One small step in Phillies ranking; one giant step backward for Phillies fans

For those of you that haven’t heard, a man was killed while attending a bachelor party at the Phillies game Saturday, July 26. David Sale, 22-years-old from Lansdale, Pa., was beaten to death by men who were on a bus tour from the Fishtown section of Philadelphia.

The incident occurred sometime during the 8^th inning inside McFadden’s Bar and Restaurant, which is attached to Citizens Bank Park, and eventually spilled out into the street. Sale was beaten so badly, that by the time he arrived at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

To make matters worse, an innocent by-stander, crossing the street to the ballpark was also injured.

This incident taints a splendid weekend in which the Phillies bettered their record by two games and won the three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.\

During the 7^th inning, some “fan” thought it would be funny to aim a green laser pointer at the one of the Cardinal’s chest while he was batting. The umpire actually had to stop the game to find out who was doing the distracting.

It’s absolutely embarrassing. I’m not sure I understand why Philadelphia fans thinks it’s necessary to act immature and uncouth, especially when our city and its fans are under even more a microscope since we are the reigning world champions.

Furthermore, it disgusts me to think that some “tough” guys thinks it’s O.K. to have a few 16 o.z. Bud Lights and throw a few punches over a [probably dumb] disagreement. That’s no was to show support of your home team to embarrass them the way some fans chose to do this weekend. Not to mention, how sickening that someone lost his life in an act of stupidity.

Gee…I wonder why Philly fans have the reputation they have…

Briarcliffe wins baseball title

I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to my little brother, Kenny, and his Intermediate baseball team in Briarcliffe, Pa. for winning the league championship July 22. It was a great game and well deserved. Kenny, who went 1 for 3 and played left field all season, caught the last out to secure the win. His coach even gave him the game ball.

Briarcliffe A.A. is a league that I grew up playing softball in and helped me not just develop my love for the sport, but also helped me understand how the game worked. Congrats boys!

Dancing IS a sport!

I am a firm believe that dancing is a sport! Every now and then I may come across something that proves my point. Watch this amazing piece on last night's So You Think You Can Dance.

The two dancers are dancing to Maxwell's "A Woman's Work" is about breast cancer. Melissa is playing the part of the woman infected with the cancer and Ade (pronounced "A-Day") is playing her friend who is trying to be her support system. It is truly one of the most amazing routines I have ever seen. Pay close attention to the the strength the dancers display. I'd like to see a football player do some of these moves! Enjoy!

manda 8 @ Yahoo! Video

The Phils go streaking: win 10 games in a row

Do you hear it? That sizzling sound? That’s the Phils, because they are cooking with their latest win against the Cubs, bringing their winning streak to 10…10 wins in a row! This is their longest winning streak of the season.

Translations

• The battle took 13 innings to complete - Innings are generally 9 innings. If the score is tied at the end of the 9^th inning, then the game goes in extra innings.
• With Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez on base – Howard and Ibanez had walked and were on 1^st and 2^nd bases.
• Jayson Werth came up to the plate 0-5 – Werth came up to bat 5 times and either struck out, walked, or batted out each time.
• Walk-off 3-run homer – Since the Phillies were playing at home, they bat 2^nd each inning. If they home team is in the lead at the top of the 9^th inning, and the visiting team does not score any runs, then the home team does not have to bat again because they already have enough runs to secure the win. This applies to all innings after the 9^th. If the score is tied (and in extra innings), if the home team scores any kind of run, it is considered a “walk-off.”

Now go and impress the men in your life with your new-found baseball knowledge!

Let’s make it 11 in a row Phils!

Check out this awesome, game-winning home run by Jayson Werth!

Let the countdown begin 'til Eagles Training Camp

While the city is still engulfed in baseball season, many fans are gearing up for Eagles Training Camp up at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

This grueling camp can either make or break players. All rookies will report a week from today, while veterans on Wednesday, July 29. The camp lasts until August 12 when the Birds (Eagles) head back home to the Linc (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia) for their first preseason game against Tom Brady (A.K.A Mr. Gisele Bundchen) and the New England Patriots.

I will be honest; I left last season being very disappointed with the Birds. Although they made a valiant playoff push, nearly reaching the Super Bowl, they released one of the most beloved players (and my personal favorite), Brian Dawkins to the Denver Broncos. The move completely took the wind out of my sails as an Eagles fan and led me to hang my Dawkins jersey in my front window for a good month. True story. But, we [I] have to move on.

