Wednesday, June 27, 2012

ANNND...... He's Back!

Who's back, you say?? Why the one and only Chase Utley! And he homered in his first at bat! Chooch homered right after him! 11 for Carlos!!
What does it matter that the Phillies are losing 8-2? For the first time this year, I really don't care! I mean, what do you expect when you decide to let the bullpen pitch the whole game??

~ TBC

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Daily Recap

Yay! Win!!!!!!! Fun!!!!
Joe Blanton was pretty decent, I think it was a quality start! And Chooch was like 3-for-4! But he still needs your all star votes! Voting ends Thursday so please please please vote for Chooch! I did!!!!! Oh, and write in Bryce Harper! He is pretty good too, I guess :)

But the Nationals lost, and they have lost 3 of 4 :( It's not all that sad though because the Phillies gain a game on them!

I'm really tired right now so that's all I have to say (34 first and second graders can do that too you :D )!

~ TBC

Monday, June 25, 2012

Really don't feel like recapping the weekend...

But there was 1 win!!! Congrats to Jim Thome, all-time walk off home run king!!!!!!!! In fact, here is the email I sent to my aunt in Tampa after the game:

Well... I guess Papelbon was having flashbacks from last season :). You just got Thome-d (I made up that word) and you also got chooch-ed! And you realize James shields gave up a home run to a singles hitter :D

But yesterday was painful and I guess I spoke to soon. I am getting really tired of this Bullpen! I thought Antonio Bastardo was reliable but then he has those stretches and he walks a ton of people and gives up game-tying home runs to Ian Desmond (I will never forget that!)

Why do the weekends always stink? :(

~ TBC

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Won't blog for a while

I have family visiting until Sunday so I can't blog. I'll post on Monday!

Recap: Getting Lucky

THE PHILLIES WON!!!!!!! TWICE!!!!!!!!
The National won one and lost one.
 Phillies Tuesday:
Cole Hamels was solid, Chooch was Chooch (2-for-4, HR, 3RBI) and the Phillies offense scored 7 runs (Surprisingly, the Phillies offense has been very good, the pitching hasn't been that good.) 7-2 Philly.

Nationals Tuesday:

The Beast is back! First home run of the season. Pretty sweet, and Desi had one too! That's it thought. 5-4 Tampa.

Phillies Wednesday:

Baseball is truly a game of inches. If Todd Helton's foot had been a couple inches backwards, the game would have gone into extras. It didn't. PHILLIES WIN! 7-6 Philly.

Nationals Wednesday:

OK, I may have sort of been expecting this. Stras with a lot  (10, to be exact) of K's. Nats score all their runs in the first inning (and had all their hits in the first inning too) 3-2 Washington.

Ciao!
~TBC

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Oh Freddy!

OK this is interesting, not in a good way that is. So, here we go....
(from MLB.com)

Phillies infielder Freddy Galvis has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, the Office of the Commissioner announced on Tuesday. The ban facing Galvis, who tested positive for a metabolite of Clostebol, is effective immediately.

"I'd like to apologize to my all my fans, especially here in Philadelphia and back home in Venezuela, to my teammates and to the Phillies organization," Galvis said. "I am looking forward to putting this behind me, rehabilitating my back and returning to the Phillies as soon as possible to try to help them win another World Series."

Galvis released another statement on Twitter in Spanish that translates to English as follows:

"Sometimes life isn't fair... But that's the way it is... You have to keep moving forward and turn the page."

The loss of Galvis, whose return this season was already in jeopardy due to a fractured vertebra he sustained on June 6, is another blow to a Phillies infield that has endured various injuries, most notably to sluggers Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Galvis had mostly served as Utley's replacement while the All-Star second baseman rehabs from knee injuries. The suspension can be served while Galvis is on the disabled list.

"A trace amount of a banned substance -- 80 parts in a trillion -- was detected in my urine sample," Gavlis said. "I am extremely disappointed in what has transpired. I cannot understand how even this tiny particle of a banned substance got into my body.

"I have not and never would knowingly use anything illegal to enhance my performance. I have always tried to follow the team's strength and conditioning methods, listen to the trainers, work out hard and eat right. Unfortunately, the rules are the rules and I will be suspended."

The Phillies released a statement of their own.

"The Phillies continue to believe in and endorse Major League Baseball's drug policy. We also support Freddy Galvis in his determination to put this matter behind him and we look forward to his return as a productive member of the Phillies as soon as possible."

Galvis, a 22-year-old rookie, has hit .226 with three home runs, 24 RBIs, 15 doubles and 14 runs scored in 58 games this season.

So....

My initial reaction was "What the heck Freddy! What were you thinking?!?!?" After letting it settle a bit, this is my opinion:

We don't even know if this is intentional. I know most probably believe it is but Freddy is denying any knowledge of the substance. I really don't know what to think. But I really want the best for Freddy. I'm really worried that this will affect his reputation and the way his career is viewed, which is a shame because he had a chance to be a very good player and he still does, but like Ryan Braun and others who have been nailed for supposedly using PEDs, some people will always put an asterix next all of his accomplishments.
Overall, I'm really hoping that Freddy can bounce back from this. He seems like a really good kid and I was getting really excited about his future. I'm most definitely going to be praying for Freddy that he can overcome this and come back strong in September. Only the best to him :)

Go Phillies! :D

~ TBC

Monday, June 18, 2012

Weekend Recap

Not a fun weekend... But as promised, I will recap Thursday first.

