Thome Hits 600th HR, Goes Virtually Unnoticed

When Barry Bonds hit his record breaking HR, cameras were flashing and it was an absolutely media circus.



When Derek Jeter hit his 3,000th hit, again it was another media circus covered by all sporting outlets everywhere.



But when former Phillies Jim Thome hit his 600th homerun last week, only the eighth player in MLB player to do so, it was almost as if it went unnoticed.



I think that for the most part, we sadly value the flashy athletes who make a lot of noise on and off the field and fail to give proper recognition to a guy who like Jim Thome who is one of the best guys in all of baseball. Thome never did steroids, never got into trouble off the field, and is one of the most humble guys to ever play the game. He respects his opponents and his opponents respect him. He has the admiration of both former and current players and yet the days leading up to his record breaking night were barely even covered on ESPN.



Sadly in this day and age we value athletes like TO and Ochocinco because they are at the end of the day entertaining. Their antics on and off the field keep us guessing and we like to watch and stay entertained.



In reality we should value an athlete like Jim Thome because he plays the game the right way and shows us how to lead our lives as well. He is a family man, a humanitarian and is one of the most respectable players in the game today.



I remember being bat boy one year in Spring Training and talking to Jim Thome in the dugout. I was in awe as he was at the time of my favorite players. He politely told me to tuck in my shirt as only a true gentleman would.



Thome’s time in Philadelphia was a special time. He ushered in a new era as the leader of the the Phils as they settled into their new home at Citizens Bank Park. He hit his 400th homerun with the Phils and he began to make baseball in Philadelphia respectable again. Thome was the Phillies first big free agent signee in a while and it was a statement by the Phillies front office that they were beginning to get serious about winning. People got interested in the Phillies once again and Thome was a big part of that.



After hitting homerun number 600, Thome credited Charlie Manuel as one of the greatest influences in his career. He credits Charlie for instilling a strong work ethic in him and always believing that he could be great. Manuel was Thome’s manager in Cleveland and also in Philadelphia and clearly Manuel had a big impact on Thome’s career.



Unfortunately not many people were even aware that Thome was going for his record breaking 600th homerun. It went under the radar because Thome is not a flashy all-about-me athlete. He is humble and respectable and it is sad that we are not teaching our kids to model their games and lives after a guy like Thome. We know who TO and Barry Bonds are, but some people have no clue who future hall of famer Jim Thome is. He is one of the best homerun hitters of all time and one of the best guys to ever play the game.



On Monday the Minnesota Twins placed Jim Thome on trade waivers. According to Jim Salisbury of csnphilly.com,



“Thome would have to get past 28 teams on waivers before the Phillies could put in a claim. It is likely some contending team would have an interest in adding Thome’s bat and put in a claim. Thome does have a no-trade clause, so he could refuse to go to the team that claimed him.”



Thome’s no-trade clause is key. Even though the Phillies are so far down on the list, Thome can reject any deal and he is reportedly interested in re-uniting with his former team to make a World Series run.



Although it is somewhat unlikely, I would love to have Jim Thome coming off the bench as a pinch hit power threat. The Phillies have until August 31st to acquire Thome who could add to this already potent offense.

Cliff Lee Domination

My Phillies attendance record didn't look too good. In 12 games that I attended this year the Phils were 6-6, and being at the game tonight, my season record hung in the balance. Dip below .500 for the first time since 2009? Or win big and climb to 7-6? It was all up to the Fightins.

In the top of the first Cliff Lee looked great. He threw just one ball and used the defensive services of Shane Victorino to pitch a scoreless inning.

In the second, Lee again utilized his defense as Wilson Valdez and Chase Utley turned an inning ending double play. In the bottom of the inning, the Phils put up a 3 spot against Mets' starter Dillon Gee. With 2 outs, Wilson Valdez ripped a single down the first base line to score Hunter Pence from 2nd. Cliff Lee followed with a single to put runners on first and second for lead off hitter Shane Victorino. Shaner then laced a triple to score Lee and Valdez and give the Phils an early 3-0 lead. In the third the Phils took a 5-0 lead when John Mayberry hit a 2 run line drive homer to left.

