Phillie Phan Attic

Moving!

2010-02-16T17:50:00.002-05:00

The Phillie Phan Attic has moved to a better home! Find us at phanattic.tumblr.com

Big Things Coming

2010-02-15T22:26:00.001-05:00

Stay Tuned...

Necessary Super Bowl Post

2010-02-05T18:20:00.004-05:00

As any self-respecting sports blogger in America would tell you, it is now time for the ever-necessary Super Bowl post. Regardless of the sport you cover and care about, if you don't watch the Super Bowl, you are to the rest of the sports blogging industry as Creed is to the music industry. And thus, it is my duty to provide all of our off-season readers with a post about this year's epic showdown that will be watched more than anything else in this country for probably a couple years (I don't see the England-USA World Cup match garnering that many viewers).

There are many storylines in play here that have been drilled into your head for the past two weeks, so I'll avoid all that. But needless to say, we're interested in how this will play out. Could it be one of the greatest Super Bowls ever? Methinks it might. Could this year's E*TRADE baby be funnier and cuter than last years? Again, it's certainly possible. And will The Who provide the halftime entertainment that each year's Super Bowl promises and doesn't quite deliver (the exception being Janet Jackson's lovely breast)? Only time will tell, folks. But there's one problem with this year's Super Bowl that we haven't seen in some time.

I don't give a flying fuck, rat's ass, or two shits who wins this game. There isn't one team that I absolutely hate, or two for that matter (see Giants v. Patriots). There isn't one team I love, either. Peyton Manning is a billion times better than McNabb can ever dream to be, of course. And, yes, the Saints' offense striking at will and reviving the city that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina is thrilling. But the question still remains, and that's why I am dubbing this Super Bowl "'The Who' Do I Root For?" Super Bowl. And the answer to that question is quite simple: gambling, my friends. Put your money where your mouth is, even if it's already full of hot wings, pizza, and Natural Light.

We've got the celebrity predictions. Choose the Colts, and side with the likes of Maya Angelou, Lebron James, Tyler Hansbrough and Dick Clark. Pick the Saints, and join sides with Hulk Hogan, Shaq, Jennie Finch, and Peter from "The Brady Bunch". Personally, I took a vow earlier this season never to bet against Peyton Manning, so I'll say Colts 31 Saints 27 in a late thriller. Peyton will once again win MVP and hoist the Lombardi Trophy (which was made by Tiffany's, mind you) high above his head, before an angry Reggie Bush rips his face off, revealing the face of a half-alien half-stormtrooper and proving what we already believed to be true: Peyton Manning is from another planet. Reggie will then steal the trophy and proceed to propose to his lovely girlfriend, Kim Boslice. What's your Super Bowl prediction?

-Dan

Chooooooooch

2010-01-25T00:22:00.003-05:00

Today the Phillies signed sure-handed backstop Carlos Ruiz to a three-year deal worth 8.85 million dollars. Good value for a reliable catcher who has proven very capable of hitting in clutch situations, particularly in the playoffs. The chooch train will be riding through town for at least three more years, and thankfully so, because as I stated earlier, the Phillies have completely depleted their catching prospect supply. However, with Brian Schneider as his new backup, the two will prove to be viable plugs for the 8-hole this year and into the future.

-Dan

Phils Nab Contreras

2010-01-22T15:30:00.005-05:00

In what has become a 24-hour period that could rival Jack Bauer's level of excitement and adrenaline, the Phillies have finished off yet another ink job. Rube and the Gang have signed Cuban righty Jose Contreras to a one-year deal. The deal has been compared to Chan Ho Park's last year, where he was able to vie for a job as a starter but was ultimately used as a crucial bullpen piece. Contreras provides competition for Moyer and Kendrick for the fifth start spot, but should end up stabilizing our 'pen. Then again, who knows? It's a low risk move that could turn out to be huge. This all, of course, is pending a physical. Exact figures to be released soon.

-Dan

Vic Gets Inked, Chooch Remains

2010-01-22T12:54:00.002-05:00

Shane Victorino will be roaming center field at Citizens Bank Park for three more years, at the very least. Last night the Phils completed a big day by signing the Hawaiian to a three-year, 22 million dollar deal. I don't think anyone will argue that this was a great signing. Vic has become a fan favorite and a great option in center field every day. I'm glad to see we locked him up for the next couple years, and you should be too.

Chooch remains the last arbitration-eligible guy that we need to sign. Reports are we're looking at a multi-year deal on that front as well, and rightfully so. Chooch may not be the best hitter, but he knows how to handle his pitchers and he can hit in the fucking clutch. My money is on another three-year deal coming in the next couple days.

The question that the Vic signing begs now is what to do with Werth. He'll certainly demand a big contract after this season, and with Vic locked up and Ibanez around for another two years, and Dom Brown clawing at the door, it saddens me to say that I think this will be Jayson's last year as a Phillie. However, it's pretty damn early to be saying such things, so let's see how this all pans out.

Overall, a nice day for the Phils yesterday. Glad we don't have anyone here commenting about why we signed Blanton and didn't keep Lee. Not so glad we don't have anyone commenting at all. See you guys when spring training starts!

-Dan

Kentucky Joe Puts Pen to Paper

2010-01-21T17:20:00.002-05:00

"Kentucky" Joe "Bam-Bam" Blanton has inked himself a 3-year, $24mil deal to remain with the Phils, so long as they don't trade him, through 2013. Earlier today I stressed the need to get this done, considering how Blanton really holds down the middle of our rotation with question marks at the back end. It's a reasonable deal at first glance, and the fact that Blanton only makes $7mil this year frees up some cash to spend on that miserable bullpen of ours.

Quick quiz: Who did the Phils trade to the A's for Blanton back in '08?

Answer: Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman, and Matthew Spencer. Despite having a great last name for a pitcher, Outman has failed to greatly impress at the Major League level. I'd say we got a pretty good deal there. Glad to see Joe the Lumber back with the Phils for another three years.

Another interesting note: Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton under team control through 2012, Halladay is under team control through 2013, and JA Happ is under team control through 2014 and isn't arbitration eligible until 2012.

-Dan

Phils Work on Multi-Year Deals, Still Need Bullpen Help

2010-01-21T12:49:00.004-05:00

Reports indicate that the Phillies are currently trying to work out multi-year deals with the arbitration eligibles Joe Blanton, Shane Victorino, and Carlos Ruiz. It's important to get this kind of stuff worked out simply because arbitration can create an awkward situation between the player and team. Also, locking up one of Vic/Werth will prove key, consistent inning-eaters like Blanton are hard to come by, and the Phils traded away their two catching prospects in the Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay deals. Put simply- get it done, Rube.

While all of this is going on, the Phils bullpen remains the biggest question mark. Eyre, Condrey, and Park, three of the big middle-innings eaters last year, are now off the table and the only improvement we have made is an aging veteran. It's funny, the bullpen is often referred to as "relief", but that's exactly what our bullpen needs.

-Dan

Gagne? Gag Me.

2010-01-21T12:36:00.003-05:00

Eric Gagne, former Brewer, Ranger, Dodger, Red Sock, and most recently Quebec Capitale, will work out in front of Phillies scouts soon. The former big league closer hit the bigtime when he went 55-for-55 in save opportunities in 2003 for the Dodgers. Unfortunately for him, it was all for naught, as he was listed in 2007 in the Mitchell Report for his use of HGH and connection to juice-dealer Kirk Radomski. Now, let me just say, I would rather gag myself with an ice pick than see this tool in Phillies pinstripes. I'm not sure why it is that I hate him so much, but as somewhat of a baseball purist, I would hate to see this guy play for my team. Please, Ruben, STAY AWAY!

-Dan

Mets Watch

2010-01-14T12:33:00.003-05:00

Several big reports coming out of New York over the past 24 hours. First of all, Carlos Beltran had arthroscopic knee surgery yesterday. Some reports suggest that he did so without the Mets' permission, but regardless, he will miss at least 12 weeks. And so, the Mets' injury struggles continue. I never like to wish ill upon players for any team, simply because it's more fun to beat them when they don't have any excuses. Let's face it, winning the division just wasn't as fun last year. However, watching the Mets toil and writhe in pain is always entertaining.

In less newsworthy news, other reports are coming out that Mike Pelfrey has named his son Chase. So, I did a little research to see if Pelfrey was just picking a name or was inspired by the play of our own Chase Utley and sure enough, the facts point towards the latter theory. See for yourself: In 2009, Utley was 4-for-12 off Pelfrey with 2 home runs, 4 runs scored, and an astronomical OPS of 1.300. Those stats were surely enough inspiration to name his son after a man who has so thoroughly dominated him. Reminds me of Ben Sheets naming his son Seaver after pitching legend Tom Seaver. In this case, I applaud both Chase Utley for being such a stud and Mike Pelfrey for being so willing to appreciate Utley's holiness. Well done, gentlemen.

-Dan

Take 3: Why Big Mac Did It

2010-01-14T03:10:00.002-05:00

After years of waiting for a confession that we felt would never come, the untold story became the unraveled truth. Mark McGuire was once a home run icon, thrilling each of us with towering drive after towering drive, setting off more flashbulbs than question marks about his training. In deciding to come back to Major League Baseball, Big Mac set the stage for a confession and essentially set up his own press conference months before providing a no-so-stunning admission. So the ’98 king of swing has come forward as the fraud that baseball fans have long suspected him to be following a decade of hiding in the shadows of his shame. The only question left to answer about McGuire is what pushed him to finally come forward and confirm the tarnishing his legacy.

With the Hall of Fame’s door consistently slamming in his face, it is easy to explain the timing of his announcement occurring just after another failed attempt as a strategy to swing the vote in his favor. But when you have disgraced your sport, former teammates, past MLB greats, and fans across the nation, honesty means about as much as his 70 home run season now. Big Mac’s shot that the Hall of Fame has gone from very small to so slim that the Baseball Writers of America might as well mail him a letter explaining that a negative percentage of votes is indeed possible. Though McGuire was not smart enough to avoid steroids to begin with, he is now intelligent enough to know that the Hall is no juice bar, meaning his membership application will be denied without a second thought.

So why did he choose now to shock absolutely no one? The answer was pretty clear in his interview with the MLB network. Big Mac, scarred neck and all, was living a tortured life carrying the weight of a dark, embarrassing secret upon his drug-enhanced shoulders. He had to come forward to move forward not only in his baseball career, but his life, which now lacks a legacy he wants to remember. 1998’s home run champ is hoping to improve his public image over time, but this goal is secondary to ridding his mind and body of the dark truth that clouds his life. However, during his confession, McGuire made one very large and very noticeable mistake, one that may haunt him when the interview is replayed throughout history for the public.

Somewhere between the tears, deep sobbing breaths, and the King Kong-sized monkey sliding off of his back, Big Mac claimed that his reason for using the PED’s was only to recover from injury. Even if we were to believe that, the ex-ballplayer pushed forgiveness further away when he seemed to sincerely believe that his gains from drug-use did not aid his power-hitting ability. An admission to live an emotionally healthy life is one thing that we all can tolerate and even relate to, but when you look the fans who have the ultimate decision to give you a free pass to reconciliation in the eye and claim that you could have beaten Ruth and Maris without drugs, you lose a good amount of credibility. McGuire had already swallowed his pride in admitting the truth, so what’s just a little more of your ego to keep in check while on air. In simple terms: you cheated and the very men who you once called brothers in the clubhouse would be ashamed to see you granted access to the Hall of Fame.

The baseball world is now a little more informed about the steroid era, and a few more admissions may not be too far behind. I could have credited Big Mac for his brass baseballs after coming forward and ending his self-inflicted torture, but he could not swallow his pride long enough to let the news sink in. Note to the rest of the juice bar: come clean and end the pain – you’re not going to the Hall anyway.

-Rich

Linnehan's Take: McGwire was on Steroids?

2010-01-12T11:01:00.001-05:00

After hearing that Mark McGwire took steroids, like everybody else, I was in a state of shock. I can still barely believe it as I am writing this, so please bear with me. In all seriousness when I heard the news at first I asked myself, this is news? Who didn’t see this coming? Most people look back on the Mark McGwire, Slamming Sammy Sosa home run race of 1998 as two juiced up goliaths with shriveled balls making a mockery of our national pastime. But not me, does anybody remember that summer? That summer is why I love baseball so much, that race was so entertaining it had everybody in the nation tuning into every game that these two guys were playing. The Cubs of 98 were a pretty decent team, but the Cardinals were completely irrelevant, but both teams were constantly on national TV. I admit, I was rooting for McGwire all season long to break the record, I was eight years old and I was going to witness history that I actually cared about. I had no idea that either of these guys were taking 400mgs of horse tranquilizers every day, I didn’t even know what steroids were.

Another reason why I really don’t care that McGwire took steroids is because he produced my favorite toy ever, the Mark McGwire Power Bat. The bat was a regular bat, but the barrel was a canister of compressed air. This bat was insane, they gave you a very light ball that wouldn’t travel very far, but like any 8 year old kid, I would just use a tennis ball which would go twice as far. Looking back on the product it is very ironic that Mark McGwire was promoting a “performance enhancing bat”. The only bad thing about the bat was that if I didn’t have it, I would have never broken my parents bedroom window, and my Dad would have never hit me with the bat, and I wouldn’t have to live with the foster family anymore.

Christoph

P.S. Check out this video, Ted Kennedy calls the sluggers Mike McGwire and Sammy Soooser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AggeSjZwx6s

Two All-Beef Patties, Special Sauce, Lettuce, Cheese, Pickles, Onions...

2010-01-12T10:24:00.003-05:00

Now that the proverbial steroid cat is out of Mark McGwire's assbag, which clearly no one saw coming, let us reflect…

Mark McGwire was a great hitter. The summer of '98 was magical, I tell you. In fact, the night Mark McGwire hit number 62 is one of my oldest memories. I was tuned in to every game that summer, watching McGwire and Slammin' Sammy battle it out, all the while knowing that Big Mac was the soon-to-be home run king. Like most people remember when they first heard that Pearl Harbor had taken place or JFK was shot, I remember specifically where I was and what I was doing when McGwire broke Maris' record once and for all, though no non-juicers have come quite close since the Babe (next in line of non-juicers? Ryan Howard's 58 in '06). We all basked in the summer glory that was those two behemoths grinding out blast after blast.

And what has that behemoth now become? A whimpering, voice-cracking, tear-shedding baby. A big fucking baby. And I get that. He has to cry on national TV in order for the circus to go away. But did Big Mac really have to go through all this? What is it that he hopes to get out of it?

McGwire was already out of the public eye and out of everyone's minds. By now, we have dismissed him as a steroid user and moved on to our next public hanging. What is it that made McGwire crawl out of his dark hole, roll around in gasoline, flick his lighter, and throw himself in front of us to be crucified?

Several ideas come to mind. 1. McGwire honestly just misses baseball. He wanted to come back to coach with his long-time manager Tony LaRussa and knew that 'fessing up was the only way he'd be allowed back in the game without a media circus following. 2. This is all part of a Hall of Fame campaign. McGwire clearly wants us all to know that he could have performed just as well without the juice. Well, Big Mac, we ain't buyin' that chickenshit-bullshit you're sellin'. Glad you're coming clean, but just leave it at that. 3. McGwire is addicted to coke and is running out of money (joking, but he may actually be running out of money for some reason) and needs a book deal. So, he comes clean, writes the "whole truth" in a book called "Confessions of Big Mac" and gets a couple mil, all in ones, to stuff in some stripper's vagina. EDIT: Nevermind, check out his wife. 6 to Midnight...

Who knows the real reason? I doubt any of us ever will. However, this now has some serious Hall of Fame implications, because if McGwire somehow gets in, we have to let all the deserving cheaters in. Voting in the Big Mac would be swinging the Cooperstown doors wide open for The Rocket, Slammin' Sammy, Pettite, A-Rod, Pudge, and Manny, among others. I don't know about you, but of the gentlemen listed above, I want zero (0) of them in the sacred shrine of our nation's pastime. So if, for some reason, Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, or anyone else with a HoF vote reads this, please, please, please, PLEASE, do not let McGwire in.

-Dan

Phillies Notes

2010-01-10T15:58:00.003-05:00

Lost in all of this gridiron hoopla are some notes from around the Major Leagues. Regarding former Phils:

Scott Eyre has officially retired. Out of the 'pen over the past two seasons, Eyre posted a sub-2 ERA and was a vital piece of our bullpen, holding things down from the left side last season in the absence of JC Romero. Eyre is a class act and I am sad to see him go, but glad he retired as a Phillie. Many thanks go out to Scott for the role he played in bringing that parade to Philadelphia.

Brett Myers has signed with the Houston Astros for a one-year deal worth $5MM. I know Brett was a bit of a dick, but many people here loved him and when I heard this news, I must be honest, it pissed me off. One year, 5 mil? We couldn't give him that to make our rotation Halladay, Hamels, Myers, Happ, Blanton? Dear Lord, that would be filthy. We're all aware that when Myers is on, he can be a high-end number 2 starter. The Astros got him on the cheap and despite his distasteful comments last season and his obnoxious personality, he would have made our team much better. Best wishes to Brett as he moves on, except for when he pitches against the Phils. When Brett comes back, I will certainly cheer for him. How will you remember Brett Myers?

