Love the Deadline

Eleven days ago, we posted an article about how the Indians and the Phillies had some weaknesses that needed to be addressed if they were going to improve and contend the rest of the season. Well, everyone in baseball seemed to know that. The blogs were a buzz and many rumors were flying. A lot has happened since then and I believe Phillies fans and Indians fans should be happy.

Indians fans will have a very good starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, from the Rockies. He gives them a starting pitcher very capable of winning every start he attempts. Hopefully, he'll turn his year around and help push the Tribe to the top of the AL Central standings. They also obtained an outfielder earlier in the week. Kosuke Fukudome was obtained from the Chicago Cubs. He will patrol right field until Choo comes back.

The Phillies, on the other hand, needed a right-handed hitting outfielder. Beltran, Willingham, and others were filling the rumor mill. Hunter Pence, an all-star from Houston, got the nod. The Phillies worked with their old GM, Ed Wade, and obtained a player with very good talent, and is not just a rental. They'll have Pence the next couple years as well. And even better, they keep both Domonic Brown and Vance Worley. Brown will probably move over to left-field next year, when Ibanez can be let go.

What a nice couple of days for our teams. Our teams have done a nice job of improving. It gives the fan the message that they are serious about making a push for the playoffs and in the Phillies case, they are serious about winning it all. The push to October should be fun for all of us this year.

What a Night

My first trip to Fenway was incredible.  We met some friends from Boston who had obtained bleacher seats for a game against the Kansas City Royals.  We were to meet them ahead of time across from the stadium.  It was awesome as we got closer to the ballpark.

Who would think that I would be at the place where some of baseball's immortals had played.  The mound was where Babe Ruth had pitched.  The outfield was the home of Ted Williams.  This historic place was so neat.  I am a sucker for the old-time ball parks.  The new stadiums are great, but you can't be the nostalgia of these great stadiums.

When we got in the park, we had to walk around and see what makes Fenway special.  The "green monster", Pesky's Pole, and the Red Seat (landing spot of a Ted Williams homer - 502 feet).  I took some pictures and will share them below.

During the game we had quite a few experiences that most people don't see.  First of all we saw a homerun over the Monster, and a homerun off of the Pesky Pole in the same game.  We also saw a Grand Slam by the Big Papi.  We also were treated to some outstanding service.  Our friends had arranged for us to spend the evening in the Coca-Cola box.  So, we started the game in the right-field bleachers (which was very nice) and ended up in the second-floor box behind home plate.  The evening couldn't have been any better.

Fenway Park is a place where every baseball fan needs to take in a ballgame.

Red Sox game vs. KC Royals

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End the Lockout, Please?

I am not a huge football fan, but I understand all of my friends tend to be.  I also understand that fall weekend tv is dominated by football.  I am a big Rams fan and AJ and my wife love the Browns.  OK.  I get it.  But when does this offseason end and the preparation for this season begin?  I have had enough of the two sides trying to get the most out of a deal.  Enough, already.  Get it done.  Get back to work.  Start signing some players, so we know who to root for.

As far as my Rams go, I feel like they have a couple of needs that would really push them to the next level.  I feel like they can be a playoff team if they can add a couple of pieces on offense to help out Sam Bradford.  He had an outstanding rookie year and has demonstrated the ability to help the offense progress to respectability.  I think they need to add a back-up running back - Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush??  They also could use help in the receiving corps - Vincent Jackson, Early Doucet?

I don't think they need a superstar, but a couple of good additional weapons for Bradford would go a long way to demonstrating that they are moving in the right direction.  They seem to be committed to winning, but they need to add some pieces to really show it.  I think that they can win their division this year and get back to the playoffs.  They have been missing for quite a few years now.  Let's get back to the years when they were always in the playoffs, and showing the possibility of winning a Super Bowl.

Retro Night

Just love those uniforms.  I grew up loving the Phillies, and these have to be my favorite uniforms.  Takes me back to the days of Carlton, Schmidt, Bowa, etc.  Watching Hamels pitch makes me think of "Lefty".  It is completely awesome.  Even the old Padres uniforms are pretty good.  I wish they'd wear them more often.  I like them better than the cream "alternate uniform".