With a comfortable lead, Lee was able to cruise on the mound. Lee's early success was a result of two thngs. First off Lee was able to consistently throw his curveball for strikes. For me, I think Cliff is at his best when he is locating his curveball. His curveball sets up a lot of his other pitches like his fastball and changeup. Also Lee had a great ball to strike ratio in the early going. Through 3 innings, Lee had thrown 40 pitches, 32 of which were strikes.

In the 4th the Fightins loaded the bases and tacked on 3 more runs thanks to a Mayberry walk and a Carlos Ruiz 2 RBI single. And to add even more insurance, Hunter Pence hit a 2 run bomb in the 6th to put the Phils up 10-0. The Phils would eventually go on to win by a final of 10-0.

Overall it was a great bounce back win for the Phils after a dissapointing weekend in Washington. Cliff Lee and the offense came alive and they picked up a great victory to kick off this homestand.

There are so many positives to take away from this game. John Mayberry continues to hit the ball hard and in turn will hopefully earn himself some playing time. Hunter Pence also stayed hot and he is such a great piece in the middle of the lineup.

And of course there is Cliff Lee. When he is on there is no stopping him. Although he allowed a lot of base runners, he did a great job of getting out of jams.

A great win by the Phils. Cliff Lee is happy, John Mayberry Jr. is happy, and I'm happy that my season record is now a respectable 7-6.

Charlie Under Pressure?

Allow me to begin this article by first stating that I know all the things that Charlie Manuel has done for the Phillies. He has led them to 4, soon to be 5 NL East titles, 2 World Series appearances, and most importantly a World Series title.



But in this limited window of opportunity for the Phillies to win another title, Charlie Manuel may be under a bit of pressure from Ruben and the front office to win this year.



The front office has done their job by acquiring top talents Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Hunter Pence. They have done just about everything in their power to put together one of the best teams in all of baseball.



Now it is Charlie’s turn to get these guys to execute on the field and make the tough decisions to win games in October. Charlie also needs to make sure his guys are playing at an extremely high level once the post season hits.



Charlie’s tenure and long standing position as Phillies manager could be hurting the team given the fact that he is so loyal to some of these guys. I like Raul Ibanez and I love that Manuel continues to stay dedicated to him. But when you have a guy like John Mayberry Jr. who is hitting .300 plus since being called up in July, you have to play your best man. Forget about what Raul has done in the past, and put the best players you have at your disposal on the field to give your team the best chance to win.



Manuel’s loyalty toward Ibanez is not the only example of him sticking with a veteran. In 2009 and even last year, Manuel foolishly stuck with a struggling Brad Lidge. Finally this year Manuel has smartly gone with Madson as closer, a decision that has to this point paid huge dividends for the Phils.



Like I said I love that Manuel sees so much and believes in all of his players. But at the same time you have to play your best guys especially in October.



I think it’s fair to say that if the Phillies don’t win the World Series this year that Charlie may be under the gun. If I were Ruben I wouldn’t fire Manuel if the Phillies don’t win the World Series, but at the same time I would give him a very serious assessment and reevaluate his capabilities as manager of this team.

Eagles High Hopes For Rookies

With the addition of big name free agents, a lot of people are overlooking the fact that the Eagles are relying heavily on the performances of rookies in the upcoming season.



Casey Matthews, Danny Watkins, Alex Henery, Chas Henry, and Jaiquawn Jarret are all being relied on to start this year and have a significant impact. Here is a list of the Eagles’ rookies in order as to who is my biggest and least concern.



1. Casey Matthews Simply put, Casey Matthews is my biggest concern. The Eagles love Matthews and they seem to have faith that the fourth round pick can step in and be their starting middle linebacker. But he is undersized and I’m heard reports that he looked lost in the Steelers game. I think that Matthews has a ton of potential but he may need a month of two of experience before we can really see what he can do.



2. Jaiquawn Jarret I feel a lot better about Jaiquawn Jarret’s situation at safety because the Eagles have a veteran in Kurt Coleman they can go to if Jarret is not fully ready to assume the starting spot. The Eagles could also go with Jarrad Page who is a veteran safety that they picked up in free agency. Jarret could be the next Brian Dawkins but I also love Coleman and think he can fill in until Jarret is fully ready to assume the starting role.



