Late night hustle

Good Morning and how about those clouds?!?

I used to absolutely hate when the Eagles played on Monday Night Football. All it meant for me was a later than usual night as we waited for the game to end and copy to appear.
Now I don't like it for another reason: There is no way I can stay up until the end.
Last night seemed like it was going to be a pretty good game, but I only made it until the very start of the second half.
I guess I could of have stayed up, but keeping my eyes open today would be a bit of a struggle.
I also realized about 10 last night the Phillies were in San Diego. Guess I won't be seeing any of those games.
Really, though, I don't think I miss out on much. At least I could catch Dancing with the Stars.
You know, priorities.

From the Phillies on down

Good Morning gentle readers!

How far have the Phillies fallen? Well, I had a couple of tickets for last Friday's game and couldn't give them away. Seriously, I was just going to give them to anybody who wanted to go.
Nobody wanted to go.
Just a couple of years ago, I probably could have sold them for double the amount I paid. Now, the market has died. I think it's gone and buried.
There is no market. There are completely empty sections in the stadium. You can sit where ever you want (provided you can sneak past the aisle guards).
The thing is, there's something great about the ballpark on a summer night.
It doesn't matter if the home team stinks. It doesn't matter if the visiting team stinks (the Cardinals are no great shakes this year either).
When you walk through the gates, it's like entering a different world.
The smells are there. The green grass is still there.
I was outpriced by baseball years ago. It's just too expensive to take everybody to the game on a consistent basis.
I remembered Friday night what was so right about the game, though.

It's not even summer and it's a long one

Good Morning and welcome to the last week of Spring!

I'm one of those Phillies fans that looks at (seemingly) bright spots before the start of a new season.
This year, I was talking about health. Ryan Howard was finally healthy. Chase Utley would be back in true form. Jimmy Rollins was playing so well at the end of last season, this one could only get better.
You know, with a fast start and some luck, the Phillies will be right in the playoff hunt. I mean, the Braves lost Brian McCann (to the Yankees no less), so they will be a little short.
The rest of the division has had injuries. Sure, the Nationals would be better than last year, but, I mean, come on, the Mets? The Marlins?
I almost felt young again. It felt like I was talking about how Ricky Otero could be our answer in centerfield (1996. He was not). Ken Howell is healthy and will anchor a great rotation (1990. Somehow, that rotation of Howell, Pat Combs, Jose de Jesus and Jason Grimsley didn't bring a division title). Signing Lance Parrish is going to put the Phillies over the top (1987. Don't remember a parade that year either).
So, this year, bringing in Marlon Byrd will anchor the outfield. Dom Brown and Ben Revere looked like players last year.
We are back, baby.
Yeah, back to those days when it's more entertaining to watch the 100th rerun of "Man vs. Food" than anything the Phillies are doing on the field.

Citizens Bank Park: A decade of what?

Good Morning and I guess it's time the rain stopped!

So, after they roll the giant flag back up and an acrobat drops the first ball from a helicopter or something, the Phillies will officially start their 10th season in Citizens Bank Park.
Eh, whatever.
Sure fans have been able to enjoy an unprecedented amount of success during the decade. Remember, folks, the Phillies have not had the best of histories.
The 2008 World Series was great. The surrounding seasons were a lot of fun, but, for me, at least, the stadium holds no pull.
Truth be told, I haven't been there too often. The Phillies (Major League Baseball in general) have outpriced a family from going to the games.
With the three baseball fans coming along with me, I'd have to take out a small loan to see a game.
Even without that, there always seemed to be something antiseptic about the stadium. The Park as all the bells and whistles, but, then what?
Winning, of course, makes it all look prettier. Somehow, though, 100 years down the line, I don't think there will be a lot of nostalgia about attending Citizens Bank Park.

That bad, really?

Good Morning and enough about the weather!