Back to Training Camp. The great thing about it is that anyone can go up and watch their favorite players in a more relaxed setting, not to mention for much less mullah. The cheapest Eagles ticket (at face value) is now $95. Ridiculous. The price for Training Camp is $0…big difference!

Training Camp is great to take kids and nice alternative for a “stay-cation” to the shore.

On a side: note-rumor-has-it that former Eagle Hollis Thomas has been released from the New Orleans Saints and has already visited Eagles management to talk about coming back to play for the Birds. The reappearance of the 335-pound defensive tackle may prove to be a nice addition to an already defensive line. Thomas has 226 career tackles and 20 career sacks.

Click here to view a schedule of the 2009 Training Camp.

Fly Guys to play in the Winter Classic

While most of the National Hockey League (NHL) teams are “green” with envy, the Flyers will be playing against the Boston Bruins in the 2010 Winter Classic at one of the most famous ballparks in the United States, Fenway Park.

The official proclamation was announced today that the Fly guys would be traveling up to “Beantown” after days of speculation and rumors that this very match-up would take place. Probably the worst kept secret in hockey, unless you consider Wayne Gretzkey’s involvement in the Rick Tocchet gambling scandal in 2006.

For those of you who don’t know, the Winter Classic is an NHL game played on New Year’s Day outdoors since 2008. Past battles include the Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Buffalo Sabers and the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Detroit Red Wings. The location of this game is a far cry from the arena hockey American fans are used to.

The Flyers are no stranger to the Bruins, having beaten them in the 1974 Stanley Cup Championship Series. This promises to be a bonified classic and a game that this girly Flyers fan has been waiting for since this mid-season classic’s inception.

What’s that? You want my predictions? The Flyers will win, of course! Just kidding… It is way too early to predict anything. It all depends on how the teams look in training camp, then how healthy the core players stay throughout the beginning of the season. It also depends on their record. I mean who knows? Dare I say it… the Flyers could pull another disaster like the 2006-2007 season – the worst season in franchise history.

Let’s just hope they all make it to the Winter Classic in one piece and kick some Bruins butt!

Profile Thursday: Mike Schmidt

Every Thursday, I will post a player profile about a famous Philadelphia sports figure. I thought I might start with my personal favorite!

Name: Michael Jack Schmidt
Nicknames: Schmiddy; Captain Cool
Birthdate: September 27, 1949
Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio
College: Ohio University
Current Residence:
Sport: Baseball
MLB Debut: September 12, 1972
Position(s): 3rd base
Seasons with the Phillies: 1972-1989
Marital Status: Married
Children: 2 children
Biggest Achievements: 12-time All-Star; World Series Win ('80); 10-time Golden Glove winner; 6-time Silver Slugger winner; 3-time National League MVP; 1980 World Series MVP; 500 career home runs; Hall of Fame (1995)
Memorable Moments: When Harry Kalas announced his 500th career home run, he announced him as "Michael Jack Schmidt," a phrase all fans impersonate to this day.
Where is he now?: He is a hitting coach for the Phillies during Spring Training in Clearwater, FL.
Random Fact: He has a sandwich named after him in Citizen's Bank Park called "The Shmitter.

Career Stats:

• Batting Average (BA): .267
  
• Home Runs (HR): 548
• Runs Batted In (RBI): 1,595

What's your favorite memory of Schmitty? Leave a comment and tell me about it!

Phils sign Pedro

Well, it's official. After about a week of rumors, the Phils Signed former Mets pitcher, Pedro Martinez, to a 1-year, $1 Million deal.

Not sure how I personally feel about it. It's in my blood to hate anything or person that has to do with the Mets. It might be time before this fan is sold....

This just in: Apparently Pedro will go on the 15-day DL for a shoulder strain...so it looks like fans will just have to wait a little longer until we see what he does for us!

Lucky 13: American League wins All-Star Game...again

Not again...

For the 13th year in a row, the American League has won the MLB All-Star game, even though the Phils were ever-present in the line-up. With the AL winning, they will get home-field advantage in the 2009 World Series.

Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Shane Victorino were all named to the All-Star game starters list. Utley went 0-2 with a really nice force out play in the top of the 8th inning. Victorino went 1-2 scoring in the bottom of the 3rd, the only inning with runs on the board for the National League. Ibanez marked his All-Star game debut with an 0-2 at bat. However, he did make history, being the oldest player since Babe Ruth to make his debut at the ripe ol' age of 37. (The Babe was 38 and hit the first ever All-Star game homer in 1933.)

Also making appearances were Jason Werth (0-1) who has a sweet catch out in center field in the top of the 9th and Ryan Howard pinch hitting for Heath Bell of the Padres in the bottom of the 8th. Howard marked his 2nd All-Star appearance with a great run in the Home Run Derby Monday night (He came in 3rd place) and a standing ovation from his hometown crowd during pregame introductions. Having a chance to be the hero with men on first and third, he struck out on a check-swing.

Could have been the game-winner...bummer! Oh well, we are still the reigning world champs. We won last year not having home-field advantage, and we can do it this year, too!

Say solong to the Coste-Guard

The Phillies lost a fan-favorite this week, Chris Coste, or the 33-year-old rookie, to the Houston Astros.

For those of you who don’t know, Coste spent much of his baseball career out of the spotlight. He started playing Division III ball in college and then playing for minor league teams in the now defunct North Central League and in Triple-A ball for the Cleveland Indians and Phillies. Then, in May 2007 the Phils called Coste up to the majors from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barrons for mere 2-weeks until Ryan Howard was able to come of the DL. (Alright ladies, here’s your first vocab word and I promise this is an easy one! DL means “Disabled list.” When a player is on the DL, it means that they are injured. See, told you it was easy!)

A few more Phils injuries later, and Coste was back playing with the big boys, helping them make it all the way to the Phils make their first playoffs in 14 years. His stats were pretty impressive by season’s end and the Phils decided to make him the back-up catcher to Carlos Ruiz for the 2008 season. In doing so, when the Phillies became world champions, Coste was the first ever play to originate from Division III college baseball to win a World Series. Not too shabby!

He also wrote two books: Hey... I'm Just the Catcher: An Inside Look at a Northern League Season From Behind the Plate in 1997 and The 33-Year-Old Rookie: How I Finally Made it to the Big Leagues After Eleven Years in the Minors in 2007.

Being a baby vet has earned Coste legions of fans who don themselves the “Coste Guard.”

I know I will really miss Coste, this baby veteran, awesome player, and stand-up guy. Join me in bidding him a fond farewell. We will see him again when the Phils play the Astros September 4 in Houston.

Meanwhile, check out what Coste has to say about leaving Philadelphia by click here.

The "Girly" Sports fan is born!

I will never forget it. I was 3 years old and experiencing my first ever Phillies game. The old Veteran's Stadium or "The Vet" as most Philadelphians called it, was this massive hole with yellow and orange seats and neon green flooring in the middle. I chowed down on a Hatfield hot dog and slurped in some vanilla soft serve in a tiny Phillies batting helmet, as I sat in between my mom and dad. Our seats, located behind home plate, made for a perfect view of the entire field. Then I saw him. Michael Jack Schmidt. It was love at first sight. Thus, another Philly sports fan was born.

One thing that I do almost every day is read about sports. I love sports; but, my favorite sport to read about, watch, and follow is baseball. If I don’t read it in the newspaper or watch it on TV, I read about online articles. It's not very common for a chick to be following Philadelphia professional sports the way I do.

The thing is – I like being a girl. In fact, I am probably one of the girliest girls around. My favorite color is pink. I have been taking dance classes since I was three years old, not to mention participated in cheerleading for six years. I like to be organized and I love to cook. I love fashion and dressing up. I like to watch Sex and the City and Dancing with the Stars. I love guys, I just don’t want to act like one to be taken seriously as a sports writer.

One thing I noticed is that there are little to no female sportswriters. Sure, you have Leslie Gudel on Comcast SportsNet and Jade McCarthy on NBC, but as far as a woman, writing about a man’s sport, such as baseball, are hard to come by. Upon graduating from college, I applied to several different sports writing positions, had great interviews where the editor was impressed with my vast knowledge of the sports world. But, I was never hired for a single position. Maybe I wasn’t qualified…but maybe the qualification I was missing a Y chromosome.

Therefore, I am developing this blog for the simplistic reason that a girl like me can be knowledgeable about sports. Who knows...maybe I will teach a few guys a thing or two!