Lastly, the Reds have reportedly signed highly-touted Cuban pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman to a 5-year $30MM deal. The Phils sent scouts to watch him pitch but were never thought to be in on him. Conversely, the Mets were believed to be highly interested in Chapman, so his signing with the Reds is a bit of a delight to me.

-Dan

P.S. Ray Rice is an absolute stud.

Hangover from Hell

2010-01-10T11:46:00.002-05:00

We all know the feeling- you wake up, your head is throbbing, you can't fall back to sleep, you make a few stops to the bathroom where you can't decide whether you have to shit or puke first, and you don't want to eat anything for the rest of your life. It's called being hung over. Now, take all of those ingredients and mix in some tears and bloodshed, smeared eye black on your face, your beer-soaked McNabb jersey on the floor with "ugget" taped over the "abb" part, and four missed calls from some douche bag Cowboys fan that you're kinda ok with being friends with the other 364 days of the year (give or take)- but not this one. What do you get when you mix all of these together (as if the title of the post doesn't give it away)? Yes, my friends, you get a hangover from hell.

As this is a Phillies blog, I won't dwell on much regarding the awful play of our beloved/hated Iggles. Rather, I'll just weigh in on one thought- McNabb is out. He's gone. If he stays, I can't follow this team anymore. He's good, but obviously can't get us a ring, and I will gladly run him out of town. Even if it takes a few years to rebuild with Kolb under center, I'm willing to sacrifice for the future. In two years, Kolb, Maclin, Celek, Jackson, Shady, and Weaver will all be hitting their strides. Maybe we can deal McNabb to the Raiders or somebody for some better tacklers and O-linemen. What the fuck am I saying? I'm so pissed off right now I don't know why I'm actually talking about the future of the Eagles. I am sorry, readers.

Time to move on. Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in 39 days. It is time to shift our attention toward the pin-striped heroes who led us to glory in 2008 and forget about the bums in green who let us down on a scheduled yearly basis. As my father texted me last night (in the second quarter, no less), "Goodbye Donovan, goodbye Andy." See you next year, I'm not looking forward to it.

-Dan

Phan Attic Pigskin Pick 'Em

2010-01-06T11:10:00.004-05:00

Ahh ladies and gentlemen it’s that magical time of year, it’s colder than all fuck outside so sit your balls by a warm fire and watch some incredible playoff pigskin. There are three rematches from last week; in the NFC it’s the Eagles at Cowgirls and the Favreless Packers at media darling Kurt Warner and the Cardinals. Only one rematch in the AFC, J-E-T-S jets jets jets at Who dem Bengals??!, rounding out the AFC are the Wacco for Flacco Ravens at the Fag Patriots…

And finally the predictions

NFC

Eagles 24- Boys 3

During the pre-game, a video of Jerry Jones taking a dump on a glorious 60 yard screen with incredible high definition will be seen by the 40,000,000 people in the stadium, the Cowboys won’t know what hit them. After the loss Rich Elles (seen below) will take another picture of himself from an above angle, but this time he will be frowning. Troy Aikman and Joe Buck will both be fired after they are caught under the press tables, during the post game interview, sucking Tony Romo’s wiener (and inappropriately touching themselves)

Packers 0- Cardinals 32

You kidding me? The Packers think they can win without Brett Favre on their team? What a joke this game will be.

AFC

Jets 17- Bengals 21

Carson Palmer’s trick knee will give out in the 3^rd quarter, but the Jets don’t have enough fire power to capitalize. Chad Ochocinco will later change his name to Chad Zissman.

Ravens 13- Fag Patriots 10

Another thriller, Bill Belechick will rip his sweatshirt on an exposed nail in the locker room before the game, and his head just wont be in it.

-Christoph Linnehan

I must agree here. There's only so much excitement that exists in the world of baseball in January. And thus, it's time to make some goddamn football picks.

NFC

Iggles- 28 Bovine Males- 24

Chris makes a good point- it must be so difficult for Tony Romo to focus with Joe Buck's old crusty tongue on his balls all game. However, we all know what happened last week. I expect more of the same out of the Bovine Males' offense, as Sean McDermott just doesn't have a remedy for the fact that none of our defenders can tackle. However, I foresee a crucial turnover (I'm looking at you, Asante) and this time, Celek, Jackson (sheeeeesh), and Maclin will gash the C-boys' secondary to help the Birds outscore Jerry Jones' Army.

Packers 31- Cardinals 17

This is where I disagree with Christoph. It's true, the Packers don't have Favre. But now they have another guy who goes by the name of Rodgers and looks like a sloth that shaved its entire body and put all of the hair on its eyebrows. Rodgers is one of the creepiest looking players in the league today, but will show why the Cardinals are frauds this year. I expect a blowout, but in favor of the Cheeseheads.

AFC

Jets 24- Bengals 14

Revis shut Ochocinco down a week ago and will continue to do the same this week. Aside from that storyline, I have extremely little interest in this game, as I don't expect either of these teams to have anything close to a chance against whichever one of the Chargers/Colts they play.

Ravens 10- Fag Patriots 20

Flacco, Aaron Rodgers' long lost huge-eyebrow creepy-looking twin brother, will throw for two touchdowns, but one will hit Derrick Mason right in the face and fall to the ground. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, as the Welker-less Patriots will crush the Ravens' dreams at blustery Foxborough.

-Dan

The Future of Charlie Manuel

2010-01-06T03:46:00.003-05:00

Gaining the support and trust of the fans in the most passionate, driven sports town in the world is a task that has been accomplished by few Phillies players and personnel. Maintaining the faith of the faithful has proven to be an even greater challenge, requiring both a likeable public image and, more importantly, consistent success on the field. Enter Charlie Manuel, taking the helm of the Phillies in 2005 and looking to lead a franchise to glory that it had not known since the days of the ‘Wild Thing’ and the Kruker. The second half of the decade was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for the Phils under Uncle Cholly’s watch, prompting reactions from the phaithful on both ends of the scale. Success in this town only lasts until the next mistake, as evidenced by Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels, leaving one large question looming over The Bank’s home dugout: What does the future hold for the kind-hearted ‘players’ coach’ Charlie Manuel?

An old proverb states that in order to know where you’re going, you must examine where you’ve been. For Manuel, the path has stretched over several countries and leagues, demonstrating his ability to interact with players of all types and abilities. But more specifically, looking back at his Phillies career and each of the five seasons, we find that his job standing at the top step of the dugout began at the bottom of the barrel. Needing to take the next step and move up from 2^nd in the NL East, Manuel lacked the push he was hired for, finishing just a game back of the wild-card two years running even with blooming talent around the infield and starting rotation. Finally, with enough frustration and a 4-11 record to begin the 2007 season we all remember to be magical, Phillies fans and media were calling for his head and remembering the days when we could have had Jim Leyland, who was at that point coming off a World Series appearance. But it was in the toughest of times in which Manuel showed why the Phillies had chosen the ‘aw shucks’ West Virginian to captain the ship.

Somehow, even after losing prized acquisition Freddy “ten million per win” Garcia to injury, having Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels all miss significant time, and seeing the ‘games back’ column constantly growing, Charlie answered the calls for his firing with a miraculous run to the NL East title. Riding the back end of the bullpen to success and making all the right calls, the Phillies kept battling until winning the NL East crown on the season’s final day. After getting swept out of the playoffs, Cholly took lessons learned and came back even stronger in 2008, overtaking the then half-decent Mets yet again. Through September and October in late ’08, Manuel seemed to be pushing all of the right buttons, again using a consistent bullpen to push through the playoffs. With a clubhouse that seemed like the best in sports, Charlie ended the curse of Billy Penn and guided the team to a title, earning his first right and setting off a long-overdue parade down Broad Street.

Over the last season, the sounds of fans chanting the manager’s name have started to fade, but the team still pushed on to another NL Pennant. But the year was not without increasingly questionable calls by Manuel, as he stuck with Brad Lidge until the bitter end like he was his own child, particularly in Game 4 of the World Series. The man who once outsmarted the Dr. Joe Maddon PhD was reduced to using half of the starting rotation, the entire bullpen, and everyone in line at the nearby concession stand to pitch during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the 2009 NLCS. Small tasks and double switches have now haunted the same lovable guy who inspired the team to bring home a much-needed championship. Fans will soon begin to wonder just how long their Phils will remain under the tutelage of Manuel if mistakes continue.

In sports, most tend to agree you are only as good as your last play, game, or in this case, decision. The need for a change is not yet apparent, but the pressure of leading such a talented team won’t help Uncle Cholly gather any praise from the fans and media, particularly if the team struggles to match the sky-high expectations. Manuel has gone from being a man running from an angry mob to temporary legend in this city, leaving some fans feeling forever indebted to the first man to lead the Phils to a title since Dallas Green. If things aren’t perfect at The Bank in 2010, the top step of the dugout could warm up underneath the Philadelphia skipper, and this time, it’ll take more than a playoff appearance to put out the fire.

-Rich

Phils Ink Danys Baez

2010-01-05T12:23:00.004-05:00

Although it has been reported for the past couple weeks, no official confirmation has come until today that the Phillies have signed right-handed reliever Danys Baez. Despite an interesting spin on a great name, Danys also possesses one of the best groundball rates in baseball. Baez has pitched for the Indians, Braves, Orioles, and most notably as a closer for the Rays. The Orioles gaves Baez a three-year deal worth $19MM back in '06, but due to some injury-plagued seasons, didn't quite get the value they were expecting. In Baez, the Phillies get a solid bullpen arm that can induce double plays if necessary and possible fill in for Brad Lidge should the mole-faced one falter once again.

With JC Romero recovering from surgery and already a question mark as it is, Baez should stabilize what is currently a very weak bullpen. Now the Phils just need to fix the lefty side of it (cough Scott Eyre cough).

The details of the Baez deal are still uncertain, but it is likely for two years. He's nothing to get too excited about, but at age 32, Baez still has the stuff to perform at the back end of our 'pen.

-Dan

UPDATE: The Baez deal is for two years, $5.25 MM. Not bad, Rube.

Saber-what?

2010-01-04T17:23:00.004-05:00

There are many sabers in the world today, most of which are very dangerous and can even be deadly. There's the lightsaber, the saber-toothed tiger, and my favorite of all, sabermetrics. Some of you know what sabermetrics are; in fact, those of you who are more well-versed in baseball knowledge ought to. To the rest of you, I say, fear not. Sabermetrics are simple, in a very complicated sort of way. Simply, they are just advanced statistics. But when you dig deeper, they bring new life to the game played on the field. They give new values to players in ways that you would never even think of.

The word "sabermetrics" comes from the term SABR, which stands for the Society of American Baseball Research. You may have heard of Bill James, the father of sabermetrics. In the late 70's/early 80's, James began to create and publish his own research, known as the Bill James Baseball Abstracts, which analyzed in-depth statistics that went way beyond "errors" and "runs batted in". Since James invented sabermetrics, the different kinds of statistical evaluations have evolved and developed over the years to come closer and closer to determining the overall value of a baseball player. Here, we will take these different statistical measures one by one and break them down for you. After all, this is where the future of baseball lies.

This week, we begin with a more simple measure that many of you may already be familiar with because of fantasy baseball, or for other reasons. It is just beginning to break into the mainstream, and rightfully so. OPS (which stands for Offensive Production Statistic or On-Base Plus Slugging) is an easy way to look at a player's overall offensive production. As the name suggests, the stat is found by combining a player's on-base percentage with their slugging percentage. By doing so, it accounts for a player's ability to reach base (more so than batting average because it accounts for HBP and BB), as well as their overall power (slugging accounts for total bases reached per AB). As you can see, using a statistic like OPS is much more useful in determining a player's value offensively than batting average, on-base percentage, or slugging percentage.

Now, let's briefly take a look at this statistic in use. Placido Polanco, whom the Phillies have signed to play third base in 2010, had an OPS of .727 last year with the Tigers. Taking all things into account (changing leagues and home ballparks, etc.), the Bill James Handbook: Projections 2010 has Polanco with a projected OPS of .746 for 2010. Contrast that to Pedro Feliz, who posted a 2009 OPS of .694 and BJH Projection of .696 for 2010, and I'd say we got ourselves a fairly decent upgrade. However, it has been suggested that Polanco might bat in the 2 slot for the Phils in 2010, shifting Shane Victorino down to 7th. The stats imply that this might not be such a bright idea, as Victorino has posted a higher OPS as well as on-base percentage over the past several years and is just entering his prime now.

Stay tuned for another episode of "Saber-what?" coming very soon to see if the Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee deal was really a good idea, and if Chris Linnehan piercing his grundle is also a good idea.

-Dan

New Year, Big Changes

2010-01-03T19:56:00.006-05:00

I think that this is an oddly fitting time for me to bring up the fact that the Phan Attic will be going through some changes soon. It's a new year and, all cliches aside, it's a good time for us to take a bit of a new approach to things around here. Will has been shipped off to Thailand by his family to begin training as a professional masseuse (happy endings only an extra $50), which leaves a hole in our staff the size of Placido Polanco's temples. Which leads me to this: the Phan Attic will have a couple new contributors, the first of which can be seen in the picture above (and below, they're both so classic I couldn't go with just one). However, don't think you've seen the last of Will. He'll be reporting in from his sweaty cot underneath the staircase every once in a while with thoughts on the way the season is going and whatever meaningless jibber-jabber he has to contribute. There may be some other additions to come, and I expect that many of our readers will be excited to see some fresh faces around here. So now, without further ado, let me introduce, the one, the only, the greatest, the gayest...
RICH ELLES! Rich was kind enough to share with me some personal information which I will now relay to you, much like Will and I did when the blog was born.

Name: Rich Elles

Age: 20-something

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Marital Status: Engaged to Tony Homo

Hobbies: Watching "Kids in the Sandbox", loving the Cowboys, attending toga parties with Molly

Phavorite Phillie: Danys Baez

Interesting Phact: Rich is known to use more hair gel on any given day than the entire cast of "Jersey Shore" combined

Let's all give good ol' Rich a very warm welcome to the blog.

-Dan

A Look at the Division

2009-12-29T12:19:00.003-05:00

With but 50 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, there remains little time for teams to continue to make moves and even littler moves that are left to be made. And so, we take some time today to evaluate all the moves the division has made. MLBTradeRumors.com published a little piece today that says who each team acquired and who they lost. Here is our shortened version, removing some of the prospects we aren't too familiar with:

Phillies gained: DeWayne Wise, Placido Polanco, Brian Schneider, Roy Halladay, Ross Gload, Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies

Phillies Lost: Cliff Lee, Pedro Feliz, Kyle Drabek, Travis D'Arnaud, Michael Taylor, Jack Taschner

Mets gained: Alex Cora, Chris Coste, Kelvim Escobar, Ryota Igarashi, Henry Blanco

Mets lost: JJ Putz, Brian Schneider

Braves gained: Tim Hudson, Melky Cabrera, Troy Glaus, Joe Thurston, Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito

Braves lost: Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Javier Vasquez

Marlins gained: uhh...looks like another one of those "rebuilding years"

Marlins lost: Ross Gload, Jeremy Hermida, Nick Johnson, Matt Lindstrom

Nationals gained: Scott Olsen, Pudge Rodriguez, Jason Marquis, Josh Whitesell, Eric Bruntlett, Matt Capps, (Stephen Strasburg)

Nationals lost: Josh Bard

Overall Thoughts: The Phillies lost some valuable prospects but upgraded their rotation and lineup, however marginally. Their final offseason grade will be based on the bullpen moves that will be made over the next couple months.

The Mets haven't done much, but are still in the mix for a power corner outfielder. The Braves have actually downgraded in my mind, swapping Soriano and Gonzalez at the back of their bullpen for Wagner and Saito. They also swapped a solid starter in Vasquez for former Yankee Melky Cabrera. The Nationals seem to have improved the most, adding both Marquis, Capps, and while not through trade or free agency, Stephen Strasburg to the front of their rotation. And the Marlins have certainly lost the most in Johnson, Hermida, and Lindstrom without much gain in return. With the Mets regaining health, it should be another close race, while the Nats seem to be making a strong push to emerge from the basement.

-Dan

EDIT: The Mets have officially inked Bay to a long-term deal. It's a shame, I really liked Bay and honestly wanted him to end up on the Mariners. However, the Canadian is now a New York Metropolitan and will be wreaking havoc on NL East pitchers for many years to come. Unfortunately for the Mets, Bay doesn't help their outfield defense situation very much. He certainly improves their lineup, which should also consist of a healthy Reyes, Wright, and Beltran. Minaya has made his move, but with a suspect rotation, I think Jimmy Rollins will agree that the Phils are still the top dogs.

