REVIEW: BELINDA CARLISLE CONCERT

Near the beginning of Belinda Carlisle's concert last night at Penn's Peak, she asked the big crowd "How many of you remember the 80s?" When a roar went up from the fans she remarked, "That's good because I don't remember much."

Carlisle was the lead singer of the 80s punk/New Wave/ pop all-female band, The Go-Go's. They were the first female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments. Their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat" was a smash, but the group never attained such equal success. They were formed in 1981 and disbanded only four years later in 1985.

There have been numerous reunions, including a legendary concert in Central Park in New York City in 2002. Meanwhile, Carlisle had a successful solo career, recording such hits as "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and ""Leave A Light On." She is back, touring sporadically in the States and Europe. She came to Jim Thorpe, Pa.  Friday night.

It was the first time I visited the beautiful Penn's Peak venue. It is literally located on a peak, overlooking picturesque Lehigh Valley. The concert hall is small, holding a few thousand people, and make all of wood, both pine and oak. It's raised roof reminded me of a barn or log cabin-type atmosphere. The venue has been nominated for Venue of the Year by Country Music.

It was crowded for Belinda Carlisle but not sold out. She came out precisely at 8:00, her four-piece all-male band i gear. Older guys who can still rock!

After a brief intro snippet of the beach Boys' "California Girls," Carlisle started with "Runaway Horses," the title track from an 80s album, mixing in singles ("Mad About You") with album cuts ("Fool For Love") with Go-Go's songs ("Head Over Heels").

One of my favorites happens to be one of Belinda's favorites, a single called "Summer Rain." There were no covers, the set consisted strictly of her music alone, with or without the Go-Go's.

Belinda , for 61 years old, still has tons of energy, as she danced all over the stage. There wasn't much chatter between songs as she cranked out hit after hit, concluding the main set in a brisk hour and 15 minutes. The fans,a  mix of older couples in their 40s and 50s, all-guys or all-females, and a few younger teens thrown in, danced along, clapped and sang and generally just had a blast going back in time.

Her voice was clear and strong, although there were a few sound problems with distortion which were quickly resolved. For the most part she struck pretty much to the records and didn't deviate much from the sound.

Her ending of the set was a rousing trio of "Vacation," "Our Lips Are Sealed," and "Heaven is a Place on Earth." Her encore was strong with "We Got The Beat" and "Live Your Life be Free."

A fun show which brought back memories. 90 minutes tops and the crowd left smiling after all the fun, commenting while going out how much fun it really was.

An extra spacial treat occurred in the parking lot: We tossed our phone sin the car and were getting ready to leave when my girlfriend noted that Belinda was not far away down the lot, signing autographs and taking pictures with about 20 or so fans gathered there.We decided to go over as well, and as I transferred back into my chair, holly still needed to shut the drivers' door. Meanwhile Belinda was parting ways with the small crowd of fans, getting back into a white SUV and waiting for the driver to back out from near the venue.

We just missed seeing her by a split second. Disappointed as the fans dispersed through out the parking lot, I suggested to Holly that we stay and at least wave bye to Belinda when he vehicle passed us.

Slowly the SUV backed out of the fenced-in parking area. I waved, hoping Belinda would see me, despite the tinted windows. She did, waving back and rolling down the windows.

"Do you want a picture?" she asked.

I replied, "Yes, please!" and the SUV stops. Out of nowhere more fans descended on the area, as I guess they were watching her departure from a distance and ran over when they saw the car stopping.

Sure enough, out comes Belinda, smaller then I imagined, still dressed in the same outfit she wore during the concert ( black sweater-top and multi-colored patch-like pants).  It was sweet of her to stop and ask, and i was totally star-struck.

She said hi, then warned the approaching fans "I'm only doing this one!" and they backed off.

For some reason, instead of saying "Great show!" I insisted she know my first name, like she really cared.

After exchanging "Nice to meet yous." the pictures were taken and off she bounded back into the SUV and into the night.

A memorable experience and a big, unexpected  surprise!  And yes, up close, she really is beautiful.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, EAGLES

The inconsistent Phillies were tied 1-1 last night in a pivotal game against the Mets into the 7th inning. After Aaron Nola left the game, after another great outing, the bullpen imploded, giving up 10 runs in two innings. They lost 11-5, dropping 3 1/2 games behind the cubs for the last wild card spot.

Pitching continues to be the Phillies' downfall. After Nola, there really is no one to count on. Getting swept this weekend at home to rival New York is now a real possibility. Could it be the final nail in Gabe Kapler's coffin?

After a relatively "easy" schedule against Miami, Pittsburgh and San Diego, September gets tougher, with division games plus a road trip to Cleveland.

The 25-man roster expands on Sunday. Will pitching prospect Spencer Howard come up to Philly?

Afternoon game today vs the Mets. Will there be more New York fans at Citizens Bank Park than Phils' fans?

Cuts in Pro Football today. The biggest name so far is former Eagle running back LeSean McCoy. Will he come back to Philly? Probably not. Birds have an abundance of backs, plus Shady isn't what he used to be.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- EAGLES, PHILLIES

-Another pre-season snoozer last night as the Jets neat the Eagles, 6-0. A meaningless game to the fans ( unless you bet it). I doubt they will cut back the pre-season football games from 4 to 2. The owners are making money from ticket sales, concessions, parking, etc.The sportsbooks ar emaking money from losers placing bets on the pre-season games. The fans need to ignore the games, not attend and not place a wager. This will never happen, as by this time of the summer fans are dying for football.

Maybe the biggest question for the Birds is, does Josh Adams or Wendell Smallwood make the team at running back? My guess is that Smallwood makes the cut.

Sounds like DeSean Jackson, broken left ring finger and all, will start the opener vs Washington. How will Carson Wentz look at QB after nott aking one single snap all pre-season? Will the Eagles work out a deal for clowney and deal Nate Sudfeld to Indianapolis?

-The Phillies open up a huge weekend series with the rival Mets tonight. The Phils avoid both deGrome and Synderguuard this weekend, while throwing their ace, Aaron Nola, at New York. The club is now 2 1/2 games in back of the cubs for the final wils card spot.

Three of the teams' top prospects- Spencer Howard, Mickey Moniak and  Alex Bohm- will play in the fall Arizona League this year. Howard may be a part of the September call-ups, starting on Sunday.

Bryce Harper had agreat August, clubbing 10 home runs so far. with 2 games to play. He has slowly become a clubhouse leader while continuing to play hard. He is Mr. Clutch on the 2019. It would be nice if he continued to carry the team into September and beyond.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The 2019 Philadelphia Phillies seem to come up with new ways to lose games every night. Tied 4-4 in the 9th inning vs Pittsburgh, closer Hector Neris walked two Pirates but did toss a potential double play grounder. However the relay throw from Jean Segura handcuffed first baseman Rhys Hoskins. He dropped the ball and the winning run scored for a Bucco victory.

Hoskins has been struggling at the plate since the All-Star  break. Hopefully he hasn't allowed his poor hitting affect his performance in the batters box. Hoskins needs to get out of the lead-off spot. Hitting down in the order, maybe ahead of Bryce Harper, will get Rhys more fastballs to hit.

Drew Smyly pitched into the 6th inning and had a rough outing. Teams start to tee-off on Smyly the third time thru the order.

Scott Kingery was back pinch-hitting after being taken out of Monday's game with "abdominal soreness.'

Sean Rodriguez started at third base and was booed lustily by the fans for his comments after the game on Monday where he bashed the fan base. He is the 24th guy on a roster and should just be glad he has a jon in the majors.

The Phillies have suffered quite a few injuries this season but to me, the two costliest injuries have been to outfielder Andrew McCuthen and to reliever Siranthony Dominguez.

Losing McCuthen meant losing an experienced leader, both on the field and in the clubhouse. They haven't been able to replace him in the lead-off spot. Defensively, McCuthen was excellent.

Losing Dominguez meant a reliable arm in the bullpen is gone. Siranthony could close a game, but he was also seen this season getting a key out in the 5th or 6th inning. his versatility has been sorely missed.

The Phils are now two games behind the Cubs for the final wild card spot in the National League. Chicago plays the Mets again tonight and it's a sad state of affairs when Phillies fans need to root for the Mets.

The final game of the Pirate series is tonight at an early time, 6:05, with Vince Valasquez pitching. A victory wind the series for the Phillies. There's a day off on Thursday followed by a weekend set with the Mets.