You can't turn on the TV or read your local news Web site without being hit over the head with the weather. So, instead, let's talk about something else.
How about those Phillies!!!
Right, how about them? ESPN has ranked the Phillies as the second worst team in baseball this year.
They are slightly ahead of the AA-talented Astros. They are behind teams like the Cubs (THE CUBS), Marlins and those stinckin' Mets.
If experts are to be believed, we are in for a long summer of losing baseball.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the games still have to be played, but I get a bad feeling about this team.
It feels a whole lot like those teams in the late 1980s and 1990s.
You know, if Ryan Howard can figure out to hit, if Chase Utley stays healthy, if the outfield doesn't break down, if Carlos Ruiz can play like it's 2008, if the pitching holds up.
A whole lot of "ifs." A whole lot of losses.
Hey, at least there won't be any snow.

Rise and Shine --- Crack of the bat

Good Morning and finally some warm weather!

This weekend was the annual start of a busy spring. That's right, baseball/softball season officially began in our house.
We had the parade (why is it always so chilly?) and the first game.
The thing that always gets me is the enthusiasm. The players want to be out there on the field.
Here we have a group of 8 and 9-year old girls who want nothing more than to put on a glove and start playing.
Sure, there's the social aspect, but it's about getting outside. It's about breathing in some air after being stuck inside all winter.
The funny thing (at least I find it funny) is how the boys act the same way. For the most part, they would rather sit at home playing video games.
The spring, though, brings a change. Sure, they want to keep playing the video games, but they don't argue as much about going outside.
OK, they argue a little, but once they get there it's all smiles.
Yeah, it's only a couple nights a week, but it really sets things up nicely.

Rise and Shine --- It's a marathon

Good Morning and why has winter returned?

I was looking forward to the opening of the baseball season a little more this year. I don't know why. I think because it's a little bit unknown. I mean, if everything goes right the Phillies may be able to make the playoffs. I don't think they are good enough to win the World Series, but stranger things have happened.
I think it's just that the opening of the baseball season (no matter the weather) brings me thoughts of the summer and vacations and warm nights at the ballpark.
We can't afford to actually attend a game at Citizens Bank Park. The owners of baseball teams outpriced families years ago. Instead we'll hit the minor league circuit. I'm sure there will be more than a few trips to Wilmington. The plan is to get to the other stadiums within driving distance.
Now, if the Phils can win one game in Atlanta....

Rise and Shine --- Win, lose, draw?

Good Morning and how about them Phillies!?!




You know, it's OK to laugh at professional athletes when they make mistakes. It's OK, because, well, they are making millions and should be held to a higher athletic standard. Besides, when you watch Ty Wigginton boot a ball it makes all those errors you made in high school seen kind of OK.

I played baseball until I left high school. I know I wasn't very good. By sixth grade, I knew I'd never become a professional player.

Through all those years, my teams only came in first one time. After winning, we went to the pizza shop that sponsored the team and, hoping to get some free pizza, told them we won. Great, the guy behind the counter said, that'll be 10 bucks.

This past spring, a 10-year old I know lucked out and was drafted by a pretty good team. He improved through the season and went all the way to the title game.

So, in the bright sunshine and the heat of Sunday afternoon, we were at the field for the league championship game.

We cheered for our team to win. When they did with an unlikely hit in the last inning, we smiled, yelled and gave them all high-5s.

Quickly, though, I looked over to the other side. Sure, we were happy, but there was another group of players who weren't so upbeat.

I know the feeling on both sides of the field. I know the elation of winning. I know the pain of losing.

We all want our children to know the first one, while hoping to take the sting out of the second.

In 15 years, it'll be OK to laugh at them if they mess up on TV. For now, though, the only laughing should be because they are having fun.

Rise and Shine --- Alarming

Good Morning and what are the MTV Movie Awards supposed to be?




Anyway, I've found the sure way to be tired throughout the weekend: set the alarm every day.

I really hate to have to set the alarm on the weekends. It's one thing to have to get up early every day for work, but it's quite another to have that beep, beep, beep going on when you are off.

Unless, of course, you are going on an exciting trip or something. I wouldn't mind it if, say, I was traveling to London in the morning.