The Future Of The Phillies

2009-12-26T12:13:00.002-05:00

While I'm not familiar with the 1980's show "The Dynasty", it is very clear the the third season of the Philadelphia Phillies Dynasty is about to begin. The Cliff Lee/Roy Halladay business has settled and all of you have already heard every opinion possible and have made up your minds on how you feel about that situation. The fact of the matter is we just closed a deal on one of the best pitchers in all of baseball...for 4 years. While our franchise players are getting older (Jimmy Rollins/Chase Utley-31 Ryan Howard/Jayson Werth-30) it's important to note the ages of our northern foes that just beat us in the World Series (A-Rod-34 Johnny Damon/Derek Jeter-35 Hideki Matsui-36). See? There are many years left in these players. Many years left in this team. Many years left in this Dynasty.
Ruben says it over and over, he's building this team for the future while trying to win now. I look at this team and I get giddy. The lineup is just as powerful as 2008 and our starters just got real scary. Cole Hamels is 25. To say he will never return to World Series MVP form is crazy. Sure, he had a bad season but I can only imagine how intimadating our 1, 2 punch will be with Hamels back. Anyway, I digress. All I'm trying to say is that Philadelphia will make a mark of this decade like the Patriots did for in the NFL. Sit back, buckle your seat belt, grab your dollar dog, and enjoy the ride.

-Will

Happy Holidays

2009-12-25T10:45:00.003-05:00

On behalf of Will Cosden and myself, founders of the Phillie Phan Attic, we would like to wish all you Phils phans a very merry Christmas and happy holidays. We are both very thankful for your support and your undying passion for our Phightin Phils. We hope you are all satisfied with your piles of gifts, surely resembling our own piles of Phillies memorabilia. Enjoy your week of friends, family, laughter, and booze.

-Dan

TXTS FRM CHRSTMS V (texts from christmas eve):

Will: "Sippin on coke and rum, I'm like so what, I'm drunk, it's Christmas Eve, I'm about to have me some fun"

What the hell is wrong with the Flyers?

2009-12-24T00:24:00.002-05:00

Although the baseball world continues to spin during the offseason, we here at the Phan Attic recognize that most people turn their attention toward the other shows in town. The Eagles have been lighting shit up, and you can expect a post before the playoffs from Will, our resident Eagles expert. But for now, here's a word about the Flyers from a good friend...

Before this hockey season started, there was a buzz about the Flyers, a buzz louder than Rich Elles’ dildo on a Saturday night. We had all of our stars coming back, and the addition of Ray Emery and Chris Pronger had everybody talking. When the season started, the team looked sharp, Emery was playing out of his gourd and the team was scoring goals. After a few weeks, everybody is left wondering, what the hell happened? The Flyers main theme for the team this year is “Relentless”, something that the team has been anything but. In the Flyers 30 games, they have only overcome a deficit 3 times. 3 times! When the Flyers fall behind, they stay behind. That shows a lack of confidence, leadership and firepower.

One thing that pisses me right off is that this team isn’t scoring. What the hell? Where is the team from last year? Carter is shitting his pants night in and night out, and Richards is doing the same. Giroux and JVR have been our only bright spots. The addition of Pronger on D was supposed to put our powerplay over the top, but recently, I don’t think that the Flyers could score a powerplay goal on an open net, they look extremely sloppy out there.

Partly, things can be blamed on coaching, which is why John Stevens was fired. The Flyers bring in new blood with Peter Laviolette the new coach. After tonight’s game I have hope. Our sturdy defenseman Kimmo Timmonen had 2 goals and an assist, while our young gun, JVR had a goal as well. With Ray Emery hurt, Brian Boucher has played decently for a backup goalie, but getting Emery back will be nice (don’t say anything Mr. Racist). Going back to my point, the Flyers were 0 for 4 on the powerplay. Atrocious! But, the reason I have hope is because they came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat a pretty good Bruins team. I love the Flyers but they better pick up their shit.

FUCK THE RANGERS, DEVILS AND PENGUINS,

GO FLYERS

-Chris Linnehan, a friend to the blog

Ps. If Ryan Smith reads this... get us winter classic tickets

The Situation

2009-12-19T17:18:00.003-05:00

There are many types of situations, some of which are bad and others of which are good. For those of you who watch the new MTV hit "Jersey Shore," you are familiar with one character who refers to himself as "the situation" in reference to his absolutely ripped abs. He uses these abs and his obviously charming personality to pick up any girls he desires. As you can tell by this description, this would be considered a good situation.

However, we're here to discuss a different type of situation, one that may not be so favorable. That situation, my friends, is what I like to call the closer situation. We're all familiar with the troubles Brad Lidge had last year throughout the season and even into the World Series. It seemed remarkable that a team with such an awful closer could even make it to the World Series. But what seemed even more remarkable was that it was the same closer who didn't blow a single save the year before and led the Phillies to a World (phucking) Championship.

The Phillies have been making headline moves this offseason to bolster their lineup and starting rotation, but have yet to do anything to stabilize the back end of their bullpen. A backup plan would certainly be a wise precaution, but judging by Lidge's career trends and Madson's relative dominance as a setup man, it may not be all that necessary. Lidge has shown over his career that he can bounce back from a poor season, as he did in Houston, with more brilliance. Whether or not a change of scenery may be in order for the mole-faced one is yet to be seen, but for the time being, let's all put our faith in Brad as the new season begins knowing that he's been through this once before and if things don't work out, Ruben won't be too slow to pull the trigger this time.

-Dan

Roy Halladay is Officially a Phil

2009-12-16T17:13:00.003-05:00

Above is an image from the press conference introducing Roy Halladay to the world for the first time as a Philadelphia Phillie. What a beautiful sight that is. This is the first of many times Roy will be seen smiling in his Phillie pinstripes. Welcome to Philadelphia, Doc.

You may recall that I reported on December 10th (it is now December 16th) that Ruben Amaro was quoted as saying, "I don't think there's any likeliness. None," on the topic of the Phillies trading for Halladay. Well, now we know not to take anything Rube says too seriously and that he may have one or two tricks up his sleeve.

-Dan

Trade Afterthoughts

2009-12-16T13:04:00.003-05:00

…And the ripple effect has already begun. The Metropolitans of New York have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of free agents Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, and Bengie Molina. And to that I say, "thank you." Let's be honest, the ineptitude of the Mets made last year pretty boring. Yeah, the race between us, the Marlins and the Braves showed some life, but the rivalry that has developed between the Mets and Phillies recently lost some of that punch that it had in years past. Mets fans ended up crying in the beer a couple months earlier than usual last time, leading to the Phillies coasting toward their third straight division title. With the Phils making a move to have arguably the best pitcher in the game alongside Cole Hamels at the top of their rotation, the Mets better make a move or two in order to keep this thing entertaining.

There is something else I would like everyone here to consider before getting all worked up about the prospects we gave up in this thing. Trust me, I had a huge crush on Drabek. The thought of him in our rotation at the end of this season made me drool. But let's consider what the Jays were asking for Halladay at last year's trade deadline. It was a lot, right? And basically, they were trading a year and a half's worth of Doc. Now, let's say the Phils use his services, assuming they don't decline, for two years. Then, if they decide they want to trade him (there is nothing to suggest this is their plan at all whatsoever but bear with me), they would theoretically be able to flip him for more than the Jays wanted to last year. So we depleted our farm somewhat (Aumont, Gillies, and Ramirez excite me, but not nearly as much as Drabek, Taylor, and D'Arnaud), but there's still talent down there and Halladay on the extension we signed him to is worth more than all six of the prospects involved. So take some time to chew on that before you jump down Rube's throat. I think he's earned our trust with a trip to the World Series last season.

-Dan

Welcome To Philly, Doc

2009-12-15T17:35:00.003-05:00

Now that the deal is all but signed and sealed, the details are clear.

The Phillies will be receiving:

Blue Jays' and all-universe pitcher Roy Halladay (with a 3-year extension worth $60 mil and a one-year vesting option worth $20 mil)

Mariners' RP Phillippe Aumont

Mariners OF Tyson Gillies

Mariners SP Juan Ramirez

$6 mil cold hard cash from the Jays

The Phillies will be parting with:

Cy-Young winner Cliff Lee

Top prospect Kyle Drabek

OF Michael Taylor

C Travis D'Arnaud

Gut Reaction: We knew all along Amaro had his sights set on Halladay. Last year, the Jays wanted Drabek, Happ, and one of Taylor of Brown. To basically get him now, it became Marson, Donald, Carrasco, and Knapp (last year's package for Lee), in addition to Drabek, Taylor, and D'Arnaud. However, in the two deals we have also received Ben Francisco, Aumont, Gillies, and Ramirez.

Thus, the jury is still out on this deal and probably will be for quite some time. I keep swinging back and forth but the bottom line is, if Lee was unwilling to sign an extension and we got Halladay for four years, I can't complain too much. Drabek is going to be a stud, and there is no doubt about that. D'Arnaud was clearly our best catching prospect, especially with the departure of Marson last season. And Taylor isn't as great as Dom Brown, but should still translate into a solid everyday outfielder. However, Halladay is the best pitcher in the league and has been for some time. Coupled with Hamels at the front end of our rotation for four years in the future, and I can hear the Mets, Braves, and Marlins fans whimpering (Nats fans don't exist).

Now, there are a lot of things to consider here and we'll be analyzing this deal for many days, weeks, and months to come. It's the biggest deal to go down this offseason and you'll be hearing about it well into the future. Some are even calling it the biggest deal in the Phillies' history already. Something I'd like to look at is the prospects. We know what Lee and Halladay have to offer at the Major League level, but the prospects involved may determine the relative success of this deal. So, in the coming days we will go through the prospects one by one to determine the potential we are receiving as well as giving up.

There is a debate that lies beneath this move, one that Ruben Amaro Jr. has surely run over in his head time after time. That debate is one of trading prospects for proven talent. Since taking the reins as GM, Amaro has dished out quite a bit of prospects, and valuable ones at that. Keep in mind when reviewing this deal, that Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee were both prospects also at one point. Now, also consider that the Phillies have their best players- Howard, Utley, Rollins- in their prime, leaving a brief window in which to win another World Series or two. And there are players- Drabek, Taylor, and D'Arnaud- who could help the Phillies remain a force well into the future. And then there is a player who will push the Phils back into position to bring home another World Champions, and his name is Roy Halladay.

Also, for those of you who are unaware, I have some significant ties to the Mariners organization. From what I am hearing, they're happy with the deal as well they should be. They have added Chone Figgins (to partner with Ichiro) to their lineup and Cliff Lee to their rotation (to go along with King Felix). With the right leadership, they should be able to contend in 2010. I'll be doing my best in the coming weeks to get reaction from my connections out in Seattle, and this will make my stop to Peoria for Spring Training (after I hit Clearwater) that much more interesting.

So now that you've heard what I have to say, we turn it to you, Phan Attic-ans. What's your take on the Roy Halladay deal?

Update: It appears as though the Jays have already flipped Michael Taylor to the A's for OF/1B Brett Wallace. This new Jays GM came in with work to do and he is doing it.

-Dan

A Gift in Time for the Halladays?

2009-12-14T21:21:00.002-05:00

With a week and change left until Christmas, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is about to deliver the number one item on the lists of fans across the area. Coveted since the 2009 MLB season’s Christmas-like Trade Deadline, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Harry Leroy Halladay III finally seems destined for the top spot in the Phillies rotation pending a physical and more importantly, a contract extension. And while the deal isn’t quite done, ‘Doc’ seems likely to fit well into the Phils’ pinstriped uniforms, one that by the time it sells its first replica will have outsold names like ‘Eaton’ and ‘’Lieber’ combined. So as an extension is negotiated, Philadelphia will hold its collective breath just to be sure things don’t turn out like they did in the summer when former Jays GM J.P Ricciardi caused Halladay’s stock to drop faster than Tiger’s reputation.

But for all great players and most championships for the Yankees, there is a large price to be paid. Just as Clifton Phifer Lee was unpacking his suitcases in Philadelphia after just a half-season at the Bank, the order to bundle his belongings and head to Seattle was given as part of what will became a three-team blockbuster all centered around the Phillies finally getting what they originally wanted, this time wrapped in a Christmas bow. The complete deal has yet to be announced pending the physicals and the all-important contract extension, leaving the details fuzzy, but it looks like Toronto will get a prized pitching prospect from Seattle along with Phils rising-star catcher Travis d'Arnaud and another Phillies prospect in exchange for Halladay. While we know the other player in the deal most likely won’t be Domonic Brown, Michael Taylor might be in play. Lee will head to the Mariners in exchange for what looks to be two mid-level prospects going the Phillies.

As last few details are being hammered out and B-level prospects are being haggled over, we finally have an estimation of the final price for Doc Halladay. Take the package that the Phillies sent over to Cleveland, nothing devastatingly unreasonable, and add d’Arnaud to the mix in exchange for a World Series appearance led by the rental of Cliff Lee and the next three to five years of a constant Halladay season. It’s no secret that players need to be moved to bring in a proven top talent in the league, unless you’re the Yankees and can buy talent like it’s on sale at K-Mart. What Amaro did was give the Phillies a good chance to win the World Series this past year and then finish the job with an upgrade in the offseason. Cliff Lee, though he pitched very well for much of his microscopic Phillie tenure, was Plan B after Halladay all along. If Plan B can be changed to Plan A with the trading of a minor-league catcher who would have to battle the playoff-proven Chooch for playing time, I hope we have a basket full of catchers for the rest of the league.

As for anyone who is worried about losing too much in Cliff Lee, Halladay is truly a workhorse that the Phillies can ride into the sunset toward another division crown. Leading the AL in Innings Pitched (246.0), WHIP (1.05), and Complete Games (9) last season, Doc is a proven stud of a pitcher who also specializes in ground ball outs, a huge help at Citizens Bank Park. Not only is he changing leagues to the NL, he has constantly pitched against the BoSox and the Yankees evil empire throughout his career, making him about as battle-tested as the guy who has to pick the garbage out of Manny’s dreads for a living. Not only does the man put up numbers against good teams, but a potential extension gives him the nod over Lee, who has made it known he is ready to test the free agent market for the first time in his career after the 2010 season.

So what does this all mean for the Phils heading into the 2010 season? Let’s start by tipping the cap to Amaro, who gave the fans a team that played the maximum amount of home games on its schedule and then has seemingly landed his big fish for multiple years by using his Plan B as bait. The team heads into spring training with a bona fide ace without having to rely on Cole Hamels for much more than a SoCal hissy fit while doing his hair. The Halladay deal is being prepared as each second passes, creating a splash big enough to bump the Eagles from the December headlines, something that only happened when we were still celebrating the 2008 crown a year ago. Here’s to hoping that by this time next December, we’re still brooming the confetti off of Broad Street.

-Rich, a special to the blog

Winter Meetings: Part I

2009-12-11T16:31:00.006-05:00

Ahh yes, the annual Winter Meetings. That time of year when all the teams send their top executives to the frigid wilderness and no one's allowed out until all deals have been made. Well, maybe it's not that extreme, but Indianapolis is brewing with moves that are sure to shake up the league. We will give you in-depth analysis of everyone the Phillies get or give, but it's important to stay updated with what's going on outside of our red, pinstriped confines.

Phillies
Placido Polanco: If you haven't been keeping up, then let me remind you that the Phillies nabbed a 2 time Gold Glover to take over for Pedro Feliz. I did an article on him earlier, that can be found here. Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has gotten some criticism for signing aging players to 3 year deals (ex. Raul Ibanez) but I think there's a leadership and maturity that helps the club that can't be measured in statistics. The man knows what he's doing, and we haven't seen the last of his strategies yet.

Ross Gload: Dan did a little peice on him here. He played for the Fish last year and is part of the crazy NL East game of musical chairs. He can pretty much play anywhere...seriously. He can play infield, outfield, and he actually pitched some innings last year with Florida. He's a great addition to have coming off the bench. The Phils struggled real hard with pinch hitting last year and he'll definitely be nice to have. On a side note, his last name rhymes with A LOT of things so Dan and I will definitely have fun with that in the future.

Around the League
Randy Wolf: Let's segue into another ex-Phillie, Randy "Wolf Pack" Wolf. We faced him against the Dodgers last season but now he's on the move to his fifth NL team, the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brew Crew couldn't contend in the NL Central last year and could use another starter. I wish Randy good luck, he's a class act and a good ball player but when he faces the Phils, I hope he gets shell-shocked.

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez: The aging catcher made his name with the Rangers and after leaving for the better part of the decade he returned last year, but not for long. We will now have to face The Chubby One with the Washington Nationals. He's 38 and his numbers are in decline. He's not the catalyst that's going to make the Nats a playoff contender but he might just provide a little help and experience.

Brad Penny: The '03 World Series Champion and winner of the Joe Blanton Look Alike Contest is headed from San Fran to St. Louis to add to the already scary starting pitching. It looks like the Cards are bitter about getting swept by the Dodgers in the playoffs and want to make another push, this addition will certainly help.

Other things to look out for, the Mets offered the Red Sox slugging left fielder Jason Bay $65 million. He is in high interest for other teams, as well, so it looks like he's holding out for the best offer (smart man). Peneiro and Lackey are also big on the table. Keep checking back for updates. Dan is going to have Part II for you guys shortly. Go Phils!

-Will

Halladay Sweepstakes

2009-12-10T09:03:00.006-05:00

No, that's not Roy Halladay pictured above. It's Ruben Amaro Jr., the man leading the charge in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. Things between the Phils and Jays have heated up considerably over the past day, which was the last day at the annual Winter Meetings. Rumors are circling that the Phillies could offer the Jays lefty pitcher JA Happ in addition to one of either Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown. If It's Taylor and Happ, I'm ok with the deal, as long as we are able to sign Halladay to an extension. I personally think it would be a great sell-high on Happ, who might fall back down to earth a bit this coming season. Plus, just imagine a rotation of Halladay, Hamels, and Lee. The next two people in the rotation don't even matter. Anyway, other reports suggest the Phils might be willing to throw Hamels in a deal, which is complete nonsense and if it happened I would piss in my dinner and eat it. Regardless of what package the Phillies do or do not offer the Jays, today could get interesting so stay tuned.