A loss tonight means yet another series defeat to a last place team.

As much as i would like the Phils to get into the post-season, I would much rather fast-forward to early October. Will the manager or front office personnel get fired? What free agents and trades will the Phillies be involved with during Hot Stove season? Getting injured players back for a run in 2020 will also help. So would a new attitude with this lackluster club.

Until then, all we can do is watch it play out.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, EAGLES

The Phillies struggled to beat the last place Pittsburgh Pirates last night at Citizens Bank Park in 11 innings, thanks to a walk-off home run by Sean Rodriguez.

The win moves the Phils to within one game of the final playoff spot.

Jason Vargas did another good job. Hecnor Neris blew the 9th inning save. He had not given up a run since mid-July.The Pirates' Josh Bell crushed a one out home run to deep center field  for the tie. Bell's blast landed on Ashburn Alley.

Between Bell and Sterling Marte the Buccos do have some talent. I look for Pittsburgh to rebound in the next several years and become contenders again.

Bryce Harper celebrated his baby son's birth yesterday with a late-game blast to right-center field Harper's  newborn baby was named Krew Aron.  Whatever happened to people names for babies? Now it seems like our pets and getting  the names, like Michael.  Baby and mother are fine and resting back in Las Vegas.

Even though Sean Rodriguez hit the game-winning homer in the 11th, he still took unexpected shots at the fans during his post-game interview. Something about booing and being loyal to the players.

I'm not one for booing when I'm at the ballpark, but I do think the fans are right in booing someone like a Rhys Hoskins at the plate when he is not performing. Hoskins is so messed-up with this "launch-angle" crap, as he continues to get himself together for for the final playoff push. Hoskins is batting a paltry .164 since the All-Star break.

Fans pay their hard-earned money to watch this lazy, over-valued team on a summer night, as long as they stay within the law, who not boo? The players are being paid tons of money to play a game. Let the fans do what they want. If you perform and play well you won't get booed. Simple as that.

Trading Hoskins in the off-season has been rumored. First, you make make sure you get more than equal return. Even in a bad year he has 25 home runs and he is only 26 years old. Second, I don't trust GM Matt Klentek to make such an important deal.

The Phils should beat a bad team like the Bhcs at home. They must win tonight, take at least 2 of 3, and still have a chance to sweep.

Drew Smyley, who pitched a good game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh late in July, goes for Philadelphia tonight.

Eagles rumors continue to swirl as they prepare for the final, meaningless game in the pre-season vs the Jets in New York. The Texans are shopping brilliant defensive end Javian Clowney . He would be a rental for the Birds, unless they sign him to a long-term deal. Rental or not, he should be inspired playing in a contract year. An active Clowney could spur the defensive and be a difference-maker.

Giving up Big V ( Houston badly needs help on its offensive line) and a draft pick may get Clowney.

Also a rumor- back-up QB Nate Sudfeld, currently on the Injured List with a fractured wrist, being traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Andrew Luck retired this week; Sudfeld is from Indiana and Colts head coach Frank Reich was the Eagles' quarterback coach and knows Sudfeld.

The Birds shouldn't give Sudfeld away. It will be interesting to see what Indy offers.

IN MY LIFE- REVIEW: CITADEL COUNTRY SPIRIT MUSIC FESTIVAL

We have been looking forward to the 2nd annual Citadel Country Spirit music festival since the first one last August. It's quickly becoming a summer staple at Ludwigs Corner in Chester County. We had a blast last year and the same rang true this weekend.

The grounds are much more accessible for a wheelchair this time around. They removed the annoying speed-bumps inside the grounds. Parking was easy and accessible.

The people at Citadel were gracious and friendly. So were the users, ticket-takers and security. The fellow concert-goers, ranging all ages but mostly 20s-40s, were also in a good mood. Lots of beer flowed.

Once again the music festival got lucky with the weather. o humidity, no storms, a perfect, cool weekend. For a concert literally held in a field, weather is key. There's hardly any shade or any protection form rain or thunderstorms, so, for the second straight year, the weather was beautiful.

The line-up this year was more contemporary. The 2018 agenda of Alabama, Toby Keith and Brad Paisley, although all are still popular and relevant, are not up-and-comers like Billy Currington, Little Big Town and Old Dominion, the headliners in 2019.

There were good under cards on all three nights, consisting of mostly young country artists with a few hits but still trying to achieve stardom in Nashville. Here are my brief comments on this year's line-up:

Did not see- Adam Doleac, Claire Dunn, Mitchell Tenpenny.

Devin Dawson- Just ok. Should be more of a songwriter in the future than a singer.
Lauren Alaina-
Saw her before, opening for Rascal Flatts. Good talent but has a ways to go before headlining.

Lee Brice- Enjoyed his lively set. Got to meet Lee before the show when a nice Citadel employee gave us three meet and Greet passes. Brice was friendly and jovial, thanking all his fans. No cell phone pictures were allowed,; no autographs either, which was odd. Still, it was a cool experience.

Billy Currington- Not impressed. Wasn't too familiar with him and his music didn't make me a fan. Like most country artists, he sang about drinking and beer a lot.

Frankie Ballard- A better under card guy, actually showed some passion about being there on a Saturday afternoon.

Lanco- Not impressed again. They were  ok and mixed with the crowd, but we not equal to the following act on Saturday night.

Brothers Osbourne- One of the top acts all weekend. Rocked the house and gave it all. I would see them again in concert.

Little Big Town- I recognized most of their songs, even though I'm not a huge country music listener.Interesting, going form almost hard rock with the brothers Osbourne to pop/contemporary country with Little Big Town.

Chris Lane- Nothing unique about his songs or voice, but had much charm during his set. Loved when he called a young 8 or so year old girl on stage with him, and his 90's country melody.

Eli Young Band- Started getting into it too late. Mentioned they were heading home after the show and they played like it, almost mailing in the entire performance. Couldn't get the crowd excited to sing along, especially after the livelier Chris Lane.



Old Dominion- The best of the weekend, by far. You knew their songs yet they did some new stuff from an upcoming album. They have a gift for music and songwriting. What a  difference between their songs and others. Their first tour headlining and doing well. I can see them being another Alabama in time.

Hopefully next year they add more established acts and artists, as well as the new music.

The food was good but expensive, as were the usual tees, hats and jackets. The seating for wheelchairs was again on a raised platform about in the middle of the crowd and the view was excellent, with three enormous wide screens near the stage.

All in all, a blast and looking forward already to next year. Getting someone like Keith Urban to perform would be awesome. We will see!

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The only thing uglier than how the Phillies played baseball over the weekend was the uniforms they wore. Hideous black unis, for some really stupid baseball "player's weekend" stunt ( with equally stupid nicknames on the back). The Phils, dress all in black, looked as they played- like they were attending a funeral. The Miami Marlins, decked out in all white, looked like milkmen.

Worse, every team in baseball dressed this way- home team all-white, visitors all-black- for the entire weekend. A rare, classic series between the Yankees and Dodgers was spoiled because of the awful threads. In what could've been a preview of the World Series, it would've been nice to see the Dodgers in home iconic  white with blue hats, and the classic Yankee look of road gray. Instead we got unrecognizable black and white. Everyone looked alike, probably a millennial idea.

Anyway, the Phillies, after sweeping two games from the Red Sox in Boston earlier in the week, played like dogs most of the series and again lost to lowly Miami. The Phils are now a sad 7-9 vs the last-place Marlins this season They only remain in the wild card race because the rest of the National League sucks.

Even worse, Cesar Henandez, who I have always said is an average, solid player, not a star, failed to hustle when he laced a double off the right field wall, staying at first base. In an important game, with a tie score of 0-0, with Aaron Nola on the mound, you must run hard, even if you think the ball is a home run ( especially in the spacious Miami ballpark).

No excuses. Manager Gabe Kapler is at fault for not stopping this laziness earlier in the season. Too late to say Hernandez was "talked to" on the bench. Kapler didn't immediately pull Hernandez from the game. Rightfully so, the 2019 have been labeled as a lazy bunch of losers. They may have a winning record right now but they are a collection of underachievers, failed prospects , washed-up veterans and over-estimated  draft picks.

The bottom line is that the Phillies are 7-9 this season against Miami, the worst team in the National League. If Philly doesn't make the playoffs a huge reason will be it's failure vs the Fish.

If they do miss the post-season I hope Kapler gets fired. Klentek and MacPhail should go too but I;m afraid the owner is too invested in analytics to pull the plug on those two losers just yet.