This weekend, though, I knew was going to be a long one. When the alarm went off Saturday morning it meant the whole day at the baseball fields. By the whole day, I mean the WHOLE DAY.

The first game started at 9 a.m., which meant we had to be at the fields by 8. That one stretched to 11. We then had an hour break before the next one.

A win there, would mean a game right after, a loss (which is what happened) forced a 3 p.m. game.

Then Sunday we had to be out at Rose Tree Park by 9 a.m. to set up for our live stream from the Italian festival.

Each event (events?) was fun, but I'll look forward to this weekend for one reason: No alarms.

Rise and Shine --- The Trouble with Triples

Good Morning and doesn't it somehow feel fitting when it rains on a Monday?

The Phillies have been riding a wave of public relations heaven for about 10 years now. To borrow a phrase, their poop didn't stink.
They were winning. A bunch of fans (millions) were coming out to Citizens Bank Park to see the players make a push to a championship. They traded young players for old and kept it going. The owners, who were so hated in the 1990s, were glorified.
It's all pretty good. Still is, but, now, there are some chinks in that armor.
The team took some hits over the weekend for a couple of Inquirer stories. One being on how the use of cortisone injections given to first baseman Ryan Howard could have led to his tearing of his Achilles tendon at the end of last year. The second being how the Phillies kept a reporter from watching Howard rehabbing in Florida.
Having been a Phillies fan my whole life, all I could think was "so what."
This kind of thing happens in professional sports all the time. Teams and players lie or hide from the media. The players aren't really that fan friendly. They do the things the team tells them do to, but get them outside the ballpark and, whew, watch out.
I covered professional sports for many years. Let me tell you a secret: It's not that glamorous.
I've found out what is glamorous, though. It's telling a 7-year old how to hold the bat and seeing her get a hit on a hot Saturday afternoon. It's getting a bunch of 8- and 9-year old boys to make up a cheer for their teammates.
It's being told, long after a hot day in the sun is over, "Thank you for being there today."

Rise and Shine: The Lure of the Snack Bar

Good Morning and welcome to summer!!

Maybe it's the smell of the fries coming out the window or maybe it's just a right of spring, but the youth baseball/softball snack bar seems to have a pull.
On Saturday, before heading off to the first game of the day, I made sure everybody had a full belly. We ate a big breakfast and had a couple of snacks before leaving.
When we got to the fields, it took about a minute before the first plead.
"Can I get something from the snack bar?"
What. You just ate. In fact, you just told me you were so full you couldn't eat another bite.
"Yeah, but now I'm hungry."
What could you possibly want.
"Ice Cream."
We have ice cream at home. You can wait.
"Cheese Fries?"
How could you eat cheese fries. You just had pancakes, eggs, a piece of cake, some fruit, some Easter candy. You can't possibly be hungry.
"How about a hot dog?"
Did you bring any money? No? Well, we can wait until we get home.
You know, sometimes I give in. Everybody does, but, while the prices aren't bad, you could lose a small fortune hitting the snack bar every day.
Mabye I should use the old doughnut shop lesson. Let them get whatever they want one time, then they'll be satisfied.
Somehow, though, I don't think that would work here.

Rise and Shine --- Baseball on the radio

Good Morning and welcome another Monday in a long string of them!

While technology has, for the most part, made things better, there's still something a bit 'old fashioned' that works pretty well.
Baseball is still a game that works on the radio.
Sure, every Phillies game is televised now. If you miss it live, you can watch the replay later in the night (or early morning). Yes, television gives you super slo-mo and a look into the game you can't see anywhere else.
Most nights, it's that's just fine. You can plop down on the couch after a hard day's work and watch the game.
Then there are those beautiful spring days when sitting inside seems kind of odd. You want to get outside and feel the sun. You maybe want to work in the garden or have a catch or play another game of H-O-R-S-E.
That's when you realize the radio is still something to keep around. When the announcing is good (and this Phillies group is at the top of the game), you can sit back and see what is happening just by listening.
You can fire up the grill, cook dinner and enjoy a few hours of Larry Andersen.
Now, how about those burgers?