I just took my last final and Will is done for the winter as well so I would suggest that things will get moving on here a lot over the next month or so. I'll be doing a full report on the Winter Meetings and the offseason thus far- who went where, etc. Keep checking back, unless you're that racist guy. Then, please leave.

UPDATE: Amaro has been quoted on the possibility of a Halladay deal: "I don't think there's any likeliness. None." Ah, well.

-Dan

Phils Sign Ross Gload, NL East Mixup!

2009-12-09T11:50:00.002-05:00

Last night the Phillies signed 33-year old utility outfielder Ross Gload to a two-year deal. Gload led the league in pinch hits last year, and leaves the Phils bench looking pretty solid with Greg Dobbs, Juan Castro, Ben Francisco, and Brian Schneider. I like this move from Amaro, who seems to be doing an ok job at what Gillick used to do best- finding role players. The Phils' biggest need right now is a solid bullpen arm to supplement Lidge and Mad Dog.

With the signing of Gload, another story has emerged out of the winter meetings- a mix up of NL East players. The Phils have signed Schneider (ex-Met and National), Polanco (ex-Phillie), and Gload (ex-Marlin). The Braves have signed Billy Wagner (ex-Phillie and Met) and the Mets have signed Chris Coste (ex-Phillie). What the fuck? The Coste signing makes me really sad, but what would make me ten times sadder is Pat Burrell in a Mets uni (he's been linked in some trade rumors). Let's pray that doesn't happen to poor Pat the Bat.

Next on the Phils' off-season wish list: Tiger reliever Brandon Lyon. Do work, Rube.

-Dan

Placido Polanco Returns To The Fightin's

2009-12-03T16:40:00.005-05:00

It's been a big week in Philadelphia sports. Polanco is back to the Phils and Allen Iverson is back with the Sixers. Now, if only we could get Randall Cunningham and Eric Lindros back *sigh*. Placido Polanco was with the Phillies from '02-'05 and was with the Tigers since then. He's a second basemen who got bumped from the Phils to make room for a certain rising star by the name of Chase Utley. A 3 year, $18 million deal brings him back to the City of Brotherly Love, but he'll take the Hot Corner at third to fill the shoes of Pedro Feliz. I think this is a perfect replacement for Pete Happy. Placido has two gold gloves, one of which coming just last year, and the other came in 2007 where he DIDN'T MAKE A SINGLE ERROR ALL YEAR! That made him the first everyday starting second basemen to do so. What made Pedro so great was his masterful glove work. Having someone so effective with the leather to take over his spot is very relieving.

His price tag is heavy, but worth it. This is the same team that went to the World Series twice in row. If they want to continue a dynasty, they need to make big moves (ex. Raul Ibanez & Cliff Lee). Jon Heyman (no relation to Skyler) from SI reports that Placido will bat 2nd and the Flyin' Hawaiian will be bumped down. This may seem weird, but Vic has done this before. He played 17 of the last 19 games in 2008 in the 6 hole and a few other games in the back end as well. It will be interesting to see what Uncle Cholly does with this team. Here's what I think it will look like.
SS-Rollins
3B-Polanco
2B-Utley
1B-Howard
RF-Werth
LF-Ibanez
CF-Victorino
C-Ruiz
P
Eww. That's disgusting. Do you see a hole in that lineup? Because I don't. This is just the surface of the offseason. Many more moves are left to be done. One thing is for sure, though. Ruben Amaro Jr.=Genius. What would you expect from a man trained by Pat Gillick. More on all these offseason moves will come later. For now, enjoy the bald-headed one.

-Will

Phillies Sign Brian Schneider

2009-12-02T00:10:00.004-05:00

Ewwwwwww!! The Phillies just gave a 2 year/2.75 million dollar contract to a MET! But according to General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr...that's the point. Brian Schneider played for the last decade in the NL East, Mets included. He knows the majority of hitters in the division and will be able to call a good, smart game if he's needed behind the plate. His offense isn't that bad, but I don't think he'll be used that much as a pinch hitter. Especially in '09, like the rest of the filthy Mets last year, Brian suffered from injuries. He's at full strength now and should be ready to back up Chooch.

Recently, Brian Schneider has been one of those Phillie-killers, posting big numbers everytime the red pinstripes came to town. It's great to see him switch to the good guys. We can give this guy a free pass because he grew up a Phillies fan and says his whole family and friends still are. Looks like Brian found himself where he wanted to be all along. He actually turned down other offers from teams in which he'd be the starting catcher because he wanted to be with the Phillies. I guess he just likes winning. Welcome to the team, Brian! I'm glad you found your home.

-Will

P.S. Does anyone else think it's weird that Chris Coste goes to the Mets and Schneider comes here? ....strange

Prospect Watch List: Domonic Brown

2009-12-01T16:50:00.004-05:00

Domonic "Don't Call Me Dominic" Brown is by far my most favorite minor leaguer for the Phils. The fact that we were able to keep him on the team in that Cliff Lee trade still baffles me. He's an overall player who has played all over the outfield (which most outfielders do), but he's settled in quite nicely at right field. I would not be surprised at all if we saw a lot more of him in 2010. With Ibanez getting old and a possible need for runners/hitters off the bench, Brown should make a John Mayberry Jr-esque appearance (with hopefully a better showing). He's rated as the Phillies best prospect and 20th in the entire league.

He's the same height and weight as me, which is scary (in a bad way), because I have trouble even opening Snapple caps, but somehow he packs a lot of power. He's very speedy, too. This past year he had 9 triples, behind his 14 home runs. I'm sad to see the Bearded Wizard go, but I will be a lot happier to see DeWayne Wise and Domonic Brown on the base paths. Let's wish our little power-hitting left-hander well and hope he doesn't become involved in any offseason moves.

-Will

Unnecessary Post

2009-12-01T10:58:00.002-05:00

I am aware that many of you come to the Phan Attic for your Phillies fix and you are expecting specialized information tailored to the Phillies community. But the Winter GM Meetings don't start for a week and the movement in the baseball world is relatively slow at this point in time. I also understand that many of you, outside of being Phillie freaks and fans, are just plain sports enthusiasts. Which is why I would encourage many of you to divert your interest for just one hour of your life to another sport that many of you probably don't pay attention to: futbol. That's right, soccer, as we Americans call it. This Friday at noon will be one of the biggest moments in the soccer world this year, and you can be a part of it. The World Cup Draw will take place on ESPN, and I strongly urge you all to watch. Next summer in South Africa, Landon Donovan will lead the US Squad (the only "Yanks" I will ever cheer for) against world superpowers such as France, Spain, Italy, England, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, and the rest of the bunch. U.S. Soccer continues to develop and grow, most recently with rising star Jozy Altidore, who is a mere two months younger than yours truly. The American side has much to offer, as some of you watched them take down Spain at the Confederations Cup last summer. So this Friday, please tune in to see who the U.S. will face in the group stage as well as the other pairings that will shape some of the most epic matches the futbol world will see next summer.

ESPN does a great job breaking down the 32-team pool here. Educate yourself.

-Dan

Prospect Watch List: Brody Colvin

2009-11-29T18:22:00.002-05:00

In the 2009 MLB Draft, the Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Brody Colvin, an absolute stud from Louisiana who can hit the low 90's already and has a nasty curve. There were questions about whether or not Colvin would sign, which caused him to fall relatively low in the draft and the Phils got him as a steal. Don't expect to see Colvin on the big league club for a year or two, but there is much potential here. Look for Colvin in Lakewood and Reading this season and look for him to put up some pretty good numbers. Reports are that he has a few minor mechanical issues which can be worked out. High expectations await as Colvin ascends through the farm system.

Tidbits of Info

2009-11-28T17:20:00.002-05:00

Again, Will and I would like to apologize for the lack of posts recently. It's been a busy couple weeks for us and not very busy for the Phillies. However, the rumor mill keeps spinning and so does the world of baseball. Trust us, we're not done writing so don't forget about us. Things will heat up a lot in a couple weeks, and we plan on keeping you updated the very minute news breaks, as well as providing some info on prospects and other cool side stories and contests we have lined up. We're always open to suggestions, so please fire them away.

Now for the recent news:

Phillies have signed utility infielder Juan Castro and speedy outfielder DeWayne Wise, who is best known to date for his remarkable catch to save Mark Burlhe's perfect game last season.

Jamie Moyer has been in and out of the hospital due to complications of surgery on his groin. Doctors so it will not set him off track for the beginning of the 2010 season.

In wonderful news, sources have said that Bud Selig plans to step down as MLB commissioner once his contract is up after 2012. Thank the good Lord.

We've all got another busy couple weeks ahead with finals and what not and some of us are still feeling the after-effects of putting off all of our work for the entire month of October. Look for brief, informational updates on here for now, with the detailed analysis to follow in the coming months. Thanks for reading.

-Dan

It Starts Today

2009-11-20T13:37:00.002-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ocean that is free agency. This year, it's more like a tide pool or something. This year's free agent names come nowhere near last year's, but there are improvements to be made and, just like Will's Thai sex slave, holes to be filled. There are some big fish in the tide pool, like John Lackey and Matt Holliday, but the Phils will steer clear there. We're looking for a third baseman who will provide an offensive upgrade from Pedro Feliz, decent bullpen help, bench depth and maybe a back-end starter. We only have about 20MM to spend, and I would be willing to bet most of it will be spent on the third baseman and back-end bullpen guy. We'll be sure to keep you posted on all of the rumblings going on with the Phillies and around the rest of the league.

-Dan

Prospect Watch List: Kyle Drabek

2009-11-18T22:18:00.003-05:00

As the Phillies get set to make their offseason moves, it's important for us to take time to look at what's good on the farm. This year we saw the Phillies' depth in prospects pay off in the Cliff Lee trade. The Phils sold Lou Marson, Jason Donald, Jason Knapp, and Carlos Carrasco in the trade. Carrasco was widely viewed as the Phils' top prospect but struggled in a couple starts with the Indians. Donald will struggle to break into big league lineups as a SS, Marson should develop into a serviceable big league catcher (and would be helpful to have this coming season), and Knapp, while still very young, has tremendous upside. But with those four gone, the Phillies still have guys that will prevent us from spending big and should be able to produce in Philadelphia very soon. Over the course of the offseason, we'll look at many of them in-depth. Tonight, we start with one my favorites- Kyle Drabek.

Drabek was the Phils' first-round pick in 2006 and is the son of former Cy Young winner Doug Drabek. Kyle's talent was showcased just last summer in the Minor League Futures game, where he was one of the best pitchers to go that day. Drabek spent a lot of time in the news last year as he was rumored to be involved in trades for Roy Halladay. He may have been one of the big reasons the Phils didn't trade for Toronto's ace, and rightfully so. I see Drabek breaking into the Phils rotation at some point over the next season, if not at the very beginning of 2011. He's that nasty. When I plan my trip to Clearwater this spring, boy, am I praying I get to see this kid pitch. If there is a pitcher in the Phils' system to watch, it's him.

Soon, we will touch on some of the top sluggers down on the farm, as well as get a more in-depth analysis of Drabek's stats and what may lie ahead. Check back soon.

-Dan

Happ Gets Second In ROTY Voting

2009-11-16T14:30:00.001-05:00

JA Happ got second place in official Rookie of the Year voting. Chris Coghlan of the Marlins won the award, with Happ coming in a close second. The Phillies' rookie lefty had a 2.93 ERA on the season, surprising all the experts. Congratulations to both Coghlan and Happ on great seasons. Hopefully JA will be able to repeat this kind of performance in the rotation next season.

We know things have been slow around here, but trust us, they will heat up. Don't forget about us.

-Dan

Chase Utley, You Are The Man!

2009-11-12T22:52:00.005-05:00

Chase Utley has now won his 4th Silver Slugger Award, proving once again that he is the most potent 2nd baseman in league, and by far the best player to ever play the position for the Phillies. He will make his mark on his position as Mike Schmidt made his on 3rd. In the past 4 years, no one for the Phillies has been more consistent at the plate than Mr. Utley (sure Howard leads in HR's every year, but his low average and penchant for strikeouts has knocked him out of this category). His numbers don't exactly match those that he put up last year, but coming off a extensive hip surgery, it is extremely relieving to see him return to his normal self this season.

There's so much that could be said about this man. His glove work is masterful, his plate apperances are daunting, and his attitude is perfect for Philadelphia. I thank the good Baseball God's up above that Chase declined the LA Dodgers out of High School and decided to go to college (he signed with the Phillies in 2000, his sophomore year). We hope you're here for a long, long time. Enjoy your 4th trophy, and let's hope for #5 next season.

-Will

J-Roll, Vic Get Their Gold Glove On...Again

2009-11-11T16:13:00.007-05:00

Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino have done it again, taking home the Gold Gloves for Shortstop and Outfield (respectively). Shane has only done it before once last season but this is Jimmy's third, and rightfully so. He boasted the highest fielding percentage in the major league. Having someone as dynamic as Jimmy at SS is a huge factor in winning ball games. He gets to balls no one else can and makes smart plays (as shown in the World Series). His hustle has been rewarded for the third time.

As for Shane, his little legs cover so much ground he makes the gaps so small for hitters. His ability to track down balls and never give up on plays is the main reason for his second Gold Glove. His arm his accurate and deadly, but he isn't in the top tier in that category. Congratulations to both. Dust off a spot on your mantle and hope to get another one next season.

The winners of the Silver Slugger will be announced tomorrow. Chase Utley is looking for his 4th.

P.S. For those of you who may be wondering, Eric Bruntlett received the Gold Beard award for his unassited triple play against the Mets this season.

-Will

Where is the respect for Utley? He has gotten robbed of this award twice now, possibly three times. Congrats to Jimmy and Shane as they both deserve it, but I fucking knew this would happen. Of course, Chase will win the Silver Slugger, but he should be handed both awards. I sure hope they don't consider his lack of Gold Gloves when they are discussing Chase on the Cooperstown ballot.

-Dan

Offseason Surgeries

2009-11-09T16:10:00.004-05:00

A couple players have owwies and ouchers following the season and are going to need surgery.
Brad Lidge, everybody's favorite roller coaster, is having surgery on his right elbow to remove some loose bodies (whatever the hell that means). Surprisely, the surgery isn't on his knee, which is what he was on the DL for earlier this season. He claims the knee is fine and the real problem is in his arm. He's expected to be able to pitch by spring training. Hopefully, during surgery while he's under, they'll erase the '09 season from his memory and he still thinks he's the best closer out there to boost his confidence.

Raul Ibanez clearly struggled through the final months of the season after he was placed on the DL. Although it was his sexy groin that sidelined him, he's going to have surgery for a sports hernia, which usually is the cause of most groin pain. Voldemort should be back and ready to take on left field in Clearwater next Spring.

Scott Eyre, who has a good chance of not returning in red pinstripes next year, is having surgery on some loose bodies in his left elbow. Rubes Amaro Jr. says part of his decision to resign Eyre will be based on how his surgery goes.

We wish all of our boys the best of luck in their surgeries. I hope their groins get back to normal and their loose bodies get...tightened?

-Will

If you look at Lidge's career statistics, he's had a good year, then a bad year, then a good year, then a bad year, and so on. Granted, none of the bad years were as bad as '09, but my point is that erasing '09 from his memory might be the wrong move because he might do it all over again. Let's leave his memory alone and hope he sticks to his career norms. Just my take.

-Dan

Series: Players We Hate

2009-11-09T15:42:00.003-05:00

Today is a bit of a slow day in the world of baseball, and rightfully so. Like most of you, I assume, I am still hung over from this November's bitter defeat and need something to keep my thoughts warm as the winter approaches. And what better a way to do so than discussing one of my favorite baseball topics: players I hate. We won't do this on any kind of regular basis but rather whenever we feel like expressing our natural Philadelphia hatred of others. We start with one of the most hated players Philadelphia has seen in the past decade: Billy "The Rat" Wagner.

Billy Wagner played for the Phillies briefly from 2004-2005 and, during that time, openly stated that he thought the Phillies had "no chance" of reaching the playoffs. Wagner was subsequently confronted by his teammates and given the nickname "The Rat" by none other than Pat the Bat himself. Wagner moved on to play for the Mets and most recently the Red Sox. He is also known for stirring up the rivalry between the Mets and Phils and, of course, not living up to anything he has said about wanting to fight the Phillies despite being the smallest player on the field. Wagner is the trashiest, scummiest, piece of shit to possibly have ever played baseball and I can't believe we ever let him pitch in this city. So here's to you, Billy, you fucking rat. It's a shame we destroyed your home, the sewers underneath Veterans Stadium, because now you suck and nobody wants you.

-Dan

¡Feliz Caminos!

2009-11-09T09:44:00.002-05:00

Happy Trails, Pedro.

Yesterday, the Phillies declined to pick up Pedro Feliz's option of 5.5MM for 2010. While this doesn't stop the Phils from resigning Pedro at a lower price, Rube will likely seek out other options, such as Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark Derosa, and Garrett Atkins (Chase Utley's best man). Pete Happy had the best BA/RISP (Batting Average with Runners In Scoring Position) on the team last year, but his overall offensive abilities came up a bit too short. You've been good to us, Pete, and it will be sad to see you go.