Start with Kapler and the pitching coach and go  from there.

The team returns home to face the suddenly hot Pittsburgh Pirates, who swept their weekend series with Cincinnati.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

Embarrassing and disgraceful loss by the Phillies in Miami last night. They almost set a record, becoming only the second team in major league history to be ahead by 7 runs in a game, only to lose by 10 or more runs. The 2 meaningless runs in the 9th inning  prevented that dubious distinction.

It's not fun being a Phillies fan these days. Worse, things aren't getting better and there doesn't seem to be hope for the future.

I'm tired of the trio of Eflin, Valasquez and Pivetta. They are all headcases and can't pitch. I had more faith in Eflin, but he has also disappointed this season.

Valasquez was in the bullpen and should stay there. Pivetta needs to be traded or sent down to the minors. Eflin may be worth saving but even he is on thin ice.

Bryce Harper is on Paternity Leave right now, awaiting the birth of his son, bit don't blame his absence for the loss. 11 runs should be more than enough to win against the lowly Marlins.

The bullpen still sucks. GM Klentek, if he is still here, has a lot of work to do on this team. Aside from Aaron Nola, the starters can't go more than 5 innings. They are merely "throwers" not pitchers.

I love the Phils, but if John Middleton doesn't make significant changes after the season, I will hesitate before I buy tickets for 2020. I already looked at the schedule and have targeted certain games. but I won't pull the trigger if all we get is the same old crap.

Zach Eflin goes tonight for Philadelphia. Even winning 2 of 3 now in Miami may not excite me. Not after the dreadful way the club lost last night.

Can't wait for the Eagles to start!

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- EAGLES, PHILLIES

Mother Nature was the winner last night in the Eagles' 3rd pre-season game vs Baltimore. Flashes of lightning over Lincoln Financial Field with over 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter led to the game being mercifully suspended, with the Ravens beating the Birds, 26-15.

Before the weather turned nasty it was another pre-season bore, with many of the starters, including QB Carson Wentz, not playing. QB Cody Kessler was terrible. If he had any slim chance of making the roster he blew it last night. Meanwhile, newly-signed Josh McGown looked good and seems to have solidified himself as the back-up to Wentz, with Nate Sudfeld being 3rd string.

After a dreadful first half, in which the Eagles trailed 26-0 at the break, they did storm back to make it 26-15. Still, is it concerning the way they played, keeping in mind that the starters probably won't play in the final pre-season game vs the Jets?  Will Wentz be rusty in the season opener against the Redskins?

The opener vs Washington is a must-win game because it's a home division game. Getting off to a fast start is crucial to the Birds, especially with the difficult early schedule they have. Losing to the 'Skins in Philly would put the Birds in a hole out of Week 1.

I think they will be  sky-high and beat Washington big. Anything can happen in an NFC East brawl, but I'm thinking that Wentz will want to make a point, as will WR DeSean Jackson and crew.

Isn't it odd that Baltimore has won 16 straight pre-season games? Why? Do they play harder, or focus on winning those games more? Is certainly hasn't carried over to the regular season , and they are not the 1972 Miami Dolphins, but it is a strange, but meaningless stat.



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After sweeping the Red Sox in Boston, the Phillies must avoid a letdown and beat the Marlins in Miami this weekend. The lowly Fish are 7-6 against the Phils this season, despite having the worse record in the entire National League.  Philadelphia is still 2 games behind the final wild card spot in the NL. Sweeping the Marlins would go a long way in getting the fans excited again and saving Manager Gabe Kapler's job.

Vince Valasquez pitches tonight for the Phillies.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, EAGLES

Just when you give up on the Phillies they suck you in again by sweeping the Red Sox in Boston in a short two-game series. The Phils remain 2 games behind the final wild card spot,

After losing 2 of 3 last weekend to the lowly Padres, fans were ready to jump off the bandwagon.Now there is hope again, granted against a mere mediocre Boston club. They play a 3- game set this weekend, which should be interesting, Philly is 6-7 this season against the lowly Marlins. Taking 2 of 3 might suffice, althoguh the Phils need to sweep, even in Miami, to should fans this isn't false hope again.

Plenty of heroes in Boston, including the no-name bullpen, but Bryce Harper stands out. He hammered his 27th home run, along with 92 RBIs, clubbing the shot over the famed Green Monster in Fenway Park. Harper may not have the 3-50 homer season many hoped for, but he should end up with 35-plus and over 100 RBIs, not a bad year. I would take that for the next 12 years.

While many are thinking the Phillies may have turned their season around yet again, the starting pitching remains shaky at best beyond Aaron Nola. If only the front office believed in the team and had been more aggressive in trading for quality pitching at the July trade deadline.

The team may be able to go out after the season and buy more free agents, especially pitching help, but sustained success happens with a good farm system. Wise draft choices and solid player development are the keys for long-term success.

For now, with the Phils still 2 games behind in the wild card race, having a hot Harper in September would give the club an edge. He could carry the team down the stretch run to the playoffs.

Beyond Miami, the Phillies return home next week for series vs the weak Pirates and  a really big showdown with the Mets.

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The Eagles play pre-season game # 3 tonight at the Linc vs Baltimore. They have been holding scrimmages with the ravens all week leading up to tonight's game. Normally this game would showcase many of the starters for a half or three quarters, but not this year. Seems like the trend in the NFL is not to play the starters at all, saving them for the regular season. It makes the pre-season even more boring and  meaningless for fans.

I'll watch tonight until I get bored, which may be sooner than later. Feel bad for the ticket-holders who pay full price for the garbage by greedy owners.

IN MY LIFE- ATLANTIC CITY TRIP

Down to Atlantic City to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. The weather was cloudy and muggy with a fair sea breeze on the Boardwalk. Today is the annual Air Show at the shore, so we ventured down to the beach on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I'm sure it's a nightmare in AC, first with traffic then with huge crowds.

Speaking of which, we did watch a few practice runs by a squadron of none jets, doing loops and patterns over the oceans in the afternoon. It was pretty cool and amazing how all activity stopped, frozen, on the boardwalk, eyes gazing to the heavens as the jets roared and soared above.

Typical Boardwalk fare of old t-shirt shops, Massage Parlors, Burger joints, and Psychic Readers. With summer winding down there were more families strolling the boards and coming in from the ocean and beach. There was still a fair share of older people and Jersey shore natives.

Our first stop was at Resorts, the oldest casino in AC. I needed to cash in a winning ticket at the Sports book. I bet $100 last summer on the Sixers not to win over 54 1/2 games last season. They didn't, finishing with 51 wins. I won $185.

Then we played Joker Poker, our favorite slots game. Holly, with her first $20. at the first machine we played, got 4 fours. That was great, but we needed the Joker to come up on her second spin to get a really big jackpot. What were the odds of getting that Joker on the remaining reel?

It never happens to me, but holly is lucky, winning raffles in her time. So, incredible as it was, the second spin came up...Joker!

We watched the total keep increasing and increasing, not sure where it would stop. Keep going!!

Finally, the total pay-out was $385!! The most she has ever won.

The cashier gave her a separate small envelope, advising holly to "put the $300 away and don't give it back." Wise advice!

I made a few bucks from Joker Poker as well. I was tempted to try my luck at a table game, specifically blackjack, a game I'm very familiar with but haven't played in a while. I wanted to finally leave the casino a winner so I resisted until next time.

We ended up stopping in 4 casinos on the day: Resorts, Hard Rock, Ballys and Ceasars.

All in all, it was a nice day out, and we timed our trip back to miss rush hour near Philadelphia.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The inconsistent Phillies lost yet another home series to a bad team, this time losing two of three to the 4th worst team in the National League, the San Diego Padres. Gone is the momentum and excitement of last week, when the team won 4 in a row, which included a thrilling comeback victory over the cubs, highlighted by Bryce Harper's walk-off grand slam home run in the 9th inning.

The club only managed 4 hits on Sunday, yet Manager Gabe Kapler, who is on my last nerve, was ever-positive after the game, stating the Phils had swung the bats well. Even the terribly slumping Rhys Hoskins falsely stated that the Phillies 'are playing good baseball."

Truth is, they are what they are for the entire season- an inconsistent squad that lacks true leadership and real emotion and heart.

The players seem to have taken on the attitude of their front office.."If we don't , we don't" ( make the playoffs, that is).

