Lee's trade

Cliff Lee should not be finding out he is being traded like he did. that was very wrong. he came in and got us to the world series and 2 games from winning it. so very simply this tells me, amaro wanted haladay all along. crappy approach. lee finds out he is traded as he is hunting? Maybe that is for another player, an Eric Bruntlett type, but not the stud pitcher who did so much for this franchise in 2 months. I will always root for the phils, but I am not the proudest of them at the moment for the way this deal unfolded.

Dwight Gooden: Relection on the Present through the Past

Is there another Dwight Gooden out there? Gosh I hope so. Is there another Dwight Gooden out there? Gosh I hope not.

Why the conflicting view points you ask?

As a Philadelphia Phillies fan, there was nothing more frightful then to look at the morning paper, under the current baseball standings where they list the probable pitchers getting ready to toe the rubber on the mound tonight, and see Dwight Gooden pitching against the Phillies. Did we have a chance? How bad was he going to shut us down tonight? I hate Dwight Gooden.

Oh, but what talent. Could he pitch, oh could he pitch. And could he pitch at such a young age. He was going to be a nemesis for the Phillies and the rest of the National League for some time to come. Man, I hate the Mets.

His name comes back because of an article in the New York Daily News explaining his trials of late. He is trying once again to over come his addiction to drugs.

And while I am interested in what becomes of Dwight Gooden, I am more concerned with a Dwight Gooden fostering right before our eyes.

Is there a young phenom pitcher, maybe on somebody's current roster, who is just getting ready to explode on the baseball scene. Who has the athletic ability to overwhelm us who love the game. But who is going to be just getting ready to head down a path of drugs and lies. Of rehabilitation attempts that fail because they aren't getting to the root of the problem.

Is there an athlete who is so uncertain about how to be a successful athlete, that he will feel the need to seek the lures of drugs? What is it that causes this? Somewhat of a rhetorical question, but important nonetheless.

And we all know this is not saved for athletes. Everyday people are suffering through the same trials that more famous people suffer. Only, they don't have to suffer in front of millions.

But I am just wondering not if, but who the next Dwight Gooden is. And in this case, my thoughts are not only about baseball performance. I hope if there is another Dwight Gooden, we can get to him before he loses as much as Dwight Gooden lost. What we lost as well.

The One that Got Away

Sure this could be the title that summarizes both the Phillies game against the Dodgers or Chase Utley's throw or J.A. Happ's walk or the bunt that Rafael Belliard put down that snuck between Ryan Howard and a flailing Chan Ho Park. It is all of the above while not being one single one.

Nonetheless, the Phillies left LA with a split--what most fans and experts believe is most desirable when playing in the playoffs at the opponent's field.

The Phillies were 6 outs away from going up 2-0 in the National League Championship series. But they will take leaving with a game in their pockets. Now it is on to game 3 with the Cliff Lee leading the way.

My frustration with this loss could be with Belliard's bunt, Happ's walk, or even Utley's throw. But I am more bothered with Manager Charlie Manuel taking Pedro Martinez out of the game he was doing so well with. And the frustration is more on the lines of thinking I have to take him out. He could have pitched the 8th. It just seems he thought to much on that one.

But we head back home in a championship series we almost did not make. A stunning comeback in the 4th game against Colorado allowed us the pleasure of additional Phillies baseball. While I am pleased my team is still here and playing, there is no sense of complacency. No this team can play well and do some damage. Now let's go out and do it.

Lee's inital affect

I don't think I have ever had as much desire to sit and watch a baseball game solely to watch a player perform as I did Friday night (July 31st, 2009). Cliff Lee's first game as a Phillie was going to be watched by many intrigued Phillies fans that is for sure, so I am not unique. I am however not one to make it a point to be home to watch a game; and rarely do I sit and watch an entire game.

But there I was sitting in front of the new Dell Inspion 15, watching him pitch, and hit, the Phillies to their 20th win in July, and 59th overall. I loved the way he pitched, his quick style and how he ran off the field after each inning. His calm nature, the way he was attacking hitters and keeping his composure, just kept me wanting more. In an odd way I was eager for him to get back on the mound. Not wanting to rush the Phils through their half of an inning but not finding myself too frustrated if the Phils didn't score.

While knowing he had a no-hitter going for most of the game, I was not all bothered if he did not end up with a no-hitter. But just worried the Phillies on the field brain trust would want to take him out the moment he looked as if he was in trouble. Once the Phillies were able to open up the game a little bit thanks to the Giants pitchers walking the bases loaded and then walked in a run, the thought of him pitching a complete game began to settle in. Again there was a fear manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee would decide to save him for this next start and give it over to the bullpen.

This fear grew more once Lee began to falter a bit at the beginning of the 7th. Fortunately, Lee was able to coax a very aggressive Pablo Sandoval to swing at a pitch high and outside of the strike zone, to get his pitching back on track. And while the Giants scored in the 8th, there really wasn't a concern of Lee losing the game, just hoping that he could finish what he started.

The game is done and the Phillies believe at least for now, their decision to trade for Lee and not Halladay was the right one. This will, of course, all pan out in the near future, but for now there is a lot of excitement in Philadelphia. Cliff Lee has given us hope that our chances for repeating are solid.

Summer of ???

This summer has been one of various activities. I am actually getting started planning for next year. Moreover, I am learning Facebook & Twitter, discovering the power of my computer and frying eggplant. We are also planning our 3rd annual 4th of July party.

Tianammen Square

Summer plans

Less than 20 days until our summer begins. Less than 20 days until we begin planning for next year. Less than 20 days until....nothing can happen.