- I had a great time at the old ballpark Wednesday afternoon,watching the Phillies carve up the Dodgers, 7-3. They not only took the series, but also the season series, big for potential home-field advantage in the post-season. The Braves were idle, so with the win, the Phils moved to 1 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta in NL East..
- Chase Utley, playing in his final regular season game ever at Citizens Bank Park, went 0-3. He received a warm ovation from the fans in attendance but they didn't over-do it. Utley came onto the field after the game, acknowledging the remaining fans outside the Dodger dugout. Phillies owner John Middleton was there to greet him, speaking to Utley a few moments, which was a nice gesture.
- The Phillies are for real, despite their continued poor defense ( Catcher Andrew Knapp made two errors in the 1st inning alone), sporadic clutch hitting and inconsistent bullpen. Rhys Hoskins is currently carrying the team, with help from Franco and Herrera. Help is still needed to keep the club on top.
- Speaking of which, Orioles' OF Adam Jones is available, and reportedly the Phillies and Indians are top suitors. Jones is a free agent after the season. He is 33 but can still hit. Andy MacPhail brought Jones to Baltimore, so signing Jones long-term would be possible. I'm OK with obtaining Jones to add depth to the outfield and the bench, as long as the Phils don't give up too much.
- Tons of Dodger fans at the park yesterday, but they didn't even try to take over the stadium, like Yankees, Mets or Red Sox fans. Most Dodger fans are front-running losers, but the older fans can say legitimately the were Dodger fans way back to Brooklyn.
I was a bit surprised it wasn't a sell-out, with a first place team and the Utley fervor going on, but if the Phillies' front office believes and improves the club before the trade deadline next week, the fans will believe and start to fill CPB for the rest of the summer.
- Manny Machado was held in check during the three-game set. Still I would love to have him. He has power, speed, played third base yesterday and showed range and a strong , effortless arm. He would still be my priority in the off-season.
- Thinking about it now, I shouldn't be surprised at the Phillies' success. This main core helped lehigh Valley and reading to successful seasons. Add Hoskins, Kingery and Williams to existing young stars such as Nola, Herrera and Franco, and you have a winner. Another veteran or two ( Jones? Happ? Escobar?) could help to solidify the team during the stretch run.
- I'm also changing my tune about Odubal Herrera. He is different and fun to watch. He still makes bone-head plays in the outfield and on the bases ( not as many). But he is hustling. He also brings flair and personality to a team fully of, frankly, boring personalities. The 1980 squad had fiery Pete Rose and Larry Bowa; the 2008 championship team had Jimmy Rollins. Every team needs a spark plug and a player who is a character. Herrera is the man.
- I asked Greg (The Bull) Luzinski sign my Phillies cap yesterday at Bull's Bar-B- Que. Not the most personable guy in the world, he did sign the hat but didn't say a word, even when i commented on his rings or mentioning i was a fan.No wonder he paired with Schmidt so well.
- Kudos to Manager Gabe Kapler for his unwavering positive attitude. Yes, there are times his excuses for lack of hustling is annoying. But I have to admit that the Phils always seem to bounc eback after tough losses.
- So, I cashed in last Saturday's rain-out game for the very last game of the regular season- Sunday, September 30 vs Atlanta. It's Fan Appreciation Day, which should be fun. Plus the game may be a division-clincher against the Braves. The only drawback is the Eagles play at 1:00 that afternoon against the Titans in Tennessee. Sitting behind the Phillies' dugout it could be a memorable day.
- Lefty Ranger Suarez makes his major league debut tonight in Cincinnati. It would be great if the rookie pitched well. The rotation could benefit from a left-handed starter. In case Nick Pivetta doesn't get his act together it's nice to know there are options like Suarez and de Los Santos available. Hamels and Happ may be too costly to trade for, so a solid effort from Suarez tonight is key.
- Finally, it was a soupy,muggy afternoon at the Bank, but the showers held off. A cheesesteak from Tony Luke's and crab fries from Chickie and Pete's made the game complete, along with my gorgeous girlfriend. Holly, and a Phillies win!
- The Eagles put on the pads for the first time at noon. All of the celebrations of the special championship season are now just a lasting memory. Now it's time to get down to business and prove the naysayers wrong, those who discount the Eagles' chances for the upcoming season.
Was the 2017 season a fluke? can the Birds recapture all the magic again and repeat? On paper the Eagles seem to have a better team, with hungry guys like Wentz, Peters and Sproles wanting the taste of playing in the Super Bowl. True, other teams will be gunning for Philly now. But now we know we can do it. We know what it takes to win the NFL East, win in the playoffs and win in the Super Bowl.
Now it's time to go out and do it. From today on, it's football until icy February. The Phillies may make the post-season. The Sixers will start another exciting season, along with the young and upcoming Flyers. But starting today it's primarily football, as the Eagles defend their crown.
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