Kapler insults the fans during his post-game press conferences, as though he is watching an entirely different ballgame. the fans aren't stupid but we are gullible and do want to believe. That's why many fans were suckered into believing this team could win and get into the post-season by their recent modest streak, only to be disappointed again.

The Phils go on the road now, 9 games behind in NL East, and 1 1/2 games behind in the wild card race. They play two in Boston this week. The Red Sox are having a tough year but they are always dangerous in cozy Fenway Park. Then it's on to Miami to take on the marlins over the weekend. Normally this should be a good series to win against the dreadful Fish, but Miami always seems to play the Phillies tough.  September looms with difficult match ups with teams like the Indians, Braves and Nationals.

I'm a Phillies fan and want them to do well and get into the playoffs, but in another way, I wouldn't mind them losing. Another late season collapse may seal Kaplers' fate, maybe even General Manager Klentek's fate too, and be the best thing for this franchise in the long run.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The inconsistent Phillies came back last night at Citizens Bank Park. After getting off to a 3-0 start, thoughts of finally having a five-game winning streak excited the fans. Nothing like a long winning streak!

But Zach Eflin was on the mound. He didn't get out of the 4th inning, allowing the Padres pitcher single and keep a rally alive. He was replaced by headcase Nick Pivetta, who gave up a pair of runs on a little over an inning of work.

Pivetta and Eflin- two of the young hurlers counted on by the Phils this season. They are both huge disappointments this season, along with the inconsistent Vince Valasquez. Why havent these young pitchers developed? Is it a coincidence they all went bad at once or is the pitching coach and manager to blame?

Before the pitchers are sent to Lehigh Valley or traded the front office should fire Chris Young, the terrible current pitching coach, and see if the pitchers will respond to different coaching.

J.T. Realmuto remained hot, hitting yet another home run . Realmuto is finally starting to live up to his promise, hitting near .280.

Meanwhile the series with San Diego is tied 1-1, with Jason Vargas pitching this afternoon. the home stand could end with an outstanding  5-1 record or a merely good 4-2 tally.  The club is now a full game behind in the wild card chase. After a day off on Monday, the Phils travel to Boston with a short two-game set with the Red Sox, then a weekend series in Miami.

Losing one game to a bad San Diego team isn't a crime; losing two of three- at home- to a bad San Diego club would be unacceptable.

I would love to see the Phillies get into the playoffs.It would bring excitement  to the city amidst the Eagles season, even if it may be a one game series.

Then again, if the Phillies miss the playoffs, would Gabe Kapler and/or Matt Klentek get fired? After all, Kletek himself recently stated that "results matter," so would a change be made after the season?

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The Phillies won their 4th game in a row last night, beating San Diego. Bryce Harper stayed hot, belting a three-run homer to left, while Roman Quinn and J.T. Realmuto also hit home runs. Vince Valasquez pitched 5-plus innings for the win.

The Padres have a terrific farm system and should be good down the road. For now they are not. The Phils should at least take 2 of 3 this weekend.

Drawing on the enthusiasm and momentum from the dramatic Thursday night comeback vs the Cubs, the Phillies jumped on the Padres early and cruised to an 8-3 victory. With the braves losing to the dodgers, the Phils creep to within 7 games of Atlanta in National League East. Philadelphia is now tied for the second wild card spot with Chicago, 2 1/2 games behind Washington.

Zach Eflin returns to the rotation tonight vs San Diego, with Jason Vargas going on Sunday afternoon. the Phillies then go on a brief road trip, playing two in Boston and three in Miami.

Same story for these Phils. When they hit home runs they generally win. They seem to be stealing more bases lately, thanks to Quinn's presence in the lineup. An aggressive approach puts the pressure on the other teams' defense.

With poor teams like the Pirates and Marlins on the agenda the Phillies need to pile up wins before they take on the September likes of Atlanta, Cleveland, Washington and the Mets.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, EAGLES

It was a magical night at Citizens Bank Park. I was there for the best Phillies win of the year, and one of the greatest, thrilling and exciting  wins in Phillies history.

 It was typical, inconsistent 2019 Phillies through the first seven innings last night.The club scratched out aa run in the 8th and set themselves up for the miracle comeback victory in the 9th.

Chicago's Yu Darvish shutout the Pils for 7 innings. He was at 92 pitches when manager Joe Madden took him out of the game.Why, who knows> The Cubbies bullpen imploded, as did their defense.

It took a village to get close in the 9th inning. With one out Cesar Hernandez got on base when the Chicago shortstop booted a routine grounder. Why didn't Javier Baez play? Then credit Scott Kingery for hanging in there. After striking out three times on the night, Kingery rifled a single to right-center field. Brad Miller came up to pinch-hit and squirted a single off the second baseman's gloved. Roman Quinn did the same exact thing, cuing a single through the infield, just out of reach of the Cubs' second baseman.

Then Rhys Hoskins got hit by a pitch on his right hand ( xrays were negative). Much of this assault occurred with two strikes on the hitters. Cub relievers just couldn't put the Phillies away.

Meanwhile the crowd was being worked into a frenzy by the scoreboard. Many people stayed for the post-game concert by Diplo ( sorry, I passed on Diplo). On a normal Friday night, the stands would've been barren. Oh well, the Phils took 2 of 3 from Chicago. Same old inconsistent Phillies, scoring 11 runs one night and only scoring one tonight. It would've been so easy to give up, as a few fans did who left before the 9th inning.

Bryce Harper had different ideas. He loves such game-winning situations. Here he was, up in the 9th inning, one out, the Phillies trailing 5-3 with the bases loaded.A big game to win, a tough game to lose, with the Cubs two games ahead of Philadelphia in the wild card race.

With the fans going crazy, Harper fouled off a few pitches until Cubs reliever Holland threw him a hittable sinker. Harper didn't miss it, crushing the ball high into the night, the titanic blast finally landing in the right field second deck for a walk-off grand slam to give the Phils a 7-5 comeback win.

The ball was hit so damn high, at first i thought it was going completely out of the stadium. "Oh my God!"I gasped in awe. H

H arper swings so hard he had to either strikeout or hit a blast. I would've settled for a game-tying single, but Harper had other plans.

The ball was dangerously close to the right field fair pole. It had the distance now everyone just waited for the ball to land and the umpire to give the home run signal.

Harper sprinted around the bases, head down, jumped, dancing and gesturing to his teammates and to the roaring crowd. The other powder blue clad Phils greeted him at home plate to celebrate, eventually dousing him with  a bucket of ice water.

Bryce was so excited, like a Little League ballplayer, the players all over him after he crossed home plate. Harper called it "One of the coolest moments of my career."

It was easily the best ending to a Phillies game I ever saw. I was lucky to be there, in Section 119, to witness the spectacle.

Some items to illustrate how special and rare last night was:

When the 9th inning began the Cubs' winning probability was at 99%. Talk about overcoming the odds!Chicago had gone 489 straight games of not losing when they had a four-run lead in the 9th inning. Holland had not surrendered a homer to a lefty in two years. The last time the Phillies hit  walk-off grand slam when trailing in the 9th inning to overcome a lead and win was in 1983 when Ozzie Virgil Jr. did the fete.

Truly a magical night. It leaves the Phillies only a game off the final wild card spot. They sweep the Cubs for the first time since 2015. They win three in a row as San Diego and Manny Machado comes to town.

Is it Charlie Manuel? The Phils are undefeated since they hired Charley as their new hitting coach. Uncle Charley brings a relaxed attitude to the clubhouse. Plus he knows hitting. And he's a winner.

Is it just a coincidence? There's a different feeling at the ballpark now, one which manager Gabe Kapler may not screw up. It's a feeling of renewed energy, a feeling that things will work out for the Phils in the end.

Is playoff baseball bound for Philadelphia this fall?

PHIILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, EAGLES

Coincidence? The Phillies score 11 runs the night when Charley Manuel takes over as hitting coach. Maybe it was his early instruction or psychologically it helped the batters to relax. Whatever the reason, it worked.

The Phils won 11-1 over the Cubs, taking the first two games of the series. The team remains 2 games in back of the final wild card spot. They do jump in front of the losing Mets.

The approach seemed simple: see the ball and hit the ball. Guys were aggressive and swinging at fastballs and strikes. They weren't flailing at balls in the dirt. They weren't trying to pull everything. Hit the ball where it is pitched. Swing easy and relax.

If the club improves will Charley get the credit? Already chants of "Charley! Charley!" erupted from the crowd at Citizens Bank Park. If the Phils make the playoffs will Charley stay? Will Kapler get fired, even if they make the post-season?