-Dan

Hot Stove Report

2009-11-07T10:18:00.003-05:00

Here is your brief Phillies hot stove report:

1. The Phillies picked up Cliff Lee's option for next season, meaning they will pay him 8MM to come back for another year. They will still try to negotiate a long-term deal.

2. The Phillies told Brett Myers they will not pursue him. Brett said something along the lines of "I hope I get to play against the Phillies and the fans are as rough as they can be". That quote is not direct. I guess Rube was tired of Myers' antics. I am, too.

3. The Phillies have yet to decide whether or not to pick up Pedro Feliz's option for next year. They have until Monday.

More to come soon.

-Dan

7 Helpful Steps Towards Moving On

2009-11-06T09:45:00.006-05:00

After such a devastating defeat to a city we all hate, I know it will be hard to move on. At 8 o'clock last night, many of you probably at least thought to yourselves "Shit, the Phils are on!" only to be disappointed with the realization that the season is over. It's difficult, and there will be much time to reflect on what was yet another powerful push through the playoffs, but now is the time to move on. Here are some helpful steps to help you do so:

1. The Eagles- The team that donned Philadelphia a football town has seen the attention of its fans shift towards the diamond, but it's time to turn your attention back to the gridiron. The Beagles have had a rollercoaster of a season already, losing to the Shitty Raiders and crushing the Mighty Giants. This weekend they take on the unpredictable Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Should be one to enjoy.

2. The Hot Stove- from now until the beginning of April, the trade rumors will be swirling and the free agent rumors will be twirling. It has already begun as the Red Sox have acquired Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins for two prospects. This is one of my favorite parts about baseball because it is a lot of fun to follow and I'll try to keep everybody updated on everything (maybe a weekly hot stove report). The big question this year- how many billions of dollars will the Yankees spend this year? The biggest name on the FA Market- John Lackey.

3. The Flyers- The Fly Guys are off to a solid start to the season. Newly acquired Chris Pronger and their coke-head/goalie Ray Emery are already starting to make an impact. Watch for rookie James Van Riemsdyk to have a strong season in his first year in the bigs.

4. Spring Training- Just 95 days away now, Spring Training is one of the greatest times to be a baseball fan. If you haven't been to Phillies ST in Clearwater, do it. It's one of the most relaxing times to get a close look at all the players and prospects, soak in the Florida sun, eat some seeds, drink some rum punch, and enjoy life as a baseball fan. I'm already looking into a trip split between the Phils in Clearwater and Mariners in Peoria, AZ for this spring. What a trip it will be.

5. The Sixers- For all you basketball fans, I'll spare you the bullshit. I know nothing about this team and could care less. If they make the playoffs again, I'll probably watch and probably root for them, but that's as far as it goes. Nothing bores me more than regular season NBA basketball. But for some, this is another way to get over the mountain of depression resulting from the Phillies' loss.

6. College Hoops- This is the real deal. Most people choose to only follow College Hoops for one brilliantly exciting month, but not I. I'm studying and researching for my brackets months in advance, and you should, too. College Basketball is the best there is.

7. Soccer?- Yes, soccer. For those who don't follow soccer, I highly recommend starting. ESPN now covers an English Premier League game and a Spanish La Liga game every weekend, so it is within your reach. The Premier League is mid-season and the Champions League is still in the group stage. Get into it before it's too late. The World Cup is only seven months away.

If you can think of any other helpful distractions, feel free to share them. It's difficult to recover from a loss like that, and looking forward is the only way to do it.

-Dan

World Series Game 6: Recap

2009-11-05T12:26:00.003-05:00

And just like that, the season is over. Hideki Matsui owned the Phillies, taking home the MVP. Pedro was not able to put up another performance like he did earlier in the series. Ryan Howard showed up with a 2 run blast, but it was too little too late. The Phils fall 7-3 to a dominant Yankees team.
They were out-pitched, out-batted, and out-played. No excuses can be made for this series, the Yankees were simply too powerful. The season painfully ends at the hands of the team I hate the most in the entire league.

Keep your heads up though, phans. We are witnessing the emergence of a dynasty. There is nothing to be ashamed this season as the Phils look to come back next year and continue their run. As Jayson Werth told the team after finishing a round of beers last night, "97 days until Spring Training."

I would like to thank you for all your support that you've shown us in the past few weeks. We started this blog with no idea how much love we'd see from all of you. Don't give up on the Attic though, because we will have lots more news and stories coming at you in the coming months. More on that later. It was a great season, HK would be proud.

-Will

Well done, Will. And well done, Phils. I doubt we will have many visitors for the next few days but for those who need some closure to the 2009 season, you said it well. It hurts to turn on ESPN right now but there's a hell of a lot to look forward to next year. I am personally already counting down to Spring Training along with Jayson. Thank you for reading and making this that much more fun. Go Phils.

-Dan

Pedro Returns to Bronx Once More

2009-11-04T18:22:00.002-05:00

Tonight, "one of the most influential players in the history of Yankee Stadium" makes what could be his final return in what is promising to be one of the most epic games ever played on a baseball diamond. Maybe I'm talking it up a little bit, but when you think about Pettitte vs. Pedro in this classic matchup of postseason war heroes and veterans, how can you not get all giddy? Trust me, phans, this is a game you could be telling your grandchildren about. With that, let's get right into it.

Here is tonight's lineup for the Yankees: Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, Roidriguez, Matsui, Posado, Cano, Swisher, Gardner

And the Phightins: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Feliz, Francisco, Ruiz

I've gotta say, I don't mind the switch of Feliz and Francisco. I still love having Chooch bat ninth, look for a big game out of him. Victorino is obviously in, but look out for issues with his bruised hand. Also, Chase has a chance to break Reggie Jackson's record for most home runs ever in a World Series. Mr. October, meet the real Mr. November.

Here are your betting lines for this evening:

Strikeouts by Ryan Howard

Over 3 (+110)/ Under 3 (Even)

Times either Pedro Martinez and Jimmy Rollins points to TMU (The Man Upstairs)

Over 4 (-110)/ Under 4 (-110)

Times Nick Swisher sucks or does something stupid

Over The Amount of Seconds He is Alive (-200)/ Under (+200)

Gallons of Soul-Glo Pedro uses in between innings

Over 6 (-110)/ Under 6 (-110)

Times Troy Aikman gives it to Joe Buck just how he likes it

Over the same amount Will gives it to Heidi Hamels (-110)/Under (+150)

That just about does it. As I said before, enjoy this game. It could be one you'll want to remember for a long time. GO PHILS!

-Dan

What Will We Get From Pettitte?

2009-11-04T11:25:00.004-05:00

When Andy Pettitte isn't perusing the local senior citizen homes for his latest shag, he's looking to clinch another series. The last time Pettitte pitched on short rest was just two weeks ago against the Angels, where he went 6 1/3 allowing just 1 run, striking out 6. He was at home in front of an electric crowd, one that we can expect to see tonight.

It's hard to gauge how he'll react pitching on short rest again, as pitchers wear down in the postseason. Against the Phillies in game 3, he really wasn't on top on his grandma, I mean game. He allowed 4 earned on 5 hits, but still managed to strike out 7. He even admitted to "making up" pitches to try and get outs. Now, he'll be in Yankee Stadium where he'll have to out-duel Pedro Martinez for his 5th World Series Championship.

To prevent going home tonight empty, Pettitte will have to get tagged early, just like Burnett was. Giving Pedro a lead to work with while throwing Andy off his game will be crucial, especially to take the crowd out of the matter (although Pedro seemed to thrive on that "Who's Your Daddy" chant). Patience will get runners on base and fastball dominance will drive them home. Pettitte will want this one just as bad as the rest of us, so expect a battle, but a battle that definitely can be swung in our favor.

-Will

One At A Time...

2009-11-03T22:16:00.003-05:00

So, who is going to be the Game 7 starter? Cole Hamels? JA Happ? Adam Eaton? In my opinion, IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER! The Phillies are not at game 7. There may very well be no game 7 and all this talk will be looked back on as ridiculous. Game 6 is no where near a lock. I thought going into game 5 with Cliff on the mound that the game was most definitely ours, and what happened? The tying run was at the plate in the 9th in an almost near catastrophe.

In my opinion, shut the hell up about game 7. Is it a very pressing issue? Yes, of course. But if I know Uncle Cholly, he's not thinking about game 7 anymore than he wants to. He wants to GET THERE first and then make his decision. The Angels were in the exact same position two weeks ago in the ALCS. Down 3-1, they won game 5 at home then went on to lose game 6 in NY. The same fate could easily happen to us if the cards aren't played right.

Deep down in my heart, I think the Phils can pull out a win tomorrow and force a spectactular game 7, but there is NOTHING definite about a win tomorrow night. Pedro needs to bring his absolute A-game and the heart of the order has to continue to do their jobs (cough Ryan Howard cough). Let's not look ahead to what might happen on Thursday when we don't even know what will happen on Wednesday.

-Will

Phils Counter Punch, Locker Room "Drama" Ensues

2009-11-03T14:54:00.004-05:00

Last night, the Phillies did what they had to do, what I guaranteed they would do. Cliff Lee wasn't his normal godly self, but did his job. The player descending from the heavens this time was none other than Chase Utley, who swatted two more home runs and tied Reggie Jackson for the all-time World Series record with five. And as a result, Utley will have the chance to break that record in Game 6. Pedro Martinez will start on full rest against Andy Petitte on short rest in Game 6 in New York on Wednesday night. This will be the first World Series to go more than 5 games since 2003 (I think).

Following the game, Brett Myers reportedly mocked Cole Hamels, asking Cole what he was doing in the clubhouse because Brett "thought he quit". While there's no time or place for Cole's comments, Brett was also out of line. Early in the season, I'd be ok with Brett getting on Cole for his comments, but during the World Series, the Phillies don't need this kinda of bullshit. Let it go and focus on winning Game 6.

It's been an extremely busy and exciting weekend for all Philly sports fans, but now we're gearing up for just a little more baseball and hopefully some celebrating to follow. There will be lots of breakdown from us tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your day.

-Dan

"Every penthouse at 2 Liberty Place comes with exclusive restaurant access, complete private gym membership, and complimentary black and white kids with dog."

-Will

Read Comments for Game 5 Preview

2009-11-02T19:36:00.001-05:00

Over? Did You Say "Over"?

2009-11-02T13:06:00.003-05:00

"Nothing is over until we decide it is!" With the way this city feels today, one would think that the Series is over, the Commissioner's Trophy all but hoisted of A-Roid's head, and a fifth ring placed on Derek Jeter's fingers. But it's not over- no, not until Clifton Phifer decides it is. Of course, even if the Phils win tonight, they will need to take both games at Yankee Stadium, but the goal now is to take this one game at a time and keep the season alive. There's not a person on the planet I'd rather see on the mound than Cliff Lee (Sorry, Cole. Oh wait, I'm not sorry.), and I know the Phillies can get to AJ Burnett on short rest. Burnett can and will get rattled at The Bank tonight, and I am guaranteeing a Phillies victory. This series is going back to New York. Let's get it done tonight.

Almost Phamous

2009-11-02T11:49:00.002-05:00

It seems some of the tailgaters from the Phillie Phan Attic tailgate got some ink...

World Series Game 4: Recap

2009-11-02T09:57:00.004-05:00

He does it again. After a few stellar postseason performances, Brad Lidge can add another blown save to his repertoire. The game was tight all the way through, with the Yanks scoring 2 in the 1st. The lead didn't last long, however, as two consecutive doubles by Victorino and Utley but the Phils on the board. Joe settled down very well after that, but ran into more trouble in the 5th where he let up 2 more. As the game winded down and hope seemed dwindling on a very hot CC Pajamas, Utley reminded him who the real boss was and drove a ball deep into right, cutting the Yanks lead to one.

With two out in the bottom of the 8th, all hope seemed lost, as the struggling Pedro Feliz was up and the always amazing Mariano Riveria warming up. Then, magic happened. Pete Happy took a 3-2 pitch from Joba Chamberlain and deposited it in left field. Tie game from a very unlikely source. The momentum immediately swung in our favor...and here comes Brad Lidge.

His stuff was absolutely dirty while facing the first two batters. He was about to finish the 9th and leave it to Matt Stairs and then the top of the order to tie the series at 2-2, but then Johnny Damon reached. With the shift on for Teixeria, Damon stole second, where Feliz was covering, and that's when Lidge made his first mistake. The absent-minded closer didn't cover the open bag at third and Johnny ran his way over. The implosion then commenced, as A-Rod and Jorge both combined for 3 RBI's. Yanks up 3, an insurmountable lead when facing Mariano Riveria.

One out away. We were one out away from being in position to take the game and what looked like '08 Lidge turned in '09 Lidge.

Now, everyday is do or die. The Angels were in this same position in the ALCS and weren't able to hold on. The Phils are looking to mount a ridiculous comeback. Don't get me wrong, it's completely doable. With a refreshed Cliff Lee pitching tonight, the Phils have a strong chance at sending this series back to NY. If that's accomplished, it's just holding on for 2 games and getting the crown. The way I always look at it is this, if the Yankees can win 3 games in a row, why can't the Phils? Of course, last night hurts. A lot. This series had much potential at being tied. Now, a lot more question marks are surrounding our closer and what's to happen in games to come. Keep your chins up, phans. This is the Phillies we're talking about. How many times have we seen them come back in the late innings (ex. last night) and pull out miraculous wins (NLCS Game 4). This series isn't over until the last out is recorded. One win at a time. Let's do this.

-Will

World Series Game 4 Preview

2009-11-01T20:10:00.002-05:00

After Cole Hamels was spooked by the Yanks on a damp Halloween evening, the fate of the reigning champs is in the hands of Kentucky Joe Blanton. I'm at a good friend's house right now and don't have much time to write, but Joe squares off against CC Sabathia on three days rest. That will be the story tonight- how does CC fare and should the Phils have started Cliff Lee on short rest as well. Everyone enjoy the game tonight and thanks to those of you who showed up to the tailgate today. Go Phils!

-Dan

Read Comments

2009-11-01T10:39:00.001-05:00

World Series Game 3 Preview

2009-10-31T17:48:00.003-04:00

Ahh home, sweet home. The Phillies are 11-1 in the last two postseasons in Philly, with the one loss coming from, ironically, Cole Hamels. He takes the mound against Andy Pettitte STILL trying to redeem himself and get back into MVP form. Andy Pettitte is the best postseason starter of all time, having more playoff wins than any other pitcher in baseball. His pitches are dominant and his pick off move is impeccable (hear that, Werth?). The key to this game is to get into the Yankee bullpen as fast as possible. We beat them before and I know we can do it again.

Home field advantage in baseball is a hard concept to gauge, but with 46,000 people getting on your back, it's not something every player can handle. A-Roid, the x-factor for the Yankees is batting absolutely terrible (0-8 with 6 K's). Hopefully the raucous Philly crowd can get on his back in hopes he continues his trend. CC is most likely pitching game 4 for the Yanks and Blanton's going for the Phils. Advantage: Yankees. Losing this game puts us in a very tough spot. A win gives breathing room in what is already deemed a World Series for the ages.

The tailgate is tomorrow, so lay low on this Halloween. Dress as your favorite childhood action hero or a slutty nurse, both are acceptable (and encouraged). We will root on the Phils while we eat way too much candy and drink way to much booze. Dan will be in attendance, so look for him on TV. God, I fucking hate the Yankees and their bullshit fans. Please, boys. Please crush them into oblivion and make it known what playing for Philadelphia is all about. GO PHILS!

Times Dan is seen on TV
over 2 (-100)
under 2 (+150)
Times A-Roid strikes out
over 2.5 (-200)
under 2.5 (+400)
Times Joe Buck makes a gay Halloween joke
over 6 (-200)
under 6 (+175)
# of times Cole Hamels looks at Cliff Lee with envy
over 10 (+100)
unver 10 (-200)

-Will

Tailgate Update

2009-10-31T16:18:00.002-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Boo. Now on to business. A lot of news has come in regarding the tailgate. First and foremost, an e-mail is being sent around by the Phillies saying that all non-ticket holders will be ejected from the parking lots. It makes sense that this will actually be enforced, seeing as how with the Eagles game and Phillies game, there are going to be a lot ticketholders needing a place to park. If this is the case, Lot M is sort of out of the question. It seems like Jetro or another lot that is more out of the way would be the more viable option. As of now, we're shooting for the Jetro lot. If you don't have Dan's phone number, I suggest you e-mail him so we can give you updates on where we'll be.

Secondly, we have needs. And wants. Here's a list of what we'll be providing but we'll still need people to bring some things.
What We Have:
Dogs
Burgers
Pretzels
Hoagies
Chips and Salsa
Chairs/Tables
Wiffle Ball

What We Need:
BYO Alc
Boombox
Tailgating Tent
Cornhole (plus any other tailgating games you might have)
Extra Grill

I hope to see everyone there tomorrow. Traffic's going to suck more dick than A-Roid, so plan accordingly. Bring your game face, World Series time, baby!