Rise and Shine --- Getting it

Good Morning and welcome to the only place on the Internet you can find this!

"Why are they calling a time out?" "Why did they blow the whistle?" "Why did they throw the ball down?"
Those were just a few of the questions I got this week while first watching football, then some basketball.
They seem basic and, sometimes, a little too basic about things that are happening in certain games.
Then, I sit back and remember who is asking them. For the first time this year, the boys enjoy sitting down and watching sports with Dad.
They know the basics of the game. They know you have to score touchdowns in football, baskets in basketball. They don't know, though, all the the little things about the games.
So, they come to me.
I try my best to explain. Sometimes, it takes a few times to get it right.
I don't mind. It's kind of fun.
I am waiting for the day when they ask, "Why don't they show the cheerleaders more?"

Rise and Shine --- Skip winter

Good Morning and is it spring yet?

There are plenty of reasons to want to skip ahead to March. All you have to do is step outside this morning and you'll be able to feel one big reason.
The cold that's settled into the area just cuts right through you. The heating bill which will take any extra money over the next few months is another.
Then there's, of all things, baseball.
Over the past four years, we've all looked forward to the baseball season starting.
This spring, though, with Tuesday's signing of free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee, the enthusiasm is going to be through the roof.
It wasn't so long ago that players like Lee wouldn't have even looked the Phillies' way. They were a moribund program that was more known for losing many, many games than winning.
The best thing is, we can dream about some exciting baseball in the near future.
It certainly beats worrying about the cold.

Rise and Shine --- Is this October?

Good Morning and welcome to the day before the start of the World Series!

Anybody who stepped outside yesterday got the feeling there was something strange in the world. OK, not strange, but the odd feeling was there.
You could see it in the cars as they drove past and in the people as they were walking around.
Even though we've seen it last few years, it still feels a little strange to be able to head outside without the jacket in late October.
Listen, I'm not complaining. I'll take this weather the rest of the year, but I know that's not going to happen. The chill will come back. The jackets will be pulled down off the hook and the heat will have to be turned up.
Still, we can enjoy it while it lasts.
Which, actually, is something Phillies fans should think about. I've heard more 'fans' over the last few days talking about how bad the season was or how disappointed they were in not making the World Series.
I just have to shake my head. For those with short memories, the Phillies weren't always a team with World Series hopes. Even like six years ago, we would have been happy with a .500 record.
So, at least we are in a pretty good stretch where there is something fun to see during the summer.
Don't think so? Talk to Pirate fans.

Rise and Shine --- Rain, snow, oh no!

Good Morning and welcome to a wet, wild Tuesday!

Maybe it's just me, but when a violent thunderstorm hits in October, I'm thinking there may be something wrong with our weather patterns. Meanwhile, a major hail, wind, rain storm (there was even a mention of wet snow) is supposed to hit us Thursday. Sounds like I should have spent more time outside yesterday.
Then again, it probably would have meant cutting the lawn, so maybe inside was better.
Speaking of inside, one thing I hope to never have to do again is watch both the Phillies and Eagles games at the same time (it was for a live blog on the website). It made me feel like I had ADT or something.
I wanted to watch the Phillies clinch, but didn't want to deprive the readers (by the way, thanks you two) of their Eagles update.
So, I went back and forth and back and forth. Fun, it was not. For some reason, it seemed like both games went to commercial at the same time, all the time. I saw Chase Utley's home run, but missed LeSean McCoy's touchdown. (Still saw enough of the Eagles/49ers to say they both stink as does the whole NFL).
So, at least for now, it looks like that double won't hit for the rest of the playoffs.
Then again, I'm sure they'll find something else for me to do.
In case you missed it, here it is again:

Rise and Shine --- Moments

Good Morning and welcome back to the Internet!