It was a refreshing change of attitude last night. I'll be at the ballpark tonight, hoping for the sweep of Chicago. It will be interesting to feel the atmosphere in South Philly tonight, especially if the Phillies have their hitting shoes on again.

Cole Hamels looked nervous and lost against his old team. I think he knows he should be pitching for Philly, not against them. Hamels still seemed to have life on his fastball, combined with his famous change-up and biting curve. He wasn't hitting his spots and the new-found Phils were teeing-off.

I still want the team to bring Hamels in next season, along with another Cole- Garrit Cole, the excellent right-hander from Houston.

Drew Symley vs Yu Darvish tonight. Darvish is notorious for being a slow worker so expect a longer game if the Phils don't knock him out early. The Phillies then host the San Diego Padres and Manny Machado over the weekend.

Bryce Harper hit a pair of long homers last night. He now has 24 and seems to be finally getting hot. Harper's over/under for the year was around 34 when the season began. I'm sure there are a lot of betters in the area who put a few bucks on Harper hitting more than 34 home runs who will be watching anxiously in the next six weeks or so.

- The Eagles play pre-season game # 2 tonight in Jacksonville. Don't expect either Carson Wentz or Nick Foles to play. Looks like the only way they will match-up in the next few seasons is if the Jags and the Birds play in a Super bowl together.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

There will be a circus along with a ballgame tonight at Citizens Bank Park. It's the return of Charlie Manuel and Cole Hamels, with Aaron Nola pitching against the Cubs.

Manuel comes back as the new Phillies hitting coach . Owner John Middleton is behind the move. The press conference yesterday, with GM Matt Klentek and Manager Gabe Kapler, was fascinating. Klentek looked pissed and Kapler seemed resigned to the fact his days are numbered in Philadelphia.

Tonight starts the wonderous spectacle of seeing Charley back in the dugout, standing with the lame duck inept Kapler.

Already the chants of "We want Charley!" are echoing in the ballpark. Just wait til tonight, when Charley is actually in attendance.

Would Charley, at age 75, accept the job as manager again if it is offered by Phillies management after the season?

The Phils won last night, despite striking out 15 times. They are now tied with the Mets, 9 games out of 1st place and 2 games out of the final wild card spot.

If Charley isn't the new manager after the season, why not Charley as new President after Andy MacPhail steps down? Larry Bowa would make a great GM; Mitch Williams could be the new pitching coach. Raul Ibanez would be an interesting new manager, with Chase Utley and Jimmy Pollins as coaches and assistants.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The Phillies hired Charley Manuel today as their new hitting coach. After listening to the stupid press conference with Matt Klentek and Gabe Kapler, here are my thoughts..

- Is this only a public relations stunt? Klentek states Charley is only on board for 7 weeks..not to expect drastic change..that Charley is of the same philosophy as Klentek and the previous hitting coach.

Then why make the change?

Is it a stunt just to fill the seats for the rest of the year? Are they using Charley?

One thing is clear: Middleton needs to clean house. Period. Klentek needs to go, along with Kapler and macPhail. All need to go. A fresh start is needed.

Charley arrives tomorrow. Let's see what happens.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, EAGLES

Comments on a slow sports day..

- The Phillies 2020 schedule was released yesterday. Some highlights are: Mike Trout and the Angels  return to Philadelphia for a July weekend. Trout vs Harper. How will the fans react to Trout?

- The Dodgers are in early May for a three-game weekday series.

- The team plays the American League West. Seattle, Oakland and Los Angeles come to Citizens Bank Park, while the Phils travel to Texas (the Rangers play in a new ballpark next season), Houston and Seattle.

- There are four- count 'em- four trips to the west coast. Brutal.

- The Phils open on the road ( a four-game series in Miami, starting on March 26) and finish on the road at Washington.

- Am early trip to Pittsburgh ( a weekend set May 8-10) is important to me. After my first trip to see PNC Park I'm looking forward to going back to see the Bucs play the Phils.

- For the second straight season the Phillies don't play on Memorial Day. They are in Seattle on the 4th of July, and play at home on Labor Day vs Miami.

- August 8 vs San Francisco looks to be Wall of Fame Night, while July 18 vs the Angels should be Photo Night.

- The 2020 All-Star Game is at Dodger Stadium.

-Meanwhile the Sixers schedule was also released on Monday. They open with the rival Celtics at home, while they also play at home on Christmas Day against Milwaukee.

- Will Carson Wentz play in the Eagles pre-season? I would play him a half in the 3rd game vs Baltimore but no more. You want him healthy for the opener vs Washington.

_ The Phillies play the Cubs tonight, weather permitting. Aaron Nola vs Cole Hamels on Wednesday night.

REVIEW- TOMMY & ME

I saw the play "Tommy & Me" Sunday afternoon at the Fringe Arts theater in Philadelphia. I saw Ray Didinger's play about Philadelphia Eagle great Tommy McDonald for the third time. Yesterday's performance was easily the best.

Didinger is a longtime great sportswriter in town. He is author of numerous books, including the Super Bowl edition of Eagles Encyclopedia. This is his first time as a play write and it's a winner.

For those not familiar, Ray helped McDonald get on the ballot of the Football Hall of Fame, after being overlooked for 30 years. McDonald was an All-American and All-Pro wide receiver.

The play will make you laugh and cry. It's far more emotional now, maybe because the real Tommy McDonald ( who live din nearby King of Prussia) died last September. In that way now the play takes on a whole new meaning; keeping McDonalds' spirit alive.

The four-person cast of characters is excellent, comfortable in their roles now. All but one have played their roles since the plays' inception, three years ago.

Even though I knew the lines, after seeing the play two times before, it remains fresh and strikes a chord more than ever.

You really don't need to be a football fan to enjoy "Tommy & Me." It's more about friendship and the human spirit rather than football. Still, the 220 or so people in the audience mostly wore some sort of Eagles gear, be it a midnight green jersey or kelly green cap.

"Tommy & Me" has become a tradition now before the football season starts. There was talk of a movie or a more extensive play away from Philly, but it really is a Philly story and should stay here.  The only thing I would consider is maybe filming the play and selling DVDs, especially for those fans who cannot attend the play.

Director Joe Canuso does an excellent job. His grandson plays the part of Young Ray. This may be his last year, as he is getting taller and his voice grows deeper with every season. The rest of the cast is stellar in their roles.

I give "Tommy & Me" a solid three stars out of four ***
Sometimes it is too much dialogue and we are given endless stats about McDonalds' career. But the real heart of the play comes near the heartfelt ending, and the induction in Canton, Ohio of #25 into the Hall of Fame.

Note: Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie may see the play for the first time ever, sometime next week. Hopefully he will be so impressed and moved by Tommy McDonald's story that he does the right thing and retires old # 25  before too long.

It's an honor long overdue.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

My comments on the inept Phillies...

- I'm glad clueless Gabe Kapler got pantz on national TV last night by cheaterAlex Rodriguez. Now the rest of the country knows why our fans have been suffering for the past two years.

- Bob Brookover gives us hope when he states today on WIP Sports Radio that 1- the Phillies do not make the playoffs and 2- there will be changes after the season. I agree that it won't happen until October. Owner John Middleton will give Kapler enough rope to hang himself.

- If Kapler goes, so must GM Klentek. He hired Kapler. His farm system sucks, so much so that he has no one to replace Jake Arrieta, who may finally be done with his bone spur in his pitching elbow.Klentek hired the current inept pitching coach. He overvalued his need for pitching. 

- Both the pitching and hitting coaches must be fired. Under this new pitching coach, young pitchers Eflin, Pivetta and Valasquez have not progressed. The staff gives up way too many home runs. Kapler has burned out the bullpen.

Under this hitting coach, hitters take too many fastball strikes yet swing at balls in the dirt. Rhys Hoskins looks clueless and lost as he tries to pull everything. With this launch angle crap, batters swing too hard and often pop up with men on base. No one is getting better and even Scott Kingery, on fire early in the year, has regressed.

- Nick Pivetta sucks. Kapler used him in a key situation in the 8th inning at San Francisco last night and he failed miserably. Did he throw that meatball to Kevin Pillar ( who laced a triple to give the Giants the lead) to stick it to Kapler for putting him in the bullpen? Remember that Pivetta wasn't too happy about that or being demoted to Lehigh Valley earlier this summer.