-Will

Ahh So True

2009-10-30T17:54:00.002-04:00

I really have no post. I just thought, after last night, that tauntr.com really hit the nail on the head. One reason I really don't want instant replay is that the man who does the booth review might actually be Joe Buck, in which case every close call at first will result in a Phillies ejection and/or Yankee home run.

Kentucky Joe Gets Nod

2009-10-30T16:54:00.002-04:00

Charlie Manuel has announced that Kentucky Joe Blanton will start Game 4 for the Phillies and Cliff Lee will start Game 5. It can now be assumed that Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels will pitch Games 6 and 7, respectively, if necessary. The Yankees have yet to announce their rotation, but it is likely that CC Sabathia will start Game 4 for the Yankees against Joe, with Burnett going Game 5 against Lee.

-Dan

The Yanks Are Here

2009-10-30T15:35:00.007-04:00

This is a video of myself and others giving the Yankees a good old Philly welcome. It took place at 30th Street Station at about 2:30 today. Jeter, A-Roid, Rivera, Posada, Damon and Co. get a nice earful. Welcome to Philly, fuckers. You'll be hearing my voice again at Game 3.

The good stuff starts at about :54. Enjoy.

-Dan

[TDTG]: World Series Game 2

2009-10-30T13:28:00.004-04:00

txts drng th gm is back again for round two. I got some pretty good ones last night, even in the loss. I like how people stay positive through the whole game, unlike Yankees fans, who leave in the 8th (won't see that shit in Citizens Bank).
*When Matt Stairs came up in the 9th with a chance to win the game*
(609):In case of emergency use stairs -Matt Donachy
(856): Well this is an emergency -Matt Richards
(856): Matt stairs is like a small fridge. -Jon Pontillo

*After the Yanks scored their 3rd run*
(856): Shitfuck -Dan Mullin
(856): Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck -Matt Richards

*After Matsui's (who?) homer*
(856): How the fuck did he do that he can't even open his eyes all the way! -Matt "Racist" Richards
(856): Ass. Turtle time -Dan Mullin

*On Raul's amazing diving grab in left field*
(856): Ewwwwwwww expeliarmus! webbgemmm -Matt Richards

*After Stair's RBI and supposed "error" on A-Roid*
(609): thats an error on matt stairs, that shit shoulda been up and out -Pat Lubin

*On Pedro's pitch-face*
(856): He's either shitting himself or in the zone on these close-ups. I can't tell -Jon Clifford

*After a deep, deep fly out by the Yankees*
(856): I stopped by the turtle exhibit there for a second -Dan Mullin

Last night's lines.
under 2
under 4.5
over 12
over infinity (seriously, FUCK Joe Buck)
way way way over 4

-Will

Umps Get It Wrong, Selig Gets It Right

2009-10-30T12:28:00.002-04:00

Over the course of this postseason and many in the past, MLB Umpires have been a point of serious question. Last year's World Series featured many botched calls- so many that neither team could claim the other acquired a discernible benefit. This year is no different. With last night's blown double play calls (one going each way), the question has been raised about the extension of the instant replay in baseball.

For those who aren't aware, the instant replay exists in baseball now, but only on home run calls, which I am fine with. But to add instant replay to every call on the field would be absurd. First of all, the "human element", as Commissioner Bud Selig calls it, is part of what makes baseball great. Who doesn't love screaming at the umpires for bad calls? I know I do. Who doesn't love watching managers scream at umpires for bad calls? I certainly do. "I think the human element for the last 130 years has worked pretty well," said Selig. The blown calls, the drama, the controversy are all part of the game, and parts that we, as baseball fans and purists alike, should love and embrace.

The second issue is one which I have yet to see brought up- game time sensitivity. Many people have raised the point that baseball games take too long and argue that a "pitch clock" should be installed to keep the game moving. Not that I'm an advocate of this idea at all, but wouldn't using replays on any close calls have a reverse effect?

The Commish has taken the stance that he won't even entertain the idea of adding instant replay to calls. For once, Buddy Boy, I agree with you. Don't let them get to you. Keep the game pure.

-Dan

Contest!

2009-10-30T09:56:00.003-04:00

With all the variables set in stone (1-1 Series score, Hamels vs. Petitte, etc.) it is time for me to open up a thread that will last all day. I will be at Game 3, as I have mentioned before, and in fairly visible seats. I will be wearing my hot dog suit under my Ibanez jersey and a scary mask (it's gonna be Halloween), with a sign that says "Trick or Repeat". The contest here is to see who can come up with another idea for the reverse side of my sign. Winner gets a prize, and if your side of the sign ends up on TV or the Jumbotron, you will win a free Phillie Phan Attic hoodie. Good luck!

-Dan

P.S. Feel free to put your ridiculously inappropriate ideas here, too, but they won't end up on the sign. Thanks.

Awful Umpiring, Drowzy Bats Lead to Loss

2009-10-29T23:34:00.005-04:00

The image above says it all. Well, most of it. In a game that featured Pedro returning to New York, the main story turned to the Phillies' lack of offensive production. The umpire(s) was to blame for many of the Phils' struggles, as the plate ump missed call after call. The only thing not worthy of complaint about this umpire's zone was his consistent incompetence. Granted, the Phils didn't come up big when they should have, but many poor ball/strike calls and an awful call on Utley at first base led to situations that shouldn't have existed. Once again, the playoffs prove to induce slight retardation among the umpires involved. Let's just pray Joe West doesn't get a game behind the plate.

Moving forward, the Phils had room to let this game go. They will have the reigning World Series MVP on the hill at home in Game 3. Let's just look forward to that and try not to get caught up in this one. Credit is deserved by AJ Burnett, who viciously proved me wrong. And Pedro deserves credit as well, as we can't ask for much more from a mid-season signing. Unfortunately, losing Game 2 results in much more pressure on Hollywood than I would like to see. Let's hope he can conjure some of his 2008 wizardry on Halloween.

Game 3 is Saturday and I will be in attendance. I'll be there early enough to grab a Tony Luke's cheesesteak, watch some BP and soak in the atmosphere. Do not fret, Philadelphia. This was only to be expected and the Series is now both exciting and nerve-racking. Relax, there's an off day tomorrow before this shit hits the fan.

-Dan

Photo courtesy of ESPN.com

World Series: Game 2 Preview

2009-10-29T19:11:00.003-04:00

Tonight, it's all Pedro. Of course, everyone knows the bad blood between him and the Yankees. I mean, it's kind of expected when you play for the Red Sox and Mets for the majority of your career. Now, he's with the best and he is going to down as one of the best pitchers in the game. Trust me, he doesn't want his legacy to end without hoisting another trophy his head.

Last night, Cliff Lee established himself as the Yankees daddy. Now, Pedro has the chance to reverse his New York standing as a son. He still knows how to pitch, we saw that against LA, now we just need him to execute. The key to the game: Fuck them up, Pedro.

Interesting move today, Matt "In Case Of Emergency" Stairs will be the DH and Ibanez will be back in left field as Ben Francisco didn't really show up yesterday. Stairs will bat 7th.

This is Game 2, phans. Last night was absolutely wonderful. We can not roll over. This Yankees team is potent and has come back before. A 2-0 going back to Philly won't secure victory, but it will sure as hell help. Howard and Utley are both hitting well and will hopefully feast off of AJ Burnett, who can be very shaky and inconsistent. Don't make a mistake with the fastball, AJ, because it will end up in the seats. Get ready to enjoy another wonderful night of baseball. No turtle exhibits here. That's for the Yanks fans now. Tonight's lines!

Number of Yankees Pedro throws to the ground
over 2 (-200)
under 2 (+215)
Home runs hit by the Phils
over 4.5 (even)
under 4.5 (+100)
Times Joe Giradi does something stupid
over 12 (-200)
under 12 (+150)
Times Joe Buck says something extremely Yankee biased
over infinity (even)
under infinity (even)?
Times the Umps fuck something up
over 4 (-300)
under (+250)

That's all I got, folks. Let's get ready to watch some October baseball. GO PHILS!

-Will

[TDTG]: txts drng th gm

2009-10-29T12:44:00.004-04:00

I'm sure we're all familiar with TextsFromLastNight.com, well, this is Texts During The Game. Every time I watch a game, I text rapidly while receiving many from various Phils phans. I'll now display some of the better ones I've gotten from last night. Enjoy.
*After A-Rod's third strikeout*
(609): Money! See ya millions of dollars! -Matt Richards

*After Cliff Lee's behind the back grab*
(856): Who's the magician on the mound -Jon Pontillo
(609): I just creamed myself -Matt Richards

*After Lee's extremely awesome pop-up catch*
(856): Haha wow lees swag way up -Chris O'Donnell
(856): Haha that was insane -Kevin Zimmer
(609): that was awesome -Olivia Cosden
(856): Cliff is the man -Dan Mullin
(609): Lee is such a boss! -Matt Richards

*After Utley's second home run*
(856): He's a fucking stud. He makes ron jeremys dick look small. -Jon Clifford

(609): Chase Utley>CC Sabathia -Me
*in response* (609): Was that not common knowledge -Andrew Berry

(856): I hate CC's pajamas -Dan Mullin

Keep the texts coming everybody, I love 'em.
Oh yea, here are the lines from last night.
HR's to right field: 2 (push)
# celebrities in crowd: 4 (under)
Dicks in A-Rod: 3 (under) # of times he struck out
Turtle Exhibit: 22 (over)
Stolen bases: 1 (under)
Green Pubes: 30 (over)

-Will

txts frm jms mlln

*after the Phillies won

(609): Wheeeeeeeee

-Dan

The Way A Yankee Fan Thinks

2009-10-29T10:11:00.003-04:00

Now, I'm not a Yankee fan, so I don't know for sure. But from what I know about them, after the game last night, most sat back in their chairs and thought to themselves "How could this happen?" Surprisingly, their brains somehow have the strength to take their thinking further. The smarter ones, anyway, might then think "Well, we're paying CC $14 mil this season, and they're paying Cliff Lee $5.75 mil. So why isn't CC better?" Here's the part where they get stumped. CC is a great pitcher and probably worth the money to a team like the Yankees, but that's not how it always turns out. Maybe you could all learn a little lesson from our good friend Clifton Phifer.

-Dan

I'm Sorry

2009-10-29T09:24:00.004-04:00

I can't stop. Here's an awesome bit from beerleaguer.com-

"I'm sure there are several beer league softball, ex-legion players or backyard baseball dads reading this. Think about where you were, and consider your frame of mind, the last time you fielded a pop-up the way Lee did it in the sixth inning. One question: Were you holding a can of beer in the other hand?"

From Jayson Stark's ESPN article this morning:

"When we first traded for him," Eyre said, "I got a text message from Kerry Wood. I said, 'What's this guy like?' And I got a text back that said: 'Just wait.' Then he went out in his first start and threw a complete-game four-hitter in San Francisco. And I got another text from Kerry Wood: 'Told you.'"

-Dan

Quick Notice

2009-10-29T08:50:00.004-04:00

Last night's game was unbelievable. It's part of the reason why today things might be a little slow around here. Will and I are both extremeLEE busy today getting work done and doing shit so this weekend is that much more incredible. We apologize if you wanted some real in-depth analysis of last night's game because that likely won't happen today. If someone on here wants to step up and write something, let either of us know and we will put it up. Thanks.

-Dan

OK, I can't help it. Something hilarious from the "Beer Man" over at Phillies Nation- "Cliff Lee is like a sore dick. You just can't beat him."

Good Omen? This morning I put on one of my Phillies sweatshirts and instead of finding a crumpled dollar or something in the pocket, I found a rally towel. Good omen? I think so.

World Series Game 1 Recap

2009-10-28T23:29:00.004-04:00

Can it happen any better? The boos were hailed down on everyone from Jimmy to Carlos, yet that didn't stop the offensive onslaught. Sure, it came late, but when Lee pitches the Phillies always back him up. Lee's start was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Complete game, no walks, 10 k's, no ER. WOW. And how about his glove work. Can it get any better? Of course, this game would have been completely different if it wasn't for Utley's two dingers and the god awful Yankee bullpen. If the Yankees didn't have any of the reputation behind them and were from any other city, this is exactly how the game would have been predicted. Behind all the slurping of the Yankees, we see that this isn't what everyone thinks it's going to be: a Yankee manslaughter of the Phillies.

This game is exactly what the Phils needed. As everyone stated before, whoever wins game 1 wins the series. Now, I'm not getting ahead of myself. I know there's A LOT of more baseball to be played. I'm completely content to go back to Philly with a 1-1 series split but my god, can you imagine going back home with a 2-0 lead? Sweet dreams tonight, people. A lot of content will be coming at you tomorrow so keep posted.
Special congrats to Utley, who, besides being the world's biggest boss (sorry Rick Ross), has now passed Boog Powell for most consecutive playoff games reaching base, with 26. If you looked at his numbers you might have thought he was struggling, but his bat came through tonight big time as he leads the Phils to victory. Good job, Chase. Go get 'em tomorrow.

-Will

Caption This: WINNERS!

2009-10-28T17:53:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone for participating, it was great to read everybody's captions. Also, another special thanks to Vinny Cordisco for the marvelous picture.

Honorary Mention: Dan Mullin
"Hang on, hang on. I thought TBS was still supposed to be sucking Manny's dick, not me."

Third Place: Brian Deeney
"That's bigger than the steroids I usually take in my ass, but if it will help me hit...put it in."

Second Place: Wylie Naylor
"This is definitely not Matsui's penis."

FIRST PLACE: Maddie Yedman
A-Rod-"Carlos, I will suck this penis for every time you tell me which pitch Cliff Lee throws me tonight so I look like a great baseball player."
Carlos Ruiz-"No hay nadie que dick de mierda, vaya chupar pollas sus fans porque son slurping que."

The Grand Prize is to be determined at the tailgate. Second place gets a key chain and third place gets an all-expense paid, one week vacation to France. Enjoy the show tonight, everybody. GO PHILS!

-Will

World Series: Game 1 Preview

2009-10-28T17:44:00.008-04:00

When I was at Game 4 of the NLCS, right before Jimmy came through with his game-winning double, I received a text message from my good friend Will. It read, "turtle exhibit." The text was in reference to a popular YouTube video called "I Like Turtles." The subject of the video, Zombie Jonathan, later explained that he was really nervous and had just gotten back from a turtle exhibit. So when Will and I are ever nervous, we find that texting each other "turtle exhibit" helps.

Game 1 is about two hours away. TURTLE EXHIBIT. Turtle turtle turtle exhibit exhibit exhibit. I can't stop freaking out.

By now, we have familiarized everyone with the storylines associated with this series and Game 1 in particular. Turtle. Old teammates CC and Clifton. Exhibit. The fiery streaks of A-Roid and Howard. Turtle. The raging hatred between Philly and NY. Exhibit. A-Roid's love for the dick. Turtle. The inclement weather. Exhibit. The list goes on. Tonight is the first episode and the way it will play out remains a mystery (to everyone except maybe Jimmydamus). We do know one thing for sure, however. It will be epic. So gear up, strap in, saddle up, and get ready to ride.

Lineups are posted.

For the Phils: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (DH), Francisco (LF), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C).

Against Sabathia, the Phillies have fared well in the past. Victorino is 5-for-9 lifteime with a memorable home run. Ibanez is 11-for-40 with 2 jacks. Brett Myers is 1-for-2 with a walk. Utley is 0-for-5.

And the Yanks: Jeter (SS), Damon (LF), Teixeira (1B), Roidriguez (3B), Posada (C), Matsui (DH), Cano (2B), Swisher (RF), Cabrera (CF)

Against Lee, the Yankees have had similar success. Jeter is 11-for-27. Tex is 9-for-23. Roid is 5-for-15 with 2 jacks. Damon is 2-for-22.

What a game this one should be. Here are your betting lines for the evening.

Number of HRs to Right Field

Over 2 (-110)/Under 2 (-110)

Number of Celebrities Seen in the Crowd

Over 6 (-125)/ Under 6 (Even)

Dicks/Needles in A-Roids Butt

Over 162 (-110)/ Under 162 (Even)

Times Someone on this Site Says "Turtle Exhibit"

Over 15 (-125)/ Under 15 (-110)

Stolen Bases by the Phillies

Over 2 (-110)/ Under 2 (-110)

Times Will Contempletes Dying His Pubes Green to Look More Like the Phanatic

Over 12 (Probably)/ Under 12 (Probably Not)

Get your picks in and enjoy the game, folks. GO PHILS!

-Dan

turtle exhibit.

According to Fox 29 News, a woman accused of offering sex in return for World Series tickets is going after all. A local radio station gave her tickets.

Weather Report

2009-10-28T12:25:00.006-04:00

Weather played a huge factor in the World Series last year, as we all remember (and as Bud Selig would like to forget) the infamous Game 5 Parts I and II. This year could present a similar scenario, although hopefully no games will be cut in half. Above is a screenshot of the weather forecast from my iPhone, and it looks as if Yankee Stadium will be out of trouble come game time tonight. The Weather Channel is predicting 50% chance of rain up until 6 o'clock, when it drops all the way to 10%. It looks like they will definitely get this one in. Rain shouldn't come into play until Monday in Philly, despite the view from my apartment displayed below.