3. Danny Watkins Mentally and physically I think Danny Watkins is ready to be a starter on this team. It’s his lack of football experience that has me worried. Watkins first started playing football in college and that has me a bit skeptical.



4. Alex Henery, Chas Henry I’m fully aware that special teams players, especially kickers and punters can have big impacts on games. But I don’t think they are to play a huge role this year for the Eagles and I’m not too worried about the Eagles new kicker and punter.



Overall I think the rookies will fill in nicely on a team with so many talented veterans. All of the rookies on this team just need to listen to the veterans and coaches and take everything one play at a time.

What If Brad Lidge Could Be Brad Lidge?

Last night, Brad Lidge pitched a 1-2-3 seven pitch inning against the Washington Nationals. His slider was working, he was locating his fastball, and he was doing a terrific job of getting ahead in the count. Simply put Lidge was dominant and his outstanding performance begged me to ask the question, what if Lidge could return to his 2008 form?



Think about how much of a luxury it would be to have a healthy Lidge in the back end of your bullpen ready to come into a game and dominate at any time. Despite his blown save last night, I would keep Madson as the closer, but to have Lidge as a dominant set up man would make the Phillies all the more dangerous come October.



I have stated in the past that as good as this starting rotation is, inevitably some games are going to be close one and two run games. When games do come down to the wire, the bullpen is going to have to come through. Having Lidge at his best will solidify this bullpen and give me a ton of confidence going into the post season.



When Lidge entered a game in 2008, for the most part you could kick back and relax. When Lidge has come into games during the past two seasons, you were forced to hold your breath. If Lidge can begin to climb back to his 2008 form, the Phillies will be able to gear up for a very long post season run. Ultimately, a healthy Lidge could spell another World Series title for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Harry Kalas Statue To Be Unveiled Sunday

"The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of Baseball!" Those wonderful words spoken by Harry Kalas will forever be remembered in the hearts of Phillies fans forever. The 2008 World Series call by Harry the K is personally my fondest memory as a Philadelphia sports fan. I still get goose bumps to this day when I hear it and see Wheels in the background fist pumping like a mad man.

Unfortunately, Harry Kalas died suddenly on April 13th 2009, just two weeks into the 2009 season. The city of Philadelphia mourned the loss of one of the greatest sportscasters ever. Kalas was the voice of the Phillies, the voice of summer, and overall a great man and friend to all who knew him.

His infamous "Outta here!" homerun call was countlessly repeated on playgrounds and in backyards through out the Delaware Valley for years and years. He called Schmidt's 500th, and Thome's 400th. He called the 2008 World Series as well as countless other great moments in Phillies history. My favorite call was his "Chase Utley, you are the man" call that will go down as one of Harry's most famous lines ever.

In addition to being the Phillies broadcaster, Harry's deep and famous voice could be heard on commercials as well as NFL films.

2 weeks before his death, my dad and I had the privilege of attending Phillies Spring Training in Clearwater Florida. We were at a Phillies Pirates game in Bradenton and after the game I was fooling around getting autographs from no name Pirate minor leaguers. We were walking out of the stadium back to our car when my dad stopped in his tracks and started talking to none other than Harry Kalas.

We both shook his hand as he attempted to light up a cigarette. I also got his autograph and it was surreal to stand there and hear him talk in real life. I was nervously shaking as we talked to him because of his standing as one of the most famous figures in Philadelphia sports. I'll never forget that beautiful day in Florida as I met my hero Harry Kalas. My dad and I got back to the car and called everyone we knew in disbelief.

But just a few weeks later he died suddenly and I remember crying like a baby. Although I had only briefly met him once, I felt like I had lost a friend. Kalas was so much a part of everyone's life that losing him was tough on just about all Philadelphians.

The fact that he had such a major impact on this city is just one of the reasons why he will be honored this Sunday with the unveiling of his very own statue. Sculpted by Larry Nowlan, the statue will be a great tribute to a great man. According to Nowlan, they discussed with the Kalas family as to what ring Kalas should wear on the statue. After much discussion the Kalas family decided that although Kalas never physically recieved his 2008 ring, that he should wear it on the statue for all eternity. Nowlan encourages fans to rub the ring for good luck. The amazing part about the statue is that the funds for it were raised by the fans and not the Phillies.