I know that Pivetta is a headcase. I saw it up close on Photo Night when he had an attitude with the fans.

- The bottom line is the Phils are now a distant 9 games behind Atlanta and  1 1/2 games out of the wild card spot. The red-hot Mets leaped ahead of the Phillies over the weekend.

In a jumbled wild card situation, the Phils have to battle the Brewers, Cardinals, Mets and Nationals for two post-season spots. It's not going to happen.

- Meanwhile the team plays out the last 40 games of the season. Will they limp home or have a Mets-like spark to save Kapler's job?

New home stand starts tomorrow when the cubs come to town for 3 games, including a Cole Hamels vs Aaron Nola match-up on Wednesday night. I'll be at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday. Then San Diego invades town for the weekend.

Book

Chapter 3- Timmy and The Box

( Place on page 23 after para 8)

It wasn't unusual to go to school and find flowers on a classmates' desk, a sign that he or she had died. It was odd how we got used to our friends dying so young. We grieved but then life went on.

Saying so long to my school friends everyday or on the weekend wasn't like saying "See you tomorrow" or "See you  Monday" because it was entirely possible we wouldn't see each other.

Out of my taxi pals who I rode with daily, Timmy ,was easily my best friend.

Tim was a little older than the rest of us. Tall and thin, he had an infectious laugh, which he used often and loudly. Tim was so cheerful and happy. Remarkable for a kid who endured a double-whammy: Cerebral Palsy and a seizure disorder.

Tim walked but it was a challenged, as he shuffled along, braces on his legs. walking in a slow but steady sideways gait. he often suffered from such severe and violent seizures, which unpredictably occurred at any moment, Tim nearly died many times.

He always had a joke everyday. He never complained or moaned "why me?"- at least not in front of his friends. He had a bright smile, a high, shrill voice, sort of like Jerry Lewis, and a kind heart, often sympathizing with us if we weren't feeling well.

"How can you always be so damn happy?" Donny asked one morning. "Don't you ever get sad?"

"I'm always happy," Tim replied. 'I'm glad to be alive."




That was the usual banter, poor Donny, always down, trying to cope with his particular illness, annoyed by Tim's perpetual happiness yet secretly longing to be happy.



Tim was also the policeman of the cab. Since he was bigger than all of us he broke up any arguments or fights in the backseat. I always sat in the front with Joe, the driver; Tim manned the middle of the backseat.

He was like my big brother in the cab and tended to look after me, maybe because of my brittle bones or because I was the smallest guy in the cab.

Diana Ross and the Supremes were Tim's favorite music group at the time, and often, in his eternally good mood, he would sing at the top of his lungs the latest hit record of the group. "Baby Love" was his favorite, as Sy, and Donnie groaned.

Tim was a grade ahead of me, so I would only see him in the cab. He was fun and cheered everyone . As annoying as his singing could be, his cheerfulness was like a welcome breath of fresh air , a far cry from our daily routines of pain and loneliness.

His father was a former Chief of Police in town, while his mom was a housewife.We would see her  on the mornings we picked up Tim last. She would always wear  a housecoat, standing on her front porch and waving bye.

After grade school was over I lost touch with Timmy. But he would  come into my life as the years went by in unexpected places and ways.

Tim's mom was one of my residents at the nursing home . I was her social worker and would often see Tim and his father during their frequent visits. Both dressed in suits and ties, as Tim's dad always dressed impeccably. For no reason whatsoever he often brought  boxes of candy for the staff. He never complained about care, and he remained faithful to Tim's mom, never failing to visit daily.

Often Tim and I would reminisce about our schooldays. Despite circumstances, Tim remained smiling. He held a good job as a clerk at a company in the corporate center nearby. He took Paratransit to work everyday, without fail.

His spirit was tested yet again when his dad, well into mid 90s, fell ill and passed. Tim would take the Paratransit van to visit his father in the hospital  when he could.

Then years later I noticed in the local paper that Tim's only brother suddenly died. I wanted to send him a card but didn't have his address.  I heard from one of the Paratransit drivers that Tim was living in an apartment nearby, and promised  to say hello for me and exchange phone numbers.

"There's this guy who goes to the Y.M.C.A. weekly  who is always cracking jokes, despite the fact he is pretty well disabled," the driver said. "What a great attitude!"

The "guy" sounded a lot like Tim. And as it turned out, Tim had been living in an apartment complex just around the corner from me.

It was great to hear from Tim again. He  was happy to be living independently, even though both of his older sisters had asked him to reside with them after Tim's dad had died.  Tim worked hard, didn't bother anyone and was happy.

 There were steps leading to his apartment, but it was the only affordable place he could afford in town. So he struggled walking up and down those stairs several times each day, let alone trying to haul groceries upstairs. Still, he enjoyed his independence. Only one thing bothered him.

"I  feel lonely sometimes,' he confided. "Don't forget to call me sometimes."

Just as suddenly Tim's phone was disconnected. The drivers said he had moved out of town and didn't know where. Maybe he did move in with one of his sisters after all? Again we lost touch.

I went to a doctor one cold winter morning for a sinus infection and who doesn't enter the waiting room but Tim. He now had a walker. His hair was not only much grayer but thinning.

He was his jovial self as he reported to the receptionist. He didn't notice Holly or I in the waiting room, sitting on the other side of the room. I wheeled over to surprise him, and said hello as he was busily putting his insurance cards back into his wallet and filling out the usual annoying paperwork for the doctor.

:Greg! Oh, my God!" was his usual reaction when we connected after many years. He met Holly and immediately replied, "Oh, she's very attractive!"

Tim had been engaged during the time we had lost touch, to a dietary worker he had met at the nursing  home where his dad lived until the end. It was a whirlwind courtship that ended  in heartbreak. Tim still had the newspaper clipping of the engagement announcement, even though things "didn't work out."

I sure knew what it was like to have a broken heart.

"I'm sorry, Tim," I said. "You deserve to find someone nice, as I have."

"I will someday, ' he said, always optimistic, his voice cracking a bit, as if he didn't really believe what he was saying.

Tim had moved  because the step situation was becoming unbearable with his increasing difficulty to walk. And now he needed a walker to help him get around. So he moved just out of Phoenixville to a more accessible apartment.

He lost his job when his company, downsizing as is the norm these days, unexpectedly laid him off after 33 years.  He now survived on Social Security and a small pension.Still, he was happy.

"I'm doing the best I can," he said. "But I still get lonely. Call me sometime." We once again exchanged phone numbers, this time promising to really not fade away.

As when Mom had Tim over for dinner sometimes -( "It's great to get a home cooked meal for a change," he told Mom. "You get tired of microwave meals and sandwiches."). Holly and I invited Tim over. We again reminisced about schooldays, like it was yesterday.

Certain special people tend to pop in and out of our lives. I wondered why Tim  drifted in and out of my life, from being schoolkids together to now, both in the autumn of out lives. Maybe God wants it that way. Tim always coped with his challenges with a smile and an unbreakable spirit. He was, and continues to be, a shining example of courage and strength.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The inconsistent Phillies played well in San Francisco Friday night, beating the Giants 9-6. Bryce Harper finally  had the break-out game the fans have waited for. Harper crushed two home runs with 4 RBIs. Let's hope this is the start of a hot streak to carry the team.

Harper now has 22 homers. He is targeted to finish with 32 home runs, 110 RBIs  and over 40 doubles.Mow a bad year. But players like Yelich and Bellinger already have 39 homers. Even Mets rookie Alphonso has 38 dingers.

Harper has played fine defense in right field and has hustled all season. He may not be worth his money this year but I'm sure he will give the Phils superstar seasons in the next 12 years.

Harper hit lead-off last night, with Hoskins batting second. Let's see how long Manager Gabe Kapler sticks with this line-up.

Corey Dickerson collected 3 hits. He is a legitimate .300 hitter and should play left field in 2020.

It will be interesting to see if the front office goes after a center fielder via trade or free agency, or will stay in-house with Hasealy, Quinn or someone else.

Cesar Hernandez needs to be traded to allow Scott Kingery to move to his Gold Glove position of second base for good. Pitching needs to be addressed, both the starters and the bullpen.

Two more games out west, including this afternoon at 4:05. Vince Valasquez starts, with Jake Arrieta finishing the road trip Sunday night in an ESPN contest.  The club flies home and starts a series with the Cubs on Tuesday.

