What a weekend. While not a fan of interleague play, the LSF will certainly take a series win from the defending AL champs. I am utterly amazed that the Phillies still have a 2 game lead in the NL East considering how they are not hitting. Yes, Superstar did manage to break an 0/23 slump with a home run in Saturday's Cliff Lee win but, as far as I can remember, the only other hit the guy got was a seeing eye single in today's shut-out loss to the Rangers. None of the starting line-up is doing much at the plate and that includes Polanco who has seen his average plummet nearly 80 points in less than a week. Francisco looks like his average will soon fall below the Mendoza line and, while showing an improvement over April, Ibanez is still stinking up the place.
Fortunately, the team is still getting incredibly great starting pitching and Madson has been lights out in his new role as closer. If and when Lidge gets back he will probably assume the role Durbin filled the past couple of years. Hopefully Worley will continue his great showing when Blanton goes away to the DL, but who knows. One thing is for sure - there will be no easy division repeat this season. The Phillies have been lucky that their rivals haven't exactly lit up the scoreboard either. Hitting in the majors is down across the board allowing lady luck to control the divisions. Actually, it isn't lady luck but rather the gods of baseball who, as we know, control everything and must have their reasons for the paucity of great hitting this season. Since first place is the best place to be, I shouldn't be too critical of our candystripers, but that wouldn't be any fun now, would it?
Superstar's performance continues to suck, and he is still swinging at pitches any little leaguer would not offer at. The way he swings at pitches below the ankle he might want to consider giving Tiger Woods lessons on his golf swing. This is the same guy who a few short years ago was named the NL MVP. With his average now at or below .240 he is on the verge of becoming the new Dave Kingman without Kingman's home run production. The look in his eyes tells me that he is pressing much too hard, and not getting results. I know that he is the man and all that, but perhaps Charlie ought to sit him down for a few games so that he might catch his breath and reflect on the paychecks he is stealing. Shit, with the team down to its last few outs and needing a couple of runs the guy tried to bunt his way on today. DUH! If he came up with that move on his own he needs to be bitch slapped. Did he think he could have legged it out safely? He isn't what I would call a speedster on the basepaths. If Charlie called it then Charlie is ready for a vacation, unless that was Charlie's way of letting the guy know that he has lost his manager's confidence and that he needs to refocus on his game rather than whatever else he is involved in.
When one of your team's highlights is Cliff Lee stealing a base, then you are in trouble no matter what place you are in. This team needs help. Victorino being on the DL has not helped and I hope that when he comes back he can pick up where he left off. Dom Brown is back with the club, a day after Ruben told us that he wasn't ready. Did Ruben lie to us again or did Charlie beg for the kid? The braintrust stated upon his return that he would play only in certain situations. I thought the whole idea for him being in Allentown was so that he could play everyday so that he could regain his confidence and work on his defense since we have all seen that he didn't play any the last time he was here. Now he'll be a part time player, defeating the purpose of being in the minors. I wish Ruben would have been honest and told us that the team is desperate and that was the reason for bringing the kid up at this time.
I read in today's paper an article which stated that Ruben may have to look to do a deal in order to bring in some help for the offense if there was any hope to return to the playoffs. While I don't disagree with the premise, the writer suggested that current Padre Ryan Ludwick might be the righthanded bat with power the Phillies ought to consider. Correct me if I'm wrong but, when the Phillies played the Padres earlier in the season, didn't Ludwick stink up the place as if he was already wearing the candystripes? The guy is hitting well below .250 with decreased power. And who would we give up in return for this hitter? Blanton is damaged goods which makes him all but untradeable. Do you offer Kendrick? Maybe Worley could bring you something, but unless you trade him to a Japanese club he will surely become the next Ferguson Jenkins and bite you in the ass for years to come. And what about Ruben's claim that his checkbook has been taken away from him by the Phillies management? That would preclude him trading for anybody with a big contract, so maybe we are truly fucked and have to hope that the over-the-hill oft injured gang can find a way to make a last run for glory. One can only hope.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Chase Utley is back in Philly. He is scheduled to be examined by a doctor and the team's athletic trainer and could possibly be activated in the next few days. If he can play at anywhere close to his former self he would be a welcome sight to the LSF's eyes since watching Valdez hit into double plays is starting to get old. I for one am not counting on anything from Utley - I'd rather be pleasantly surprised.
Finally, the world did not come to an end as predicted by those religious idiots so I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that you need to pay your cable bill. If you've maxed out your credit cards figuring that you wouldn't have to pay them off, you lose. Visa will shut you down in a New York minute if you don't pay them the minimum requested. If you do pay off the minimum due every month you will owe them big money longer than most marriages last.
Finally, part two. Yesterday, we went to a car collector's show somewhere in Delaware County. I say somewhere because I have no clue where Aldan or Norwood or Prospect Park is. Anyway, there weren't many cars to see that weren't either Corvettes or customized so that the air filter sticks out three feet above the hood. There were two cars that the LSF drooled over. The first droolmobile was a 1964 Impala SS in a metallic light blue that was in cherry condition. Everything about the car was perfect - like it just rolled off the dealer's lot. The vinyl seats matched the exterior color and, though the top was down, you could see that that canvas was white. Wow and double wow, a perfect '64 ragtop which had fake wire wheels with spinners. Number two droolmobile was a 1967 Olds 442 convertible done up in Sahara red. It had black vinyl bucket seats and came with standard a/c, which was not usually found in ragtops of that era. The chrome (real fucking chrome that is) was perfect and the original sticker affixed to the non-power window showed a final price of $4800. That was a lot of money for a car back in that day. You could get a nicely equipped Caddy or Imperial for only a few dollars more. Both of these dream cars had huge V-8's (no pussy 4 cylinders) and probably delivered 8 or nine MPG's on a good day. Not real practical in this day of $4.00 a gallon regular fuel, but they were both cooler than just about anything available today and who of you wouldn't trade your rice burner or SUV for week if you could drive either one of these bad boys. You might end the week believing in AM radio.
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