Phightin' Phils Phorum

Inquirer Congratulates Phillies A Little Too Soon!

The Philadelphia Inquirer drove every superstitious fan in Philadelphia out of their mind as they published a congratulations to the Phillies for winning back to back World Championships. With the team down 3 games to 1, the gaff became even worse and has readers up in arms. 

The full video is below from 6 Action News.

Does the ad bother you? Do you really believe that something printed in the newspaper will have an effect on the outcome of the World Series?

Interview With Phillies Beat Writer Todd Zolecki

 Phightin' Phils Phorum caught up with Philadelphia Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki for some of his thoughts on the Phillies and the post season. 

P.P. Do you think Cole Hamels will turn things around in the World Series? Why do you think he is struggling?

T.Z. I think he can, although I'm not sure he will. There are a lot of theories for Cole's struggles, but one thing that sticks out to me is his poise. Nothing rattled Cole during his first years in the Majors. This year he seems to get rattled quite easily, and I think that affects him on the mound. He could be putting pressure on himself, so when things go bad he tends to let a bad pitch snowball into a bad inning.

P.P. What is your favorite post season moment since you have been covering the Phillies?

T.Z. It's tough to pick just one postseason moment. But watching Lidge drop to his knees after striking out Eric Hinske definitely comes to mind. But there are others: Stairs' home run, Victorino's slam against CC, the comeback against the Rockies in Game 5 this year, Blanton's homer, Jenkins' pinch-hit double in Game 5, etc.

To read more of Todd's insight on the Phillies, check out his blog, The Zo Zone. Thank you Todd for taking the time to answer a few questions!

The Joys Of The Post-Season Media

So, did we all thoroughly enjoy the Phillies TBS TV coverage this post-season?  No?  Oh, come on now, they were mildly entertaining, right?  Let us examine some of the broadcasting highlights:

 - These guys are brilliant; just check out this quote about Raul Ibanez: “He’s not 37 because he started his career late.”  Really?  Wow…the true fountain of youth; late bloomers.

- On a 2-base hit: “It’s an inside-the-park double.”  You know, as opposed to the out-of-the-park double.

- During Game 1 of the NLDS, 2nd inning: “There has been great defense in this ballgame and in this series.”  Yes, all 2 innings of it.

- About the catcher: “All the game calling is to make the pitcher comfortable.”  The catcher calls pitches to make the pitcher comfy?  Not to get outs?  Ok then.  Genius.  Sheer genius.

- During a bunt to the pitcher with a runner on first: “He is thinking about second base because it is right behind the mound.”  Is it?  I never would have noticed…thanks, TBS!  Baseball geography lesson 101.

- On Clayton Kershaw after he gave up a 3-run homer, allowed to 2 more runners on base and was then pitching to Ryan Howard: “This is a grow-up moment (for Kershaw).”  No more little league for you buddy!

But wait, there’s more!  Did you all see the main sponsor for TBS during commercial breaks?  Avocados.  Yes, the disgusting, slimy, green fruit is THE big money maker for this station.  Awesome.

And how about the commercials for the new TBS series “Men of a Certain Age.”  It is October – this series is set to begin in December.  Not only will we have forgotten about it by December, but with the thousands of previews shown, we have already seen the series in its entirety.  No need to tune in then in December….we already know that Ray Romano plays a moron with a dirty mind; Scott Bakula is a man-slut; and Andre Braugher is sad because he cannot live up to his daddy’s high expectations.  Think that about covers it.

So how about some media video highlights!  Here ya go; let us begin with Buck Martinez, who has NO idea which team he is watching…he mentions the Yanks and the Red Sox before he figures out it is the Phillies:

Chase Utley is also annoyed with the media coverage…watch his reaction as a media member pulls a Kanye West:

And my favorite clip of the Comcast Sportsnet coverage…Ricky Botallico flips out during the Jimmy Rollins 9th inning game winning hit in Game 4 of the NLCS:

Classic.