The red-hot Mets have now won 7 games in a row. They are tied with the Phils, 8 games behind Atlanta. Bith teams, along with St. Louis, are 1/2 game behind Washington and Milwaukee in the wild card race.

To me, chances are better of the Phillies ending up in 4th place in the division in back of New York, rather than getting into the playoffs.

Adam Hasealy is back with the big club after Jay Bruce got hurt again and ended up on the IL again. It was a mistake to send the rookie back to the minors in the first place.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, EAGLES

- Collapse #2 has begun. The Phillies have lost 3 in a row. They are now tied with the Mets for 3rd place in NL East. They are only 3 games over .500. They are in free fall.

The club lost in San Francisco last night, 6-0, only producing one hit, a single by Cesar Hernandez in the 6th inning.

Aaron Nola pitched and dropped to 10-3 on the season.

The offense has hit rock bottom, yet clueless Gabe Kapler says the hitting coach has "connected with the team."

The coaches are the first that should go. Screw analytics like "launch angle" and "exit velocity." They aren't working. Admit it's a failed experiment and move on.

The pitching coach needs to go too. The young pitchers- Velasquez, Pivetta and Eflin have gotten worse, no better.

Three more games with the Giants. The Phillies could easily get swept by the vengeful Giants and limp home with a six-game losing streak.

Owner John Middleton needs to clean house and fire Andy MacPhial, who hired clueless Matt Klentek, who hired inept Kapler, who is a puppet for the front office.

Maybe the only way to get Middletons' attention is to stop going to the games. Stop buying the merchandise. Don't order season tickets for next season. hot him where it hurts the most- in the wallet.

- I can't believe the front office "beloves' Kapler, as suggested in a recent USA Today article. I also can't believe Klentek sent Adam Heasley back to the minors.

Heasley was one of the few bright spots on this team. I would rather watch him than old players like Bruce and Dickerson who have no future with the Phillies.  Another blunder by Klentek.

- Another boring Eagles pre-season game at the Linc last night, as Tennessee beat the Birds, 27-10/ The news was back-up quarterback breaking his left wrist. He is having surgery this morning and will be out awhil. It's his non-throwing hand but Sudfeld will be out a while.

Before he got hurt, Sudfeld looked good. Now the Eagles need to find another back-up QB. Will GM Howie Rossman bring back old signal-caller Sam Bradford?

As long as Carson Wentz doesn't get hurt the Birds will be ok. But I would rather get an experienced guy, just in case, rather than Cody Kessler.

Most of the starters had the night off. Next Thursday Philly travels to Jacksonville to face Nick Foles and the Jaguars.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

The Phillies started a 7-game Western swing last night in Arizona, where the beat the Diamondbacks 7-3. Coming off a long flight from Philadelphia the day before, no after effects seemed to linger, as the Phils played one of their most complete games of the season, using sparkling defense, timely hitting and a stellar performance by Vince Valasquez on the mound to spur the victory.

Valasquez went seven  strong innings, only allowing two runs. The key will be in his next turn, scheduled for Saturday night in San Francisco. Consistency has always been a big issue for Vinny, so it will be interesting to see his performance this weekend.

Scott Kingery, a native of Arizona, with his family in attendance, clubbed a homer to left on the first pitch he saw on the night. It was his 14th homer of the year.

It looks like Kingery will hold down third base for the rest of this season. Having a stable position may help Kingery to settle in. he is now batting sixth in the lineup. Let's see if he picks up his game again.

Manager Gabe Kapler actually played a little small ball last night, especially running with abandon on the base paths. I liked the aggressiveness and not always waiting for three-run homers. Use your speed, especially Roman Quinn and Kingery, and put pressure on the other team.

Although Cesar Hernandez is not an ideal lead-off hitter he is probably the best option right now, unless you try Quinn in the No. 1 spot. Hoskins hit second, Harper third and Realmuto fourth, while Jean Segura hit fifth. Adam Heasley had two hits and also played great defense in left field. This may be a lineup that Kapler will want to stick with for a while.

Jake Arrieta goes tonight against the D-Backs. If Arrieta can give the team five solid innings consider it a good night.

Don't look now but after their doubleheader sweep of the Marlins on Monday, the New York Mets are only 2 1/2 games behind the Phillies and the final wild card spot. The Phils are now tied with Washington for that spot, 6 games behind Atlanta for the NL East lead.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES

How can the Phillies lose 2 of 3 to the lowly Chicago White Sox, at home, in the middle of a playoff race? They did just that, and in embarrassing fashion, going down 10-5 on Sunday afternoon. The three pitchers lame GM Matt Klentek purchased around the trade deadline- Smyly, Morin and Parker- all contributed to the loss.

The Pale Hose came into this series losers of 16 out of their last 20 games. They righted the ship a bit against the Phils,  who are clearly underachieving.

It's too late now to make a manager change. The Phillies' history is to wait until after the season to make a switch. Looks like it will be up to owner John Middleton to pull the plug on Kapler. It sure won't be Klentek or team president MacPhail. They don't want to acknowledge their mistake in hiring the rookie skipper in the first place.

It may also be too late to fire the pitching and hitting coach. This needs to be done immediately after the season is over. Too many home run balls allowed. Confusion in the bullpen. Too many strikeouts by the batters. No .300 hitter on the club.

The team goes west to play Arizona and San Francisco. Unbelievably, they are still in the wild card hunt.

 I have been a Phillies fan for over 60 years. I'll always be a Phillies fan. But if losing the rest of the season means changing this manager and hopefully general manager too, I'd rather lose.



Along with frustration over the Phillies demise, they demoted third baseman Maikel Franco to AAA Lehigh Valley yesterday. Franco is done in Philadelphia. Instead of using Franco off the bench as a power pinch-hitter, Kapler and the front office determined that Franco isn't a bench player. Look for him to be traded after the season.

Although I agree that Kapler needs to be fired, so does Klentek. This team isn't any closer to a World Series then it was last summer.

If Middleton wants his trophy back so bad, he needs to clean house and put some real Baseball men in charge.

MOVIE REVIEW- ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

*** 1/2 out of Four

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a lot of fun. It's a long movie- 2 hours and 40 minutes in length- but the time goes fast. A good way to assess if you liked a movie or not is, even after sitting in the theater all afternoon, would you see the same movie again?  The answer is a big "Yes" to this film.

Surprisingly, even though it's a Quentin Tarentino flick, it's not very violent- at least not until the very end. Even then, one could ration the need for violence, which I actually enjoyed, as if it was a release of pent up tension.



I loved this movie for many reasons. The twist at the end caught me off-guard, even though there were clues leading up to the climax. I really cared about the characters too. The film is very funny and cleverly written, but there are sad and melancholy scenes as well. I also loved the atmosphere, with so many fine details about Hollywood in 1969.

Old commercials, the great music, the segments of radio and TV all add to the feel of the late 60's. I especially loved the music. Songs by Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Mamas and the Papas, and off-beat nuggets like "Snoopy and the Red Baron" make the movie come alive.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are perfect as Rick and Cliff, the two main characters in the story. Rick is a washed-up actor who used to play a cowboy in a TV series called "Bounty Law." Cliff is his longtime stunt double and friend. You will love hanging with these guys, cruising the Hollywood streets  in Rick's creme-colored convertible. It's a buddy movie but so much more.

Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, the ill-fated actress who was murdered at the hands of the Charles Manson family. She brings the beautiful actress to life is sweet ways, like when she stops into a downtown movie theater to watch herself in the Dean Martin film, The Wrecking Crew.Tarentino stated in an interview that he wanted to focus on Tate's enthusiasm and joy because she is now forever known by her death.

There are roles and cameos by none other then Al Pacino, and Bruce Dern, to name a few. Pacino is great in a minor role, as is Dern. It's interesting to note that Burt Reynolds was signed to play Dern's role but died before shooting began.

Bruce Lee is depicted in a comical way, as one of the more crowd-pleasing scenes is a showdown between the great Martial arts Lee and Cliff. In Tarentino's fairy tale world, Cliff holds his own against Lee in a rumble on the set.

The ending will generate the most discussion. This entire movie will be debated. I thought about it long after we left the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. It was a refreshing way to spend an a hot and muggy summer matinee afternoon in the cool air conditioning.

It was interesting to note that after the last riveting scene, the smattering of people in the theater didn't immediately leave. They stayed and talked. , even when the lights went up. They were still talking in the lobby and outside the venue.