This is not the only tribute done in memory of Kalas. After every Phillies win a rendition of "High Hopes" sung by Kalas is played on the big screen. I always stay after and sing along, and it is still my favorite part about going to Phillies games.

I will be at the game on Sunday and I can't wait to see the statue and the ceremony the Phillies put together. Hopefully it will be a moving ceremony and I'm sure I'll shed a tear or two.

Feel free to comment on your favorite Harry Kalas memory.

Phils Keep Rolling

After the Phillies 9 game winning streak was snapped on Sunday, I thought maybe the Phillies would slow down a little. But after winning the first two games in their series against the Dodgers the Phils show no signs of taking their foot off the gas.

Halladay got things started on Monday by throwing 6.1 innings and only allowed a run. The Phils supported Doc with a Ryan Howard RBI single in the first, and a 2 run Jimmy Rollins double in the second. Howard had another RBI in the seventh to put the Phillies up 4-1. It looked like the Phillies were going to cruise to an easy victory until Stutes gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 4-3 game and make things extremely interesting. Victorino hit a solo homerun in the 9th to give the Philiies a 2 run lead and also a little breathing room. Madson came into the game in the 9th and took care of business as the Phils won by a final of 5-3.

Last night was the Cliff Lee show. Lee pitched 8 scoreless innings and hit a homerun as the Phils won by a final of 2-1. For Lee it was his second great outing in a row and second homer of the season. Madson picked up his 21st save of the year and the Phillies improved to 76-40.

Like I said before the Phillies show no signs of slowing down. They are playing at an extremely high level and this dyanmic offense coupled with this outstanding starting rotation will be extremely hard to beat in the remainder of the season.

Hopefully this will be a great month of August for Cliff. If he can put together a month similar to his legendary month of June, it will be extremely fun to watch and the Phils will benefit greatly in the standings.

Today the Phillies will go for the sweep as they send Vance "Vanimal" Worley to the mound in search of his 9th win of the year.

The Desean Jackson Show

On Monday, Desean Jackson finally reported to Eagles training camp at Lehigh University. In his press conference Jackson didn't say a whole lot but did say that he is "here to win and ready to move forward."

During his hold out, Jackson said that he was working out everyday and is in great shape. He is optimistic about his contract negotiations and will leave the business aspect of the game to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Desean seemed very upbeat in his press conference and expressed his desire to not become a distraction. I think that the Eagles front office and Rosenhaus will come to a long term agreement as Desean is a critical part of this offense.

This year Jackson is set to make around $600,000 and will be one of the most underpaid players in the NFL. The statistics alone don't prove Jackson's value to this offense. Just his presence and big play threat makes other recievers as well as the whole team that much better. Opposing teams always have to keep an eye out for Desean and his ability to change a game in the blink of an eye.

His speed and athleticism make him one of the most dangerous threats in the game. While he may not be your typical number one reciever, he has the same affect and he is the corner stone of this Eagles offense.

Victorino Appeals Suspension

Please note this is not an actual letter from Shane Victorino. It is merely an expression of what I feel Shaner can and should say to MLB regarding his unfair 3 game suspension issued to him yesterday. Victorino is appealing the suspension.

Dear MLB,

I'm very dissapointed and angry at the punishment issued to me on behalf of my actions on Friday night at AT&T Park. I feel that the 3 game suspension issued to me is unfair for many reasons.

First off, the pitch that that hit me was clearly intentionally thrown by Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez was frustrated that his team stinks and that he was getting rocked and so he made a stupid decision to take his anger out on me. Don't punish me for the fight started by Ramirez.

And did you even watch the replay? Did you fail to notice the gray haired goblin Eli Whiteside hopping up and down ready to sissy slap any willing suitors? Let's be honest, I was being held back by the homeplate umpire and if it wasn't for Whiteside's tackle attempt on Polanco, both teams would have met in the middle of the infield and that would have been the end of it. All I did was toss my bat and take 2 quick steps toward the mound. After that it was Whiteside who was responsible for the chaos.

The Giants are justifying throwing at me by saying they were unhappy with Rollins stealing 2nd in an 8-2 game. My team mates and I were simply trying to put ourselves in the best position to win the game. We had no intentions of showing the Giants up.