Hope you all enjoyed these broadcasts as much as I did :O)

By the way, if anyone is looking to sell a ticket (1) to Game 3 of the World Series (the Saturday game, home opener), please email me.  I cannot afford the Stub Hub prices so I am looking for anyone to take pity on me and sell me a ticket at face value or just above it.  I cannot do standing room, but am open to other seating arrangements.  Thank you and Go Phillies! :O)

Utley Joins The Award Club

In Game 5 of the World Series, Chase Utley made an amazing play on a ground ball when he threw out Jason Bartlett of the Rays at home plate.  Utley baited him into running by faking a toss to first base.  The run he saved turned out to be the difference in the game, as the Phillies went on to win Game 5 by a score of 4-3, thus winning the World Series.  And Utley has been rewarded by the fans for his efforts; he is the winner of the This Year in Baseball “Best Postseason Moment” award.  Utley racked up 35.6% of the vote, with teammate Brad Lidge coming in second place for his Game 5 save.

And I hearby declare that Chase is also the winner of the “Best Career Move of 2008” for his post-World Series Parade speech and creative use of the F-Bomb!  Yes, I totally made up that category, but he so deserves a prize!  There is no longer a baseball fan on the planet that does not know who Chase Utley is, from small children to grandma and grandpa.  That move will be talked about forever and Utley has solidified his superstar status.  So, he gets my “Best Career Move” award; and as I am the one making this up, I will also be the one handing out the prize.  Chase:  Please stop by my house for your reward.  I swear (no pun intended), it will be worth the trip.  :o)

And in other Utley news, I thought you may all like to hear an interview Chase did earlier this week with Mike Missanelli of 950ESPN Radio.  The two discuss Utley’s hip surgery, what it means to be a World Champion and yes, the infamous F-Bomb.  The best part of the interview is when Mike asks Utley what his wife thought about the F-Bomb; Utley infers that she was not very happy and after realizing what he said, changes his tune to say that she was “ok” with it :O)  FUNNY stuff!  Enjoy! 

Baseball’s Strangest Pranks and Bad Jokes

Continuing our Strange Baseball series, here is the latest installment:  Baseball Pranks and Jokes.  Please, do not try these at home J

Atlanta Braves Minor Leagues – a player, who apparently will remain nameless, was told by his teammates that his hotel room in Scranton was haunted and that a ghost was going to try to kill him.  His teammates even got a key to his room and re-arranged things so he would think that the ghost did it.  This poor, gullible player bought into the stories and was so scared, he was ready to change hotels. Before he could, a group of players stormed his room in the middle of the night and scared the pants off him. (events reported by Blaine Boyer)

Jose Contreras, White Sox:  In 2006, Contreras  injured Juan Uribe by giving him a super-atomic wedgie (the waistband of the undies goes over the head).  Uribe actually missed playing time as a result of the prank gone wrong.

Luis Gonzalez, Florida Marlins: Gonzales reportedly filled a jelly donut with mustard and waited for someone to eat it.  Eventually, someone did eat it and then proceeded to ask the clubhouse attendant to call the donut shop and advise them that someone had spiked the donuts.

Eric Byrnes, Arizona Diamondback: Adam Piatt became a victim of a horrible prank in retaliation for pranks he had played on others in the D-Backs locker room.  Byrnes and company coated both his underwear and his entire suit with Icy-Hot.  Piatt started sweating on his way to the airport and later reported that it was the worst plane ride of his life.

Denny Neagle, Cincinnati Reds: One night the grounds crew went out to sweep up during the fifth inning, and the team mascot, Mr. Red, joined them which was a typical event.  The catch this night was that Neagle was masquerading as Mr. Red.  As he wandered past the Red’s dugout and his identity was discovered, his team had quite a laugh over it.

Larry Bowa, Philadelphia Phillies: When Bowa was playing shortstop with the Phillies his main National League rival was Dave Concepcion of the Reds.  Before a game against the Reds, Bowa asked Concepcion if he had changed his name to Elmer.  When Concepcion replied, “No, why?”  Bowa responded with, “Because I keep seeing E-Concepcion in box score.”  Concepcion had earned a new nickname.

Corey Koskie, Minnesota Twins:  Koskie put peanut butter in the underwear of “Big Papi” David Ortiz.  Ortiz got dressed after his shower like usual and had walked about 10 yards before he noticed something was not right.  He suddenly began screaming, “Who put peanut butter in my underwear? What's in my underwear?”  What I’d like to know is, how did he know it was peanut butter? J

Jason Schmidt, Los Angeles Dodgers:  Before a game, Schmidt switched his jersey with Clayton Kershaw’s.  Unaware of the switch, Kershaw went out onto the field wearing the wrong jersey, took pictures with fans and was even caught wearing it on the stadium’s Jumbo-Tron during the National Anthem.  Oops!