I think Joe Blanton has let his good twin out again!!!!! Jim Thome homered again :) Good win.

And then the weekend... Not fun!!!!!! Not a single win for the teams I like :(

Sorry this isn't very long, Not much happened and this isn't much longer than my post yesterday.

Ciao!
 ~TBC

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Quick Recap

Just FYI that the Phillies just got swept and the Nationals appear to be on the way to the same fate so tomorrow will not be very positive. I'll probably go into the most detail about Thursday's Phils win since I couldn't post Friday. Anyway, congrats to Jim Thome for hitting his 100th home run as a Phillie and Yayberry appears to be getting into a good groove!! Chooch was injured Friday but was in the lineup today!!! :)

-TBC

Thursday, June 14, 2012

OOPS...

I forgot this...
Congrats to Matt Cain on his perfect game and my Second favorite backstop Buster Posey on catching perfection. Gio or Vanimal (one or both!) no-no's friday, please???? (Not going to happen tonight, sorry Joe)

Daily Recap: We Want Moore (and Thome)

The Phillies won!!!
ANNNNND..... THE NATIONALS WON! :)  I know... broken record.

And.... Jim Thome can DH! Boy, he has power! I rate this win about a 5.5, the offense was pretty good, Pap was good, Hamels not so good.
Just so you know, Here are the Phillies nicknames I use a lot:
J-Roll: Jimmy Rollins
Chooch: Carlos Ruiz
Yayberry or JMJ: John Mayberry Jr.
Vanimal: Vance Worley
Pap: Jonathan Papelbon

That's all I can think of for now. Maybe tommorow I'll do the Nats (Got a lot of those)

Good Luck with Joe Blanton tonight, Phillies Phans.

Ciao!

~TBC

EDIT: Tyler Moore good. Tyler Moore very good. 2 HR's, 5 RBI's.
Strasburg good too!!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Daily Recap: Broken Record

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND......................... THE NATIONALS WON!!!!!!!!
Ok, time to stop sounding like a broken record. Good Job last night, EJax!!! And WOW!!!!! That's all I can say about Bryce Harper!

Chase Utley is going to start his rehab stint today, I think. That's good! And now Galvis is down so no more Glavis Dilemma. Hopefully, Utley presence will jump start the line-up right around the break.

That's pretty much all for today!

Ciao!
~ TBC

Monday, June 11, 2012

Weekend Recap

Not the best weekend... Here we go!
LOL!!!!! Thanks to MLB Fan Cave Dweller Gordon Mack for this!!!
I <3 Klondike Bars!
Friday:

Jake Arietta is worse than Joe Blanton :) :D :P Apparently Jim Thome can DH and DH well. So... Why not trade him to an AL team that needs a power-hitting DH for say... a reliever or a third baseman, after interleague play, of course. 

ANNNNND... THE NATIONALS WON!

Saturday:

I definitley  DO NOT LIKE Adam Jones!!!!!!!!

Jim Thome can DH...

ANNNNNND... THE NATIONALS WON!

Sunday:

I most definitely CAN'T STAND  Adam Jones.

Hunter Pence CAN be clutch!

OH... And Cliff Lee didn't win!

ANNNNND... THE NATIONALS WON!!! They swept the Red Sox... who can be described one way...
PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Well all besides Pedroia... Hey Pedey, wanna play on the Phillies, we need a second baseman.)

That's pretty much it...

Ciao!
~TBC

Friday, June 8, 2012

Sorry :(

Sorry I haven't not had a chance to blog lately, I've been really busy... Not that I've wanted to blog. That's what a 6-game losing streak does to you. So... I will do a weekend preview instead of a recapping of past torture.
Phillies Vs. Orioles:
Finally Joe Blanton may have a chance tonight. Jake Arietta (the oppostion) has like a 5 ERA. And then Vanimal and Cliff "I-Want-a Win" Lee against whatever scrubs that O's start.
Nats vs Red Sox:
FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE Fenway and can't wait to see the beast flick a couple over the Monster.

ALL STAR GAME UPDATE:

Chooch needs your votes!!!!!!!!!!! Here are the ranking for NL Catchers
CATCHERS
Yadier Molina, Cardinals: 1,100,048
Buster Posey, Giants: 1,072,464
Brian McCann, Braves: 707,508
Carlos Ruiz, Phillies: 562,021
Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: 457,590

So vote for Carlos Ruiz (25 times)
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2012/ballot.jsp?tcid=hpMW-asgballot-2012

And if you have twitter (I don't) use the hashtag #votechooch and spread the word!!!!!!!!!

Also LaRoche is in the race for NL first base (hashtag: #LaRocheIn12) so vote for him too!!!!!!!!