You know, every once in a while, you have those moments in life you wish you could just relive over and over again.
Wednesday's are pretty busy times. It's get back from school, get the homework done, eat a quick dinner, get to dance class, check the homework, fix the homework, get to bed.
Throw in a Phillies playoff game (and working while the game was going on), well, it adds to the level.
So, last night, we started the routine. By 5 p.m., it was obvious everything was going to be a rush. So, the radio went on with the game, the computer was loaded (although way too slow) and homework was being done.
There we sat at the table, two doing homework, one wondering why the damn thing wouldn't load.
Anyway, flash ahead to the ninth inning. With the Middle Schooler finishing up his work (and finding it more fascinating what everybody was saying on our live blog), we were listening to the ninth inning.
"Remember this! There's only been one no-hitter during the playoffs in baseball history."
"Really, only one?" said the 11-year old.
So, we sat there and listened to the outs, when the final out was recorded I pushed the computer away and high-fived my partner at the table.
Sure, it was only a moment, but it felt pretty neat.

Rise and Shine --- October

Good Morning and welcome to the cold, rain and clouds!

So, when October hit Friday, I started thinking about the upcoming winter, how much the heat is going to cost and if the Phillies can make it back to the World Series.
Saturday, though, I was bombarded with other thoughts.
"Daddy, it's the first day of Halloween," said a 5-year old I know.
Well, OK, it's getting closer, but we have a whole month to go.
"Can we go on a hayride?"
Sure, but let's wait until maybe next week.
"But I love hayrides."
Yeah, they are fun, but you just went on one, let's figure something else to do.
"Hayride, hayride, hayride!"
Hey, wait, there's an art festival we can check out. You can make your own Halloween costume.
"OK, but then we can go on a hayride?"
We'll see.
"That means No!"
No, that means we'll see how the day goes on. Let's get started and we'll figure it out.
"OK."
So, I was able to push off the hayride for at least week, but it's not going to last.
Sunday morning, the question came again: "Daddy, it's a nice day, can we go on a hayride."
Having to work Sunday (thanks to the Eagles) made it impossible to do Sunday, but I know the requests will come all week.
I also know Saturday night I'll be picking hay out of my shoes.

Rise and Shine --- One last blast

Good Morning and welcome to the real first week of school!

Of course, some schools started last week, but there weren't buses at every corner and there weren't students walking all over the place. Today's the day when the morning (and afternoon) traffic picks up. Drive carefully, it's back to the grind.
So, even though the students I know started school last week, we tried to squeeze every bit of summer out of the season.
Earlier this summer, we hit museums, playgrounds, movies and parks. We've taken one-day road trips. We played games and had catches.
So, not wanting to let go (especially with the weather turning so nice), we blew out the weekend.
We went to a festival, road bikes and topped it all off with a Wilmington Blue Rocks game Monday.
Sure, everybody was tired, but you have to squeeze it all in. Some people do picnics or cookouts for Labor Day. Some watch tennis. Some play tennis.
Whatever, it's all about enjoying every single moment.
Now, life will be dominated by homework and getting everybody to school.
It's a different kind of fun.

Rise and Shine --- Where to stand

Good Morning and a big welcome back to Tuesday! Haven't seen you in about a week!

One of the best things about baseball(maybe slightly behind a cold beer and pool and a radio) is the ability to argue about the game and the players.
Who's the best player ever/now? What can the Phillies do to salvage the season? Do they need to make a move? If they would have kept Cliff Lee would they be running away with it?
(Quick answers: Willie Mays, Albert Pujols; hit better; they could always use more pitching; no).
So it was as Brad Lidge was making another victory feel as close to a loss as possible, the discussion focused on Phillies pitching.
"Use somebody else as the closer," someone shouted. "Trade them all," said somebody else. "This team never makes anything easy," came from a different island. "Do you want another one?" was said out of the blue.
Unlike football, which the Eagles are going to attempt to play some version of this year, baseball gives us plenty of time to dissect, discuss and debate.
Now, if we could just get see one easy win.