Even though it is raining now, we have something tonight to look forward to. One of the big reasons it is always sunny in Philadelphia, our Phightin' Phils.Update (3:33): Todd Zolecki reports that the game is still expected to start on time. Here is an image from inside Yankee Stadium. It won't look pretty on our HDTVs tonight and now we understand why Hova decided to perform tomorrow night instead.

-Dan

How Will The Series Go Down?

2009-10-28T11:29:00.005-04:00

Jimmy Rollins has made some pretty bold predictions in his day, and all of them have come to fruition. He first predicted, in 2007, that the Phils were the team to beat. After a huge Mets collapse, that proved to be true. He then said, before the 2008 season, that the Phillies would win 100 games. After the playoffs were over, they won 103. Back in February, before this wonderful season even started, he predicted a Phillies-Yankees World Series. Now, he says the Phillies are going to win in 5 games (6 if we're nice). This is a forsight in which, I too, predicted. I'll now break down on how I think the games are going to go, although I doubt any of it to come true, this is just for funsies. I implore all of you to go into the comments and make some guesses of your own. Who knows, maybe you'll be the next Jimmydamus.

Game 1: In the past two postseasons, the Phils have never trailed in a series, and they're not about to start now. Cliff gets the win and Shane once again beats up C.C. Phils win 5-2.
Game 2: Pedro, once again, finds himself in a pitchers duel, only this time, he comes out on top. Phillies stick it to Burnett and Brad Lidge gets his first save of the World Series. Phils win 3-2.
Game 3: Coming home to Philly with a 2-0 lead. Ahh suck it everybodywhoshatonthePhillies. Unfortunately, Hamels can't hold on and gets shell shocked as the bats fall asleep. Yanks win 6-2.
Game 4: Lovely, lovely game 4. You've been kind to us the past couple postseasons. Phillies once again get a come-from-behind win and rally to give Mariano his first blown save as he starts pitching in the 8th. Phils win 5-4.
Game 5: BROAD STREET AGAIN! The Phillies close out the final game to beat the Yanks in miraculous fashion and the city goes crazy again. No one thought the Phils had a chance (sounds familiar) and they shit on the Yankees chest. Cry, nation, cry. Jimmy sports HK's blue jacket and white shoes down Broad in the second straight parade. Phils win 7-3.

Well, there it is. Make your predictions and see if you can do better than me.
P.S. Don't forget to caption the A-Roid picture below for a chance at prizes.

-Will

Caption This:

2009-10-28T00:46:00.005-04:00

A-Roid's about to get fucked by the long dick of the law...because steroids are illegal. Whoever can think of the best caption for this picture will get a prize at the tailgate. If you can't make it to the tailgate you can still caption, but I'm sorry, NO PRIZE FOR YOU!
Everyone thank Vincent Cordisco for the picture. Marvelous work, Vinny. Keep it up!

-Will

Please Read:

2009-10-27T22:57:00.001-04:00

In attempts to make the tailgate on Sunday as epic as possible, we are missing a key element. Our TV situation is still under question, and we still need two very important things. If you or anyone you know has either of these and can help us out, please let us know: 1. TV Antenna, 2. Power Generator

I have a TV with a digital converter built in, so those are the only two things we need. It is crucial to be able to watch the Birds game from the parking lot. Thanks for all of your help.

-Dan

Starting Pitching- Toe to Toe

2009-10-27T17:00:00.003-04:00

The moment the teams take the field in the media capital of the world tomorrow night, all the eyes and the bright lights will be weighing upon two people- Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia. Despite the impact of players like alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard, the pressure is on the two toeing the rubber. And when it comes down to it, the Phils and Yankees go toe to toe yet again. The winner of this series, as Jacoby Ellsbury predicted today, will be the winner of game one. So let's shift our focus now on those taking the hill this series.

CC Sabathia vs. Cliff Lee

This matchup is one for the ages. Two former teammates facing off in Game 1 in New York. Sabathia, who was shaken by a Brett Myers walk and a Shane Victorino salami last season, has been stellar this postseason. However, despite what some biased journalists might believe, Cliff Lee has been better. His K/BB is exactly the same, but his ERA is almost half a run lower.

Pedro Martinez vs. AJ Burnett

There's no question in this matchup who has the better stuff, but there's also no question who is more mentally prepared. Burnett is a stud but can get knocked off pretty easily and gets wild. Pedro knows how to get up for big games and will surely be pumped to stick it to those Yankee fuckers.

Cole Hamels vs. Andy Petitte

This matchup is all about which Hamels shows up. We all know how great Hamels can be, and if he is that great, the Phillies will win this game. The Phillies should win this game. Petitte has big game experience and a great pickoff move, but Hamels has the experience AND the talent. He's just gotta get the attitude right.

?? vs. ??

It's tough to gauge the rest of the starting rotations because we don't really know what will happen. The weather, score of the series, and managerial decisions are all big factors. The Yankees could go with a three-man rotation, or could be forced to use Chad Gaudin (Joba doesn't look likely). The Phillies will likely go with Kentucky Joe, but could also try a three-man (that doesn't look likely either). I'd give the Phils the edge here because of their depth with Happ to back Blanton up.

Yanks' Pen vs. Phils' Pen

There is no question that if there are going to be comeback wins in this series, as we saw in the previous two, they will likely come in the seventh and eighth. Mariano is still a beast, but the rest of the Yanks' pen is suspect. Conversely, the whole Phils' pen is suspect, but can be absolutely stellar at times. I'd give the advantage here to the Yanks because of Rivera, but only slightly. Lidge can completely redeem his awful season within the next seven games.

Overall: I'm going to give the edge to the Phillies here, only because of our depth in the rotation. The Yankees are dreading throwing Gaudin out there, while the Phils have more than one serviceable option. Look for the starters to be the difference this series.

-Dan

Postseason Roster

2009-10-27T16:46:00.004-04:00

As the Series draws closer, more important news continues to leak out of New York. Today, the Phillies announced that they will be leaving Miguel Cairo off the World Series roster and adding none other than Brett Myers. For Phils phans, this signifies one more chance to see Myers throw in Phillie pinstripes, as he will likely be elsewhere for the 2010 season. The move leaves the Phils' World Series roster looking like this:

SP: Lee, Martinez, Hamels, Blanton

RP: Happ, Durbin, Eyre, Madson, Bastardo, Myers, Park, and Lidge

C: Ruiz, Bako

IF: Howard, Utley, Rollins, Feliz, Bruntlett, Dobbs

OF: Francisco, Stairs, Ibanez, Werth, Victorino

This move makes sense, as Bruntlett now has more value as a pinch runner with the possibility of Stairs being DH in a game or two. Cairo's value as a PH drops way down with a likely majority of the games being played with a DH.

How Do The Yankees Stack Up Against The Phils?

2009-10-27T13:25:00.008-04:00

I phrased the title like that because all I've seen is "How do the Phils stack up with the Yanks" as if the Yankees are some steroid ridden Goliath and the Phillies are a frightened little David. The reality of the fact is the Phillies are toe to toe all across the board (except maybe 3rd base). I couldn't be happier that the totally loyal and completely not bandwagon fans at all of New York think this World Series will be a steam roll. It just makes the horrified look on their face after we beat them in 5 (yes, I said it) so much sweeter. Here's a breakdown of the how the teams compare.

Catchers: Phillies
Carlos Ruiz-Chooch! Senur Octubre! He has really been the Phillies secret weapon. Batting out of the 8-hole, he's hitting .346 with and OPS of 1.000. He's walked 7 times and only struck out twice while boding 7 RBI's in the process. He's calls a great game and has a much deadlier arm.
Jorge Posada-George is .258 with 3 ribbies. Meh. He also isn't close to being the same behind the plate as Chooch. He can be run on very easily.

1st Base: Phillies
Ryan Howard-Ryno has been absolutely amazing in this postseason. His 14 ribbies lead the playoffs and he did this with only 2 dingers. This shows most of his success is because the 1-2-3 have been getting on base. He is the force that will drive these Phils to a win.
Mark Texieira-Mark has kinda been sucking. He was absolutely abysmal in the ALCS and is only batting .205 in October. The one edge he has on Howard is his glove. He's great at scooping balls (tehe) in the dirt and snagging balls out of the air. Anyway, what the hell's up with his name? Weird.

2nd Base: Phillies
Chase Utley-Come on. This is Chase we're talking about. He is batting .303 (note: all batting averages will reflect this postseason) and has been getting on base well, drawing 8 walks so far. He has no extra base hits except one home run, but has been very effective with his singles. While he has made two very costly errors so far, don't look for that trend to continue. Seeing Chase make two costly errors in one series is rarer than seeing Bigfoot ride a unicorn on a cloud of leprechauns.
Robinson Cano-Batting .229 with 5 RBI's, Cano is no one to be afraid. While he's very speedy, he's no where near the threat that Chase is and does not have the same range with the glove. What's with the weird names on the Yankees?

Shortstop: Yankees
Jimmy Rollins-While "Fuck Yeah, Jimmy" has been Mr. Clutch, he's only batting .244 with an on-base percentage of .279, which are numbers that have to be higher for a leadoff hitter. We know what his amazing range as a SS and his love for the big stage, but in the World Series he'll need to pick it up a little more.
Derek Jeter-When not getting his ass grabbed, he loves being good. He's hitting .297 and has 9 runs, but only 5 driven in. The keys to this series is keeping runners off the basepaths, because in New York's Little League stadium they just built, all home runs need to be solo home runs. That means Jeter can't get on for the big boys. He's great as the whole sport which sucks because he'd be a great personal masseuse for me (I heard he gives happy endings).

3rd Base: Yankees
Pedro Feliz-Pete Happy has been struggling, hitting .161 with only 5 hits an 2 batted in (one being on his solo homer in game 5). He's made one error so far this postseason. Hopefully he can return to his '08 self and be a sleeper in the series, but don't look for him to put up A-Roid numbers, which leads me to my next guy...
Alex Rodriguez-Alex has been an absolute stud, doing his best Ryan Howard impression, but let me give you a little slice of info. A-Roid leads the Yankees in homers, RBI's, hits, runs and batting average. Those same 5 categories are spread out between 3 different Phillies (Howard, Jayson, Victorino). One player can't win a World Series by himself. Walk him. Make the rest of the team beat us. If you take A-Roid out of the equation you have just another mediocre team. The Phillies are way more well-rounded.

Outfield: Phillies
Jayson Werth-Absolute stud. His 5 home runs and 10 runs are tied with A-Roid for most this postseason. If the Utley keeps getting on base and Howard is pitched around (which I would advise) then Werth is going to have a huge Series. Plus his arm is excellent from right field.
Shane Victorino-He has been on FIRE! Since when does he hit home runs? He has 3 so far to go along with his 13 hits (second only to A-Roid). He's a smart, smart center fielder and I can't wait to see him explode in the world series.
Ben Francisco-This is the question mark going into the series. He will take over for Rauuuuul which is smart because he is very fast and a good left fielder (as he's shown against the Dodgers). Now we just have to watch his bat and see what he does, look for him to bat low in the order.
Nick Swisher-Nope. Awful. Batting .125 with 1 RBI and 11 K's does not look good. He is in a great slump which showed no signs of improving in the ALCS. He had a big double play against the Angels but then again, it was Vladimir Guerrero who probably didn't even know where he was.
Melky Cabrera-Here we go with the names, again! Anyway, he's been able to get on base with his 11 hits, 2 went for extras and none have left the yard. Power isn't his thing but he's a decent outfielder (no flyin' hawaiian, though).
Johnny Damon-10 hits, 5 RBI's. Eh. He's been decent. Once again, this team is all a bunch of near-average players. Take away A-Roid's numbers and they're not producing that much in the playoffs.

DH: Phillies
Raul Ibanez-Only batting .226, he still has 9 ribbies and 7 hits. He pours his heart out in the field but he is an aging player. I'm sure he doesn't mind taking the DH while in New York.
Hideki Matsui-He has a slightly better average but less RBI's. You gotta drive those runs in Sushi, I mean Matsui.

-Will

Just to clarify, Francisco will only be playing in the games in NY. In Philly, Raul will reclaim his spot in left. Joe Girardi has said that Matsui may get time in the Yankees outfield in Philadelphia, as well.
-Dan

Four Things Robin Roberts Hates, And Other Shit Regarding The World Series

2009-10-27T13:10:00.004-04:00

From media day at the World Series, we got an interesting little nugget from former Phillie legend Robin Roberts. Roberts, who pitched on the losing side of the 1950 World Series against the Yankees, said there are four things he really hates: Notre Dame, Michigan, the Yankees, and Russia. A solid list, if you ask me.

Of slightly more importance, it has been announced that Pedro will start game 2 at Yankee Stadium, while Cole Hamels gets Game 3 at home on Halloween. I don't know why, but I like this move. Feel free to discuss in the comments section.

Then, we have this wonderful image, courtesy of collegehumor.com. What makes it wonderful is the look of intensity on A-Roid's face, as if he is participating in some sort of dominatrix rape fetish. At least save it for the hotel room, boys.

Next, we shift our focus slightly towards real news and the weather. "Who gives a shit?" you might ask. And to that I respond, YOU should. You see, the Yankees rotation is already shallow, as I will delve into later today. With rain on the forecast for tomorrow night, we would be wise to break out our rain sticks so to eliminate an off day and force the Yanks to use their fourth starter- Chad Gaudin. So let's put on our face paint like these guys and make it happen.

Lastly, let us all rehearse how we will address any Yankee fans, should we happen to run into them. An old friend leads the rehearsal.

Check back later today for analysis of the series, and don't forget to look at the tailgate posts and sign up for a karaoke song!

-Dan

Tailgate Part 2: Entertainment

2009-10-27T12:50:00.004-04:00

While we are still searching for an answer to our television issues for the tailgate, another form of entertainment has arisen. The lost art of karaoke will be dusted off, polished, and placed back on the party shelf. Christoph Linnehan (above) will be leading the way by singing Philadelphia Freedom for the delighted ears of all those who choose to listen.

Use this thread to volunteer for karaoke songs you would like to sing (no song is off-limits) so I can download them and have them ready by Sunday. This is something you WILL want to be a part of.

-Dan

Info Slices

2009-10-26T19:20:00.004-04:00

Some slices of info about the World Series coming up:

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys will be performing "Empire State of Mind" in NY before Game 1. Listen to the ILLADELPH version of the song here.

Raul Ibanez has been announced as the Phillies' DH for Game 1, which means Ben Francisco will get the start in LF. Right idea, in my opinion.

For answers from Uncle Cholly about roster moves and the starting rotation, however indefinite they are, check out Scott Lauber's blog here.

That's all the news for today. Only two more days of waiting to go, people. Keep checking back.

Kelly Hughes knows how to party at the World Series, too.

-Dan

What Happens When You Tailgate Too Hard

2009-10-26T19:15:00.002-04:00

A New Definition

2009-10-26T15:03:00.003-04:00

The following is a new definition everyone can add to their dictionaries. Written by Phils phan and good friend of ours, Wylie Naylor.

Yankees Fan- A person who roots for the Yankees. These fans might not have any ties to New York at all, which is why they seem to be everywhere. Yankees fans are often easily identifiable. They carry the pungent odor of my anal discharge and can usually be found sporting the Yankees logo any way possible (car sticker, hat, clothing etc.) However, these so called fans are like small wieners. Without the clothing, they’re not very impressive. They hide behind the obnoxious New York logo and can usually repeat one or two phrases they’ve heard on sports center. They will brag and boast about their team and without hesitation will guarantee their teams victory. The worst part about the Yankee fan situation is that the Yankees do actually have a quality baseball club. The Yanks overall success as an organization has given the fans the illusion that the Yankees are always, always going to win. Unfortunately, many of them lack the ability to hold a quality conversation about baseball, so debating logically with them why the Yankees won’t win a game is just a waste of time. Game time, location, opponent, starting pitchers, statistics, and general baseball knowledge are things you should try to avoid discussing with these people due to a high frequency of bullshit. You’re probably better off trying to get in a pre game shouting match, fist fight, athletic competition, or drinking game to determine the better team.

Synonyms include but aren’t limited to: herpes, pansies, annoying, front-runners, fuckers, good for nothing tricksters, crack smoking swindlers, homosexuals, (insert derogatory word here), rapists, terrorist, and snuss burger with fromunda cheese.

Battle of the Pinstripes

2009-10-26T13:33:00.004-04:00

Through this years marvelous postseason run, I've picked up on something pretty interesting. In my readings of various Phils blogs and and talking amongst the phans, I've found that there's something present here that was void last year; confidence. There is no doubt, no uncertainty, just confidence. Last year, after every series win I bought every piece of merchandise I could because I worried that the previous series might be the last. This year, I knew we were going to go all the way. This team is too resilient, too athletic, too good. If we take a look at the differences between 2008 and now, we don't find much. The team is almost the same but with a few awesome improvements. They entered the postseason as NL East Champs and played the wild card winner and won in 4 games. They then went on to play the Dodgers who were coming off a sweep of the NL Central winner. The Phils proceeded to beat the boys in blue in 5 games AGAIN (both of which had miraculous game 4 comeback wins). Now, the Phils go on to play the winner of the AL East once more. Everything has played out exactly as it has last year, so what's the difference?