Ciao!
~TBC

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Daily Recap: The Return of the Vanimal

The Phillies lost... Again. Better last night though. Vance was OK, 3 runs in 4 innings, 80 pitches. Jonathan Papelbon got the loss. Have you noticed how he always gives up a run in a non-save situation, even if its a tie game. He has a strange reverse "Can't Close Disease." (Which I don't believe in anyway. so...) He can ONLY close. LOL... Now that's funny!

Sorry this is so short. It was a pretty boring game last night!

Ciao!
~TBC

Monday, June 4, 2012

Weekend Recap: Looking For The Postitive

After Philly's 0-2 weekend, I've had a hard time locating positve things about the past two days. 
OK, Here we go!
Positive Things About the Phillies weekend:

1. Giancarlo Stanton was only 2-for-12 with 6 Ks tonight. However, Hanley Ramirez had 3 HR's.

2. Joe Blanton only gave up FIVE runs! LOL! That's not really positive, but I think it is a start, I guess???

3. Rollins was 2-for-5 Saturday.

And... That's all I can think of. So, Vance Worley is back from the DL against reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw tonight. Dear Vanimal and Chooch, please give us positive things to thing about!


From the first inning Saturday to the fourth inning Sunday, it was a very good weekend to be a Nats fan. Congrats to Lombo (Steve Lombardozzi) and Bryce Harper for doing what no two rookies have never done before. I heard it live and boy it was fun!!!! And it pretty much ended there. Gio Gonzalez earned the nicknamed I gave him (Sir-Walks-A-Lot) and the Nationals failed with runners in scoring position.
I was ready to kill the Nationals Saturday after the Phillies lost and after they went behind Sunday, I was kinda rooting for them to lose ( I know, I'm a mean person :D)

Ciao!
~ TBC

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Daily Recap: 5-Out Save

The Phillies won!!!!!!
The Nationals were rained out.

More details...
Charlie Manuel wins the Good Move of the Day award for putting Jonathan Papelbon into the game in the eighth inning tonight. Jake Deikman was not pitching well and who do you bring in, Raul Valdes??? Seriously, you have to get the next out, because after that is Hanley Ramirez and the definiton of hot himself, Giancarlo Stanton (Although he was only 1-for-3 tonight, good job!) So Manuel brings in Papelbon. I was slightly surprised, but glad our best reliever was on the mound. I wondered whether he would come out again for the ninth. He did, and picked-up his first 5-out save since 2009.
Chooch is back. Yup, in the starting line-up for the first time simce Sunday! And BOOM! 3-for-4! Now he's hitting .381 and that's first in the majors! GO CHOOCH!!!!!!!!

Outside of Philly:
Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in New York Mets history. Congrats to Johan and the Mets! Happy to get the Phils out of town, were you?

Ciao!
~TBC

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Return of The BEAST! :)

ANNNNNNNND... HE'S BACK!

The Nationals have activated Michael Morse from the DL!!!!! He is expected to be in his usual clean-up spot tonight vs. the Braves!

WELCOME BACK BEAST! Looking forward to many more home-runs, complete with head thumps :), and curtain calls like the on I saw LIVE last year. (Just not against the Phillies)

GO NATS! Show those braves what your made of!!!!!

Ciao!
~ TBC

Vote for LaRoche

My sister made this movie and since Ryan Howard does not deserve All-Star ( at least this year :), I decided to post it and endorse Washington Nationals 1st Baseman Adam LaRoche
Ciao!
~TBC

The Galvis Dilemma


 Ah... Freddy Galvis. Quite the enigma. Bring on the Glavis Dilemma.

Let's start at the very beginning, which is Spring Training. Coming into camp, Galvis had a very slim chance of making team as a back-up. Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins had the starting middle infield jobs locked up, as they have for years. Then the unpredictable (or was it) happened. Spring Training games started, and day after day Utley was not in the line-up. Then Galvis, naturally a shortstop, started playing at second base. As the days went by, and Utley's status grew more and more questionable. Glavis, meanwhile, was having good spring.
So, on Opening Day, when Utley wasn't ready to go, Glavis won the starting second baseman role. Early on in the season, he dazzeld with his glove, but he looked over-matched at the plate. Lately, however, his bat has started to come around and although he has been hitless in his last three games, he is hitting .255 over the past 30 days, good enough if he continues to play defense like he has.
The question: What do you do when Utley comes back? Rollins hasn't exactly played like himself lately, hitting  only .232 in his past 30 games. Utley hit .259 all of last year and appears to be on the decline. Galvis is an excellent defensive player, more than capable of playing second or shortstop.

Galvis

OR

Rollins

OR

Utley

What Do You Do?????????

My solution: Use Galvis as a super-sub utility player, spelling both the aging Rollins and Utley, who has a history of knee problems. Galvis can play at least four times a week and would be invalubale in situations such as day games after night games.

Phillies fans want Utley and Rollins in the line-up everyday, but that might not be the best thing for this team. So what do you think is the best thing to do?????

Ciao!
~ TBC