Trot Nixon, Boston Red Sox:  Nixon decided to torture Kevin Youkilis by super gluing his suitcase shut on a road trip to Texas.  Unable to get it open, Youkilis had to enlist help; they cut the suitcase open and Youkilis had to get a new bag.

Casey Weathers, Colorado Rockies:  As the Rockies’ number 1 draft pick in 2007, Casey Weathers was teased about being a big “star” and forced during camp to carry a Red Carpet around everywhere he went.  This prank occurred after the first day of camp when he was forced to push around a cart containing an elk head. 

Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies:  We are all familiar with the awful prank that was pulled on Kyle Kendrick during 2008 Spring Training.  Kendrick was told he had been traded to Japan and everyone, including the manager, his agent, the media, and all the players were in on the prank organized by Myers.  I think a video explains this one best:

Kyle McClellan, St. Louis Cardinals:  McClellan fell victim to a common prank seen all around MLB; as a rookie, McClellan decided to keep the first game ball he threw in the majors.  His teammates replaced it with a ball they had written all over and McClellan was upset, thinking they had actually written on his ball.  Later, his teammates gave him the real ball back, unharmed.

Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves:  Hudson gave Eddie Perez the fright of his life during a stay at a Fort Lauderdale hotel.  Perez entered his room, opened the closet door and Hudson jumped out at him, wearing the Scary Movie costume and mask.  It was all caught on tape and aired on Spike TV.  Perez was so upset, he asked to change rooms.

Henry Blanco, Chicago Cubs:  During Spring Training, Blanco and teammates decided to have some fun with their athletic trainer.  He had an old, beat up car but it was in pretty good shape when compared with how it looked after Blanco and company got through with it.  They took bats to it and smashed it up, broke all the windows, etc…  When the trainer saw what they had done, he was in shock.  Blanco then informed him that they had all gotten together and bought him a new car.  Whew!

Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals:  Third base coach Tony Beasly was very excited about a brand new car he had just bought.  Zimmerman and friends stole his keys while he wasn’t looking and had the security guard move the car.  After the game, Beasly thought his car had been stolen.  His son came in the next day and told players it was the first time he had ever heard his very religious father cuss.

Dave Parker, Cincinnati Reds:  A popular prank in the Reds clubhouse had been named “The Three Man Lift.”  Three players would lie on the ground and lock arms while Parker attempted to “lift” the 3 men.  On the floor, the man in the middle was about to get a surprise.  What they were actually doing was holding the guy down while other players covered him in shaving cream, mustard, ketchup and talcum powder.  Former Red Glenn Sutko reportedly fell for this trick not once, but twice. 

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Strange Baseball.  Please leave any of your favorite pranks in the comment section below to share with everyone.

2008 World Series DVD Release

On November 25th Philadelphia Phillies fans will be able to purchase a new World Series highlight tape that features their team winning for the first time in 28 years. Major League Baseball has been making these films since the 1940's and this years edition will be narrated by Terrance Howard. The other Phillies victory movie was narrated by Dodgers legend Vin Scully and has been a popular film for Phillies fans trying to hold onto the glory of 1980. Finally we have another disk to add to the collection!

The official Phillies highlight tape has not yet been released as well. Sadly John Facenda is not around to do this film as he did for the 1980 team but I am sure Harry Kalas and company will do an exceptional job. Phightin' Phils Phorum will keep you informed about the release of that film as well when news becomes available. I just hope they start the narration by saying "It all began in Clearwater, Florida!"

There will be a showing of "2008 World Series Film: Phillies vs. Rays" on November 24th at The Bridge Cinema De Lux in Philadelphia with Harry Kalas, Phillie Phanatic, and Milt Thompson expected to be on hand. There will be four other showings in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. (Bala Theatre 3), Landsdale, Pa., (Montgomeryville 10), Wayne, Pa., (Anthony Wayne Theatre 5) and Vorhees, N.J., (Showcase at The Ritz Center 16).Tickets for the Red Carpet showing in Philadelphia are $25 and avaiable at Phillies.com. This showing includes a copy of the DVD. The other showings are $10 and do not include the DVD.