It will be interesting to see what, if any, nominations the film gets for Oscars next year. Will both DiCaprio and Pitt be nominated as Lead Actors? Even though Pitt "supports" DiCaprio's character, Pitt has more then his share of solo scenes, including a chilling segment where Cliff visits the Manson home ranch.  Robbing should be nominated as well, although she doesn't have nearly as much screen time as the two men.

I can easily see Tarentino getting a nomination for Best Director and for the film itself get a nod for Best Picture.

There is also a set-up for a sequel, although the story is so closely tied into the Manson murders that it would be interesting to see what Tarentino would do with a follow-up story.

All in all, I really enjoyed Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The film drags a bit in the middle, and you can't wait to witness the inevitable climax. The movie also lets multiple questions hanging ( Did Cliff really kill his wife?) . In one way you yearn for answers but in another way, the unanswered items lead to discussion and leave an opening for more Rick and Cliff.

I'm ready to see the film again. I recommend you check it out too.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, EAGLES

A disgrace Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies lost to a woeful White Sox club, 4-3 in 15 innings. With a chance to gain a game on the losing Braves, the Phils choked against a really bad club.

The offense came up small again. Bryce Harper is proving to be a huge disappointment. The only thing consistent about the Phils is their inconsistency.

Manager Gabe Kapler screwed up again, removing the "sore" armed Zach Eflin in the 13th inning when he knew there were o more pitchers available. Suddenly Ranger Suarez has become a Pat Neshek-like diva. Eflin told Kapler he was "sore" but could pitch, yet Kapler pulled him from the game.

If Eflin was really hurt, why let him bat in the 13th inning?

Vince Valasquez came in and played left field. He threw out a White Sox runner at the plate and made a diving catch. Not only did Roman Quinn courageously pitch two innings, he hit a home run and stole two bases. Those players deserve praise; Kapler does not.

I'm sick of hearing Kapler say his team "clawed and fought" and all the other bull.  They lost..at home..to a bad Chicago club..in a pennant race.

Bryce Harper is also getting to me. So far he is not worth his big contract. He should be carrying this team. I admire his hustle but he should be playing better. We are stuck with this guy for 12 more years. He needs to step up more consistently.

I'll always be a Phillies fan but..maybe, in the long run, another epic collapse would be a good thing. MacPhail, Klentek, Kapler and all of the coaches need to go.

John Middleton, show the fans you care by doing the right thing after the season. Let's not have the Phillies be the laughing stock of Baseball anymore.

- The Christmas games for the upcoming NBA season have been announced and the Sixers are playing again on December 25th, this time at home against Eastern Conference rival Milwaukee.  After opening presents it will be time to either attend or watch  a big game vs the Bucks.

- The Eagles continue to practice, getting ready for their first pre-season game on Thursday  at home against Tennessee. I'll be interested to see how back-up quarterback Nate Sudfeld plays. With no Nick Foles around anymore it will be up to Sudfeld to show the fans he is a capable reserve QB, just in case Carson Wentz goes down.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, EAGLES

- The Phillies took 2 of 3 from the hot San Francisco Giants. They meet again next week in a four-game series out west. For sure the Phils will see ace Madison Baumgarner. They missed him this week in Philadelphia.

Finally the bats woke up. The 10-2 win on Thursday afternoon marked only the second time this season the club scored 10 runs in a game. That's a disgrace. The hitting coach needs to go.

As does the pitching coach. All of the Phillies' young pitchers- Eflin, Pivetta and Valasquez- have not progressed this season. The staff continues to give up way too many home runs.

yet somehow, they are right there for a wild card spot.

I want playoff baseball back in town. Imagine the excitement! Just get into the dance and anything can happen.

I was pretty underwelmed by GM Matt Klentek's trade deadline moves. While the Braves added a pair of All-Star-quality relievers, the Mets bolstered their starting staff, and even Washington improved, the Phils picked up scrap.

Corey Dickerson is ok but if the club needed another bat in the lineup, why not deal for Tigers' Nick Castellanos instead? Castellanos led the American League in doubles and now that he is away from Detroit's huge ballpark, his power should be even greater. ( the Cubs traded for Castellanos0.

What happens to Adam Heasley and Roman Quinn? I would rather see the younger players play. See what you have before moving on, as the Phillies did this week when they released once highly-touted prospect Dylan Cozens.

Cozens was one half of the Bash Brothers in the minors, along with Rhys Hoskins. He never really got a fair shot to play everyday in the majors. He strikes out a ton, but that's what Klentek's coaches are teaching in the farm system, with all the "launch-angle" nonsense.

Time will tell if Cozens comes back to haunt the Phils.

Tonight the team opens a weekend series with the lowly Chicago White Sox. It's Alumni Weeeknd. Bobby Abreu gets on the Phillies Wall of Fame on Saturday night.

The club goes on a Western road trip next week, including a three-game series in Arizona and a four-game set in San Francisco.

IN MY LIFE- VISITING THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

The last time I was in Cooperstown, New York to visit the Baseball hall of Fame was about 30 years ago. So I looked forward to re-visiting the Hall this week to check out the new renovations and updated features.

Even though we drove through dangerous thunderstorms near Wilkes-Barre on the way up, we still made it to the quaint little village of Cooperstown in less than 5 hours. It's not a bad drive up, especially if you take the turnpike.

The town itself is not very accessible to wheelchairs. Many of the shops along Main Street in the town are not accessible, with steps to climb. Finding a parking spot was the first real issue. It's first-come, first-served with handicapped places in front of the museum. There is parking at nearby Doubleday field and $15 all-day lots not far. Most people seem to park at a distance then take the trolley to the Hall.

As directed, we started our tour on the second floor. There are three floors at the Hall, each very specific with it's displays. There are separate sections for greats such as Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Ruth's baggy uniforms is glass-encased, as is Aaron's Atlanta uniform he wore on the night he broke Ruth's home run record. 

There were parts I enjoyed more than others. It was cool seeing bricks , chairs and other artifacts from old time ballparks like Ebbets Field, Connie mack Stadium and Forbes Field. I like seeing the different kinds of uniforms over the years, and couldn't imagine playing ball in the summer heat wearing the heavy wool uniforms that guys used to wear in the early days.

When you see one baseball you've seen them all, so even though there are countless famous baseballs in the Hall, it didn't faze me much. I did like viewing the bats more. Some early bats had ax handles, some looked like clubs, squared-off at the end. Mitts and gloves were also fascinating, some so small like mittens a kid might wear.

On display was the world's rarest and most expensive baseball card- the Honus Wagner gem. A great display for kids who still collect cards is a new edition to the Hall.

The real heart and soul of the Baseball Hall of Fame are the plaques. That room is expanded and more accessible. You can touch each plaque, knowing each star probably touched or held their plaque at one time. Reading each testimonial of achievements reminded me how special and how great these guys were, and I loved reminiscing about the greats I was lucky to see as a kid, players like Clemente, Koufax and Mays.

I saw the plaques and special displays of this year's inductees, including Phillies' ace Roy (Doc) Halliday. An interesting item on display is a baseball given to Halliday by Yankees great closers Mariano Rivera. 

Many years ago Rivera gave Halliday a baseball which Rivera used as a tool to teach Halliday his famous and lethal slider. Rivera drew with a pen the exact line which Halliday keeps his fingers to remind Roy where to grip the ball. Fingers too spread apart or to far apart for the pitch to be effective was all it took to go from  a great pitch to a disaster. Halliday kept this ball during his career, mastering the pitch. Rivera was fined by the yanks for sharing information with another player outside of the Yankee organization. 

The ball sits in a Phillies/Halliday locker full of Halliday-related items on display.

I loved the Phillies plaques in the Hall: Ashburn, Schmidt, Thome, Bunning and Carlton. It made me wonder,who, if anyone on the current team, is destined for greatness, ultimately to be enshrined one day in the Hall?

We checked out the Hall store and got a shirt for $50. We wanted to take a boat trip around the Cooperstown lake nearby to the Hall, but found that the  boat wasn't accessible, despite their claim that it was on the phone. Neither was the so-called " ADA accessible" hotel room we found 22 miles away in Oneida. The bed was once again too high, 30 inches instead of the required 23 inches.

We did the hall in a little over 2 hours. You could take your time, soak in the atmosphere and greatness, and realistically view the entire place in 3 or 4 hours. Also check out nearby Doubleday Field, a tiny ballpark where Baseball was born. There are usually games going on all the time, depending on weather. 

Other than a few annoying inconveniences, our trip to Cooperstown was fun and highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of Baseball.