It seems that after last year, the players aren't the only ones with postseason experience. We as phans, have learned that the people on the TV screen don't decide the winners. If you take a look at the current ESPN "expert" poll, 9 out of 10 analysis have picked the Yankees to win the World Series. Not only does that not surprise me, after last year, that doesn't bother me. The Phillies have time after time proven the doubters wrong. They have come out and beat teams with such force and sportsmanship, no one can deny their power. I, personally, love the fact that the "experts" are picking the Yankees to win, I feel the Phillies play much better as underdogs.

I know I'm going to go into this series with as much confidence as the players have. The Phillies are about to prove a nation wrong that you can't buy victory, you have to earn it. You can take all the steroids in the world and it's not going to help you beat a team with as much heart as these Phillies.

See you at the tailgate.

-Will

The Moment You've Been Waiting For

2009-10-26T10:42:00.010-04:00

This is the perfect time to announce that the first annual Phillie Phan Attic tailgate will be held on Sunday, the First of November, at 11:00 AM, prior to game 4 of the World Series. I'll actually be there around 9 to grab the best spots and set up. Likely located in the *M Lot, our specific whereabouts will be relayed to you on the morning of the tailgate. We will update the blog, text you and respond to any texts or calls about our specific whereabouts.

One thing to mention about the tailgate is that the Phan Attic will not be providing alcohol. If you would like to drink at our tailgate, bring your own beer or whatever else you may have. Also, please do not drive if you are planning on drinking. Let me rephrase that. DO NOT DRIVE IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON DRINKING. There is a subway that takes you back into Philly, there are cabs, and there are other people who will pick you up later. That said, there will be drinking games played and fun will be had.

There are logistics to be arranged between now and then regarding who is helping us with what, who is going, the menu, and other very important things. Right now, I'd like to discuss one thing- the games.

There will be a wide variety of games played at the tailgate, such as cornhole (otherwise known as bag-o), hillbilly golf, wiffle ball, pong, and many others. Other contests include trivia, hot dog eating, chugging, and many more. Now you're probably asking, "what do I get if I win one of these competitions?" If by now you haven't figured out that you'll be winning one of the t-shirts pictured in this post, you're probably an illiterate Mets fan. Hopefully you'll want to come out to this tailgate (it's going to be epic) so if you can't make friends or have a good time, at least you can win a cool shirt.

-Dan

Since this is a Phillie Phan Attic Sponsored event, we at the Attic reserve all rights to limit anyone from driving. We also reserve the right to throw the best damn tailgate you've ever been to.

-Will

This Just In: Lee to start Game 1

2009-10-25T15:05:00.006-04:00

This is something that everyone knew was going to happen. Clifton Phifer has been penciled in to start Game 1 of the World Series. Considering Cliff's stellar postseason performance so far, he had quite a lot of competition for this spot. He had to beat out Babe Ruth, Superman, Gandhi and Jesus for his position. If the ALCS ends tonight under Andy Pettite, CC Sabathia will most likely start Game 1 for the Yanks. If this happens, I believe everyone in Cleveland will break down and cry or start a riot in the Indians front office. CC won the Cy Young in '07 for Cleveland while Lee followed up in '08. It sucks to be a Indians fan and see all these superstars winning playoff games for other teams. I think I speak for all when I thank the Cleveland Indians organization for giving us Cliff Lee, we won't let you down.

-Will

Watch and Wait

2009-10-24T19:52:00.003-04:00

With the World Series to start in four dreadfully long and anxiously painful days, what are we Phils phans to do? For tonight, watch the Yankees-Angels game and pray for the heavenly bodies. If the Angels can muster a win tonight, it will force a game 7 for tomorrow night. Not only does that build the suspense and pressure on the hated Yanks, but it forces them to ride their horse CC one more time. If CC has to start Sunday, he can't start Wednesday for Game 1, and the Yankees will only be able to use him twice in the Series at most. Also, it gives the Halos a chance to win, my preferred opponent. So for at least tonight, watch some baseball and wish ill upon A-Roid and Co.

ALCS Postponed. Good or Bad?

2009-10-24T19:49:00.002-04:00

Tropical Storm Douchebag is still hovering over New York so game 6 of the ALCS will have to wait until tomorrow. With all the Phillies still nursing hangovers and pondering which finger they're new ring will go on, what does this all mean for them? There are three possibilities that can possibly come from this, let's examine them, shall we?
10/25 Yankees Win in 6: This scenario is highly likely and if it happens, fine. The Yankees will then have until Wednesday to rest themselves. I'm not a big believer at all of the whole "too much rest will make you rusty" proclamation. The Phillies had very extended rest last year before facing a Tampa Bay team that just won in 7. That brings me to my next point, I'm not a big believer in "momentum", either. The Rays won a very tight game 7 thriller and came into the World Series roaring, well, supposedly. The Phillies are too smart and too professional to let these days cause "rust" and as for momentum, let me see any team put up the same number of runs the Phils are scoring.
10/26 Yankees Win in 7: Woo-hoo. Yanks win. There's going to be chaos in the streets and assholes with wife-beaters and gold chains will have to buy more hair-gel to look good for their teams 41st World Series appearance. This gives the Yanks only 2 days before the start of the WS to get their shit together. C.C. won't be an issue for game 1, as Dan already stated in his post, which is great because we'll be (probably) throwing Cliff Lee at them. The bullpen will be exhausted and the players will still smell like 5 dollar champagne. Our starters will be very well rested and ready to go and that's all we're going to need because the bats aren't going anywhere.
10/26 Angels Win in 7: We'll I'll be a rally monkey's uncle. I would have to give it to them. No one in the country thought they could pull off a comeback, myself included. The Phils will be headed for LA once again for another series in the sunshine. All of their pitchers would be worn out and the players would be, well, confused. The Angels play a lot of small ball but they do it effectively. Their usually potent offense has been doing their best Terri Schiavo impression (too soon?) and have not been putting up nearly enough runs to contend with the Yanks for the most part, but if they can hold on to win in 7, excellent. I'd much rather face a very tired Angels team than a Yanks one.

Me and Dan have been uncomfortably waiting for this series to end. We want to get into matchups and previews but must be patient. Tune in tomorrow and see what happens. I'm not nervous for the Yankees or the Angels. No one is stopping this team. No one.

-Will

World Series Tailgate

2009-10-24T12:26:00.004-04:00

It is my pleasure to announce the first ever Phillie Phan Attic tailgate, to be held at a home game at this year's World Series. Our World Series opponent is still to be determined, along with which games I might have the pleasure of attending, and if/when Will will be home. Thus, the date of the tailgate is also to be determined in the near future, and we will be sure to let everyone know. For now, this is just to cover the logistics and see who would like to attend and who can help us out at all.

What we need:

1. Cornhole- a staple at tailgates across the country, neither Will nor I surprisingly owns one.

2. PA System- another thing neither of us owns, we need a way to hear my friend Christoph Rockwell sing "Philadelphia Freedom" on karaoke.

3. Tents- vital in case of inclement weather, we'd like to have some tents on hand.

4. Food- we're gonna cover the grilling, but some salads, bean dip, and whatever else would be sweet

5. Grills- I have a small Weber grill, but that might not cut it. We'll likely need another small grill at least

6. TV/Satellite- I've never hooked up a TV with a dish, especially not in a parking lot. If someone is an expert, it would be sweet to be able to watch on TV from the lot. I can se my TV but don't have a dish or the technological brainpower.

What we have:

1. Food- we've got the meat covered.

2. Chairs- there will be plenty of places to get your lounge on at the P.P.A. tailgate.

3. Tables- for food and whatever else you choose to use them for, we'll have them there.

4. Wiffle ball- don't expect a tailgate without some fast plastic.

5. Hillbilly golf- while not my favorite tailgating game, another essential

We understand that it is difficult to volunteer your helpful services without the date being solidified, but this thread can now open up suggestions and ideas for the tailgate. Thanks for your help and I look forward to seeing you there.

While it's on your mind, please review this article about tailgating by ESPN's Rick Reilly: The Assault on Tailgating

-Dan

Phillies Offense: Oh Yes, Be Afraid.

2009-10-22T18:19:00.006-04:00

Howard is extremely devastating with one bat, let alone 4. There's been a large amount of talk recently of whether this is the best Phillies team ever assembled. That argument could take hours, even days without any discernible outcome. One thing that we can all unanimously agree upon, however, is that this team is phucking disgusting.
To go along with the incredible ability of this lineup, they are on fire right now. They lead the postseason in every single offensive category except doubles (LAA-14/PHI-13) and batting average (STL-.262/PHI-.261). They also have 18 more runs scored than any other team. The only player on the Phillies lineup who does not have a home run is J-Roll, but we all know how clutch he has been (please click that link, it'll be well worth it). The Fightin's are now going to have to wait a week until playing again, so we hope this tear continues. If I was a pitcher for our World Series opponent, I'd be shaking in my little cleats.
The reason this team has put up so many runs is the ability to work together. Unlike other squads that just have big name hitters with high price tags (cough Yankees cough), you don't get the same team effort. When Rollins is in a slump, Victorino steps up. When Ibanez isn't really swinging the bat like his May self, Werth starts hitting like a superstar. When Feliz is looking confused at the plate, Ruiz comes up huge. You get the idea. This team clicks.
If history holds true and the Yankees finish out this series, the Phils will have 4 games scheduled at Yankee Stadium where the most HR's were hit this year and 3 more at home, which is where the 3rd most longballs were smashed. As we saw from the interleague meeting earlier in the season, this is going to be a shoot-out.
Rollins has turned into Mr. 9th-Inning. Victorino is tired of having to steal bases and found it much easier to just hit home runs. Utley's not hitting like he used to but his extreme patience has earned him 8 walks this postseason. We love to see Chase take his base, because that mean the Big Man comes up with runners on, who's having an unbelievable run. Werth is loving October baseball, having 5 dingers already. He's tied with A-Roid for the most so far but is Jayson getting any of the same spotlight? No, because he plays for Philly and never took steroids or banged a super model so no one cares. Ibanez had that huge swing in game 1 of the NLCS but has struggled so far. We know what's he capable of and I'm sure he'll love that short right field in NY. Feliz proved to us he's not in a coma when he hit a tater last night, but really needs to pick it up in the WS. Ruiz hopped up out the bed, turned his swag on, took a look in the mirror and said I'm a friggin' beast.
I'm extremely excited to watch the most potent lineup in the league show up in the World Series. I've got a word for you C.C., AJ, Joba, Andy, and Mariano. Be Afraid.

-Will

TJ Simers Wins DBOTY

2009-10-22T17:24:00.005-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, the Douche Bag of The Year Award has finally been handed out. Congratulations goes to TJ Simers, a talented writer for the LA Times and all-around great guy.

He wrote this today:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers22-2009oct22,0,2094700.column

This was his wonderful gem from the playoffs last year. Thanks, Teej!

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/09/sports/sp-simers9

Feel free to send TJ a constructive e-mail: t.j.simers@latimes.com, I'm sure he will appreciate your kind words.

Game 5 Recap

2009-10-22T13:31:00.004-04:00

When Andre Ethier took a Cole Hamels fastball and gently placed it amongst the fans in the right field seats, things didn't look promising for the Phils in Game 5. But, boy did that change quickly. The Phils got to Vicente Padilla right away when he walked Utley and Howard before giving up a bomb to Jayson Werth. The Werewolf, as some people are beginning to call him, had quite a night. He went yard again, putting up 2 of the Phillies 4 homers on the night. Hamels never really settled in, giving up three bombs himself, but the story of the night was the Phils' bats. Werth led the way, followed by Victorino who notched his own bomb and came inches away from hitting another (from the other side of the plate, mind you). Feliz snapped out of his October slumber for a brief second when he took a Vicente Padilla pitch to the opposite field stands. Lidge finished the game with a comfortable lead, but looked impressive in finishing off the Dodgers. Chad Durbin was also a bright spot for the pitching staff and has been a truly wonderful surprise this postseason. I'll admit, I wasn't even too big on having him on the playoff roster (especially in the NLDS when we could have used The Bearded Wizard's services). The Phillies won 10-4 and capped a series that saw our offense straight up out-perform Manny and the Dodgers. Now, it's on to the World Series for the second straight year.

Notes:

With his first inning walk, Chase Utley tied Boog Powell's streak for reaching base in consecutive playoff games with 28.

Ryan Howard's consecutive RBI streak was snapped at 8, leaving him tied with Lou Gehrig for the all-time postseason record.

Your winning lines from last night's game were:

Under 3 showers (in Manny's lifetime)

Hamels

Over 27,000 tears

No, Lidge chose to leap in victory

And finally, FUCK YEAH LET'S DO THIS PHILS

Thanks for playing.

-Dan

WE'RE BACK, BABY

2009-10-22T00:47:00.004-04:00

Soak it in, Phils phans. I'm in Philly tonight, obviously, and after writing this post I will go back out onto my balcony on the 14th floor of my apartment and do just that. Soak it in.

Listen, I don't need to back myself as a Phils phan. You guys, of all people, understand and respect that. There are people drinking and partying in the streets, screaming wildly and going nuts. I love it. Tonight, I'm not down there. I'm up top watching and enjoying. These phans, this city. I've been down on the street before, I know what it's like. It's euphoric, orgasmic (as Kelly Hughes would put it). But to stand up on this balcony and watch the city explode like it is, I can only think of one thing: this isn't the end. Don't get me wrong, guys, it's time to party. But to me, right now, I'm looking ahead to the World Phucking Series. And this year, I've got big plans. So do my boys in red pinstripes. This team is unbelievable. Do everything you can to remember this because I've never seen a team so special. Buy tickets. Buy jerseys. Take Pictures. Make Memories. This is the best time of year to be a Philadelphia Phan.

So for tonight, soak it in and enjoy. I know that I will be seeing many of you soon and I can't wait. Analysis is for another time. Tonight is just basking in glory. Thanks for reading, everyone, and supporting us and this team. They're the reason we do it and we can't wait to make this next week the ride of a phucking lifetime.

-Dan

(photo courtesy of ESPN.com)

NLCS Preview: Game 5

2009-10-21T16:45:00.005-04:00

It's here. Game 5. Again. The 3-1 series lead is beautiful but absolutely nothing to mess with. A Dodger win tonight still puts us in a very tight spot. No one wants to see this series go back to LA except the boys in blue. Cole takes the mound and tries to the team in the World Series for the second straight year (something never before accomplished by the Phillies). Some other things to look out for tonight: Chase Utley is just one base away of matching Boog Powell's record for consecutive playoff games reaching base safely (28). Also, Ryno is one RBI from beating Lou Gehrig's record of most consecutive playoff games with an RBI (8). We wish both of you the best of luck.
A win here might seem to good to be true. I want to be cautiously optimistic as we watch the Phightin's take the field. Any number of things could wrong but we watch with our heads held high. We've seen a huge blowout in this series as well as many more tight games. We've seen the starters and bullpen excel as well as falter. The bats were dead one night then alive the next. Anything could be in store during this chilly game in South Philly, but we have the upper hand and everyone wearing pinstripes knows it. Come on, Cole. It times to show this team that you are still in '08 form. Jimmy, you've saved our asses once, and everyone knows the team does better when you do your job from the 1 spot. Chase, Howard, Werth, this is the night when we need you all to come through. Keep the smart at bats coming and show Padilla the way out the door. I leave the rest to you, the phans. This is win or go home for the Dodgers, so it all comes down to who wants it more. Do you want it? Prove it.

How many showers will Manny take before the games over
over 3 (-200)
under 3 (+150)
Who will have more strikeouts
Hamels (-500)
Padilla (+350)
How many tears will we see from the Dodgers
over 27 (-110)
under 27 (even)
Will Brad Lidge fall to his knees in victory
yes (-100)
no (+120)
Are you ready for some BASEBALL
kinda (+300)
FUCK YEA LET'S DO THIS PHILS (-1000)

A nice quote comes from big Phils phan and once fat baby, Meg Kearns. "Dude, this blog is genius." Thanks Meg. Keep the support coming. I'll be watching at the Copper Penny, Dan will be watching at Steves with beer and wings, my sister will be at the game, and somewhere David Wright is taking a nap. Enjoy this one. GO PHILS!

-Will

T-Mac

2009-10-21T12:46:00.004-04:00

Lost in all the hooplah over Jimmy's clutch-as-shit double on Monday night was an interesting little bit from my experience at the game. Walking around the Hall of Fame Club about 45 minutes before game time, I hear a familiar voice. I turn and see none other than T-Mac himself ordering a gourmet sandwich. I wait until he is on his way back to the booth to stop him.

Me: "Hey T-Mac! Aren't you gonna get some chicken wings to bring back for Sarge?"

T-Mac (chuckling): "I offered to get him some chicken fingers but he didn't want any"

Me (chuckling as well): "Alright, take it easy"

T-Mac (no longer chuckling): "Enjoy the game"

Afterwards, I had a couple thoughts about the encounter.

1. T-Mac is a big dude. He had a few inches on me height-wise and isn't skinny. Something I did not expect.

2. T-Mac is a goofy dude. This is something I already knew, but in person he is twice as goofy.

3. T-Mac is a nice dude. I never really liked hearing him talk on the broadcasts too much but in person he was very friendly to everyone at the game.

So if you ever run into this man, don't be afraid to say hi. Just don't be caught off by his size or overwhelming goofiness.

-Dan