Philadelphia Inquirer Complaints

In 1980 I remember riding from store to store to get a copy of the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer and being unable to find either. I am still bitter about not having a copy of the "We Win" Daily News headline. 28 years later I decided I would not let history repeat itself.

After being up very late celebrating, I set my alarm clock for 6:30am to get up and go get a copy of the Inquirer (I get the Daily News delivered). Upon second thought I reset the alarm for 7:00am and went to bed. I woke up and went to my local Wawa in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. Apparently I was too late as the Inquirer was sold out. I then went to CVS followed by Shop Rite where they told me they only received 2 copies and that another Wawa had only received 4. 3 more Wawa's later and I had the same result. Plenty of Daily News and The Atlantic City Press but no Philadelphia Inquirer. Where are all the copies?

By dumb luck I found a few at Genuardi's and bought them and my quest was solved. Then later in the day I heard stories of people who get delivery not getting their paper. Entire neighborhoods including WIP personality Howard Eskin's did not receive their copy. On his show, Eskin said he was offered a credit for the paper. No copy of the paper, which by the way is a keepsake for some, but a credit for what, 75 cents?

Mr. Eskin vowed to stop subscribing to the paper if he and his neighbors did not receive copies of todays paper and I applaud his effort. You hear about the circulation problems and the fact that no one reads the paper anymore and this is how they run their business on a day where they stand to sell more copies in a day then they do in a week? Give me a break. I am tempted to cancel my Sunday subscription. After I get the special poster I am sure they will include this week of course!

Another Knock In Another Newspaper

It was bad enough when the L.A. Times did that despicable article referring to Phillies fans as "thugs and pitbulls running loose" but now the Wall Street Journal has gotten into the act.

In an article entitled "Can Phillies Fans Embrace Optimism" author Allen Barra said, "In "The Natural Mind," his classic 1974 study of drugs and higher consciousness, Dr. Andrew Weil defined two types of paranoia. Those who exhibit the first feel, when faced with a series of random events, that "the universe is a conspiracy organized for their own benefit." Baseball fans in this group might generally be described, give or take a disappointing season or two, as followers of the New York Yankees. In the second type of paranoia, people see a hostile pattern in random occurrences. In other words, the universe is a conspiracy organized against them. Baseball fans who fit this description have a history of rooting for the Boston Red Sox (at least until recent years), the Chicago Cubs and, most of all, the Philadelphia Phillies."

He continued to say after bringing up every bad memory in Phillies history including the 1950 loss to the Yankees, 1964, Joe Carter, etc, "Phillies fans have a reputation as the meanest and most cynical in baseball, but given the history they've had to live with, that might be a natural reaction. "They're like characters in a Springsteen song," Prof. Kuklick says. "They feel like dogs that have been kicked too much.""

I'm sorry Mr. Barra, but you do not understand Philadelphia fans at all. We live and die by our teams and we have waited a long time for another World Championship, but we are not dogs that have been kicked too much.

The only comment I agreed with in the article was this one, "Philadelphia sometimes forgets this is really a baseball town," says Mr. Kashatus. "The parade in 1980 proved this. You wouldn't have gotten a celebration like that for the Eagles, 76ers, and Flyers combined."

There is no team in Philadelphia more beloved then the Phillies. If you want to see a dog that's been kicked too much, go visit the New York Mets!

For complete postseason coverage check out National Pastime.

Phightin' Phils Phorum Author Featured in Philadelphia Inquirer

MyTeamRivals.com's CEO and Phightin' Phils Phorum's co author Bill Zeltman was interviewed for an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer today by Mike Jensen entitled "A hop, skip and a click away". Check it out!

Rollins Snubs Media

Jimmy Rollins would not give an intereview after the game yesterday causing speculation that he may be limiting his interviews or upset about the questioning about the team's April starts. Rollins dismissed the speculation and downplayed the whole situation. There is no reason for concern and expect Jimmy to be his normal outspoken self with the media in the future!

Fans remember Steve Carlton and his media silence. Lefty would not speak to the media for about 15 years. The times are different now though and players are expected to do their share of media appearances. Still, when a player stops talking to the press, even for a moment, tongues start wagging!