Please be fair in reconsidering my punishment. I accept responsibility for my actions but a 3 game suspension for me while everyone else is just fined is absurd and simply unfair. Please reconsider. My team needs me.

Sincerely,

Shane Victorino aka The Flyin' Hawaiian

Roster Breakdown: Defensive Line

One of the most important aspects of a great defense is the ability to get after the quarterback and make him uncomfortable and disrupt his timing. When the opposing quarterback is uncomfortable in the pocket, turnovers happen and further opportunities are given to the offense.

The Eagles realize the importance of having a successful defensive line as they acquired Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins in free agency. Perhaps their biggest defensive line acquisition came back before the lockout when they signed Jim Washburn to be there defensive line coach. Washburn comes into Philadelphia with the reputation as one of the best D-line specialists in the game. Let's take a look at the talent and weapons Washburn is going to have at his disposal.

Cullen Jenkins DT Last year for the Green Bay Packers, Jenkins had 7 sacks in just 11 games. Jenkins is listed as a defensive tackle but he has played defensive end in the past. With the departure of Broderick Bunkley and the uncertainity surrounding Mike Patterson, Jenkins is slotted in as a starter at defensive tackle. At 6-2, 305 lbs, Jenkins is a big boy who can take up a ton of space in the middle.

Trevor Laws DT With Mike Patterson still a huge question mark, as of right now Trevor Laws is the other starter at defensive tackle. A 2008 draft pick from Notre Dame, Laws has not logged too much time playing behind Bunkley and Patterson. Last year Laws had 4 sacks and if Patterson isn't ready for opening day the Eagles are going to rely heavily on the services of Laws.

Mike Patterson DT I have heard conflicting reports about the severity of Mike Patterson's condition. Some experts believe it's a quick fix via medication while others say the Patterson will need surgery. According to a report from Reuben Frank, Andy Reid said that Patterson will be out for a while. At this point Patterson is still meeting with different doctors and specialists to figure out the next step to take. Unfortunately I feel that this is not going to be a quick fix and Patterson will most likely miss a substantial amount of time.

Jason Babin DE A lot of experts and fans are very skeptical about the Babin signing. Many people feel that he doesn't deserve the contract he received from the Eagles after just one good year. My response to Babin's critics is to inform them of the Jim Washburn factor. During his time with the Eagles Babin was a nobody, a dissapointment, and considered by many to be a bust. But last year under the coaching of Jim Washburn, Babin had his best year recording 12.5 sacks and I don't think Babin is a one hit wonder. I think Babin comes to Philadelphia with a hunger to win and a hunger to prove his critics wrong. I expect Babin to have a big year and open things up for fellow Pro-Bowler Trent Cole.

Trent Cole DE Cole was probably so happy when he found out the Eagles signed Jason Babin. With Babin on the other end, teams will no longer be able to focus solely on Cole as they will have to pay attention to Babin coming off the other end as well. Babin will create opportunities for Cole similar to how Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson create opportunities for each other. A two time Pro-Bowler, I think the best is yet to come for Cole who finally will be playing with another outstanding defensive end.

Mike Patterson Patterson is a huge question mark right now. As I stated before I feel that his brain condition is extremely serious and I feel that he could miss more time than expected. Hopefully the line of Jenkins, Babin, and Cole will be able to hold the fort until he returns.

Brandon Graham The Eagles first round draft pick had a pretty solid rookie campaign last year. Graham definitely has room for improvement and will be a vital part of the defensive end rotation this season. Jim Washburn will definitely get a lot out of Graham this year and get him to play at his full potential.

Darryl Tapp In Patterson's absence, Tapp will also be given an opportunity at a starting spot at tackle. Tapp was signed as a free agent last year after playing 4 years in Seattle. Tapp had 3 sacks last year.

Antonio Dixon Another defensive tackle, Dixon was an undrafted free agent in 2009 and will look to compete this year in training camp.

With a secondary consisting of Asomuga, Rodgers-Cromartie, and Samuel, the Eagles defensive line will have another split second to get after the quarterback which is absolutely crucial. With outstanding corners, a great D-Line coach, and multiple free agent pick ups, I think we can expect big things from this line this year. Teams are going to dread facing this line that will wreak havoc on quarterbacks week after week.