The Lidge, the Lidge, the Lidge is back!!  Brad Lidge is back and active, and it's good for two reasons.  First, he can hopefully help out in the 7th inning when they need a veteran to come in.  Second, he allowed the Phillies to DFA Baez.  He has done absolutely nothing this year.  At least Lidge gives them a good reason to make that happen.

I am even rooting for the Reds this weekend.  I hope they can pull off a couple of wins against the Braves.  As well as the Phils have played, they have not been able to put any distance between themselves and the Braves.  Come on Reds!!

Indians and Phillies...

AJ and I will have to watch the same players, it looks like.  Both of our teams - my Phillies and his Indians - need the same types of players down the stretch.  If you watch the rumor sites and listen to the talk, you keep hearing that each team needs an outfielder, and hopefully a pitcher.  In my opinion, the Indians need starting pitching, but there is not much out there.  The Indians don't tend to be "high end spenders", so who knows where that goes.

The story that has more interest is the rumor linking both teams to Carlos Beltran.  I am sure he is better than the outfielders that both teams are sending out there.  I know he would be a better consistent hitter than Domonic Brown, John Mayberry, Ben Francisco, or Raul Ibanez.  I also know that the Indians are short-handed with Sizemore and Choo on the DL.  There are also rumors for Ryan Ludwick and Josh Willingham.  The next 12 days could get quite interesting.

It is really fun for us to both have our teams in first place.  That doesn't happen very often, so we often have debates over who is better.  I know my Phils are, but it's fun to hear him.  Wouldn't that be quite a nice World Series?  Indians vs. Phillies.  We'd have to scramble for tickets.

Fenway Park Boston

Can't wait to go here.  It is one ballpark that I have never been to.  That will all end in the next week.  The plans are to attend a Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox game.  I love old ballparks.  Let's hope Mother Nature cooperates.

Photo by Brian Herzog

Trade Deadline

The trade deadline is one of the most popular times of the baseball season.  Whether your team is competing for the playoffs, or your team is out of the playoff picture, you usually can't wait to see what your team will do.  I am chomping at the bit this year.  The Phillies need players at two positions.  They need a right-handed hitting outfielder, and they could use a relief pitcher.

My hope is that they go and get one of three rumored players.  Ryan Ludwick, from San Diego, is a decent outfielder, and a righty hitter that could hit in the 5 hole behind Ryan Howard.  Melky Cabrera, a switch-hitter from Kansas City, would also be a nice fit.  Josh Willingham, of the A's, a right-handed hitting outfielder would be my third choice.  He has always hit the Phillies well - so maybe he could help them out.

As far as pitchers go - rumors are swirling about Heath Bell and Mike Adams of San Diego.  I don't know how this might play out since Ryan Madson just returned from the DL and Brad Lidge seems to be only a week or so away.  That should bolster the bullpen, if they can stay healthy.

I do love this time of year and hope that Ruben Amaro, Jr. can pull off another deal to help this team secure it's chances of going to the World Series.

The Start of Something New

Franki, my wife, has been nagging AJ, her brother,  and me to write a sports blog.  We talk sports all them time on the phone, so now we'll share our thoughts with you to see if we are really off our rockers.

I am an avid sports fan, watching sports more than most people should.  I read blogs, news, and anything I can get ahold of to learn more about what is happening with my teams.  I follow almost all major sports, and usually have opinions that I am willing to share and defend.  Having played sports in high school, and casually in college, I often find myself frustrated with the lack of performance by players and coaches that get to "play a game" for their profession.

The teams that I will spend the most time sharing about are my favorites - Phillies, Rams, Flyers, Blue Jackets, Sixers, as well as college sports involving Ohio State University and North Carolina basketball.  I am a huge fan of Philadelphia sports (even though I have always lived in Ohio), so I will spend much of my time explaining why the Phillies should do things differently and linking to fellow bloggers who share some of my same opinions.  This is an outstanding time to be a Phillies fan, and hopefully they'll do some things over the next few weeks to bring home another World Series Championship.

This should be interesting.  Comment back and we'll try to explain why we feel the way we do.  This blog will contain my opinions, AJ's opinions, and probably the opinions of people in our families.  It should be interesting.