 Left on base, .297 AVG)

2. 2B Darwin Barney (4 At-bats, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Strikeout, .295 AVG)

3. SS Starlin Castro (4 At-bats, 1 Run, 1 Hit, (16), 1 RBI (28), .301 AVG)

4. 1B Carlos Pena (3 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 1 Strikeout, 1 Left on base, .216 AVG)

5. 3B Aramis Ramirez (4 At-bats, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Home Run (4), 2 RBI (26), 1 Strikeout, 2 Left on base, .283 AVG)

6. LF Blake DeWitt (4 At-bats, 1 Hit, .289 AVG)

7. CF Tyler Colvin (4 At-bats, 2 Strikeouts, 2 Left on base, .105 AVG)

8. C Koyie Hill (3 At-bats, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 1 Strikeout, .239 AVG)

--- PR DJ LeMahieu (0 At-bats, .111 AVG_

9. SP Doug Davis (2 At-bats, 2 Left on base, .000 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (Samardzija)

--- PH Tony Campana (1 At-bat, .250 AVG)

--- Relief Pitcher (Marshall)

--- Relief Pitcher (Lopez)

--- Relief Pitcher (Grabow)

--- PH Geovany Soto (1 At-bat, 1 Left on base, .217 AVG)

James's 2011 Baseball Season Stats

Starting Phillies Organization Pitchers:

RHP Roy Oswalt 2

LHP Cole Hamels 4

LHP Ryan Edell (AA) 1

RHP Joe Blanton 1

RHP Eddie Bonine (AAA) 1

RHP Roy Halladay 1

LHP Ryan Feierabend (AAA) 1

RHP Vance Worley 1

LHP Jesse Biddle (A-) 1  

LHP Cliff Lee 1

Opposing Pitchers:

RHP Bud Norris (Astros) 1

RHP Chris Young (Mets) 1

LHP Scott Barnes (AA Akron, Indians Affiliate) 1 

RHP Shaun Marcum (Brewers) 1

LHP Andrew Miller (AAA Pawtucket, Redsox Affiliate) 1

RHP Jair Jurrjens (Braves) 1

RHP Josh Johnson (Marlins) 1

RHP Rick VandenHurk (AAA Norfolk, Orioles Affiliate) 1

LHP Jorge De La Ros (Rockies) 1

RHP Johnny Cueto (Reds) 1

RHP Mike Pelfrey (Mets) 1

RHP Scott Copeland (A- Delmarva, Orioles Affiliate) 1

LHP Ted Lilly (Dodgers) 1

LHP Doug Davis (Cubs) 1

Other:

RHP Nic Ungs (Somerset Patriots)

RHP Luke Massetti (Pennsylvania Road Warriors)

Total Games: 15

Non-Phillies Org Games: 1

Phillies Minor League: 2-2

Phillies: 5-5

Overall: 7-7